Chapter 108: The Declaration of War - Part 1

Meanwhile, in the grand throne room of the Holy Empire of Elysium, Velix sat upon the throne with closed eyes, exuding a nonchalant demeanor.

Clad in a white imperial robe embellished with intricate golden patterns, he exuded an air of authority and majesty.

Atop his head rested a resplendent gold-colored crown, radiating extraordinary beauty.

To his right stood a magic staff adorned with seven floating crystals, their serene dance suggesting a latent power within.

Though Velix maintained an air of calm nonchalance, his majestic aura was so potent that it rendered anyone standing before him breathless, prompting them to bow their heads in reverence.

Such was the majesty of a Holy Emperor of the Great Holy Empire, with a legacy spanning 7,000 years!

Standing in the front Velix with a respectful demeanor, Jim wore his dignified black kimono robes; Rain stood beside him, draped in a white mage cloak featuring a moon symbol on the back, giving her the appearance of a beautiful, emotionless doll; and finally, Natasya stood alongside them in her heavy white armor, which covered her perfect body and bestowed upon her the aura of an invincible female general.

To their right stand three other figures: Guren, adorned in golden-white armor that accentuates his handsome features and emits a heroic aura; Valen, the Spear Hero, clad in fiery red armor reminiscent of a god of fire ready to scorch his enemies; and finally, Luna, the Bow Hero, wearing white armor with intricate blue patterns, exuding beauty and grace yet possessing a gaze as sharp as an arrow.

The six of them, each endowed with extraordinary abilities, waited calmly for Velix, seated upon the throne, to speak.

After a few breaths, Velix slowly opened his eyes, casting an indifferent gaze over them before finally fixing his attention on Jim.

"Jim, is the entire army organized?" Velix asked in a calm, nonchalant tone.

Upon hearing Velix's question, Jim smiled faintly and started to move forward.

With folded hands and a respectful demeanor, he replied, "Everything is in place, Your Majesty."

"We have gathered 500,000 troops, representing various units, along with an additional 100,000 reserve troops responsible for logistical support. They currently await your presence in the palace square, eager to receive your blessing for this upcoming great battle, Your Majesty."

Velix smiled and nodded in satisfaction upon hearing Jim's reassuring response.

Today marked the day when the entire army of the Holy Empire of Elysium was dispatched to launch an attack on the entire Demon race, signaling the onset of the great war between humanity and the Demon race in this era!

This war also embodied the monumental clash between the human race and the demon race, engaged in unending warfare for 7,000 years.

With a slight nod, Velix continued his inquiry: "Has the entire population of the Empire been informed of our offensive against the Demon race?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," Jim replied with a slight smile, adding, "The entire populace of the Empire stands firmly behind your decision to engage the Demon race head-on. The actions of the Demon race, especially the slaying of our sword hero, Leon Kruger, by the Demon Emperor, are perceived as a grave provocation against our human race.

After Jim spoke, his expression turned cold, emanating a potent aura of hostility.

His visible anger conveyed the depth of his hatred and fury toward the Demon Race, particularly the Demon Emperor, for the murder of Leon.

Velix nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting intense hatred and casting palpable tension over the entire palace chamber.

Meanwhile, Luna, observing the exchange, couldn't help but narrow her eyes, silently contemplating the thoughts swirling in her mind.

Valen, also observing the interaction, merely offered a faint smile, his thoughts inscrutable.

After a while, Velix reined in his killing intent and took a small breath to compose himself.

Then, redirecting his focus to Jim, he inquired, "Has there been any response from the Holy Orthodox or indication of troop reinforcement from their end?"

Jim shook his head and replied, "Unfortunately, Your Majesty, no such response from the Holy Orthodox has been observed. It appears they have maintained their neutrality in this conflict and show no inclination to intervene, as they have done in the past."

Velix nodded outwardly, seemingly accepting the news, but a sneer lurked in the depths of his gaze.

'A bunch of cowards...' he derided silently.

The Holy Orthodox had never directly participated in combat against the Demon race.

Even if they had, their involvement was solely to repel demon attacks that breached humanity's front defense lines.

This filled him with extreme disgust towards the Holy Orthodox, believing they were unworthy of holding a status equal to that of his Holy Empire.

Had it not been for their possession of five powerful pillars and a saint endowed with unbelievably strong strength, he would have long ago annexed the Holy Orthodox and established himself as the sole absolute leader of the entire human race!

Swiftly snapping out of his reverie, Velix gave Jim a small nod and said, "Well, thank you for all your efforts these past few days, Jim. Don't worry, I'll reward you accordingly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Assisting you is my duty," Jim replied with a faint, respectful smile before stepping back to his place.

After conversing with Jim, Velix's gaze shifted to Rain, who stood beside Jim.

"Rain," Velix called out in an indifferent tone.

Upon hearing her name, Rain stepped forward slowly, bowing her head slightly in respect.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Rain replied in a flat, indifferent tone.

"In this war, I need you to create an enormous teleportation circle capable of transporting 500,000 main troops and 100,000 reserve troops. Can you do it?" Velix inquired calmly.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Rain replied confidently, though a slight frown creased her otherwise serene face, catching Velix's attention.

"Are there any obstacles or challenges you anticipate encountering?" Velix inquired, with a hint of speculation in his tone.

Rain paused momentarily before nodding as she replied, "Your Majesty, I can indeed employ teleportation magic to transport the entire troop. However, it's important to note that the maximum teleportation distance is only three thousand kilometers from the Empire. The remaining distance, five thousand kilometers from the Desert of Chaos, will need to be covered by road."

Upon hearing her statement, Velix furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Can't you employ double the teleportation magic on the troops to transport them directly to the Desert of Chaos?"

Despite the dissatisfied tone in his voice, Rain shook her head nonetheless.

"Unfortunately not, Your Majesty," Rain replied nonchalantly, "because at a distance of five thousand kilometers from the Desert of Chaos, there is an anti-teleportation magic field that prevents any teleportation magic from outside the field from entering that radius."

Velix fell silent for a few moments before ultimately nodding in acknowledgment, without raising any objections.

"Alright, then I'll entrust the matter to you, Rain," Velix said casually before turning to Jim.

"Jim, considering the remaining five thousand kilometers, how long do you estimate it will take for the troops to reach the Desert of Chaos?"

"With the troop count we're mobilizing, it's likely to take four or five days, Your Majesty. However, if we press on without rest, we could reach the battlefield in three days," Jim replied respectfully, having meticulously calculated the probability.

"Alright. Jim and Rain, you will oversee this operation," Velix ordered with a nonchalant tone.

"As you command, Your Majesty!" Rain and Jim replied in unison.

Velix nodded in satisfaction before shifting his gaze to Natasya and Guren.

"Natasya, Guren," Velix called out.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Natasya and Guren stepped forward in unison, extending respectful gestures towards Velix.

Velix remained silent for a moment, his gaze first resting on Natasya with a nod of satisfaction before shifting towards Guren.

He noticed a newfound vigor and vitality emanating from Guren's face.

'It appears that Guren has changed somewhat since the last battle with Valen,' Velix thought to himself, feeling pleased with the observation.

Following the battle with Valen, the injured Guren was swiftly escorted to the palace's medical facility for thorough and attentive treatment.

In a mere day, he had fully recuperated from his injuries.

Yet, it wasn't solely this swift recovery that pleased Velix; it was the noticeable change in Guren's demeanor.

No longer did he exude the same arrogance as before his battle with Valen; instead, a newfound maturity graced his countenance.

With this newfound calmness, Guren appears poised to ascend as the new sword hero of this era, effectively replacing Leon.

"Natasya and Guren, in this war, you will effectively serve as the primary generals tasked with supporting the heroes. Is that clear?" Velix inquired in a composed and indifferent tone.

"Understood, Your Majesty!" Natasya and Guren responded in unison, their tone resolute.

Velix nodded, fixing his gaze on Guren, and said, "Guren, do you grasp the significance of this war?"

The gravity in Velix's tone was unmistakable, and Guren immediately discerned its significance.

"Fear not, Your Majesty. I shall demonstrate my value," Guren replied with confidence, a faint smile gracing his lips.

This war, emblematic of his ascent as the new sword hero of this era, supplanting Leon—how could he possibly underestimate its significance?

Following his defeat to Valen and enduring severe injuries, Guren came to acknowledge the vast disparity between himself and a true hero.

Despite possessing the hero's destiny and the holy power that came with it, when confronted with true heroes like Valen, Luna, or even Leon—who wielded holy weapons and had received their blessings—he realized the vast gulf that separated him from them.

Hence, until he earned the acknowledgment of the Holy Sword of Zenith, he resolved not to recklessly provoke Valen or Luna.

Meanwhile, Luna, who had remained silent throughout the conversation between Velix and Guren, cast a suspicious glance in their direction.

As Guren spoke with unwavering confidence, Velix nodded in contentment.

"Very well, I place my trust in you," Velix remarked calmly and casually.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Guren replied with a slight smile, and together with Natasya, they slowly withdrew to their previous position.

With all his subordinates already settled into their respective settings and positions, only two heroes remained.

Velix cast a calm gaze upon Valen, towering at 2.5 meters in a fiery red battle robe, and Luna, clad in a white battle robe adorned with blue patterns, emanating a frigid, composed, and piercing aura.

Observing them closely, Velix released a slight sigh before calling out, "Valen and Luna..."

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A/N: I apologize for only completing one chapter today; my hand was hurting, making it uncomfortable to continue writing.

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