In Morning Star Era.

Because of the balance of power, the whole plane regained its temporary peace, this allowed the Human Empire to steadily developed its new economy, education, weapons, magic spells and regain its once lost population.

This peace appeared to last for a long time, but it was not.

When the new king of demi-human, a magnificent elf, appeared, he was far wiser than any previous kings of the demi-human, some even said that his intellect could even rival the Great Emperors.

As he held absolute authority over all demi-humans, including elves, beast kins and dwarves, he made a deal with the mysterious Undying's leader to become its ally, he launched campaigns after campaigns, seized both territories of Human and Demon.

But because this new king had appeared too late, the Human Empire had already gotten their hands on newer and better technologies and tactics, if not because any of these, they would have been destroyed long ago.

As for the demons, they didn't fare any better either because the Undying had a new ally to exchanges weapons and magic, although Holy Magic of the demi-human sounded lethal to the Undying, in the end, it was just another name for the nature-type magic.

With the balance of power broken, the peace was now gone, the new war had finally begun, however, its scale was far insignificant compared to the Ancient War, that was because a lot of ancient technologies and magic spells had been scattered throughout Dark Era, due to the death of the great sages.

While both humans and demons were at the face of extinction, the demi-humans and Undying were more prosperous than ever.

Although on the surface, it looked like all demi-humans had accepted the Undying, there were some lingering fear and hatred within most of the demi-humans, so they created a rebellious organization, called the Masked, if not for the excellent abilities of the Great King of demi-human, the royalty would have been overthrown due to their agreement to help the Undying.

While it seemed that the fate of both demons and humans had been sealed, in reality, they were not.

The end of Morning Star Era was approaching.

...

At the center of Human Continent, there was a flourishing city, namely the capital city of the Human Empire, the same one as the capital city of the Indestructible Empire of Ancient Era, the capital city was surrounded by the far-reaching wall, where the soldiers patrolled around per the order of the commanders, to keep lookout for enemies and bandits.

While the citizens were enjoying themselves heartily on the street, the nobles were nowhere to be seen, same went to the officials because they were all called for the conference by the emperor's absolute decree.

At the Imperial Castle.

In the Judgement Hall, stationed the imperial guards, tasked to protect and guard the safety of the royalty.

Upon the glittery throne sat an old man, dressed in long white robe, the robe was engraved with the illusionary lines that were glowing from time to time, although he looked fragile, he radiated the refined aura of supremacy as if everything must obey his wills and commands, in his eyes reflected the wisdom accumulated from the passage of time.

At his side stood a tall man in his prime, he wore the golden armour and had a sword which runes carved on it on his wrist, coupled with his calm demeanour, he gave off the feeling as if he was the matchless warrior who passed through countless battles, there was the strong feeling of confidence in each and every action of his.

The old man who sat on the throne was naturally the emperor of Human Empire, titled the Blood Emperor, his name and history were long lost from this world, only he himself knew it.

So, the man beside him must be the strongest royal guard, hand picked by the Blood Emperor to act as his personal bodyguard, his name was Slien, he was adopted by an imperial scholar because of his talent of fighting.

Later on, when he enrolled the army, the imperial scholar got assassinated, he swore to himself to avenge his foster-father.

After he found out that it was his commander who planned the assassination attempt of his foster-father, he broke into the commander's manor and slaughtered every single one of the commander's relatives, that was the moment the Blood Emperor noticed this talented young man and decided to pardon him of his crime and pull him into the Royal Faction.

When the conference was about to begin, no one was absent, due to the fact that they all knew what consequence of being absent despite the decree was.

Every noble and official were seated in their respective seat, the nearest from the emperor was the highest ranking on both nobles and officials, the farthest from the emperor was the lowest ranking to attend the conference, Grand Noble and Prime Minister, the highest title given to noble and official, although they were the most influential person in the entire empire excluding the royalty, they never showed any sign of disrespect or arrogant toward the emperor, because not even them dared to speak without the permission for the emperor.

Due to this unwritten rule, the hall was silent as the graveyard, every second to everyone in there was like an eternity, as the atmosphere was getting too tense, somebody broke the silence.

"Long live the emperor!" Slien shouted.

"Long live the emperor!" Everyone else resounded.

The Grand Noble Stood up and waited for the emperor's permission.

"You may begin." The emperor said emotionlessly.

The Grand Noble saluted and said to everyone.

"I believe that everyone knew what happened recently.

"The last's defence of our empire at the North has been penetrated by those wicked demi-humans and Undying, they are on their way to the capital, which estimated to reach us around 7 days at most."

After that, he sat down and wait for any response he would get.

However, not a single person was willing to speak, soon, the hall descended into the silence once again.

Following a period of silence.

"I propose that you should flee, your majesty, if you were still alive, then there will be the day when the empire shall rise again.

"You must flee to the South, your majesty, my troops are already standby to escort you to safety."

The prime minister who had stood up broke the silence and made a suggestion with those words.

The emperor slowly lifted his head and looked straight into the prime minister's eyes.

"Soldiers, restrain him, he has betrayed the humanity."

He said not too slow nor too fast.

While everyone was startled, Slien quickly closed into the prime minister, due to his superhuman abilities, no one was able to react to his sudden movement, but as soon as he slashed the back of the sword at the prime minister, aimed to restrain him per the emperor's command, the prime minister's figure turned illusionary.

"HAHAHA!"The prime minister laughed crazily.

"So you noticed it anyway, huh?

"I shouldn't make such a bad suggestion, that was a flaw on my end, I shouldn't tell you that it was my troop nor should I tell you to go to South.

"But don't feel depressed, everyone, the demi-humans has offered us the large amounts of fortune and status of the noble if we offered them this emperor's head."

He raised his hand and points at the old man who sat on the glorious throne.

"I, Tradio Mordus, shall become the new ruler of the humanity, everyone who pledged their loyalty to me shall be spared!"

His illusionary shape dissolved into nothing after he finished his speech.

After Tradio was gone, the emperor gradually stood up.

"Under my heritage, I declared that the current prime minister of Human Empire, Tradio Mordus, has betrayed us and joined the demi-humans.

"In addition, no nobles or officials are allowed to leave the capital."

He slowly sat down on the throne and waved his hand, signalling the end of the conference.

"Long live the emperor!"

Everyone gloomily saluted and walked out of the hall, except for Slein.

"What should I do next, your majesty?"

Slein had always been loyal to the emperor, since the day he was saved by him, he saw the emperor as his second foster-father.

The emperor still seated, not answering for a long time.

"My reign that lasted for decades, has finally come to an end."

He said softly, but the declaration that he made was enough to scare any person witless.

This person is the Blood Emperor, the wisest emperor of the Morning Star Era who combined both Noble Faction and Royal Faction into one, and he said that his legend has come to an end.

"No, your majesty, you are the most brilliant emperor after the Ancient War, there must be something wrong about this.

"It's impossible for you to fall this easily."

Slein was startled, he never expected that the emperor would give up his conquest so easily.

The emperor shook his head and turn to Slien.

"Slein, I didn't give up too soon, but we are already lost, the nobles and officials will defect to them, almost all of them has any faith in me now."

After a short period of silence, the emperor took the crown off his head.

"Announce to the empire that I will retire, as for you, Slien, you are free to go wherever you want."

After the emperor finished his decree, he stood up and walked to his chamber.

Slein stood there silently, he didn't know what to do.