Chapter 1: Falling from the Sky

Their faces were filled with smiles of pride and confidence, as they awaited the arrival of His Majesty the King while engaging in conversation. The taverns and inns on both sides of the street had also been newly decorated, with some even hanging large red lanterns to signify celebration, and inside, they were filled with elegantly dressed nobles and merchants

Kejie ranks tenth on the mainland's celebrity list and is also the only person known for his exceptional talent and strategy rather than for his martial prowess.

After the peace negotiations, Kaiji diligently worked to attract talent, and the imperial power gradually recovered and continued to strengthen. Ultimately, one hundred years later, it united with the Assyrian Empire and the Loulan Empire to launch an attack on the Turan Empire, leading to its destruction

As the palace guard took their positions along the main street, nine massive mammoths adorned with colorful ribbons, showcasing their formidable tusks, slowly pulled a lavishly decorated and enormous carriage. On the carriage was a pavilion made of precious cedar wood from the Beast Forest, standing five stories tall, with each level intricately patterned, exuding unparalleled luxury. His Majesty King Kaichi, clad in military attire, stood by the railing on the fifth level, smiling as he gazed at the surging crowd.

The reason for this situation is that today is not only the annual Harvest Festival of the mainland, but also the 3000th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Dragon Empire. More importantly, His Majesty King Kaichi will parade this morning along the main street of the imperial capital to celebrate with the people

When the people looked towards His Majesty Cage again, they saw a young man with an eccentric appearance, possessing a pair of black eyes and short hair, descending from the sky. What was most astonishing was that he landed right in front of Cage just as the black long arrow was about to strike him, blocking the deadly arrow.

Most surprisingly, at the time when the Turan Empire was captured and the three kingdoms celebrated, Kaichi secretly ordered his strong subordinates to launch a surprise attack on the capitals of the Assyrian Empire and the Loulan Empire. The royal families and major nobles of both countries were almost entirely annihilated, with only a few escaping. Meanwhile, the army of the Holy Dragon Empire suddenly launched an offensive, and the unprepared armies of the two countries were soon defeated. Subsequently, Kaichi mobilized millions of troops, dividing them into two routes directly targeting the two great empires of Assyria and Loulan. Ten years later, both regions were pacified, and the strength of the Holy Dragon Empire surged, subtly resembling the seventh empire of the continent. As a result, Kaichi's reputation spread far and wide, making him one of the top ten figures on the continent, and his deeds were widely disseminated across the land. The Holy Dragon Empire, which had always been regarded as a small nation, also entered the sight of the powerful nations of the continent.

Corresponding to their strength is their expenditure; the amount of money spent by their ten thousand men exceeds that of ten million ordinary troops of the empire. This is due to the silver magic swords and white armor they possess, which are forged by dwarven craftsmen and enchanted by elven mages, making these magical weapons extraordinarily expensive. The six-level magical beast, the Black Demon Horse, that they ride is imported from the Orc Empire, one of the six major powers on the continent. Not only is it prohibitively expensive, but there are also restrictions on its quantity. Furthermore, they must agree to open their borders to the Orc Empire to establish trade posts and sell some armor and weapons, which are strictly prohibited by the human empire.

After the assassin was subdued, a large number of the Imperial Guards arrived at the scene. Upon reaching the main street, the guards immediately divided into several large squads to encircle the area. They received orders not to let anyone escape, or they would face severe punishment. The chaotic crowd, upon seeing the guards, began to rush out in a frenzy, but they were quickly suppressed by the guards, who were filled with pent-up frustration. Under the suppression of the guards, the chaotic crowd squatted on the ground with their hands on their heads, waiting for the guards to take action. The guards paid no attention to those who had already squatted down, focusing solely on subduing those still in chaos. After a period of time, the chaotic crowd, under the brutal suppression of the guards and the bloody lessons from other non-compliant individuals, began to squat down to show their submission and non-resistance. It was only then that the chaos on the main street was brought under control.

Just as Kaichi smiled and waved his arms to greet the crowd, a black long arrow, swift as lightning and glinting coldly, suddenly shot out from the opposite restaurant, aimed directly at His Majesty Kaichi.

The palace guards and attendants rushed into the taverns and inns to detain the people inside. However, upon seeing the nobles and wealthy merchants present, their murderous intent immediately faded, and they politely explained the situation, asking for cooperation. The nobles and merchants, understanding that it was not the right time to leave, complied obediently. Seeing their cooperation, the guards and attendants relaxed, allowing their tense nerves to ease. Although they were not afraid of these nobles and merchants, they did not wish to offend them and create an enemy for themselves.

Regardless of the circumstances, after today, the capital will undoubtedly undergo significant changes. It is uncertain how many prominent families will be suppressed and eliminated, nor how many fortunate smaller families will rise to prominence. In any case, the power center of the capital will undergo a thorough reshuffling. Alas, it is unknown how many innocent lives will be lost as a result... People began to discuss, and one relatively conscientious noble expressed such sentiments.

At this moment, people turned their gaze towards the source of the sound, only to see two members of the palace guard, clad in shimmering silver-white armor and wielding silver magical swords, riding uniformly on level six magical beasts, the Black Demon Horses. They swiftly positioned themselves on either side of the main street, vigilantly observing the surrounding crowd, their eyes occasionally glinting with a cold light, imparting an extremely dangerous feeling.

As the black long arrow pierced through the barrier and was about to strike the astonished and fearful Kaige, people couldn't help but open their mouths wide, widen their eyes, and look at the black long arrow with expressions of terror

They exchanged the latest news of the empire and the continent with smiles, as well as some gossip about the influential figures in the imperial capital. However, when discussing the future of the empire, they could not help but reveal expressions of concern. It is unclear what could still be troubling them on this festive day.

Although they number only 10,000, each of these individuals is an elite who has emerged from tens of millions of troops, each possessing their own glorious memories and having been outstanding figures in their original military ranks. After achieving sufficient military merits on the battlefield and undergoing a series of assessments and examinations, they are eligible to join the Imperial Guard. Once they become members of the Guard, it signifies their entry into the noble class and their status as rulers of the empire

Just when people believed that His Majesty Cage was undoubtedly doomed, an exceptionally loud and piercing "Ah..." sound shattered the space and resonated in their ears, as if it were a thunderclap awakening them from their terror

I am certain that there must be involvement from the great nobles of the Empire in this incident; otherwise, how could there be so many assassins appearing in the taverns and main streets? It is worth noting that these areas had been searched by the palace guards' scouts before His Majesty's arrival

While many were still in disbelief over the events unfolding before them, Cage, a seasoned emperor, was the first to react. He immediately turned to the guard beside him and shouted, "Immediately bring the assassin back to me." After saying this, he, along with the recently arrived Saint Sean and the peculiar young man with short hair, turned the carriage around and headed towards the palace

In those restaurants and inns, the nobles and wealthy merchants began to discuss after the guards and sentinels retreated to the entrance. "Who do you think might have orchestrated this assassination attempt? His Majesty was nearly killed this time. It is estimated that there will be significant turmoil in the imperial capital during this period. I wonder how many people will die as a result of this assassination incident," said a portly nobleman with a round face.

Kejie was the grand prince of the Holy Dragon Empire, exceptionally intelligent from a young age, and deeply favored by his father and the empire's ministers. At the age of twenty, the Holy Dragon Empire went to war with the neighboring Turan Empire. Due to the Turan Empire's far superior strength, Kejie's father unfortunately died on the battlefield, leading to a catastrophic defeat for the empire, with millions dead and wounded and vast territories lost. In this critical moment, with the support of the empire's chancellor, Chierman, and the empire's marshal, Thomas, Kejie ascended to the throne. Upon his accession, Kejie immediately dispatched envoys to the Turan Empire to negotiate peace, secretly bribing the chancellor of the Turan Empire with a large amount of treasures and a group of beautiful women. Ultimately, the Holy Dragon Empire ceded one hundred thousand miles of territory to the Turan Empire, compensated one hundred billion purple gold coins, and provided a substantial amount of strategic materials, thus averting the imminent threat of national annihilation.

The main street of the imperial capital, six zhang wide, has been cleaned to perfection, not a speck of dust in sight. The ground resembles a layer of smooth marble, shimmering under the sunlight. On both sides of the street, young men and women dressed in a variety of new clothes stand in abundance, creating a sea of flowers when viewed from the sky. Those who do not understand might even think it is a fashion show!

They are the royal guard of His Majesty, having followed the sovereign in numerous campaigns, resulting in countless deaths. Each member is not only proficient in various killing techniques but also possesses a ruthless and cold-hearted demeanor. There was once a foreign tribe of one million that was completely exterminated by them, sparing neither men nor women, nor the young nor the old. After this event, they were referred to as the "Butcher Guard"

Amidst the hopes and expectations of the people, a resounding voice of "Your Majesty has arrived" echoed from the side of the main street, accompanied by the chilling sound of thundering hooves that shook the earth.

At that moment, the wizard Sean, dressed in a black magic robe and with his eyes tightly closed, who had already reached the pinnacle of the Saint-level in magic, seemed to have sensed something. He suddenly opened his eyes, and with a movement of his right hand holding the magic staff, a transparent barrier appeared outside the carriage

In the year 34500 of the mainland calendar, the imperial capital of the Holy Dragon Empire was filled with a festive and joyful atmosphere both inside and out. In the early morning, as the sun just began to rise and the moon had not yet completely set, nobles dressed in splendid goose-feather robes, with proud expressions, and merchants clad in expensive silk garments, looking clever, all left their homes with smiles, heading towards the taverns along the main street of the imperial capital. At the same time, ordinary citizens and craftsmen, dressed in simple cloth, excitedly chatted and strolled towards the main street. It seemed as if everyone in the imperial capital had been summoned by the gods, spontaneously making their way to the main street. From above, one could see a torrent formed by luxurious carriages and crowds of people in various colorful attire converging from all the small paths towards the main street.

At this moment, numerous assassins, their hands wrapped in black scarves, drew their weapons from the taverns and the crowd, charging towards Kaige's carriage. The palace guards stationed along the main street, with fierce expressions, unsheathed their magical swords and galloped on their dark steeds towards the assassins. Simultaneously, a large number of skilled fighters leaped from the carriage to engage in the fray. The main street was in chaos, filled with fleeing crowds, while the assassins clashed with the palace guards. Everywhere, there was a tumult of fighting energy and dazzling magic, accompanied by the blood of fallen humans and severed limbs raining down. In no time, the assassins fell beneath the magical swords of the guards. By the time the skilled fighters from the carriage arrived, only a few of the assassins remained, struggling desperately under the guards' onslaught. With the arrival of the imperial experts, the assassins were swiftly subdued and eliminated.

At this moment, the people on the main street were wildly waving their arms, excitedly cheering in the direction of the carriage. They expressed their reverence for His Majesty King Kaichi in this manner, while King Kaichi, dressed in full military regalia and standing on the carriage, smiled and waved to the crowd.

Upon hearing the words of the noble, everyone ceased their discussions and began to lower their heads in contemplation. Some of the more influential nobles pondered how they could maintain their current status in the future, while those who were not faring as well started to consider how they could seize greater power during the turmoil in the imperial capital. Meanwhile, other merchants began to deliberate on how they could avoid disaster and benefit from the situation. Those nobles who were struggling continued to think about how they could gain more power amidst the chaos in the imperial capital, while the merchants focused on strategies to safeguard themselves and capitalize on the circumstances.

It is likely the work of the remnants of the Three Kingdoms that were destroyed by the empire; just now, I saw quite a few renowned masters from the original Three Kingdoms

They themselves enjoy a very high status and power, each possessing their own fief and servants, being hailed as nobles without titles, together with the aristocracy forming the ruling class of the empire like a pyramid. Of course, they heed only the commands of His Majesty the King, serving as the undisputed elite force of the empire, the sharpest blade of the empire, and also the last line of defense of the empire

Just as Mage Sean was about to relax and close his eyes again, a black long arrow unexpectedly pierced through the barrier and continued flying towards Cage. At that moment, the previously composed Mage Sean involuntarily exclaimed, "Your Majesty, be careful." He then flew towards Cage.