***
The year 210 Before the Great Empire.
The Virelion Continent
The Athanor Empire.
The doors to the great hall opened, a man with black hair and red pupils walked in. He wore a long black robe with dragon skull ornaments on both shoulders. Each step he took was followed by a powerful burst of magical energy spreading throughout the room.
"We pay our respects to His Majesty the Demon Emperor," everyone in the main hall of the 1000-Star Palace of Athanor greets him.
The man continues to walk, still emitting magical energy, causing many people to be afraid, even to look at him.
"Nerazel?" calls Vael'tharon, the Demon Emperor of Athanor.
The red-haired man with horns on his head stepped forward, kneeling submissively on the red carpet facing Vael'tharon. His face looked terrified, his knees and legs trembling.
He knew he was guilty. He was very afraid of being punished by Emperor Vael.
"Kael?" Vael'tharon called out again to another man, his younger brother.
Kael'tharon stepped forward and nodded respectfully to Vael. He began to explain why his older brother had called Nerazel before the 13 supreme commanders of the Athanor Empire. It was because of a fatal mistake he had made.
"Nerazel was tasked with guarding the northwestern border; he also held authority over the city there. His position had been untouchable for 500 years!" Kael said firmly.
"However, it seems that he was never satisfied with the luxury His Majesty the Emperor had given him!" Kael rebuked.
Kael moved his fingers to form the letter S in front of his face. He pressed the letter S to activate his personal system, which included various features, one of which was the inventory.
[Inventory:]
[1 Video Recording of the Zoragul Border in the Northwest]
Without hesitation, Kael played the video and showed it to everyone. The 13 supreme commanders who had always been loyal and fought alongside Vael and Kael felt betrayed by Nerazel's actions.
"He conspired with humans?!" asked one of the 13 Demon Generals.
"Damn it! I thought the Zoragul border had been breached, but you betrayed us and opened the way for human knights!" another man said firmly, his face reddish and wanting to kill the traitor.
As the 13 generals were about to vent their anger on Nerazel, Vael slowly raised his hand. This caught their attention, causing them to immediately stop attacking and kneel obediently. Kael bowed his head.
[WARNING!]
[Life span is almost over. Find a successor immediately!]
Not just once, but the panel kept appearing and sounding over the past 50 years. Vael tried to pass the throne to Kael, but the succession failed for no apparent reason. He couldn't pass the throne to Liel because she was a woman.
However, thanks to Kael's ability to predict the future by sacrificing part of his lifespan, he discovered a single black spot among the gathering of light. He shared a similar affinity with Vael, with a body not bound by the laws of light.
He was the potential successor to the Demon Empire of Athanor. However, this would occur 500 years after the Great Empire was formed.
Kael turned around and saw his brother coughing up blood, golden blood. Vael, Kael, and Liel were direct descendants of the Lord of Darkness, Azarel.
"Brother?" asked Kael, panicking.
"I don't have much time," replied Vael, getting up from his throne and quickly stepping forward, right in front of Nerazel.
"What… what will you do to me, Your Majesty the Emperor?" asked Nerazel, panicked and terrified.
"You will know the consequences for betraying me," replied Vael, coldly.
"All of you!"
The 13 Supreme Demon Generals bowed their heads, as did Kael. They bowed respectfully, ready to take orders from Vael.
"The humans have invaded Athanor. Use all your power to get rid of them!" said Vael firmly. The 13 Supreme Demon Generals nodded obediently.
They took their leave and flew away from the 1000 Star Palace of Athanor, accompanied by their Demon Clan soldiers. Vael stared ahead, a great battle was taking place in the Athanor region, a holy war that would determine everything, whether humans or demons would survive.
"Kael?" called Vael.
"Yes, big brother?"
"You and Liel must immediately prepare the Divine Seal of the Demon Empire. When I return, I want you to have finished the seal."
"But to do that, we need—"
"I will sacrifice all my magical energy for this seal. Let the Athanor Empire survive until my successor arrives," Vael interrupted.
Vael reached out and grabbed Nerazel by the throat, making him helpless. With a swing of his left hand, he opened a dimensional rift that connected directly to the sky above the battlefield.
Slowly, Vael stepped forward and walked on the sky floor. In an instant, a dimensional rift opened above the battlefield, where humans and demons were fighting for their lives. Swords were drawn, arrows flew, spears were thrust, and maces crushed.
If mere humans saw this war, their consciousness would not last long due to the horror and brutality of the war.
"It's Emperor Vael'Tharon!"
"Finally! With the arrival of His Majesty Emperor Vael, the demons' victory in this battle is assured!" declared several other demon races.
Vael's appearance, accompanied by two massive black dragons, drew the seven Divine Knights to come. They arrived flying through the sky, clad in golden armor with white robes fluttering behind them.
The seven Divine Knights symbolized the seven ancient weapons that could defeat demons, such as swords, spears, maces, scythes, arrows, priests, and magic wands.
Divine Knights were the highest rank in the knight hierarchy, a status desired by many knights because they were considered heroes of mankind.
"Arthur," said Vael, looking at Arthur, a 35th Divine Saber.
"Emperor Vael. It seems that this is the last time we will meet, because the Athanor Empire will fall into human hands," replied Arthur.
"You always say that every time you see me. Why are you so confident?" asked Vael.
"Because we hold the power of light and humanity's hope. Nothing is stronger than their hope," explained Arthur.
"The easiest disappointment you can get is to hope in humans!"
Vael quickly stepped forward in a flash of dark purple light. Arthur was caught off guard; he tried to jump away to avoid Vael, but he failed as he was pulled in by Vael's dark gravitational force.
"ARTHUR?!" the other Divine Knights were shocked, because Vael had never acted aggressively like that before; it wasn't like him.
"What did you do to him?!" another man, Arthur's companion, shouted.
BLAST!
Vael destroyed Nezarel's body and released Nezarel's identical power into Arthur's body. Arthur tried to resist, but the gravitational pull from Vael made it difficult for him and the other Divine Knights to break free.
[Warning!]
[The Curse of Divine Darkness has been cast!]
[Purify your body immediately!]
"The Curse of Divine Darkness?" asked Arthur.
Vael looked down, seeing the fierce battle still raging between his forces and the human army. He stepped forward in a flash of light from the peak of the sky, arriving near the human knights. Six members of the Divine Knights followed Vael wherever he went.
"13 Supreme Demon Generals! Retreat and withdraw your forces. Focus all your forces at the 1000 Star Palace of Athanor!" Vael said firmly.
[High Dark Magic: Dark Dragon Relic!]
Vael raised both fingers and summoned a massive black dragon from the ground. The dark dragon soared into the sky in a serpentine form, spewing dark energy that turned humans into undead creatures.
Five dark serpent dragons hovered and began to breathe death, transforming humans into undead warriors clad in armor and wielding swords. The six Divine Knights attempted to fight the dragons, but their combined efforts could only defeat two of the dark dragons.
150,000 knights transformed into an undead army that now ruled the Athanor region. They would remain there forever, cursed by the power of Emperor Vael's Dark Dragon.
Not wanting to take any risks, the six members of the Divine Knights left the Athanor region, leaving many of their knights trapped in the eternal curse.
[High Dark Magic: Poisonous Nature Control!]
Vael used another spell to transform the Athanor region into a toxic and dangerous wasteland. This was to prevent anyone from discovering the existence of the 1000-Star Athanor Palace.
A dark green mist emerged from Vael's body and spread throughout the Athanor region, like a thick fog covering the hundreds of thousands of undead.
The commander of the knight army witnessed the scene and deeply pondered the meaning behind Vael's plan. Why did he shroud the entire region in poisonous fog and thousands of undead?
"Report this to the Kings' Alliance! They must know what is happening in the Athanor region."
"Yes, sir!"
Elsewhere, Vael swung his hand sideways and opened another dimensional rift. He stepped through it and arrived inside the Main Hall of the 1000-Star Athanor Palace.
He saw his two younger siblings working hard to defend the Divine Seal of the Demon Empire. Seeing Vael's arrival, Liel and Kael paused for a moment.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," greeted the 13 supreme demon generals.
"Have all the demon clans entered the palace?" asked Vael.
"We have done exactly as you commanded," replied one of the generals. Vael nodded.
Liel stepped closer to Vael, as if to confirm her brother's decision. Vael nodded. Sealing the 1000- Star Palace of Athanor was the only way to stop the shortening of their lifespans.
"The 1000-Star Palace of Athanor will remain sealed until my successor arrives. And I have another task for you, Liel," explained Vael, leaving Liel confused.
"What is it, big brother?" asked Liel.
"Go to the human world and live among them. Find my successor and train him in the dark arts. If you feel confident in him, you can bring him directly to the this palace," replied Vael.
"Wait! I don't want to go! I want to stay with you and Brother Kael," Liel protested, refusing and struggling.
"Your task is very important, Liel. Your success will determine the rise of the demon clan," replied Vael, patting Liel gently on the shoulder.
Kael nodded with a smile. In his foresight, he saw Liel standing beside Vael's successor. Vael must have guessed his plan, even though Kael hadn't told him anything about it.
"Obey Vael's request, Liel. You must stay alive to keep our hopes," replied Kael.
Hearing his two brothers gently persuade her, Liel had no choice. Her heart ached when she realized she had to leave her two brothers. Still, orders were orders.
Liel was determined not to disappoint Vael and Kael. She would find that young man and make him the next successor to the Demon Emperor.
"All right! I'm ready."
Kael nodded. He handed Liel a teleportation stone, which would take her directly to the northern part of the human realm. Kael had already prepared everything when the prophecy revealed Vael's successor.
"Use the teleportation stone to get to the human world. Remember to always be careful, Liel," said Kael. Liel nodded obediently.
"Go. The Divine Seal of the Demon Empire will soon be complete; I don't want you to get trapped in this seal," Vael requested, and Liel responded with a nod.
She left the main hall and was completely outside the 1000-Star Palace of Athanor. Kael and Vael continued the process of completing the Divine Seal of the Demon Empire.
Just as the Divine Seal was completed, Kael turned into stone, as did the 13 Supreme Commanders and the entire demon clan in the palace. The soil began to cover the entire palace, formed by large rocks and planted with huge trees.
Vael sat on his throne, his body starting to harden from his feet up to his chest, making it difficult for him to move his hands and feet.
"I will wait for you, my successor!"
In an instant, the form of the 1000-Star Palace of Athanor transformed into a massive mountain without a crater. Only Liel knew the way into the Athanor Palace.
Liel turned, watching with deep sorrow as the 1000-Star Palace of Athanor vanished.
"I must find him. I cannot disappoint their hopes."