31 episodes
10 Convocation (3)
silence.
The inside of the audience was so quiet that even the sound of dust falling could be heard.
People who do not move as if they were frozen in place.
‘ Did you think of this from the beginning?’
Sion faced the emperor who was looking at him.
Things were getting interesting.
In fact, if you think about it, this was the only way Urdios could help him now.
If you were to designate yourself as the successor, you would be closer to the next emperor than anyone else, at least in terms of legitimacy, regardless of qualities or power.
The ‘Eternal Shadow’, the eyes of the Empire that follows only the Emperor’s instructions, will also be easier to handle.
‘ But the question is whether the other princes and princesses will recognize it.’
The backlash was sure to be huge.
The Emperor must also be aware of it.
Nevertheless, this official designation of Zion himself as his successor means that we will see how this will be overcome.
Yes, this was both a help and a test.
Do you really have the qualifications to become an emperor, and do you have the ability to protect this empire, which is already on the verge of collapse due to the infiltration of demons?
“ Father! What does that mean!”
As Zion had expected, the third prince, Enoch, shouted at Urdios with an expression of incomprehension.
He was so bewildered that he was calling him Urdios, not his majesty, but his father.
“ Hey, did you say you’re going to take that guy as your successor?”
Just because the emperor designated him as the official successor did not necessarily mean that he could become the next emperor.
Although Urdios was not even designated as his successor, he became emperor by killing all his other brothers and sisters.
However, it did help.
Because I was able to gain some recognition from the orthodox imperial factions who only follow the emperor to the bone.
“ Yes.”
Looking down at Enoch like that, Urdios spoke like a nail once more.
“ I can’t believe it! Your Majesty don’t you know? What position is Zion in the Imperial Castle? How are you treated? Isn’t it His Majesty that Zion was imprisoned in Chimseonggung in the first place?”
Before Enoch answered again, Diena, who was standing next to her, broke the composure she had maintained until Zion blew the wizard’s head off, and shouted at Urdios.
In her mind, there was a suspicion that her father, who was in front of her now, had heard of senility.
Otherwise, there would be no way to designate a successor like Zion.
And it was the same with Utecan.
“ I, too, have always followed my father’s words without saying a word, but this time I can’t understand it!”
That was natural.
A hundred is a hundred, a thousand is a thousand.
Even if I ask anyone passing by, I won’t say bullshit about designating the imprisoned prince as the successor.
If it were another brother or sister, I could accept it even if I was angry.
However, no matter how much I thought about that person, Zion could not comprehend.
“ May I ask why you chose Zion?”
Unlike the three of them, Evelyn, who was still maintaining her reason, asked the emperor in a calm voice.
“ Because I judged that he was the most suitable for the next emperor among you.”
“ What… … !”
The faces of the royal family are even more contorted at Urdios’ unconventional words that continue.
“ I cannot admit it. This… … I will never admit it!”
Now, the third prince, Enoch, is even expressing his anger towards the emperor.
However, the eyes of Urdios, who looked at Enoch without saying a word, were very calm.
A word once spoken is never repeated.
It was the iron rule that Emperor Urdios had kept until now, and it will be followed in the future.
And that was best known by the royal family who had been watching for a long time.
In addition, it is the authority of the emperor alone to designate a successor.
Just because they didn’t admit it didn’t change anything.
Was it because he knew that?
‘ My father had already made up his mind. This is already irreversible. So what I have to do here is… … .’
Diana, who had regained her composure, quickly shook her head.
A low-pitched voice came out of her mouth.
“ I see. I will follow Your Majesty’s will.”
“ Diana! what does that mean… … !”
“ Instead.”
Ending Enoch’s bewildered eyes, Diena continued her words.
“I have one suggestion.”
“ Tell me.”
At the words of the emperor, the serpent-like eyes of Princess Oh turned toward Zion.
“ Everyone here will know. What is Zion called?”
The imprisoned prince, the cowardly imperial family, the shame of Agnes, etc.
“ There are no good words. And in fact, up until now, Zion has also acted accordingly. It’s changed, but it’s a recent thing. Not many people even know.”
Obviously, the scene that Sion showed a while ago was enough to surprise her, so it was Diena who admitted to some degree that she had changed.
“ What would happen if Zion was suddenly designated as the successor in this situation? Even with us, the backlash from other members of the empire, such as councilors, nobles, and knights, will be huge. There will be endless doubts and dissatisfaction. No, maybe not.”
She continued speaking to Urdios again.
“ So, how about giving me a chance?”
“ A chance?”
“ It’s an opportunity to prove yourself as a successor.”
“ How did you say it?”
“The Seven Great Plagues.”
Diena’s eyes draw dark arcs.
“ We’re going to solve one of them.”
The Seven Great Disasters of the Empire.
Rebellion, conflict, monsters with supernatural powers, etc.
The Seven Great Disasters were the most esoteric and the highest-grade harms that required enormous manpower and energy to solve in the Empire.
Even if the harms within it change according to the times, the name itself has always existed.
And one of the tests of the successor who will be officially crowned emperor was to solve one of these seven great plagues.
“ If you want to become an emperor anyway, you have to solve it someday. If Zion really solves one of the Seven Great Disasters, the backlash from us and others will disappear. No, there may be others who support Zion beyond that. I think I will be able to prove my qualifications at this level, how do you feel?”
Although the horses do, Diena did not think that Zion would be able to solve the Seven Great Plagues.
Basically, the harms that belong to the 7 major catastrophes were not things that could be solved by one’s own strength.
No matter how recently he gained strength and changed, it was like hitting a rock with an egg for Zion to solve a disaster without even a single power.
Obviously, Zion will not accept this impossible proposal.
If that was the case, Diena was planning to take the initiative with that as an excuse.
“ I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
“ Haha, I agree with Diena.”
The three princes and the four princes notice her intentions and add words.
They also did not think that Zion could solve the calamity.
“ Hoo… … .”
There was little interest in Urdios’ eyes.
The emperor looked at Zion as if he would accept this proposal.
At the same time, people’s eyes also begin to focus on Zion.
‘ I roughly expected this to happen, but… … .’
Sion felt those gazes and smiled inwardly.
Even if they didn’t know the future, the actions of the people who existed here almost did not deviate from Zion’s expectations.
‘ Anyway, among the seven catastrophes, there are some things that I must intervene to solve and gain.’
If it were known to the world, the imperial family and other powers here put aside everything and rushed to get it.
‘ It wouldn’t hurt to take this opportunity to deal with it.’
After thinking like that, Shion slowly opened her mouth.
“ Yeah, I’ll prove it to you this time.”
“… … !”
At the unexpected answer, the eyes of the royal family begin to color with surprise once again.
Looking at those royal families, Zion continued.
“ But next time you guys will have to prove it to me.”
Is it really useful to me?
Saying that, Zion’s eyes were curved like a crescent moon.
* * *
What Zion did when he returned to Chimseonggung after finishing his work at the people’s palace was to head to the underground dance hall.
Anyway, there was a time before I left the Imperial Castle to solve one of the Seven Great Disasters.
Until then, Shion was thinking of refining his power a little more.
Shrek.
Shion embodied Iklaxia, the extinct light sword that had turned into darkness, in her hand.
Iklaxia, a mythical weapon, had a number of additional functions as it was for its class, and this was one of them.
‘ Where did the other half of the sword go?’
Shion glanced at the tip of the broken extinct light sword and furrowed his eyebrows.
After obtaining Iklaxia from the Dream of the Stars, Shion concentrated on studying Iklaxia along with physical training for a week.
As a result of finding out that way, it was difficult to use the extinct light sword in practice in its current state.
‘ To be precise, making the other half of the sword is difficult.’
To use Iklaxia in battle, you had to have half of the other missing blades.
Fortunately, that sword could be created temporarily using Shion’s own Black Star.
The problem was that the total amount of Heukseongha entering there was so great that he couldn’t handle it.
‘ The only time I can keep the sword now is only a few minutes.’
Perhaps it could be used as a hidden room at the decisive moment.
The only way to improve this was to raise the status of Heukseongha or find the half of the sword god.
‘ The good news is that other effects can be used properly.’
Among them, the effect that Shion liked the most was the storage and amplification of the Black Star.
Using these two effects, the achievements of the Black Star could be raised much faster and more efficiently.
‘ If it’s like this, the 3 stars won’t be too far away.’
After all, the only thing that Zion lacks is the physical part and the absolute amount of the Black Star.
Since I had already seen the end once, there was no such thing as a mental wall blocking my way.
‘ If you use Eclaxia, even if a solar eclipse is impossible, wouldn’t it be possible to use a lunar eclipse?’
Shion thought so and looked at Iklaxia in her hand.
lunar meal.
A technique that amplifies the black stars flowing through the body as if they exploded in an instant, allowing them to use their abilities several times.
It was a deceptive technique that was able to reverse any situation at once, no matter how difficult it was.
It was not only used for a short period of time, but it was a technique that had not been used very much in previous lives because the burden on the body was enormous once used.
However, it was also a necessary skill for Sion now.
Originally, it was an advanced technology that could only be imitated even if it reached the 3 Stars of Heukseongha, but it could have been possible even if it was incompletely if using Iklaxia.
‘ Where once… … .’
Whoa!
As soon as he thought of it, to try it, Sion pushed the Black Star into the Extinction Light Sword and created the other half of the sword.
Iklaxia, which has become so perfect, absorbs all the light around it, adding to the black color.
With him, the blood vessels in Zion’s body vibrate as if pumping, and the black stars flowing in it begin to amplify.
Thump, pound, pound!
A heart that beats as fast as it is about to explode, and darkness that beats uncontrollably.
The moment when such heartbeats and dark fluctuations finally reach their climax.
drop.
It all stopped in an instant, as if time had stopped.
and.
profit-
A strange sound from the depths of Zion’s body.
It was like the sound of a rusty door being opened.
with him.
—————!
The darkness around it subsided heavily in an instant.
The moment when such darkness is about to take some form.
“ Until here.”
Shion took the blade of Iklaxia that he had made.
If it continued for more than this, it really felt like it would put a load on my body.
‘ I just needed to know that I could use a lunar eclipse.’
Even though I canceled it as soon as it was activated, I could already feel soreness all over my body.
If it is activated until the end, it will probably not be able to move properly for a while.
‘ It seems that preparations are complete.’
With that in mind, Shion, who transformed Iklaxia back into darkness, slowly left the underground gymnasium.
Zion’s eyes glowed with a cold light as if the time had come.
Now it was his turn to make contact with the eyes of the Empire.