Chapter 109: The Declaration of War - Part 2
"Valen and Luna..."
When their names were called, Valen and Luna approached slowly.
Unlike Jim, Natasya, Rain, and Guren, neither of them displayed much respect toward Velix, who sat on the throne.
After all, their hero's sacred status was there.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Valen replied with his usual nonchalance, accompanied by a frivolous smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Luna replied calmly, her demeanor as cold and nonchalant as ice.
Velix nodded toward them, then shifted his gaze to Luna. "Luna, Valen should have explained the whole situation to you, correct?"
Luna gave a small nod, her gaze instantly turning cold.
"Of course, Your Majesty. I'm already aware of everything, from the news of Leon's death to the reason for this war," Luna replied coldly, her tone echoing an unusually strong sense of killing intent.
Despite Arshely's suggestion that Leon might still be alive, Luna couldn't bring herself to allow or forgive the Demon Emperor, who had inflicted harm upon him.
Thus, in this war, she vowed to eradicate the demons and avenge Leon, her childhood friend and the person she loved dearly.
Even if the Demon Emperor, known for his immense power, entered the war, Luna wouldn't hesitate to confront him first and take him down!
Sensing Luna's intense killing intent, Velix smiled slightly and nodded in satisfaction.
"It's reassuring to know you've grasped the situation. I'm relieved that both you and Valen are leading this war," Velix remarked nonchalantly.
"Um." Luna nodded, concealing her killing intent and adopting her usual cold, indifferent expression.
Velix then turned his gaze to Valen, who maintained a reckless smile on his face.
"Valen, you recall our earlier conversation, don't you?" Velix inquired, his gaze narrowing slightly, conveying a warning.
"Hahaha! Fear not, Your Majesty. If the Demon Emperor appears, I'll confront him with all my strength. And if by chance I can't best him, I'll make a tactical retreat," Valen declared proudly, his tone dripping with arrogance.
Velix took a measured breath and nodded.
"I entrust this matter to you," Velix stated nonchalantly.
Valen grinned, acknowledging Velix's words, before withdrawing alongside Luna to their previous position.
Observing that everything was in order, Velix took a brief breath.
Then he stood up from his throne, casting his gaze upon them all with an indifferent expression that carried a hint of excitement.
"All of you, the planning has been meticulous, and I anticipate a favorable outcome in our battle against the Demon Race," Velix remarked with a faint smile.
Jim, Rain, Natasya, Guren, Valen, and Luna nodded in unison, each wearing a distinct expression on their faces.
"Alright! Follow me to Imperial Palace Square. We'll lift the spirits of our troops and formally declare war on the demon race!" Velix's voice echoed authoritatively throughout the throne room.
"Yes!" The six responded in unison.
...
Meanwhile, in the expansive and splendid Imperial Palace Square, six hundred thousand troops, comprising cavalry, infantry, archers, mages, and reserve units, stood gathered and arrayed in meticulous formation.
Each troop, standing at their designated position, commanded awe and elicited a shudder from any observer peering down upon them.
This formidable assembly represented the military might of one of the world's most powerful empires, the Holy Empire of Elysium, boasting a storied history spanning seven millennia!
Outside the square of the Imperial Palace, hundreds of thousands—no, millions—of the Imperial Capital's residents congregated, resembling an immense sea of humanity.
Every street in the capital, from the narrow alleys to the broad main thoroughfares, teemed with crowds of people gathered and arranged in orderly rows.
Their sole intention in assembling was to bear witness to humanity's declaration of war against the entire demon race!
"Is this day finally upon us?"
"Hahaha! The day of hoisting the declaration of war has arrived at last! I'm bursting with excitement, damn it!"
"Absolutely! I've waited far too long for the day when we, as the human race, will wage war against those cursed demons who dared to slay our revered sword hero!"
"Sword Hero Leon, your day of vengeance draws near, and we, united as humanity, will stand by the imperial palace's side against the accursed demon race!"
Exclamations and excited chatter about the impending war echoed throughout every corner of the Imperial Capital, each voice expressing differing opinions and a spectrum of emotions.
Nevertheless, amidst their varied opinions and discussions, they shared a common goal: to wholeheartedly back the Imperial Palace in its declaration of war against the Demons!
Driven by either a desire for human glory or a quest for retribution for the death of the sword hero Leon at the hands of the Demon Emperor, their spirits are at their peak!
The deep-rooted animosity harbored towards the Demon Race over the span of 7,000 years now finds its release in this opportune moment, allowing them to unleash their long-held fury.
"Look! His Majesty the Emperor has arrived at the altar of the palace square!" echoed a man's voice from the throng gathered outside the palace square.
At the sound of the shout, the people around him turned their heads to catch sight of Velix's figure walking at the altar of the imperial palace square, adorned in a white imperial robe adorned with intricate gold patterns.
Atop his head gleamed a resplendent golden crown, while in his right hand, he wielded a glistening golden staff adorned with seven colorful crystals that shimmered and floated.
Walking behind Velix with cautious steps were two figures, one male and one female, moving in measured strides.
The man stood at an imposing height of 2.5 meters, draped in a fiery red battle robe that evoked the image of a fire god descending upon the world.
Beside him, the woman exuded an extraordinary charm and beauty, her black hair tied in a ponytail with bangs, while she wore a white battle robe adorned with blue patterns, rendering her flawlessly perfect like a goddess.
They are Valen and Luna, the esteemed heroes of mankind!
Meanwhile, following closely behind them were the figures of Jim, his lips adorned with a thin, harmless smile; Rain, her face expressionless yet possessing a captivating innocence; the extraordinarily beautiful Natasya, her blonde hair exuding a heroic aura; and Guren, whose handsome visage embodied the essence of a true hero, all trailing behind Valen and Luna.
This lineup, comprising the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire of Elysium, followed by the two heroes of mankind, and then the three figures known as the three twilights, filled both the troops in the square and the onlookers outside with immense awe, each displaying a demeanor of utmost respect.
"Your Majesty exudes such incredible gallantry and majesty that it sends shivers down my spine!"
"Absolutely! And let's not forget Spear Hero Valen; he's equally awe-inspiring! The aura he exudes puts immense pressure on anyone who lays eyes on him!"
"The Bow Hero Luna is just as remarkable. Her stunning beauty, combined with her icy yet captivating demeanor, gives her the aura of a goddess who has descended upon our world!"
"Tskckck! You're correct, but Great Mage Rain is equally remarkable!"
"Hehehe! My vote goes to General Natasya; she's as beautiful as she is formidable, like a goddess of war who knows no defeat!"
"And don't overlook Prime Minister Jim Terra; he's incredibly charming and devilishly handsome!"
The people's voices of praise for Velix, Luna, Valen, Jim, Rain, and Natasya resounded clearly beyond the imperial palace square.
"Isn't that Marquis Guren standing beside General Natasya?"
"You're right! I just noticed that as well! But what might be the reason for Marquis Guren's presence there?"
"I'm not sure. Could it be that he's also participating in this war?"
Observing Guren positioned alongside Jim, Rain, and Natasya, the crowd couldn't help but express surprise and curiosity.
After all, while the noble status of a Marquis was esteemed, it could not possibly place Guren on equal footing with the Emperor, the two heroes, and the three twilights of the Holy Empire of Elysium at the palace square altar.
Furthermore, despite Guren's status as a Marquis, he rarely made public appearances, which rendered him less well-known than other Marquises or even nobles of lower rank.
Thus, his presence at the Imperial Palace Square Altar left some people perplexed and curious.
...
Meanwhile, atop the grand Altar of the Imperial Palace square, Velix maintained a nonchalant and calm demeanor as he observed the six hundred thousand troops below.
Despite the significant distance and the sheer number of troops, Velix's sharp eyes enabled him to discern them clearly.
Each and every one of them bore a countenance so vibrant, courageous, and enthusiastic that it seemed they were not preparing for war but rather for a gold-mining or treasure-hunting expedition.
As the Emperor and one of the individuals who stood at the pinnacle of the world, Velix comprehended the source of their enthusiasm.
This war not only signified the inaugural major conflict between mankind and the Demon Race in this era, but it was also destined to be a pivotal moment in both human history and world history.
As a result, the troops harbored confidence that their names would be immortalized in this historical event, ensuring their remembrance by future generations, which filled them with excitement.
Turning his gaze away from the troops, Velix closed his eyes and took a small breath before exhaling slowly.
As he reopened his eyes, a faint smile suddenly graced his lips.
"At last, my ambition to conquer the world can begin..."
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A/N: Sorry, I slightly changed the previous chapter title and replaced it with a more suitable one.
By the way, my fingers are swollen and injured from a minor accident. Therefore, I apologize for only being able to update one chapter every day, and the time is erratic.
Thank you, and don't forget your support!
Stay tuned!