The two diplomats returned to their respective capitals of their kingdoms with urgency.
In the Theocracy of Valerius, the high priest-king sat upon a throne of polished white stone, his crown being embedded with red ruby, listening with narrowing eyes as his envoy exaggerated every word of King Gustav's refusal.
"He looked upon us as if we were lowly peasants, Your Holiness," the diplomat said, voice thick with manufactured outrage. "He claimed Nasca needed no protection. That a weak nation such as theirs could stand alone against the world easily. He openly mocked the authority of Valerius in the world."
In the Iron-Bound Sultanate of Khorvegas, a nearly identical scene unfolded. The Sultan's envoy painted Gustav as arrogant beyond measure — a man who believed newly found wealth gave him the right to refuse the natural order of the strong.
Pride and Jealousy, once stirred, proved difficult to extinguish from mind and heart.
Within a few days, the two rulers met at the border of their land for a joint war council held at a fortress midway between their borders. Maps of the western continent were spread across a long table. The piece of the Golden Crown with two spears shielding it represented Nasca's flag, on the map
"They have raised their heads too high," the Sultan said coldly. "If we allow a minor kingdom like Nasca to refuse us, every other weak nation will begin to dream of independence and raise their heads high."
The high priest-king of Valerius nodded. "We cannot allow this we must take a very drastic action. We will take everything. The land, the people, the resources. We will divide Nasca equally — fifty and fifty. And by doing this we will make such an example of them that no kingdom in the continent will dare refuse us again."
Orders were given. In just a few days.
Sixty thousand soldiers began to mobilize. Supply tracks were set to be moved. War banners were raised in the kingdoms. The coalition force would march within the week.
Inside the time-dilated barrier Origin had created, years had already passed for Rudra.
What had begun as the excited, slightly childish energy of a young prince had been burned away by relentless ruthless pressure. Gravity that crushed the lungs. Sword strikes that shattered bone. Origin's cold, precise instruction that left no room for excuses.
Rudra's body had changed. His frame was denser, harder, carved by constant near-death and recovery. His eyes had grown sharper — calm, focused, no longer easily distracted by excitement. The boy who once shouted about defeating Demon Lord with pure bravado now had become a little quiet.
During one of the countless exchanges, Origin pressed him harder than ever. A finishing blow came down — a strike that should have ended the spar.
Rudra's vision suddenly slowed.
The world became clear. Every movement of Origin's blade, every shift of weight, every flow of magicules — all of it registered in perfect detail. Something deep within his soul stirred, bright and warm, as if acknowledging the path he had walked.
A qualitative change occurred.
Rudra evolved.
His body became that of an Enlightened — a semi-spiritual lifeform. Lifespan stretched. Durability rose. Magicule capacity expanded. The Hero's Egg within him pulsed once in quiet satisfaction.
At the same moment, a Unique Skill bloomed in his soul: Chosen One.
Rudra became happy getting a unique skill which had the sub-skills like
Banner of the Supreme King ｣: Allows the user to call upon their fallen allies and replicate their abilities, memories, and experience inside the user.
Hero's Action : Guides the user's allies down the path of becoming heroes, eventually making their name famous.
Hero's Blessing : Bestows the user and their allies with immense "luck". In practice this results in normally lethal attacks not dealing nearly their normal damage and the user and their allies attacks dealing the most damage possible. This also makes all actions of the user being viewed in a positive light, no matter what it is.
Hero's Charisma: Empowers the user's allies with immense courage that enables them to fight even in the most desperate situations. It also has the effect of turning defeated enemies into allies. This effect also applies to monsters with the notable exception of undead.
Hero's Haki- That let's out their aura that intimidates other with their will.
Alongside it came the skills Origin had forced into him through endless repetition — Magic Sense, Multilayer Barrier, Thought Acceleration — and the techniques he had drilled until they became instinct: Holy Magic, Holy Field, Disintegration, Battlewill, and Spirit Arts.
Origin stepped back, lowering his sword. He observed the change with mild interest, as though he had expected it all along.
"Finally," he said. "You've stopped being completely useless."
Rudra exhaled slowly, feeling the new power settle into his bones. "I can still improve."
"Of course you can. But the foundation is set." Origin dismissed the time barrier with a snap of his fingers. "We're done here. The rest of your training belongs to Veldanava."
They returned to the Kingdom of Nasca.
The moment they stepped into the capital, the atmosphere pressed against them like a physical weight. Soldiers moved in tight formations. Civilians spoke in hushed, fearful tones. The usual market noise had thinned into uneasy silence.
Rudra stopped a middle-aged merchant near the main plaza.
"What happened here?"
The man recognized him at once and dropped into a hurried bow. "Prince Rudra! You haven't heard? The Kingdoms of Valerius and Khorvegas have declared war. Their armies are already marching. They say they will take everything — the land, the mines, even the people."
Rudra's expression darkened. Anger flashed briefly behind his newly sharpened eyes, but it was controlled now.
"Why?"
"I… I don't know the details, Your Highness. Only that the King knows more."
Rudra nodded once. "Thank you."
Without another word, he vanished in a blur of speed, racing toward the palace.
Meanwhile, Origin appeared in the Heavenly Palace and found Veldanava lounging with a half-finished manga volume and a glass of something carbonated.
"Sir Veldanava," Origin said. "The training is finished. Rudra has evolved into an Enlightened. The remaining work is yours. I refuse to continue babysitting that chatterbox any longer."
Veldanava looked up, amused. "Oh? Are you annoyed?"
"That brat talks more than anyone, I cannot handle it any more," Origin thought to himself. "I still cannot believe this is the same man who will one day become the Heroic Emperor, that guy's rival."
Veldanava set the manga aside, expression turning a little serious. "And the two kingdoms? Valerius and Khorvegas?, what's your thought"
"They've declared war."
Veldanava smiled faintly. "Let Rudra handle it. I want to see what he chooses."
He tilted his head. "What do you think should be done, Origin?, If you were in his place"
Origin answered without hesitation.
"Fight. Defeat them decisively. Only after that can peace talks be held. Since they dared to declare war, Rudra must show a strong attitude. Otherwise the rest of the continent will underestimate him. A strong leader should always prefer to avoid war… but he must always be prepared for one."
Veldanava chuckled softly.
"That's one way of putting it."