Fifteen years ago, the labyrinth city of Orario, after a thousand years of development, once experienced a period of unparalleled glory that remains unmatched to this day.
At that time, within the two strongest families—the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia—talent was abundant, with every member an elite. Even reaching Lv.6, only granted the right to serve as a support during expeditions.
A certain red-eyed rabbit boy's father was one such support member—a mere errand runner.
He was called the "weakest" of the familia by Zald.
Yet even this so-called weakest could easily overpower the likes of Ottar and Finn.
This illustrates the staggering power gap between the strongest familias of the past and the strongest familias of the present.
Within these two great familias, standing two tiers above the weakest were the true apexes, the legendary strongest:
Maxim
Rivira Santilini
The former at Lv.8, the latter at Lv.9… During a campaign to subdue the One-Eyed Black Dragon with the elites of their respective familias, both suffered crushing defeats.
That battle nearly annihilated the Zeus and Hera familias.
The bold and straightforward Hero lost an arm.
The capricious monster fled in disgrace.
It was then that people truly realized the Black Dragon's strength.
The survivors also lamented afterward:
"Are humans… getting weaker over time?"
A thousand years earlier… the strongest ancient hero, a man without Falna, known as the Mercenary King, could, after great sacrifice, reduce the terrifying Black Dragon to what is now the One-Eyed Black Dragon.
Yet a millennium later, the so-called strongest couldn't even injure the Black Dragon.
Complete and utter domination.
At that time, the leaders of the Zeus and Hera familias were both disheartened.
It was on that day that the child of the weakest of Zeus and the inept of Hera was born.
A newborn who symbolized hope.
Though still weak now, unlike the terrifying monsters by birth, all humans start out weak.
And…
"Humans will face setbacks."
"But they will never remain in despair."
"I believe that humans will continue to improve; it's just that the crucial 'step' hasn't come yet."
"Then let us entrust 'hope' to the next generation."
"Until they grow strong, let us, the 'failures,' give the last of our strength."
Maxim's proposal ultimately gained unanimous agreement.
First, they agreed their group could no longer stay in Orario.
On one hand, the two familias, once deemed strongest, had made countless enemies. The Dark familias would surely seize this opportunity to strike.
Even if the familias felt no fear, innocents would inevitably suffer.
On the other hand, if they continued to exist, the next generation might grow lazy, overly reliant on the idea that "If the sky falls, tall people will hold it up."
Furthermore…
By stepping into the shadows, they could secretly purge the remaining scum of the Dark familias.
After a certain secret meeting, the once-mighty familias withdrew from Orario.
Outwardly, it appeared they were driven out by the current strongest familias—the Freya and Loki familias.
They also willingly accepted the label of "failures", taking with them much of the city's lingering resentment.
Later…
The surviving elites secluded themselves in a certain village.
From this base, they quietly eliminated the Dark familia's pawns.
Years ago, knowing their days were numbered, Gluttony and Silence decided to pave the way for the future during the last stretch of their lives.
"We are willing to entrust everything to the heroes of the future."
With this belief, he and she, just as Maxim had said, gave the last of their strength.
During the Seven Days of Death uprising, the Dark familias were led into a trap, broken and scattered.
Both Gluttony and Silence sacrificed their lives to not only create a new Lv.7 in Orario but also help promote the Astraea familia, which could have become the third strongest familia of the era.
Although fate later intervened, almost annihilating the Astraea familia due to remnants of the Dark familias, the heroes of the past truly fulfilled their promise.
Until today…
"Don't make us doubt ourselves, little boar."
Within Orario, the one-armed man who had just slain the unknown scorpion monster murmured, frowning.
"If even our judgment of people is denied, doesn't that make us even bigger failures?"
At the same time…
"Has the title of 'strongest' become this cheap?"
At the border, beside a massive pit, the former spoke coldly.
"How pathetic… At least we, the 'failures,' were better than this."
A breeze stirred the plains, lifting the edge of her hood.
A pair of pointed ears peeked out.
She stood not far ahead of Riveria, her jade-green hair flowing in the wind.
Rivira Santilini.
She was the Tyrant. She was the Empress.
And yet… the elf who looked least like an elf.
A royal.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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