In the distant galaxy known as the Spiral Nebula, the diminutive rocky planet of Troy orbits a red dwarf star as the second-closest world among its five planets. Of these, only two support sentient and sapient life. Troy is defined by three vast continental plains, each the ancient domain of a guardian dragon and now the heart of the planet's three great powers.
In east, The Divine Land of the Azure Dragon—Qinglong Shenzhou (青龙神州)—is home to the preeminent Li Dynasty, the strongest and most prosperous of the three empires. Celebrated for its flourishing trade networks, abundant natural resources, vibrant arts and entertainment, and formidable military, the dynasty is ruled by son of heaven Emperor Li Tianwei (李天威). Widely regarded as the pinnacle of personal power, he has mastered the Mandate of Heaven with the dragon Vein qi [1]to a degree rivaling the peak of radiant-stage gifted of the Solaris continent, despite not been a radiant-stage gifted himself. Rumors say's that the Azure Dragon—the youngest yet still ancient among the three guardian dragons—continues to dwell within the Divine Land, its immense presence and overwhelming power casting a long shadow that deters any would-be aggressor and renders other radiant-stage beings seemingly feeble by comparison.
To the south lies the Shattered Coast, a scarred region forever altered by the devastation of the Continental War. Once the domain of Klystarion, the mightiest of the guardian dragons, the land was transformed when the dragon fell battling a planetary menace: his heart burst upon impact, flooding the region with dense blood and mana that profoundly changed its inhabitants, diminishing their humanity while amplifying their strength.
The survivors, known as the Vyrkthari, formed the Vyrkthar Kingdom—a place without cities, only fortresses—governed by a stark, meritocratic rule: the strongest claims the throne, seated upon a seat hewn from Klystarion's own bone.
Though outsiders called them barbarians, every Vyrkthari is a fearsome warrior. Their relentless pursuit of raw power carries heavy costs and limits their ability to field vast armies, yet they decisively outmatched Solaris forces during the Golden War. Ultimately, however, the rise of the first bloodline holders brought catastrophic defeat and near-genocide to their people.
To the north stands the Solaris continent, once the seat of the mighty Solaris Empire. In its golden age under the first emperor, it could even rival the Li Dynasty. This legendary ruler united every kingdom—high and low—two thousand years ago through cunning strategy, boundless patience, personal prowess, and the extraordinary talents of his five daughters.
In an era when Gifteds were rare and most arts remained unformed, he achieved near-divine status among mortals, boasting unmatched mana affinity and raw power that earned him reverence as the Lord of Mana itself—arguably the greatest potential ever witnessed and he alone created half of the known knightly arts today.
Yet after this zenith, the empire descended into turmoil: successive wars, rampant corruption, vicious succession struggles, and progressive dilution of its noble bloodline eroded its former glory.The strength of the continent was then further diminished by the Golden War three hundred years ago , a conflict that not only decimated the Solaris by vanquishing nearly all of their formidable warriors at the Radiant stage and the nobility of their bloodline but also led to the tragic extinction of the royal lineage.
That fateful night, which claimed the lives of both direct descendants and those with even the slightest trace of royal blood, would forever be remembered as the Night of Sorrows.
Yet, in the aftermath of the golden war, the strength of the Solaris bloodlines had diminished significantly, rendering the emergence of a gifted capable of attaining the radiant stage nearly unattainable. Even the unique bloodline bearers, apart from the original holders, had only managed to ascend to the integration stage. For nearly three centuries, the continent enjoyed an era of peace, marked by only minor conflicts between its factions. But now, it seemed that this tranquility was on the verge of being violently shattered.
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In the western sector of shattered coast, within one of the seven fortresses once held by the vyrkthari, one might expect only desolation or the devastation left by mana beasts. Strangely, however, this place thrived—if such a word could truly apply. Rising at its heart stood a formidable black edifice, a towering spire that climbed an imposing 500 meters into the sky.
At the pinnacle lay a circular chamber, its dimness dominated by a vast rectangular table hewn from petrified blackwood. Seven high-backed chairs encircled this dark centerpiece—three along each long side—occupied by six shadowy figures whose features dissolved into the gloom. All but one. Larger than the rest, adorned with thorn-like protrusions and bearing a blood-red leaf from which a single crimson drop slowly fell, this commanding presence sat at the head of the table, its back turned to the window.
At the opposite end of the room, a solitary circular window, made of impeccable, thick blood-red glass and measuring about four feet across, stood as a striking focal point.
The air was frigid and the stillness so profound that the slightest sound—a pin dropped—would resonate like a gunshot in a deserted monastery.
A rough outline of a sturdy woman, positioned to the left of the head chair near the entrance, broke the heavy quietude. Her voice, laced with a teasing, sweet inflection, cut through the tension:
"What's with the tense atmosphere?~"
"Did you all really fail?" a small, indistinct figure across from her chimed in.
"Silence, Maintain decorum until the cult leader arrives," commanded a man sitting nearest to the head of the table, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
"Eek! The scary old man spoke!" the small figure exclaimed.
"Seriously though, did you guys actually mess up~?" the woman teased, her tone lightening.
"BAM!,Shut your mouth, you repulsive woman!" the imposing figure beside the smaller one barked aggressively.
"Huuhh~, did I strike a nerve~? Or did your halfblood die~"
"I said, be quiet—"
"Hey! Keep your hands to yourself!,you fool"
The others observing the exchange seemed entertained, but then—
!!!
A sudden aura enveloped the room, transforming their expressions; their eyes widened as they all stood up immediately, without exception, their faces turning stoic.
Step, step.
Footsteps echoed from just outside the chamber.
Then the door creaked open slowly, until it fully revealed a darkness that clung to the entrance like a shroud, obscuring whatever lay beyond. A peculiar scent pervaded the air; anyone familiar with the battlefield would recognize it, and fortunate for those present, they were all seasoned killers. The metallic aroma of rusted iron pervaded the corners of the chamber, unmistakably the scent of blood—lots of blood. A figure stepped into the room, revealing a glimpse of his white garments with another stride that fully exposed him: a young man with blood-red eyes and hair. The temperature in the room plummeted with his entrance. Without a glance at anyone inside, he made his way directly to the head chair, and upon reaching it, finally regarded each of them, one by one. Sweat dripped from their foreheads as his gaze lingered on them, then he offered a warm smile, and the tension dissipated, as if nothing had transpired.
"You may take your seats," he said, and with a mixture of subconscious caution and anxiety, they settled into their chairs.
The cult leader, still smiling, casually asked,
"How is everyone today?"
All of them exchanged frowns, each pondering, 'What does he mean by that? Is he testing us? Have we done something wrong?'
Nonetheless, they replied,
"W-We're doing perfectly fine, cult leader."
"Is that so..." His gaze swept over all of them.
"That's good—very good."
"Now, let's move on to the meeting topics."
"Silas?"
the man seated closest to the head of the table, spoke in a voice that remained icy, "Yes, cult leader, we have largely completed the missions assigned to us." His companions exchanged glances, their faces revealing a mix of subtle emotions.
"And what of the mission details?"
"Here it is, cult leader," Silas replied, respectfully presenting a book with a brown leather cover.
"Hmm, the enslavement of high-ranking officials in the Solaris government, handled by... Annelise?" He looked up to meet her gaze.
"Yes, cult leader~," the woman nearest to the door, now known as Annelise, confirmed. "Forty percent of the central city government officials have been enslaved by my siren Stigma~. Unfortunately, I was unable to subjugate any of the four clans~."
"That should suffice for most of our plans in Solaris. Well done, Annelise."
"Thank you, cult leader~" she replied with a gentle smile.
The cult leader's lips twitched momentarily before he returned his attention to the book.
"What of the missions concerning the mana beasts in the northern forest?"
"Claus?"
the man beside the smaller figure said in a calm tone, distinct from his earlier demeanor.
"Yes, cult leader. Nearly all the valuable beasts have been segregated using the seeds. Only a few are proving troublesome, but they too will soon be dealt with," he concluded, grinning.
The cult leader continued to read without acknowledging Claus's remarks.
"And what about the situation in the Divine Lands and the Li dynasty?"
"Viktor and Gregor?"
the men next to Annelise responded.
"The progress has been slow due to caution, but we anticipate completion soon, sir."
The cult leader scrutinized them for a tense moment, causing unease to ripple through the room before he swiftly looked away, stating, "I will address that at the conclusion of the meeting."
"And finally, the plans for the academy?"
"Isabelle?" The small figure inquired.
"It's progressing perfectly, cult leader," she assured.
"Good,we would need to get a hold on the bloodline holders in the near future,it would quite useful for the lord's arrival..."
"Now, to the pivotal announcement that brought you here..."
"We will launch a full-scale attack on the Li dynasty in three months."
!!!!
"The Lord has lingered for too long and is growing impatient. Our focus will be the Li dynasty for the summoning ritual."
Expressions shifted dramatically—attacking the Li dynasty, home to the strongest forces, seemed a perilous strategy. Why not target Solaris first, the weaker foe? Yet, they stifled such dissent, knowing it could be blasphemy.
As if reading their thoughts, the cult leader addressed them. "True, targeting Solaris first would be simpler, but that would afford the Li Empire time to retaliate—something we cannot afford. It is wiser to confront their strongest defense first and then turn our attention to the weaker. Regardless of Solaris's preparations, they will ultimately succumb to our power."
He continued, "Thus, I implore you to abandon all pretense in the Divine Lands and complete the ritual. We need not achieve total victory immediately, but merely secure the sacrifices. The Lord will handle the rest upon his arrival."
A heavy silence enveloped the room for several moments before he finally declared, "The meeting is adjourned."
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[1] Mandate of heaven is the power system used by the people of Li dynasty which is dividend into three pillars(Dragon's Vein Qi,Celestial Bureaucracy ArtsAncestral Legacy Spirit)which would be explained in the end of this chapter.