Prophecy of the Black Moon

In the world of Falstne, the Human Realm is located at the center. West of the Human Realm is a great forest known as the Elven Realm, and at the east, the Beastmen Realm could be found.

The three realms of the three major races are divided by a powerful barrier. With the passage of time, these barriers came to be known as the Boundaries of the Great Realms.

For hundreds of years, neither of the three major races came into contact.

The elves sought for eternal paradise with nature.

The humans sought for knowledge and technology.

The beastmen sought for a life of freedom.

Each of the races had their own desires.

However, no one would have ever imagined that there would come a day when all three races would be afflicted by a plague that would claim millions of lives—

In the Human Realm, there are 34 cities. These cities are classified by the strength of their army and the entirety of their wealth. Overall, there are 29 minor cities and 5 major cities.

Lydia, one of the five major cities and under the rule of the Ever Glorious King Ferius, is known as the most powerful city in the Human Realm.

Before the Plague of Demons, Lydia was actually the fifth among the five major cities, but when King Ferius and the leader of his forces, the Holy Paladin Reimus, defeated the enigmatic soul that claimed a million human lives, the influence of Lydia bloomed.

After settling the Plague of Demons, King Ferius sought for peace between all the major cities. It was an alliance that completely changed the once chaotic Human Realm.

Every two years, a congregation of kings will be held in Lydia, and during this congregation, every important issue in the Human Realm is discussed. Fights are settled, wealth is shared, and help is given toward each of the cities which truly needed help—

Today, two decades after the Plague of Demons, Lydia was under great preparation for the yearly Congregation of Kings.

Inside the Great Castle of Lydia, the Great Hall of Kings was being prepared. In a few more hours, the 34 kings of the Human Realm would be gathering.

"King Ferius has arrived!"

A deep, imposing voice was heard in the Great Hall of Kings. As soon as he arrived, a total of 66 people stood up. Among these 66 people, 33 were the kings of the other cities, and the other 33 were the people they considered as their right-hand man.

King Ferius, who wore a majestic violet robe and a dazzling golden crown on his head, slowly walked toward the Great Hall of Kings. Each of his steps was like thunder, resounding in everyone's ears.

In his right hand, a long metallic staff with a white gem on top was emitting powerful light magic that made his entrance even more overbearing. Looking at him, many of the people around could only think of the words, "the greatest among the great".

Behind King Ferius, an imposing knight wearing a pompous golden armor was also walking in big strides. His bearing and might was only second to King Ferius, and if King Ferius wasn't here, perhaps he would be the ultimate star of the moment.

This imposing knight had golden hair and golden eyes, and his handsome face looked incredibly intimidating. On his back, a red cape with a red cross engraved fluttered as he walked; in the entirety of the Human Realm, only one such person would wear such a brilliant cape, and it was, indeed, the Holy Paladin Reimus, the one and only Protector of the Human Realm.

When both of them arrived, King Ferius sat toward the most extravagant seat within the Great Hall of Kings, and behind him, Holy Paladin Reimus stood with an indifferent expression.

King Reimus then raised his hands, and soon, a powerful barrier engulfed the whole room.

"The tenth Congregation of Kings shall now commence." A powerful voice shattered the silence inside the room. It was King Ferius.

"As of today, there's still no sign of the Enigmatic Soul that was sighted after the Plague of Demons. However, we can never be too sure if it's really gone. Everyone needs to stay vigilant. Although the number of mages, priests, and paladins that can use Holy Magic have increased, we are still in a state of chaos. We can't be careless."

Everyone in the Great Hall of Kings listened as King Ferius spoke. Each of them feared the Enigmatic Souls that had claimed more than a million lives. Even though their own cities were prepared with their own forces that specialized in Holy Magic, the threat of an Enigmatic Soul was still way too frightening.

Suddenly, a beam of light pierced through the barrier that was created by King Ferius. Exactly in the middle of the room, a silhouette of a person appeared.

Alarmed, everyone in the room readied themselves, preparing for the worst.

Within the Human Realm, not many people could destroy the barrier erected by King Ferius, a Saint Magus.

"You children are too rash. All of your magic combined will not even wound me. Dispel!" A voice of an old woman echoed in the hall. As she spoke, all the spells being prepared by everyone else suddenly dissipated.

Soon, all of them realized that they weren't able to use their own mental force, and they couldn't even move a single part of their body.

Fearful… the person that appeared was truly a frightening person.

The person who appeared was an old woman. She sat in the middle of the circular table where all the kings were assembled.

Using the wooden cane on her left hand, she weakly stood up. Looking at her crude clothing, no one would believe that this old woman had casually dispelled the spells of a Saint Magus, as well as a number of formidable figures.

"G-Granny Zisa!" King Ferius suddenly spoke and more than half of the kings suddenly kneeled along with him. The only ones that didn't kneel were those young kings that had ascended the throne recently.

In the minds of those that didn't kneel was a question about the identity of the old woman. But in the minds of those who had experienced the Plague of Demons, they knew that this old woman in front of them… was someone they would consider as the greatest entity that appeared in all of Falstne—2nd-in-command of the World Government, Granny Zisa.

The World Government was composed of a group of people who, in the legends, were the true protectors of Falstne. They were described as those who lived within the skies of Falstne, an assembly of powerful beings that oversees the entirety of Falstne.

"What a bunch of foolish kids. Stop kneeling, go sit. I'm only here for a moment. I only need to convey the prophecy of Malzahar." With her words, the overwhelming aura felt by everyone else suddenly vanished. All the kings sat on their own throne-like seats and relaxed.

"Oh, but before that, Lydia needs a new king. In 15 years, I'll be taking Ferius with me. Of course, he can visit anytime he wants. His job as Lydia's king is done. Perhaps the young paladin behind him would be good." Her words were casually spoken, but what it meant was actually something that made everyone inside the Great Hall of Kings shocked. Even the Holy Paladin Reimus, who had kept an indifferent expression even as he kneeled, had a moment when his expression changed.

The silence continued for a while before she spoke again.

"Why are you children so shocked? Sigh, what a bunch of kids wet behind the ears. Oh, not all of you will hear me. Unqualified kings shall keep their mouths shut. Perhaps there will come a time when the younger and newer kings will learn of this prophecy." Glancing at everyone around her, Granny Zisa couldn't help but sigh. She waved her hands, and then a barrier even more powerful than the one King Ferius created instantly engulfed the room.

Suddenly, Granny Zisa's eyes changed in color. It was pitch black. A crimson aura along with sparks of lightning was suddenly released from her body.

Soon, an earth-shattering voice that was completely different from the voice of Granny Zisa echoed out.

"For the humans have sinned again, they shall perish. Blood shall flow once more, and death will consume everything. In these times, a black moon shall appear. When the black moon appears, the darkness that once roamed Falstne shall return once more."

A crimson tear fell from the pitch-black eyes of Granny Zisa. Blood... As soon as it fell, all the people that could hear her words prostrated.

And soon, she opened her mouth once again as her body trembled. "But the heavens are never cruel. They are only saddened because you have sinned. Fate shall bring an interesting twist. But none of us can do anything about it. Humanity shall be saved or perish in the hands of those who are fated to do so."

After she spoke, the crimson aura vanished. Her eyes returned to its normal brownish state. She fell on her knees and spurted a mouthful of blood.

"Ferius, do you know what it means?" A sharp look was given by Granny Zisa toward King Ferius.

King Ferius bowed his head and spoke to Reimus in his mind, "Reimus, someone has summoned an Enigmatic Soul. Please investigate this matter."

In an instant, Reimus suddenly vanished from the Great Hall of Kings, and silence once again assumed its command. Only 8 people were allowed to hear Granny Zisa. The five kings of the major cities, the Holy Paladin Reimus, the Prime Minister of the major city of Serdin, and Arch Magus Elena of the major city of Villnore.

"Not a single one of you shall speak of these words. Farewell." Granny Zisa spoke once more and white flames consumed her body. The barrier she created made an eerie noise before it broke, and soon afterward, there was nothing left of her existence within the Great Hall of Kings.

After a few breaths, King Ferius, who was deep in thought, stared at each of the kings seated inside the room. Among them, one has betrayed humanity. He waved his staff, and soon, the room was covered once again by a powerful barrier.

"Let us resume." He timidly spoke, seemingly uninterested. The Congregation of Kings resumed, but in his heart, worry and wrath were intertwined, burning as he thought of the calamity that would once again befall on the Human Realm.

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