chapter 5- "The Eternal Emperor"

In the Central Land... One Hundred Years After Humanity Emerged... In Kemet...

"What is happening? Who am I?"

Jowalin struggled to open his eyes, confusion washing over him like a tide.

"Ah, I remember! I am the Eternal Emperor, but why am I lying here?"

"Wait... Who is holding me and crying so intensely?"

Jowalin's mind raced, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings until a voice pierced through the haze, sending a chill down his spine.

"Brother..."

He turned toward the sound and saw a girl in her twenties with long black hair and stunning, teary black eyes.

"Mo... Mother?" Jowalin exclaimed in surprise, looking at the girl who bore a striking resemblance to his mother, only to quickly correct himself,

"No... you're not my mother. Who are you, really?"

"It's your younger sister... Isis."

As she spoke, Serene, Jowalin's mother, suddenly stood from his embrace, tears streaming down her face, and introduced Isis.

"Shiver..."

A tremor ran through Jowalin as he studied his mother's face, which looked subtly different than he remembered. The sorrow etched beneath her eyes hinted at the decades of grief she had endured.

"I missed you, Mom."

He reached out to wipe away her tears, his voice a soothing whisper.

"I missed you?!!"

Serene gasped, her heart racing. Hadn't he been in a coma? How could he have missed her? Nevertheless, relief washed over her at his awakening.

"So, your name is Isis... You're as beautiful as our mother."

Jowalin turned to Isis, playfully flirting with her, causing her cheeks to flush a vibrant red. She responded shyly,

"Thank you..."

"Hmph... Little wolf, are you trying to act cute like a child in front of your brother now? You always..."

Serene teased, but as she did, Isis's face paled, prompting her mother to laugh heartily.

"Haha! This little girl has been eagerly awaiting your awakening for the last twenty years. She has cared for you with such passion and love, always considering you her support, even while you lay in a coma."

Isis looked down, her face still flushed, but Jowalin smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you... sister."

Her face lit up with joy, and she leaned down to kiss Jowalin's cheek, a gesture that made him laugh uproariously, even though he still couldn't move.

"Mom... how long has it been since I lost consciousness?"

"It has been one hundred years."

"...."

"Isis, come with me to fetch a doctor to check on your brother. Let's leave him to rest for a bit."

"But..."

"Come on...."

Isis hesitated to leave Jowalin, but Serene insisted he needed time to adapt to the situation. She took Isis's hand, and they exited the dilapidated room.

...

Once they were gone, Jowalin returned to quiet contemplation. He scanned the room, then attempted to move his body but found himself utterly immobilized.

"What a ridiculous situation! I am the Eternal Emperor... I have lived for millions of years, traversing every era and defeating countless heroes across ages."

"I have explored the Seven Lands of the world. No, I have gone even further..."

"The heroes of every era were my students, chosen and trained by me to reach greatness."

"I protected the Seven Lands from all evils that threatened them, slaughtering anyone who dared oppose me."

"I possessed an immortal body that never knew death, hence everyone called me the Eternal Emperor."

"My name became a legend, a forbidden name whispered in fear, known only to a few dominators who knew my true appearance."

"But despite all I achieved and the status that allowed me to stand at the pinnacle of the world, I always felt something was missing."

"And now that I have returned... I think I know what I was missing... it's family."

"And now, after returning, I find myself in this room, unable to move..."

"Haha! What a ridiculous situation!"

Jowalin laughed bitterly, his smile fading into a cold expression.

"But... who dares to touch my sister?"

A roar of suffocating murderous intent surged within him, and the river of blood reappeared as screams echoed once more.

He couldn't tell if the screams were born from his intense rage or if they were resonating from the world itself!

"Book of Life and Death... reveal!"

Jowalin summoned the Book of Life and Death, and it materialized—a tome with a black and white cover, unlike any he had seen before.

It was colossal, filled with an infinite number of pages, instantly expanding to fill the entire room and almost spilling beyond its confines. It seemed to be still revealing its true form.

"Shrink..."

Jowalin commanded coldly, and immediately it transformed into a compact book with a few hundred pages that approached him, nuzzling against him like a loyal pet.

Jowalin smiled as vibrant green energy flowed from the book, completely healing him and restoring his body to its former state.

Crack... Crack...

"Ah... finally able to move again! Thank you, my old friend."

Jowalin stretched his arms and legs, producing a series of satisfying cracks, then stood up and quietly exited through the door.

As he stepped out, Jowalin was astonished by the grandeur surrounding him. He found himself in a magnificent palace, a stark contrast to the dilapidated room where he had just been.

"Huh?!!"

He noticed a statue standing proudly in the center and approached it with a nostalgic smile.

"So it was you, Father... as majestic as ever."

...

In the Central Land... One Hundred Years Before the Emergence... Underground

In a massive arena, the largest training ground underground, the strongest among them, the General, was honing his skills.

Everyone knew he was the strongest simply because human greed had not deterred them from waging wars, even while living underground like rats.

The General emerged in battles, quelling the chaos without plundering their wealth, establishing a fragile peace until they could rise to the surface.

Now, in the training arena, a chorus of sounds filled the air—bodies clashing, swords and spears slicing through the air, and various weapons being wielded with fervor.

Most of those training were in their twenties or older. At the head of the arena, the man instructing them was in his thirties, with long black hair cascading to his shoulders and a physique strong yet not overly bulky. His eyes radiated fierce intensity.

"What is this foolishness?! Do you really think you'll survive with such pitiful power when you reach the surface? You have no idea what awaits you there."

"Death will be a comfort; you will wish for it every moment, yet it will elude you if you remain this weak."

The General's voice rang with strict authority, as he was clearly aware of something lurking beyond their comprehension.

"Brother... do you think you're the only strong one here? Why do you speak as if you know everything? I'm tired of this."

One of the trainees shot back mockingly, and the General turned to him with steely resolve.

"Farin... I told you not to speak without permission during training, didn't I?!"

Farin, the General's younger brother, was different—cunning, devious, and consumed by jealousy toward the General.

"And what of it?!"

The General stepped closer, the air thickening with tension.

"If you continue executing your devious plans without training hard, you'll be the first to perish."

Step... Step...

"Father entrusted me to watch over you, and you are also my brother. If you don't train seriously, you will face dire consequences."

Step... Step...

"Hmph... who do you think you are to threaten me?! Don't overestimate yourself. I'm a prince of Kemet, just like you; you're not above me."

Despite the General's imposing presence, Farin showed no fear in his eyes, maintaining his mocking demeanor.

The General reached him, extending his hand before Farin's head and pressing his thumb against his middle finger, as if preparing to launch an arrow.

Snap... He flicked his finger, striking Farin's head with tremendous force. Farin was propelled backward, crashing into multiple walls, leaving destruction in his wake.

Everyone: "?????"

Shock filled the arena. Though they knew the General was strong, wasn't this excessive?

Thud...

Farin coughed up blood, appearing gravely injured.

"When you can perceive the blow I just struck you with, then you can speak to me like that. But for now... you're just an ant."

"You'll be crushed when you rise to the surface."

"Now return to training, or..."

"Yes..."

The chorus of agreement resonated as they understood the weight of his words. They had witnessed the General's terrifying strength; he had become a role model, and they realized they were fortunate to be trained by him.

...

In the Central Land... One Hundred Years After Humanity Emerged... In Kemet

Before the statue of the General, Jowalin reached out, touching it with a smile.

"Thinking back to those days... they were quite interesting."

"Speaking of which, I remember my uncle hiding for a few years, then returning looking uglier and more sinister, yet he had grown stronger than ever."

Suddenly, Jowalin's expression turned serious as he gazed at the statue, wondering,

"But where is Father?!!! Why didn't I see him when I woke up? Given his strength and lineage, which is the same as mine—though not as powerful, surely—it's impossible for..."