The Great War Begins

Royal Palace – Strategy Hall

After the confrontation with Raina, we convened in the main hall of the palace—once belonging to one of my enemies, but now firmly under my control.

Spread across the table before us lay a massive world map, surrounded by dozens of advisors and military commanders who had sworn allegiance to me following the conquest of their kingdoms.

But the problem wasn't just controlling the territory… the real challenge was how to manage it effectively.

"We now hold four powerful kingdoms under our banner, but this doesn't mean we are the strongest yet," I spoke calmly, all eyes fixed upon me.

Raina, seated beside me, placed her hand on the table. "Since you've become the new Emperor of these lands, how do you plan to unify them under a single rule without sparking rebellions?"

"I smiled and said firmly, "That's simple."

"The first step is internal stabilization. I won't impose control solely through force; I will make the people accept our rule."

I turned to one of the administrators. "Begin organizing a new taxation system, one that doesn't exploit the poor as the previous rulers did."

Then, looking at my military advisor, I continued, "As for the armies, we won't rely solely on soldiers who served under former kings. We will establish a unified army drawn from all kingdoms, ensuring no faction feels inferior to another."

One of the generals raised his hand. "And what about external threats? Other empires might not appreciate our rapid expansion."

I smiled confidently. "That's precisely why we won't just rebuild cities and protect the people... We will develop our army into the strongest in the world!"

New Troop Types:

- Storm Knights: Elite cavalry utilizing wind magic for incredible speed boosts.

- Fused Magic Units: Mages capable of merging multiple elements in their attacks, granting unique combat versatility.

- Shadow Hunters: Elite assassins employing stealth and infiltration techniques for covert operations.

- Mechanical Legions: Troops wielding advanced weaponry inspired by ancient artifacts and techno-magic.

As we were planning, a spy rushed into the hall, bowing before me.

"My Lord, grave news... The three Great Empires have noticed our expansion and have begun suspicious movements!"

The Great Empires:

Empire of Black Fire: The greatest military power, led by Emperor "Azeroth the Burning," rumored to be able to melt an entire city with a single gaze.

Empire of the Blue Tide: A maritime kingdom possessing an invincible fleet, ruled by Queen "Selena," who can summon sea storms.

Empire of Hidden Shadows: The most enigmatic kingdom; no one knows who rules it, but they are said to control the world from behind the scenes.

To be honest, we were in a rather difficult position, so I had to take some steps in secret.

I turned to Raina, who nodded. "If we want to maintain our position, we must strike first."

I rose from my seat, planting my hand firmly on the table.

"Send our spies to ascertain the enemy's movements, and prepare for war... We will not wait for them to attack us. We strike first!"

◈◈◈◈

Imperial Palace – War Room

The military commanders from the four kingdoms under my banner gathered, their eyes filled with anticipation. The intelligence I received was extremely serious—the three Great Empires had begun to mobilize.

"The Empire of Black Fire is massing its armies to the west. The Empire of the Blue Tide has dispatched a massive fleet towards our eastern borders. As for the Empire of Hidden Shadows..." The spy paused, his voice trembling before continuing, "We don't know their movements, but rumors suggest they've sent assassins to eliminate you, my Lord."

"Hah... Do they think I'm easy prey?" I said with a cold smile, feeling magical energy surge within me.

There was no time to waste. We had to act before they crushed us all. I turned to Raina, who was observing the situation carefully.

"Raina, any suggestions?"

She replied calmly, "If we wait until the war begins, we'll be on the defensive. We need to execute pre-emptive strikes, scattering the enemy forces before they can converge."

I nodded in agreement, then turned to General Grave, commander of the cavalry. "Deploy the Storm Knights to the western border. We will attack the Black Fire forces before they complete their preparations."

Next, I addressed my naval advisor. "I want the Fused Magic Units sent to engage the Blue Tide fleet at sea. We will not allow them to make landfall."

Finally, I turned to one of the master assassins in my army. "As for the Empire of Hidden Shadows... I will deal with them myself."

We moved swiftly. I arrived with the Storm Knights at the western border, where the armies of the Black Fire Empire were preparing their assault.

The scene before me resembled hell itself—tens of thousands of armored soldiers, accompanied by massive fiery beasts spewing flames, while their leader, Azeroth the Burning, stood at the forefront, surrounded by an aura of black fire.

"You came yourself, Kyle?" Azeroth bellowed, "I've heard much about you, but I see nothing but an arrogant boy who thinks he can challenge the Emperor of Black Fire!"

I smirked as I raised my hand, a vortex of magical energy coalescing before me.

"Then... let's see who burns first!"

First Strike – I unleashed an ice storm towards the enemy ranks, freezing dozens of them solid in seconds.

Counterattack – Azeroth retaliated by launching a wave of fire that swept across the battlefield, scorching the earth beneath our feet.

Direct Clash – Azeroth charged towards me at incredible speed, attempting a flaming punch straight at my face. I dodged it at the last moment and countered with a swift strike from my magic-infused sword.

Sparks filled the sky, and the ground trembled beneath the soldiers' feet. This was merely the beginning of the Great War that would determine the fate of the entire continent...

Battlefield – Western Border

The sky had turned into a sea of flames, while the roar of explosions echoed across the barren plains. Thousands of soldiers stood behind me, watching with bated breath, while Azeroth stood opposite, enveloped in a colossal fiery aura, as if his very body were forged from black fire.

"Kyle!" Azeroth roared, his voice harsh, a cruel smile twisting his features. "I've always heard of your power, but I never believed a mere mortal could stand against me. Today, I will make you acknowledge your impotence!"

"Talk is cheap, Azeroth..." I replied with a calm smile, a cold aura gathering around me. "But I don't waste time on chatter... unlike you!"

In an instant, Azeroth lunged forward with blinding speed, attempting a direct strike with his hand wreathed in black flames. But I moved like lightning, evading his attack and delivering a kick infused with ice energy towards his chest!

My kick slammed into his fiery barrier, causing a massive explosion of ice and fire, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Azeroth recoiled but didn't fall. Instead, he growled in fury, stretching his right hand towards the sky.

"Your end has come, Kyle!"

Instantly, a sea of black fire gathered in the heavens before raining down upon us like a hellish deluge. Even the ground itself began to melt from the intense heat, and the screams of soldiers filled the air.

But I didn't move. I was waiting for the right moment...

As the flames neared, I calmly raised my hand and whispered:

"Ultimate Ice Storm Technique: White Annihilation Storm!"

In the blink of an eye, an icy wave erupted from my body, sweeping across the area with unimaginable force, countering the black flames. The sky trembled for a moment, and glacial winds blasted in all directions, extinguishing most of the incoming fire.

The collision between fire and ice was so violent that the ground beneath us began to crack. Yet, something felt different this time—I sensed a strange energy manipulating the space around us.

At that moment, something exploded in the air... A massive portal ripped open in the sky, and creatures I had never seen before emerged from it.

Everyone was stunned by the sight. Out of the portal came beings resembling knights clad in dark purple armor, wielding swords that pulsed with a strange, dark aura.

"This is impossible...!" Azeroth stammered, staring upwards. "They weren't supposed to appear now!"

"Who are they?!" screamed Raina, who had just arrived on the battlefield.

But I was the only one who understood what was happening. I had read about them in the original game... These were the soldiers of the "First World," one of the Seven Worlds controlled by hidden powers manipulating mortals from the shadows.

This was no longer just a war between kingdoms... This was the beginning of a war that transcended this world, extending into seven other realms, where greater kingdoms, more powerful enemies, and secrets never before uncovered by mortals awaited!

"So... let the true phase of this journey begin!"

Battlefield – Kingdom of Black Fire

The air crackled with dark energy, its echoes resonating across the battlefield. Before me, Azeroth stood staring at the tear in the sky where the mysterious portal still blazed, pulsing with dark energy.

"Kyle... Do you have any idea what this means?!" Azeroth yelled, his eyes wide with terror.

"Of course, I do," I said calmly, observing the unknown knights beginning their descent from the portal. "But the real question is... are you ready for what's coming?"

Raina let out a heavy sigh, gripping her luminous spear. "I suppose now is a good time for you to understand why I chose to join you, Kyle."

I gave her a quiet nod. "You haven't seen anything yet."

One of the knights landed directly before us. His body was covered in black and purple armor that throbbed with unnatural energy, his sword radiating a crimson light. He spoke in a voice that seemed to emanate from nowhere:

"Finally... the day has come when the path between worlds is opened."

In an instant, the unknown knight moved with unbelievable speed, appearing directly behind me, his sword aimed at my neck. But before the blow could land, I had skillfully evaded it, my own sword pulsing with the energy of ice and dark magic.

"Oh?" the knight said calmly, surprised. "I didn't expect a human capable of keeping pace with us."

Instantly, I unleashed an explosion of black ice, freezing part of his armor. He seemed largely unaffected, merely smiling as he raised his hand to the sky, summoning immense power!

"Then... show me if you can survive this!"

The sky split open, and pillars of violet flame erupted, as if the world itself was starting to collapse!

I wasn't entirely prepared for my plans to be derailed so unexpectedly.

But, since things could clearly get much worse, I had no choice but to fight.

◈◈◈◈

Kingdom of Black Fire – Battlefield

The ground trembled violently beneath my feet, and violet flames surged skyward as if swallowing the light itself. Screams mingled with the sizzle of exploding magic as the knights moved through the field like an unstoppable storm.

I brushed blood-matted hair from my eyes and watched the enemy before me. The unknown knight I faced wasn't just an ordinary warrior; he was a beast encased in human armor, pulsating with energy that defied logic itself.

"This... isn't possible," I whispered, feeling the immense pressure his presence exerted.

For the first time, a sliver of fear pierced through me...

Will I die now? Should I flee to survive?

These questions swirled in my mind, causing a bitter headache.

But there was only one answer to this situation. Flight is not the language of a great Emperor.

Flee? Not an option.

An Emperor's honor is found in death on the battlefield. If I am to fall here, then this is the extent of my strength.

But...

"Don't expect me to die a simple death," I whispered softly.

"Kyle, don't fall back!" Raina yelled, leaping beside me, her spear glowing with dazzling blue energy.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I managed a slight smile, despite the pain wracking my body.

"I just want to see how you'll handle it," she replied with a sly grin.

"Raina, who do you think you're talking to?" I said with a steady smile.

"I've already made my decision."

In a fraction of a second, Raina vanished from her spot, reappearing behind the mysterious knight, attempting a lethal strike at his neck.

But...

"Too slow."

In an instant, time seemed to freeze around us, as if the entire world had paused for a breath. I couldn't even twitch a finger; a suffocating sensation washed over me, like being trapped within a nightmare.

I saw Raina frozen mid-air, her weapon inches from the knight's neck, yet he hadn't even moved. He simply turned towards me with unnerving calmness, then raised a finger.

"Your turn is over."

No. Not this easily.

"A mere mortal like you will never have the chance to defeat me."

I smiled steadfastly, looking him straight in the eye.

"Hah! You're mistaken if you think I'm normal."

"Special Skill: Law Breaking – Time Release!"

Time Freeze Effect Cancelled!

Instantly, I broke free from the temporal bonds. Before the knight could react, I thrust my sword towards his heart, pouring every last ounce of my remaining energy into the attack.

The sword erupted with immense power, tearing the knight apart in an instant. But I felt no relief. Because I realized something terrifying...

That face... one of the members of the Seven Worlds. The most powerful beings in the game world.

"You have piqued our interest, Kyle," the knight said, rising from the midst of the destruction, his body seemingly unharmed by my strongest attack.

"For this reason... the Celestial Throne has decided to watch you closely."

After that statement, all the knights vanished in an instant.

"The Celestial Throne... subordinate to the Seven Great Worlds," I said anxiously, sweat dripping down my face.

If that major power intervened at this time, the future would be anything but benign.

...This was no longer just a fight. This was a war I was never supposed to be a part of.

But now, there was no turning back.

◈◈◈◈

Battlefield – Aftermath

The air was charged with a strange energy, as if everything around us had momentarily lost its meaning. There were no bodies on the ground, no fresh blood spilled... as though the battle that raged moments ago was just another illusion.

Raina stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern, while I continued to stare into the void where the mysterious enemy had vanished.

"Kyle... you saw it too, didn't you?" Raina whispered, stopping before me.

I nodded slowly. "What we were fighting... wasn't real."

"It was a shadow," she added, her voice sharper. "A shadow sent by those controllers from the darkness."

At that moment, I felt as if an invisible hand was pulling back a curtain, revealing something we weren't meant to see yet. If that enemy was merely a shadow... then who was the true controller?

"Kyle, remember... Rogin was already dead, but someone was using his image as a puppet," Raina said tensely.

"So... there are powers manipulating the world from the shadows," I murmured.

The Seven Worlds... It's likely those powers have decided to intervene.

I turned my gaze towards the soldiers who remained with us. Most were stunned, as if unable to process that our opponent had vanished into thin air. Some wondered if we had won, while others realized it wasn't that simple.

Before I could think further, we all felt a violent tremor, as if an earthquake had struck. "The ground... it's breaking apart!" one soldier screamed.

I quickly backed away, watching the earth crack open, plumes of smoke rising. From within the fissures, shimmering black energy emerged, moving like a living entity with its own will.

Then, from the heart of this black smoke, a new figure appeared.

A man clad in dark blue robes, his face concealed by a silver mask, his eyes glowing with a deep crimson hue.

The moment I saw him, a chill ran down my spine. This man... was different from anyone I had faced before.

"Well... it seems you've started seeing things you shouldn't," he said in a quiet voice that nonetheless carried an aura of terror.

Who was this? And what was his role?

I stood firm, trying to analyze the situation. Raina had also raised her spear, while the remaining soldiers retreated cautiously.

"Who are you?" I asked him, my tone firm.

"Merely a messenger," he replied simply, then added with a faint smile, "But since you've crossed the line, it's time to end your game, Kyle."

The man gave me no time to think. In a single instant, he raised his hand, and columns of black energy shot towards me with insane speed. I barely managed to dodge them, but even the air itself felt heavier than usual.

"Kyle, be careful! His energy isn't normal!" Raina shouted, standing beside me.

"I realize that!" I retorted, gripping my sword tightly, preparing for the next round.

This time, there was no room for error... because this battle, unlike the others, wasn't just a fight for survival. It was the beginning of uncovering the greatest secret behind this world.

◈◈◈◈

The wind carried strange whispers, as if the world itself was watching this unexpected confrontation. This was no ordinary opponent, no typical battle... It was a turning point, a moment that could change everything!

The masked man stood before me, his crimson eyes glowing with a frightening intensity. He carried no weapon, but he didn't need one; the aura surrounding him was enough to make the very air feel like it could ignite with sheer pressure.

"Kyle, do you truly believe you are capable of reaching the truth?" he asked, his voice calm yet heavy as a mountain.

"The truth?" I narrowed my eyes, trying to decipher his words.

"What you see now... is merely a small fraction of the bigger picture."

There was no time for discussion. In a fleeting moment, the masked man raised his hand, and black shards shot forth like falling meteors. These attacks were faster than I could have imagined; I barely managed to evade them, but the ground around me wasn't so lucky.

The resulting explosions turned the battlefield into shifting ruins, leaving me no choice but to retaliate!

"If you wish to test my strength... then be prepared!"

BOOM!

I surged forward like lightning, using magic to enhance my body, aiming a direct strike with my sword. But he vanished before I could even touch him!

"A direct attack? Unfortunately, that's useless against me."

He reappeared instantly behind me, as if time and space meant nothing to him. He threw a punch towards my back, but it wasn't just a punch... it felt like the impact of a mountain!

Retreat, Kyle!

In a split second, I felt another aura intervene—Raina!

But before she could move, the man gestured with his hand, and the space around us warped. For a moment, I felt as if everything had stopped.

"This world... is not the only one, Kyle. There are seven other worlds, and each world has its own controller."

"Did you think you were the strongest person here?" He smiled condescendingly. "There are those who are exponentially stronger than you, but they have yet to reveal themselves."

I already knew that.

"And what about you?"

"Me? Just a messenger... merely a shadow sent by the true controllers."

So, that's how it is!

They don't intend to make a serious move yet...

"Kyle, we can't back down now!" Raina said seriously.

"I know."

But suddenly…

BOOOOOM!

The sky split in half, and a strange symbol appeared, as if someone else had decided to intervene!

"It is time to reveal the next stage…"