"Atst, they''ve arrived."
Shortly after Velix spoke, two figures in ck cloaks suddenly appeared outside the throne room doors.
The cloaked figures, one tall and one short, walked slowly until they reached the base of the stairs leading up to the throne. Halting there, they removed their hoods to reveal a man and a woman.
The man was exceptionally handsome, with a heroic and enchanting presence. His short golden hair and bright green eyes only added to his irresistible charm.
Beside him stood a woman of extraordinary beauty, her long ck hair and jewel-like violet eyes captivating all who saw her. Her short stature and emotionless, yet beautiful, face gave her a distinctive allure.
These two figures, the man and the woman, were Guren and Rain.
As they looked up and saw Velix on the throne, they immediately bowed their heads respectfully.
"Hail, Your Majesty the Emperor," Guren greeted him with a faint smile, saluting with folded palms.
"Hail, Your Majesty," Rain echoed, her face indifferent and emotionless as she saluted.
Velix looked at them, smiling slightly as he asked, "How was your journey to the Desert of Chaos over the past five days? Is everything okay?"
Guren raised his head and looked at Velix respectfully, replying, "Everything is fine and under control, Your Majesty. Bow Hero Luna, Spear Hero Valen, Natasya, Rain, and I, along with 600,000 troops, arrived in Arthamonth today."
"Tomorrow, as nned, we willunch an assault against the Demon race in the Desert of Chaos, Your Majesty."
Listening to Guren''s report, Velix''s eyes shone with appreciation and satisfaction.
"Good! All the preparations in the days leading up to the deration of war were worth it," Velix praised, his satisfaction evident. He then turned his gaze to Rain.
"Rain, thank you for transporting Guren with your teleportation magic," Velix said in a light, nonchnt tone.
"You''re wee, Your Majesty. It is my duty to assist Guren," Rain replied nonchntly, her cold gaze lingering beneath her jewel-like violet eyes as she nced at Guren.
Sensing Rain''s cold gaze, Guren smiled indifferently, appearing unfazed.
''Huh! In the end, your title as a Great Mage means nothing to me,'' Guren thought, a faint smile ying on his lips as he recalled their earlier conversation.
***
A moment ago...
"The reason I seek to return to the pce is because His Majesty wants me to draw the Holy Sword of Zenith and be a sword hero," Guren said indifferently, arms folded across his chest.
Seated on the bed, Rain fell silent for a moment after hearing Guren''s reasoning. With her emotionless and indifferent gaze, she posed a question: "Regarding bing a sword hero... doesn''t your ascension depend on battlefield achievementster? So, why this sudden change, and why was I not informed?"
Faced with Rain''s persistent questioning, Guren, initially expecting her immediate agreement, was instantly stunned as resentment welled up within him.
Despite invoking the Emperor''s name and exining his motive for wanting to go to the imperial pce, he found himself irritated by her continued disbelief and interrogation.
With his expression gradually growing colder, Guren addressed Rain, "I don''t understand why you doubt my words so much, Rain, yet I spoke truthfully when I stated that His Majesty summoned me back to the pce to appoint me as a sword hero."
"As for the sudden change, I am as perplexed as you are." Guren''s tone cooled slightly, punctuated by a brief pause.
Then, he continued nonchntly, "However, if you still doubt me, don''t me me if I inform His Majesty that your refusal to assist me today led to my absence in the throne room. If that happens, you should understand the consequences, as your past agreement with His Majesty may be slightly affected."
Upon hearing Guren''s words and his threat, Rain''s expression swiftly changed, causing the room''s temperature to plummet.
"Are you threatening me?" Rain narrowed her eyes, a glint of killing intent shing in her purple pupils.
Around her, purple light coalesced, as if she were preparing to unleash high-level magic on Guren.
Observing Rain''s reaction, Guren remained unfazed, smiling nonchntly as he remarked, "Whether you perceive it as a threat is your choice. I remain indifferent."
The two locked gazes for a moment until Rain gradually averted her eyes, dispelling all tension and killing intent around her, while her demeanor returned to its usual indifference.
"Fine, I''ll assist you this time," Rain stated coldly, devoid of emotion.
Guren''s smile widened slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment.
"It''s good to see you understand your position."
***
Back to the present moment...
Guren chuckled softly and shifted his gaze towards Velix, who sat upon the throne.
"Your Majesty," he inquired, "does the letter imply that I will be a sword hero without the need to prove my worth on the battlefield?" Despite Guren''s seeminglyposed demeanor, the mixture of nervousness and joy was unmistakable in his expression.
Velix nodded casually in agreement. "Indeed, Guren. Your interpretation of the letter is correct," he affirmed and continued in a nonchnt tone, "Tonight, you will wield the Holy Sword of Zenith and assume the mantle of the sword hero, seeding Leon, who has passed away."
Guren''s hands tightened into fists, a slight quiver betraying the surge of joy coursing through him as he heard Velix''s words.
If he weren''t in the throne room, he would burst intoughter.
Swiftly, he took a small breath to quell the overwhelming joy.
Onceposed, he turned his gaze back to Velix and posed his question with genuine curiosity: "Forgive me if I seem impertinent, Your Majesty, but may I inquire as to why you expedited my ascend to be the sword hero?"
Despite his overwhelming happiness at the prospect of his long-held dreaming true, Guren wasn''t dumb.
He held a steadfast conviction that there was a purpose behind the sudden change in his ascension to be a sword hero, something he feltpelled to scrutinize closely.
Velix''s response to Guren''s blunt question was not one of anger; rather, a faint smile yed across his lips.
"In truth, the eleration of your ascension to sword hero is influenced by multiple factors, but two main ones stand out," Velix exined nonchntly, raising two fingers as he continued. "Firstly, tonight coincides with a phenomenon that urs once every thousand years, rendering it an exceptionally unique asion."
"On this rare asion, the alignment of the moons Sylvia and Miranda will grant the three heroes of mankind a profound increase in power known as the Transcendent."
"Perhaps you''re familiar with its famous nickname—the Night of the Birth of the Three Heroes of Mankind, or simply Transcendent Night," Velix remarked, his smile faint.
Upon hearing this revtion, astonishment gripped not only Guren but also Rain, who stood beside him.
The Night of the Birth of Heroes, known as Transcendent Night, was renowned for its rarity, urring only once every thousand years.
Additionally, the extraordinary alignment of the two moons in the night sky adds significance to this asion.
However, amidst its myriad wonders, the most remarkable aspect undoubtedly lies in its connection to the birth of three heroes of mankind and the descent of three holy weapons into this world.
Though the origins of this belief''s dissemination remain obscure, there existspelling evidence to bolster it—whenever this night manifests, the power of the three heroes born in that era undergoes a dramatic surge, invariably surpassing the prowess of their predecessors from preceding eras.
Thus, over the millennia, the conviction that Transcendent Night marks the birth of the Three Heroes of Mankind and the descent of the Three Holy Weapons of Mankind has only strengthened.
After Velix said this, how could Guren not understand its meaning?
By bing a sword hero tonight, it meant that he would receive both the blessing and the surge of power, known as ''transcendent''—a boon reserved for heroes born once every thousand years!
''Hahahaha! Fate! It truly is on my side!'' Gurenughed inwardly.
This stroke of luck wasn''t mere coincidence; it was fate supporting him!
''Leon, oh Leon! I must thank you. Your passing has bestowed upon me this blessing.''Guren smiled faintly, his inner voice tinged with a hint of mockery.
Taking a deep breath, he snapped out of his reverie and turned back to Velix.
"Your Majesty, Iprehend your intent, and I am prepared to ascend to be a sword hero," Guren dered in a firm and excited tone.
"Good! I appreciate your enthusiasm," Velix said lightly before continuing, "but you must remain vignt, Guren, because there''s a second reason I elerated your ascension to sword hero." The serious expression on Velix''s face instantly confused Guren, but he said nothing and strained to listen.
"The second reason is the possibility that Leon is not yet dead," Velix said nonchntly, though his expression remained serious.
As Guren listened to his words, his body tensed, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Your Majesty, you aren''t joking, are you?" Guren inquired hesitantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Beside him, Rain was equally shocked by Velix''s statement. As the one who concocted the poison, she was acutely aware of its deadly potency.
''This must be a mistake...'' Rain muttered to herself, her tone stern, but she didn''t utter any words.
In response to Guren''s question, Velix shook his head. "I wouldn''t joke about this. However, it is merely Jim''s spection and cannot be proven. Nheless, we should be aware of it."
Guren turned his gaze to Jim, who stood next to Velix and nodded, confirming Velix''s statement.
"Therefore, regardless of Jim''s suspicion that Leon might still be alive and could reim the Holy Sword of Zenith tonight, or because of the significance of the transcendent night for your ascension to be the new sword hero, Guren, I am counting on you," Velix stated indifferently yet firmly.
Guren''s expression gradually turned serious as he nodded.
"Leave it to me, Your Majesty."