40. The Rebel's Oath!

Aerian knew clearly that in the original history, centuries later, one of the wives of Corellon, the elven chief deity, Arashi—who would become Lolth, the goddess of the drow elves and the Spider Queen—would betray her husband.

This betrayal fractured the elven pantheon of the outer planes and indirectly sparked a devastating civil war within the elven royal court on this planet.

Such an unprecedented elven internal conflict weakened the once-dominant elven kingdom, leaving them no time to tend to other matters.

This created the opportunity for humanity to step onto the stage of history.

Otherwise, even two millennia later, at the end of the world, humans would still be a lowly race confined to a corner of the continent.

However, with Aerian’s return through time, history had already been altered.

He did not intend to wait for such a long time until the elves began their internal strife.

He wanted to take the initiative and venture into other worlds ahead of time!

The Abyssal invasion that was destined to destroy Eldoren was just such an opportunity—a natural portal for reverse ingress into the Abyss, allowing occupation of parts of its first layer.

“Chiefs, many spells can briefly link to other planes,” Aerian explained.

“You should have long realized that the dimensions beyond the material plane overflow with magical energy far more intense than that of the prime material world. Naturally, they hold vast lands, inexhaustible supernatural minerals, and biological resources.”

“My goal is for Eldoren to prepare for twenty or thirty years and then launch a grand expedition to explore these other planes!”

“This requires using undead and constructs for dangerous missions, a new team of combat mages skilled in systematic and informational warfare, tens of thousands of spellcasters ready to serve various departments at the Empire’s command, and a stronger sense of racial identity and national cohesion within Eldoren.”

“In short, I need a great nation to realize this grand vision.”

“A magical education system that teaches without discrimination will be the starting point for all of this.”

So this was Aerian’s objective...

Guth and Helen listened, a subtle surge of emotion stirring within them.

At this moment, Guth felt a deep sense of loss and regret.

If only he had not conspired to overthrow Aerian, he might have witnessed that day—

The day when the great human race would surpass those arrogant elves in some respects!

As a human supremacist, nothing could inspire Guth more profoundly than this.

“That’s all. I’ve finished sharing my goal,” Aerian said lightly, waving his hand to dismiss the illusionary projection in the air.

“Chiefs, now that I’ve answered one of your questions, I want to ask you one in return.”

Helen and Guth bowed their heads quietly, waiting for Aerian’s question.

Though they felt that Aerian already knew about Cassandra’s rebellion, there was little left in their secrets worth probing.

“Guth, you once told me about the divine war you saw in your childhood.”

“I remember there was a point in your story I hadn’t known before.”

“You and Helen grew up as childhood friends, didn’t you?”

Guth was stunned, looking at Aerian in confusion, never expecting such a question.

“Yes...” Helen answered first,

“Helen and I have been friends since we were very young.”

“I see. I thought you two were just ordinary colleagues in the Imperial Council. No wonder your relationship is so good...” Aerian said with a meaningful smile.

“Are you lovers now?” he asked again.

Ah?

Guth was completely dumbfounded.

What kind of question was this!?

“Yes,” Helen replied softly before Guth could respond.

Kad, the Chief of Defense, watching Aerian’s questioning of Guth and Helen, felt slightly out of place and obediently lowered his head without a word.

“Have you had any thought or plan of marriage before?” Aerian continued.

“Why ask something like that...” Guth’s mouth twitched slightly.

This sharp-eyed, handsome man clenched the soil beneath his hands.

“Not for now,” Helen said quietly, her tone tinged with solemnity, “We both have more important tasks and research; there’s no time to consider such matters.”

“I see...”

Aerian admired the slightly awkward expressions on their faces, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He knew that in the original history, they never married.

Up until thirty years later, when Eldoren was destroyed by the Abyssal invasion, the high mages hurried to teleport away, scattering across the continent.

Guth and Helen each fled with their families to two other small human settlements on the continent, where they established new city-states.

As mages with lifespans exceeding two hundred years, they still retained fertility and left descendants in their new homes.

Among Helen’s descendants was a witch named Dolores. This ambitious prodigy, with help from various factions, eventually usurped the god of death, Naraku, becoming the new Death Goddess, the Crow Queen—the first mortal to ascend to godhood in history.

Among Guth’s descendants was a wizard king named Vikna. Through a pact with the demon lord Orkas, he became the first lich in history and later replicated the Crow Queen’s ascension ritual, becoming a deity after his physical body was destroyed. His relics—the Hand of Vikna, the Eye of Vikna, and the Tome of Corruption—are renowned artifacts.

Now, with history’s trajectory altered, these two pivotal figures will likely still be born, but their origins, backgrounds, and personalities will surely change...

Pulling back his wandering thoughts, Aerian looked up at the stars twinkling in the night sky and murmured,

“Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing...”

Without warning, Aerian abruptly changed the subject:

---

“I have a bold idea.”

“I think Eldoren needs its own calendar, one that belongs to humanity!”

“Currently, the calendar, dates, and methods of reckoning used in Eldoren are chaotic.”

“I’ve referenced the trajectories of celestial bodies in the material plane, as well as the natural laws of convergence and divergence between planes, to devise a brand new, more precise calendar!”

“In this new chronology, I plan to declare this year as the first year of the Empire.”

“After all, this year marks the beginning of the Empire’s great reforms, a year of renewal and vitality!”

Indeed, this was the first year of Aerian’s soul returning from the distant apocalypse...

A new calendar and era for humanity?

Listening to Aerian, Guth felt both the grandeur of the narrative and a tinge of confusion:

Why share this with us?

As if we will still be alive...

“Tomorrow, I will convene the members of the Imperial Magical Council for a brief meeting to propose this suggestion,” Aerian said calmly.

“Make sure you vote in favor.”

Ah?

Guth and Helen both widened their eyes.

The two most powerful chiefs could hardly believe their ears, a chill running down their spines.

Kad, the bald chief hiding in the back, also looked up in surprise, staring straight at Aerian.

His Majesty means...

“All right, enough talk. Stand up quickly.”

“In one minute, my students will return; in three minutes, General Thor and his squad of battle mages will arrive.”

“You wouldn’t want others to see you in such a disheveled state.”

Aerian turned around and snapped his fingers.

Magical energy flowed through the air, tiny streams of light drifting in the wind.

Circles of light appeared around Guth, repairing his tattered robes, and wiping away the bloodstains on his face and chest with invisible hands.

The fires burning on the hillside, scorched by the meteor burst, gradually died down.

The earth moved on its own, filling in the craters and concealing the scars of bombardment.

Everything was restored to its original state.

It was as if the battle between Eldoren’s supreme mage and the other three chiefs had never happened.

“Why? Why? Why! Why! Why! Your Majesty...”

Guth looked at the emperor’s leisurely departing figure, eyes vacant and voice nearly a roar.

At that moment, a large group noisily approached from below the hill.

It was little Garet, who had just run out of the Elven Village!

Behind him followed a large group of humans wearing fake pointed ears—villagers from the Elven Village.

“Lord Elf, where are you going?”

The boy ran straight to Aerian’s front.

“I’m back, great Majesty. Has anything happened here?”

“Nothing much.”

Aerian smiled and gently patted the boy’s shoulder.

“I just happened to meet the other three chief mages of the Empire and discussed Eldoren’s future goals and development with some uncles and aunts.”

“I see...” Little Garet nodded obediently, then noticed Guth, Helen, and Kad standing dazed in place.

They are the chief mages of Eldoren’s various schools?

“Greetings, esteemed chiefs!”

Little Garet did not know how else to address them and bowed shyly.

Guth silently watched this scene, biting his lower lip, speechless.

“All right, tell the villagers to return home.”

Aerian smiled at Garet.

“Oh, right.”

Garet suddenly realized a crowd of villagers had followed him out.

He waved to them behind him:

“Okay, okay, we have things to do. Don’t follow me; all of you go back to the village.”

The villagers, naturally unwilling to disobey their elf lord, spoke many flattering words before gradually dispersing.

“Those people on the hillside earlier, all in robes—are they mages from the floating city?”

“Looks like it. They’re all humans. Lord Elf, you show them such respect!”

“Even Lord Elf thinks highly of humans who can wield magic?”

“Speaking of which, our little Aelan recently cast the Zero Ring trick with the teacher from the sky! When she becomes a formal mage, will she also gain Lord Elf’s favor?”

“...”

The villagers of the Elven Village chattered as they slowly left.

Guth and Helen quietly watched the backs of these surface-dwelling commoners without a word.

---

Whish! Whish!

One after another, figures streaked across the night sky, flying in from afar.

Twenty or thirty mages descended from the air to the ground.

At their forefront was General Thor. The others were all mid-to-high level mages of at least the fifth rank.

“Your Majesty, we’ve finally found you!”

As soon as he landed, General Thor hurried to Aerian’s side, relieved to see the emperor unharmed.

“Emperor Aerian, did you encounter any mishaps?”

Thor glanced warily at the three chiefs bowing their heads behind Aerian.

Did they do anything?

“Yes.”

Aerian answered.

The three chiefs’ hearts leapt into their throats.

“Tonight, while wandering the surface with little Garet, I happened upon the three chiefs.”

“I shared my recent planar studies with them and discussed the Empire’s future development, proposing several initiatives.”

“For example, establishing a new calendar, and launching expeditions to other planes.”

“The chiefs showed great interest in my research and support for my plans.”

I see...

General Thor exhaled deeply, his tension finally easing.

He looked at the three chiefs standing timidly together, their robes intact, no signs of battle.

Had I been too suspicious before?

So Guth and the others had no intention of rebellion?

Thor thought.

“Well?”

Aerian smiled, looking at the three behind him.

“What do you think of my proposal to mark this year as the first year of the Empire?”

Guth, who had been silently biting his lip and lowering his head, felt a warm sting in his nose and eyes, which he could no longer hold back.

Suddenly, the chief of the Sculpting School stepped forward, faced Aerian, and knelt on one knee, his voice resolute:

“Respected Emperor Aerian, Arcane Emperor of Eldoren, greatest supreme mage, king of all mages in the Empire...”

“I, Sculpting Chief Guth, pledge my eternal loyalty to you, obeying only your commands!”

Next, Helen followed, half-kneeling, her voice choked with emotion:

“I am the same. I, Helen, chief of the Transmutation School, will forever be loyal to Your Majesty!”

Kad, the Chief of Defense, startled, quickly recovered and mimicked their actions, trembling as he said:

“I... also...”

“I... I will forever follow and be loyal to Emperor Aerian...”

General Thor looked at the three kneeling and pledging their oaths, eyes full of bewilderment.

Your Majesty, what exactly did you say to them?

“Guth, you have declared your complete loyalty to me. So you are willing to obey my orders, correct?”

Aerian stood upright before Guth, who was still kneeling, and asked solemnly.

“Yes, my Emperor, supreme mage of Eldoren.” Guth bowed his head deeply, his voice full of tragic respect. “Please give your command!”

“Perfect. I have a very long-term mission for you. You may need to devote your entire future life to accomplishing it, and it will be very difficult, with a high chance of failure.”

“My order is...”

Aerian raised his hand to create a soundproof barrier.

He leaned forward, lowering his mouth close to Guth’s ear, speaking softly but sternly:

“Become a god.”

“Become a god for humanity, a guardian deity of Eldoren.”

“Just as you passionately swore before me twenty minutes ago.”

“This is the destiny you once spoke of, the mission you are fated to bear.”

Guth’s eyes narrowed, his heart pounding fiercely.

The next moment, he placed his hand on his chest, bowed his head fully, and, with firm resolution, swore:

“I obey your command, Your Majesty!”

“Rest assured, Guth, I will complete this great feat before you, to provide you with a successful example...” The human emperor smiled.

Aerian rose, withdrew the sound barrier, flicked his robes, and turned:

“Let’s go back, Thor.”

“Tomorrow, I will convene the Imperial Council to issue new edicts.”

“Oh, and before that, I must first visit the Chief Seer Cassandra.”

Behind the emperor, faintly glowing invisible runes appeared and vanished in the wind, transforming the three chiefs’ heartfelt oaths of loyalty into a binding contract inscribed in both soul and history...