Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 40 The Final Battle (Part 2)

The final battle.

Such familiar words.

Thales had seen many plays at the Temple of the Night next to the Grand Bazaar—though his attention was mostly on how to make money out of the captivated audience.

It must be said that although the priests of the Night of the Underworld all seemed neurotic, wrapped up tightly, and constantly chanting mad words like "Our Lord will return," "The world will collapse a second time," and "History is all lies, only the true God of the Night of the Underworld can save the world" ("Fortunately, they didn't chant anything like 'The long night is coming, and danger lurks everywhere'... Hey, Ryan, keep an eye on him, that fat sheep is about to turn around! — Beggar Thales, who was watching a show.)

But the play they staged was a great way for illiterate people who had traveled through time to understand the world without spending any money.

Hmm, maybe not so good—Thales followed behind Gilbert, recalling a scene from a play called "The True Form of the Night Descends to Earth to Personally Save Thirty-Three Princesses," and couldn't help but purse his lips.

Among those diverse plays, ranging from utterly absurd to cautionary tales, one scene that left a deep impression on Thales was called "The Day the Catastrophe Strikes, the Day the World Ends."

That was the final battle.

Thales still remembers that in those sets dominated by black and red, a masked man dressed in black, carrying chains and a scythe, walked with heavy steps, his footsteps echoing throughout the stage. The music at this time always became gloomy and frightening, often scaring the curious children watching in the audience to tears.

Wherever the men in black went, actors wearing colorful hoods representing actors from all over the world cried out and screamed, collapsing one after another on stage.

He still remembered the chilling words spoken in the cawing of the background dialogue:

"Disaster is coming! Disaster is coming! It will not spare anyone, it will not spare this world! Until everyone is captured by disaster!"

"Wake up, my fellow countrymen, wake up, wake up! Calamity is sweeping everything, the River of Hell is overflowing the earth, the sky is collapsing and the earth is about to fall, the world is about to end!"

"The gods are always on our side, the demons stand shoulder to shoulder with us, the emperor stands behind us, and the heroes stand before us! Only through struggle can we survive, and only the dark night is eternal!"

"Fellow countrymen! Disaster is coming! The night of the underworld has spoken that the ferrymen of the Hell River are not hideous, but the inhuman evil flowers can corrupt people's hearts! We would rather take up our swords and follow the heroes back in glory than be slaves and claws of such calamities!"

"This is the final battle; there is no distinction between us, between the holy and the mortal!"

"The final battle! Dark night descends upon the land, and calamity will surely vanish!"

In Thales's hazy memory, the so-called "Calamity" character wielding chains and a scythe in the eccentric drama slaughtered countless lives until he was defeated by the alliance of the entire world.

But until the very end, the priests and actors of the Temple of the Underworld never explained what the 'calamity' truly was. Children on the street would ask, and the priests would only give them a piece of candy if they said, "The Underworld is returning, I wish to serve it," then they would smile and say, "The calamity is the enemy of the world."

Lost in thought, Thales didn't notice that Gilbert had led him to the steps on the second floor.

The three giant portraits of the Star King that he had seen when he first arrived were now neatly hanging on the wall.

“Lusaka Colvin was a famous portrait painter during the reign of Mindis III. His portraits were characterized by their historical accuracy, relying on the environment and actions to capture the spirit and temperament of each figure in the most lifelike way,” Gilbert said, standing in a daze beneath the portraits of the three Star Kings.

"'The Three Kings of the Stars' are among the few kings and monarchs in Colvin's masterpiece, as His Majesty has introduced to you before."

A masterpiece? Thales then raised his head and looked closely at the portrait in the center of the wall—a young knight holding a lance and riding a horse, whose posture suggested he was moving forward, and his seven-pointed star badge.

The previous fleeting glance was too hasty, and only today, when Thales had time to observe carefully, did he notice that this seemingly dashing and heroic knight's lance was already dulled, his crown was broken and mottled, his armor was covered in bloodstains, his mount also showed signs of fatigue, and the knights behind him were all injured, some charging with shields, some covered in blood, some with their armor torn off, some supporting each other on horseback, and some even with only one arm left.

In the distance, under the setting sun, piles of corpses and weapons lay everywhere, with only a handful of people standing, their loneliness adorning the tragic battlefield, while blood and darkness dominated the remaining hues.

Aside from the young Seven-Star Crowned Knight who seemed to be roaring madly, the six people behind him all looked dejected and sorrowful, yet they still showed resolute expressions as they followed Tormund I, who was raising his gun and roaring, forward.

Upon seeing this, Thales' heart stirred, and he suddenly remembered the words of King Kessel V:
"That was Tormund I, the last prince of the final empire, the founder of the Star Kingdom, the 'King of Restoration,' whose bravery in the final battle is still celebrated today."

“He is—” Thales’ expression shifted slightly as he looked at Gilbert beside him.

“Yes, ‘King of Restoration’ Tormund Star,” Gilbert replied with a profound expression, “the highest-ranking Imperial commander who survived the final battle more than six hundred years ago in the Western Front.”

"Also your ancestor, the founder of the post-war Star Kingdom."

He survived in the Western Front theater, became the Imperial Commander, and held the highest rank and status.

Thales immediately grasped the key words.

"Imperial Commander? Which empire? What is his identity? Besides the Western Front, are there other theaters of war? Who are Tormund's enemies?"

Gilbert was used to Thales's learning style of interrupting and asking questions (even rebuttals) at any time, and smiled without being offended, saying:
"Of course, it's that one and only 'empire'."

"The only empire?"

“Yes,” Gilbert took a breath, a wistful smile on his face, “you know, Mr. Thales, our known world was originally a vast landmass shaped like an arm. And we, the original home of the stars, were at the wrist—”

Thales looked up abruptly: "What?"

He interrupted Gilbert in shock: "A piece—a whole landmass? The eastern and western continents separated by the Sea of ​​Ending—"

But Gilbert just smiled and raised a hand, gesturing for him to be quiet before the portrait of the late king.

"Let me finish speaking; the answer lies in the final battle."

But Thales had already figured out an answer in his mind that was not far from the truth.

The final battle, wait, the ocean between the two continents is called—the Sea of ​​the End?
Two continents?

Thinking of this, Thales couldn't help but complain, "Gilbert, uh, you're not trying to tell me that a powerful alien creature invaded our world with an army, and we thwarted its plans in a fierce battle, but accidentally broke a magical well, splitting the world into two continents?"

Gilbert's smile froze: "What?"

"And the one to the west is still called Kalimdor—"

“Shh—” Gilbert smiled helplessly and interrupted him: “My little sir, you do have the talent to write novels and make up stories. If it weren’t for your status, you might be a fine bard or poet, but we are having a history lesson right now.”

Thales shrugged, shut his mouth, and placed a piece of memory he had just recovered deep into his brain—still related to that chuunibyou girl.

Gilbert watched him patiently until Thales fell silent and stood solemnly before the portrait of his ancestor, before continuing his explanation:
"More than three thousand years ago, after humans comprehended extraordinary power, experts at the super-level and extreme realms emerged one after another, and the combat power and equipment of the army continued to improve. After years of friction, war and alliance, nearly two thousand two hundred years ago, humanity finally merged into a whole, won the war against the various races year after year, and became the master of the known world on the continent."

Gilbert's expression was one of reverence and longing, his gaze drifting as he murmured:
"They established a vast nation that spanned the seas, threatened the continent, and reached almost every corner of the known landmass. The Rudolfs, the Northerners, the Niedas, the Carenza people, the Red Earth people, and almost all of humanity, except for a small number of Far Easterners, were under its protection and rule."

"They did not establish a name for the country or a dynasty, and the highest ruler called himself 'Emperor'."

"That unprecedented nation, which had neither a name nor needed one, was called the 'Empire'."

Thales took a deep breath, but felt no glory or pride, only sorrow and sighs.

War shapes the state, and the state makes war—he silently added to his mind a phrase he had learned from the master's book in his previous life.

Integration and war—it sounds simple, but how much war, how much bloodshed and slaughter is needed to forge an unprecedentedly large nation?
But Gilbert's expression immediately darkened:

"Nearly a thousand years after the empire's rule, a new race, powerful to the point of being terrifying, was born silently among humanity." "They are immortal, indestructible, possess unparalleled strength and energy, and even the strongest beings are powerless against them. They are incomparable to true gods and demons. What's even more terrifying is that they have completely different ways of thinking and behaving than humans and other races. They are irrational, arrogant, and insane, and difficult to communicate with."

Thales stiffened slightly.

That neurotic figure in blue robes and brown hair seemed to reappear before him, his mouth opening and closing: "Standing above the heavens, surpassing all gods, looking down upon all living beings..."

Thales snapped out of his reverie and saw Gilbert sigh:

"They descend upon the world like calamities, bringing chaos, disaster, bloodshed, and slaughter—the once great empire gradually declined under these heavy blows, and eventually perished."

A new race?

Born among humans?
Unreasonable?
Disaster?

Thales remembered something, and his heart began to beat irregularly.

"By the time of Tormund I, which was the century when the Imperial Calendar and the End Calendar were changing, the Empire had been extinct for more than three hundred years, and the world of mankind and all races had returned to chaos and division."

"And the 'Final Empire' where Tormund is located is just a remnant of an empire built by the remnants, a completely different country in terms of system, territory, and people."

Historians customarily refer to the former great empire as the 'ancient empire' and the latter weak empire as the 'final empire'.

"The final empire, in the year 1509 of the Imperial Calendar, the year of the final war, was merely a medium-sized country in the world. The spiritual legacy and orthodox title of the ancient empire brought not glory and inheritance, but burden and hatred."

“The former vassal lands are ambitious, the vassal tribes are restless, and the numerous kingdoms are eyeing them covetously.”

"Although it inherited the glory of the ancient empire, the empire eventually made enemies everywhere, was constantly at war, had a heavy tax burden, suffered from internal strife for years, the imperial family was incompetent, and the rule declined."

"The glory of the empire is about to end in the 1509th year of the imperial calendar."

"But in that same year, that race, those calamities, had already bewitched many believers and followers around the world, and with unprecedented power, formally declared war on the entire civilized world!"

Thales was slightly startled.

With his clear logic, he had already identified several logical fallacies in the narrative, but he didn't speak up immediately and instead held back.

What exactly is calamity? What does it mean to be born from humanity?
Since they possessed such power, why didn't they continue their efforts after destroying the ancient empire, instead of dragging it out until the final empire before formally declaring war?
Since it is completely irrational, why would they recruit followers and believers like a true god?

If they think in ways completely different from humans, why would they declare war? To conquer the world? What a joke!
This is a story riddled with flaws!
But Thales realized that this was not Gilbert deliberately misleading them, but rather that there was a lot of information that Thales simply could not understand at the moment.

Just like the secrets of those bloody years before.

“Those calamities,” Thales swallowed, asking with slight nervousness, “what are they?”

Gilbert wasn't surprised by Thales's question, but he didn't notice that Thales's tone lacked its usual confidence and composure.

He sighed: "After the final war, all news and sources about the 'calamity' were sealed off and prohibited. This was a secret agreement between the gods, demons, and humans, and it was also a countermeasure to prevent their numbers from increasing."

"As many years passed, the terror of the disaster gradually dissipated, and their names and existence were gradually forgotten by many people."

"However, as the king's only bloodline, you will have to know these things sooner or later."

Gilbert took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Those calamities were once human beings, or members of other intelligent races. But desire, greed, and ambition drove them to become beings who lost their essence—others. Although most of the time they are almost indistinguishable from us, and may even be hiding among us, they are truly an alien race.”

"In the eyes of the people and most people, these disasters have a common name."

Gilbert cleared his throat, his expression grave, and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Magician".

At that moment, Thales used all his strength to control himself and prevent his body from trembling too much.

"In their eyes, magic users are just another type of superhuman who seem to be on the same level as powerful beings like Terminator Knights and superhuman warriors."

Gilbert's eyes were icy as he continued, "But only the nations and temples that participated in the final war knew that these so-called magic masters were the terrible 'disasters' who had wreaked havoc on history for thousands of years, accumulating countless blood debts, ending two generations of empires, and nearly destroying the entire world!"

“They only realize something is wrong and notice something amiss when they try to kill a mage—by then it’s often too late.”

"Because of the magic masters, those calamities are immortal, indestructible, and eternal."

“Young sir,” Gilbert said seriously, “if you unfortunately encounter a mage in the future, protect yourself first. Once you are safe, then try to seek help… We have a set of measures to target the weaknesses of mages and fight against them.”

Touching the wound on his right hand, Thales remained expressionless, but his teeth trembled slightly—he had probably already witnessed those "disasters."

Although Thales had many doubts, for his own safety, he could not rush to ask questions—who knew what he might reveal in his haste?
But something still doesn't make sense... If magic users are such terrifying beings, why would they bother fighting over a small gang? Is the Star Kingdom just letting their Blood Bottle Gang grow stronger in the Star Kingdom?
Another point of suspicion.

There are many doubts.

Gilbert paused here, seemingly wondering why Thales didn't speak or ask a question. But he didn't suspect anything, instead closing his eyes and thinking for a few minutes before speaking softly:
"There is no doubt about their terrifying nature—the power of those calamities is simply too great. More than six hundred years ago, under the leadership of the strong, our most powerful and courageous army and their minions fought endlessly in bloodshed and madness. After breaking through the outer perimeter, the most elite knights and warriors surrounded those calamities, but could only die in droves."

Thales recalled the play at the Temple of the Underworld, where actors on stage collapsed one by one along the path taken by the "disaster".

"Gods descended to earth one by one, and then fell. Demons also crawled onto the ground, and then destroyed everything. The strongest of all races rushed to the battlefield, and then sacrificed themselves."

"The war lasted for many years, and after paying a heavy price, we finally figured out their weaknesses and defeated those calamities."

Thales clenched his fists, and Ashida's dejected words seemed to echo in his ears: "We lost."

Gilbert's words interrupted his recollection of Ashida:
"But the power of those cursed calamities was terrifyingly outrageous. In the final pursuit battle above the extreme realm, those cursed calamities, those monstrous beings capable of almost destroying the world—"

Thales, who was carefully observing Tormund's charge, suddenly shuddered and knew what was going to happen next.

Gilbert calmly uttered the next sentence:

"It sank the most vulnerable piece of land in the center of the continent, which served as the link between the four sides, and all living things and matter on it suffered annihilation."

"After the land sank, the aftershocks of energy spread out, pushing the entire continent in two directions. In just five years, the ocean that formed became unfathomably deep, tearing the known landmass into two continents, east and west, and countless islands."

"This is the famous 'Great Rift Sediment' from more than 600 years ago."

"The final battle has come to an end."

Gilbert let out a long breath, and what he said next made Thales momentarily stunned:
"That land that sank into the sea encompassed the entire territory of the final empire."

"The Ultimate Empire".

"This is the end."

Wu Jian scratched his head: The story hasn't even been told that far yet, how did it suddenly reach 20 words?
By the way, a quick plug: Kingdom Bloodline Book Club - 701536213
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(End of this chapter)