I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 304 The Final Chapter of the Empire
……

……

Outside the cave, in the valley.

"Om-"

A deep, resonant sound came from the throat of the rocky ridge, and the chest throbbed, as if war drums were booming from the depths of the earth.

The next instant, it suddenly opened its huge mouth.

A visible cone-shaped shockwave burst forth from his throat, cleaving through the air like a sharp blade and striking the hillside ahead!
"Boom!"

A deafening roar exploded on the hillside, and for a moment it seemed as if the entire mountain began to tremble!
The soil churned up, turf was torn up in patches, and the trees began to shake violently!

Gravel fell like raindrops down the hillside!

The soldiers guarding the ridge covered their ears and hurriedly retreated!
This is still a reaction that is not within the range of the breath attack!

The land on the hillside where the breath fell had been forcibly torn apart, trees were uprooted, and the once beautiful and natural scenery had been turned into ruins, as if it had just experienced a violent earthquake.

"Sound waves?"

Rhodes surveyed the mess on the hillside, feeling it resembled a sonic attack.

If the starting point had a nice name, it should be called "Shock Breath".

This was unexpected by Rhodes.

— Rhodes thought it would be something like a sandstorm.

However, this cannot be completely certain, since the rock ridge previously controlled the power of the earth, and the current scene on the hillside may also be caused by the power of the earth.

But if it was caused by the power of the earth, what would it look like if the rock ridge breathed towards the sky?

Perhaps sensing Rhodes's doubts, a flock of birds flew out from the woods to the side and scattered in all directions.

Just then, a few birds flew by in the sky near Rhode, and without hesitation, Rhode pointed them out.

"Rock ridge, breathe on them!"

At Rod's command, Rock Ridge opened its beak at the bird without hesitation!
"Om-"

A series of booming sounds rang out, and the air seemed to distort like a heat wave!
The birds would freeze instantly, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, their feathers bursting open!

Then, as if out of control, they plummeted from the sky!
Without Rhodes's orders, the guards waited for the "distorted air" to end before rushing over to collect the bird carcasses.

"My lord, their bones and internal organs seem to be broken."

The bird's corpse was like a lump of rotten flesh, twisted and turned at will in the guard's hands.

"Ah."

Rhodes nodded slightly.

This shockwave breath may not look as spectacular as the flame and frost breaths, but it causes just as much damage.

Moreover, ordinary armor and shields are simply unable to withstand such shocks.

Judging from the power on the hillside just now, even ordinary city walls couldn't stop it; a single breath from the rock ridge could create a breach.

Perhaps only a true magical shield could stop it.

"If that's the case, then those ordinary castles are simply no match for my army's advance?"

A famous quote from his past life suddenly flashed through Rod's mind.
—Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?

As soon as the idea came to mind, Rod couldn't help but start making plans.

We cannot rebel directly, as that would make us the enemy of the entire empire.

We must proceed gradually and continue with our efforts.

"What a damned imperial edict!"

Rhodes couldn't help but complain inwardly that if it weren't for the imperial decree, his army might already be heading into Marquis Coldblade's territory.

But now, we can only linger on the edge.

If only there were a way to bypass the imperial edict...

Rhodes gazed at the sky, his mind racing with thoughts.

……

……

Imperial Allied Forces Camp, Commander's Tent.

"Do you really want to send Romissa to see His Majesty the Emperor?"

Luxem looked at Leon, his brows furrowed slightly.

Leon nodded and said in a deep voice, "Some of the information she revealed concerns secrets within the Western Alliance."

"His Majesty is very interested in that information and has already granted Lomisa's request."

"what happened?"

Leon asked, "Luxen, you seem to have some concerns?"

"I always felt there was something fishy about the whole thing."

Lu Sen spoke slowly, seemingly lost in thought, "She was caught too easily, and she told everything without any resistance."

"That's perfectly normal. Her deal with the Western Conference was just a trade anyway."

Leon explained with a smile, "Moreover, according to Lomisa's confession, she was only responsible for carrying out the missions; the one who truly controlled everything was their bishop, Orcas Blackblood."

"Right now, all she wants is to save her own life, so she's willing to cooperate with the Empire."

Leon's words silenced Lucien.

After a moment, Luxem sighed with a hint of helplessness.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it, but something just doesn't feel right."

“Your vigilance is normal, I understand, after all, the spellcaster’s methods are strange and mysterious.”

Leon said earnestly, "But His Majesty has already agreed, and there's nothing we can do about it... Perhaps there's a way to deplete her magic?"

"Of course."

Lusen's eyes lit up with understanding, and his brows relaxed.
“That’s a good idea. If Lomisa doesn’t have magic, then she’s not a threat.”

"Thank you for your concern for the Empire, Lucien."

Leon smiled with relief. "Don't worry, Lucien, I will definitely report your Dawn Society's good intentions to His Majesty."

"It's what we should do. Now that we've started cooperating, we should do our best."

What Luxen said wasn't just polite talk.

People in the Dawn Society all possess scholarly qualities; once they set their minds on something, they will work hard to accomplish it.

This is somewhat different from the church.

Leon was aware of this, which is why he enjoyed working with Luxem.

"By the way, my spies have found some traces of Miss Zhuoya."

Leon told Lucien, "They saw Miss Zoya go into a tavern and then leave with a man."

“She was not forced; the whole process was voluntary, and she even had a smile on her face.”

"This……"

Luxen looked bewildered, his doubts deepening.

How is this going?

Could it be that Zoya was taken away by Baron Harun's men?

Or were you scammed?

"Can you find more specific information?" Luxen pressed.

"temporarily unavailable."

Leon shook his head slightly and comforted him, "But don't worry, my people will continue to investigate."

“Now every checkpoint is guarded by the Empire’s troops, and my men will definitely notice whenever Zoya passes through.”

"Thank you so much."

Luxen bowed and sighed softly, "I'll take my companions and search again."

After saying this, Lusen didn't linger. He bid farewell to Leon and quickly left the Imperial Army camp.

Meanwhile, Baron Zain and his entourage brushed past Lusen and entered the camp, heading straight for the Holy Council's tent.

Inside the tents of the Holy Council.

Baron Zain was dressed in a formal suit, and his smile had a hint of ingratiation on it.

“Bishop Salido, thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

Zain rose and performed a standard aristocratic bow.

"On behalf of the Falcon family, I extend my highest respect to the Church of Dawn."

Salido, seated in the main seat, nodded slightly.
“Baron Zane, please have a seat.”

"I wonder what business you have with me today?"

Salido's expression was somewhat indifferent.

Zain sat down carefully, his eyes shining with anticipation.
“I have a precious gift to offer to the church.”

"A precious gift?"

Salido's tone carried a hint of curiosity, but that was all.

He slightly raised his eyelids, a polite smile on his face.

"Our cooperation with your father has long been suspended. I wonder what this gift you have brought is..."

“I’ve captured a girl who’s learning evil magic, Zoya.”

Zain lowered his voice, "I intend to hand her over to the Church of Dawn for trial."

"Then I hope that you, as my representative, will continue the cooperation between the Falcon Family and the Church of Dawn."

"Our Lord has a broad mind and will generously accept and protect everyone who is willing to believe in Him."

Salido said calmly, "But we have more important things to do now, and we are willing to live in peace with the scholars of the Dawn Society."

"Therefore, Baron Zane, if I may be so bold."

Salido stared at Zain, his expression firm: "The Church of Dawn cannot accept this gift."

Zain's smile froze instantly.
“Your Excellency, I don’t quite understand.”

“That’s a real wizard apprentice.”

"Times have changed, Baron Zane."

Salido stood up.
"The Church of Dawn will temporarily cease to view all spellcasters as enemies."

"Our Lord's will is that only through acceptance and cooperation can we make this world a better place."

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue.

Zain felt his head buzzing.

He opened his mouth wide, unable to speak for a long time.

Friendly cooperation?

That's not what you said back then!
You keep saying that spellcasters are heretics and thieves who steal the power of the gods!
It's changed all at once now?
Zain was somewhat incredulous and couldn't help but speak again.
"You mean the church is now cooperating with those heretics?"

Salido's expression became even more serious.

"The Dawn Order are not heretics, Baron Zane."

"They are a legitimate organization of magicians, and we fight side by side against evil undead."

Zain felt his head buzzing.

Salido's words caused the meticulously planned scheme to collapse instantly.

This time, not only did they fail to gain allies, they even gained an enemy.

“Baron Zane, I advise you to release that girl.”

Looking at the silent Zane, Salido slowly suggested, "If no harm was done, Dawn should forgive you."

"Thank you for your suggestion, but I have other things to take care of."

Zain's smile vanished, and after nodding slightly, he turned and left without any hesitation.

Salido showed no displeasure with Zane's actions; on the contrary, his smile widened.

"Ignorant nobles, ugly heretics."

Salido murmured to himself, "The holy light of my Lord will ultimately judge you."

……

……

Zane hurried out of the tent, his face grim. The waiting Knight Baron quickly approached and asked in a low voice, "My lord, did the negotiations not go well?"

"A bunch of fickle old charlatans!"

Zane gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, "We hunted down those witches and wizards like crazy, portraying them as evil spellcasters!"

"Now they're saying they want to cooperate amicably with the Dawn Society, and they don't want that little wizard!"

"Pooh!"

Zane spat angrily, his aristocratic elegance completely gone.

"Now what?"

Baron frowned and asked hesitantly, "Release her?"

"We can't let them go!"

Zane rejected Baron's proposal.

"We lured her out by using our Falcon family identity. Once we let her go, she'll definitely know it was us if she questions Harlan!"

"That……"

Before Baron could finish speaking, Zane interrupted him with a gesture.

"It's impossible to kill him either."

Zain shook his head firmly. "She can't die in my hands like this. If the Dawn Society finds out, then it's all over."

In fact, Zain was not only worried about the Dawn Society, but also resisted personally ordering the execution of Zoya.

Bloodlines are the continuation of a noble family, and even if they are rival brothers, illegitimate children, or rebellious nephews, nobles rarely kill them with their own hands.

However, the nobles would be very happy to hand the problem over to other forces and "solve it" with the help of others.

Culturally, killing one's own bloodline is a disgrace.

According to legend, they will also be cursed by their family's ancestors.

"What should we do? She can't stay locked up in the same place for too long."

Baron, equally distressed, reported, "Our men have sent word that people have begun searching for her in the nearby towns!"

Zain felt his head was completely blank and couldn't think of a better solution for the time being.

"Never mind that for now, take her away!"

After thinking for a moment, Zane waved his hand impatiently.
"If it doesn't work, send her back to Eagle Fortress and lock her up!"

"what?"

Baron immediately felt something was absurd.

Such a long distance, just to deliver a wizard apprentice?
Baron opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately couldn't come up with a good solution.

"Alright, sir, I'll inform them right away."

Baron sighed helplessly.

……

……

The emperor's orders cannot be ignored.

Lomisa was successfully delivered to the Shattered Rock City of the Shattered Rock Empire, escorted by a top-ranking knight and three high-ranking knights.

Originally, the Church of Dawn was supposed to escort them together with the Dawn Society, but Bishop Salido had some matters to attend to, so no one from the Church of Dawn accompanied them.

Only Luxem, accompanied by two companions, escorted Romisa.

But it doesn't matter, Romisa's magic has been depleted, and in everyone's eyes she is now just a woman with no resistance.

On the second day after arriving in Rift Rock, the emperor summoned Lomisa.

The main hall of the Shattered Rock Palace is spacious and towering, with its dome supported by thick stone pillars, as if pressing down on a mountain.

A huge crystal chandelier casts a dazzling light, illuminating the hall along with the wall lamps.

The walls of the main hall are made of irregularly pieced dark granite, the mottled stone surface reflecting a cold, hard luster under the light, and the air is filled with the smell of lime and iron.

At the far center of the main hall, above three stone steps, stands a massive throne carved from a single block of rock.

The upper part of the throne back is carved with interwoven rock patterns and broken mountain peaks, symbolizing the empire's military power in expanding its territory and its indomitable will.

On either side of the throne stood a life-sized stone statue.

One figure holds a sword in both hands, and the other holds a shield in both hands.

The sword's edge points downwards, while the shield is engraved with the emblem of the Shattered Rock Empire—the rock-cracked stone and the giant hammer.

The current emperor of the Shattered Rock Empire, Shattered Rock XIV Agnar, sat on his throne, quietly observing everything.

Despite being middle-aged, Agnar still had sharp eyes and an upright posture, exuding an imposing imperial aura.

Fully armed royal guards stood on both sides of the hall, their brand-new armor gleaming silver and without a single scratch.

They stood motionless, their hands resting on the long swords at their waists, guarding the hall like statues.

Below the stone steps of the throne stood a tall and imposing top knight—the commander of the royal guard, Manro.

“Your Majesty, perhaps you do not need to interrogate that wizard personally; I can deal with him in your stead.”

The royal guard, Manluo, spoke respectfully and in a deep voice, suggesting, "Witches possess mysterious powers; she might harbor ill intentions towards you..."

"Don't worry, Manro, her magic has been drained."

Agnar said expressionlessly, "My grandfather, Keogus, told me that spellcasters rely on their magic and supernatural possessions."

"So the best way to deal with them is to exhaust their magic and strip them of all their clothes and accessories."

"Then they will become just as vulnerable as ordinary people."

Agnar's voice was full of arrogance, "Do you really think I need to worry about a weak, common woman trying to assassinate me?"

Manro looked at the indifferent emperor before her, wanting to say something but ultimately choosing to remain silent.

His Majesty's willingness to explain himself already shows him considerable patience.

Saying anything more would be offensive.

His Majesty was not a gentle ruler.

Moreover, Manro also felt that his emperor was right.

"You're right, I was indeed worried."

Manro bowed in greeting, then turned to deliver the order.

Soon, Romisa was brought up by the guards and carelessly thrown onto the main hall.

At this moment, Lomisa's hands and feet were locked in specially made shackles. Because her magic power was drained, her already ugly face became even paler and more haggard, making her even more unbearable to look at.

Her robes had been stripped off, and she was dressed in a dirty linen garment, her chest exposed.

"Greetings to you, Your Majesty the Emperor."

Romissa bowed in greeting, her voice unusually weak.

Agnar, however, remained calm, gazing at Lomisa.
"Tell me, what secret do you have that you want me to tell you yourself?"

The emperor's voice echoed in the hall.

"Your Majesty, the fewer people who know this secret, the better."

Lomisa struggled to sit up, her voice weak but respectful, "So I beg you, please ask everyone else here to leave."

“You filthy necromancer, your previous demands were already excessive.”

Agnar leaned forward. "You must tell me something of value now, or your head will be hanging on the flagpole of Riftrock City tomorrow."

"Tell me, what exactly is the Western Conference planning?"

Romisa was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"They are building a massive undead army, using every war to collect corpses and souls."

"The goal is to amass an army of 150,000 undead within three years."

"A frightening number."

Agnar replied expressionlessly.
"Then what? What else?"

"Your Majesty, is this not enough?"

Lomisa looked surprised. "I can help you fight against those undead armies!"

“If it were just this information, I would still cut off your head.”

Ignoring Lomisa's words, Agna continued to question, "So, what else do you want to tell me?"

"Very well, Your Majesty, you are wise."

Lomisa's words carried a hint of helplessness.

"I know the Western Conference is secretly developing a new necromancy potion."

"They will create a necromantic plague that can infect the living. Once successful, all those infected will turn into rotting corpses and be controlled by them!"

“I know where they are. If you will forgive me, I can lead you to destroy everything there!”

Lomisa's words made Agna nod slightly.

"This is valuable information, necromancer."

Agna stood up.

"I will assemble a powerful knightly force, and the Dawn Order and the Holy Council will join in."

"If you successfully destroy the necromantic plague you speak of, I will pardon you from all your sins and grant you freedom."

"I have a small request, Your Majesty the Emperor."

Romisa looked up at the emperor, a smile suddenly appearing on her lips. "I want your life, Your Majesty."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The guards' hands were already on their sword hilts, ready to give Agnar any order.

"Are you courting death, necromancer?"

Agnar spoke coldly, drew his throne-like sword, and walked down the steps one by one.

He approached Romissa step by step, raised his sword and placed it against Romissa's neck, and slowly spoke.
"Do you think you can act so recklessly in front of me just because you know some secrets of the Western Alliance?"

"Of course not, Your Majesty."

Romisa's smile widened, her eyes showing no fear as she stared at the blade.
"Because I don't know any secrets at all, I was just teasing you."

"Are you courting death?" Agnar asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lomisa's body suddenly lurched forward!

Agnar frowned and instinctively thrust his sword forward!
"Pfft!"

The sword tip pierced Romisa's neck in an instant and emerged from the back of her neck!

"you?!"

Agna stared in disbelief at everything before him.

Seeing the sinister grin on Romissa's face, I suddenly had a bad feeling!

Agnar instinctively drew his sword and retreated, a spurt of blood immediately gushing out.

The next instant, Lomisa's body began to contract violently, his flesh and blood rapidly withering away, as if he had been drained of all his energy!
Then a cloud of blood-red mist rose up, heading straight for Agnar!

"not good!"

Agna realized the danger and quickly retreated!

But the blood mist was extremely fast, wrapping around his body like a ghost and completely enveloping him!

At the same time, golden light suddenly appeared on Agnar's chest, and countless golden energies surged out, enveloping his entire body and quickly intertwining and fighting with the blood mist!
The blood mist collided with the golden light, and the golden light dissolved rapidly like snowflakes in boiling water!
Fortunately, the blood mist was gradually dissipating, which relieved Agna.

However, just as the blood mist was about to dissipate, Lomisa's body withered again, becoming completely like a dead tree!
A new cloud of blood mist flew out and joined the battle!
The remaining golden light was no match for it and dissipated completely in an instant, enveloping Agnar's entire body!

Agna instantly felt a chilling coldness creep into his body, and the sword in his hand clattered to the ground!
"His Majesty!"

Manro cried out and rushed forward, supporting Agna's slumped body and frantically patting the blood mist off him!
But it had no effect whatsoever!

"Manluo! Quick... quick, save her..."

Agna pleaded for help in a hoarse voice; the emperor's majesty vanished in the face of death.

But before he could finish speaking, his body completely lost control, and he painfully rolled over, breaking free from Manluo's arms, and crashed to the ground with a "thud"!
Agnar's face turned red, and he struggled desperately on the ground as if suffocating!
At the same time, blue and white light flickered in Agnar's heart, and wisps of emerald green mist flickered and swirled around his body!

For a moment, various magical lights flashed, but all of this still could not alleviate Agnar's pain!
The guards rushed forward and surrounded Agnar, reaching out to help but having no idea what to do!
They examined him carefully but couldn't find any wounds. They could only watch helplessly as His Majesty the Emperor suffered on the ground, blood flowing from his eyes, nostrils and mouth!
"Doctor! Doctor!"

Manlu shouted loudly, and the entire hall instantly descended into chaos!
Amidst this chaos, Agnar, the twenty-fourth ruler of the Shattered Rock Empire, lay beside the desiccated corpse of Lomisa, his blood-red eyes wide open, before gradually losing his voice.

The crowd grew increasingly noisy, and the entire hall was shrouded in the emperor's strange fear.

No one noticed that a wisp of residual blood mist flew out of the door through the dome and drifted away along the corridor into the distance.

(End of this chapter)