At the moment of the incident — the mountains near Averlion…
Valdor:
—How was this even possible…? That human killed Farnak so easily!
Nexella:
—So there are still legendary heroes among humans. Even so, I did not expect someone capable of killing a Dragon General with such ease.
Valdor:
—My Queen, what are your orders? Shall we attack the city?
Nexella:
—No. There is no need for that. I warned Farnak beforehand.
Valdor:
—What if they seek revenge and attack us? After all, they now have a legendary hero.
Nexella:
—Since we did not attack them, they will not attack us either. That is the wise decision. Otherwise, if they grow arrogant because they killed a single general, even all their legendary heroes together would not be enough to save them.
Valdor:
—Understood, my Queen.
Meanwhile, in Averlion…
Aeth (shouting):
—Where are the generals of Averlion!?
Seeing their prestige crumble, the generals gather themselves and step forward, attempting to defend their pride—while also trying to steal glory for themselves.
Aeth looks at the three generals and swings his sword, severing all three heads in a single motion.
Aeth (shouting):
—This dragon was nothing more than a wretched creature. But generals who abandon their people and flee in fear are far lower than that beast in my eyes. Deliver my order to the palace. Everyone is to gather—every minister, noble, and general. All of them.
Soldiers:
—Understood, Your Majesty!
In the same manner, with his right sword resting on his shoulder and the left spinning in his hand, Aeth advances toward the palace.
Lisa:
—We should go to the palace as well. Something truly unpleasant is about to happen.
Lisa (thinking, frightened):
What… was that…? What did I just witness…? He wasn't this ruthless… He killed them… without a word…!!!
Lukas:
—Goddess Lisa, the palace is dangerous right now. Is it truly right for you to go there?
Carl:
—Afraid, Lukas? What happened to the man who would cut down someone's head without thinking? Now you saw three important generals lose their heads as if they were nothing. And this is clearly not the end.
Lukas:
—I am only worried for the Goddess. I would never fear an incompetent emperor.
Mary (trembling):
—Lukas… do… you… realize… what… you're… saying…? The man… you call… incompetent… killed… a Dragon… General…
Lisa:
—Enough! We are going to the palace!
Aeth advanced toward the palace with a terrifying aura. Those watching from afar felt as though a Demon King himself was passing by them on his way to the palace.
Yet none of them knew that the one moving with such dreadful presence was a man who had slaughtered more humans than even Demon Kings.
To Aeth, this world had not yet seen what true hell was—nor what true demons truly looked like.
At this moment, as the Chaos Emperor, Aeth was the most dangerous existence in this world.
Aeth reached the palace, sat upon his throne, and placed his swords beside it. Resting his head on his right hand, he waited for everyone to gather.
After some time, all the ministers arrived, along with several noble families. In total, fifty-seven high nobles gathered alongside the ministers.
Of course, there were also those who ignored the emperor's command and did not come.
After silence reigned in the hall for a while, Aeth stood up and took his swords into his hands once more.
Prime Minister Gord (loudly):
—Your Majesty, you executed three generals without interrogation! This is reck—
Aeth swung his sword and severed Prime Minister Gord's head.
Aeth (calm and terrifying):
—I did not give anyone permission to speak.
This act plunged everyone into shock. Including Lisa, all present were frozen in fear.
Mark, a powerful warrior and one of the empire's strongest generals, drew his sword.
Mark (furiously):
—This is outrageous! Killing the Prime Minister—what does this mean!?
Before Mark could move, Aeth swiftly and skillfully severed his head as well. Staring at everyone with hatred, he spoke in a chilling voice.
Aeth:
—The only one who is out of line here is you. I am the Emperor! Who do you think you are!? Know your place before I cut down the entire palace!
The sycophantic and cowardly nobles were consumed by fear. First, a Dragon General. Then three generals in a single strike. And now General Mark—the strongest warrior of the empire—had fallen effortlessly.
At this point, everyone was forced to listen to Aeth.
Aeth (loud and terrifying):
—Those I have named—step forward!
Aeth called out the names of twenty-eight nobles, ministers included. Their names existed within the memories of the former emperor.
The one thing that emperor had done well was observing everyone. Though he could do nothing, he watched.
But this time, Aeth would not merely observe. He had come directly from the hell created by humans themselves. He was still on the battlefield. For him, this was simple.
Like on a battlefield, Aeth charged at the nobles, tearing them apart and slaughtering them.
No one dared to intervene. Instead, they bowed in terror before the emperor.
Aeth (furiously):
—Wretched creatures. You have awakened a sleeping calamity. Enough silence. From this moment on, you will witness what a true Chaos Emperor looks like. You feared Demon King and forgot that the Chaos Emperor is far more terrifying!
This massacre made every heart tremble. No one could do anything. They only watched—just as Aeth once had.
With his sword in his left hand slung over his shoulder and his sword in his right hand brandishing it, Aet walked among the corpses and looked around.
He looked at everyone's faces—but no one dared to look into his.
At that moment, Lisa snapped out of her fear, gathered her courage, and spoke.
Lisa (bravely):
—Do you realize what you've done!? These are humans! How can you take lives so easily!?
Aeth pointed his sword at Lisa. She fell silent in shock.
When Lukas reached for his sword, Aeth looked at Lisa and conveyed his warning to Lukas without even turning.
Aeth (calm and terrifying):
—Do not act foolishly, human. Or the next head rolling on the floor will be yours.
He slowly turned his gaze toward Lukas. An overwhelming aura crushed Lukas instantly.
Lukas (thinking):
What… is this aura…? Is this truly the emperor who sat on the throne this morning…? How… is… this… possible…? I can't move my hand…
Lisa (urgently):
—No one make a foolish move! Lukas!
Lukas:
—Understood, Goddess.
Aeth:
—A wise choice.
Aeth:
—Goddess Lisa, you said these were humans? And here I thought you were a goddess. A goddess should recognize demons. If your eyes cannot see, let me explain. The ones I killed here were true demons.
Lisa:
—That's nonsense. You killed them for your own benefit. They may be guilty, but we do not have the right to decide and execute them!
Aeth (smiling):
—How quickly someone who came here for their own interests forgets that fact.
Lisa:
—I only wanted to save human lives—
Aeth (furious, shouting):
—I am speaking! No one here has the right to justify themselves! Goddess of peace and humanity, where were you when my land was in chaos? Where were you when innocents were slaughtered? Where were you when demon armies invaded my lands and butchered my people? And when Kravendorn—the kingdom you wanted us to surrender to—occupied my territory!? Now you come to me preaching about human lives and demand I surrender to the very kingdom that massacred my people!? Answer me!
Lisa:
—This is your failure, not mine. If you were strong, none of this would have happened. You rule this empire—not me. If anyone is to blame, it is you!
Aeth:
—You've touched upon the correct point. This is my empire—not yours. So do not interfere in matters that do not concern you. Take your hypocritical temple and go to those who still believe in you. There is no place in my lands for those who cloak their ambitions in the name of goodness. Instead of questioning my actions, question what your temple has done. Goddess Lisa.
Lisa:
—What are you implying!?
Aeth:
—You no longer interest me in the slightest. The palace gate is over there. Do not provoke me further.