Natlan is the nation of war.
The targets of battle are Abyssal Monsters.
The specific war process is divided into three stages.
The first two stages are the Holy Night of the Return of Fire, and the final stage is the Night Warden War.
During the Holy Night of the Return of Fire, Natlan people engage in chaotic battles in the form of small squads, essentially a team competition.
The winning teams in the team competition advance to the second round, the individual competition. However, not everyone in the team participates; only the leader, the successor of an ancient name, can join the individual competition.
The individual competition is divided into groups. The winner of each group forms a team to enter the third stage, the Night Warden War.
The Night Warden War involves actual combat against Abyssal Monsters. Once the Natlan people defeat them, it is considered a victory in the war.
During this time, if deaths occur, the Resurrection Poem can be activated to bring the deceased Natlan people back to the world of the living.
Caelus has participated in the Holy Night of the Return of Fire several times and knows the importance of these activities to the people of Natlan.
First, it allows them to defeat the Abyss at a very small cost.
Second, it satisfies the spiritual needs of the Natlan people.
The role of the Holy Night of the Return of Fire is to select warriors to face the Abyss, and it also serves as a performance, providing exciting shows for the people.
Especially the individual competition; in the world of Dragon Ball, it would be the World Martial Arts Tournament where weapons are allowed. Who wouldn't love watching that?
Once Caelus becomes the Pyro Archon and gains power, his first move will be to announce the suspension of the Holy Night of the Return of Fire and the Night Warden War. The Natlan people's emotions will surely explode.
These two projects have lasted for centuries, perhaps even longer.
To have them suspended by a young brat like him, it would be a lie to say the Natlan people wouldn't have objections.
At that time, Shock Value will come rolling in, skyrocketing upward.
"However, the Holy Night of the Return of Fire has another function: providing energy for the Sacred Fire through the competitions between Natlan people."
The Sacred Fire is of great significance to the people and the region of Natlan. For comparison, it's like the Plasma Spark Tower for the Land of Light.
If the Sacred Fire goes out, the people and land of Natlan will lose their protection and be unable to deal with the Abyssal invasion.
"System, can Shock Value maintain the burning of the Sacred Fire?"
Caelus pinned his hopes on the System.
If the System's Shock Value didn't have this function, Caelus would have to give up on this plan.
[1,000 Shock Value can maintain the Sacred Fire's burning for one year.]
The answer given by the System made Caelus's eyes light up.
"Is it easy to earn 1,000 Shock Value?"
Caelus asked.
[The host will have to try that for himself.]
Hearing the System's words, Caelus's lips twitched.
He only asked the System because he was afraid to try.
Next, Caelus asked in various indirect ways, but the answers were all the same: do it first and see.
Perhaps even the System itself couldn't determine how the Shock Value would grow.
After getting no results from the System, Caelus could only find a guinea pig to test the situation.
"Mualani."
Caelus said to the "guinea pig" in the same pool: "After becoming the Pyro Archon, I want to issue a policy, but I don't know if it'll work. I want to hear your opinion."
"Eh, I told you not to think about becoming the Pyro Archon tonight."
Mualani complained first, then said: "If you want to consult someone, don't ask me. Wouldn't it be better to discuss it with Kinich?"
"I don't have a smart head like yours."
Mualani was very strong in a fight, but she traded her IQ for it.
She knew this herself, so she usually left the thinking to others.
"Mualani's opinion is enough," Caelus said.
"You... think that highly of me?"
Mualani scratched her hair, feeling a bit awkward.
"Alright, since you've put it that way, I'll listen to your 'great plan.'"
"I want to stop the Holy Night of the Return of Fire and the Night Warden War."
"What did you say?!"
Mualani cried out instantly, her red eyes staring in disbelief: "I didn't hear that wrong, did I?"
[Shock Value from Mualani +10]
[Note: Mualani is a Vision holder and thus can provide more Shock Value.]
[For the same emotion, the amount provided by an ordinary person is only one percent of that from a Vision holder.]
The System's prompt sounded at the right time.
"A Vision holder brings 10 Shock Value..."
Caelus made a rough estimate and felt that getting 1,000 Shock Value tomorrow wouldn't be very difficult.
After all, there are at least 100 people in Natlan with Visions, and they alone could contribute 1,000 Shock Value.
The remaining ordinary Natlan people combined would only provide more.
"Caelus, are you really going to suspend the Holy Night of the Return of Fire?"
"Everyone will definitely be very angry!"
Mualani looked over with furrowed brows: "And Kachina, she's always wanted to get good results in the competition and participate in the Night Warden War."
Kachina was from another Tribe.
Although she was a young girl, she was also a powerful warrior.
But due to a lack of confidence in her strength, Kachina could never perform at her best, and her results weren't ideal.
Even so, Kachina hadn't given up, always wanting to earn a rank to participate in the Night Warden War and receive that honor.
But if the Holy Night of the Return of Fire, the selection tournament, was stopped, how could she participate in the Night Warden War?
"Caelus, you're joking, right?"
Mualani blinked, looking at her childhood friend's face uneasily, trying to find any sign that he was lying.
"Mualani, I really like your reaction."
Caelus smiled, then stood up from the hot spring.
If he stayed any longer, Mualani would definitely pester him.
He hadn't made up an excuse yet, so he had to retreat for now.
"Caelus, wait!"
Mualani reached out to grab the boy, but in the end, she only touched empty air.
Caelus had vanished into flames beforehand, leaving a scorching temperature in the air.
"That guy got away again."
Mualani stomped her feet in the hot spring in frustration.
Then, she crossed her arms and began to think with a frown: "Caelus said he likes my reaction..."
"Does that mean he really was joking?"
"It would be great if that were the case."
Mualani wanted to convince herself, but Caelus's previous expression made her feel something was wrong.
What Caelus said probably wasn't a joke.
---
The next day.
Caelus arrived at the Sacred Fire Arena.
Under the burning gazes of the people, he took the Pyro Gnosis and walked toward the Sacred Fire.
According to Natlan custom, as long as one walks into the Sacred Fire holding the Gnosis, the transformation from human to god can be completed.
At the same time, the new Pyro Archon can absorb the knowledge of previous Pyro Archons from the Sacred Fire, quickly turning from a novice into a veteran.
"Let us welcome the birth of the new Pyro Archon!"
Led by the host, the entire audience began to applaud, more enthusiastically than the applause during the Holy Night of the Return of Fire.
Before walking into the Sacred Fire, Caelus specifically looked at the expressions of the people around him.
He saw smiles on everyone's faces as they looked over with expectant eyes, as if looking forward to a beautiful future.
But soon, they wouldn't be able to smile anymore.