As the king of Elysium, Merslin adopted a far alliance, near conquest (원교근공, 遠交近攻) strategy to protect and elevate his kingdom. While neighboring nations grew wary of Elysium's rising power and Merslin's expanding legacy, he sought broader diplomatic support through alliances with distant powers—particularly Celesta's Altekna, the High Elf Kingdom, and the elven and blood elf factions of the Luminaria continent.
In a strategic council held in Elysium's grand chamber, Merslin met with Risa, Serena, and Aria to finalize the kingdom's diplomatic direction. They agreed to prioritize alliances with distant powers for long-term security and stability.
"Our neighbors fear Elysium's growth," Merslin sighed. "They see us as a threat. But distant nations do not—at least, not yet. If we build trust there, we gain strength beyond their reach."
Elena, gently clasping his hand, added:
"Darling, Altekna of Celesta owes its throne to your support. That bond gives us a head start. And the High Elves, Elves, and Blood Elves from Luminaria… their magic and tactical prowess could be invaluable against threats like Hyperion."
Merslin nodded.
"If we can mediate between the Elves and Blood Elves, bridging their long-standing distrust, Elysium can become the center of a true alliance."
Thanks to Merslin's past aid during Altekna's succession, the Kingdom of Celesta had become Elysium's firmest ally. The Altekna king, highly respectful of Merslin's abilities, welcomed the alliance with enthusiasm.
"Merslin, I owe my crown to you. Strengthening ties with Elysium benefits us both."
"I hope your kingdom becomes a cornerstone of this alliance," Merslin replied. "Together, no threat will stand against us."
"Indeed," the Altekna king said, clasping Merslin's hand. "With our cooperation, we may even reshape the balance of Luminaria itself."
To resolve the historic enmity between the Elves and Blood Elves, Merslin hosted a pivotal summit in Elysium. Tensions lingered, but under his patient mediation, the two sides began to explore common ground.
"Elysium stands ready to walk alongside both of you," Merslin said solemnly. "As equals. Let us build cooperation that benefits all—beyond past wounds."
An elven representative hesitated before replying:
"Your Majesty, we trust your intentions. But the scars run deep between us and the Blood Elves."
"We too respect your mediation," said the Blood Elf envoy. "We are willing to work toward healing the past."
Merslin smiled.
"If we recognize each other's strengths, we can face anything. The wisdom of the Elves, the arcane might of the Blood Elves—united, you can overcome threats even as great as Hyperion."
Through small joint operations, the two elven factions began building trust. Merslin's role as mediator grew increasingly vital.
Meanwhile, Elysium remained alert to the growing hostility of its neighboring kingdoms. Merslin bolstered military defenses and established outposts at key locations to repel any incursions. He also instructed Risa and Serena to monitor regional politics closely and prepare rapid responses to any signs of aggression.
Risa reported:
"Our neighbors watch us with caution. They fear our alliances threaten their standing. But we are tracking them—none will take us by surprise."
Serena, overseeing intelligence operations, added:
"We're watching every move they make. If they act, we'll know first."
As Merslin's far alliance strategy took root, its effects began to show. International backing strengthened, elven factions in Luminaria edged closer to unification, and Elysium began to evolve from a kingdom of survival into a nexus of cosmic balance.
Merslin now aimed not only to protect his realm, but to reshape the greater order itself—with Elysium at the center.
"We must trust one another and move forward together," Merslin declared, voice resolute. "With our alliances, we will accomplish something far greater. The time has come to reach for that future."
**
Episode: The Ancient Darkness and the Intervention of Elysium
The High Elf society was recovering from its long slumber in the depths of antiquity. However, seeds of darkness still lingered within. Among them, a faction of elves corrupted by the demonic grasp of an ancient god had begun to rise in power under a formidable leader—Moltirach. In secret, Moltirach had obtained ancient relics from the ruins of the Ancients, empowering his forces with their terrible might.
Corrupted Elves and the Power of Relics:Moltirach, along with his loyal followers, invaded the ancient ruins. Hidden within were relics of immense power left behind by the Ancients. Through them, Moltirach armed his army with overwhelming force. These relics, infused with ancient magic and forgotten technology, transformed his corrupted forces into a terrifying army.
"O power of the ancient gods, rise and unleash the army of darkness upon our enemies," Moltirach chanted as he raised the relic in his hand. A black light surged from his fingers, enveloping the ruins, enhancing and mutating his forces. The dark magic soaked into his soldiers, making them visibly stronger—their spells fiercer, their martial prowess more formidable.
Meanwhile, within the High Elf society, a resistance led by Elrios rose to oppose Moltirach's corruption. They fought to preserve the light and legacy of the High Elves.
Elrios warned his people and called for unity."We can no longer stand idle as Moltirach's darkness spreads. We must rise to protect our heritage and our light."His speech drew together those who refused to surrender to corruption.
But not all agreed. Many within the High Elf community, weary from past wars, hesitated to engage in another full-scale conflict. Elrios sensed how difficult it would be to unify his people and grew increasingly alarmed as Moltirach's forces advanced.
Soon, the corrupted army marched toward Celesta's heartland. The Kingdom of Altechna became their next target, and Moltirach's forces pressed hard against its defenses.
Though Altechna resisted, the tide turned against them. Moltirach's warriors, now enhanced with ancient relics and dark magic, grew ever stronger. Faced with this crisis, Altechna's King Alexander reached out for aid.
"Your Majesty Merslin, Altechna is under attack by Moltirach, a fallen High Elf corrupted by darkness. His forces are overwhelming. We cannot hold them off alone. We desperately need Elysium's help."
Merslin, together with Elena, received the plea and swiftly analyzed the situation. Though Altechna was in the midst of expanding its waypoints, limiting rapid deployment, Merslin decided to dispatch a relief force via Elysium's fleet.
"We will aid Altechna," he declared firmly."Moltirach's dark army must not be allowed to spread the ancient evil any further. Elysium will fight for justice."
The warships of Elysium were quickly readied. Powerful soldiers and mages boarded, ready for battle.
From afar, the warships of Elysium approached Altechna—airships cut across the sky, accompanied by aerial troops and cavalry magicians. Merslin and Elena stood at the front, staring down the corrupted legions of Moltirach overwhelming Altechna.
"We are Altechna's allies," Merslin said to his commanders."Their crisis is ours. We must not allow Moltirach to spread the ancient darkness any further."
As the battle commenced, Merslin and Elena unleashed their formidable magic. Standing at the center of the battlefield, Merslin raised his arm to summon meteor magic. His voice resonated across the field, silencing all else.
"Oh stones of the heavens, fragments of slumbering stars, fall in flames upon the army of darkness. Awaken the ancient power, shake this land—answer my call and become a blaze of light!"
As his incantation ended, the skies split open, and massive meteors rained down. Burning rock fell upon Moltirach's army, shaking the ground and annihilating their ranks.
Moltirach's forces retaliated with violent magic, but were overwhelmed by Elysium's cavalry and aerial strikes. Though the corrupted elves' sorcery was chaotic and powerful, it faltered against Elysium's disciplined and strategic warfare.
Lisa led the cavalry with brilliant horsemanship. Her steed galloped like the wind, and her sword struck like lightning. Charging headlong into enemy lines, she rallied Elysium's forces and fought Moltirach's elite soldiers head-on.
"Show them the power of Elysium!" she cried, slicing down foes with every sweep, her steed's hooves thundering toward victory.
The aerial units too proved decisive. Dominating the skies, they rained fire and lightning on Moltirach's army. Elysium's warships and flying warriors devastated the battlefield from above.
Serena, leading Elysium's archers and rogue units, struck swiftly and precisely. They targeted cracks in the enemy formation, felling key spellcasters and officers with deadly precision.
"Prepare your arrows!" Serena commanded, raising her own bow."We move like shadows—blinding them before they even know we're there."
At her signal, a hail of arrows flew skyward. Corrupted soldiers fell to Elysium's archers. Meanwhile, rogue units infiltrated enemy lines, assassinating spellcasters and commanders to destabilize Moltirach's formations.
"We are the invisible blades. By the time they notice us, their hearts will already be pierced," whispered Serena's rogues, flashing like lightning through the chaos.
Elysium's victory was not merely due to strength—it was their preparation. Hardened by battles against Aetherion and Titan, they were trained for true war. Merslin had elevated Elysium's military to over-spec capabilities, leading with tactical and strategic brilliance.
The High Elves, while individually powerful, could not match the cohesive warfare of Elysium. With unified command and intelligent planning, Elysium dominated the war. This was not just a battle—it was a campaign, and Elysium fought to win the whole war.
Arriving in Altechna, Elysium's forces joined with Elrios and his resistance, preparing to strike back against Moltirach's corrupted army. This battle was more than a rescue mission—it was a turning point in the fight to restore the light of the High Elves.
"Moltirach, your darkness ends here," said Merslin, prepared for battle."We will stop your corruption and reclaim the light of the High Elves."
The climactic war began. Though Moltirach fought fiercely with ancient spells, he fell before the united forces of cavalry, archers, airships, and rogues.
After the battle, Elrios turned to Merslin."We will save the corrupted High Elves. This isn't over. We'll keep fighting to bring back their light."
Merslin nodded."Yes. We'll fight together. Elysium's path isn't just about military victory—it's about restoring the order of the cosmos and ending the ancient darkness once and for all."
Through this battle, Elysium gained more than a tactical win. They reignited the hope of the High Elves and moved one step closer to restoring the balance of the universe.
This was not just a victory—it was the alliance of light against the ancient darkness.Through superior preparation and strategy, Elysium's victory marked the beginning of a new order, reshaping the world to come.