Chapter 4 Valtherion Kingdom
Far to the distant west stood a kingdom of unparalleled grandeur a realm where prosperity and order flourished like an eternal spring. Vast fields of fertile land stretched beyond the horizon, feeding countless towns and villages that thrived beneath the kingdom's protection. Encircling the entire capital were colossal stone walls, towering so high that they seemed to challenge the very sky itself. Forged from ancient rock and reinforced by master craftsmen, these walls stood as an unyielding bastion, a symbol of strength that had never once been breached.
High above those formidable ramparts, elite soldiers soared through the skies upon the backs of mighty wyverns. Their armored silhouettes cut through the clouds as they patrolled the kingdom's borders day and night. With keen eyes and unwavering loyalty, they ensured that no enemy, beast, or invader could threaten the peace within the realm.
Within these walls, the people lived lives of stability and abundance. Markets bustled with trade, children played freely along the cobbled streets, and farmers harvested rich crops from the fertile soil. As long as the people remained loyal and obeyed the rule of their sovereign, peace and prosperity continued to bless the land.
This powerful and radiant kingdom was known throughout the world as Valtherion.
At the heart of Valtherion's power sat the man who ruled it all King Darius Valtherion.
To some, he was feared as a tyrant: ruthless, merciless, and arrogant, a king who ruled through iron will and absolute authority. His enemies whispered his name with dread, calling him a monster who crushed opposition without hesitation.
Yet to others, he was something entirely different.
Many believed him to be the greatest ruler Valtherion had ever known a genius king whose intellect and decisiveness surpassed all those who had come before him. Through strategy, reform, and an uncompromising vision for his nation's future, he had transformed the kingdom into a dominant power feared and respected across the continents.
Despite being only twenty-nine years old, Darius had already achieved feats that many kings could not accomplish in an entire lifetime. Corrupt nobles had been purged from power, the kingdom's military had grown stronger than ever, and Valtherion's influence continued to expand beyond its borders.
His rule was absolute.
No one dared challenge him.
For anyone who stood against King Darius Valtherion would face only one fate execution.
Of course, the king's remarkable achievements were not forged by his will alone. Standing beside him were warriors so powerful that their very names inspired awe and fear across the continent. They were known collectively as the Forbidden Trinity three legendary figures whose strength had long surpassed the limits of ordinary warriors and mages.
The first among them was the Forbidden Aegis, the king's living shield and the immovable guardian of the throne. His endurance was said to be absolute, his body and spirit forged into something far beyond human limits. Clad in towering armor and wielding a colossal shield blessed by ancient enchantments, he stood as the first and last wall before the king. Any enemy who wished to reach the throne would have to face him first and none had ever succeeded. Legends told that even raging dragons had once attempted to break through his defense, only to fail against his unyielding stance. To allies he was a protector; to enemies he was an unbreakable fortress.
The second was the Forbidden Blade, the king's executioner and the sharp edge of royal authority. Unlike the Aegis who defended, the Blade existed solely to destroy. His mastery over the sword had reached a level that defied logic and reason. It was said that distance held no meaning to his strikes his blade could cut down an enemy long before they even realized they had been attacked. No armor was thick enough, no barrier strong enough, and no creature durable enough to withstand the path of his blade. When the Forbidden Blade drew his weapon, death was not a possibility it was a certainty.
The final member of this legendary trio was the Forbidden Arcanist, a sorcerer whose command over magic had crossed into the realm of the forbidden. He wielded ancient spells that most scholars feared even to study. Entire battlefields could be reduced to ash beneath his incantations, and the air itself seemed to tremble when he began weaving his spells. Many whispered that his magic was so destructive that it bordered on heresy against the natural order of the world. To some he was a genius of arcane mastery; to others he was nothing less than a walking calamity.
Each member of the Forbidden Trinity was personally equipped with powerful artifacts bestowed by King Darius himself relics of immense power gathered from ancient ruins, fallen empires, and forgotten civilizations. These artifacts amplified their already terrifying abilities, transforming them into near-unstoppable forces capable of standing against entire armies.
Together, they served as the ultimate guardians of the throne, the three pillars that protected the ruler of Valtherion.
And yet, despite their overwhelming strength, the power of the kingdom did not rely solely upon them.
For King Darius Valtherion himself was no ordinary monarch.
Unlike many rulers who commanded from behind their armies, Darius possessed strength worthy of legend in his own right. His body was adorned with numerous rare artifacts rings, armor, relics, and enchanted weapons that radiated immense magical energy. Each item had been carefully chosen and mastered by the king himself, forming a collection of power that few individuals in history could rival.
He was not merely a ruler who sat upon a throne.
He was a warrior king one whose presence alone could turn the tide of battle.
In the court of Valtherion, even the legendary Forbidden Trinity stood not above him, but behind him.
Inside the throne room, there were only three people present: the king himself, his secretary Tsian, and Kael Dravenhart, the Forbidden Aegis.
Tsian was a brilliant secretary who assisted the king with administrative matters.
"Tsian, how are the people of the kingdom doing?" the king asked.
Tsian smiled slightly before replying, "My king, the people seem happy ever since you purged the corrupt nobles, my lord."
Darius burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Yes, that's right. Those who bring no benefit to this kingdom are better off dead. Isn't that correct, Kael?"
Kael, whose expression remained stern, nodded in agreement with his king. "That is absolutely true, my lord. They are like parasites to this nation. If they were allowed to live, this kingdom would never be able to prosper."
A moment later, Darius's expression darkened again.
"Now all that remains are the small pests from outside the kingdom that I still need to deal with." He let out a tired sigh. "If those nobles had been left alone, more uninvited rats would have gathered and tried to parasitize this nation again. It would only create more work for me."
Tsian chuckled lightly. "Well, that's exactly why you barely get any rest. But thanks to that, this kingdom continues to grow stronger, my king."
A few moments later, a guard came running in a hurry.
"Huff… huff…"
He stopped in front of the massive golden doors, which were guarded by two soldiers. Catching his breath, he spoke quickly.
"I have an urgent report for His Majesty."
The guards allowed him to enter.
As he stepped inside, he found himself in the vast throne room. A long red carpet stretched from the grand throne all the way to the entrance, giving the hall an imposing and majestic atmosphere.
The messenger soldier approached the king with great respect and proper etiquette. As he drew closer, he bowed deeply nearly ninety degrees.
Darius spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Rise, soldier. Now tell me, what news have you brought to me today?"
The soldier straightened up, swallowing nervously before speaking.
"Yes, Your Majesty… I bring troubling news. On the continent of Xaldrith Emberland, a strange phenomenon has been observed. The magma and flames there appear to have gone out. When we investigated the area, we discovered a massive and extremely deep crater its diameter is estimated to be around one kilometer."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Furthermore, there have been no signs of the Hellbringer Dragon, my lord. It has either disappeared or died; its fate remains a mystery. However, a few fire dragons were detected in the surrounding region. Only one dragon corpse was found."
The soldier hesitated for a moment before finishing his report.
"After examining the body, it appears the dragon was killed with bare hands, my lord… because there are clear hand-shaped marks on its body."
Everyone in the throne room fell silent, shocked by the report.
King Darius sank into his thoughts.
(What is happening? This is beyond my predictions. Who could possibly possess such power? Could this be related to magic?)
Tsian then turned to the messenger and asked,
"Are the handprints on the dragon's body larger than those of a human?"
The soldier quickly replied,
"No, sir. The marks left on the body appear to be roughly the size of a human's hand."
Tsian's eyes widened in surprise. He then turned to Darius and said,
"If that is the case, then the cause of this incident could possibly be attributed to a demon, a half-dragon, or perhaps… even a human."
Darius quickly reached a decision and gave an order to his secretary.
"Tsian, summon Seraphine. Tell her to investigate further and find out what truly happened there. I have a suspicion that this might have been caused by powerful magic… or perhaps a strong artifact possessed by a human. Also, increase the kingdom's security for the time being. I hope this does not turn into bad news for us."
After giving his orders, Darius gestured to the messenger soldier, signaling that his report was finished and that he could leave the throne room.
Darius felt a growing headache as the situation weighed heavily on his mind. This was something he had never predicted.
"Kael," he said, his voice slightly strained, "do you think Seraphine could create a spell powerful enough to defeat the Hellbringer Dragon?"
Kael's expression turned grim yet resolute as he answered honestly.
"If I may speak frankly, my lord… that would be impossible. Even if we used the artifacts we possess, killing that dragon would still be extremely unlikely. There are even those who claim that the dragon is a god itself, or at least something akin to a deity that guards the gates of hell."
Darius let out a long sigh and leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting up toward the ceiling of the throne room.
"Then what kind of being… could possibly defeat a god like that?" he muttered.