Griffin's death, the end of an era

When Kang De returned to the Mortal World and reappeared on the Astolfo, the army finally erupted in thunderous cheers, paying the highest tribute to their invincible leader.

Their shouts and cheers were filled with joy and relief.

Because Kang De's rule did indeed return to them completely and safely.

After a brief but arduous battle, the powerful figures of the various nations were still shaken. As they adjusted their breathing and took medicine, they listened to the cheers, exchanged glances, and understood each other's thoughts.

Just moments ago, Kang De disappeared with the God of the Star Palace who was about to self-destruct. Moments later, commotion broke out in the Distant Harbor Legion. An atmosphere of unease and anxiety spread faster than light. The soldiers who wielded violence were enveloped in a silent but terrifying mood, constantly questioning and even interrogating officers of all ranks.

Where does Kang De rule?

The Imperial Guard responsible for guarding Kang De even showed signs of mania.

Even the presence of Horus and Astolfo, two marshals whose command was second only to Kang De, to reassure the troops could not completely dispel their anxieties and restlessness.

Until Kang De returned, everything melted away like ice and snow in the sunlight.

All the unease and worry turned into earth-shaking cheers, which also resonated with the hearts of the powerful nations—they knew that Kang De's prestige in this army had reached unimaginable heights, and if anything had happened to him just now, none of the Council soldiers on the battlefield would have survived.

This is truly a disturbing sign.

What made these powerful nations even more uneasy was...

Upon seeing Kang De reappear, they even felt a little like cheering.

... just a little.

But soon, these powerful figures from various countries and forces, even those with sworn allegiance to their monarchs and with the dignity and pride of being strong, had no choice but to feign a few cheers.

--Don't misunderstand, this is not about Kang De's authority or the intimidation of his henchmen.

Mainly infected by the atmosphere of cheering crowds, Queen Dairila raised her arms and let out a heartfelt cheer the moment she saw Kang De return.

None of the elven swordsmen and White Tower Kings present were qualified to advise Her Majesty on decorum, so they had no choice but to cheer along, lest the Queen be the only elf cheering, which would look inappropriate.

Moreover, these pointy-eared barbarians... live in the eyes of others and have an extremely strong sense of self-esteem.

To avoid onlookers thinking, "Why are you elves shouting like that? Even the Queen is shouting along, isn't that ridiculous?", the elves decided to let the onlookers voluntarily join in the cheering.

So the sword saints and Dharma kings, representing the pinnacle of power among Mortal World races, cheered and paced back and forth, their eyes gleaming with a sinister light, as if to say, "Let me see who is disloyal."

If any powerful being stared at were to glare back, the other elves would sense it, and a group of pointed-eared elves would surround them with expressions that seemed to say, "Why don't you cheer for the Mortal World's victory? Do you have sympathy for the Star Palace?" In the end, these proud and arrogant powerful beings would be defeated.

Thinking, "Even the elves have shouted, so it won't be beneath me if I shout a few," they gave a perfunctory reply.

--Of course, the elves' patrols nonchalantly bypassed the dragons.

The problem is, the dragons themselves made that call.

The Dragon Emperor clapped his hands loudly while raising his arms, laughing and shouting, "Good brother, awesome! Awesome!"

As he clapped, he turned his head and said, "Damn it, what are you standing there for? It doesn't cost any money, and it sells well."

The dragons realized their mistake and gladly complied.

Because... it's really awesome.

The strength of the Cathayan Kang De has always been a mystery. Everyone acknowledges the power of his Forbidden Spell and his alchemical skills, but his personal combat ability remains shrouded in mystery. Popular opinion holds that Kang De has obvious weaknesses in personal combat, at least far inferior to his Forbidden Spell, spatial abilities, and alchemical military skills, which are not commensurate with his abilities.

If that's the case, then even when facing the God of the Star Palace was burning his life force, he didn't retreat or avoid the confrontation and faced him head-on. When the opponent sacrificed himself and self-destructed, he didn't hesitate to teleport away with him to avoid affecting the battlefield. Such courage and decisiveness would make even a powerful dragon say "awesome."

Upon appearing, Kang De was slightly taken aback by the thunderous roar of the crowd.

He is human, with emotions and desires, and a sense of accomplishment and vanity instinctively arise within him.

The Parrot beside him asked, "Shall we put our hands on our hips for a moment?"

Kang De immediately nipped this smugness in the bud... Outsiders may not know, but he knew that such a victory was only natural, nothing special, and nothing to be proud of.

He raised his right hand and pressed it down lightly.

"Quiet--"

The army obeyed orders without question, and the silent tide surged quietly into the distance.

"What are you all shouting about? Have you won? Everyone, get back to your posts!"

Kang De's rebuke immediately instilled a sense of awe in the soldiers, who composed themselves and awaited orders.

But the next moment...

"--Shout it after you win!"

The tense battlefield atmosphere was infused with some liveliness, which boosted the morale of the soldiers after their hard-fought battle.

The morale of the army is in our hands.

Kang De and the Parrot took to the air and flew toward the indicated target.

Beside the mind control device, Griffin's body jolted, his hazy, unfocused eyes clearing, then flashing with fear and trembling. He spoke, his voice shaking slightly. "Phaethon is dead..."

Kaliusi, who had been watching over him, glanced at him coldly, but the words he was about to say remained unspoken.

"I heard cheers."

Griffin muttered to himself, then looked at his former companion. "... Kaliusi, I'm sorry, though this apology is so ironic and meaningless, I have no other choice."

In this victory against the Star Palace, the Arcane Council should have stood on the side of the Empire, the Dragons, and the Elves, sharing the glory of confronting the stars. But Kaliusi stands here, guarding the rebellious predecessors. The stain and shame suffered by the Arcane Council will require countless fearless blood to wash away.

"... Stop talking."

Kaliusi clenched and unclenched his fists, ultimately unable to contain his raging anger and resentment.

Even if the other person is a dying old man.

He snarled, "You disgust me."

Griffin closed his eyes bitterly. "I still have to say, Kaliusi, the road ahead is far more difficult than you imagine, because I have seen through Kang De's path. You must take the challenges ahead seriously, and never follow my old path again... You must be patient, tolerant, compromising, and even accepting."

"... Shut up!"

Kaliusi roared, and the thunder sphere boomed in response. "I have no need for a tyrant who betrayed the nation, his followers, and his soldiers, and who plunged this glorious and sacred land into filth and division, to teach me how to act!"

"Griffin! Look what you've done to this country!"

"We were once the greatest nation in the world, the guide to the path of arcane magic, the cradle of spellcasters worldwide, the guardians and defenders of the Mortal World! How many spellcasters have sacrificed themselves over the past few centuries in the fight against extraterrestrial life, otherworldly beings, ancient evil races, and fallen mages! They forged the Arcane Council's centuries-long honor and prestige with their blood and sacrifice, and you destroyed it all in just a few months!"

His teeth were clenched so tightly that they were grinding together. He resisted the urge to kill Griffin, and even though it was only for a few dozen minutes, it had almost exhausted all his patience and reason.

Trapped in the lightning cage, Griffin curled up, lowered his head, and covered his face.

He was trembling and no longer spoke.

Just then, a gust of wind howled from above, and the Arcane hunter guarding the exit immediately announced, "The acting Grand Councilor, Kang De, the Governor of Distant Harbor, has arrived!"

Kang De and Malegith fell one after the other.

The Arcane hunters guarding the area all turned their attention to the scene. Kaliusi also turned to look. Griffin, who had been silent inside the lightning cage, suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he gazed at the descending Arbiter.

Kaliusi said calmly, "This is Griffin."

Kang De approached the Supreme Master, who was disheveled, slumped on the ground, and had lost all dignity and grace. His clothes were tattered and his body was filthy; even a beggar was more presentable than him.

He nodded to Kaliusi, and the acting Grand Chancellor removed the lightning cage.

"I am Kang De. Time is of the essence, so I will get straight to the point."

Kang De crouched down, looking Griffin straight in the eye.

"Your injuries weren't inflicted by Kaliusi and his men; it must have been Phaethon. I don't know what happened between you two, and now is not the time to concern myself with that. Phaethon is dead, but tens of thousands of Council soldiers are still being controlled and driven to their deaths in a frenzy. Enough blood has been shed today. Since you had Kaliusi relay those messages, now is the time for you to try and undo some of your mistakes."

He pointed to the mind control device beside him. "Go ahead, let them go home alive. After you're done, we'll talk about your matter."

Griffin simply watched Kang De quietly; he kept watching.

He arrived here with only one guard, instead of bringing the Dragon Emperor, the Phoenix King, or even powerful figures from various nations.

Seeing him come up in front of her, she naturally squatted down.

He was certain that this was not a special favor or consideration for him, but rather an action taken without thinking, relying on instinct. Even if the person sitting here was just an ordinary prisoner, he would instinctively squat down to communicate with him, rather than condescendingly reprimanding and instructing him.

Ah, what a... strange person.

Griffin laughed.

Then he shook his head.

"It's too late," the former Grand Speaker said. "I am already fragmented, my magical power has been depleted, and my mental strength has been scattered. Manipulating mental mechanisms and rewriting systems is no longer something my current physical condition can handle."

Upon hearing this, Kaliusi's expression changed drastically, and he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

He roared menacingly, "Griffin! You motherfucker—"

Kang De raised his hand to signal him to calm down, and said calmly, "Since you know it's too late, yet you didn't take your own life, but instead clung to life to see me... I believe you didn't just want to make a sarcastic remark and then endure unbearable humiliation and a death that's been delayed for so long—what are your plans?"

Griffin glanced at Kaliusi, then at Kang De, and chuckled, "No wonder he's the Fire Thief."

Kang De knew what he was talking about. "I simply prepare for the worst, so that when the worst happens, I won't panic but remain calm. It's just life experience. Kaliusi isn't inferior to me; it's just that his worst day wasn't bad enough."

Griffin changed the subject.

"During the Yilan Taier incident, you publicly executed a God of the Star Palace without keeping it a secret. I have investigated the situation in detail and discovered that similar incidents have also occurred on the Song Moon battlefield."

"I still don't know what Fire Thief are, nor what kind of power you possess that commands such awe and fear from even the God of the Star Palace. But it's clear that Phaethon was terrified of being killed by your own hand. They have lived through countless eons, their power so immense, yet their starlight was still extinguished by Fire Thief lives are as fleeting as shooting stars..."

"I suspect your power must be quite unique."

Kang De's expression shifted slightly.

Griffin caught his breath and continued, "I've made a bold deduction, which is why I've survived until you appeared before me... I'm powerless to change things, but perhaps the situation isn't beyond redemption. This crippled body, the method to access the mind's mechanism, the secrets of the Star Palace —everything I have left is here."

The Fire Thief slowly said, "What if your reasoning is wrong?"

The former Grand Speaker gave a bitter smile, "Then I will strive to live on, to bear everything I must bear, until the souls of the dead find their grievances appeased and deem it enough."

Kang De fell silent for a moment, lowered his head to ponder, then looked up and nodded.

"You guessed right, it seems you're ready."

Griffin paused for a moment, then slowly smiled.

"Yes," he said, "To be able to die like this is the greatest blessing and mercy that fate has bestowed upon me."

Kang De told him, "Though a person dies, the lamp does not go out, nor does the debt disappear; you should understand this."

"Yes."

"Any last words?"

Griffin looked at Kang De, his eyes sparkling. His tone was strange, as if he was avoiding the topic, but he still managed to say it, albeit with great difficulty.

You have to keep your word.

"What?"

"In your previous letter, you mentioned that you had bought my subordinates, relatives, and students from Kaliusi, and that you wanted to persuade them to do their part in the fight against the Star Palace. I also wrote you a letter, which you received."

The former Grand Speaker said in a trembling voice, "You have to keep your word."

Kang De for a moment, then said, "They will never appear in the Mortal World again, unless the final battle arrives. This conversation between you and me will be shown to them. Those who are willing to serve me, fight against the Star Palace, and wash away the shame you brought upon them will live. If they achieve merit in the future victory against the Star Palace, they can return to the Mortal World, or choose the life they wish to live—it is up to them."

Griffin sighed. "That's enough... thank you."

"You really should thank me. If word gets out, some people will blame me for breaking my promise."

Kang De paused for a moment, then said gently, "I'm about to begin. Recall the good things in your life, and also recall the way to break free from mind control. Don't resist."

A brilliant light shone in his eyes.

Griffin called out urgently, "Wait a minute!"

The light went out, Kang De watched him patiently.

The former Grand Speaker glanced at the dilapidated, blood-stained underground bunker and suddenly smiled.

"I am Griffin Williams, the Sorcerer Supreme, the Warden of Mortal World Arcane, the former ruler and guide of the Council..." he roared, "How can I die in this dark, cramped burrow!"

Kang De frowned slightly.

Meeting the gaze of the Fire Thief, the Grand Speaker calmly said, "If I die here, and you go out and say that you have killed me, many people will not believe it, and they will secretly think that you have secretly spared my life."

Kang De paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Fine, you've got guts. When you're finally put to the test, history will record it truthfully: your past, your struggles, your achievements, your accomplishments, your betrayals, your sins, and your final choice."

Griffin paused, staring at Kang De's face, speechless for a moment.

Then he slowly said, "Forget it, just let me die like this, dragged out of this dark, damp, shabby room and given a just execution."

"Why?"

"Huh... why!?"

Despite having resigned himself to death, Griffin suddenly mustered his last bit of courage and straightened his back.

"If I were to record it truthfully, that I finally broke with the Star Palace and held on to my last breath to wait for you... it would seem as if I were reflecting on my mistakes with remorse, using death as compensation, which would make me appear guilty!"

Griffin's eyes widened, and he roared, "I plunged the nation into division, tainted the centuries of bloodshed and sacrifice of the Forerunners, colluded with the Star Palace, and caused innocent soldiers to die for my conspiracies and selfish desires. My crimes are unforgivable, and I deserve whatever punishment I receive!"

"But this does not mean that I have fully repented for what I did!"

He glared fiercely at Kang De, baring his teeth like a wild beast before he died.

"The Starry Sky Council system established by the first Grand Speaker has been corrupted over hundreds of years of national development. The seats of councilors are now controlled by powerful clans and conglomerates, and government decrees are issued not based on national interests but on group interests, making it impossible to make rational and correct decisions... Was I wrong to completely overturn it and start over with swift and decisive measures?!"

"The Cathayan, who do not abide by the rules of the Mortal World but possess Forbidden Spell magical powers, are entrenched in the Distant Harbor. If left to develop freely, they will continuously erode the Council's existing interests and sphere of influence. My peaceful negotiations with them have failed, so it is right to strike first and suppress them before they fully mature!"

"I will never admit it! I will never regret it! Killing those insects was the best thing I ever did! How could we rebuild the Council and resist foreign enemies with them by our side!"

"Kang De! I only ended up in this situation because I misjudged the threat of the Star Palace! If it weren't for the world-ending event, if you weren't the Fire Thief, even if you defeated Tula Xiaye and made me a prisoner, I would never bow down to you, and I would never submit to you!"

He spoke with spittle flying, his last breath illuminating his final moments, venting his fury and grief.

Kaliusi was furious, but Kang De just stared at Griffin.

The Fire Thief's spiritual power enveloped and coiled upwards like vines, Extraction the soil. The soil above the underground space was continuously eroded by the Fire Thief's strange power until it led to the surface, where a vertical path was formed.

A beam of light shone into the dark, damp room.

Griffin, who had been talking non-stop with spittle flying, shut his mouth.

He felt the light that terrified him and subconsciously looked up. The light above him was like a painting. He looked down and saw that the beam of light was shining on the Fire Thief was squatting in front of him.

He saw Kang De rise, carrying that beam of light like a mountain peak.

His gaze rose as Kang De rose, until the other was enveloped in the aura of the passageway, casting Shadow of death upon him, his face hidden in the shadow, compassionate and sacred.

Griffin was shocked. "You..."

Kang De said softly, "It's time for the curtain to fall."

He grabbed Griffin by the collar, lifted him up, and leaped into the air.

The former Grand Speaker, who possessed immense power and was once an unparalleled strongman in the Mortal World, subconsciously closed his eyes. He could only hear the fierce wind rushing past his ears. He knew he was rising, and in an instant, the world expanded from a small space to a vast one.

Griffin opened his eyes and found himself floating in the air. Behind Kang De, wings of light composed of the sun's Vulcan unfolded. Behind him, the battlefield was vast, with steel like a forest, and countless eyes were focused on this place, watching with fervor.

Arrive.

The time has come.

They've arrived.

Death has come.

In an instant, all courage and relief vanished. Even if one was once the strongest life in the world, when faced with the arrival of death, one still felt instinctive shock and fear.

Ahead lies the cold, dark end, where death knows no bounds.

"Former Grand Chancellor of the Arcane Council, Griffin Williams, betrayed the Mortal World, sided with the Star Palace, ignited war, causing the innocent to perish and the brave to bleed. Today, retribution has come; the wrath of justice has become the blade of execution. From this day forward, the Mortal World shall know... this is the fate of traitors!"

The words of the Fire Thief pierced my ears.

Griffin looked up in disbelief, all his thoughts vanishing. Large tears welled in his eyes as he stammered, "Kang De, I... I..."

"Shh..."

Kang De simply looked at him calmly.

He remembered someone.

Once upon a time, there was a man who willingly died under the Extraction power of the Fire Thief. He was much older than Griffin, his strength was vastly different, his temperament was worlds apart, and his deeds and experiences were incomparable. Kang De remembered him, remembered his dying moments, and remembered the lingering attachment and fear that even the most fearless of death could not avoid.

He said softly, "--I know."

Griffin's face instantly became calm.

The condensed light blades transformed into the righteous edge of vengeance, a scene captured by high-precision cameras from all directions and projected in real time onto the personal terminals of soldiers in the distance.

The entire battlefield erupted in a clamor of shouts.

Under the gaze of millions, the body of the once most noble and powerful man in the world was pierced by a blade of light. Kang De spread his wings of light, exerted force with his right arm, and lifted Griffin into the air. His eyes shone with brilliant light, shooting straight into the eyes of the traitor, melting his soul, will, life and everything else like a furnace. The light was so bright that it was hard to look directly at it, and it seemed as if the world was spinning.

Until his last wisp of body turned into pure light and merged into the Fire Thief's body, Griffin Williams did not utter a single cry of pain; only his tears dissipated in the wind.

Until the light faded.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment.

People watched in silence and awe.

Watching Kang De lay down his blade, watching the Firebringer, radiant with holy light and wings Fire Thief, stand like a god in the heavens, watching the wings of the Vulcan gradually become tinged with the mixed radiance of the three elements.

The chaotic elements on the battlefield, caused by the fighting, were gently combed through, returning from chaos to order. The final distorted anomaly slowly dissipated around Kang De.

Only those eyes, still shining brightly, swept across the battlefield.

Everyone who was being looked at lowered their heads as a sign of respect.

Among them, the most shocked and terrified were the powerful figures from various countries who came to their aid. Even Dairila and Dong Tianming gripped their weapons tightly, their hearts pounding with emotion.

Even the Dragon Emperor, who always maintained a calm demeanor but was actually the most arrogant, had his hands, hidden behind his back, trembling slightly.

The chosen elf was lost in thought, and the powerful dragons remained silent.

They witnessed the fall of a legend.

Griffin is dead.

Griffin Williams is dead.

Although they had already heard Kang De's oath to kill, seeing the Sorcerer Supreme of the Council, the former Grand Chancellor representing the strongest power in the Mortal World, die at Kang De's hands, these powerful and noble figures from various nations suddenly realized that history had been written in a significant way today.

Before today, captured nobles would be ransomed, captured kings would be treated with courtesy, and captured strongmen would still be respected to the greatest extent. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, the strong would receive all kinds of preferential treatment and respect, and be high above others, while only mortal soldiers and officers would be slaughtered at will.

But today, everything is different.

They watched in awe and bewilderment the figure spreading its wings in the sky, listening to the mortal soldiers gradually erupting into cheers and shouts devoid of any fear.

My mind was shaken.

With Griffin Williams' downfall, they confirmed one thing.

An era has come to an end.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Six thousand five hundred! Where are the tickets?!