In the Holy Flame Empire, what rose alongside Ryan's name was a bloody war among several scions of Augustus blood.
One count's city after another was swept into it at a terrifying speed.
This was no longer a war begun purely for the throne. With the reappearance of the Rune Jinn, ancient legends had been dug up once more.
"The monarch of the world holds some sort of extraordinary power."
Many counts' cities had records concerning this power. From the scattered words their ancestors had left behind, they learned that the Golden Lion King beneath the Lion Banner possessed extraordinary power, and possessed the power to bestow the extraordinary.
Because the monarch held this power, humanity had been able to resist the Rune Jinn and hold the Glorious Fortress.
This legend was the real reason the counts' cities had gone mad and thrown themselves into the battle for the throne.
They wanted the scion of Augustus blood they supported to become monarch. If that happened, they could obtain extraordinary power.
"The Sun Sect, the Mages—they all possess power capable of destroying heaven and earth. Why don't we nobles have it?"
"We must seize it!"
The nobles' ambition was terrifying. They wanted to possess the means to oppose the Mages and the Sun Sect, and under that goal, every count's city had different interests it pursued.
For example, everyone hoped they were the great noble closest to the legendary power.
The growth of lifespan and the control of power stirred the desire for authority.
Nothing moved these rulers more than the extraordinary.
Even...
"Augustus is the bloodline beneath the Golden Lion Banner, but we too have golden hair and golden eyes. We are also of the Golden Lion's race. We... can become monarchs too."
In the war, some counts' cities had