God of the Mortal World

The Embers of the Burned Empire, Anstika region, atop Dragon Blood Mountain.

The air was still thick with the smell of Sulfur Scent, and the intense heat distorted the air, with Mars and ash flying in the air.

On the cliff that resembles a ferocious dragon's head, a magnificent palace sculpted from solidified lava rises from the ground.

And this is the current residence of Keosius Klauberwu Nolixius, the supreme emperor of the Embers of the Burned Empire and the common master of the Dragon Blood Noble.

If divine beings or high-ranking spellcasters were present here, they would be astonished to find that the pure faith of millions of people is gathered and entangled here like threads, just like the roots of the World Tree.

Such a powerful Faith Power is in no way inferior to that of real deities.

In the oral traditions of the Imperial People, the Embers of the Burned Emperor's status had long surpassed that of a mere "ruler," becoming God of the Mortal World.

This newly built Anzeta's highest peak, Dragon Blood Mountain, which was personally forged by the Embers of the Burned Emperor, was also given the title of "Holy Mountain" by the people of the Empire.

Every morning, devout people would kneel three times in the direction of Dragon Blood Mountain, chanting the "Keosius Anthem" to show their loyalty to His Majesty.

Even those who were always crazy and eccentric Starfallers often kowtowed in the direction of Dragon Blood Mountain, and some even chose to offer tribute to the Dragon Oath Temple. Some even kowtowed until their heads bled.

However, they often chanted incomprehensible phrases such as "May Your Majesty bless me to ship the goods" and "Absorb the Dragon Qi."

Fortunately, the people of the empire were already used to it and had figured out the temperament of these Starfallers. No matter what they did, the people were not surprised.

Even if the Starfallers stripped naked and ran around naked on the spot, people would only look up and glance at them before going about their business— the Security Team would soon take them away.

Inside the palace, a massive Red Dragon, over forty meters long, pressed its wings tightly to its sides, exhaling a plume of Sulfur Scent Gunsmoke, its thick, long tail swaying gently.

Keosius lowered his head, staring at the blood droplets refined by the silver-white flames before him, and couldn't help but let out a joyful whistle.

"The feeling of this steady improvement in strength is absolutely wonderful."

As the blood entered his stomach, flames surged within his Base Blood Vessels. Keosius felt a warm sensation flow down his throat, spreading to the tips of his tail and wings.

It should be understood that for the current Red Dragon, even magma is just ordinary bathwater, and the wildfire of purgatory is merely a toy in his claws.

And there are probably very few things in the entire Material Plane that can make Keosius feel "hot", which shows how terrifying the temperature of this Progenitor Dragon Blood is.

If ordinary objects were to approach this place, they would likely burst into flames or even vaporize on the spot before even touching the blood.

"Call--"

As Keosius exhaled a long breath, a scorching wind swept across the mountaintop, distorting the sky.

The dragon's body, which was over forty meters long, trembled slightly and rose and fell slowly with its breath, and it seemed to have expanded a little more.

[Progenitor Dragon Blood Concentration +0.001%] Feeling the abundant power within his body, Keosius's lips curled up. He slowly got up from the ground, shook the wings on his back slightly, and then turned his head to look at the side wall of the palace.

—On that rock wall, there is a huge map, nearly two meters long, made from the skin of a whole multi- Multi-Headed Flame Salamander, a precious tribute from the Fire Elemental Plane Colony.

The map presented the entire Feanso Continent, detailing the various factions and even depicting the forms of other dimensions such as Mount Paradise, the Nine Hells, the Abyss, and the Screaming Void Tunnel.

On the surface of the map, magical dots floated everywhere, containing millions of confidential documents, all of which were suggestions and strategies from the Imperial Think Tank.

According to Lang Pu, they simply wanted to contribute their modest efforts to the Red Dragon's "Great Blueprint" and ensure the steady progress of the empire's conquest and expansion.

Wherever Keosius's eyes fell, the points of light containing the words suddenly burst open, revealing a dense array of characters that made him feel somewhat dizzy.

The Conquest Strategy of the Thrace Kingdom

Serenia's Intervention Guide

Occupy Victoria Harbor

The Plan to Conquer the High Mountain Dwarf Kingdom

Gazing at the map covered by the massive plan, Keosius shook his head, unable to help but click his tongue in amazement:

"Tsk tsk, the so-called Great Blueprint was nothing more than a pie in the sky that I casually drew back then, and these relatives actually made it happen for me."

It really saved me a lot of effort, but...

Keosius extended his enormous claws and pressed them against the top of the map.

In an instant, the northern part of the continent, including the Thrace Kingdom, the High Mountain Dwarf Kingdom, the Free Trade Federation, and many other forces, was enveloped by his giant claw.

Looking at the [Knowledge (Future)] proficiency item on the panel, Keosius's lips curled up, and he said softly, "They can't see the future."

As a former player of "Erezege," Keosius is quite familiar with the major events of Clash of Kings —such as the war between orcs and Dwarf, the coup in Serenia, and the Mind Flayer invasion of Victoria Harbor. And these are just the tip of the Ice Mountain; endless conflicts and entanglements are hidden in the shadows of the continent.

After the fall of the Fadlan Empire, the Feanso Continent was overrun by gods and demons, and various forces wanted to get a share of the spoils in this chaotic situation.

Keosius once lacked confidence in establishing himself in Fei An Suo, but now, after years of dormancy and development, he is the emperor who controls a vast empire.

Thinking of this, Keosius felt a pang of emotion. He gently stroked the enormous map, his claws sweeping across the vast territory of the empire, and murmured, "It's time to truly set foot in Fei An Suo. Only in this era of strife can the empire have a chance to rise above its current state."

Keosius believed that in the near future, he would lead the empire to the top of Fei An Suo and establish world hegemony.

However, the Red Dragon has already established the Embers of the Burned Empire, completely changing the fate of Anzeta —and this will have a tremendous impact on the situation on the Feanso Continent.

In the original history, with the help of players, the the North kingdoms successfully resisted the invasion of the Abyss, but that was all.

As Magic Wasteland, a remote region neglected by the people of the mainland, the the North kingdoms were unable to intervene in the conflicts of the south and could only remain in a corner.

A butterfly flapping its wings causes a storm in the Atlantic Ocean.

But what Keosius did was far more than a butterfly flapping its wings; it was like a dragon flapping its wings, stirring up Earth-Shattering storm in Fei An Suo.

Keosius's pale golden pupils gleamed as his gaze swept across the entire Feanso Continent, a hint of greed surfacing deep within his vertical pupils.

"However, some things will not change; they are destined to happen—such as the war between the Three Great Kingdoms."

Humans, Elf, orcs, Dwarf, Naga, giants. As the center of the Prime Material Plane, this continent is home to hundreds of intelligent races, giving rise to a rich and diverse culture and countless magnificent ruins.

The Red Dragon turned around and calmly walked out of the lava palace, then spread its broad wings and let out a powerful soft cry.

"It's been over ten years since I transmigrated to Erezege. It's time to see the wonders of the Feanso Continent."

Keosius looked south, his pale golden vertical pupils swirling with light, revealing dragon shadows within them. The scorching flames swirled around him, gradually coalescing.

"Aww—"

A series of loud roars echoed through the sky, and two Red Dragon appeared before Keosius, roaring to the heavens in unison.

They look exactly like Keosius, only much smaller, and only about thirty meters long from head to tail.

Even his abilities are exactly the same as Keosius's, but his strength is only 30% of his.

This is the effect of the 7th Circle Dragon Spell - [Dragon's Simulacrum]. Both of these dragon shadow clones are replicas of Keosius, carrying his will, memories, and all his abilities.

"What a wonderful feeling."

Keosius slowly closed his eyes, carefully experiencing the subtle sensation of controlling several bodies simultaneously.

This was Keosius's plan: to leave his main body in Dragon Blood Mountain to absorb the Progenitor Dragon and steadily increase his strength, while sending his clones to infiltrate the continent and plunder everything by taking advantage of his foresight.

Under his control, the two Red Dragon clones flapped their wings, stirring up scorching winds, and roared as they soared into the sky.

They easily tore through space with their claws, creating Flame Teleportation Gate that flew in different directions beyond the Empire's borders.

Their targets were Victoria Harbor in the southwest of the Empire, adjacent to Moon Bay, and the Black Rock Mountains in the southeast.

Gazing at the two Red Dragon clones gradually disappearing into the distance, Keosius's lips curled up, revealing sharp fangs, his pale golden pupils filled with anticipation.

He murmured softly, "Go, carry my will, and stir up the world's situation."

The Embers of the Burned Empire, Istaria City.

The people in the city were still immersed in the ceremony from a few days ago, seemingly not yet free from the atmosphere of fervent revelry, and the chorus of the "Keosius Anthem" still echoed throughout the city.

"Your Majesty is like the sun in the sky, and we are like the seeds on the ground. Your endless radiance shines upon the earth, and we grow strong and eventually become seedlings."

Whenever Dragon Blood Noble with dragon scales and golden pupils passes by, people cheer enthusiastically and rush to congratulate them.

Guarded by soldiers and surrounded by crowds, the Dragon Blood Noble strode confidently down the Emperor Avenue, waving to the crowds and enjoying their enthusiastic welcome.

On this auspicious day of receiving their titles, the Dragon Blood Noble were in particularly good spirits, and they would even throw out a dozen or so Silver Ginar as a response to the people.

Long Live the Empire!

"Long live His Your Majesty Keosius!"

"Salute to our War Hero!"

Cannons roared, flowers rained down, and the cheers and shouts of the imperial people rose in waves.

The Starfallers named "I'm Going to Eat Mantou" was beaming with pride, raising his arms high and shouting to the crowd, "Come on! Shout out my name!"

"Shout it with me, Steamed Bun— "

"Steamed Bun!"

"Steamed Bun!"

The people of the empire did not know the meaning of the name, but they were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic atmosphere and joined in the chanting.

The Steamed Bun, on the other hand, was quite pleased with itself.

I've got more video footage to make me look more impressive!

Abier, the Elf from Serenia, was also in the group. She smiled and waved to the people of the Empire. As the only Elf among them, she stood out.

Abier sighed softly, "By Keosius, what a harmonious scene this is."

As a convert to the Empire, Abier's past memories were so vague, like fragmented images.

All she knew was that she had infiltrated the empire as a spy, was personally captured by His Majesty, and became a prisoner.

Then, under the dedicated guidance of the Imperial Reformation Camp, Abier gradually came to understand the hypocrisy of those so-called "righteous people" and personally experienced the changes that the Empire brought to the people.

Several years later, she was finally able to leave the reform camp after achieving excellent results in all assessments.

Abier deeply repented for her past mistakes, converted to the Embers of the Burned Emperor, and became a glorious imperial Fighter. With her superb archery skills, she shone brightly on the battlefield against the Demon Invasion.

Finally, she was even granted the title of Dragon Blood Baron, ascended the Istaria Great Altar, and received His Majesty's personal favor in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

This is an unparalleled honor, something many people would envy, and yet she, a former enemy, received such treatment.

Abier was extremely satisfied with this, and her desire to regain her past memories gradually faded.

The only trace left on her by her past life was her name— Abier, and nothing else.

"Life is really good now, so maybe I don't need to care about those bygone days."

After smiling and waving to a girl holding flowers, Abier thought to herself, savoring her innocent smile.

To be able to oppose a great empire, I must have been brainwashed by those hypocritical bastards in the past. That kind of experience is not worth revisiting.

Abier's resolve grew stronger, and her steps became more powerful. The Dragon Vein Elf firmly believed that she was on the right path.

Suddenly, with the keen senses of an archer, Abier felt a gaze following her closely, which made her feel somewhat flustered.

Could it be an enemy? Abier quickly turned her head to meet that gaze.

A man wearing a gray hooded robe was hiding in the crowd, staring intently at her. His face, which was partially visible, was full of vicissitudes.

"Wait, what is this?"

Abier could tell that what was revealed in those amber eyes was not hostility, but rather some more complex and conflicted emotion.

Abier's heart skipped a beat.

Li Cha.

For some reason, Abier uttered this strange yet familiar name, as if it had long been etched deep in her memory.

Abier chewed on the name repeatedly, but couldn't recall even the slightest memory of it.

By the time she came to her senses, the gray-robed figure had already disappeared into the crowd, vanishing without a trace.

"That's strange."

And so, Abier continued walking with the procession, putting the strange little incident behind her.

In the shadows of the deep alley, the man crouched in a corner, head bowed, muttering to himself, "No, how could this be? She's forgotten me! No wonder, no wonder Abier joined the Empire, she's lost all her memories!"

The man, or rather Li Cha, slowly raised his head, his eyes gradually revealing determination. "I will make you remember everything, Abier."

Istaria, the Inner City, is where the empire's nobles reside.

Everywhere you look, there are exquisite buildings and clean, tidy roads. Even the Mage Tower of the Imperial Prime Minister Lang Pu is located in the Inner City.

"We have arrived at the Inner City stop. Passengers, please disembark in an orderly manner."

The conductor's clear voice rang out, Abier stepped off the steam train, quickly arriving at her residence.

This is a brand new house, a gift from the imperial authorities after she was named the Dragon Blood Baron. It would probably sell for five or six hundred Gold Coin outside.

Abier took the key from the pocket of her military uniform and prepared to open the door.

After inserting the silver key into the hole, she suddenly paused, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Come out, I know you're nearby."

Sure enough, a trembling voice came from behind.

"Abier, you really were right."

A man slowly emerged from the shadows behind the house, his gaze toward the other person unusually ardent.

"Click".

The crisp click of the cocking gave way, and Abier whirled around, revealing a pistol she had been preparing in her sleeve.

She pointed the gun at the man, her brow furrowed, her voice sharp. "Who are you? Why are you following me?"

Seeing the hostile look in the other person's eyes, a hint of disappointment flashed in the man's, or rather Li Cha's, eyes. The Dragon Vein Elf in front of him was no longer the same person as his former lover.

"You really don't remember me."

He sighed softly, then slowly removed his hood, revealing his handsome yet somewhat weathered face, and his pointed ears with Elf features.

Abier's heart tightened immediately. A Half-elf —this was indeed someone she had known before.

But she still didn't lower the gun, and continued to press, "What exactly is your purpose? Do you want to harm the Empire?"

"I have no hostility, nor do I have any intention of being an enemy of the Empire."

Li Cha quickly shook his head in protest, and cautiously probed, "My name is Li Cha, do you remember that name?"

Abier nodded slightly. "I vaguely remember you. You must be an old acquaintance of mine."

Li Cha breathed a sigh of relief. The Half-elf wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin or where to start. It seemed as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, but he couldn't express them.

After a moment's thought, he spoke somewhat haltingly, "Fifteen years ago, I met you at a banquet."

However, Abier coldly interrupted him, "Li Cha, none of this matters. I don't want to know these stories because I am not the Elf you know."

These cold words immediately made Li Cha feel suffocated.

Have all those beautiful memories and unforgettable promises vanished just like that? Despair seemed to be choking him.

The rumor is true; after receiving the blessing of the Embers of the Burned Emperor, Abier's soul has undergone a complete transformation.

He took a deep breath, forcing a gentle smile onto his face, and continued speaking under the gun barrel aimed at his forehead:

"Abier, you've just lost your past memories. I can help you get them back."

We are both members of the Harpers, and we met by chance at a banquet of Vampire nobles. We once infiltrated the Red Robe Mage Tower together to gather intelligence, and we once watched the sunrise in the Kadaven'er Forest."

Li Cha spoke more fluently, his expression became more gentle, and tears welled up in his eyes.

He recalled every moment he spent with Abier, and his excitement grew as he looked forward to their reunion once she regained her memory.

All those days of lurking and waiting, weren't they all for this day?

Now, his beloved is right in front of him; all he needs to do is recall those beautiful memories of the past to reunite with her.

"Click".

Just then, Li Cha felt a cold object pressed against his forehead, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave—it was the muzzle of a gun.

Abier gripped the pistol in her slender hand and pressed it against Li Cha's forehead, saying in an exceptionally calm voice, "The person standing before you now is neither your so-called lover nor a member of the Harpers."

I am Abier, a member of His Your Majesty Keosius's family, Dragon Blood Baron sworn to serve the Embers of the Burned Empire to the death.

The Dragon Vein Elf neither lowered his pistol nor removed the robe that symbolized imperial glory and loyalty, and continued to speak:

"Unauthorized trespassing into the Inner City of Istaria and tracking the Dragon Blood Noble of the Empire in an attempt to subvert them is already a serious crime of espionage."

For the sake of our past relationship, leave immediately, and I will not pursue your wrongdoing any further.

Li Cha stared in astonishment at his former lover, standing there shaking his head with deep sorrow, muttering to himself.

"No"

"Abier, this shouldn't be happening."

"Listen to me, you haven't regained your memory yet, you don't know what happened between us—"

Li Cha risked his life and stepped forward, trying to grab the Elf's arms.

But Abier put down her pistol, turned and entered the mansion like a gust of wind, and closed the door without hesitation, leaving the anxious Li Cha outside.

She left only one sentence in her still-calm tone. "Li Cha, don't stay here any longer. The Imperial Guard won't show you any mercy."

Back in her home, Abier took off the standard robes of the Dragon Blood Noble and hung them on the coat rack next to the door, then put the unloaded pistol back into its case.

She remained silent for a long time before leaning out of the window to look out.

The figure that was just standing there vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there.

"Li Cha."

In fact, while Li Cha was speaking, she had already regained all her memories and remembered everything Li Cha wanted to say.

But things are different now. At this moment, Abier is a loyal servant of the Red Dragon, and everything she has belongs to that Emperor—body, mind, and soul.

Feelings may fade, but the bond that His Majesty tied them together is eternal.

Abier knew very well that as Dragon Blood Noble of the Embers of the Burned Empire and a follower of the Emperor, she could not continue to associate with members of the Harpers like Li Cha.

This is definitely not a good thing for either her or Li Cha.

This may indeed be somewhat cold-blooded, but it is the only correct choice they could make.

More precisely: they are no longer from the same world.

"I'm sorry, I had no other choice."

Abier leaned against the door, clutching her chest, when she suddenly felt a brief, sharp pain in her heart, which subsided in an instant.