Nation-Snatcher

The Sun God's manifestation finally solidified everyone's faith once more. For a believer, nothing could make them more fervent than witnessing a god's might with their own eyes.

Loserius also cleared himself of the disgrace Hu'erlun had branded him with—the labels of "liar" and "Blasphemers." Dabolo personally manifested and bestowed upon him the title "Died in Glory," confirming Loserius's status as one of the God Chosen.

As the first emperor of the Canghuang Continent, ruling over the entire land, Hu'erlun did not dare defy a god's will.

Loserius's story was faithfully and meticulously entered into the annals of history. The Sun Church he had founded, as well as those remnants of the fallen Sun Empire, were not completely purged by Hu'erlun either.

Although it did not receive official support from the Eagle Empire, as the first deity to manifest before the masses, the Sun Church's doctrine of absolute loyalty to Dabolo was preserved.

With the emperor's tacit approval, the Sun Church and the War Church were both recognized as orthodox faiths of the Eagle Empire!

Of course, as a devout follower of the God of War, Hu'erlun did not dare openly defy Dabolo. Yet the War Church's promotion and funding still left a fundamental gap between the churches of his legitimate son and his bastard son.

For several years in a row, the Eagle Empire flourished and rose by the day, its national strength growing ever greater.

Yet from some unknown day onward, Emperor Hu'erlun's body began to age prematurely with each passing day.

He had only been in his thirties or forties, at the peak of his life. With the powerful body granted by the gods, living to two or three hundred should not have been difficult.

But Hu'erlun now looked utterly aged. The deep wrinkles spreading across his face left the ministers who had followed him all these years confused and heartbroken.

For a time, rumors ran rampant that Emperor Hu'erlun had enraged Sun God Dabolo by killing Loserius, one of the God Chosen, and had been afflicted with the curse of "aging."

Finally, one morning at court, the ministers did not receive their emperor. Instead, they received terrible news, and the entire empire was thrown into instant panic.

His Majesty Hu'erlun had become utterly worn down overnight, his hair turning completely white. He could no longer leave his bed.

His Majesty had no heir!

If something happened to him, what would become of the Eagle Empire?

Fortunately, Sage Kubana, who was already over fifty and enjoyed prestige equal to the emperor's, stepped forward resolutely at this critical moment.

Taking up the emperor's authority, he continued to govern the colossal empire that was still in its infancy. As he had done before, Sage Kubana once again saved the collapsing structure and steadied the terrified hearts of officials and citizens alike.

Late at night.

The emperor's bedchamber.

Kubana dismissed the attendants serving the bedridden Hu'erlun and came alone before the luxurious sickbed.

Hu'erlun's eyes were clouded, and every breath he took came with a sickly rasp.

When he saw Kubana's face, a trace of clarity returned to Hu'erlun's muddled eyes.

He raised his withered arm slightly. "Ku... Kubana..."

Kubana sat beside the bed and held Hu'erlun's dry hand. As always, he seemed dependable. "Your Majesty, I am here. What is it you wish to say?"

Hu'erlun trembled. "Kubana, I... founding emperor, chosen by the gods, sole ruler of the Canghuang Continent... I... I have always regarded you as my father."

Kubana sighed mournfully. "I have always known, Hu'erlun. Your Majesty, I will ensure that both your name and the empire's name prosper forever."

Hah!

Hu'erlun somehow found the strength to clutch Kubana's hand tightly. He tried to rise, but could not.

His beard and hair were disheveled, his expression twisted. "Then, Father, the Spirit Nourishing Soup you gave me... what exactly was in it?!"

Kubana's heart tightened, but he remained composed. "Your Majesty, I do not understand what you mean."

"Ha..."

Seeing the change in Kubana's expression, the tacit understanding forged through their years together still allowed Hu'erlun to recognize the answer.

Hu'erlun trembled. "You... you traitor! Blasphemers! Pantheon will punish you! You are utterly rebellious—you really poisoned me!"

Now that he had been exposed, Kubana seemed to have nothing left to hide. He said calmly, "Hu'erlun, my dear Majesty, everything I have done is the same as you. The mission of the God Chosen has never changed in my heart. The name Blasphemers has always had nothing to do with me."

Whether it was a final flash of clarity before death or not, Hu'erlun instantly connected everything.

His eyes widened as he said in disbelief, "You... you are one too..."

Kubana sighed, drew a dagger from his robe, and cut the Great Shaman's emblem of the War Church from his clothing. He covered Hu'erlun's face with it as he struggled helplessly.

"Your Majesty, all things must have a beginning and an end. I helped you forge an immortal foundation. It began with me, and it shall end with me. May Pantheon's light remain with you forever."

One thrust.

The blade pierced Hu'erlun's heart.

Blood gushed forth, soaking through the bedding.

"Kubana! You and your... false god will face Pantheon's wrath! I will wait for you... in hell..."

Twitching.

The first founding emperor of Cangmang Star died with his eyes open.

Kubana wiped his hands clean, his expression resolute. He murmured, "After all these years, you killed Loserius and received no punishment from Lord Dabolo. I... one of the God Chosen, a devout apostle of God of Truth Aitejuli, am likewise protected by the gods..."

As he spoke, Kubana raised his head toward the ceiling, as though waiting for something.

Sigh!

Everyone in the imperial capital shuddered.

A god's sigh came from another dimension.

God of War, Pantheon, did not manifest his true form, but his divine voice rang out, as though seeing off his apostle one last time.

"My apostle, I bestowed upon you supreme power, yet you utterly failed my expectations. To die of foolishness shall be your final fate."

Beyond that, no further divine power descended.

Yet these words left all the devout citizens kneeling on the ground stunned and utterly bewildered.

The supreme Emperor Hu'erlun... was dead?

Dead of foolishness?

What did the god mean?

He had founded the first immortal empire and ruled the eight wilds and six realms. Was that still not enough to satisfy a god?

Or was there some hidden scheme behind it all?

Kubana, standing beside the sickbed, remained scrupulously reverent, demonstrating his respect for the god.

Only long after the divine sigh had faded did Kubana straighten up. Looking at Hu'erlun's twisted corpse, his face covered by the war emblem, he too let out a sigh.

He lifted the bedding soaked in blood and saw six crooked characters carved into the bedboard, brimming with boundless resentment:

Nation-Snatcher, Kubana!

It seemed that His Majesty Hu'erlun had noticed long ago, but the attendants sent to remain at his side and serve him day and night were all Kubana's loyal confidants.

If he had spoken those words openly, he would only have hastened his own death.

So you carved the truth of history beneath the bedding, waiting for me to discover it?

But...

How could I possibly give you that chance?

Kubana used his dagger to scrape away the words. Then he quietly watched Hu'erlun's twisted corpse. After a long while, he picked up a candlestick and threw it onto the bed.

Kubana walked out of the emperor's bedchamber. Behind him, raging flames burned without end.

In the twenty-first year of the Eagle Calendar, at the end of spring, Hu'erlun, history's first founding emperor, was assassinated on his sickbed by an attendant. He was buried in raging flames, leaving no bones behind.

Sage Kubana flew into a rage. That very night, he had every attendant at the emperor's bedside beheaded and displayed to the public as a show of his wrath.

The next day, all the key ministers gathered together. After lengthy deliberation, Sage Kubana formally took over all the authority of Emperor Hu'erlun, who had left no heir, becoming the second emperor of the Eagle Empire.

The court and the people submitted.

Later historical records stated: Kubana the Nation-Snatcher, an original pioneer of the Truth Church, single-handedly advanced the world's progress by several thousand years. During his reign, the nation was peaceful, the people lived in safety, and the court and countryside were tranquil. His merits outweighed his faults; he was worthy of the Eagle Empire and worthy of heaven and earth.