Civilization and Order

"You must take your revenge with your own hands. I'm only here to bring you the guidance and light of the gods. Praise Her Majesty, the Goddess of Light, Maria!" Lu Zhiyu led Akhenaten outside.

Akhenaten said indignantly, "Why doesn't the goddess kill those evil Werewolves? Why did she watch them kill my parents and my people? Can such a goddess even be called a goddess?"

Lu Zhiyu turned around and looked at Akhenaten. "What do you think a god is? Your family's servant? The gods gave you life, wisdom, and great abilities. They gave you fertile fields and the whole world. Do you expect them to watch over your lives every moment and fulfill all your desires and demands? You're too greedy!"

Akhenaten was speechless. Lu Zhiyu continued, "The gods gave you everything, and they gave you hope and a future. But your fate is in your own hands. Where it leads is up to you!"

Lu Zhiyu walked up to Akhenaten, the fine mask facing his eyes. "Akhenaten, the gods are fair. You, the Beastmen, and all living things in this world are their children. The gods created everything, but they put the power to shape your fate in your own hands. They aren't responsible for your fate. You are. Remember: your fate lies in your own hands!"

Akhenaten asked Lu Zhiyu, "Then why did the goddess send you here? And who are you?"

Lu Zhiyu replied at once, "I am Pharos, the Archangel in the service of the Goddess of Light, Maria. My duty is to maintain the balance of the laws of this world. According to the course of fate, humanity will be wiped out by the Beastmen Race. So I came here, hoping you'll take on the responsibility of uniting humanity and resisting the Beastmen invasion. Become humanity's king!"

"Of course, the choice is yours!"

Akhenaten looked at Lu Zhiyu, then at his burning home and the bodies strewn everywhere. Hatred welled in his eyes. He could almost see millions wailing beneath the Beastmen's blades.

"No! That can't happen! Our people won't be destroyed!"

Akhenaten turned to Lu Zhiyu. "Archangel Pharos, I promise. I accept. What do you need me to do?"

Lu Zhiyu shook his head. "I don't need you to do anything. I need you to grow stronger. You're too weak right now!"

Akhenaten immediately pressed him. "Do you mean I need to become stronger in battle, like my father, who wielded divine power?"

Lu Zhiyu shook his head. "No matter how powerful one person is, they can't stand against an army. And an army, in turn, must submit to order. Strength isn't just about force. More than anything, I hope you can bring humanity civilization and order. That is the seed of hope!"

Akhenaten looked confused. "Civilization and order?"

Lu Zhiyu reached out and took Akhenaten's hand. The two figures, one tall and one small, walked toward the sunrise. The staff in Lu Zhiyu's hand flashed, and the two seemed to cross an invisible barrier, arriving far away in an instant.

The north was already bitterly cold. Lu Zhiyu tossed a cloak over Akhenaten, who struggled to put it on, his eyes fixed on the magnificent city at the edge of the horizon. "What's that?"

"The Beastmen's royal capital, Saga Royal City. It has stood for more than two hundred years, weathering the passage of time and the reigns of twelve kings, as its many tribes fought and vied for power. Over two hundred years of constant expansion and renovation built the royal capital you see before you!"

Wonder and longing filled Akhenaten's eyes. "A city? Will our people have one too?"

"Of course. You'll be humanity's first king. You'll lead humanity into the age of city-states and kindle the flame of civilization. Thousands of years from now, your name will live on in ancient myths, etched into the memory of all humanity!"

"Come with me!"

Lu Zhiyu started walking again, and Akhenaten hurried after him. In a flash, they appeared in a corner atop the walls of Saga Royal City. The magnificent stone-built city stood high above the surrounding land, overlooking every direction. Within its walls, crowds of people moved about: soldiers bearing weapons and commoners dressed in simple garments, little more than a few pieces of cloth wrapped around them. Only the nobles could afford fine clothing made from tanned animal hides.

Their society already had classes and a division of labor. There were merchants, nobles, commoners, farmers, hunters, soldiers, artisans, and people with all sorts of other occupations. Artisans built splendid structures, while soldiers carried sharp bronze swords. Everyone wore clothes that looked beautiful to Akhenaten, clean and neat. And the city was home not only to the Wolf Clan, but also to the Tiger Clan, Lion Clan, Dog Race, and many others.

The city stretched farther than the eye could see. Streets ran through it, and it seemed countless people lived within its walls. Akhenaten was stunned. The yearning for civilization was rooted deep within people. Just then, the soldiers atop the wall finally spotted Lu Zhiyu and Akhenaten.

"Who are you? What are you doing here? How did you get up on the wall?"

At the shout, a large number of soldiers surrounded them. Seeing the many spears pointed at him as they charged, Akhenaten trembled with fear. Lu Zhiyu turned his masked face and waved his hand. The two vanished without a trace. That was why Lu Zhiyu had made the staff: with the guiding formation for the Dimensional Gate inscribed on it, he could handle any emergency at any time.

"This is the Beastmen's written and spoken language, called Sophoc Language. Writing and language gave the Beastmen a means to communicate and a culture. They are the foundation of civilization."

The two stood beneath a towering statue of a Beastmen king, cloaked as they looked up at the densely inscribed record of the king's great deeds. Lu Zhiyu explained it to Akhenaten, who only partly understood, but Lu Zhiyu knew the boy had etched the lesson deep into his mind.

Lu Zhiyu then took Akhenaten to see the city's marketplace. The lively market and the vendors' calls fascinated the young boy. All kinds of rare goods from across the Beastmen civilization of the north had gathered there. Lu Zhiyu explained wealth and merchants, money and currency to Akhenaten.

"Gold? What's gold?" Akhenaten asked.

Lu Zhiyu's hand flashed, and a Beastmen gold shell appeared in it. "This is the Beastmen's currency. Here, take it as a keepsake!"