"Are you sure you've thought this through?" An aged voice came from within the Palace.
The Palace held the Divine Eagle Empire's greatest powerhouses from generations past. They had not died, but they were at death's door. A special Magic Array kept them alive and preserved their strength for one last battle. They waited for the day the empire faced disaster, when they would give their lives for it.
Until then, they had to sit in the Palace like statues, seeing no light and hearing no sound, waiting in a state between life and death.
Perhaps the Palace would never be opened. But the moment it was, they would die.
Emperor Kronwell had not come to invoke that power.
He did not need the empire's ancestors to sacrifice themselves for his advancement to Saint Spirit Rank. He only needed them to join forces at the critical moment and conceal the surge of Psychic Energy it would cause.
Advancing to Saint Spirit Rank would create too great a disturbance. Emperor Kronwell did not want the whole world to know.
However powerful the Divine Eagle Empire was, there was no need to make itself a target now.
"Very well, my child. If this is your decision..." Another aged voice came from the Palace. With a boom, its doors opened.
Emperor Kronwell's expression turned grave. Step by step, he entered the Palace and vanished into the darkness.
Only one final instruction drifted out, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Simdo! If I fail, I leave the empire to you!"
Prince Simdo suddenly appeared outside the courtyard gate.
His expression was complicated as he watched the Palace doors slowly close beyond the courtyard. He could not put what he felt into words.
Prince Simdo was usually easygoing and had never shown any desire