Demonic Element

At some unknown point, the frail Silver Folk discovered an element in the air that they could use.

With this element, they could strengthen their bodies and unleash powerful supernatural forces.

This power was called magic.

Among the Silver Folk, those who could awaken naturally were exceedingly rare, but once they awakened, they were called God's Favored.

They would be taken in by priests of the Divine Temple and become priests who would serve the gods in the future.

The priests proclaimed the glory of the gods and sang praises of their deeds.

Legend had it that, after their deaths, the powerful and virtuous priests among them would be taken by the gods to the great Land of the Gods.

But magic was different. The constitutions of the Silver Folk seemed exceptionally compatible with this newly emerged element.

In the hundred-odd years since this element appeared, a wealth of applications had quickly emerged, and various magical professions had arisen in response.

Because of this, many powerful heroes had emerged among them.

These included Yue Shang, the elven powerhouse known as the Cold Moon Ranger; Freya, the High Fairy known as the Sage; Gawain, the human powerhouse known as the Azure Wind Sword Saint; Ruger, the dwarf known as the Furious Warhammer; Nade, the gnomish powerhouse known as the Starburst Mage; and Leilei, the fox beastfolk powerhouse known as the Lightning Assassin, among others.

The Seven Divine Courts had once studied this element together and discovered that the closer they came to the Sea of Meteorite Falls, the more concentrated it became.

They thus established one fact: this element had been brought to Earth by meteorites.

Absorbing and using this element could grant great power. Yet it had one fatal flaw: it could not grant longevity.

So the gods set aside their worries for the time being. After all, the Silver Folk were far too compatible with this element, and most of them could gain its favor.

To make the distinction easier, the gods named the element that had appeared during the apocalypse and allowed people to awaken the divine element.

The element brought into the world by meteorites was called the demonic element.

This was a city-state bathed in refreshing breezes and bright sunshine.

The city-state stood on a vast plain, surrounded by a winding, clear river.

A handsome man with golden hair and golden eyes appeared within the city-state, dressed entirely in white and bearing a noble air.

Jiang Yang looked at the bustling, prosperous city-state before him, filled with emotion.

Although the Silver Folk had a history of only a thousand years, they had developed swiftly under the guidance of the gods.

Jiang Yang walked slowly forward and arrived before the most magnificent, resplendent building in the city.

It was a temple. In an age ruled by the gods, divine authority alone reigned supreme.

At that moment, however, many people had gathered at the temple entrance. Jiang Yang saw a beautiful young woman with determination written all over her face standing on a raised platform, lifting her sword and addressing the crowd loudly.

"The evil dragon attacked our villages and slaughtered our people. Now it even threatens our city. I'm going to slay it. Who is willing to come with me?"

People whispered among the crowd.

"Slay the evil dragon? That huge creature that's been rampaging in the east lately?"

"I heard this evil dragon is extremely powerful and exceptionally cunning. It never appears when a god is around. Many people have already fallen victim to its vicious claws."

"Alas, our god was supposedly punished by Jiang, the King of the Gods. That evil dragon probably heard the news somewhere and came here on purpose."

On the platform, the young woman with long brown hair was still calling out passionately. Below, the crowd buzzed with discussion, but no one stepped forward.

After all, cowardice could keep you alive, while a moment of recklessness could cost you your life.

By this time, everyone knew a little about using the demonic element, but there truly were not many powerful individuals.

Just as everyone was merely watching the commotion, a young elf with a longbow on his back finally stepped onto the platform.

"I'm willing to slay the evil dragon with you!"