Magic Chronicles : Fallen Race

(To prevent misunderstanding of the plot, this is far from the end. There is at least one more major volume, so rest assured.)

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Thanks to the early resolution of the Psionic Wall, Reji and Eileen easily entered the empire's territory.

However, as they began flying towards the imperial capital, the scenes along the way frequently made Eileen frown.

From a bird's eye view, from small to large, whether it was villages, towns, settlements, cities, fortresses, or even the royal city, all areas within the empire had turned into dead zones.

All signs of human lives had vanished. Read new adventures at M-V-L

Those prosperous buildings and densely populated residential areas had now become empty shells, mere decorations.

It was as if all the humans within the empire had been subjected to a paralysis spell.

Their bodies emitted a radiant glow.

Their skin, pupils, and even hair had all been dyed golden.

Now, all the humans within the empire resembled lifelike golden statues.

Many people's facial expressions and bodily movements were frozen in the previous second. People shopping on the streets were still chatting and laughing with each other, diners in the inns were still feasting heartily, and children in the academies were still reading aloud.

It was as if in an instant, the next moment, they were enveloped in radiance and turned into the golden sculptures they were now.

When they reached the royal city and landed, Reji observed these statues more closely and noticed some differences.

Some of them had bright radiance, while others had very dim radiance.

Take the nearest newsboy on the street, for example. The light on his body seemed to be constantly drained, and the direction of the drainage was precisely towards the demon territory outside the empire.

As the last bit of light completely dissipated from this newsboy's body, his entire sculptural form also collapsed with a bang, turning into gray dust and quickly disappearing from the spot.

This was consistent with what the Sorcerer Demons had observed before.

The Emperor was using all the humans in the empire as fuel to supply the faceless spiritual bodies in the demon territory, supporting their battles.

In other words, for every faceless spiritual body killed by them, there would be one, or even ten or a hundred human statues in the empire that would be drained and collapse into dust.

That's why Leo finally told himself that he would definitely "stall" the faceless spiritual bodies.

The Wisdom Apostle had long realized this point.

Therefore, the demons remaining in the rear not only had to protect themselves and defend but also had to minimize the consumption of the faceless as much as possible and try to avoid killing them.

Doing so was equivalent to delaying the extinction of the human race and buying time for the Demon King to stop and even defeat the Emperor.

Reji and Eileen no longer paid too much attention to these human statues.

They advanced at full speed towards the magnificent Imperial Palace at the highest level.

Because all humans had been transformed, there were surprisingly no faceless spiritual bodies on the empire's side, leaving Eileen, who had been on constant alert, with little to do.

They proceeded almost unimpeded.

They easily entered the Imperial Palace.

Even the guards and soldiers in the Imperial Palace had now emitted radiance and become statues like everyone else. It seemed that the Emperor treated everyone equally in this regard, regardless of their status and identity in the empire.

Such a smooth journey without even a single battle made Eileen even more cautious and nervous when they reached the final hall where the Emperor was located.

It was as if the Emperor had deliberately let them in.

But did they have any other choice? No.

Even if they didn't go, the final outcome would be the same once the humans were exhausted and the Demon King disappeared. The fate of the demons would remain unchanged.

So this was an open conspiracy.

She had no other choice. Even if there was a trap ahead, she could only face it.

"Relax, Eileen."

"Leave the rest to me."

At this tense moment, Reji lightly touched the Succubus's palm with his fingertips, instantly pulling Eileen back from her tension about the unknown.

Coming back to her senses, Eileen realized that she was already covered in cold sweat even before seeing the Emperor.

She took a deep breath, then gripped Reji's hand once again.

The warmth from Reji's palm was like the best calming spell for Eileen.

The fear, dread, nervousness, and other emotions hidden deep inside her towards the Emperor completely vanished, replaced by confidence.

Eileen believed that as long as she was with him, there would never be an insurmountable obstacle.

The heavy doors of the inner hall of the Imperial Palace were kicked open by Eileen.

And just as the grand and noble palace doors shattered into pieces, the person sitting steadily on a throne made entirely of gold, not far away, was revealed to Reji and Eileen's sight.

It was the head of the empire.

The former Saintess of the "Hero's Era" who had possibly lived for a thousand years.

Yes, it was the Emperor.

Seeing Reji and Eileen, the tall Emperor on the golden throne showed little emotion. Instead, a voice that seemed to have experienced too much vicissitude and past, no longer distinguishable as male or female, echoed in the great hall.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"The new generation's Descender."

Descender?

Eileen frowned, finding this new term very strange and confusing.

Who was the Emperor referring to?

The Demon King?

Why use such a strange title?

Seeing Eileen's puzzled look, especially when the Emperor looked down, her gaze lingering on Eileen's hand tightly grasping Reji's, it seemed to make the Emperor fall into some past memory.

Because she had once been like this too.

So deeply trusting and relying on the Descender.

"You must be the Succubus apostle of this generation. Pitiful demon, you and I share a similar fate. We are nothing but the predestined companions of the Descenders assigned by fate."

"Hehe." Eileen let out a cold laugh.

"What? Are you going to pretend to be my mother now?"

Because according to the Emperor's logic, calling the Demon King a Descender, and the Succubus race was indeed the natural spouse of the Demon King, so when the Emperor said she was similar to her, Eileen made a sarcastic remark.

But the Emperor shook his head.

"You should already know my identity. I am Freya, the Saintess from a thousand years ago, and also the lover of that Hero. No, maybe it was just my one-sided belief."

Saying that, the Emperor shook his head.

This time, it was Eileen's turn to have a slight change in expression.

She seemed to have vaguely grasped something.

Seeing this, the Emperor, as if having let go of everything long ago, spoke in a calm tone:

"Yes, the Hero from a thousand years ago was also a Descender. No, perhaps it should be said that... due to some twist of fate, a Descender who should have belonged to your demon race came to our human side."

"And this is the reason why your demon race suffered a crushing defeat."

"So, naive apostle, I'm sorry to tell you this cruel truth. From beginning to end, your demon race has been nothing but a plaything for the 'Descenders,' those Demon Kings from subspaces. The reason for your demon race's existence is solely for the enjoyment of the successive 'Descenders.'"

"And whichever side the 'Descender' belongs to, the scales of victory will tilt towards that side. This is fate, and I believe there is no need for further proof. The war from a thousand years ago is the best answer."

"But now..."

"You have a chance to help your demon race break free from the shackles of this fate, and at the same time, help our plane purify the source of the polluted Miasma. That is to join me and... eradicate the Descenders from the root."