Journey to Become the Zenith

The Legend Buried by Time

”Then why would I force a magical contract on you?”

The room became quiet.

That... actually made sense.

Natalia pointed toward everyone.

”The information we’re discussing isn’t some forbidden secret. It’s simply difficult for ordinary people to obtain.”

Ruby sighed.

”She’s right.”

Natalia nodded proudly.

”By agreeing in front of us and each other, you’ve already made your promise.”

Brinda scratched her cheek.

”Then why not bind us anyway?”

Natalia laughed.

”Because we can’t.”

Everyone blinked.

”We can’t casually create divine contracts. Those require enormous mana, divine authority, resources, and approval from higher temple authorities.”

Ruby nodded.

”People really overestimate what holy maidens can do.”

Natalia leaned back comfortably.

”What we can do is trust.”

Her gaze swept across the room.

”And remember.”

Something about the way she said it made Brinda sit up straighter.

Videl exchanged a glance with Eon.

The meaning was obvious.

Natalia wasn’t threatening them.

But if they broke their promise, she would remember.

Brinda eventually nodded.

”Fine. We understand.”

Eon followed.

”We appreciate the trust.”

Videl placed a hand over her chest.

”You have my word.”

Natalia’s smile softened.

”Good.”

She turned toward Ruby.

Ruby looked thoroughly dissatisfied.

Natalia knew exactly why.

Trust was far more effective than pressure when dealing with certain people.

Especially Videl.

The red-haired holy maiden could practically see the scheme forming inside Natalia’s head.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

Yet she couldn’t deny it worked.

Natalia clapped her hands softly.

”Before we begin talking about Demon Emperor Anos, there are several things you need to understand first.”

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Everyone focused on her.

Ruby nodded.

”Without the proper context, none of this will make sense.”

Videl leaned slightly forward.

”We’re listening.”

Natalia exchanged a glance with Ruby before beginning.

”The world you know today is very different from the world that existed during the Age of Chaos.”

Brinda frowned.

”What does that mean?”

Ruby answered.

”It means humanity wasn’t alone.”

The room immediately fell silent.

Natalia continued.

”Long ago, many races existed alongside humans.”

”Such as?”

”Elves.”

”Dragons.”

”Giants.”

”And the race that served Demon Emperor Anos.”

The room froze.

Brinda looked stunned.

Videl’s sapphire eyes widened.

Even Eon’s calm expression shifted slightly.

”Those are myths.”

Ruby nodded.

”Today they are.”

”Back then they weren’t.”

The words settled heavily in the room.

Natalia continued calmly.

”Most of those races vanished over countless generations. Some became extinct. Others declined until only fragments remained.”

”Millions of years have passed since then.”

”That’s why modern people know them only through stories.”

Videl suddenly remembered something.

”The Ancient Continent.”

Ruby pointed at her.

”Exactly.”

”A few hours ago we explained the truth behind the Ancient Continent and the New Continent.”

Videl nodded.

”I remember.”

Natalia then looked toward Brinda and Eon.

”Allow me to enlighten you two as well.”

Both nodded attentively.

Ruby continued.

”After the Age of Chaos ended, the world was divided into two great regions.”

”The Ancient Continent.”

”And the New Continent.”

Natalia folded her arms.

”The New Continent became primarily a human world.”

Brinda swallowed.

”And the Ancient Continent?”

Ruby smiled faintly.

”According to certain records...”

”Some of the ancient races may still exist there.”

Brinda nearly jumped out of her chair.

”What?!”

Even Eon’s eyes narrowed.

”Then why has nobody ever told us this?”

Natalia chuckled.

”Because not every piece of knowledge is available to everyone.”

”There are records ordinary adventurers will never see.”

”There are places ordinary people will never reach.”

The shock slowly faded.

The explanation sounded unbelievable.

Yet both holy maidens had no reason to lie.

After a few moments, Brinda finally accepted it.

Eon also nodded.

The world was clearly much larger than either of them had imagined.

Seeing everyone finally understand the foundation of the story, Natalia nodded in satisfaction.

”Good.”

Ruby folded her arms.

”Now we can finally begin.”

The room gradually fell silent.

The playful atmosphere from earlier disappeared as both holy maidens grew serious.

What they were about to discuss was history that had remained hidden for countless generations.

Natalia slowly swept her gaze across everyone before speaking.

”Very well. Since everyone has agreed to keep this conversation within these walls, I can finally explain who Demon Emperor Anos was.”

She paused briefly.

”The records preserved by the temples and royal families often contradict one another regarding his personality and actions. Because of that, no one truly knows what kind of man he was during his lifetime.”

Natalia’s voice became solemn.

”However, every surviving record agrees on three facts.”

The room became completely quiet.

”Demon Emperor Anos was the strongest.”

”He loved battle.”

”And his death was caused by his own son.”

”He loved battle.”

”And his death was caused by his son.”

The room instantly became silent.

Even Brinda stopped fidgeting.

Videl’s eyes widened slightly.

His son?

The strongest being in history had died at the hands of his own child?

Natalia noticed their reactions and nodded.

”That is one of the few facts every surviving record agrees upon.”

Everyone listened carefully.

Especially Videl.

She had always loved stories of ancient heroes.

Forgotten legends.

Lost kingdoms.

The mysteries of the past.

This was exactly the kind of story that captured her imagination.

Natalia took a slow breath.

”So let’s begin with the records of my temple. Once I’m done, Ruby can explain the records preserved by her temple.”

Ruby gave a small nod.

”I’ll handle that part.”

Natalia stood from her chair.

The room naturally focused on her.

Even the unconscious Lane seemed strangely peaceful as the warm light from Isabella’s recovery ring continued glowing softly in the nearby room.

Natalia cleared her throat.

Then she began her narration.

”In the Age of Chaos, when every race in the world was at war due to their differences, a being with immense power appeared.”

Her voice grew quieter.

More solemn.

”This being was none other than Demon Lord Anos.”

The room became completely silent.

No one interrupted.

No one moved.

Natalia continued.

”With his immense strength and his love for battle, he defeated every enemy that stood before him.”

”He conquered kingdom after kingdom.”

”Empire after empire.”

”Race after race.”

”There was no army capable of stopping him.”

”No warrior capable of matching him.”

”No ruler capable of resisting him.”

The holy maiden’s eyes seemed to drift toward a distant past.

A past so ancient it had become little more than dust and myth.

”With overwhelming power, he united the world beneath a single banner.”

”He achieved what countless kings, emperors, and heroes failed to accomplish.”

The room remained silent.

Even Brinda, who normally struggled to stay quiet, listened attentively.

Natalia’s voice finally lowered.

”And thus, under Demon Lord Anos...”

”The demon race became the supreme rulers of the land.”