Journey to Become the Zenith

The Birth of New Fantom City

Eon nodded respectfully toward Victor before turning back to the crowd.

”Yes.”

”It was not only my knight Victor and I who fought.”

His voice softened.

”It was your fathers.”

”It was your sons.”

”It was your husbands.”

”They charged into battle knowing they might never return.”

”They fought so their families could live.”

His words caused countless eyes to become moist.

Many remembered the faces of those they had lost.

A little girl quietly hugged her mother’s hand.

An old man silently lowered his head.

Several wounded soldiers clenched their jaws.

Eon’s expression became filled with sincerity.

”They stood beside us...”

”...without the help of those so-called nobles.”

He slowly lowered his Giant Battle Axe before placing one knee on the stone platform.

Then...

To everyone’s complete shock...

He bowed his head.

”So...”

”...as the Prince of Skyfall...”

”...I apologize.”

A stunned silence spread across the entire square.

No one had ever witnessed such a sight.

A prince...

Bowing before common citizens.

One elderly woman covered her mouth.

”He...”

”...he bowed to us...”

A former soldier’s eyes widened.

”I’ve served nobles my entire life...”

”...never...”

”...never have I seen one apologize.”

Even Max narrowed his eyes.

”He truly did it...”

Ruby and Natalia silently watched the scene unfold.

Neither of them spoke.

Eon slowly raised his head.

His voice remained steady.

”With this apology...”

”...I also give you my promise.”

”My vow.”

He stood once again.

”I, Eon ...”

”...Prince of Skyfall...”

”...swear before every one of you...”

”...that I will give this land a chance for a brighter tomorrow.”

”I will restore your pride.”

”I will stand beside you.”

”I will never abandon you.”

The crowd remained completely silent.

Every person listened.

Every heart waited for what would come next.

Behind the stage...

Victor’s faint smile slowly widened.

Everything was unfolding exactly according to plan.

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The silence hanging over the square lasted only for a heartbeat.

Then Eon drew a deep breath and raised his voice once more, every word carrying the weight of his conviction.

”I, Eon Ashdrake, ask all of you to stand as my witnesses!”

His powerful voice echoed through every street surrounding the town square.

”Today...”

”...I announce the birth of a new future!”

The citizens instinctively leaned forward.

Even those standing at the very back strained to hear him.

Victor remained hidden behind the center of attention, watching the people’s expressions carefully.

He wasn’t looking for cheers.

He was watching hope being born.

Eon lifted his Giant Battle Axe high into the air.

”I declare before all of you...”

”...the birth of the Free City of New Fantom!”

His voice boomed across the square.

”I declare our independence from the Skyfall Kingdom!”

The announcement exploded like thunder.

The common citizens stared blankly.

Most of them couldn’t fully understand the political consequences.

They only knew something enormous had just happened.

However...

Max’s pupils contracted.

Several academy instructors froze where they stood.

Ruby and Natalia exchanged shocked glances.

The former noble families silently lowered their heads, knowing there was no turning back now.

Behind the stage, Ramona Redcliffe slowly closed her eyes.

It has begun...

Eon continued before anyone could interrupt.

”In the new city...”

”...every child shall have the right to learn!”

”No longer will knowledge belong only to nobles or wealthy merchants!”

”As long as you possess talent and the determination to learn...”

”...the doors of education shall be opened to everyone!”

The crowd became restless.

People looked at one another in disbelief.

”Did he really say everyone?”

”My daughter could study?”

”My son too?”

”Even commoners?”

Hope slowly replaced despair.

Eon didn’t stop.

”In New Fantom...”

”...a person’s worth shall no longer be decided by birth.”

”It shall be decided by character...”

”...by effort...”

”...and by ability.”

”The privileges enjoyed only by nobles shall come to an end!”

”Justice shall never bow before wealth!”

”Opportunity shall never belong only to those born into powerful bloodlines!”

”Every citizen shall stand beneath the same law—equal in both rights and judgment!”

For a heartbeat, the entire square fell silent.

Then the silence shattered.

Voices rose from every corner as thousands struggled to process what they had just heard. Some exchanged doubtful glances, convinced such promises were too good to be true. Others simply stood frozen, their hearts pounding with emotions they hadn’t allowed themselves to feel in years.

Near the edge of the crowd, a weathered blacksmith instinctively placed a rough hand on his young son’s shoulder. His voice trembled ever so slightly.

”Did you hear that?”

The boy looked up at him, his eyes shining brighter than the morning sun.

”Does... does that mean I could become a knight one day?”

For a long moment, the blacksmith couldn’t answer.

He had spent his entire life believing the answer would always be no. Dreams like that belonged to nobles and the children of famous families—not to the son of a man who spent his days covered in soot and sweat.

But today...

Today, for the first time...

Hope didn’t feel impossible.

A faint smile spread across his worn face as his eyes glistened.

”If those words truly become reality...”

He squeezed his son’s shoulder gently.

”...then yes.”

Not far away, an elderly woman clasped her trembling hands against her chest. Tears quietly rolled down the wrinkles carved by decades of hardship.

She looked toward the platform and whispered so softly that only she could hear herself.

”Maybe...”

A fragile smile appeared on her lips.

”...maybe my grandchildren won’t have to live the life we did.”

Eon slowly swept his gaze across the sea of faces.

His expression became resolute.

”I give you...”

”...your freedom!”

”I give you...”

”...a New Fantom...”

”...where every person has the right to dream!”

For a brief moment...

The entire square fell silent.

Then someone raised a fist.

”Long live Prince Eon!”

Another voice followed.

”Long live New Fantom!”

Soon...

Thousands of voices erupted together.

”EON!”

”EON!”

”EON!”

”EON!”

”EON!”

The thunderous chants shook the square.

Eon slowly lifted his Giant Battle Axe above his head.

The cheers became even louder.

People who had been mourning only yesterday finally felt a spark of hope.

Behind the celebration...

Victor quietly watched everything unfold.

His golden eyes remained calm.

This was only the first move.

A kingdom could not be changed by speeches alone.

Dreams inspired people...

But those dreams would demand sacrifices.

Unknown to the countless citizens celebrating below...

The freedom Eon had promised them would come with a price.

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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