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Path of Glory 93
“Not for long,” Baligor pointed to the Scarlet Swordsman’s golden sword slicing through the sky, making the atmosphere itself glow in the process.“A great swordsman,” Cassius said, “won’t bow down before a mere Technique. Their battle is just beginning, brothers. We’ll now get to see something that even those like us can find inspiration for our cultivation in.”As if to confirm Cassius’ words, Hadjar held out his sword, angling it toward the Scarlet Swordsman’s Technique.Hadjar had survived many battles. He’d fought alongside Nero against sectarians and nomads both. Alongside Einen, he’d fought against Bedouins, bandits, Sankesh, and all sorts of monsters. He’d survived the challenges of Greven’Dor. He had seen the Fae. He had visited the First Dragon Emperor’s tomb. He had survived Erhard’s treasury. The Dah’Khasses’ had met their end at his hand. The jungles of Karnak had failed to take his life. And all this time, the Wind hadn’t left his side, always doing its best to help him
Path of Glory 94
However, the great heroes still understood what he’d been talking about. Like Tetius, they’d taken the necessary oaths when they’d accepted their title and privileges. They hadn’t sworn themselves to the Emperor, as most of the population thought. After all, the common folk had no idea about the Ruby Palace and the even greater power that resided there.“Darkhan doesn’t stand a chance…”That was the same verdict that had been given to him when his parents’ negligence had ‘blessed’ him with a body that couldn’t move properly.‘He doesn’t stand a chance…’ Hadjar, Boris, Boreas, Darkhan… had gotten so used to this sort of thing that he couldn’t even imagine a situation where life would give him a fair chance. That was why, if a chance wasn’t granted to him fair and square, Hadjar would make one himself, snatch it from the clutches of fate, death, gods, or demons. It didn’t matter to him. He’d defy them all.While everyone was watching the ocean of blood surging toward the blue-robed swor
Path of Glory 95
That was his last breath. The Blue Blade finished its feast. Instead of a mighty man in scarlet and golden armor, a shriveled mummy now lay next to him.Hadjar was waiting for Morgan’s move. The Regent Mother’s plan had succeeded — she’d stripped both armies of their defenses, and now she could end this war, and do what Tan had failed to do. But, of course, Morgan had already made his move…Hadjar, like many others, sensed the vibrations in the World River. How could she obliterate both armies if she didn’t have a Technique like the one that the Scarlet Swordsman had used? By using the World River, which permeated all things. But how would she attack something ephemeral and illusory? With an artifact. How much energy would this require? More than any mortal could ever dream of. Where could she get so much energy? From a lot of other artifacts. And from her own soul… The Garden of Satyrs. The little Emperor’s reception.The mighty Regent Mother, who was equally as powerful as Morgan… S
Path of Glory 96
“What will happen tomorrow? Five other Empires will come for us. They will come for our very souls! The war has weakened us! We’ve lost our best and brightest! We’re weaker than ever! But we’re only weak alone! Together... together, we’ll be stronger than ever! Lascan, Darnassus... Forget about that! Once upon a time, before Erhard died, the Last King created a country in which there was no hatred! Where people saw others as their brothers and sisters, and not enemies on the other side of the border! Today, we’ve seen what our endless hatred will lead to! So, we should restore what we’ve lost instead! What was taken from us! Like Erhard once did, I, Morgan the Fearless, will form a new country and unite the seven Empires so that this war will be the last!”There was silence once again, and then…“Nonsense!”“Who do you think you are?”“We won’t go to war with the other Empires!”“This grand unification of yours will only lead to more wars!”“What’s the point?”“Are we going to fight s
Path of Glory 97
“Emperor Morgan... He’s stronger than the Scarlet Swordsman!”“He’s stronger than anyone in the seven Empires!”“He might be as strong as Erhard was!”“Maybe… he really will be able to unite our Empires!”“And then we’ll overthrow the Ruby Palace!”“Emperor Morgan!”“My Emperor!”In just a few heartbeats, Morgan the Fearless became a symbol of strength for humans, an example of what they could achieve on their path of cultivation. He’d singlehandedly, in a single move, destroyed four monsters that had come from ancient legends.Hadjar was the only one who could see how pale and weak the Emperor truly was right now. Blood trickled down his face and hands. He could no longer see and was swaying with exhaustion, but he continued to stand. Morgan’s heart kept beating erratically. Hadjar had no idea how the Emperor had overcome the shackles of the blood oath, but apparently, it had come at such a high price that there was no turning back. How could a dead man walking, someone with only a f
Path of Glory 98
This placed him at the fourth level of the Spirit Stage, which was equivalent to the initial stage of the human Heaven Emperor level.The pressure that radiated from this creature was beyond anything that could be imagined or described. It made everyone who was currently in the steppes, the landscape of which had changed so suddenly, bow down. Even the great heroes fell to one knee. It was an all-encompassing, horrifyingly potent power.“Behold, humans, the true power of the Lords of the Heavens!” The dragon, who had until recently been a loyal ally of Darnassus, roared. “From this day onwards, the tribute that you didn’t even notice before will be collected with no secrecy! No Emperor will ever make a single move without our permission ever again! We have allowed you to live with the illusion of freedom for too long! It’s time you found out what your reality is! You can blame one person for that — Morgan the Fearless! No, Morgan the Stupid!”Hadjar looked at the Emperor, who was bare
Path of Glory 99
“To have an open mind,” Hadjar replied loftily.Dora swore under her breath so that Shakur, who was obviously listening, wouldn’t hear her. “The Emperor is here to see you.”Hadjar suddenly looked serious, “In the office?”Dora nodded.Hadjar silently walked over to the house that had once belonged to his Master. He climbed the stairs, running his fingers along the mahogany banister. He looked at the paintings and tapestries, enjoying the way his feet sank into the shag carpet.Einen’s office was wide and spacious. The figure of a man clad in the imperial robes attracted a lot of attention. He was standing by the window and staring out at the richest avenue in Dahanatan. It was overcrowded at the moment.“You weren’t at my coronation,” the Emperor said, sounding a little annoyed.Hadjar leaned against a rack of scrolls and tablets.“Isn’t that tomorrow? I’ve even got my clothes ready and-”“You know very well, great swordsman, that it was seven months ago.”“Seven months?” Hadjar gasp
Path of Glory 1
Prologue of the second half of the seriesThe huge throne room was magnificent, but empty. This combination inspired both a sense of awe at its splendor, and a longing for the former glory of a place where lavish feasts and balls had once been held, making the Lascanian Palace famous across all seven Empires.The clinking of the cavalry corps captain’s spurs echoed off the high walls. The marble slabs of the floor polished to a mirror sheen, the majestic columns, the artful fountains, and the small gardens in this beautiful hall only added to the sense of majesty from a bygone era. In his black, soot-covered armor, he looked like a dirty smudge defiling the snow-white hall, which was flooded with daylight that was seeping through the tall stained-glass windows.The captain strode up to the snow-white throne made from magic marble. To the left and right of it stood various fountains, through which water hadn’t flowed for a long time. The garden beds, enclosed by a white metal fence, on