After the Lord of the Abyss Awakens - Chapter 32.2

The Continental Human Alliance’s astronomers wrote in today’s record – “Abyss Lord Aelioge fought fiercely with Abyss Lord Beelzebub again. Their relationship seems to be one of mortal enemies. It’s unknown how long this battle will last.”

“Hopefully it won’t break out of subspace and affect the mortal world.”

Meanwhile, in a distant pure white land, inside a magnificent palace.

The Sword Saint of the Great Empire swung a long sword, then elegantly sheathed it, saying calmly. “The Abyss Lords are fighting?”

A guard beside him said, “It seems so.”

The Sword Saint couldn’t help but smile, “They really don’t get along, do they?”

He was once a contractor of an Abyss Lord, so he knew clearly that the Abyss Lords didn’t get along with each other. Their conflicts seemed innate and impossible to resolve.

In recent years, they had successively withdrawn from the continent and gone to subspace, causing the major human nations to lose very powerful allies.

The reason was still unclear, but it seemed they were searching for something.

Regarding this, the Continental Human Alliance had once made a hypothesis.

What the Abyss Lords were seeking wasn’t actually a thing, but a person.

Someone very important to them.

Based on this, the Alliance further hypothesized:

“If we could find that person before the Abyss Lords do, could we control all the Abyss Lords, thereby ruling the entire continent, eliminating all non-human existences, and making the Humans Era last forever?”

This was quite possible. Controlling all Abyss Lords would undoubtedly mean controlling the entire continent. Because they were indeed incredibly powerful, even feared by the gods.

But the premise was that what they were seeking was indeed a person.

It was said that there was a team within the Alliance responsible for this work, specifically investigating and organizing intelligence related to the Abyss Lords, and researching and analyzing to develop “cooperation” strategies beneficial to humans.

Called something like…the Abyss Investigation Group?

However, that was just a legend. Who knew if such an organization really existed.

The Sword Saint himself tended to believe it did exist, because as long as the Continental Human Alliance had existed, some secret societies would inevitably form within it, responsible for doing the dirty work that ordinary people couldn’t do and noble people didn’t want to do.

The dark side, like the shadow of light, was an undoubted necessity.

It was a pity that although the Sword Saint had been in the Continental Human Alliance for many years, he still wasn’t very clear about the internal situation of the Alliance, especially those six old men who were senators.

It wasn’t a matter of strength, but of seniority. To sit in that position, one needed to be at least 100 years old. Don’t ask why they set these rules, some rules just aren’t easily explained to you.

The Sword Saint pondered this.

At this moment, an attendant suddenly asked, “Your Excellency the Sword Saint, there’s a letter from the Aust Empire’s foreign affairs.”

The Sword Saint said “Oh,” his eyes darkening as he said, “It’s a request for aid, isn’t it? Reject them, don’t mention it again.”

The attendant worriedly said, “The Aust Empire is our neighboring country. If the Aust Empire falls, we might also—”

The Sword Saint’s expression was cold as he stared at the attendant and said, “What about when they attacked our capital back then? Whether the Aust Empire falls or not is none of our business. When they are destroyed, the fact that we don’t celebrate nationwide is already showing them respect.”

The attendant immediately fell silent. There might have been more words in his eyes, but he couldn’t speak them.

The Sword Saint’s attitude was actually the attitude of many human countries towards the Aust Empire.

A human community with a shared future? Different countries, unified national interests?

Keep dreaming.

“Let the Aust Empire die. Those who commit crimes must pay the price, regardless of otherworld gods descending. It’s their problem to solve.”

The Sword Saint was emanating a murderous aura. When mentioning the Aust Empire, his teeth exuded a chilling air, as if he longed to slaughter that country himself.

The attendant trembled in fear.

The fall of the Aust Empire was actually what many countries hoped to see. Whether the current generation of the Aust Empire was guilty or should bear responsibility wasn’t something they needed to consider.

Don’t forget, wasn’t it their own citizens who supported that mad king?

The only thing the Sword Saint hesitated about was – Hero Luo Jie had somehow gotten involved.

Hero Luo Jie was the master who taught him swordsmanship and had shown him great kindness, but so what? Luo Jie had grown old, his judgment had worsened, which was why he served such a country. The era belonged to the new generation.

Their heroes once saved humanity from peril, pioneered lands, passed down knowledge – these were undoubtedly great achievements. But the era of heroes had passed, and it was time for the last hero to completely fade away.

The Sword Saint dared to assert that the coming era would be one of great unification.

This entire continent would be ruled by one great country – their Oedipus Great Empire.

For Hero Luo Jie to be buried in the Aust Empire at the end of his life wasn’t a bad choice. Dying for 40 million humans was more glorious than dying alone in seclusion.

Thinking this, the Sword Saint couldn’t help but smile.

“The Abyss Lords retreating to subspace is also a great thing. So what if we lose their power? Humans will quickly develop and fill the void left by their departure.”

The fall of the Aust Empire came at just the right time. This would make the Oedipus Great Empire’s northern campaign against the Roman Kingdom smoother.

The Sword Saint’s eyes were cold, as if he already foresaw the fall of one country and the blazing rise of another.

“Heh, the old era always hinders development. It’s about time for the old things to disappear.”

Hero Luo Jie, though I’m sorry, since you chose the wrong place, we can only ask you to exit the stage.

Meanwhile.

Near the Aust Empire’s territory, a group of black-clad people stood in the desert.

Suddenly, someone turned and said to Duke Feman sitting on a chair in the air, “It’s confirmed. The Continental Human Alliance and nearby neighboring countries won’t help the Aust Empire. The power of the God of Darkness was just a flash in the pan, not worth worrying about.”

“Is that so.”

Duke Feman gazed at the imperial city in the distance, his eyes narrowed, his lips slowly curving upward, then he uttered a series of words filled with terrifying killing intent.

“Then, let’s begin. Kill their powerful supporters one by one, let them taste the flavor of approaching despair. When the entire empire falls into despair, that will be the best time for our god to descend.”

Duke Feman’s human face faded away, revealing a cheetah-like face, the corners of his mouth curling upward, his eyes completely transformed into vertical pupils of a beast.

He said in a low voice. “But the order is also important.”

The believers all agreed.

Duke Feman: “Should we start by destroying the buildings they believe in most, or by crushing the people they worship most? What do you think?”

The believers chuckled, with a minority choosing the former and a majority choosing the latter.

Duke Feman revealed a childlike smile, “Then it seems… we shall herald the beginning of destruction with the death of a hero!”

That night, everything in the empire was as usual.

Before dawn, most people were still asleep.

The nation-protecting great magic operated steadily.

The magic high tower was vigilant against threats at all times.

Great Magician Eilinson, still in casual clothes, had not slept all night and was sitting on the bed reading a book.

There were records of otherworld gods, not all situations were unknown. According to records, it had destroyed three human countries, including a great empire that nearly conquered a third of the continent three thousand years ago.

Back then, that great empire had over a dozen super-grade magicians in one era, at the peak of its power, shocking the world.

Yet even so, it couldn’t resist the mad invasion of the otherworld god and its apostles. The vast great empire met its doom.

Eilinson lowered her gaze. Perhaps due to excessive fatigue, she reached for a glass of water.

However, as she brought the water to her lips, she suddenly stopped. Her heart inexplicably began to race, and an ominous feeling shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She paused, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering the night’s tranquility.

“Why…”

Eilinson murmured softly, not knowing where this feeling came from.

She believed that as a Great Magician, all feelings were premonitions, so she immediately became alert and connected to the empire’s nation-protecting great magic.

A few minutes later, she sighed in relief, as she found no abnormalities.

Tonight was very peaceful, even too peaceful. Even the monsters in subspace hadn’t stirred. Under the threat of the suddenly flowing power of the God of Darkness, the night had entered a rare state of peace.

“Was it my imagination?”

Eilinson lowered her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the broken glass.

As her magical power operated, the shattered glass quickly restored to its original shape and moved itself onto the table.

“…I hope nothing’s wrong.”

At 3 AM.

By the window in the back room of Xilin Antique Shop.

Two cats sitting by the window suddenly turned their heads, exchanging glances, thoughts unknown.

Morax: “…What do you think?”

Inpos: “I only do what Father expects.”

Their two pairs of emerald eyes, different in shade, gazed at each other, silent for a long time.

This night was too quiet everywhere, perhaps because most people were in deep sleep, so there wasn’t a sound.

Meanwhile, at the Hero Memorial Hall.

In the darkness, Luo Jie stood by the lake, his gaze falling on the water’s surface, his expression relaxed, silent for a long time.

This area was in the suburbs. Apart from visitors, few people usually came here, and even fewer at night. Except for a few security guards, there was no one else in this memorial hall.

Last night, Luo Jie had asked those few security guards to leave early, so the entire Hero Memorial Hall was left with just him.

There weren’t even any animals in this wooded area, leaving Luo Jie as the only living being.

Luo Jie knew that someone would come uninvited.

In the darkness, the old man’s figure was slightly hunched, concealing his form in the shadows under a tree.

Suddenly, the entire Hero Memorial Hall seemed to flicker dimly.

Outside, countless shadow-like vipers surged and slithered in.

The space was completely invaded.

From this moment on, no one from the outside world could enter this space. Whatever happened inside, no one would know.

This night passed very slowly.

The Hero Memorial Hall was almost silent until dawn, when someone finally entered to take care of various matters.

However, the security guard had barely entered when he was shocked by the scene before him. His face turned pale, and his entire body trembled violently.

“This… this can’t be possible!”

He couldn’t believe it. His legs gave way, and he fell directly to the ground.

As another security guard entered, news spread throughout the empire’s upper echelons within seconds, shocking countless people:

— Hero Luo Jie had died, falling into eternal sleep in the devastated Hero Memorial Hall.

The military was shaken.

Everyone was stunned on the spot, their minds blank, unable to comprehend.

Hero Luo Jie dead? Are you…are you serious? He was a legendary figure who once commanded awe across the continent. How could he die so easily on a quiet night, without any disturbance or commotion?

Even if he were to die, it should have been with great fanfare, passing away surrounded by people’s support and love.

How could this be, how could this be!

When Eilinson learned of this, she tasted blood in her throat and almost coughed up blood.

How could it be…how could Hero Luo Jie possibly die? They had checked repeatedly yesterday. How could someone infiltrate the Aust Empire and kill Hero Luo Jie without anyone knowing?

This is impossible, this is impossible!

Eilinson was overwhelmed with grief, unable to accept it.

The intelligence officer beside her didn’t dare to disturb her, but had to ask for instructions. “Excuse me… should this be announced?”

Announce… announce that the last remaining hero in the world had died in the Aust Empire, and that they not only failed to prevent it but didn’t even know how the assassination was carried out?

Eilinson’s face was pale, her body trembling slightly.

In fact, most citizens didn’t know that Hero Luo Jie was in the Aust Empire.

From the perspective of national interest, it would be better not to say anything. If they did, the whole country would fall into great panic.

A legend ended overnight in your imperial city – what were you doing, and who was the enemy?

If not handled well, the empire’s prestige might directly collapse.

Eilinson, suppressing her grief, walked into the Hero Memorial Hall and witnessed the scene with her own eyes.

At nine in the morning.

Xiu Si passed by the Hero Memorial Hall and saw pedestrians hurrying by, each with a grim expression, as if something major had happened.

Xiu Si was puzzled, standing by the roadside and observing. Although he didn’t know what had happened, he hoped it wasn’t anything serious.

He frowned slightly, turned around, thinking he should quickly get to the Magicians’ Association.

However, just as he was about to pass by, two people brushed past him, mentioning Hero Luo Jie in their conversation.

“Ah… I really didn’t expect this.”

“I still can’t believe it.”

Xiu Si stopped in his tracks, looking in disbelief at the two people walking past.

Luo Jie, what happened?!