In this world of countless nations, counting exactly how many kingdoms exist would be an exhausting and ultimately pointless endeavor.
As long as one can achieve sufficient merit and receive the acknowledgment and authorization of a fairy, a nation can be established.
All such nations—regardless of territory size, wealth, military strength, or historical depth—are uniformly called kingdoms. The ancient Zhexuan Kingdom, the ancestral home of the elves, is a kingdom; the Qingxi Kingdom, founded only a few decades ago, is also a kingdom. In terms of national status, everyone is equal, at least in name.
The sole exception is the empire. While other nations refer to each other as kingdoms, it can openly call itself an empire, standing a level above the rest.
You might ask why an empire is so much more noble?
It is, of course, because the legacy left by its founding ancestor is so profound.
The first emperor of the empire was a dragonslayer.
Among all achievements that can be hailed as heroic, slaying a dragon is undoubtedly at the pinnacle. Within the realm of mortals, there is almost nothing that can surpass it.
The evil dragon that ravaged the earth and sky, turning half the world to scorched earth, was subjugated and slain by the ancestor of the empire. With such a magnificent feat, the first emperor was entitled to make a wish to the fairy.
"Great and noble fairy, please grant me a thousand-year empire. Let its glory never fade, and let it shine like the sun."
The fairy granted his request, and so the empire was established upon the ruins. It was the Radiant Dynasty, which has lasted for eight hundred years until now.
The fairy who granted the wish at the founding became an extremely rare guardian fairy, protecting the Radiant Dynasty as it rose and grew stronger step by step. Over these eight hundred years, the empire expanded without restraint, proving invincible in every battle, creating a colossus that left the world in awe.
There were certainly periods of unrest, setbacks, and low points, but regardless, the empire was able to overcome them and remain standing.
This was because it was a nation authorized by a god; the empire's conquest and rule were its undeniable manifest destiny!
Of course, fairies are not gods, but to mortals, they are no different from deities. Most nations worship fairies as gods, even if it serves no practical purpose.
The empire was guaranteed to endure at least until its thousand-year mission was complete. This caused those subjugated beneath the empire's iron hoof to feel a deep sense of despair. No matter how much resentment they harbored, they could only remain dormant, waiting for their chance.
Free people, endure!
Everyone thought they would have to endure for another two hundred years, but unexpectedly, the conqueror of the world in whom everyone placed their high hopes—the thousand-year Radiant Dynasty—blew itself up.
The fairy that was supposed to protect the empire actually underwent a dragonfall.
The news, like a thunderbolt, shocked the entire empire. No one expected such an inconceivable disaster.
What caught everyone even more off guard was that the imperial center did not immediately mobilize to suppress the betraying guardian fairy. Instead, the central government fractured.
After their initial shock, one faction of the royal family mobilized their troops and rubbed their hands together, preparing to replicate their ancestor's grand feat.
Even though the guardian fairy had been the empire's protector and a figure of long-standing reverence, since it had undergone a dragonfall, its past contributions were reset to zero. They had to draw a clear line and execute a righteous betrayal for the greater good!
However, another faction of the imperial family brazenly supported the fallen fairy!
Humans choosing to follow a true dragon was truly a rare sight.
Thus, the Radiant Dynasty split. In an empire where royal power outweighed everything, a tear in the center meant a tear in the nation. An unprecedented civil war broke out instantly.
All the empire's main legions were recalled from the borders and began a bloody civil war within the heartlands.
It was amidst this chaos that provinces with long-standing rebellious intentions declared independence one after another. The Qingxi Kingdom was one of them. At that time, the empire was simply unable to suppress the widespread uprisings and could only allow them to break away from its rule.
The empire's civil war lasted for decades, causing the nation that once nearly ruled half the known world to lose almost half its territory. Even so, the civil war produced no victor, only reaching a stalemate.
Now, the empire is completely split in two. The faction of the Radiant Dynasty loyal to humanity, sworn to slay the dragon, is currently at a disadvantage and has been forced to retreat from the capital's vicinity.
The faction following the dragon is known as the Second Empire. Even though they occupy the capital, their actions are considered so contrary to human ethics that the outside world does not view them as legitimate at all.
The two sides rule across the river from each other. They haven't stopped the war; they simply don't have the strength to strike for now.
At least by relying solely on their own national strength, they truly cannot win. Consequently, both the Radiant Dynasty and the Second Empire have actively begun seeking external aid.
Of course, the human faction holds an absolute diplomatic advantage, as no one feels the slightest goodwill toward a nation ruled by a dragon. In the current situation, the dragonslayer faction of the Radiant Dynasty is busy planning a containment network.
As someone who aspires to compete for the world, Faust naturally paid attention to international news.
"Tsk, tsk. Although I thought about participating in the grand event, I never imagined that instead of joining the subjugation army, I'd be in the camp being subjugated."
Faust rubbed his chin and shook his head with a smile.
This isn't right, is it? According to the normal script for hegemony, this is when I should join the coalition of lords to build up my reputation and wait for my future rise.
Wait, I'm the one guarding the fortress pass?
With the Qingxi Kingdom's tiny limbs, it would probably perish the moment it touched the imperial battlefield.
【You certainly can't help with anything right now, so this is just an initial contact. The situation on Lian's side is fine; at least there's no need to worry in the short term. You can develop your strength in peace, but there is one thing you need to know beforehand.】
Mephistopheles's tone became more solemn than ever before:
【Once you resolve to help me through the dragonfall, it means stepping onto a path of fate-defying blasphemy. Successful cases of defying fate are few and far between; most are just lucky enough to hide in the gaps of the wheel of destiny. But the fall of a fairy, our resistance—that is something that absolutely cannot be permitted.】
【Even if you do not take the path of an evil dragon, pushed by the wheel of destiny, you will find the whole world as your enemy, and your chances of victory will be slim.】
【So, it is not too late to turn back now. Actually, the most realistic way for you to achieve hegemony is to slay a dragon. If you can slay a dragon, you will receive a bounty from fate so generous it is hard to imagine.】
Mephistopheles did not doubt Faust's resolve, but it couldn't help but say some tempting words to shake his will.
It was curious about what kind of answer its contractor would give.
"Isn't this great? I happen to like dragons."
However, in the fairy's eyes, Faust did not look troubled. Instead, he gave a meaningful sigh:
"A dragon is the symbol of an emperor, after all."
【Hmm?】
"Mephistopheles, some jokes are fine to make, but don't say things like that anymore. It hurts our feelings."
Faust pulled up his sleeve, revealing the bright red contract sigil, and laughed wantonly:
"We have already formed a contract that can only be undone by death. We will either walk the path of glory together or be buried together beneath the pillar of shame. There is no other way!"
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