Chapter 377: Coronation (Part Three)
"His Majesty Cassius!"
In the quiet crowd, a child's tender voice suddenly rang out. Whether it was orchestrated by the Kingdom or the genuine call of a child indebted to the Kingdom, no one could say.
Soon after, rounds of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the crowd, many of which came from plants arranged by the Propaganda Department.
"Emperor! Emperor!"
"His Majesty Cassius! Long live the Emperor!"
"For the grand blueprint of the Red Dragon!"
Amidst these cheers, the Red Dragon continued to walk slowly along the wide road.
The guards standing on either side of the road struck their spears against the ground rhythmically. Wyverns that had landed craned their necks, lifting their heads high, letting out soft cries.
The ogres moved their heavy cannons again, producing brilliant bursts of fireworks above the altar.
Under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of onlookers, Cassius climbed the nearly 30-meter-high altar in just a few steps, arriving effortlessly at the very top of Isthalia.
Cassius surveyed the four corners of the land, his pale golden eyes gazing down at the countless beings below before he began to speak:
"Everyone."
"Welcome to the Anzeta Wasteland, and thank you for attending my coronation ceremony."
As Cassius's voice fell, a black-haired, golden-eyed human noble with striking features appeared in front of him. His demeanor and movements mirrored those of the massive Red Dragon behind him—this was Cassius's humanoid form.
"Whoa! His Majesty Cassius's human form! This is so rare!"
"I'm losing it—husband!"
"Aaaaahhhhh—"
This time, even before the Kingdom's arranged personnel could react, the players erupted into even more fervent cheers, entirely from the heart.
"The ceremony may now begin."
Cassius paid no attention to the crowd's clamor and calmly gave the order. On the altar, both the human figure and the dragon simultaneously opened their mouths to speak.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The vassals below sprang into action.
The grand altar of Isthalia consisted of seven levels, connected by orderly stone staircases, forming a pyramid-like structure that represented the Kingdom's hierarchical divisions.
At the very top of the altar was a massive platform engraved with mysterious patterns, standing nearly ten meters above the previous level—this was where Cassius stood.
The platform symbolized the supreme royal authority of the Ember Kingdom or, more aptly, the imperial authority of the future empire.
Langpu, Dolo, and Medrolash, the three Grand Dukes, ascended the long staircase one by one to the sixth level of the grand altar.
They stood in their predetermined positions, waiting silently for the next steps of the ceremony.
Following them were seven marquises, including Alger, Gold-Fang, and Darenna, then 24 earls, over 40 viscounts, and over a hundred barons.
Even first-class citizens who had contributed significantly were granted the honor of forming orderly ranks on the lowest level of the grand altar.
"Wuuuu—"
The horn of the Greenfoot Dragonserpent sounded from beneath the altar.
By this time, the grand altar of Isthalia was crowded with people, with banners fluttering in the wind.
Citizens of the Ember Kingdom looked up at the spirited dragonblood nobles, exclaiming in amazement and envy.
People from across Feanso, however, observed with thoughtful expressions. Such structures were not uncommon on the continent—the most famous being those of the former Holy Fadlan Empire.
"No, impossible…"
"Could it be… the Sun God Pyramid?"
"No, absolutely not. But this is too important—even the slightest possibility must be reported to His Majesty!"
Dayev stared at the altar, shaking his head repeatedly, his face darkening further.
One hundred and fifty years ago, the great "Sun King" Aragorn I built three pyramids in Thrace, Kassander, and Seleucia, along with the grand Eternal Sun God Pyramid in the empire's capital.
On the holy day of the Amanata Church—the summer solstice—ceremonies were held simultaneously at these pyramids, and Amanata's blessing of sunlight elevated hundreds of people to "ascension." This event marked the beginning of the Holy Fadlan Empire.
Now, the Ember Kingdom's coronation ceremony reminded Dayev of that sacred ritual from a century ago.
Although even harboring such thoughts was considered blasphemy, Dayev couldn't help but draw parallels, filling him with deep unease.
Little did he know, this was all part of Cassius's deliberate plan to draw the attention of other nations.
In the crowded assembly, whispers and murmurs of speculation continued to rise.
"The ceremony is about to begin."
"Please maintain silence."
Using specially crafted sound devices, Langpu's steady voice spread to every corner of the venue.
Under Langpu's announcement and the imposing presence of the colossal dragon atop the platform, the tens of thousands of attendees instantly fell silent, lifting their heads in unison to gaze upward.
Langpu extended his hand, retrieving a finely crafted scroll from thin air, which he slowly unfurled.
The ogre stepped forward and proclaimed loudly:
"The great 'King of Embers,' His Majesty Cassius, unified Anzeta in just a few short years, vanquishing the Frost Giant tribes of the north. Through thunderous means, he brought long-lost peace and stability to the people of Anzeta—a feat and achievement unmatched for millennia."
"For this reason, the people across Anzeta unanimously believe that the title of 'King' is no longer sufficient to describe His Majesty's greatness. He deserves a more noble title—Emperor."
"His Majesty Cassius will henceforth reign eternally, and the Ember Kingdom will ascend to an even greater nation—the Ember Empire!"
"Hail His Majesty the Emperor! The Ember Emperor!"
"The Ember Empire!"
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire!"
As Langpu's words concluded, the crowd erupted into cheers once again. Under the supervision of the Tiefling guards, these cheers were even more passionate than ever before.
Those in the front row wept openly, collapsing to their knees, some even fainting in excitement—though it was unclear whether this was genuine emotion or the Propaganda Department's usual theatrics.
"The grace of His Majesty Cassius can never be repaid, even in lifetimes!"
"Your Majesty, we pledge our allegiance to you! You have given us new life!"
Representatives from the Humans, Tieflings, Hobgoblins, Ogres, and other vassals stepped forward from the crowd, their expressions full of pride and emotion.
Together, they carried a scroll tens of meters long, stitched from primal ox leather, and unfurled it on the road. The smooth surface bore tens of thousands of handprints, claw marks, and hoofprints.
"Your Majesty Cassius, we earnestly beseech you to be crowned! This is the wish of all citizens!"
"Yes! Even if it costs us our lives…"
"You are our…"
"Exactly, Your Majesty! Only by crowning you can we even begin to repay your grace."
The vassal representatives knelt, and the scroll bore several bold characters—"Petition for His Majesty Cassius to be Crowned Emperor."
This petition, marked by tens of thousands of vassals, demonstrated that the Emperor's coronation was not only a national necessity but also the will of the people.
It served as proof to the world that, both legally and practically, this coronation was beyond reproach.
Standing atop the altar, Cassius looked down at the "spectacle" below, maintaining his dignified demeanor.
"Cringe, isn't it? The Propaganda Department really overdid it this time. But…"
"The results seem pretty effective."
The Red Dragon observed the astonished, fearful, and bewildered faces of foreign envoys, his lips twitching slightly. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Clearly, in terms of public relations and propaganda, these players were far ahead of the rest of Feanso.