Calendar: January 2, 1000 - The Night of Destruction
<----Knight James's Point of View---->
I never imagined that New Year's night would become the final night of the Stellaris Empire.
My name is James, an ordinary knight stationed in the Valaris district. Not a high noble, not a legendary warrior—just a 32-year-old man sworn to protect his people and his land.
Just this afternoon, the capital was still filled with laughter and joy. The people celebrated the turn of the year full of hope. Children ran around with lanterns in hand, merchants peddled food with wide smiles, and music drifted from every street corner.
The Stellaris Empire—the land led by Emperor Arthur von Stellaris, the prodigy. At the age of 19, he had already reached the Transcendent level, an achievement that took previous emperors decades. Under his leadership, our Empire prospered. The cold northern region transformed into a sturdy fortress under Grand Duke Kaelvros. The nobles competed to advance their territories and produce talented individuals.
We were proud.
We felt safe.
And.
We were wrong.
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10:00 PM—Valaris District
"CITIZENS! EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!"
I ran through the panicked crowd. Black smoke billowed from the south. The ground trembled—and I nearly lost my footing. My knees grew weak; this wasn't an ordinary earthquake—it was the vibration from a high-level battle, vibrations that could only be created by a Sage.
"Captain James!" A young knight approached me, his face pale. "There's... there's an Elder Dragon in District 7!"
An Elder Dragon. An SS-rank mystical beast. A creature that even a Sage would have to fight with all their might to defeat.
"Where are the Archmages?" I asked while guiding an old woman to safety.
"They've already moved to the front lines! But—Captain, it's not just mystical beast—there are also monsters. And there are troops from other Empires!"
My heart stopped for a second. "What do you mean?"
"Moonstone, Sunstone, Heartstone, Skystone—they're all attacking simultaneously in a circle! The capital is trapped," he said, taking a deep breath.
No. Impossible.
An alliance? All the Empires that had warred with each other for hundreds of years, now united? To fight us? This was too sudden. This was strange—Couldn't the military officials have predicted this? And Where were the knights tasked with scouting the situation outside the capital?
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11:30 PM—District 5 Defense Line
I stood with 250 other knights, forming the last line between the enemy and the civilians being evacuated behind us.
In front, the combined forces of the four Empires formed—like an uncountable black sea. Tens to hundreds of corpses with empty eyes and gear—full armor and broken weapons—lay scattered, blood adorning every side.
"HOLD THE LINE!" I shouted, raising my sword.
The clash began.
Iron met iron. Sword Aura met Sword Aura. Magic spells met magic spells. Blood—both fresh and rotten—soaked the ground. To my left, a young knight collapsed, his throat torn open. To my right, a 50-year-old veteran still fought despite his left arm being severed.
We weren't heroes.
We were just ordinary knights trying to survive. I closed my eyes, sweat soaking my temples. My hand holding the sword trembled.
I was scared.
However, I came back to my senses. Behind us were crying children. There were mothers hugging their babies. There were grandparents who couldn't even walk on their own. If we retreated, they would all die. I couldn't run away.
I opened my eyes again—staring at the demons disguised as humans. Humans who obeyed orders without thinking about others' feelings. They must be smiling happily behind the iron helmets they wore now. They hoped for a promotion to a higher rank—for successfully completing their task efficiently.
I realized. Humans are the most perfect creatures compared to angels and demons. Angels must do good—demons must do evil. And humans are the embodiment of both—they can destroy while smiling and love while hurting.
<----End of Knight James's Point of View---->
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01:00 AM—Capital Sky
<----Knight Liam's Point of View---->
From a distance, I saw a blinding golden light explode in the sky.
Supernova Explosion.
The signature technique of the Stellaris family.
That must be Emperor Arthur.
Even from this distance, I could feel the immense mana pressure. The ground trembled. A strong wind blew, carrying the scent of ozone and dust.
"The Emperor... won?" whispered the knight beside me, full of hope.
But that hope didn't last long.
Because from the same direction, two other Transcendent auras emerged.
Two.
Against one Emperor who was already exhausted.
---
02:30 AM—Temporary Evacuation Point
Sage Aldric stood before those of us who remained. His face was covered in wounds, his high-grade artifact clothing tattered.
"Listen carefully."
His voice was calm. Too calm for a situation like this.
"Emperor Arthur and Aide Tharlic... have fallen."
Silence.
No one screamed. No one cried.
We were all too exhausted even to respond.
"Now is the end of everything... Only 51 people, including myself, are warriors."
The numbers felt like a knife stabbing into my chest.
"And the people?" I forced myself to ask.
Sage Aldric looked at me. His eyes were empty.
"Of the 50,000 souls in the capital... 23,000 are still alive."
27,000 people.
Dead in one night.
And with only 51 fighters—we had to protect 23,000 people.
I was wounded... But I couldn't give up.
<----End of Knight Liam's Point of View---->
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<----Sage Aldric's Point of View---->
I am tired. But I must not fall.
In my hand, a small cloth doll I found among the ruins. A doll similar to the one my neighbor's daughter owned—a cheerful 7-year-old girl who always greeted me with a bright smile.
I don't know if she survived.
I don't know if my own family survived. They were supposed to be in District 6—the supposedly safe district. But in chaos like this, who could guarantee anything?
The sky began to redden in the east. Dawn would arrive soon.
The first dawn of the Stellaris Empire without its Emperor.
The first dawn where we realized that the world is not fair.
That strength, genius, and goodness... are sometimes not enough.
And ahead. A swarm of enemy troops appeared. Led by a gallant man in high-grade iron armor, covering him from chest to foot. His head was left bare—revealing long, dark brown hair and deep green eyes.
Deep green eyes...
That is the characteristic of the Sunstone family. In other words, that man is Emperor Oberon.
To all of you—my enemies. In the next life, I hope you suffer. And I... I will be the first spectator to laugh at your destruction.
<----End of Sage Aldric's Point of View---->
———
This world has 3 roles that determine one's destiny, 7 affinities that build power.
5 continents, tens of thousands of islands, and deeply buried secrets. This world is vaster than has ever been explored.
In this world, there was a magnificent Empire—strong nobles, prosperous people, and a genius Emperor feared by all.
But this world is also cruel.
Because they feared someone too strong, they allied.
Because they envied an Empire too advanced, they attacked.
And in one night—the Stellaris Empire was annihilated.
But there was one thing they didn't know:
Before the tragedy struck, a baby was born.
An heir who would one day rise from the ruins.
This is his story.
The Tale of the Prince from the Ruins.
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Chapter 1 Begins
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