Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Emperor of Black and Gold

The Emperor of Black and Gold.

In an era where the mystical current was fading, that moniker represented an unprecedented force, not only within contemporary times but throughout the annals of the entire continental mass.

Under his rule, the Fourth Empire attained an unexampled splendor, right up to the moment it completely vanished without leaving a trace.

It was an event so sudden, as if the entire nation had evaporated. Those frigid regions situated in the northern sector, which originally constituted the fiefdom of the Duke of Saxon and subsequently became imperial soil through the mediation of Dale of the Saxon family—the Emperor of Black and Gold himself—ceased to exist. At present, only an infinite ocean occupied that space.

Following the loss of the core of the Fourth Empire, the continental territory became embroiled in an endless loop of warlike confrontations.

Various monarchies rose and fell in succession: the Fifth, the Sixth, and multiple additional regimes.

During this period of disorder, the Towers of Magic, which previously operated as the primary pillars of the region, began to decline in influence until they were relegated to historical oblivion.

For reasons that remained shrouded in mystery, the arcane art in this plane was becoming extinct.

The mana energy required to channel aura and mystical arts was reduced to a negligible amount, and even by squeezing the available remnants, it was impossible to recover the majesty of yesteryear.

High-ranking practitioners gradually vanished, and the presence of warriors capable of manifesting aura avatars became an extremely unusual phenomenon.

The conjectures of the population suggested that the decline of the mystical arts began simultaneously with the departure of the Emperor of Black and Gold, also known as the “Mage Emperor.”

Certain people theorized that his colossal strength represented a risk to the deities and that he received divine retribution for it. Others argued that a forbidden research led to a disaster that triggered his ruin. Likewise, there were those who maintained that the goddess Sistina, terrified by his capability, chose to absorb the mana present in the environment.

Multiple hypotheses surrounded the collapse of the seemingly invincible Fourth Empire; however, no one possessed absolute certainty regarding the final fate of the sovereign and his civilization.

Or at least, that was what was assumed.

“The weaponry employed by these insurgents corresponds to vestiges recovered from that very same dynasty,” Dale asserted.

The Marquis of Rosenheim caught his breath with difficulty. “Do you mean to suggest that… the mystical protections of those rebels constitute a remnant of the Great Magical Empire?”

“Both the design and the internal functioning felt extremely familiar to me,” Dale replied with total serenity. The Marquis of Rosenheim deciphered the message according to his own conjectures.

“I sensed that you possessed qualities superior to those of an ordinary sorcerer, but the fact that you harbor knowledge linked to the Fourth Empire…”

“……”

“Certainly, only the Great Magical Empire disposed of the capacity to manufacture warlike tools of such magnitude.”

The Marquis of Rosenheim finally assimilated the real origin of the technical equipment of the insurgents and nodded slowly, unable to decipher the true provenance of the individual standing before him.

“Uncle Dale!”

At that precise moment, Yufi, who had remained sheltered during the course of the assault on the noble estate, made her appearance, causing the Marquis of Rosenheim to turn his face upon perceiving the mention of that moniker.

“Dale…?”

A considerable fraction of the chronicle of the Fourth Empire remains hidden in the shadows. Despite this, thanks to the tales inherited through successive lines, the entirety of the testimonies was not lost.

Upon hearing that name, the Marquis of Rosenheim experienced a frightening dread that began to flood his thoughts.

That Mage Emperor, with the aptitude to summon hosts of the fallen with a single gesture, deprive the planet of clarity, and bring with him creatures proceeding from foreign dimensions.

An individual feared for his ferocity, in whose presence the cessation of life was interpreted as an act of mercy.

The Emperor of Black and Gold, Dale of Saxon. That was the identity of the entity that sowed widespread panic.

However, the perturbation proved fleeting.

In an epoch characterized by the disappearance of the arcane flow, a chronicle of such a mystical nature looked implausible.

Even when the magical demonstrations this subject exhibited surpassed the limits of comprehension of the current era…

Despite the fact that he shared his name with the Mage Emperor, that factor did not alter the present reality.

The Great Mage Empire had dissolved in the past, along with the northern expanses that were anciently denominated the Duchy of Saxony.

Therefore, the mere consideration that an apparition from that historical tale stood erect before his presence constituted a fantasy devoid of logic.

“It is imperative that I notify His Majesty of this event immediately.”

Proceed according to your desires.

Dale turned on his heels, showing absolute disinterest.

“Toward which direction do you intend to march?”

“Is there any rule that conditions me to give you explanations?”

Dale’s distant reply sowed a new shred of irrational dread in the Marquis of Rosenheim. Despite the fact that his intellect tried to cling to logic, his emotions were overwhelmed.

“…I maintain a particular interest in the vestiges of the Fourth Empire that the insurgents find themselves unearthing.”

The tone employed by Dale diminished in harshness as he added details.

“My purpose is to locate them and clarify the real facts.”

“Do you intend to march defenseless toward the domains of the rival faction?”

The Marquis of Rosenheim was on the verge of manifesting his nonconformity at the preposterousness of the approach, but chose to contain himself and emitted a laugh devoid of joy.

He evoked the mystical display that the stranger had executed previously. The ease with which he dismantled the factionalists equipped with the mystical covers, considered relics of the Great Magical Empire, in an almost insignificant manner.

What inhabitant of this world would possess the faculty to block his path?

“I remain highly grateful for your attentions, Marquis.”

Dale performed a bow of his head as a show of courtesy, to which the Marquis of Rosenheim corresponded with a gesture, devoid of arguments to formulate a response.

“However, would you grant me the opportunity to request one last consideration?”

“Of course, express it!”

“In what location can I find the leader of the insurrection?”

The Marquis of Rosenheim found no motives to show reservations regarding Dale’s inquiry.

It was of no utility to request that he join his forces to the cause of the empire.

No one counted on the means to halt the advance of this individual. In juxtaposition, the insurgents would not tolerate his intromission. For their organization, the extraction of the components of the Fourth Empire represented a task of maximum confidentiality that they would custody at the cost of their own existence, unable to allow a third party to decipher the enigma.

And said scenario led to a single outcome.

“Shall we begin the march, Lady Yufi?”

“Of course, Uncle Dale!”

It remained in uncertainty whether this subject corresponded faithfully to the sovereign of Black and Gold who ruled the destinies of the Fourth Empire in the past.

However, the potential he manifested proved staggering, worthy of the consideration of a “Mage Emperor.”

The dispute sustained between the crown and the rebels would conclude as a laughable spectacle.

And at the moment that said spectacle developed a short distance away, it would with total certainty become a calamity without parallel.

The only alternative for the Marquis of Rosenheim consisted of elevating prayers to avoid that his person or the empire itself assumed the leading role in such a misfortune.

Yufi’s pilgrimage did not conclude in the domains of the Marquis of Rosenheim. It continued its advance through the continental territory in the company of Dale, and the subsequent directives of the latter proved even more shocking.

“We head directly toward the terrains controlled by the insurrection.”

“…!”

“Dispel your fears. As long as you remain by my side, no threat will manage to reach you.”

“I experience no fear whatsoever!”

Yufi shook her head in a sign of negation. In fact, not even enjoying the tutelage of the high aristocracy would she experience a level of certainty equivalent to that provided to her by this man.

Even if they found themselves situated in the epicenter of a combat environment, the perception would be identical.

An interval of time having elapsed.

When Dale managed to traverse the fragmented geography of the continent to approach the boundaries of the rebel faction, a surveillance group detained them at the main access points of the city.

“Stop!”

Various combat implements pointed in Dale’s direction. These were not objects recovered from the old regime, nor basic weaponry such as spears or blacksmith components.

They consisted of muskets, recent mechanical artifacts that employed the compound of black powder as a propellent element.

“Do you lean toward the crown or do you back the insurrection?”

The rebel sentinels inquired, maintaining their sights fixed through their muskets.

They did not intend to investigate Dale’s provenance. That constituted merely a warning that the sovereignty of that district belonged to the revolutionary side.

The totality of travelers, intimidated by the presence of firearms, swore submission to the insurgent movement before resuming their march. Dale corresponded to the next turn.

However, Yufi showed distress on her face at the interpellation.

That very same question drastically transformed her reality in the past. A previous determination snatched away her loved ones and the inhabitants of her community of origin.

“The insurrection…”

She refused to incur once again in the identical mistake.

“What motivated that declaration on your part?”

However, Dale did not adopt a similar posture. On the contrary, he questioned with a marked gesture of strangeness.

Yufi reacted with bewilderment and caught her breath at the instant Dale reoriented his gaze.

Toward the militiamen who persisted in aiming at him with their muskets.

“What is the finality that this movement pursues?”

“Do you dare to call our cause into question?”

“I do not possess a vast knowledge regarding the dynamics of this period. However, at the moment of reincorporating myself into this environment, the totality of individuals proclaimed the legitimacy of the insurrection.”

Dale expressed himself with moderation.

“And due to the fact that they refused to back your movement, the family members and neighbors of this girl were massacred.”

“…!”

“Therefore, I demand to know, did a valid justification exist for it?”

The tone of his words remained devoid of any inkling of emotionality.

“Insolent!”

The combatants, provided with their muskets, did not show any hesitation.

“Eliminate him! He represents a threat to our cause!”

Bang!

The firing mechanisms activated and the combustion of black powder dispersed into the environment. It did not correspond to an arquebus, the rustic variant of these pieces of fire.

It was an advanced muzzle-loading weapon, a wheellock musket properly speaking.

Despite this, the situation did not experience any variation. Even if it had corresponded to a piece of fire belonging to the “First Empire,” the result would have been identical.

In the midst of the trajectory of the projectiles, a dark figure positioned itself firmly.

At a velocity superior to that of the impacts, an obsidian barrier absorbed the deflagration of the powder to subsequently fold back toward the lower part of Dale’s silhouette.

“Is carrying out the eradication of everyone who manifests skepticism or resistance what you define as your cause?” Dale questioned, vanishing the dark barrier to confront the bewildered militiamen.

“Under that premise, I also choose to join the action.”

“…!”

“I lack foundations to grant indulgence to those who attempt to obstruct my advance.”

At that precise moment, the dark stain that extended at his feet gained dynamism as if it were endowed with a vitality of its own.

Multiple appendages of jet-black hue projected themselves swiftly toward the front, causing various shrieks to break the silence of the area.

Upon witnessing the event, Yufi did not divert her attention nor did she choose to occlude her eyes.

She maintained the conviction that acts of revenge lacked real benefit. And, certainly, the facts corroborated it.

Despite this, in the face of the cruelties perpetrated under the banner of the rebel movement, she found no justification whatsoever to manifest compassion toward them.

For that reason, while the continuous laments and the dismal spectacle of material and human destruction succeeded one another, Yufi persisted in observing the scene.

Without turning her gaze away until the definitive outcome.