The western club room had become unusually quiet.
Mimi and Seraphina were seated at opposite sides of the room, surrounded by books, materials, diagrams, and unfinished magical formations.
Their Soul Grimoires were still incomplete.
Nihil, however, had already moved on.
The violet gemstone known as Nihil’s Heart rested on the table before him.
He studied it for several seconds.
Then he reached for another set of materials.
Mimi noticed immediately.
Mimi:
“Master…
you’re making another one?”
Nihil:
“Yes.”
Seraphina:
“Didn’t you say the violet version was dangerous?”
Nihil continued working.
Nihil:
“It is.”
He carefully combined the materials.
Nihil:
“That’s why I won’t reproduce it.”
Seraphina looked at the gemstone.
Seraphina:
“Then what are you making?”
Nihil:
“Safer versions.”
He placed another material onto the formation.
The magical circle activated.
A red gemstone gradually formed.
Then another.
And another.
Nihil continued crafting while Mimi and Seraphina worked on their own grimoires.
Neither girl understood how he could casually create something that had already become one of the greatest discoveries in Elysara.
But to Nihil, it was simply another experiment.
THE UNITED RACES GUILD
Several days later, a carriage arrived at the Augustus Academy.
The insignia on its side belonged to the largest guild organization in the world.
TURG — THE UNITED RACES GUILD.
The guild represented humans, elves, dragons, demons, demi-humans, and numerous other races.
Nihil was invited to their headquarters to explain the rules and properties of Nihil’s Heart.
The guild hall was enormous.
Hunters, adventurers, merchants, researchers, nobles, and representatives from different races filled the chamber.
At the center stood Nihil.
He was only thirteen years old.
Yet the entire hall was waiting for him to speak.
Nihil calmly looked across the crowd.
Nihil:
“I have created three types of gemstones.”
A projection appeared behind him.
Three gemstones floated above the magical display.
Violet.
Red.
Green.
Nihil:
“The violet version is the original.”
The violet gemstone glowed.
Nihil:
“It possesses effectively infinite storage capacity for Life Energy.”
The room immediately became restless.
Nihil continued.
Nihil:
“The red version can store approximately one thousand years of Life Energy.”
The red gemstone appeared.
Nihil:
“The green version can store approximately five hundred years.”
The green gemstone appeared beside it.
Nihil:
“Both are considerably safer than the violet version.
Therefore, I will reproduce them.”
A hunter immediately stood.
Hunter:
“Then what about the violet one?”
Nihil looked toward him.
Nihil:
“I won’t reproduce it.”
The hunter frowned.
Hunter:
“But the rumor says the violet Heart has infinite capacity…
and that you actually use one yourself.”
Nihil nodded.
Nihil:
“Yes.”
The room became silent.
Nihil:
“I use it.”
A second hunter stood.
Second Hunter:
“Then…
are you all right?”
Nihil:
“Yes.”
He paused.
Nihil:
“After all, I am the creator of Nihil’s Heart.”
His expression remained calm.
Nihil:
“I am an exception.”
Several people exchanged glances.
Nihil:
“Though I highly doubt that an ordinary person could handle the mental pressure and weight of the violet Heart.”
The head hunter leaned forward.
Head Hunter:
“Could you provide us with one?”
Nihil looked at him.
Nihil:
“For testing?”
Head Hunter:
“Yes.”
Nihil nodded.
Nihil:
“I see no reason to refuse.”
The head hunter smiled.
But Nihil continued.
Nihil:
“However, I highly doubt you can pay the price.”
The smile disappeared from the man’s face.
Head Hunter:
“Price?”
Nihil:
Nihil looked toward the violet gemstone.
Nihil:
“You don’t expect me to give something that rare and expensive away for free.”
The hall became quiet again.
Nihil:
“The violet Heart consumes considerably more energy to create than the normal versions.”
He paused.
Nihil:
“And even if you paid for it, you would probably waste your money.”
The head hunter’s expression changed.
Nihil:
“You couldn’t recreate it yourself.”
Another pause.
Nihil:
“Even if I gave you the recipe.”
The hunters stared at him.
Nihil:
“And attempting to integrate another violet Heart into your body would result in certain death.”
Silence.
The head hunter slowly sat down.
Around the hall, whispers began.
Hunter:
“He understood exactly what the head hunter wanted…”
Another Hunter:
“And he rejected him without even insulting him.”
Another:
“He’s only thirteen…”
Hunter:
“That’s the Augustus prodigy for you.”
Nihil simply continued speaking.
Nihil:
“The red and green versions are the products I am willing to distribute.”
The contract was eventually finalized.
TURG would distribute the Hearts across Elysara.
Nihil would manufacture them.
For every Heart sold, Nihil would receive ninety-nine percent of the revenue.
The remaining one percent would belong to the guild for distribution and logistics.
The agreed prices were enormous.
Green Heart — 1,000,000 gold coins.
Red Heart — 2,000,000 gold coins.
And people still bought them.
THE RISE OF NIHIL’S WEALTH
The demand became impossible to ignore.
Nobles wanted them.
Guilds wanted them.
Kingdoms wanted them.
Powerful adventurers wanted them.
Even wealthy dragons wanted them.
Nihil continued producing them while Mimi and Seraphina continued their own studies.
Months passed.
The numbers grew.
Millions became billions.
And eventually—
Nihil’s personal wealth surpassed 500 billion gold coins.
His fortune had become larger than the economies of countless kingdoms.
And it was still growing.
Nihil looked at the map of Elysara inside his study.
Nihil:
“Mr.
Noctis.”
His butler immediately approached.
Noctis:
“Yes, Master?”
Nihil:
“There are three great forests in Elysara, correct?”
Noctis:
“Yes, Master.”
Nihil:
“Two belong to the elves.”
Noctis:
“Correct.”
Nihil:
“And the remaining one belongs to humans.”
Noctis:
“Yes.”
Nihil studied the map.
Nihil:
“Elves don’t sell their forests.”
Noctis:
“That is correct.”
Nihil:
“Humans will.”
Noctis understood immediately.
Nihil:
“Take the money.”
He looked at his butler.
Nihil:
“Buy the forest.”
Noctis:
“Understood.”
Nihil continued.
Nihil:
“Then purchase every demi-human slave you can find.”
Noctis remained silent.
Nihil:
“Set them free.”
His expression remained emotionless.
Nihil:
“Give them the forest.”
Noctis bowed.
Nihil:
“Tell them to build their own nation.”
He looked toward the window.
Nihil:
“When they are ready, I want a peace agreement between their nation and Augustus.”
Noctis nodded.
Noctis:
“Yes, Master.”
Nihil:
“Consider it done.”
THE DRAGON LANDS
Far away from Augustus, beyond the human kingdoms, stood the enormous Dragon Empire.
Inside the imperial palace, the ruler of the dragons sat upon his throne.
He had taken human form.
Yet the pressure surrounding him was enough to make even powerful dragons instinctively lower their heads.
His name was known throughout Elysara.
THE GREAT DRAGON EMPEROR BUKIYAM NOCTIS
The emperor who was said to rival gods.
He slowly opened his eyes.
“Nihil Mora…”
His minister stood beside the throne.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“He’s growing stronger.”
Minister:
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Bukiyam Noctis:
“Stronger and stronger.”
He leaned back.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“And now he possesses one of the most powerful economies in Elysara.”
The minister nodded.
Minister:
“His wealth has attracted many high-ranking dragons.”
Bukiyam Noctis:
“I heard.”
He looked toward the enormous windows.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“After obtaining access to immortality, even more dragons began joining his household.”
The emperor’s expression became serious.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“His butler and servants alone are stronger than the military forces of some countries.”
The minister remained silent.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“A boy from Augustus…”
He narrowed his eyes.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“And yet something about him concerns me.”
Minister:
“Your Majesty?”
Bukiyam Noctis:
“I don’t know what it is.”
He looked toward the distant horizon.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“But something about that child makes me worried about the future.”
The minister thought for a moment.
Then he spoke.
Minister:
“Your Majesty, he will soon obtain his Soul Weapon.”
Bukiyam Noctis turned toward him.
Minister:
“After that, he is expected to establish stronger relations with House Erebus in the Demon Realm.”
Bukiyam Noctis:
“House Erebus…”
Minister:
“It would be an ideal opportunity for us as well.”
The emperor’s eyes narrowed.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“What are you suggesting?”
The minister smiled slightly.
Minister:
“A meeting.”
He paused.
Minister:
“Perhaps even something more.”
Bukiyam Noctis stared at him.
Minister:
“You could take him as your successor.”
Silence filled the throne room.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“My successor?”
Minister:
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The minister bowed.
Minister:
“His power already surpasses what most of us can comprehend.”
Minister:
“And his influence grows every month.”
He raised his head.
Minister:
“He may become worthy of standing beside our princess.”
The Dragon Emperor remained silent.
For several moments, he simply stared toward the distant human territories.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“Nihil Mora…”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Bukiyam Noctis:
“Perhaps we should meet the Augustus prodigy ourselves.”
BILLIONS OF YEARS LATER — THE LIBRARY
The ancient library remained silent.
Two students sat among the historical records.
The curious student slowly turned another page.
The lazy student looked half-asleep.
Lazy Student:
“Wait…”
The curious student looked at him.
Lazy Student:
“Did he just buy an entire forest?”
Curious Student:
“Yes.”
Lazy Student:
“Then free thousands of slaves?”
Curious Student:
“Apparently.”
The lazy student stared at the book.
Lazy Student:
“And he’s thirteen?”
Curious Student:
“At this point, I think we’ve already established that.”
The lazy student leaned back.
Lazy Student:
“And now the Dragon Emperor wants him as a successor?”
The curious student slowly turned another page.
Curious Student:
“I think that’s where things start becoming interesting.”
The lazy student sighed.
Lazy Student:
“I have a bad feeling about the next chapter.”
The curious student smiled.
Curious Student:
“Good.”
He turned the page.
Curious Student:
“That means the story is working.”
The ancient record continued.
And somewhere within the distant past, a thirteen-year-old boy was unknowingly becoming one of the most influential beings in Elysara.
His wealth was growing.
His power was growing.
His ideology was taking shape.
And the world had only just begun to notice him.