Night had fallen over Elysara.
The celebrations had finally ended.
The enormous gathering had dispersed.
Soldiers had returned to their nations.
Families had returned to their homes.
And the great field beneath the flag of Elysara had finally become silent.
The world had entered a new era.
An era of peace.
But inside the golden mansion…
Nihil Mora was still awake.
His chamber was enormous.
Golden walls surrounded the room.
Large windows overlooked the capital, where thousands of lights illuminated the peaceful city.
Nihil stood beside one of the windows.
He looked down at the people below.
People who had just been promised peace.
People who believed the wars were finally over.
People who believed Nihil had saved them.
A knock came from behind.
Nihil did not turn around.
“Come in.”
The enormous doors opened.
Alpha and Omega entered the chamber.
The two stopped several steps behind their father.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Omega smiled.
“Father…”
Nihil slowly turned his head.
Omega continued.
“So…”
She looked toward the city outside the window.
“After so long…”
She smiled faintly.
“Finally, The Curse of Peace is going to begin.”
Nihil said nothing.
Alpha stepped closer.
She looked at him carefully.
“I still can’t imagine what is going on inside your mind, Father.”
Nihil raised an eyebrow.
Alpha continued.
“Why do all of this?”
She gestured toward the enormous city.
“You could create perfection with nothing more than a swing of two fingers.”
The room became silent.
Alpha stared at her father.
“You have enough power to change everything instantly.”
“You could erase wars.”
“Erase kingdoms.”
“Rewrite laws.”
“Create a perfect civilization.”
“You could make everyone live exactly the way you want.”
She paused.
“So why go through all this?”
“Why the alliance?”
“Why the negotiations?”
“Why the speeches?”
“Why allow these creatures to make their own choices?”
Nihil turned toward the window again.
His expression became unreadable.
“I am no god.”
Omega tilted her head.
Nihil continued.
“Nor am I evil.”
“And I am not good.”
Alpha and Omega remained silent.
Nihil looked toward the city.
“I am simply a system.”
His voice was calm.
“A system that does what it sees fit.”
Omega listened carefully.
Nihil continued.
“I do not hate these creatures.”
“They have done nothing to deserve my hatred.”
He paused.
“But I do not love them either.”
“I don’t pity them.”
“I don’t worship them.”
“And I don’t expect them to understand me.”
Alpha’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Then what are they to you?”
Nihil finally turned toward his daughters.
His answer came without hesitation.
“Learning material.”
The words were cold.
Not angry.
Not cruel.
Simply factual.
“They are creatures living inside an existence I wish to understand.”
Nihil walked toward the center of the chamber.
“Every choice they make teaches me something.”
“Every war teaches me something.”
“Every alliance teaches me something.”
“Every betrayal.”
“Every sacrifice.”
“Every victory.”
“Every failure.”
He raised one hand slightly.
“Even the smallest piece of information has value.”
Omega remained silent.
Nihil continued.
“If I learn something…”
“Even something insignificant…”
His eyes became colder.
“Then the sacrifice was worth it.”
The room fell completely silent.
Alpha looked at her father for several seconds.
She finally lowered her gaze.
“Perhaps…”
She paused.
“Perhaps you are right, Father.”
Omega looked toward Alpha.
Nihil said nothing.
Alpha continued.
“Maybe perfection isn’t something you simply create.”
“Maybe it is something you must understand first.”
Nihil looked toward the window again.
Below them, Elysara remained peaceful.
Children were sleeping.
Families were together.
The streets were safe.
The world believed the nightmare was over.
But Nihil knew better.
The peace was only the beginning.
The alliances had been established.
The nations had united.
The people had placed their trust in him.
And somewhere beyond the mortal world…
The High Heavens were already preparing for his destruction.
Nihil stared into the night sky.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Let us see…”
“How long this world can remain perfect.”
Alpha and Omega stood behind him.
Neither daughter spoke again.
Outside the mansion, the flag of Elysara continued to move beneath the moonlight.
A symbol of peace.
A symbol of unity.
And eventually…
A symbol of the beginning of something far darker.
TEN YEARS LATER
Morning sunlight poured through the enormous windows of the Imperial Palace.
The capital of Elysara was peaceful.
The streets were busy.
Merchants opened their stores.
Children walked toward schools.
Guards patrolled the roads.
For ten years, there had been no great war.
No armies had marched through the capital.
No race had invaded another.
The peace Nihil had created continued.
Inside the Imperial Palace, Nihil stood near one of the enormous windows.
Beside him stood his sister, Eleanor.
Nearby were Lilyana and Ilyra.
The four were discussing the affairs of the kingdom.
Eleanor smiled.
“It is strange.”
Nihil looked toward her.
“What is?”
“Ten years.”
She looked outside.
“Ten years without a major war.”
Lilyana smiled proudly.
“You should be proud, Nihil.”
Ilyra nodded.
“You created something this world had never seen before.”
Nihil simply looked toward the city.
Before he could answer…
The doors of the chamber suddenly burst open.
A royal envoy rushed inside.
He was breathing heavily.
Several guards immediately moved toward him.
But Nihil raised his hand.
The guards stopped.
The envoy dropped to one knee.
“Prince Nihil!”
Nihil turned.
“What happened?”
The envoy struggled to catch his breath.
“We have…”
He swallowed.
“We have a problem.”
Nihil remained calm.
“Explain.”
The envoy lowered his head. This story is hosted at g.com.
“A rebellion.”
Eleanor’s expression changed immediately.
“A rebellion?”
The envoy nodded.
“Across the western regions of the kingdom.”
“Not one race…”
“All four.”
Lilyana’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
The envoy continued.
“Humans.”
“Elves.”
“Demons.”
“Beastfolk.”
“They are moving together.”
The room became silent.
Then another voice came from outside.
“Nihil!”
Everyone turned.
Seraphina entered the chamber in a hurry.
She had returned from outside the city after handling political matters.
Her usual composure had disappeared.
She approached Nihil immediately.
“Nihil, we have a serious problem.”
Nihil looked at her.
“What happened?”
Seraphina took a breath.
“A rebellion has spread across the western territories.”
“The heroes of all seven Cardinal Holy Churches have joined forces.”
Nihil’s expression did not change.
Seraphina continued.
“And the Archbishops are with them.”
Eleanor stared at her.
“Why?”
Seraphina looked toward Nihil.
“They claim that you have defied the gods.”
“They say the Peace Alliance is an insult to divine authority.”
“They’re marching toward the capital.”
“How many?”
The envoy answered.
“Approximately five hundred thousand.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened.
“Five hundred thousand?!”
“They are united forces.”
Seraphina nodded.
“They are coming directly for Nihil.”
Aurelius was not present.
The responsibility of the palace had fallen upon those standing there.
Then another message arrived.
“Turg has already begun mobilizing.”
Nihil looked toward the messenger.
“The hunters?”
“Yes.”
“And the military?”
“Already moving.”
Eleanor looked toward Nihil.
“But why now?”
Her voice became frustrated.
“It has been ten years!”
“That claim is ten years old!”
Nihil finally smiled faintly.
“Calm down, sister.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“How can you be calm?!”
Nihil turned toward the window.
“Of course this was going to happen.”
Seraphina looked at him.
“You expected this?”
“Eventually.”
Nihil’s eyes remained fixed upon the distant horizon.
“Without wars…”
“There is no need for heroes.”
The room became silent.
“And without deaths…”
“There is no DE.”
Nihil continued.
“And without DE…”
“There is no guaranteed path to the immortality the immortals depend upon.”
Eleanor clenched her fists.
“So they’re willing to start another war because of that?”
Nihil nodded.
“Yes.”
He turned toward Seraphina.
“Let me handle this matter.”
Seraphina immediately shook her head.
“Nihil…”
“They want me, don’t they?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
Nihil calmly answered.
“Then I will go.”
Seraphina stepped closer.
“But you can’t do that.”
Nihil looked at her.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re their target.”
“Exactly.”
He paused.
“For the life of one person…”
His eyes moved toward the palace.
“We simply cannot allow ten years of peace to fall.”
Lilyana and Ilyra immediately walked toward him.
Lilyana embraced him.
Ilyra joined her.
“My son…”
“Don’t worry.”
“We will rescue you soon.”
“Just wait for us.”
Nihil remained silent between them.
Eleanor looked away.
She could not hide the fear in her eyes.
Seraphina stood quietly.
She knew what Nihil had already decided.
He was going.
THE SURRENDER
Nihil finally walked out of the palace.
The enormous gates opened.
Outside stood the approaching forces.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Knights.
Mages.
Heroes.
Clergy.
The banners of the seven Cardinal Holy Churches waved above the army.
Nihil walked toward them alone.
Then something strange happened.
His shadow moved.
Alpha emerged from it.
Omega emerged beside her.
The two daughters looked toward their father.
Nihil said nothing.
They simply disappeared back into his shadow.
The army watched.
The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons.
Nihil continued forward.
He stopped before the united forces.
The battlefield became silent.
The leader of the army stepped forward.
“Prince Nihil Mora.”
Nihil looked at him.
“You came a long way.”
The leader raised his voice.
“You have defied the gods.”
“I know.”
“You have turned humanity against divine authority.”
“I know.”
“You have corrupted the natural order.”
Nihil sighed.
“I don’t want a war.”
The army remained silent.
Nihil raised his hands slowly.
“I surrender.”
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers stared at him.
“I don’t want war.”
His voice remained calm.
“All you want is me.”
He looked across the army.
“Then take me.”
“Leave the people alone.”
“Leave the cities alone.”
“Leave the nations alone.”
“If my capture is enough to satisfy you…”
“Then take me.”
The leader of the united army smiled.
“A wise decision, Prince Nihil.”
He looked toward the soldiers.
“Of course…”
“We are heroes.”
“We would never hurt the citizens we were supposed to protect.”
Nihil said nothing.
He simply waited.
The heroes gave their orders.
“Begin containment.”
Hundreds of mages raised their staffs.
One spell.
Then another.
Then another.
Within moments, more than one hundred spells activated.
Massive magical barriers formed around Nihil.
Layers of suppression magic.
Sealing magic. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Anti-Shinkai techniques.
Ancient restraints.
The air itself seemed to become heavy.
Nihil did not resist.
From the rear, soldiers brought out ancient relics.
Huge chains covered in old inscriptions.
Each chain was connected to a relic designed specifically to suppress extraordinary beings.
The chains wrapped around Nihil.
One.
Two.
Several more.
The relics activated simultaneously.
A massive pressure descended upon him.
Still…
Nihil did not resist.
They forced him into a heavy chair.
Additional chains locked his body in place.
The heroes watched carefully.
They had expected resistance.
They had prepared for destruction.
They had prepared for Nihil to unleash the monstrous Shinkai they had heard about.
But he did nothing.
He simply allowed them to bind him.
The leader approached.
“Take him.”
The soldiers began moving Nihil away.
Toward the stronghold of the seven Cardinal Holy Churches.
Toward the underground chamber built specifically for prisoners of extraordinary power.
Nihil remained silent.
THE UNDERGROUND CHAMBER
Deep beneath the Church…
A massive underground chamber waited.
Its walls were covered in ancient symbols.
Sealing circles filled the floor.
Multiple layers of barriers surrounded the central prison.
Nihil was brought inside.
The ancient chains remained attached.
He was secured to the chair in the center of the chamber.
The heroes stood several meters away.
An Archbishop looked toward him.
“Wait for orders.”
Another nodded.
“We do nothing until the command comes from above.”
The chamber became silent.
The heroes left.
The great doors closed.
Nihil remained alone.
Or so they believed.
THE DESCENT OF A CELESTIAL
Far above…
Something descended.
A light appeared inside the church.
The air changed.
The Archbishop immediately lowered his head.
The heroes stepped aside.
A Celestial had arrived.
He had descended from the High Heavens.
His first steps echoed through the church.
He walked toward the underground chamber.
The doors opened.
The Celestial entered.
Then he saw Nihil.
For the first time…
A Celestial looked directly upon the being who had threatened the divine order.
Nihil slowly raised his head.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
The Celestial studied him.
“So…”
“This is Nihil Mora.”
Nihil remained silent.
The Celestial stepped closer.
“I wanted to see you myself.”
Nihil’s expression did not change.
The Celestial smiled.
“You have caused quite a problem.”
Still…
Nihil said nothing.
THE RESCUE FORCE
Elsewhere…
Messages reached the leaders of Elysara.
The news spread rapidly.
NIHIL MORA HAS BEEN CAPTURED.
The reaction was immediate.
The leaders of the allied nations gathered.
Queen Lia of House Vesper arrived first.
The Head of House Erebus followed.
Then came Queen Caroline, the head of the newly formed House of Beasts.
Mimi arrived.
Seraphina arrived.
Eleanor arrived.
Lilyana arrived.
Ilyra arrived.
The atmosphere was tense.
For ten years, they had fought to preserve the peace Nihil created.
Now the person standing at the center of that peace had been captured.
Eleanor clenched her fists.
“We are bringing my brother back.”
Lia nodded.
“House Vesper will stand with him.”
The Head of House Erebus spoke.
“So will House Erebus.”
Queen Caroline stepped forward.
“And the Beastfolk.”
Seraphina remained silent.
Her eyes were fixed on the direction of the church.
Mimi stood beside her.
“We’re going.”
Then another presence entered the gathering.
Everyone turned.
A massive Dragon had arrived.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The Great Dragon Emperor Bukiyama Noctis had come.
For ten years, the Dragons had maintained their neutrality.
They had refused to join wars.
They had refused to become part of the alliance.
But now the Dragon Emperor stood before the united forces.
His expression was serious.
“Do not misunderstand me.”
The leaders looked toward him.
“The Dragons will remain neutral.”
He paused.
“We will not enter your wars.”
Then he looked toward Nihil’s allies.
“But this…”
He glanced toward the church.
“…is not a war.”
Several people looked surprised.
Bukiyama continued.
“This is a rescue.”
Silence.
Then Gideon Noctis stepped forward.
Nihil’s butler.
The financial mastermind behind the Noctis family.
“I agree.”
He adjusted his clothes calmly.
“Master Nihil is not someone we simply abandon.”
The rescue force was complete.
Elves.
Demons.
Humans.
Beastfolk.
And representatives of the Dragons.
All moving toward one objective.
Bring Nihil Mora home.
THE SHADOW OF NIHIL
Deep underground…
Nihil remained seated within his restraints.
The Celestial had left the chamber temporarily.
The seals surrounding Nihil remained active.
But there was something the captors had forgotten.
Nihil could still observe.
Through the seals.
Through the connections.
Through the strange system surrounding his existence.
He saw the armies gathering.
He saw Lia.
He saw the Head of House Erebus.
He saw Queen Caroline.
He saw Mimi.
Seraphina.
Eleanor.
Ilyra.
Lilyana.
Bukiyama Noctis.
Gideon.
They were all coming for him.
Nihil watched silently.
No fear.
No anger.
No panic.
Just observation.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
The people he had called learning material…
Were now risking everything to rescue him.
Nihil remained silent.
Then the faintest smile appeared upon his face.
“So…”
“The experiment continues.”
And beneath the holy church…
The prisoner waited.
While above him…
The world prepared for the next war.