After spending an entire day and night in the public library, Azrael had read most of the books concerning the history of the world and its most powerful factions.
As for the Kingdom of Light itself, he learned that it was ruled by the Verdant Royal Family, alongside four great ducal families:
Varan, Foyd, Solar, and Ashley.
The remaining noble families were of little importance compared to these five great powers.
Azrael also learned a few additional details concerning the Heavenly Council.
Although the council was funded by the world's most powerful factions, it possessed an independent existence of its own. It enjoyed complete sovereignty and maintained its independence from the factions that supported it.
The Heavenly Council also possessed its own military force, known as the Holy Knights.
Azrael continued reading and learned more about the various races inhabiting the world.
There were humans, beasts, and barbarians.
The barbarians were a humanoid race, but they did not consider themselves humans.
There were also the elves.
Azrael continued reading until he came across something that immediately caught his attention.
It was a prophecy that had spread throughout the Kingdom of Light during the previous few decades.
According to the prophecy, a child would be born.
When that child grew up, he would embark upon a path of slaughter and destruction.
If he were left unchecked, he would eventually destroy the world and bring about the extinction of all living beings.
Because of this prophecy, the child was given a terrifying title:
The Dark Lord, Herald of Chaos.
Azrael's eyes narrowed slightly as he finished reading the prophecy.
For several moments, he remained completely silent.
Then, the scattered pieces of information in his mind suddenly began connecting.
The mysterious division of his soul.
The Heavenly Council.
The unknown god.
The destruction and slaughter surrounding his life.
And now...
A prophecy describing a child destined to destroy the world.
Azrael's eyes grew colder.
He had reached a conclusion.
The prophecy was talking about him.
He was the so-called Dark Lord.
A faint, cold smile appeared on Azrael's lips.
"So that's how it is..."
He closed the book.
If the world had already decided that he was destined to become the Dark Lord, then he had no reason to concern himself with its judgment.
After all...
He had never asked for anyone's approval.
Azrael eventually returned to the mansion.
During the following days, he established a simple routine.
Every day, he would leave the city and head into the wilderness to hunt beasts.
He slaughtered powerful beasts one after another, converting their beast cores into System Coins.
When he returned to the mansion, he would listen to the information Gaya had gathered throughout the day.
Gaya had gradually become Azrael's primary source of information about the Kingdom of Light.
While Azrael focused on increasing his strength, she gathered information about the surrounding territories, powerful cultivators, influential families, cities, sects, and other matters that could prove useful to them.
Thus, the seemingly peaceful days continued.
But beneath that calm surface, Azrael's plans were slowly taking shape.
And somewhere in the vast world beyond the Kingdom of Light...
The gears of fate had already begun to turn.