Silence descended upon the ancient hall after Fafnir spoke his final words.
Everyone was still standing before the throne, gazing at their lord with anticipation and excitement.
None of them knew what would happen after the return of the True Monarch.
But they were certain of one thing...
A new era had begun.
Fafnir slowly raised his hand, drawing everyone's attention toward him.
Then he spoke in a calm voice, yet one that carried absolute authority:
"There is one more matter."
The Four Pillars bowed respectfully.
"Your command, True Monarch."
Fafnir said:
"I want an absolute decree issued."
Everyone's expressions froze.
He continued:
"I want every human currently outside the continent of Zeta to return there."
The officials exchanged glances.
Then Fafnir added:
"They have one month."
"And anyone who exceeds the designated deadline..."
His black eyes lingered for a moment.
"...will be considered a traitor to the human race."
The hearts of everyone present trembled.
The decree itself was simple.
Yet its consequences would affect millions of humans scattered throughout Gandalia.
Fafnir then turned toward the Four Pillars.
"There is something else."
Valor raised his head.
"Yes, True Monarch?"
Fafnir said coldly:
"Announce to the world that the decree was issued by the Supreme Council of Humanity."
Silence filled the hall.
Then he continued:
"Do not mention my name."
The eyes of the Four Pillars widened slightly.
Fafnir continued:
"The world is not yet ready for the return of this great one."
The officials did not fully understand what Fafnir meant.
But the Four Pillars understood perfectly.
Their lord had returned.
Yet his return was not something the world should know about—not yet.
The world believed that Fafnir had died five thousand years ago...
It was not ready to learn the truth.
Thorinn smiled excitedly and placed his fist against his chest.
"Your command shall be obeyed, True Monarch!"
Valor followed:
"We will carry out the decree immediately."
Morgana bowed.
"No one will learn that you have returned until the proper time."
As for Eleanor, she smiled confidently.
"And we will ensure that the decree reaches every human."
Fafnir looked at them for a few moments.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
The Four Pillars and the officials began retreating.
But before they left, Fafnir spoke:
"Eleanor."
She stopped.
Then turned around.
"Yes, True Monarch?"
Fafnir said:
"I want you to bring me as many Cosmic Treasures as possible."
Her eyes widened.
He continued:
"Cosmic herbs."
Then he added:
"Weapons as well."
Eleanor's expression changed slightly.
"Weapons?"
Fafnir nodded.
"Anything that can help me regain my strength."
Then he said:
"Spare no effort."
Eleanor placed a hand over her chest.
"Your command."
Then she smiled.
"I will bring you the finest treasures in all of Gandalia, no matter the cost."
"Good."
The word left Fafnir's mouth calmly.
Then everyone left the hall.
The massive doors closed behind them.
The ancient hall returned to its former silence.
Fafnir sat upon his throne once more.
His withered body remained completely still.
He raised his hand and looked at it.
Dry skin.
Protruding bones.
A body that seemed to belong to a man who had been dead for thousands of years.
Yet behind that frail body...
Resided an existence whose terrifying power was only beginning to confront the world it had inherited.
Fafnir closed his eyes.
He entered a state of meditation.
He was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the treasures.
If he could heal his injury...
Then restoring his strength would only be a matter of time.
After the Four Pillars Left
The moment the Four Pillars exited the ancient hall, they wasted no time.
They headed directly toward the headquarters of the Supreme Council of Humanity.
There was an order that had to be carried out.
An order that would completely change the position of humanity.
Within a short time, every powerful figure within the human race was summoned.
Kings.
Generals.
Elders.
Ministers.
And the most powerful cultivators.
The meeting hall became filled with individuals representing the highest authority of humanity.
Everyone knew the meeting was an emergency.
But no one knew why.
Until Valor stepped before them.
"It is time."
Everyone looked at him attentively.
Then he said:
"We will issue an absolute decree in the name of the Supreme Council of Humanity."
Whispers spread throughout the hall.
Valor continued:
"Every human currently outside the continent of Zeta must return to the continent within one month."
Silence descended.
Several people exchanged bewildered glances.
One of the elders asked:
"Every human?"
Valor answered:
"Yes."
Another asked:
"Even those living in the farthest continents?"
"Everyone."
"What about merchants?"
"Everyone."
"And families?"
"Everyone."
Valor's voice became firm.
"Anyone who exceeds the designated deadline..."
The entire hall fell silent.
"...will be considered a traitor to the human race."
The words carried tremendous weight.
Yet no one objected.
The authority of the Supreme Council of Humanity was absolute.
Afterward, messenger teams began moving.
The decree and its accompanying messages were dispatched throughout the continents of Gandalia.
To human cities.
Villages.
Colonies.
Border regions.
Everywhere humans lived...
The decree arrived.
Its message was clear:
All humans outside the continent of Zeta must return to the continent within one month.
Anyone who fails to return before the deadline expires will be deemed a traitor to the human race.
The news was shocking.
Such a decree had not been issued for thousands of years.
The other races immediately began asking questions.
Why now?
Why did humanity want to gather all of its people on a single continent?
What had happened?
And what was humanity planning?
They had no answers.
But they all knew one thing.
Something had changed.
The Vampire Continent
On the continent of the vampires...
The sky was covered by dark crimson clouds.
Black towers rose above a massive city immersed in darkness.
At the center of the city stood the royal palace.
It was an enormous and imposing structure.
Inside the throne hall...
The Vampire King sat upon his throne.
Surrounding him were some of the oldest and most powerful vampires.
They were discussing the human decree.
One of the ancient vampires spoke:
"This is truly strange."
Everyone turned their eyes toward him.
He continued:
"Why would humanity suddenly issue a decree forcing every human outside their continent to return within a single month?"
Another vampire said:
"I do not believe this decision was made without reason."
His eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps they are planning something."
A third said:
"Or perhaps something serious happened that forced them to take such a measure."
The Vampire King remained silent.
He listened to his subordinates without interrupting.
After a few moments...
He raised his head.
"Did our spies report any unusual events occurring on the human continent?"
One of the officials bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The King said:
"Speak."
The official replied:
"They reported that the sky above the human Sovereignty Palace suddenly became covered in black clouds."
The expressions of several people changed.
He continued:
"Then red lightning appeared in the sky."
He paused.
"And afterward..."
He swallowed.
"A terrifying aura erupted from the palace."
Silence filled the throne hall.
The King asked:
"An aura?"
"Yes."
"Did they identify its source?"
The official shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty."
"The owner of the aura never appeared."
The King remained silent.
His mind was attempting to connect the events.
Black clouds.
Red lightning.
A terrifying aura.
Then...
A decree forcing all humans to return to the continent of Zeta.
None of it was normal.
The King finally spoke:
"Watch the humans."
Then he added sternly:
"Monitor their every movement."
"Anything unusual..."
He raised his eyes.
"Report it to me immediately."
Everyone bowed.
"Your command, Your Majesty."
Yet concern remained in their eyes.
No one knew what humanity was preparing for.
The Elven Kingdom
Meanwhile, in the Elven Kingdom...
The scene was much the same.
Inside the royal palace surrounded by ancient forests, the Elven Queen held an emergency meeting.
A group of senior officials and warriors had gathered around her.
The news coming from humanity had clearly caused concern.
One of the women said:
"My Queen, we have received the latest reports."
The Queen raised her eyes.
"Speak."
The woman said:
"Humanity has issued a decree ordering every human outside the continent of Zeta to return there within one month."
Silence descended.
Another woman said:
"This is unusual."
Then she added:
"Why would they gather their people in such a manner?"
The Queen did not answer immediately.
She gazed through the window toward the sky.
Then she said in an ominous voice:
"This does not bode well."
The women looked at her.
She continued:
"I feel..."
She paused for a moment.
"...that a terrible catastrophe will shake the world in the future."
The women's faces paled.
One of the warriors asked:
"A catastrophe?"
The Queen slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Then she added:
"I do not know what is happening."
"But something is wrong."
Silence filled the chamber.
The Queen did not know the truth.
She did not know that the man the world believed had died five thousand years ago...
had already returned.
Across Gandalia
These meetings were not limited to the vampires and elves.
Throughout Gandalia...
The news began to spread.
Emergency meetings.
Secret reports.
Spies transmitting information.
And rulers desperately trying to understand what was happening.
In the Beast Kingdoms, kings and generals began discussing the human decree.
Among the werewolf tribes, elders began wondering about the reason behind this sudden decision.
As for the angels...
Their highest leaders gathered to discuss the reports transmitted by their spies.
And in the demonic territories...
The Seven Demon Kings assembled.
They sat around a massive table in a dark chamber.
Everyone remained silent.
Then one of the Demon Kings spoke:
"The humans are hiding something."
Another said:
"Without a doubt."
A third raised his eyes.
"The question is..."
"What are they hiding?"
No one answered.
Because the only answer they could think of...
was frightening.
Something was happening within humanity.
Something they could not understand.
And somewhere inside the Sovereignty Palace...
An old, withered man sat upon a black throne.
His eyes were closed.
His body remained motionless.
He was waiting for the treasures that would help him regain his strength.
While the entire world...
was beginning to sense that something tremendous was approaching.
Something whose true nature no one knew yet.