From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

The members of the Adley Royal Family turned ashen at once, their hearts had harbored the last hope of mounting a counterattack with the help of the Salvation Church; after all, if the mighty ones of the Salvation Church took action, it would be almost effortless to annihilate the Fischer family and the Romann family.

But now, their last hope had completely shattered.

Powerful as the Six Great True Gods Churches were, they still abided by the rules laid down by the Gods to this day.

Though they had already begun to intervene covertly, openly, without a justified and valid reason, the True Gods Church would not directly meddle in the various conflicts amongst the Extraordinary nobility.

In truth, that was to be expected.

Throughout the long history of ten thousand years, the major True Gods Churches had been directly manipulated through "Divine Oracles" and other means by numerous divinities, acting as their "limbs" in Claud World.

Therefore, mostly those who were unwilling to abide by the divine rules would be eliminated from the start, leaving the clergy who mostly possessed a certain level of faith.

Even after the complete departure of the Gods, some people's faith in their hearts would eventually deteriorate and corrupt, but, at least until today, that rule had not yet seen true and total "collapse".

The True Gods Churches were still forces that cared about face and rules.

Cardinal Albert looked down at everyone calmly from on high.

"Hurry up, if you don't choose who to leave with now, I will leave alone."

In the end, the members of the Adley Royal Family split into two factions, most willing to leave with Cardinal Albert, while a minority expressed their wish to stay.

"Good, now that you have made your choices, then come with me," Cardinal Albert said, nodding slightly, then stretched out his seemingly powerless hand and tapped in front of him, a series of ripples slowly emerging in the void before space itself was torn open.

On the other side, the blurred silhouettes of the Kennas, dubbed the "City of Thousands", "City of Stars", and the denizens walking continuously in the great cathedral became visible.

That was a true "Space Gate".

Cardinal Albert possessed the power of Bloodline to manipulate space, and as such, he had always been one of the most "free" individuals on the Siate Continent.

Then, with his other hand merely making a grasping motion, he instantly transported those who chose to leave with him to Kennas using an invisible force.

They disappeared just like that.

Only five members of the Adley Royal Family remained behind, looking at each other, some quickly regretting their decision, but they were unable to follow anymore.

The leading elder sighed, saying with a gaze filled with weariness,

"Let us wait for the final moment."

----

The rain fell fine and even upon the ancient and mottled ground, producing a crisp and lingering sound, like gentle footsteps progressing slowly along the river of history.

The sounds of horses' hooves, footsteps, and carriages mingled in the rain.

Darren, riding atop a black and red steed, reached for his pitch-black coat and gazed into the distance.

"We've finally arrived."

The Northern Kingdom Army had finally reached the outskirts of the Cyart Royal Capital; a sense of joy spontaneously welled up from the depths of many hearts, knowing that the war had finally come to its final moment.

They could now fully see the walls of the Royal Capital!

Under the caress of the soft rain, the city walls seemed enshrouded in a hazy and mystical veil.

The city walls soared into the clouds, becoming even more majestic against the curtain of rain, every stone telling stories of past glory and change.

Rainwater slowly trickled along the crevices of the walls, gathering into streams and murmuring down ancient drainage channels, leaving mottled marks, witnessing the Royal Capital's resilience through the storms of time.

Beyond the walls lay a vast land enriched by the light rain, fields, villages, and rivers appeared intermittently through the drizzle, like a finely detailed painting.

An army, symbolizing conquest and destruction, arrived abruptly near the Royal Capital, jarringly out of place in the painting.

Darren remained silent, still gazing at the city that symbolized the supreme power of Cyart.

It bore witness to over one hundred and seventy years of sunrises and sunsets, the coming and going of the seasons, embodying countless dreams and hopes, and had long become an eternal symbol of the nation.

Soon, it would belong to the Fischer family.

A complex wave of emotions surged in Darren's heart, a mix of victorious joy, a longing for power, and a yearning for the unknown challenges that lay ahead; the blend so intense it felt as if Blazing Fire ignited his chest, every drop of blood boiling within him.

"We're finally going to win!"

"That's amazing!"

"The Southern Adley Royal Family will pay a hefty price!"

Standing on this conquered land, the many Extraordinary Exponents within the army looked towards the distance, their eyes sparkling.

Every inch of Cyart had witnessed their bravery and wisdom, their names would be forever engraved in the nation's history, a sense of accomplishment flooding them, filling them with immense pride and satisfaction.

However, the feelings of Darren and great figures like Aldrich were not limited to mere joy over their victory.

They knew that conquest was just the beginning; the real challenges lay in governing this land, ensuring the people could live and work in peace, and rejuvenating Cyart with new vitality and vigor.

Moreover, in Darren's heart, there was also a desire to explore the unknown world; he longed to keep moving forward, conquering new lands, facing more challenges, and ultimately ensuring the Fischer family's name echoed through the heavens!

This longing attracted him like a magnet, compelling him to never stop, to always advance.

The barrier had no intention of rising from the start; the city gates were wide open.

Under the Royal Capital, the atmosphere was tense and solemn; although the drizzle had ceased, the air still thrummed with an indescribable sense of tension and anticipation as the gates of the Imperial City slowly opened with a heavy creak.

This scene signified the official surrender of the Royal Capital to Darren.
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On both sides of the gate, the once vigilant guards had now laid down their weapons, their faces etched with helplessness and resignation, their eyes filled with sorrow for their fallen homeland and anxiety for their uncertain future.

From within the gates, an elderly man in resplendent court attire slowly stepped out, his steps heavy, yet his eyes shone with an indomitable dignity.

He held the scepter that symbolized royal authority, representing the entire Imperial City in delivering the act of surrender to Darren.

At this moment, everyone held their breath deeply, the past glory and splendor of the Adley Royal Family seemingly condensed onto the act of surrender, becoming a part of ancient history.

As the ceremony of surrender proceeded, the residents of the Cyart Royal Capital also began to emerge from their homes, bowing their heads in mourning, looking up in contemplation, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.

Some wept for the loss of their homeland, while others prayed for the incoming peaceful life.

The disarmed Extraordinary nobility also came out from within the city.

Leading them, the elderly member of the Adley Royal Family lifted his head, fixing his gaze upon the approaching Duke Darren Fischer, and took a deep breath.

He bowed his head, as if suddenly stripped of all his dignity and spirit, and finally uttered the words he most reluctantly harbored in his heart.

"We swear to the Divine, unconditional surrender, complete obedience to all decisions of Her Majesty Queen Peggy..."