The rise of a legendary warlock

While the other races in the infinity world were diligently preparing for their impending mission, the outside world buzzed with tension and uncertainty.

Humbility City, the stronghold of the human race, harbored an ancient castle that stood as a testament to time's passage. The castle's exterior comprised concrete-like blocks, some covered in a rust-like substance. Weathered it may seem, but this 950,000-year-old fortress possessed an uncanny resilience. Even the most formidable beings in this world would struggle to bring it to ruin.

Within the castle's grandeur was a throne room, and within that throne room stood only one man, gazing at a bronze-colored portal that was gradually shrinking in size.

The man's stillness was akin to that of an automaton with depleted batteries. Only when the portal sealed itself did he exhale a heavy sigh, pivoting to reveal his striking features.

Tall and muscular, his brows were sharp, and his eyes were a deep, intense brown. Black hair adorned his head, immaculately combed, framing a face that could easily charm any woman's heart.

His aura emanated calmness, neutrality, pride, a hint of arrogance, and the undeniable presence of a leader.

After the portal's closure, he strode toward a magnificent chair set apart from the room's entrance.

The chair appeared as if plucked from scenes in ancient kingdom tales, cast in pure gold, embellished with intricate golden motifs.

Arriving at the throne chair, he paused to study it briefly. The chair seemed to shimmer for a fleeting moment before returning to its usual appearance. Twenty minutes elapsed before a knock echoed at the entrance to the throne room.

"I am here with a report from the commander. May I come in?" The voice on the other side of the door asked, bearing a tone laced with respect.

"You may enter," the king responded, his voice maintaining an unusual, almost disconcerting, tranquility.

The door opened, revealing a guard clad in armor resembling that of a warrior. Yet, this guard's armor was different, shimmering in gold, and his aura exuded an intensity surpassing the silver-clad sentinels stationed elsewhere. He was an elite.

Elites in this realm fell into two distinct categories. The first category consisted of those who had risen from the ranks of silver-clad guards. These individuals often found themselves in skirmishes and missions, safeguarding valuable assets or combating moderate to boss-level monsters. To qualify as "Golden Knights," they had to accumulate extensive combat experience, honor, and honors. (A/N: Although various other classes existed, such as Golden Mage or Golden Archer, the term "Golden Knight" typically denoted those of the Warrior class, to avoid confusion later.)

The second category, known as "Auxiliary" or "Unique" Golden Knights, owed their distinctiveness to their exclusive service to the king. They held no loyalty to the king's family, friends, queen, children, or any other individuals. Only the king retained control over this elite unit. They operated covertly, rarely appearing in public unless their presence became indispensable.

In terms of training, dedication, and raw strength, the second category, the Auxiliary or Unique Golden Knights, invariably held the upper hand.

The knight now kneeling before the king belonged to the first category of elite guards. He bent one knee and lowered his head, focusing on the ground before him.

"Rise," the king commanded, his tone unwavering.

The knight recognized the king's eerily calm demeanor as a telltale sign of concealed anger. He wasted no time relaying his report, "We have confirmed that all the inhabitants of this city and other cities under our jurisdiction have entered the Infinity World. The remaining individuals consist of a few silver guards, while the rest have been transformed into Golden Guards, ready for the impending arrival of the enemy. We were unable to approximate the number of demons, as survivors were too terror-stricken to provide accurate accounts. Nevertheless, we deduced that approximately three million demons have converged upon our city. Based on our scouts' tally, we estimate we were able to account for up to 700,000 of them before they were obliterated." Here, the knight hesitated briefly, took a deep breath, and continued, stammering slightly , "Th-the demons... They have reached the Monoliga Forest."

The king wrestled to contain his wrath, his soul pressure surging despite his attempts to suppress it. Even a king who cherished his people like family could not remain untouched upon learning that one of his minor cities lay in ruins. Even those monarchs who prioritized their own interests would not be pleased to discover that a minor city, home to nearly 30 million civilians, had been devastated, with countless valuable structures reduced to rubble.

The knight pressed on, "The city preceding the Monoliga Forest, Lubrica City, managed to rescue approximately 30,000 survivors. Among them, 5,000 suffered severe injuries. Of those 5,000, only 3,000 are expected to recover, while 1,000 are on the precipice of death, and the remaining 1,000 will bear permanent grade injuries. This leaves the remaining civilian population at 29,970,000 individuals, with some having fled the city and many others now either deceased or unaccounted for."

The king's aura teetered on the brink of breaking free, his eyes bloodshot, and only a thin thread of humanity held back his unrestrained fury. He sensed another presence in the room.

The knight, on the verge of collapse, managed to regain his composure and withstand the pressure that had threatened to crush him. The king's resonant voice broke the silence, declaring, "You may depart and inform the troop commander to execute the plan as soon as the enemy reaches the heart of the Monoliga Forest."

"As you command," the knight replied, rising and exiting the throne room with a steadier gait.

After a few minutes, the king regained his composure, stood up, and disappeared in a blur, leaving the throne room empty. Yet, the room was far from silent; it bore witness to the weighty decisions and harrowing realities of the outside world.