WebNovels

Chapter 311 - Era Of Humans

"Strange… so strange…" thought a very tall man clad in full-body knight armor, a heavy sword swaying at his waist with each step. Every movement of his boots echoed with the sound of clanking iron, drawing attention no matter how hard he tried to walk casually.

He was none other than the Penetrator. After a long journey on foot, he had finally crossed the border from the Anastasia Kingdom into the Kingdom of Awakeneds.

It was broad daylight. The streets were alive with activity—small shopkeepers calling out to customers, carriage drivers shouting prices, workers unloading crates—but unlike in other kingdoms, almost every single person he passed radiated power. The aura of awakened individuals filled the air like an invisible pressure.

The entire world knew why this place was called the Kingdom of Awakeneds. Citizenship here was reserved only for those who had awakened. Ordinary humans could not live here freely. Unless one served in the military, worked as a police officer, or held a government post, it was impossible to buy property or live here for more than forty years. That was the strict law of the land.

Yet despite this, many foreigners still came. The wages were high, even the smallest shops thrived, and the demand for workers never ended. People rented homes, opened stores, earned profits, and sent money back to their families. Job seekers from other kingdoms also came in hopes of better lives.

Even so, spotting an unawakened person here was rarer than spotting an awakened one. Almost everyone on the streets held some kind of power.

But Penetrator didn't care for these details. He looked around with quiet confusion, his sharp gaze sweeping across the busy street. Wherever his eyes landed, people flinched, quickly looking away as if terrified. The clinking of his armor and his overwhelming presence made him stand out like a war machine walking among civilians.

"So many humans… eight dwarves… three beastmen… and even one elf, Rare as always," he muttered in his thoughts, observing the variety of races walking side by side. The sight was strange but also somewhat refreshing.

But then his chest tightened with unease. Something felt off. Something was missing.

His gaze swept the crowd again. He counted once more, carefully observing the mix of races. Humans, dwarves, beastmen, even the elf. But not a single trace of horns, tails, or fiendish features.

"Where are the demons? What happened to them?"

The memory of that night returned to him—when Elaras had betrayed the academy, he had seen demons among the chaos. Back then, he thought little of it. Other than that he never saw any demons, His first guess was because he was living inside forest, Thus encountering a demon was rare.

But now, standing in the heart of the one of the most crowded and diverse kingdom in the world, to not see a single demon? It felt… unnatural.

Penetrator walked toward a small flower stall. The shop owner, a thin man with kind eyes, looked up nervously as the tall knight in heavy armor bent down, lowering his head to match the man's height.

"Where are the demons?" Penetrator asked in a low, steady voice.

The shopkeeper froze. His hands trembled, and sweat instantly rolled down his forehead. Just the word "demon" had made his face pale.

Penetrator tilted his head and gently placed his armored hand on the man's trembling wrist. "So, you're actually a demon," he sighed softly. "You could have just told me instead of hiding."

The man's eyes went wide in shock. He stumbled backward, his lips quivering. "Y–You… how do you know?"

Before Penetrator could answer, the voices of people around them erupted like wildfire.

"A demon! There's a demon here!"

The shout spread through the street like thunder. Fear turned to anger in an instant. With so many awakened people around, there was no need for guards or police. The crowd surged toward the stall.

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth. "Damn it!" His body shuddered as his disguise broke apart. His skin turned dark red, his eyes glowed like burning coals, two sharp horns pushed through his forehead, and his nails stretched into claws.

"You ruined everything! Years of blending in… gone!" he screamed, his voice filled with rage. He swung his massive claw, aiming to shred Penetrator apart.

The claw slashed through the air, creating a shockwave so violent that it tore through two nearby houses, slicing them apart like thin paper.

But when the dust cleared, the demon froze. His wrist was caught, held effortlessly in Penetrator's iron grip. The knight hadn't moved an inch, not even scratched.

"He blocked it?!" the demon muttered in disbelief.

Penetrator looked at him calmly, his voice low. "Why are you attacking me? What did I do?"

But before the demon could answer, awakened fighters rushed in.

"Good job, mate! You held him long enough—now leave the rest to us!" one man shouted as yellow lightning crackled along his sword. He charged in, slashing with thunder.

Another leapt with a giant axe, while a woman thrust forward with her glowing spear.

Penetrator stepped back quietly, giving them space.

BAM! BOOM! CRASH!

The street echoed with violent clashes as dozens of awakened fighters unleashed their powers on the lone demon. The ground cracked, walls shook, and flames sparked as the battle raged.

Then came the sharp whistle of authority. "APD, clear the way!"

A tall woman in a police uniform charged in, a hammer the size of her body gripped tightly in her hands. With one swing, she smashed the demon's head into the ground, reducing it to a pool of blood and flesh.

But the demon regenerated with a scream, trying desperately to flee. Unfortunately for him, he was surrounded. Awakened fighters and APD officers swarmed him, striking again and again until his body gave up. Chains of light bound him tightly, sealing his movements.

Penetrator stood still in silence, his face hidden behind his helmet. Only his glowing green eyes were visible through the slit.

The officer with the hammer walked toward him, her breathing steady despite the fight. "I'm Ananta, Senior Officer of the APD," she said firmly, though her tone softened a little. "You did well exposing him. If not for you, who knows how long he would've lived among us. There must be other spies too. I hope we can root them all out."

She spoke in one breath, but Penetrator's mind worked slowly. "Say it slower," he thought to himself, confused by how fast she spoke. Outwardly, he only gave a silent nod.

Ananta studied him carefully. She couldn't sense his aura, but the pressure of his presence alone was enough to make her spine tingle. This man was no ordinary traveler.

"Did you come here for an important reason?" she asked cautiously. "Or are you an envoy sent from another kingdom?"

Penetrator answered without hesitation. "An important mission." His voice was steady, he knew—reclaiming his lost memories was the mission that mattered most.

Ananta nodded slowly, hiding the unease in her chest. "Then you should meet our queen, Maddie Madone. Perhaps she can help you."

She hadn't offered this out of kindness alone. She was wary of him. If he truly carried good intentions, he would not refuse the queen's audience. If he refused, she would report him, and others would know how to handle it.

Penetrator processed her words in silence, his green eyes flickering faintly behind the helm. After a long pause, he gave a small nod. "Okay."

----------

Meanwhile, in the Anastasia Kingdom, news about Maruti was spreading like wildfire. One headline after another appeared across the land.

The Kingdom of Church had officially announced her as the "Blessed of Seraphine." Soon after, people discovered details about her personal life—how she had secretly opened many NGOs and charity funds for the poor and orphans, how she had quietly helped countless people without ever revealing her name.

Her popularity exploded. Almost everyone in the kingdom had at least heard her name if not seen her in person. To many, she had already become a symbol, a brand, and even more—an icon of faith.

Today, the cathedral was packed to the brim. A huge crowd had gathered, waiting with excitement to see Maruti and hear her preaching. The air was buzzing with voices, prayers, and endless anticipation.

Finally, the stage curtains opened. A young woman with short reddish-brown hair walked forward, dressed in a black–white priestess's costume. Behind her head glowed a shining halo of light, giving her the image of a deity descending upon mortals. It was the effect of her essence stone—Halo of Light. When activated, it created a divine-looking halo above the user's head and magnified their aura, making them appear holy, majestic, and untouchable.

Her bare feet touched the stage lightly as she opened her yellowish golden eyes. In that moment, the crowd erupted into loud cheers, their voices echoing through the entire cathedral. To them, it was like witnessing a goddess.

"It still feels unreal… never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be wearing a nun's outfit," Maruti thought, her lips twitching slightly. But she quickly smoothed her expression and hid her true feelings.

She let the Halo of Light fade away, the glowing ring dissolving into nothingness. Behind her, several other nuns stood respectfully like attendants. Among them was Calista, the former head priestess who had preached here every day before Maruti arrived.

Calista smiled on the surface, but inside, her thoughts were burning. "Why did Mother force me to hand over my position to this idiot?" Still, she stayed composed, her lips curved into a graceful smile, though her heart held only annoyance.

Maruti began by greeting the people warmly and answering their questions.

A young girl in the crowd stood up nervously and raised her hand. "Can you tell me when my marriage will happen?"

Maruti walked toward the edge of the stage and looked at the girl's outstretched hand. She gently closed her eyes, focusing for a moment, then spoke with confidence. "You have a high chance of getting married in about three months."

The crowd clapped and whispered in admiration. What they didn't know was that Maruti had used divination. Over the past days, she had practiced it so much that she was now close to being a professional. With her natural affinity for the light element, such abilities came easier to her than to most.

Of course, not all the miracles were real. Many times, actors had been planted among the crowd—people pretending to be sick, injured, or hopeless. Maruti would "heal" or "guide" them, gaining even more trust and respect from everyone present. The audience believed every word, every act.

As she stepped back into her place, Maruti's lips curled into a faint smirk that no one noticed. "These superstitious people are too easy to fool. At this rate, I might not even need actors."

Soon, Maruti began her preaching. Her voice was calm at first as she told simple tales about Goddess Seraphine—stories of her sacrifices, her miracles, and her heroic deeds that inspired countless generations. Between the tales, she shared her own experience, speaking of how she had first come to believe in the goddess, making the crowd feel like they were sharing in her personal journey.

In her hands was a harp. She gently plucked its strings as she spoke, the soft melodies weaving into her words. The sound carried across the cathedral, making her voice more moving and the stories more alive. Time passed slowly, and the crowd listened without blinking, as if enchanted. After a few hours, the atmosphere grew heavier—it was time for the most important part.

Maruti closed her eyes. Her fingers pressed against the harp strings, stretching them until a sharp, sorrowful tune echoed.

"Black—once noble, pure, and bright,

A mirror of truth in the calm of night.

But alas… one man's sin, a cursed decree,

Turned it to shame and dark misery."

Her voice trembled with pain, filled with emotion so raw that the audience felt it strike deep into their hearts.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and scanned the audience. Her gaze was sharp and commanding as her words cut through the silence.

"Many of you are questioning why I called black divine. Some even tried to ruin my name with those words. But those who truly read the article of my interview… they know. It was always the truth. We simply chose to blind ourselves because it was easier for our hearts to accept."

Her authoritative tone sent a shiver down the hall. The cathedral fell into complete silence.

"Think carefully," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "The Demon King had black hair. In his era, demons ruled the world. Entire kingdoms fell beneath his command. Why? Because of one black-haired man!"

"But the moment that one black-haired man was defeated, the entire demon era ended. Two hundred years have passed since then—yet no other demon king has risen, no one has ever reached his power. Why? Because the true strength was not the Demon King's alone. The true strength lies in black itself."

She spread her arms, her voice now burning with passion.

"Black is not a symbol of destruction. It is a symbol of supremacy, of leadership, of power that guides the world forward!"

Her eyes narrowed as she turned to the back of the hall. Everyone followed her gaze. From the shadows, a girl stepped forward slowly. Esdeath. Her long black hair flowed behind her, her crimson-red eyes glimmering like blood in the sunlight. The crowd instantly fell tense, many shifting uncomfortably in their seats. A few even gasped.

But before fear could take root, Maruti walked gracefully toward Esdeath. Without hesitation, she reached out and held Esdeath's hand in front of everyone. The touch was deliberate, confident, unshaken.

"A black-haired human girl…" Maruti said softly at first, then her voice rose so all could hear. "Do you understand what this means?"

The crowd was frozen, whispers clashing with silence.

"This," Maruti continued firmly, "is the symbol of humanity's rise. Of humans as the most versatile, most adaptive, and most unstoppable species."

She lifted Esdeath's hand high into the air, her own voice thundering with pride.

"This is the era of humans!"

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