Sulla’s voice was firm and powerful, each word heavy and clear.

"The military’s position is simple—we will support you with everything we have, no matter the cost!"

Aiden’s hand, which was holding the teacup, paused slightly. His deep eyes finally lifted and met Sulla’s aggressive stare.

"The danger of the Ancient Battlefield is far beyond any layer of the Abyss you have seen so far."

Sulla did not waste time with small talk. He went straight to the point, his tone carrying the strict efficiency of the military.

"The military has already secretly set up the highest-level support point for you on the outer edge of the Ancient Battlefield."

"A one-way high-speed teleportation array connected to the Sovereign City defense line has been fully charged. It can be activated for you at any time."

At this point, Sulla suddenly waved his hand.

A storage ring giving off silver waves of spatial law landed accurately on the tea table in front of Aiden.

"Inside are the best Mythic Rank defensive items from the military armory, as well as top-grade supplies enough to support a small battle."

"As long as you can repair the Golden Great Wall, you can take whatever you want from the Great Shaw Empire’s military resources!"

Looking at the spatial ring on the table, a slight change finally appeared in Aiden’s eyes.

At a time when the major forces were fighting among themselves and the Evil Demons Guild was secretly infiltrating everywhere, the military’s open and complete support carried enormous weight.

"What do you want?"

Aiden put down his teacup. His fingertips lightly tapped the table, making a clear sound.

Sulla took a deep breath. On his iron-hard face, a rare look of almost fanatical hope appeared.

"The military hopes that you can become the true guardian god of the Great Shaw Empire!"

Those words exploded in the living room like thunder. Even the surrounding space faintly stirred with waves of magic power.

A faint golden flame flickered in Aiden’s eyes as he stared straight into Sulla’s soul.

"Is this the military’s plan, or is it your personal wish, Sulla?"

Facing that gaze that seemed to pierce directly into his soul, Sulla did not back down at all. He met Aiden’s eyes openly.

"It is the joint decision of all the military generals, and it is also the greatest hope of my life!"

"The Great Shaw Empire has been trapped and pressured from all sides for too long."

"Outside, the Abyss Demon Gods are watching us like hungry wolves. Inside, the Evil Demons Guild is rotting the foundation of the nation like a cancer."

"The White City has disappeared. The Golden Great Wall has cracked. The whole empire is on the edge of collapse!"

Sulla suddenly clenched his fists. His bones made a sharp cracking sound.

"The Great Shaw Empire does not need more political compromise. The Great Shaw Empire needs an absolute powerhouse who can crush every threat and cut down the thrones of the Demon Gods!"

"We need you, Aiden!"

The hall fell into a brief dead silence.

Aiden quietly looked at the iron-blooded soldier in front of him. Then he slowly reached out and took the spatial ring on the table into his palm.

"I will support the backbone of the Great Shaw Empire."

"And I will not fail the military’s expectations."

There was no long oath, only those two simple sentences. Yet they carried a supreme and overwhelming authority, as if they could suppress the ages.

A sharp, bright light flashed in Sulla’s cold, hard eyes.

"Good!"

Sulla suddenly stood at attention and gave Aiden a perfectly standard and solemn military salute of the Great Shaw Empire.

Then, without wasting another second, he turned and strode toward the door.

But just as he was about to step out of the villa, Sulla suddenly stopped.

He did not turn back. He only spoke in an extremely serious and cold voice.

"Aiden, be very careful of those rats hiding in the gutter—the Evil Demons Guild."

"Their ability to infiltrate is far more terrifying than you think."

"It is very possible that they have already placed the most deadly spy by your side."

After saying that, Sulla disappeared into the blazing sunlight like a sharp sword.

Aiden sat on the sofa. A layer of icy coldness instantly gathered in his eyes.

"A spy by my side..."

Aiden’s lips curved into a cold smile. The temperature around him suddenly dropped to freezing point.

"Boom!"

At that moment, a ball of dark red magical flame exploded in the shadows of the living room.

Cheryl’s small figure, filled with violent killing intent, silently walked out from the darkness.

Her ruby-like eyes flashed with dangerous caution and doubt.

"Aiden, is that man from the military using you as a weapon?"

Cheryl walked to Aiden’s side, making no effort to hide her hostility toward the forces of the Great Shaw Empire.

"They are clearly using you, sending you to risk your life in the Ancient Battlefield!"

Hearing Cheryl’s angry words, full of killing intent and protectiveness, the coldness around Aiden instantly faded.

He raised his hand and gently rubbed Cheryl’s smooth black hair.

"Cheryl, you don’t understand soldiers."

Aiden turned his head. His deep eyes looked through the floor-to-ceiling window and toward the cloudless sky.

"In this mad era, where the myriad races rank has invaded and data has merged with reality, politicians may scheme and calculate for their own interests."

"But the people in the military are different. Their blades will always point toward foreign enemies."

Aiden stood up. The vast aura of a Legendary Rank mage burst out from his body like a god looking down on the world.

"They truly want to protect this Earth and its lands."

"That alone is beyond doubt!"

...

By evening, the setting sun was as red as blood, painting the sky above the Sovereign City in a shocking dark red.

A palace maid wearing light armor carved with royal runes hurried into Aiden’s villa, holding an imperial order that shone with golden light.

"Lord Aiden, Her Majesty the Empress has issued an order. She specially invites you to enter the palace tonight and attend the royal banquet!"

The palace maid dropped to one knee and raised the order high with both hands. Her voice was filled with deep respect and awe.

Aiden sat on the sofa and did not even stand up. He only reached out and grabbed at the air.

"Buzz!"

An invisible and powerful wave of magic spread out. The scroll turned into a streak of golden light and instantly landed firmly in his palm.

He glanced at the bold, flowing handwriting on the imperial order, then gave a calm nod.

"I understand."

As soon as he finished speaking, a ball of dark red magical flame suddenly lit up in the corner of the living room.

Cheryl’s small figure stepped out from the shadows. Her ruby-like eyes locked tightly onto the palace maid. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Wherever Aiden goes, I go. I’m going too!"

As her voice rang out, the terrifying killing intent of a battle Miko swept out like a storm.

The temperature in the living room rose sharply in an instant. Faint rumbling sounds of exploding magic echoed in the air.

The palace maid felt as if she had fallen into an ice pit. The violent killing intent pressed down on her so hard that she could barely breathe.

"T-This Lord... Her Majesty said that tonight’s banquet is only for Lord Aiden."

The palace maid forced herself to answer, her voice shaking. Cold sweat had already soaked her back.

"What did you say?!"

Cheryl instantly flared up. A dark red light burst in her eyes, as if she would tear the palace maid in front of her to pieces in the next second.

"Cheryl, be quiet."

Aiden raised his eyes slightly and spoke in a calm, low voice.

But his words exploded through the living room like the command of a god.

The battle Miko magic power that had been strong enough to burn everything was instantly suppressed by that single sentence and vanished without a trace.

The fierce aura around Cheryl disappeared at once. She pouted, looking wronged.

"Aiden, that Empress must be up to no good..."

Aiden stood up and gently rubbed her smooth black hair.

"The palace has too many rules. You would only be bored if you went."

"Be good and wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon."

Hearing Aiden’s firm but gentle promise, Cheryl finally nodded unwillingly.

She gave a cold snort, then turned into a ball of dark red flame again and melted into the shadows.

Night fully fell over the imperial palace of the Great Shaw Empire.

High above the sky, the ultimate defensive magic array, formed by ninety-nine phantoms of the Golden Dragon of National Destiny, was giving off a vast divine Rank pressure like an endless sea.

This was the strongest foundation of the Great Shaw Empire, powerful enough to withstand a full-force attack from a divine powerhouse.

Escorted by a team of fully armed royal guards, Aiden stepped into the center of power that represented the highest authority of the human race.

Although he was only a level 80 Legendary Rank Magic Apprentice, the presence around him had long since risen above all living beings.

With every step he took, faint ripples of law spread across the stone tiles beneath his feet.

The aura of a ruler, forged in the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the Abyss, spread outward like an invisible storm.

Every royal guard along the way felt a chill in their heart. It was as if they were not escorting a man, but an ancient Demon God who could destroy the world at any moment.

To Aiden’s surprise, he was not taken to the grand and golden Taihe Hall.

Instead, the palace maid leading the way brought him straight to the deepest part of the imperial garden.

They passed through layers of rare flowers and strange plants, all protected by high-level magic formations. Then, a quiet pavilion by a clear lake appeared before Aiden’s eyes.

"Lord Aiden, Her Majesty is waiting for you inside. I will take my leave. "

The maid bowed deeply, then quickly stepped back, looking as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

Aiden took a step forward and pushed open the carved wooden door of the pavilion.

Inside the spacious pavilion, there was no music, no flattering officials, and not even a single servant.

There was only a high-level magic lamp, giving off a soft glow as it swayed gently in the night breeze.

And in the dim light, a beautiful figure sat quietly before a rosewood table.

It was Eira, the Empress of the Great Shaw Empire.

But at this moment, even Aiden’s all-seeing eyes narrowed slightly.

She was not wearing the Nine-Dragon Imperial Robe, the symbol of supreme power. Nor was she wearing the heavy and majestic Imperial Celestial Crown.

She wore only a simple white silk dress. Her long hair, smooth like a waterfall, had no ornaments and fell loosely over her slender shoulders.

Without the cold armor of an emperor and the overwhelming dignity of the throne, Eira was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her flawless beauty was stunning, yet within it there was a faint weakness and weariness that made one feel a quiet ache in the heart.