{"id":3560,"date":"2025-10-08T08:51:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T08:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3560"},"modified":"2025-10-08T08:51:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T08:51:12","slug":"epilogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3560","title":{"rendered":"EPILOGUE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE EMPEROR\u2019S CONQUEST<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re awake, aren\u2019t you, Ludora?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A beautiful woman with blue hair spoke to the man seated in his wheelchair and dressed in all his magnificence. She was the Marshal herself, the woman who held leadership in the Empire\u2019s main chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am,\u201d Ludora responded. \u201cHow did the conference go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going on the offensive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrilliant. Gadora was against it, wasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was. That old man\u2019s a realist, after all. Not even otherworlder weapons can resist a True Dragon. That much is obvious. There\u2019s no way anyone would fail to notice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHee-hee-hee\u2026 I\u2019m sure, I\u2019m sure. But we must stage this campaign nonetheless. I must show the world that I am king.\u201d He then added in a whisper, \u201cThat is my agreement with Guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ludora smiled warmly, his voice taking on a different tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, Velgrynd, from your perspective, how do you think things will unfold this time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Velgrynd. The name of a True Dragon, one of only four in the world. A dragon crimson red in color, she symbolized flames in all their scorching glory. She was older than Veldora the Storm Dragon and just as immortal. Her name: Velgrynd the Flame Dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was the only one in this world who would bear that name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will win,\u201d she replied to Ludora. \u201cWe\u2019re guaranteed to win. We\u2019ll expel the dwarves from their burrows, we\u2019ll smash the pride of the newborn demon lord, we\u2019ll open the eyes of my indolent dullard of a brother\u2026and we\u2019ll make Guy see that the ruler of the world is you<\/em>, Ludora!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt completely at ease being called that\u2014for she was the one, the only Velgrynd. Velgrynd the Flame Dragon, one of the all-powerful True Dragons. And Emperor Ludora was an intimate companion of hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will? Splendid news. Do you think your younger brother will show up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Ludora,\u201d she replied without a moment\u2019s thought. \u201cHe will. He always did<\/em> enjoy a party. But\u2026despite being unsealed, he still doesn\u2019t quite seem like himself to me. We haven\u2019t detected any magic storms, the kind of violent gales he used to summon in his rage\u2026and the aura we could\u2019ve detected from anywhere on the earth has vanished without a trace. Perhaps he\u2019s not fully revived yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Then perhaps we can defeat him with my force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat would be quite a sight to see. First that demon lord gets full of himself taming my idiot brother\u2014and then<\/em> he deceives my beloved niece. I\u2019d love for him to experience a little hardship for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pair exchanged a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Ludora and Velgrynd, the results of this operation hardly mattered. This was just a bet\u2014a game with Guy over who would rule the world. The game had no complex rules. Use your pawns to conquer the opponent\u2019s territory, and you win. The world was the game board, and the pawns were monsters and humankind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the start of the game, Guy held the monster and magic-born pawns, while Ludora had just a part of humanity. But these had changed hands many times, over many, many years, and now both sides were in a chaotic state. Under what rules there were, it was perfectly legal to seize your opponent\u2019s pawns\u2014and to both sides, the most powerful pawns of all were the True Dragons, their partners in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only the pawns could be moved around; that was the one strict rule. By the same token, as long as Guy and Ludora didn\u2019t directly confront each other, anything else was allowed. If the world was destroyed, of course, that was game over, and neither side wanted that. So they went a little easy on each other, ensuring that never happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now there were some wild cards to this game\u2014Veldora, the last True Dragon in play, and the Primal Demons. These wild cards were outside the realm of the game, and Guy and Ludora were free to either recruit or antagonize them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demon lord Leon, Guy\u2019s cooperative pawn at the moment, was being threatened by Jaune in his territory. Violet was active in the West, and any false moves could lead to untold damage. Blanc, of course, was stationed in the East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These demons boasted incredible powers, wholly exempt from the concept of death. It wasn\u2019t impossible to eradicate them at the root, but it would require careful, intricate preparations\u2014but instead of paying all those sacrifices, it was best to negotiate and win them over to your side. That, Ludora and Velgrynd believed, was the most advisable move to make against Guy in this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Velgrynd made it a fight, she could destroy Blanc, but the damage to the region would be unimaginable. It wasn\u2019t a realistic option, they concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, and the Western Nations were now starting to move on their own logic\u2014another miscalculation. Luminus, a local god born in the West, had somehow grown herself a monotheistic religion. With her firm rule, she had managed to make the people of the West a single political entity. They knew Luminus was actually a demon lord, but now that her religion had taken hold, it was too late to do anything. By the time Ludora placed the East under his complete control, the West had also united itself. Thus, the game between Guy and Ludora fell into a stalemate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Heroes Chronoa and Granville made it so hard to attack the West. Quite a pain, wasn\u2019t it? If they hadn\u2019t shown up, I\u2019m sure you would have won by now,\u201d said Velgrynd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, not necessarily. I\u2019m sure Veldanava put those obstacles down on my road to conquest\u2014a trial, if you will. He always did love his schemes like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe certainly did. My elder brother always was a nuisance\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They smiled at this moment of nostalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut now the time has come. All the pawns are on the board, and my moment of victory is near.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s finally time to put Guy and my sister Velzard in check, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeh-heh\u2026 Guy is aiming for this, no doubt. He wants you and Veldora to fight, so he can catch us when we\u2019re open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, as much as it irks me. If only I were there, I would have taken care of Veldora back then, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was referring to the Empire\u2019s previous failed campaign. If Velgrynd had come out with the imperial force, not even Veldora would have been a threat\u2014but if they chose to do that, Guy would\u2019ve likely profited from the fallout. Whenever you moved a pawn as all-powerful as a True Dragon, you needed to make every preparation possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now provided an excellent opportunity. The secret agents Ludora planted worldwide had given him all sorts of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt took a long time,\u201d said Ludora, \u201cbut it was worth the wait, wasn\u2019t it? Our greatest obstacle to conquering the Empire is now gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luminus, the one true god, was actually Luminus the demon lord. And now that she was revealed, they could predict her fighting power. The demon lord who served Luminus was also gone now, as was the Seven Days Clergy. And what\u2019s more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat thorn in our side, Granville, is on his way to the afterlife\u2026and now there are far fewer threats to us in the West.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. All the obstacles to my conquest have fallen, without me having to lift a finger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, they both firmly believed, was a divine sign that only Ludora deserved to stand at the peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, Ludora, how are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo problems at all. My powers of Armageddon are available at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armageddon was the ultimate skill in Ludora\u2019s possession. It could only be invoked under painstaking conditions, and once triggered, it lay dormant for a long, long time. The only reason the Empire hadn\u2019t moved until now was that Ludora could do nothing but wait, wait, wait until Armageddon was usable once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to their patience, Granville\u2014the greatest obstacle in the way\u2014was gone. It was, in a way, understandable that Ludora was so sure of victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guy, for that matter, had not fully taken control of the demon lords. Nobody would claim they were building much teamwork; each demon lord was pursuing their own path. Their influence ranged far and wide, but to Ludora, they were not a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis time, we\u2019ve got the overwhelming advantage, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we don\u2019t have much time, do we? I want to win over my stupid brother, even if I have to force the question. That gives us another measure against Guy. And if I can work things out with my sister Velzard, Raine and Mizeri cease to become a problem. So let me ask\u2014do you have your \u2018ruling\u2019 power?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing to worry about. If we can focus Veldora\u2019s mind on the battle, that provides the window for my Regalia Dominion to seize him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Velgrynd gave him a soft smile, framed by her cold beauty. \u201cOh? Then victory really is<\/em> close by.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course it is. Everything is moving as I outlined it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerfect, then. But I worry about your\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say it. This, too, is the natural way of things. One\u2019s body can be such an inconvenient thing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLudora\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I continue reincarnating and inheriting my own consciousness and memories, it wears down my soul over time. If I could enjoy a rest period like Gadora, things would be different\u2026but that is a luxury not afforded to me. If I tried that, my powers<\/em> would no doubt be sealed away again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Ludora\u2019s powers would be reset. He\u2019d be back at square one, unable to release them at once. And if he let that happen with every reincarnation, he\u2019d never have any hope of beating Guy. This time around, Ludora had waited patiently for his powers to attain complete form. They were all unleashed now, ready for anything\u2014but he had to severely strain himself to keep that up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this incarnation of Ludora had no concubines, not even an empress. Those were only for decoration in the Empire, yes, but it was still highly unusual. It meant that Ludora had not fathered a son\u2014he had no \u201cspare\u201d self to tap into. And not having a son meant his powers would remain intact. Ludora\u2019s reincarnations were unique; any son born from him would obtain all his powers and knowledge. It was a completely unbroken imperial line\u2014a son didn\u2019t inherit the crown so much as become<\/em> the true emperor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this generation had none. And the timing of his Armageddon skill was the cause. If Ludora passed his powers on to a son, the skill would be restricted until he achieved adulthood. The child wouldn\u2019t be able to hold back the recoil this overflow of power generated, something Ludora could do nothing about. Right then, in this generation, all the best conditions were in place. If he ignored this and reincarnated himself into a son, that would cause a delay of a decade or so, and he hated to see that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Velgrynd had another concern as well. After building up his power to its absolute limits, Ludora\u2019s mental fatigue was nearing the breaking point. He was sleeping in shorter and shorter intervals, his physical weariness a constant companion. His current state did nothing but accelerate the wear on his soul. Relief could be found if he gave his power to a son and delayed the launch of Armageddon\u2014but Ludora would never dare. The time was now, and he wanted to settle the score with Guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked on at Ludora, heartbroken. \u201cHow much time do you have left, Ludora\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to worry about that. I won\u2019t falter until after my rule over the world is complete\u2014I promise you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes\u2026 Yes, I\u2019m sure you would say that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to look so sad, Velgrynd. I will win this time. Win\u2014and end it all. So quit worrying and just watch as I pursue my conquest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Ludora smiled his arrogant smile\u2014the countenance of a ruler. A man walking the path of conquest until he ruled all. That was the way of Ludora, the Hero Emperor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sight firmed Velgrynd\u2019s resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes\u2026 Then allow me to bring down my rains of compassion. It has been far too long since I scattered my tranquil blessings of death. I will banish all those blocking your conquest to oblivion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wrapped Ludora in a gentle, caring embrace, and then they continued chatting to their hearts\u2019 content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the next day, a military force like none before in history set off from the Empire to Tempest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE EMPEROR\u2019S CONQUEST \u201cYou\u2019re awake, aren\u2019t you, Ludora?\u201d A beautiful woman with blue hair spoke to the man seated in his wheelchair and dressed in all his magnificence. She was the Marshal herself, the woman who held leadership in the Empire\u2019s main chamber. \u201cI am,\u201d Ludora responded. \u201cHow did the conference go?\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re going on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tak-berkategori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3561,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3560\/revisions\/3561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}