The soldiers, already exhausted and battered, could hardly believe what they were witnessing. The tyrannical and ruthless Emperor Arkanos stood before them, radiating holy power, his back marked with the insignia of the Goddess of Justice and Purity. Whispers began to spread among the ranks; doubt and awe could be heard in equal measure.
"Is this really the emperor? Has he changed?"
"He bears the mark of a Goddess… could it be real?"
"Impossible!" some whispered. "The Goddess must have made a mistake..."
Arkanos was well aware of their whispers. He couldn't afford to falter now. His every move, every word had to carry weight if he was to salvage the situation.
As the golden light from his body grew brighter, the soldiers' eyes, filled with fear and uncertainty, slowly turned to hope.
Seraphine Valebright, still stunned by the sheer force of the emperor's aura, hesitated before barking the orders for the troops to pull back.
"All units, retreat to the rear line! Fall back!"
Her armor clanged as she strode through the chaos, signaling the soldiers to move.
The knights, battered and exhausted, exchanged confused glances as they complied, many of them still casting worried looks toward the monstrous serpent that loomed ahead.
As they fell back, some noticed that their emperor, Arkanos Bloodbane, was moving in the opposite direction.
"Seraphine!" one knight shouted, his voice filled with shock. "The emperor is still behind us!"
Another spoke up as well, shock etched on his face.
"He's heading straight for the serpent! Has he been bewitched somehow?"
Seraphine clenched her jaw, suppressing the unease swirling inside her. She had to stay calm, had to trust that this was all part of Arkanos's plan, even if it seemed suicidal.
Turning to the questioning knights, she raised her voice over the sounds of their footsteps.
"It's by his orders!" she yelled. "The emperor plans to handle the serpent alone!"
Murmurs of disbelief and shock rippled through the ranks as they processed her words. Many hesitated, looking back at the towering figure of the emperor walking toward the beast.
"But—" one knight began, his voice trembling, "he can't survive on his own! That creature almost killed him before!"
Seraphine's eyes hardened, and she stepped forward. "He has been chosen by the Goddess of Justice and Purity."
"He carries her power now, and he will defeat the serpent."
There was a sudden silence as the knights heard her words. Some nodded, yet still didn't believe it. This was the evil tyrant emperor, one who had astronomically raised taxes and ruled with an iron fist, showing little regard for the common people.
His cruelty was infamous, and many had suffered under his reign. Yet now, here he was standing before them with the divine aura of the Goddess of Justice and Purity. It was impossible to believe.
Many of them doubted their own eyes—could a man like him really have been chosen? Had the Goddess chosen him by mistake, or was there more to the emperor than they had ever known?
Though some still harbored skepticism, the holy light radiating from Arkanos stirred a touch of hope in them. Perhaps, just perhaps, the emperor was not beyond redemption.
Others glanced back at Arkanos one last time before continuing their retreat. Despite their fears, they knew better than to disobey the emperor's command.
Seraphine turned her gaze back to Arkanos, his figure now glowing faintly with holy light as he approached the massive serpent, holy power radiating from him.
A part of her wished she could fight by his side, but she had to trust that the emperor—no, the man marked by the Goddess—could handle what lay ahead.
With one last breath, she called out again, urging her forces to keep moving. "To the rear! We will regroup and hold the line! The emperor fights for us all!"
"If it appears as though he needs us, we will immediately step in to intervene!"
As Arkanos strode toward the massive serpent, his eyes locked onto the writhing beast ahead, the system chimed in his thoughts.
[System Notification: Congratulations, Arkanos Bloodbane! By aligning yourself with the Goddess of Justice and Purity, you have unlocked new benefits.]
[Divine Boon: Sub-divine skills have been added to your skill list. These include 'Judgment's Wrath' and 'Holy Aura.']
The notification barely registered as he moved forward, but a small shift in his body made him aware of the divine power coursing through him.
It was foreign, yet intoxicating—righteous, yet paradoxically his. He could feel the small influence of the Goddess, her blessing pushing him to wield her justice in a world steeped in corruption.
But he had no time to reflect further. His focus returned to the battle at hand, and he needed clarity on the threat he was facing.
'I need Appraisal,' he thought, summoning the system once again.
[System: The skill 'Appraisal' is available in the shop for 5 points. Would you like to proceed with the purchase?]
'Proceed,' Arkanos responded.
[System: Purchase confirmed. Congratulations! You have obtained the skill 'Appraisal.']
Instantly, a surge of information flowed through his mind. The familiar yet unsettling sensation of power shifted in his mind as he activated the newly acquired skill with a single thought. His green eyes flashed momentarily as the appraisal function came to life.
Before him, a translucent green window materialized, filled with data on the colossal serpent that towered ahead.
___
[Monster Analysis:
Nythralis – Mythical Class Serpent]
Race: Ancient Serpentine Entity (fallen from divinity)
Elemental Affinity: Shadow, Poison
Rank: Mythical
Threat Level: Disaster
Level: 66
Health: 560,089 / 900,000 (+2,500 HP Regeneration per minute)
Mana: 300,000 / 300,000
Stamina: 120,000 / 150,000
Attributes:
Strength: 35,000
Agility: 25,000
Endurance: 40,000
Defense: 40,000 (+10% from Shadow Coil)
Magic Resistance: 45,000
Perception: 30,000
Fury Level: 85% (The higher the fury, the stronger Nythralis becomes, increasing Strength and Agility by 2% per 10% fury)
Skills:
1. Venomous Breath
2. Stone Gaze
3. Shadow Coil
4. Venomous Blood
5. Regeneration
6. Territorial Dominance
7. Shadow Strike (Passive)
8. Arcane Venom Barrage (Ultimate)
Weaknesses:
Vulnerable to Divine Light abilities.
Reduced regeneration when exposed to purifying flames or holy magic.
___
Arkanos's expression remained stoic, but on the inside he felt uneasy as he processed the details.
This was no ordinary beast; the serpent's regenerative abilities and nearly impenetrable defenses would make it a challenge, even for someone wielding divine power.
'Although It's level is rather low for a mythical class monster... Must have been one of the reasons that made Arkanose arrogant to think his forces could take it down.'
Arkanos's then told the system in his thoughts. 'Max out skill comprehension.'