A boundless void, dark and silent.
Every time Loren fell asleep, he would dream of this emptiness, feeling the endless solitude of the void.
At this moment, a streak of silver light appeared in the darkness.
A second creature suddenly emerged in the void.
It was an incredibly beautiful silver dragon, its form exhibiting perfect curves, with silver scales shimmering.
Its shape was breathtakingly magnificent—this was a creature of miraculous, flawless beauty.
But Loren had no time to appreciate the beauty of the silver dragon.
The dragon glided through the void, and as it gradually approached Loren, its colossal body, which seemed to blot out the sky, instantly overwhelmed him with a tremendous sense of pressure.
He instinctively felt panic—he was as insignificant as dust before this silver dragon.
The dragon's silver eyes sparkled beautifully, but the way it regarded Loren was utterly indifferent.
Under the dragon's gaze, Loren's sense of oppression intensified.
His instincts screamed at him: in the face of such a great being, he should abandon any thoughts of resistance and submit humbly to it.
He suddenly felt a deep frustration with himself.
Why? Why can't I even muster the courage to resist? How can I be so weak?
Loren's pride was like a steel needle piercing into him, bringing an unbearable sting.
The feeling of helplessness made him sick to his core, nearly driving him mad.
"Sixteen years, and I still can't overcome the instincts of the weak!"
Loren opened his bloodshot eyes.
What he saw was the intricately carved furniture, the luxurious drapes, and the brilliant crystal chandelier. Awake from the dream, he was back in his own bedroom.
For the past sixteen years since his reincarnation, he had entered that all-too-real dream every night.
Faced with the solitude of the desolate void and the oppressive might of the towering dragon, Loren had endured sixteen years of torment in his dreams, which had seeped into his very instincts.
Even though he had now transcended the realm of the legendary knight and was undefeated on the continent of Tain, every night's dream reminded him again and again how laughable his power and influence in reality were. He was nothing more than a weak ant.
His thirst for strength was maddening, yet after transcending the legendary stage, he had hit a complete bottleneck. In the entire recorded history of Tain, no one had ever achieved more power than him.
Only in absurd myths were there tales of great gods, terrifying monsters, and mysterious wizards—but their credibility was highly questionable.
Even though he now stood at the pinnacle of the continent's power, Loren had no idea how to take the next step.
"Your Grace, you've overslept."
A soft, melodious voice broke the silence as a gentle maid slowly approached.
"Nora."
She was one of the few people Loren was close to. Her presence eased some of the frustration in his heart.
Although every night's dream made him feel as weak as an ant, the reality of his life was completely different.
He ruled the continent of Tain, undefeated, a war god feared by his enemies.
Since childhood, his talent as a knight had been extraordinary. At twelve, he advanced to the rank of great knight and began to make a name for himself, leading armies in battles across foreign lands.
From then on, he fought victory after victory, crushing all in his path, elevating his kingdom into the Holy Kael Empire.
He was granted the title of Purple Gold Duke, the most exalted rank.
His domain covered one-third of the empire, ruling over the vast eastern territories, with unrivaled power.
At this moment, Loren's gaze shifted to the maid, Nora.
The young girl had sleek black hair, her face as delicate as carved jade, with a small upturned nose and soft pink lips that looked as if they were about to bloom like a flower.
But what stood out were her unusual red eyes, which, when she looked at him, were warm like water, filled with deep admiration and affection.
Despite her beauty, her life had been hard. As a child, she was considered cursed due to her red eyes, facing many hardships. Fortunately, she was born into a baron's household, where Loren took her in as his personal maid and raised her by his side.
Under Nora's care, Loren washed up and dressed.
He sat upright before the mirror, gazing at the reflection of the young man with long, jet-black hair as dark as night, and deep, shining eyes. His face was extraordinarily handsome, beyond compare.
There was a sharpness between his brows, like a finely honed sword, and a detached calmness in his gaze, befitting his status as the Empire's feared God of War.
Nora gently combed Loren's hair and softly reminded him, "Don't forget to meet with His Majesty later."
Loren nodded knowingly.
After getting fully dressed, he wore a set of magnificent armor, gleaming with light.
His heroic appearance, combined with an aura that seemed to dominate the heavens, was exactly what the people of the Empire envisioned—the undefeated war god descended to the mortal world.
Even though she had long been accustomed to it, Nora couldn't help but feel a glow of admiration in her eyes when she looked at Loren's imposing figure.
Her mind momentarily went blank. How fortunate she was to be following such a transcendent figure.
From being a despised outcast to becoming the admired maid of the baron's young master, and finally rising to the honorable position of the Duke's personal attendant, everything felt like a surreal dream. Was she truly worthy of such immense luck?
Noticing Nora's dazed expression, Loren realized that she had blossomed into an even more lovely and charming young woman.
With his current status, if he wanted to recruit a new maid, the selection process would be on par with a king choosing a queen.
But Nora wasn't just pleasing to the eye—her thoughtful and considerate nature always eased his stress. Because of this, he never entertained the idea of bringing in a new maid.
He suddenly reached out and pinched Nora's delicate face.
Her skin was soft and smooth, more exquisite than the finest silk, and he couldn't help but savor the feel of it.
Nora snapped back to reality, seeing the playful smile on Loren's lips, and shyly lowered her head.
Feeling Loren's hand still gently pinching her cheek, she was flustered, but did not resist at all. Instead, a subtle sense of joy quietly rose in her heart.
"I'm off," Loren said with a light smile, withdrawing his hand as he left.
Nora lowered her head, watching Loren's retreating figure. She softly cupped her face where he had touched, her eyes narrowing in delight as a smile spread across her lips.
Stepping out of the grand and opulent Duke's mansion, Loren headed alone toward the royal palace.
On his way, under the shining sunlight, Loren's armor gleamed brilliantly, making his tall, pine-like figure appear even more heroic.
As Loren walked through the streets, passersby couldn't help but stop and stare, their gazes drawn to him.
"Good day, Duke!"
A loud voice broke the silence, followed by a series of greetings echoing from the crowd.
"Greetings, Duke of the Purple Gold!"
The residents of the capital spontaneously bowed to Loren, merchants lowering their heads in respect, their faces full of awe.
Noblemen nodded slightly, their eyes revealing a deep respect.
Children widened their eyes, gazing at the legendary invincible warrior with curiosity and admiration.
Loren had long since grown accustomed to this scene.
To the people of the Empire, he had nearly become a legend, his prestige surpassing even that of the king.
As he walked, he noticed some people dressed in foreign attire. They were envoys from foreign lands, visiting the capital to offer tribute.
Upon noticing Loren, their eyes inevitably showed signs of fear and reverence.
Nations that had fought alongside Loren on the battlefield all viewed him as a nightmare.
For several years, Loren had led the military across the continent, unstoppable.
A few years ago, the various countries formed a coalition and spared no effort to resist the Empire's sharp blade and iron cavalry.
However, their last hope was easily crushed by Loren, and they lost the courage to fight back, bowing in submission.
The wars between the countries were thus ended, and after the great battle, the continent of Tain entered an era of peace.
When he arrived at the majestic gates of the royal palace, Loren's gaze fell on a female knight.
Her radiant golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her face was exquisitely beautiful, exuding a calm and dignified aura.
She resembled the legendary female knights in stories—strong, beautiful, and resolute.
But in reality, she was the princess of the Empire.
She had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, and now, she had made remarkable achievements on the battlefield, becoming the designated heir to the Empire.
"Greetings, Duke," she said, her voice clear and strong, bowing to Loren with swift, elegant movements.
"Aidella," Loren nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Aidella's azure eyes were bright and clear, her expression stern as she faced Loren, offering no hint of weakness.
As the future most powerful person on the continent, she showed Loren nothing but respect.
Unlike the capital's residents, who were overly familiar with Loren, Aidella was deeply respectful, her devotion to him ingrained in her heart during their years together on the battlefield.
Even now, when peace had returned and she was expected to wear the luxurious gowns befitting a princess, she still felt more at ease in armor, just like Loren.
To Loren, Aidella was an exemplary subordinate, without the arrogance typical of nobility. He believed that, after taking the throne, she would become a competent ruler.
The two walked side by side into the palace to meet the king.
Aidella followed Loren closely, naturally staying behind him, cautious not to overstep.
"Greetings, Duke! Greetings, Princess!"
Along the way, palace guards respectfully bowed.
As they entered the palace, they saw the king, a stern-looking middle-aged man, seated on the throne. This man was King Saint-Kehl.
Suddenly, the king rose from his throne with a friendly smile and walked toward Loren and Aidella, showing no signs of the aloofness typical of royalty toward their subjects.
"Loren, Aidella, you've arrived just in time."
"Greetings, Your Majesty (Father)," Aidella knelt on one knee, while Loren simply bowed his head with calm composure, offering a brief and formal greeting.
The king showed no unusual expression and maintained a warm demeanor.
He smiled gently at Loren and said, "Now that the Empire is at peace, and you, Duke Loren, have reached the age of sixteen, it's time to consider marriage."
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Loren replied, his tone indifferent.
The king carefully studied Loren's expression, relieved to see no change in his demeanor before continuing, "Aidella is of a similar age to you, and she is one of the few who is truly suited to your status. What do you think of her?"
"If you two marry, you would become the Prince Consort of the Empire."
Upon hearing her father's words, Aidella froze for a moment, a rush of conflicting thoughts filling her mind. She instinctively raised her gaze to Loren, trying to read his face for any hint of emotion.
But Loren's expression remained unchanged throughout. Calmly, he shook his head and replied, "I'm only sixteen, and I'm not ready to consider marriage. Let's talk about it again when I turn eighteen."
Loren had long anticipated this moment and had already made his decision in his heart.
Indeed, for the Empire, his marriage to Aidella would be the ideal scenario. The Empire feared that Loren might one day overthrow the royal family, so aligning with Aidella would secure his loyalty.
Since there was no way to resist, it would be better to seize the power directly and preserve some goodwill toward the royal family.
Given Aidella's respect for him, Loren believed that, once she ascended to the throne, the real power in the Empire would be in his hands. At that time, his power would rise even further, surpassing his current position as Duke.
To the king, his behavior might seem humble, but in truth, he knew that the true strength of the Empire lay not in the throne, but in Loren, the God of War.
The king believed this was a win-win situation, but he hadn't expected Loren to refuse.
Feeling uneasy, the king didn't know what Loren's true intentions were.
What he didn't realize was that Loren's true desire was not power or prestige, but true strength.
The dreams that tormented him every night drove him to seek greater power to escape the oppressive presence of the silver dragon. Loren had already decided that, before he turned eighteen, he would do everything in his power to find the path to transcendence.
If he found such a path, his future would be uncertain, and he might face unknown circumstances.
That was why he didn't want to leave any attachments in the mundane world.
However, if he didn't find such a path in two years, he would reluctantly accept his fate and remain as the Duke of Saint-Kehl Empire.
As for marriage, he already had several suitable candidates.
Both Aidella and Nora satisfied him.
Of course, for Loren, this wasn't a matter of choice—it was merely a matter of judgment.
The throne held no interest for him. He had already reached the pinnacle of power, and the king's position seemed more like a burden.
The only benefit of inheriting the throne was passing it on to his descendants.
But Loren knew well that his descendants would inevitably become corrupt. When that time came, their actions would be his burden as well.
Why should he take the blame for them?
Loren would rather change the world from his position as Duke, using his unparalleled power to leave his mark and fade away when his life ended, minimizing his influence on the future.
Rather than accumulating wealth for his descendants, he found it far more attractive to "win glory in life and death."
Upon hearing Loren's refusal, Aidella's eyes dimmed slightly, but she quickly recovered.
Although she felt a pang of disappointment, she didn't feel any bitterness.
In her heart, Loren had already become a figure of legend, distant and unattainable. She had never dared to entertain any false hopes.
Loren's exalted status in her heart was unblemished.
The king, however, was deeply disappointed.
Though he showed no outward signs of it, his attitude toward Loren remained as warm as ever. He shifted the topic, saying, "Loren, there's one more matter."
"Recently, something strange happened in the Cold Maple Territory on the west coast."
"Oh?" Loren's expression tightened slightly, his curiosity piqued.
If it were a mundane issue, it wouldn't be worth mentioning to him.
"It started when people and livestock in a village mysteriously died. Their flesh and blood were completely drained, leaving only their skeletons."
"Then several nearby villages were wiped out in the same way."
"Even when Count Maple sent a Grand Knight to investigate, the knight disappeared without a trace."
"When he reported this, I suspected that it might be related to legendary knights from foreign lands."
The king's gaze turned serious.
"Foreign forces may still harbor ambitions. This matter must be thoroughly investigated and any threats eliminated. Would you, Duke Loren, be willing to go personally?"
"Of course, if you're not interested, I could assemble a team of legendary knights to investigate it."
The king didn't expect Loren to accept the task.
After all, for a figure like Loren, this small matter would hardly be worth his time.
However, after reviewing the information the king provided, Loren fell into thought.
Legendary knights? It didn't seem possible for them to do something like this.
Could it be some kind of magical beast? He had never heard of one capable of draining flesh and blood like this.
The strange reports reminded Loren of a few fragmented records he had come across, mentioning something about a mysterious being.
His interest was piqued. While it might not be a sorcerer, it could very well be some other unknown extraordinary being.
Loren's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp, decisive gleam.
In the surprised gaze of King Saint-Kehl, he said with unwavering certainty, "I will personally investigate this matter."
He turned to Aidella and, in a commanding tone, ordered, "Aidella, gather the nearest knightly order. We leave for the Cold Maple Territory immediately."
"Understood!" Aidella's eyes sharpened with resolve as she immediately responded.
Without hesitation, she went to relay the order. As she turned, a breeze lifted her golden hair, which swirled in the air, her swift and elegant figure moving quickly away.
King Saint-Kehl stood frozen, momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected that Loren would actually take on the task.
Having already reached the highest rank as Duke, Loren was still willing to put aside his comforts and personally travel to resolve this issue.