After filtering out the eligible youths from the thousands who had gathered at the training grounds, William turned his attention toward the few hundred children who remained standing before him.
They were nervous, excited, and confused all at once, as most of them still did not fully understand why they had been separated from the others.
William allowed the silence to settle before he began explaining the purpose behind the selection.
He informed them that, as the Supreme Commander of the Eternal Sun Empire, the responsibility of overseeing the empire’s entire military structure ultimately rested upon his shoulders.
Although the empire possessed considerable territory, its military was still relatively weak and small, as the empire had just been established a week ago.
A strong empire could not rely solely on powerful warriors; it also required capable commanders, administrators, strategists, and officers who could lead armies in the future.
The youths standing before him, he explained, had been identified as potential candidates for a long-term military development program.
William did not make grand promises about immediate success or glory. Instead, he spoke about opportunity.
Those who joined would be transported to the imperial capital, where dedicated training camps were being established specifically for future military personnel. There, they would receive proper education, structured training, and access to cultivation resources that most commoners could never hope to obtain on their own.
More importantly, they would no longer have to worry about necessities.
The military would provide housing, meals, clothing, and formal education. They would learn how to read and write properly, receive physical conditioning, and gain access to instructors whose expertise would normally be reserved for nobles and wealthy families.
William further explained that each recruit would receive a monthly salary from the empire.
The money could be spent however they wished. They could save it for themselves, use it for personal needs, or send it back to support their families.
That announcement alone caused a visible stir among the crowd.
Many of the children came from households where even a small amount of additional income could make a significant difference. Some families struggled to secure enough food for every meal. Others lived in conditions where surviving till next year was uncertain.
To children raised under such circumstances, the promise of a steady salary sounded almost unbelievable. However, William was not finished. He went on to explain that their opportunities would not end after their awakenings.
Any recruit who successfully passed the academy entrance after awakening would be allowed to enroll in the World Academy, one of the most prestigious educational institutions on the continent. Furthermore, every expense associated with their studies would be paid by the imperial family itself.
The crowd had long since fallen silent.
Many of them did not fully comprehend the true significance of such an opportunity, but they understood enough to know that the future being described before them was vastly different from the one they had always expected.
Of course, William did not hide the cost of accepting such benefits. He explained every condition clearly.
Those who joined would swear loyalty to the Eternal Sun Empire. The oath would not be symbolic but a heavenly oath bound by life and death.
They would become loyal to the empire for life, dedicating their abilities and future accomplishments to its prosperity and defense.
William also carefully explained the restrictions that accompanied such loyalty.
Those who entered the program would no longer be free to pledge themselves to foreign powers, independent factions, noble houses, or rival organizations. Their path would become inseparably tied to that of the empire and imperial family.
Yet despite these limitations, the reactions of the children made it obvious that very few viewed them as disadvantages.
Most of them had never even imagined leaving their province, much less affiliating themselves with powerful organizations.
Many were not thinking about political consequences or future allegiances.
Some were imagining warm meals, proper beds, and helping their parents. Others imagined a future where they no longer needed to worry about survival every single day.
The opportunity William had offered was simply too large compared to anything they had ever possessed.
After giving them enough time to absorb the information, William finally spoke once more.
"I will be departing for the capital in three hours."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"Those who wish to enroll in this program and pursue a different future must report to the city gates before our departure. Return home, gather your belongings, and speak with your families. Say your farewells and think carefully about your decision."
His voice remained calm and authoritative.
"Whether you choose to come or remain here is entirely your decision."
The children listened attentively.
"You have three hours."
With those final words, William concluded the gathering.
The youths immediately scattered throughout the city.
Some sprinted through the streets as quickly as they could. Others hurried with anxious expressions, still trying to process everything they had just heard.
Within a surprisingly short period of time, the news spread throughout the city like wildfire. Families emerged from homes to discuss the announcement and also to assess whether their kids were telling the truth or it was just a mere prank.
To many ordinary citizens, the opportunity represented something far greater than a simple training program. It represented a chance to escape poverty. It represented a chance to alter the destiny of an entire family line.
For generations, countless families had remained trapped within the same cycle of hardship and survival. Now, for the first time, a path had appeared that seemed capable of breaking that cycle.
The Ashfall Empire...
Unlike ordinary capitals built upon plains or valleys, the imperial city of the Ashfall Empire rested high within a colossal mountain range. The city stretched across towering peaks and interconnected plateaus, creating a breathtaking sight that appeared almost detached from the mortal world below.
At the center of this magnificent city stood a single enormous spire that dominated the horizon.
The structure rose so high that it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves.
This was the Phoenix Imperial Palace.
It served as the residence of the Ashfall imperial family, descendants of the Phoenix bloodline who were revered throughout the empire as near-immortal beings.
After all, they were blessed with multiple lives.
To ordinary citizens, such beings seemed no different from immortals. Inside one of the palace’s many opulent halls, a young woman strode through the corridors with long, purposeful steps.
Her expression carried visible irritation. Every servant who noticed her immediately stepped aside.
The woman was Fiona Ashfall.
At the moment, she was making her way directly toward the private chambers of her father, Emperor Cindros Ashfall.
Eventually, she arrived before a pair of enormous doors crafted from dark metal and engraved with ancient phoenix motifs.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand and knocked. The sound echoed throughout the corridor.
"Father, are you there?"
Her voice was loud enough to ensure she would be heard. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then the massive doors slowly opened by themselves.
A cold gust of wind immediately flowed outward from the chamber beyond. The room was enormous.
Wide openings along the walls allowed the mountain air to circulate freely through the chamber. Beyond those openings stretched a breathtaking view of jagged mountain peaks that rose even higher than portions of the already elevated palace.
The room felt strangely cold to Fiona, but she cared less about that. Silence hung heavily in the air.
Near one of the openings stood a solitary figure. A man with long crimson hair gazed into the distance without turning around.
The emperor of the Ashfall Empire and the leader of the phoenix race.
Cindros Ashfall.
For several moments, he remained completely motionless. Then his voice echoed through the chamber.
"Speak."
The single word carried enough authority to silence an entire court.
Fiona, however, appeared entirely unaffected. Unlike most people, she showed no visible fear toward the ruler of the empire. Without even stepping inside the room, she spoke from outside.
"I want to enter the Abyss." The words left her mouth confidently.
However, only silence followed her words. Several seconds passed just like that.
Cindros neither moved from his position nor responded.
Fiona frowned slightly.
She waited for several minutes but still heard nothing. Eventually, she folded her arms.
"I’ll take that as a yes."
Without waiting for confirmation, she turned around and walked back toward the exit with the same confidence she had entered with.
The massive doors closed behind her on their own. Once she was gone, silence returned to the chamber. Cindros remained standing at the edge of the opening while the mountain winds swept through his hair.
Only after several moments had passed did he finally speak.
"What happened?"
At first glance, it appeared as though he was speaking to empty air.
Then a figure emerged from the darkness. A shadow figure detached itself from the corner of the room and silently stepped forward; it was wearing a black cloaking veil that made it look like a ghost.
Its movements produced no sound whatsoever. The shadow being seemed to blend naturally with the darkness around him, as though he had always been present yet somehow remained impossible to notice.
Even Fiona had completely failed to acknowledge his existence. The shadow inclined his head slightly.
Recently, the World Academy publicly released a proposal regarding William Kaiser. They are considering granting him special early graduation status despite his only being a first-year student."
The shadow paused briefly.
"The proposal included numerous exceptional evaluations and recommendations."
Understanding immediately appeared in Cindros’s eyes. "The princess read it?"
"Yes."
The shadow nodded. "She likely feels that she is being left behind."
The chamber once again became silent. After several minutes, Cindros asked another question.
"How is our plan progressing?"