( Next day, Terra Nova Online )
After discovering the highest MP rewards available in the game, Leo started strategizing on how to earn them.
The first mission was of-course to become the next Emperor, however, with Julien D Evanus dead, the current state of the Empire was uncertain.
Three days had passed since his death and according to popular forum posts, there was a big burial ceremony hosted today for the Emperor, with all the other race leaders invited.
The current state of the Empire was perilous, the favorite prince to inherit the throne, Nathan D. Evanus was presumed to have a part in the murder of his father and although he wasn't imprisoned merely on suspicion, he was not allowed to inherit the crown either.
With strong rebellion from all four Arch-Dukes, the crown was instead passed to the younger prince, Darius D. Evanus. However, with the prince being only 11 years of age, he was deemed unworthy of making any major decisions until he came of age.
Instead, the North Duke, Denver Willow was named the protector of the crown, being given all the powers akin to that of an Emperor until Darius came of age.
There was no official statement made by the royal palace regarding the circumstances under which Emperor Julien died, however, the immediate aftermath of his death was not pretty.
The Dwarf, Barbarian and Beastmen leaders expressed their desire to breakaway from the Unity Empire after Julien's death, and Denver was unable to persuade them otherwise.
As a result, the Empire fragmented further, and with mounting internal and external challenges, it plunged into its dark age.
The death of Emperor Julien D. Evanus, coupled with the escalating demon crisis, sent shockwaves throughout the Unity Empire. Public morale, already strained, plummeted to unprecedented lows as the once-stable nation began to unravel, with the now leaderless citizens feeling gripped by fear and uncertainty.
The Empire's fragmentation brought about societal issues previously unheard of. Crime surged across the land, with theft, assault, and murder becoming alarmingly common. In the capital, gangs and criminals took advantage of the power vacuum, overwhelming the stretched city guards, while the economy faltered as trade routes grew perilous, and resources became scarce due to bandit attacks.
Communities that had once been tight-knit grew distrustful, with neighbors turning against each other in fear.
Essential resources started to be hoarded and the general spirit of unity was replaced by a sense of self-preservation.
To make matters worse, the Masters' Tournament—a prestigious event meant to uplift the masses—was canceled midway following the Emperor's death.
This abrupt cancellation left a sour taste among the Masters and symbolized the fragility of the Empire. Disillusioned, the Masters returned home, further fueling unrest and dissatisfaction.
As the Empire plunged deeper into its dark age, the combination of political instability, rising crime, and the relentless demon threat created a perfect storm of chaos.
The once-proud nation faced an uncertain future, with no clear path forward and no end in sight to the turmoil that gripped the land.
These were all of-course the perfect recipes for the uprising guild to expand their recruitment drive as with new funds injected into their operations by 'Leo Skyshard', and them gaining a foothold in the Southern Duchy, their numbers grew unlike ever before.
NPC's, Mercenaries, common citizens who could not turn to the city guards for safety, all joined the Uprising, since they promised to safeguard both businesses and individuals in these uncertain times.
With the uprising emerging as the most 'Righteous' of street gangs, their members turned from rebels to hero's within days, as not only did their public perception change, so did their behavior, as now with the public behind them, ChaosBringer ordered his men to behave more kindly.
5 months time!
That was the timeline that 'TheBoss' had given him to prepare, and inside this timeline, ChaosBringer had to make convincing plans to take over the Southern and Eastern Duchy at once.
For now, he had no idea how he could even do that, however, since having more members was always a help, for now he only focused on expanding the organization's numbers and penetrating deeper into the fabric of the Empire so that he could call upon the maximum number of helpers when he needed them.
With the Emperor dead, the winds were shifting rapidly and ChaosBringer knew that if he backed 'TheBoss' properly, his ultimate goal of toppling the regime might not be too far.
*********
( Meanwhile The DarkSky Guild )
After the Emperor's death, Jerome was forced to withdraw his troops from the western border and return immediately to the Western Capital City of Dame, as his father urgently summoned him.
This abrupt departure left the DarkSky guild without their most trusted ally in battle, prompting internal discussions about the possibility of enlisting the help of common players to bolster their ranks.
"Letting commoners fight alongside us is a double edged sword. If they follow our commands we can use them as cannon fodder to slow down the demon charge while our AOE attackers wipe them out.
However, if they suddenly break rank or start to flee under pressure then their naivety can put significant strain on our backlines" Luke stated, as Cervantez stroked his chin in worry.
The Demons were preparing for yet another attack and could potentially launch one as soon as next week and it was impossible for the DarkSky guild to hold them back without the help of Jerome and his men.
This only left the option of letting common players fight alongside them, however, doing so also came with its own set of challenges.
"So do you think we can hold the lines even without their help?" Cervantez asked hopefully, as Luke shook his head in denial.
"Despite the risks, our only chance at winning and holding on-to Silver-Pine Barony is if we look for their help" Luke said, as Cervantez let out a deep sigh.
"It's settled then, since we can't make do without them. We will put up a banner tomorrow letting common players in the Barony know that they can participate in the next Demon War if they want to–" Cervantez said, as he hoped that he would not come to regret this decision later.