Prologue

Henry Morris, the Imperial Archmage who had achieved the state of 8th Circle for the first time in the history of humanity, walked across the execution ground. His hands were bound by handcuffs made of black mithril that were said to block even an elf’s magic.

Two members of the Imperial Ten Swords—known to be the most elite swordmasters of the Empire—accompanied him in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The two did not drag Henry towards the guillotine. It was their last show of respect to the man who had once been touted as the apex of the Empire and the Grand Master of the Magical Tower.

The crowd that had gathered around the execution ground held their breath, eyes locked on Henry.

Some felt the urge to let out their breath and break the paper-thin tension in the air, but a solemn atmosphere prevented them from doing anything unnecessarily.

Today was a very important day in history. It was the last day Henry would ever be called the Imperial Archmage and the Sage of the Continent.

"Hooo…"

It was a frozen winter. Henry’s cold breath broke the silence in the air.

He seemed short of breath, wheezing with each step he took.

But it wasn’t because of his old age. The real cause was the poison he had ingested the day before.

‘That damned poison.’

Even though he was a Grand Master who had reached the 8th Circle, he was a human nevertheless.

The unknown poison ate away at his internal organs, blocking the flow of magic that had circulated in his body throughout his entire life.

It was so painful that he wanted to die.

However, if he hadn’t drank the poison, he wouldn’t have been able to protect the lives of countless others.

‘How funny, the way things turned out.’

He had anticipated, however vaguely, that a day like this would eventually come.

But he had always kept faith in the great bloodline of his old friend and comrade, the former emperor, Golden Jackson Edward.

His faith had turned out to be a huge mistake.

The current emperor was Silver Jackson Edward. He was the fortunate member of the last generation of royalty to lay claim to the unified continent that his father had built. It was a truly privileged generation.

Moreover, after his predecessor was killed prematurely by the curse of the Demon King during the war, he was able to easily inherit the position of emperor as well.

'How did he end up like this? He used to be such a smart kid.’

Golden Jackson Edward was brave and courageous, a historical figure who had garnered the favor and respect of all the different races.

But his son was not the same.

Leeching off his father’s achievements, he grew accustomed to a life of power. He did not master martial arts and did not focus on his studies, so his only true skill was his useless persistence.

These all added up to make a dangerous man.

Blinded by his ego, his vision had narrowed and his doubts had grown. He had become sensitive, and was easily triggered by the smallest matters.

However, the Central Nobles saw this as the perfect opportunity.

Because there was no weapon easier to wield than a self-righteous tyrant.

The Central Nobles had spent a very long time meticulously plotting a plan.

They had begun to remove all the forces opposed to them that were the foundations of the Empire’s national sovereignty, one piece at a time. All those who threatened their power had been ousted as criminals.

The name of their crime? Treason.

Only after a very long time had the war heroes finally realized what was happening, but by then, it was already out of their hands.

And finally, the last remaining hero, Henry Morris, stood before the guillotine.

“Bring the sinner to his knees!”

Henry had little remaining strength. His legs were barely supporting him, and he collapsed helplessly to his knees.

Thud!

In an instant, the mood in the execution ground fell even further.

Then the executioner shouted loudly.

“Hear! Hear! Traitor Henry Morris! Does the sinner admit that, despite possessing the greatest wisdom in the Empire, he has plotted rebellion against the imperial family?”

Thousands of eyes gazed at Henry, awaiting his response.

But Henry closed his eyes without any answer.

He didn’t wish to respond at all.

Just being in this position was a huge insult to Henry.

The executioner continued his speech.

“All who plot against the empire must be captured and their entire kind wiped out. However, with great mercy and generosity, His Majesty, the Great Emperorpunishes Henry Morris with…”

At that moment, Henry opened his eyes.

His body was being destroyed by the poison, yet he mustered the strength to glare bitterly around the execution grounds.

It was not only the executioner who was taken aback by the sudden change in Henry’s demeanor. Even the emperor and the rest of the nobles, who had been watching in anticipation of the execution, grew pale with fright.

Henry gathered the last of his remaining strength and cursed out loudly.

“My ears are going to rot at this rate. Cut the bullshit and just kill me!”

As soon as he did, a trembling voice shouted across the grounds.

“K-kill that bastard! Now! H-hurry!”

The emperor shouted, quivering as he pointed at Henry.

Henry’s gaze pierced through the cold air and sent a shiver down the emperor’s spine. His eyes held a strong contempt that reminded the emperor of his father.

The emperor was terrified of those eyes.

“Sir Henry, I’m sorry,” one of the guards spoke softly.

The first sword among the Imperial Ten Swords and the King of Knights—the Sword of Valhald—soared into the sky.

It was a fleeting moment.

At the brief moment before Valhald’s blade fell upon Henry’s neck, he closed his eyes and thought to himself for one last time.

“Even in death, I will never forgive you.”

***

The severed head of the old man fell, gushing blood all over the execution ground.

The emperor ordered that the archmage’s corpse be thrown as fodder for the beasts.

As news of his execution spread, Henry’s supporters wept as they dispersed back to their homes.

With that, Henry Morris, humanity’s only 8th Circle archmage in 20 years since the great unification of the continents, met his end.