Chapter 4: Relics of the Old Era

It felt exceptionally serene.

The red sunset cast the day’s final lingering rays, their glow painting the ruins of the city in hues of ruby.

Feeling warmth against his eyelids despite the somewhat piercing glare of the sun, Li Ruoyi opened his eyes.

Exquisite tea sets, a rich fragrance, delicious snacks, and melodious music—it was a scene that epitomized European high culture.

Across the small table sat Rhein, dressed in a magnificent gown.

The young girl skillfully handled the teacups, teapot, and teaspoons, spreading a layer of lace padding across the tray.

Accompanied by the light music of a violin played by a nearby maid, she carefully placed a sugar cube into a teacup.

“You’re awake?”

After a simple stir to dissolve the sugar, Rhein pushed the teacup in front of the youth.

A rich, mellow aroma of tea wafted through the carriage.

Li Ruoyi picked up the cup, feeling the warmth flow from his palms through his entire body.

He had regained his sense of touch, hearing, smell, and taste.

The youth in black drained the black tea in one gulp and exhaled a comfortable sigh.

‘Perhaps one must truly die once to appreciate living better.’

“You likely want to know many things.”

Rhein took a bite of a sandwich from the bottom tier.

Afternoon tea in Europe was a meticulously refined affair: antique bone china tea sets, silver pots, tea strainers, and a three-tiered stand.

There were finger sandwiches, macarons, and scones.

One had to eat from the bottom tier upward—savory first, then sweet.

Whether in her demeanor or her table manners, the girl appeared elegant and perfectly composed.

“We have plenty of time to explain everything on the way to Berlin.”

“Aren’t we in a garden?”

“A simple displacement magic; I swapped the carriage interior with the garden of my acropolis in Berlin.”

Rhein raised her hand and gave a crisp snap of her fingers.

Everything around them dissolved into particles of golden light.

Immediately, the jolting sensation of driving over damaged roads returned.

“How long was I asleep?”

Li Ruoyi pulled back the carriage curtains and looked at the ruins of the city outside.

The steel forest that once bustled with traffic had now become a playground for terrifying monsters.

“About four hours or so.”

Rhein picked up a macaron from the middle tier.

“Is it not perfectly normal for someone who just underwent resurrection to feel drowsy after that level of rehabilitative exercise?”

“Is that so?”

“Exactly. Due to special circumstances, we must return to Berlin immediately, so I had Uncle Brand carry you into the carriage.”

Rhein gave a faint, satisfied smile.

“Once we arrive, there will be even more people singing praises of your incredible power.”

It seemed she held very high expectations for Li Ruoyi’s strength.

“If you feel tired, you can take this chance to rest.”

“Hey, Rhein…”

“Yes! I’m here.”

Accompanied by the beautiful music, the girl’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.

She leaned her head against the carriage window, closing her eyes to enjoy the tranquil sunset.

“What happened to the world?”

“If you’re asking what exactly happened, I don’t really know either.”

Rhein gave her answer with a slight hesitation, without opening her eyes.

“The only thing certain is that ten years ago, ordinary people began to vanish in massive numbers, and monsters from legends started running rampant in reality.”

“As you can see, this is Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony, Germany.”

Rhein opened her eyes slightly.

“In the old era, this was a city with highly developed industrial manufacturing—the center of Germany’s automotive, machinery, and electronics industries.”

“Now, it has become a lost paradise for monsters.”

“Europe is almost entirely cut off from the outside world.”

“Most families used certain means before the apocalypse to ensure that some people could survive.”

“Means?”

“Exactly. Most of the elites only view people as a usable labor force.”

Rhein stood up with her back to Li Ruoyi.

A brilliant golden light filled the entire carriage.

A complex pattern of lines, connecting throughout her body, appeared on the girl’s back.

The girl’s pupils turned gold, making her look like a descending angel.

Just looking at her, one could feel a sense of holiness.

“This is the Magic Crest necessary to become a magician.”

“By using it, one can counteract the power that modifies the world.”

Rhein spoke while the light glowed.

“The scale of the Magic Crest directly determines what kind of magic can be used.”

Rhein deactivated the crest, and the dazzling gold light ceased abruptly.

The girl sat down elegantly once more.

“It’s like a storage battery; we use the electrical energy originally stored inside.”

“Naturally, the capacity of the battery varies from person to person.”

“So, was it this power that was used to connect you and me?”

Li Ruoyi felt his chest growing intensely hot due to the appearance of Rhein’s crest.

He unbuttoned his coat, revealing his firm chest.

“However, I don’t seem to be able to feel my own heartbeat anymore.”

“Whether it was the moment of resurrection or the previous battle, I only feel a warmth in my heart’s chamber.”

“Ah!”

Rhein suddenly covered her eyes with her hands and shrieked.

“What’s wrong!”

Li Ruoyi was startled by Rhein’s scream and hurriedly asked what had happened.

“Don’t just suddenly strip in front of a lady!”

Rhein’s face was flushed red, but she observed the youth’s robust body through the gaps in her fingers.

His pectoral muscles were perfectly sculpted for aesthetic beauty, allowing her to easily locate where his heart should be.

To her immense surprise, there was a black vortex in the youth’s chest.

It didn’t look like any organ a physical body should possess.

The vortex spun, and in place of a heartbeat, there was an ethereal sound brought about by the convergence of magic power.

“So this is the so-called…”

“The Heart of the Human King.”

Li Ruoyi answered calmly.

“I’m afraid it is now serving as my heart in place of a human one.”

Rhein felt the rhythm coming from that ‘heart.’

It existed within Li Ruoyi’s body without a hint of rejection.

On the contrary, it seemed perfectly integrated with his flesh, as if it were only natural.

Unconsciously, Rhein reached out, wanting to touch that black vortex.

The closer she got, the more she could feel her own Magic Crest resonating with it.

If her crest was a storage battery, then this vortex was a massive generator.

Just as Rhein’s fingertips were about to touch the vortex, a violent shaking occurred.

The earth felt as if it were being brutally trampled by something.

The road collapsed, and the vehicle the two were riding in was tossed into the air like a piece of paper.

Li Ruoyi grabbed Rhein’s hand and pulled her into his embrace.

With a muffled sound, Li Ruoyi transformed into a streak of black light and burst out of the carriage with her.

When Rhein regained her senses, they had already landed on the ground.

The car had been flung dozens of meters away by a mysterious force, instantly smashing into a pile of scrap metal.

“Where is this?”

The bridge in front of Rhein was snapped in half by a beam of light, cutting the convoy in two.

“Who is it!” Li Ruoyi shouted.

Realizing their master had been attacked, the Combat Mage Regiment leaped from their vehicles.

They quickly formed a defensive spell formation around Rhein.

“To think mere light-dwellers could actually dodge that.”

A man sat atop a mountain-like pile of monster corpses at the end of the bridge.

Following his words, the man stood up.

Simply by standing, he seemed to eclipse the glow of the sunset on the horizon.

The world felt like a stage where a heavy curtain had been drawn.

The man standing in the center of the ‘stage’ burst forth with a light as dazzling as the midday sun.

The man possessed golden, sun-like eyes.

His bronze skin was exceptionally noble and robust.

His exposed skin was adorned with luxurious gold ornaments that radiated the brilliance of a solar disc.

Upon seeing the man, Brand, who had just gotten out of his vehicle, began to tremble with excessive surprise and fear.

“King Ozymandias! The Pharaoh who currently rules Egypt!”

“My God, why is he here?!”

As the eyes of the Nicolae family, the ‘Scavenger’ Brand had traveled to nearly every corner of Europe and North Africa over the last ten years.

The man before them was absolutely the strongest and most terrifying existence he had encountered during his decade of travels.

“Oh? Are there still mortals who recognize me?”

“Have the people far from my lands also begun to praise the great deeds of us Pharaohs?”

The man laughed loftily, and with his laughter, the entire city began to tremble.

“I merely came out to find Nefertari, who had slipped away. I didn’t expect to encounter a Human King here.”

The man rested one hand on his forehead, looking down at Rhein and the others below.

“You must be the Human King who rules Egypt. Your sword possesses a very strong spiritual pressure.”

“Hoh? I haven’t even drawn my weapon yet, and you can already see through it?”

With a touch of interest, the man—King Ozymandias—nodded in acknowledgment.

“Yes. And I suspect your strongest armament isn’t that sword.”

The words Li Ruoyi spoke seemed to have the power to make the man descend from his high perch.

“Hmm. Good insight.”

“So, King of Egypt, why have you come here?”

“To state out loud what you already know is hardly a sign of intelligence.”

The man laughed loudly.

“As for why I am here, you may treat it as a clear declaration of war.”

Though he had already been certain of the man’s intent, Li Ruoyi still felt a bit dejected when it was confirmed.

“In a world like this, what is the point of going through so much trouble to eliminate me?”

“Why would I care about such things?”

The concise answer rejected any further dialogue.

The man continued, “Present-day Europe has long been made a mess by the Temple of Magic.”

“All I care about is my sacred Egyptian territory.”

“Since everything will eventually be ruled by me, it is better to erase any obstacles early.”

The man revealed a cruel smile.

“My name is Ozymandias! King of Kings! Ye almighty gods, look upon my works, the King of Gods—and despair!”