The Dragon Guard lay in ruins, and the entire Wyvern Ridge, along with the vital force beneath, was severed by a single strike from Seth’s sword. This powerful strike sent shockwaves throughout Aylka.
Within the Regal Observatory, the Elder Sage sat upon a massive compass, engaged in hushed recitations. Suddenly, the ground shook as if in an earthquake.
The central compass, under the impact, burst open with a resounding crack. Elder Sage trembled, spat out a mouthful of blood, and was visibly wounded.
“Master! What happened to you?” Grace, who had just entered, was startled and rushed to assist him.
“It’s an inevitable twist of fate! An inevitable twist!” Elder Sage sighed deeply and coughed.
“Master! What do you mean?” she asked.
“The vital force… has been destroyed!”
He said mournfully, “My earlier prediction has hit the mark. A single sword has sliced through the vital force of the Dragonmarsh.
“From now on, things in the government will be a mess, and the fate of the nation is on a downward spiral. Brace yourselves as our kingdom is on the verge of a major transformation.”
“What? The vital force is gone?”
Grace’s expression changed dramatically. Though mentally prepared, the actual arrival of this tragic news was still difficult to accept.
“Grace, without the vital force, unrest will quickly spread throughout the realm. You must inform the royal family early and try to stabilize the situation as much as possible,” Elder Sage advised.
“I’ve already informed my father about this matter, but he’s been unwell lately. My brothers are engaged in political intrigue, vying for the throne.
“They’re neglecting these issues,” she explained with a furrowed brow. Her father, weakened by constant exertion, had been bedridden recently. Rumors ran rife within the royal family, and several powerful princes were maneuvering to seize the throne.
At that moment, no one was willing to step forward and take charge.
“Alas… It’s all fate!” He seemed to have foreseen this and sighed again.
“The vital force affects the nation’s fortune and, in turn, influences the entire royal family. With the destruction of the vital force, Aylka will only become more chaotic. Be prepared for the tumultuous times ahead.”
“Master, is there really no room for recovery?” Grace asked with a furrowed brow. The Elder Sage remained silent, his gaze fixed on the celestial bodies as he sought signs and omens.
After a brief pause, he spoke with measured words, “The essence of the celestial path lies in restoring balance and addressing inadequacies while moderating redundancies.
“Though the rupture of the vital force has left a significant mark, it reassures us that destiny never leaves us without recourse.”
He went on, “I have deduced that the vital force has transformed into five streams of dracan essence, dispersed across various parts of the world. Whoever can harness this dracan essence will be the chosen one.
“If you can locate these five individuals, Dragonmarsh will not only avert decline but also ascend to unprecedented power. However, achieving such a feat is exceedingly difficult.”
He added, “The world is vast, and uncovering it is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. The crucial challenge lies in identifying individuals recognized by the dracan essence, a task nearly impossible to achieve.”
At the end of his words, Elder Sage sighed once more.
He pondered, “The destruction of the vital force was a disaster for the current government. Yet, as the saying goes, things get better with time.
“Perhaps in the future, there will be a better leader and a brighter era. No one can really predict how things will turn out.”
