VOLUME ONE ( CHAPTER NINE )

Chapter Nine

The world entered a brief period of stability. With war absent, at least for now, the Great Hania Empire embarked on a new era of exploration and expansion. Nicholas, ever the visionary, ordered expeditionary fleets to set sail in search of uncharted lands. Their first major discovery was the Prime Insulaes, an immense archipelago that had once been part of the Supercontinent but was broken apart by rising sea levels and volcanic eruptions.

Trade thrived in the Prime Insulaes, with maritime commerce serving as the backbone of its economy. The various kingdoms and empires depended on seafaring merchants, establishing vast trade networks across the scattered islands. However, beneath the surface of prosperity, tensions simmered, setting the stage for future conflicts.

In the Amagostafa Empire, deep within its lush forests, the land was ruled by fierce Amazonian warriors. Their reigning queen, Amagosarke 87th, issued a decree for all female warriors: to seek out, capture, and love men, as dictated by their longstanding traditions. When they received news of the Supercontinent, they were captivated by the figure of Nicholas. In a startling revelation, their revered god, Acharolas, was somehow connected to him, further deepening their fascination.

Meanwhile, in the Bubunne Kingdom, King Tarsma launched a military sortie against the Pakpark Kingdom, Arsem Kingdom, and the Emewel Empire. The Gorzola Kingdom, ruled by orcs, harbored a deep resentment against both the Dayana Kingdom and the Amagostafa Empire. The Unugray Kingdom, while neutral, maintained a personal union with the Leink Kingdom. Elsewhere, the Tessodi Dynasty initiated a campaign of conquest, seeking to dominate the Kingdom of Kolonesia, Mabrent Kingdom, and Rumar Principality to escape their war reparation debts.

Further south, the Kingdom of Paradisia, ruled by men alongside towering giants reminiscent of ancient legends, prepared for an invasion of the Marlefau Kingdom in retaliation for the assassination of their king's sons by Marlefau's spies. The region teetered on the edge of chaos, foreshadowing imminent war.

In Beckett Principality, Cutler Beckett—once a prominent figure in the East India Trading Company—sat in his study, reading about the Supercontinent's recent truce. Curious about the Great Hania Empire, he sought an audience with Sawan VII, the exiled Messorian king. To Beckett, Nicholas was nothing more than a mythical figure, a name wrapped in stories of grandeur and conquest. However, Sawan shocked him by presenting a WWI-era firearm, a weapon vastly superior to Beckett's flintlock pistol. The encounter left Beckett deeply intrigued by Hania's technological might.

Back in the Supercontinent, the seven remaining nations had successfully stabilized their economies. The Great Hania Empire expanded its influence further, quietly fortifying its arsenal. Hundreds of nuclear warheads were now in their possession, a deterrent against any foe that dared to challenge them. The Neues Reich, though economically recovered, continued its horrific human experimentation, reminiscent of Unit 731's atrocities from World War II.

Across the Supercontinent, other powers were making strategic moves. The Greater Pardevonese Empire had chosen a different path of warfare—biological weapons and advanced post-WWII aircraft—eschewing nuclear research in favor of magic-based warfare. Meanwhile, the Nbemde Empire and the Wimbledon Kingdom prepared their armies for war against the Pardevonese, but the truce held firm for another two years.

In the Prime Insulaes, old rivalries flared anew. The Anktekk Kingdom, Fezzan Kingdom, and Marlefau Kingdom received ominous death threats from the Ruron Kingdom, which had the full support of the Empestad Empire. The Empestad Empire harbored grand ambitions—to unite the southern half of the Prime Insulaes under a single banner.

Then, one fateful day, a scout plane from the Great Hania Empire soared over the Prime Insulaes, conducting a reconnaissance mission. The sight of an aircraft in their skies left the island nations in shock. A few panicked defenders shot arrows toward it, but the plane was too high to be hit. The Hanians gathered extensive data on the region, mapping out territories with precision. Their advantage? They had already launched their first satellites into space, cementing their entry into the Space Age.

Back on the Supercontinent, events escalated quickly. The truce was shattered. The Nbemde Empire, Wimbledon Kingdom, and the Holy Emdesia Empire fell under the dominion of the Greater Pardevonese Empire. In the east, the Greater Satam Empire launched an invasion of the Holy Argusten Empire, its demonic forces crushing all resistance. The Great Hania Empire, rather than intervening directly, imposed harsh economic sanctions on both empires, utilizing its vast economic strength to apply pressure.

Now, only four great nations remained on the Supercontinent:

· The Great Hania Empire – The most advanced and expansive power.

· The Greater Satam Empire – A demonic force growing unchecked.

· The Greater Pardevonese Empire – Strengthened by magic and biological warfare.

· Neues Reich – A brutal dictatorship engaging in nightmarish experiments.

Despite having the power to end the war outright, Nicholas refrained from using his divine abilities. To interfere so blatantly, in his eyes, would be cheating. His morals guided him, even as the world descended into further chaos. Yet, he was no stranger to danger—he had survived countless assassination attempts orchestrated by both the Satam Empire and the Pardevonese. Poison, gunfire, firebombs, deadly diseases, and even demonic curses—none had succeeded in killing him. Nicholas remained an enigma, an unyielding force amid the storm of history.

The golden age of peace had ended before it could fully bloom. As the world braced for another conflict, the question remained—who would rise victorious in the battles to come?

(CHAPTER NINE END)