Dragon Monarch System Chapter 978:- Rebellion [I]

Following the incident involving the Radiant Empire, Aditya paid no attention to the responses from the outside world. It made no difference to him if other empires trembled in fear, harbored resentment, or sought to comprehend his deeds. His thoughts stayed serene, locked firmly on what truly mattered—his own growth, his loved ones, his power, and the kingdom he was forging. Refusing to let that occurrence disrupt his tranquility, Aditya slipped back into his familiar daily habits, acting as though the extraordinary event had never taken place.

Aditya's routine kicked off at the break of dawn.

He rose before the sun climbed high, while the heavens lingered in a soft amber hue. His initial action was always practice. For him, such practice held immense value.

Should Alicia possess sufficient stamina after their evening exertions, she would accompany him. Yet, on numerous occasions, she stayed in slumber, her form drained from the fervent hours they had spent together the previous night. During those times, Aditya practiced in solitude.

A figure of his might couldn't afford to slack off. His prowess stemmed not solely from innate gifts. It arose from mastery, insight, and relentless practice.

Hours were devoted to honing his skills. At times, he concentrated on his Crimson Lightning Blink, drilling rapid shifts over brief spans and straining his physique to its utmost. His silhouette vanished and materialized again and again over the practice field, every shift growing more fluid and swift.

On alternate occasions, he worked on his fire manipulation. Tiny scarlet blazes danced over his hand, their heat gradually intensified while he ensured flawless steadiness. Rather than unleashing massive, ruinous blasts, he emphasized accuracy. He worked on squeezing the fires into slender strands, keen enough to slice metal without causing noticeable flares. The key lay in enhancing his grasp of the Crimson Flames and devising multiple potent methods to deploy against foes.

Certain days brought focus to his bodily form. He drilled hand-to-hand maneuvers, wielding his blade, refining his posture, and sharpening his reflexes. Occasionally, he went beyond blades to wield heavy swords, lances, and knives. The aim was to gain deeper knowledge of these arms.

Owing to his swift acquisition and adjustment talents, he possessed profound insight into melee fighting. Drawing lessons from adversaries mid-clash and turning them back proved a decisive advantage in combat.

With a multitude of abilities at his command, Aditya had to allot at least one or two hours daily to practice. Lacking diligent rehearsal, even the mightiest power could turn sluggish or wasteful. He ensured that, come the crucial hour, he could unleash the optimal move against rivals without a second's pause.

Once practice concluded, Aditya typically headed back to the royal halls.

There, he shared a meal with his kin. This stood as one of his scarce serene intervals. It served as a cherished chance for the household to connect. Such gatherings were unbreakable. All had to partake jointly, regardless of circumstances.

Seated as one, they fostered a soothing, hushed ambiance. At times, they chatted over trivial matters, at others, they bantered lightly, and occasionally, they savored the quiet in unison. For Aditya, these instances refreshed his spirit.

Post-meal, his gaze turned to his duties as sovereign. Much of the governing tasks flowed through the framework he had crafted alongside Spencer. Thanks to this setup, his burdens had lightened considerably.

Reports from various empire divisions came under his scrutiny. These covered output of supplies, advancement in urban growth, updates on troop drills, and fiscal steadiness. He verified that provisions stayed within reach for the populace, that forces kept up their regimens correctly, and that no aristocratic house overstepped its bounds.

Now and then, he greenlit building initiatives. At other points, he examined petitions from regional leaders or army heads.

With matters neatly arranged, these tasks seldom exceeded two or three hours. Spencer guaranteed that only vital issues landed on Aditya's desk.

The remaining hours of the day lay open for Aditya's discretion.

Occasionally, he lingered with his companions, basking in their presence and unwinding. Such interludes preserved his inner equilibrium. Even a being like him required periods to merely be, free from concerns of might, threats, or obligations.

Lately, though, his efforts centered on rune lore.

Aditya secluded himself in a still chamber, immersing fully in rune studies. The records from the Dwarf Ancestor proved invaluable beyond measure.

They held wisdom surpassing the grasp of current rune experts.

Aditya meticulously examined every rune design, dissecting its makeup, mana circulation, and intent. He repeatedly sketched runes, at times etching them into alloy slabs, at others shaping them from raw essence. Certain runes bolstered armaments.

Drawing from the notes' runes, he then tested his newfound knowledge on trial items and arrays. These being 5-star runes, mere recall wouldn't suffice. Even for Aditya, their intricacy demanded more than rote learning. To claim mastery as a 5-star rune expert, practical use was essential.

Thus unfolded the Dragon Monarch's everyday existence. A pattern untouched by external chaos. A lengthy, rewarding span. To him, this embodied the perfect existence.

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As the Dragon Monarch eased into his customary ways, untroubled by global affairs, numerous cultivators nursed dark schemes against the Istarin Empire and its Dragon Monarch.

Among the latest to join this fold were certain ex-Vice-Generals or Lieutenant Generals, offered spots in the Istarin Empire’s forces yet opting for rebellion. These officers didn't stray solo; a whopping 13,451 soldiers followed suit.

Their drive was straightforward and evident. These Lieutenant Generals refused integration into the Istarin Empire. The realm's rules were straightforward: no matter prior status, all military personnel underwent a grueling month-and-a-half regimen. Afterward, based on aptitude, cultivation level, and past deeds, positions were granted. It wasn't as if Radiant Empire's Lieutenant Generals would instantly hold the same in Istarin. Such simplicity didn't apply.

The other factor fueling this was a sense of disloyalty from their homeland. The abrupt choice by their ruler to discharge them with a chance to align with Istarin left them feeling abandoned. At minimum, this tale allowed the Lieutenant Generals to sway over 13,000 soldiers to neither pledge nor defect, but to turn renegade.

Compounding the issue, the Lieutenant Generals held nearly 200 million Royal Gold coins. They further asserted dominance over multiple vast man-made reservoirs and surrounding hamlets.

Independently, both the Istarin Empire and the Radiant Empire reached out to these Lieutenant Generals. Their aim was clear: resolve the discord amicably, avoiding clashes or needless loss of life. No realm desired to inflame tensions, particularly when dialogue could still contain the fallout.

Regrettably, these Lieutenant Generals refused to heed reason.

Initially, at least, cordial discussions persisted between the parties. Envoys arrived with dignity, bearing official dispatches and proposals to soothe the unrest. Briefly, prospects for non-violent settlement appeared viable.

Yet, following those early efforts, a shift occurred.

The precise catalyst in their thoughts remained unknown, but their conduct transformed utterly. They spurned every channel of dialogue. Before long, they breached an unforgivable threshold.

Assaults began on the envoys dispatched by each realm.

Certain envoys suffered wounds, while some narrowly fled alive. Replies shifted from discourse to aggression. What started as confusion had evolved into blatant antagonism.

From there, their aggression intensified further.

They regarded both realms as adversaries, offering no deference to their power. Scout units venturing close to their territories faced sudden strikes, with their forces brazenly flaunting enmity. Evidently, peaceful closure was off the table.

Witnessing the defiance of his once-subordinate Lieutenant Generals and soldiers, Emperor Rowan started to fret deeply.

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"How dare these scoundrels strike at their fellow countrymen?" The entire affair left Rowan sensing repeated blows to his dignity.

Prior to this mess, his command over the empire had been unyielding. Across centuries, dissent against the crown or ruler lay unthinkable. No revolts or insurrections marred his domain.

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