The Conquerors Path Chapter 980 - 978-Actions, Reaction And Consequences.

Third Person POV:

Once again, the world was plunged into utter chaos!

This was no minor disturbance; it was a cataclysmic shift. The academy, which was supposed to be the ultimate sanctuary where students felt secure, had failed to remain a beacon of light. Instead, the foul shadows of the world had managed to infiltrate its halls.

A student—a renowned and beloved figure akin to a celebrity—had nearly been kidnapped, narrowly escaping an unspeakable evil. Most shocking was that this atrocity was orchestrated by the very teachers sworn to safeguard her. A more profound failure could hardly be imagined. It represented the ultimate disgrace for the academy and a massive disappointment to the entire world.

How could any parent feel comfortable sending their child to the academy if even the instructors were untrustworthy?

That question loomed over the world like a hanging blade.

Yet, despite the scandal, the name on everyone’s lips remained Austin Lionheart. Previously regarded as a rising young hero, he had now performed a feat so staggering that even when confirmed by the most reliable sources, people struggled to believe it. The events were so surreal they felt as though they belonged in a fairy tale.

The truth felt like a legend from ancient myths—a literal fairy tale.

In a public display, Austin Lionheart had defeated a titan of the younger generation. He didn't use mana or complex techniques; he won through a traditional contest of raw physical strength. This alone would have sent tremors through the continent, but it was only the beginning. In fact, Austin dominating such an impossible challenge was actually the most believable part of his day.

From that point on, the narrative spiraled into the realm of the impossible. The entire Archery Association had been targeted by the war council, who aimed to dismantle the Archery Tower. Every detail had been meticulously planned, the laws were manipulated, and the trap was set tight. The war council had the law and the "truth" on their side, a tactic they had successfully used many times before and surely intended to use again.

However, this time, the plan collapsed. It backfired so violently that the war council was buried in more shame than the academy itself.

Austin Lionheart.

The legendary Austin Lionheart, a young man not yet nineteen, had single-handedly thrashed guards at the Origin level 10 and even overpowered their elite force of Imperial realm Elders.

It reads like a work of fiction, doesn't it? But this time, it was reality!

The entire sequence was caught on record. Journalists witnessed it. Undeniable evidence was scattered everywhere. There was no room for denial. If that were the extent of it, Austin might not have been hailed as a hero. But he did more than just win a fight. He stripped away the mask of the war council, exposing the deep-seated hypocrisy hidden beneath. They had marched in with swords drawn, claiming to investigate corruption in the Archery Association, while corruption was actually festering within their own ranks.

Like a figure out of legend, Austin radiated a warmth that forced the hidden rot to the surface, revealing corruption even among the war council's own guards. Numerous influential organizations were forced to act simultaneously. Powerful Elders had to abandon their seclusion and rush out from their families and sects to manage the fallout. With a single stroke, Austin had unmasked the filth that had grown while everyone was blinded by a long peace.

The world spiraled into even greater turmoil. Hailed as a hero, Austin forced the world to acknowledge a vulnerability it could no longer ignore. Because of him, everything shifted. The global landscape was transformed. Great powers were compelled to intervene. The war council lost its prestige and authority, as the world saw that corruption had flourished right under their leadership. A darkness that should have been a myth had grown right beneath their noses.

It was now undeniable that they were failing in their duties. Public outcry grew, screams of protest were heard, and the factions that had been suppressed by the war council began to revolt. They fanned the flames of the fire Austin had ignited, leaving the war council trapped. Their avarice was exposed, their blunders were laid bare, and no matter how they tried to suppress the news, it was too late.

Thus, action was unavoidable. The war council was forced to pay a heavy price for their false accusations against the Archery Association—which, ironically, contained no members tainted by the red mark of corruption.

Of all the groups involved, the Archery Association emerged with the cleanest reputation and the greatest surge in power and prestige. There was no disputing their rise. They vaulted from the middle ranks of influence straight to the pinnacle, bolstered by the fact that Austin was one of their own.

The very organization that was meant to fall instead rose higher than any other, and any group wanting to prove their own integrity felt compelled to praise the Archery Association. Even the war council was forced to offer their commendations.

The war council had to act, and they had to act quickly. They scrambled into motion. Due to Austin’s intervention, a massive amount of evidence surfaced. Those exposed had to be detained. Answers were demanded. Having lost their reputation and a significant portion of their control, the war council had to follow the letter of the law perfectly this time. The eyes of the world were fixed upon them, waiting like a pack of hyenas for a single slip-up to tear them apart.

The war council pulled out all the stops. They brought in their best people, utilized their resources, and for once, functioned as they were originally intended to, without bias or hesitation. It seemed as if the whole world had united for this cause, and the war council even went as far as publicly praising Austin’s deeds, elevating his status as a hero. Only the heavens know the bitterness in their hearts as they were forced to do so.

For the first time in ages, the war council had lost it all: their honor, their influence, their divine favor, and their justification for ruling over the world's various powers—all because of a young man barely nineteen years old.

One can only imagine the depth of the fury burning within them. To many observers, the situation was chilling. It felt like the rise of a true protagonist, the kind of legend that appears when the world is in its darkest hour. But Austin’s impact didn't end there.

While he was uncovering the truth for the world, a different evil was attempting to harm his family—specifically, his younger sister. Teachers who were supposed to guide Elda and serve as moral examples had conspired to abduct her and two other students. Their true motives remained a mystery, but the plot had nearly succeeded.

An innocent, pure girl was almost swallowed by the world's darkness, but Austin intervened.

When she was threatened, Austin sensed it. Utilizing the final remnants of the majestic power he had absorbed, he moved, shattering the academy's spatial defenses—barriers that had never been breached—to save his beloved family. He brought with him a storm of vengeance.

Before the eyes of the entire academy, Austin demonstrated the consequences of harming his family and targeting those he loved. In that moment, Austin Lionheart was no hero. He wasn't the kind youth everyone recognized. He was a demon, an executioner—a man seeking simple retribution against those who dared to strike.

His ruthless actions were witnessed and documented by many, yet no one dared to protest. No one could even find the words to criticize him. After everything he had done, nobody could claim he had gone too far, nor could anyone honestly say they wouldn't have done the same in his shoes.

And so, the legend was carved into the history of the world—the tale of how a single youth, in just one hour, performed deeds that altered the course of history and moved the entire world to action. Nearly a week has passed since those events, yet Austin’s name remains the primary topic of conversation everywhere.

The masses are all asking the same thing: what is Austin doing now?