Hēnte is a country where people live in peace and harmony. But they keep their hopes up for when the chaos will end.

"Good morning to you, my friend!" a shopkeeper said with a smile. "A fine day in the market, isn't it?" He continued to walk and greet others with a nod on the cheerful street.

Vendors called out to attract customers. They were friendly, using humorous remarks to persuade passersby.

"The lady in blue, yes you," a charismatic vendor selling jewels said. "You're bluer than the sky above. This blue stone pendant will make you prettier than any lady on this street."

The lady blushed at his sweet talk. And of course, she ended up buying more.

"Aren't you blessed today, my dear?" A woman in fine, patterned muslin silk praised a pretty child on the sidewalk with her brother.

Four empires united to fight the shadow demons and monsters from the Land of Satanus. They share their power in a way that protects their citizens. The empires have different social statuses. But, they have always cared for their people.

Except for a few nobles who blind themselves with power and greed.

"Tsk. Get out of my sight, you filthy little thing." A noble bald man scoffed at a lowly young vendor trying to sell him a bouquet of fresh flowers.

The capital of Hēnte is the Golden Empire of Verticulas. It is the largest continent in the country and is rich in magic, metal, food sources, and gold.

"Fresh meat, you there, my friend!" a butcher called out to attract customers.

"Fresh fruits and vegetables, for you, madam!" a freckled young lady beamed with a smile.

The market was bustling with vendors selling goods all day. It was always a blissful atmosphere to start the day.

The previous emperor, Frederick Verticulas, empowered equality among all social classes.

The peasants could join the combat forces. They could become warriors who protect the innocent.

"Finally!" A lowly young boy in his tattered clothes felt excited to join the mana exam.

The middle and upper classes could become mages or knights to protect the continent. They could be promoted to commanders who would lead a group to safety.

"I am a better swordsman than those peasants," a young nobleman boasted to his noble friends.

Every three years, all children aged thirteen and above took a mana exam in the open arena. Each carried a parchment application with their name, age, and gender. In the center of the application was a tick box for their mana abilities.

[ ] Red

[ ] Purple

[ ] Green

[ ] Yellow

[ ] Gray

The mages used a crystal ball to check the children’s abilities. When the crystal ball changed color, it identified the child's mana.

"Pass!" A mage ticked red.

"Next!"

Red and purple could be mages. Green and yellow could be knights or healers. Blue could be a warrior. But, if the crystal ball turned gray, the child could not pass because of a medical condition.

A commander would go with the child and let them wear a bracelet that matched their mana color. Then, the empire's staff would take them to its training grounds to start training for a year.

After that, they sent the children out either to the North or on an excursion to the East, West, and South to undergo rigorous training that separated them from their families.

"You're allowed to send letters to your families once a month." A strict commander with a deep scar on his face said. "So, it's for the best that you behave while you're here. They will feed you well, and you will wear uniforms. Understood?!"

The younglings cowered as they nodded.

These laws were passed down to the newly crowned emperor of the Golden Empire of Verticulas. Their allegiance to the West, South, East, and North empires grew stronger.

They worked together diversely and justly for the good of all humanity.

The Empire of Īsern, East of Hēnte

The Empire of Isern was rich in iron and bronze. They mass-produced various steel weapons for their country and its neighboring countries.

Emperor Earl Erealus was the ruler of Īsern. He had two sons, Isaac Erealus and Ivan Erealus. They were known for their fighting skills and striking body build. Every young lady in Īsern desired to get a grasp of their well-toned body.

The Emperor’s only daughter, Yzabelle Erealus, was the second concubine of Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas, known for her great demeanor and grace like a saintess.

She knew how to wield a sword, having been taught by her eldest brother, Isaac. But nothing could make her happier than the gossip in the palace. Her only rival was Dianthus Aechmā.

The Empire of Aechmā, West of Hēnte

This continent was the land of the rising mages. Their greatest power was casting spells.

Their power was the backbone of Hēnte: the barrier seal that protected against demons and monsters. The barrier that Doris Aechmā created was well-preserved, and he was the father of Dominic Aechmā and Dianthus Aechmā.

Dominic was a great mage who aided the Empire of Coldēus, north of Hēnte. He was required to maintain the barrier seal between the north and the Land of Satanus. However, the foundation of the barrier spell was not as strong as that of the Archmage, Apollis.

The barrier spell could sting monsters and block them from entering the Coldēus Empire's walls, but it worked differently on shadow demons.

The shadow demons scattered in different regions of Hēnte and were unafraid of the barrier. They helped the demons by dispelling the barrier with their faint breath. It would darken to a brittle black as their fire breath kissed it.

Dianthus, also known as Dianne, was the first concubine of Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas. She had healing powers, and people knew her for her grace and beauty, but she had a sinister personality and practiced dark magic discreetly.

The Empire of Coldēus, North of Hēnte

Coldēus was the coldest continent of Hēnte. They never saw sunny days.

The people here looked like those with albinism. Their skin was as white as snow. Their eyes were like moon meadows. Their lips were soft and muted in color.

Visitors would be well advised not to be enchanted by their exotic beauty. This place was full of savage warrior men and women. They could split humans and monsters in half.

This empire had no children. It was a place for skilled warriors and knights.

They made an oath to protect the wall against monsters and shadow demons.

The tyrant Emperor of Coldēus was Castaeus Coldēus, a young and bold man.

Castaeus killed his entire clan and rebuilt the North in secret. He was born merciless, like Hades. His amber eyes, like a shaft of light, could control monsters and humans.

He had pale skin, deep blue eyes, and long silver hair. Yet, behind his handsome and masculine looks, he hid a secret lover behind closed doors.

People had to be careful when setting foot in the land of Coldēus. The continent might have appeared glamorous from afar, but it was full of illusion spells of hunger and lust. Only the nous potion could save you from entering their continent.

Unfortunately, you could only get the nous potion in the Golden Empire. It was made by the former Empress, Robina Verticulas. You needed permission from the current Emperor, Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas.

Without the nous potion, the dark forest would embrace you in your wildest dreams, and that was death.

Empire of Vincentus, South of Hēnte

This land near the coastal area of the South was abundant in dairy, poultry, meat, and fish.

It was a five-day journey by sea to the small country of Mercius, where Irelina Mercius was born.

Viktor Lan Vincentus was a kind person, but a reserved leader. He owned the fastest cargo ship, the Freightage Spell.

His eldest son, Cī’er Vincentus, was a great swordsman.

Cī’er aided the Empire of Coldēus if war arose between Hēnte and the Land of Satanus. He had inherited one of his father's best swords, the Exterminator: Blood Sword of Achilles. It exterminated monsters, but was limited against shadow demons.

It was also the only sword that could scathe the Emperor of Verticulas.

Cī’er had a huge training ground for recruits. He trained them to be great swordsmen.

Meanwhile, Earlena Vincentus was the precious daughter and sister of the South Empire.

The chosen Queen of Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas. She was known for her mystic beauty, which resembled the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. She might not have inherited her father’s power or weaponry, but her soft tone was reminiscent of calmness.

When Zeddrick went berserk in front of Doris Aechmā, it was Earlena who calmed him down. Doris did not want to take allegiance with the Golden Empire. Their arrogance and hypocrisy as mages sparked Zeddrick's fury.

Earlena Vincentus offered an agreement to make Doris's daughter the first concubine of the Verticulas Empire before she became Queen.

Zeddrick, at that time, was the crown prince. He opposed Earlena's idea. But, because he loved Earlena, he only agreed after she became queen.

Doris later accepted the peace offering.

They coexisted with the rest of the empire, which would provide and share the power.

The Golden Empire of Verticulas, Central of Hēnte

The Golden Empire of Verticulas was the largest central continent of Hēnte. It controlled and balances the country's foundation.

The current emperor of Verticulas was Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas. He was the first son of Freddrick and Robina Verticulas. He had no siblings.

He was a flame-wielder who controlled the blue and red fire, the power of which could destroy an entire castle.

The people regarded him as the hero who could fight the Demon Lord, Lū’re. But a mystery shadowed his power.

He was a well-known tyrant, like Castaeus Coldēus. They had fought together in the Land of Satanus during his reign as Crown Prince of Verticulas.

Zeddrick was an autocrat. Yet, he was the most beautiful, wisest, and fiercest man in the country. It was Earlena Vincentus who captured and thawed his frozen heart.

Zeddrick and Earlena became the Emperor and Empress of Verticulas. It was then the most prosperous, harmonious country ever.

But an unforeseen event occurred in the Empress's palace.

The Land of Satanus, Far North of Hēnte

A land where shadow demons and monsters hibernated and multiplied.

It had poisonous black spring water, which hybrid monsters could consume.

Poisonous fruits that withered after being plucked by monsters and demons.

Black flowers that released toxic fumes.

And where...the forbidden black magic lie.

The Demon Lord Lū’re, the serpent king of the underworld, also known as “Ur,” ruled the land. Though he had slept for thousands of years, his followers had never stopped.

They had multiplied by inhaling a red mist from a crystal red stone, in the Black Weald of Ur's labyrinth.

It was said that a mighty sword had thrust the heart stone away from the Demon King’s body.

No one knew that the heart stone could bear its children: the monsters.

Meanwhile, the shadow demons survived by hiding in human skin. They awaited their master’s return to the Land of Satanus.

The herte was the key to awakening the Demon Lord when the right time came. And there was a possibility the Demon Lord would be awakened by a nameless spell from someone else’s hand.

The shadow demons had been tailing the scent of the last descendants of Circē. She had the Bracha blood of the Athánato Dásos Vasiliás, Ta-ur, who slept in the Earth's core.

No one knew the story of Ta-ur or how he was born from the soil of the earth.

He had been in hibernation for thousands of years, just like the Demon Lord.

His invincible roots had secretly absorbed the mana of Hēnte.

And the mystery and origin of Azarel would cause havoc once awakened.