Chapter 377: Coronation (Part 3)
"King Kai Xiusu!"
In the hushed crowd, a sudden, naive voice rang out.
Whether orchestrated by the kingdom’s officials or a genuine cry from one of the many children blessed by royal favor, no one could say.
But immediately, a wave of roaring cheers erupted—again and again—among the masses. Among them were clearly planted supporters from the Propaganda Department.
"Emperor! Emperor!"
"King Kai Xiusu! Your Majesty!"
"For the Great Blueprint of the Red Dragon!"
Amidst the thunderous chants, the Red Dragon continued its slow, majestic procession along the vast avenue.
Flanking the road, the Guard planted their Long Spears into the ground in rhythmic unison, creating a thunderous drumbeat of steel.
The Wyverns that had landed on the earth stretched their long necks high, lifting their heads in unison and letting out soft, echoing cries.
The Ogre Tribesmen once again pushed forward their heavy cannons, erupting fiery bursts above the altar—flares of dazzling, blossoming fire.
And so, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of thousands gathered on-site, Kai Xiusu stepped forward with effortless grace, ascending the nearly thirty-meter-high altar in just a few strides—directly to the very summit of Isdalia.
Standing at the peak, Kai Xiusu cast his gaze across the horizon, his pale golden eyes sweeping over the sea of people below. Then, calmly, he spoke:
"Friends."
"Welcome to the Anzeta Great Wasteland. Welcome to my Coronation Ceremony."
As his words settled, a figure emerged before him—Black Hair, Golden Eyes, a handsome Human Noble, whose posture and movements perfectly mirrored the colossal Red Dragon behind him. This was Kai Xiusu’s Human Form Transformation.
"Whoa, the King Kai Xiusu’s human form! I’ve never seen this in person!"
"I’m totally head-over-heels for him!"
"Aaaaahhhhh—!"
This time, no need for pre-arranged officials to prompt a reaction. The Players erupted into even more fervent cheers—genuine, unfiltered, and utterly heartfelt.
"The ritual may begin."
Kai Xiusu paid no mind to the chaos. Calmly, he issued the command. From the altar, the One Man, One Dragon pair spoke in unison.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Below, the followers sprang into motion.
The Isdalia Grand Altar had seven tiers, connected by perfectly aligned staircases, forming a stone structure reminiscent of a pyramid—a physical representation of the kingdom’s current status hierarchy.
At the very top stood a vast platform, carved with intricate, mysterious symbols. It rose nearly ten meters above the level below—this was where Kai Xiusu now stood.
This platform symbolized the Supreme Royal Power of the Kingdom of Ashen, or, more precisely, the Imperial Authority of the Future Empire.
Lanpu, Dolo, and Meizhuolashi, the three Dukes, stepped forward one by one, climbing the long staircase to reach the sixth tier of the great altar. They stood in their pre-arranged positions, silent and still, awaiting the next phase of the ritual.
Then came Alje, Jinya, Dailenna, and seven other Marquises. Following them: twenty-four Barons, more than forty Viscounts, and over a hundred Barons.
Even those First-Class Citizens who had earned merit were granted this honor, forming a neat line at the very base of the altar.
"Woo—"
The Blue-Footed Serpent Horn sounded from below.
Now, the Isdalia Grand Altar teemed with people. Banners fluttered in the wind.
Citizens of the Kingdom of Ashen gazed up at the vigorous, confident Dragon-Blooded Nobles, marveling in awe—and deep envy.
Meanwhile, visitors from across the Feanso Continent fell into thoughtful silence. Such grand constructions were not unheard of across the land—most famously, the ancient Sacred Fedran.
"No… it can’t be."
"Could it… really be the Sun God Pyramid?"
"No, impossible. But still… this is too significant. Even a sliver of possibility is a world-shattering revelation. I must return at once to report to the King."
Deyef stared at the altar, shaking his head, his expression darkening.
A century and fifty years ago, the great Sun King Aragon I had erected three pyramids in Thrace, Cassander, and Seleucus, and in the heart of the empire, a far more magnificent Eternal Sun God Pyramid.
On the Sacred Festival Day of Amanatara Church—the Summer Solstice—all these pyramids simultaneously held rituals. The Sunlight Bestowal descended from Amanata, enabling hundreds to undergo Ascension—marking the very birth of the Holy Faedran Empire.
Now, the Coronation Ceremony of the Kingdom of Ashen stirred in Deyef memories of that sacred event.
Though such thoughts were, in truth, a heresy, he couldn’t help but draw the connection—and felt a deep, gnawing anxiety.
He had no idea that this was precisely Kai Xiusu’s intention—to provoke such reactions across the continent, to make nations recognize the weight of this moment.
Amidst the crowded throng, murmurs and whispers still rippled through the air.
"The ritual is about to begin."
"Please maintain silence."
Through specially crafted speakers, Lanpu’s calm voice carried to every corner of the gathering.
Under Lanpu’s announcement, beneath the overwhelming Aura of Intimidation radiating from the colossal Dragon on the high platform, the crowd of hundreds of thousands fell silent in an instant. All heads tilted upward, eyes fixed in awe.
Lanpu raised his hand and, with a flick of his fingers, summoned a beautifully crafted Scroll—already prepared—and slowly unrolled it.
An Ogre stepped forward and read aloud:
"Great 'King of the Burnt', King Kai Xiusu—in just a few short years, he has unified Anzeta, eradicated the Frost Giant Tribes of the North. With thunderous measures, he has brought long-lost Peace and Stability to the people of Anzeta—a feat unmatched by any ruler in this land for over a thousand years."
"For this reason, the people of Anzeta, from every corner of the realm, unanimously declare: the title 'King' is no longer sufficient to describe the greatness of King Kai Xiusu. He deserves a title more noble—Emperor."
"King Kai Xiusu shall forever lead this land. And the Kingdom of Ashen shall rise—transformed into a far greater nation: the Empire of Ashen!"
"Emperor! Emperor of the Ashen Flame!"
"Empire of Ashen!"
"Long Live the Emperor! Long Live the Empire!"
As Lanpu’s voice faded, the crowd exploded once more into deafening cheers. Under the watchful eyes of the Tiefling Guards, the roar this time was louder than ever before.
Those at the front knelt, tears streaming down their faces, some so overwhelmed they nearly fainted—though no one could tell if it was genuine emotion… or just another scripted moment from the Propaganda Department.
"The gratitude of King Kai Xiusu could never be repaid in a lifetime!"
"Your Majesty, we pledge ourselves to you! You gave us a new life!"
From the crowd, representatives of Humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Ogres, and other familiar races pushed forward, their faces alight with honor and excitement.
Together, they lifted a scroll—tens of meters long—crafted from the finest Prime Bullhide, and slowly unfurled it across the path.
The smooth surface was covered in thousands of handprints, claw marks, and even hoofprints.
"King Kai Xiusu, we humbly petition you: Crown us! This is the will of the people!"
"Yes! If it means our lives, we will give them!"
"You are our salvation!"
"Exactly, Your Majesty—only through this act can we begin to repay your gratitude."
The Familiar Representatives knelt, their heads bowed. On the scroll, bold, shining characters read:
"Petition for the Coronation of Emperor Kai Xiusu"
Signed by tens of thousands of Familiar, this scroll stood as proof: the Emperor’s coronation was not merely a matter of national development—it was the heart’s deepest desire of the people.
It declared, beyond any doubt, that this coronation was legally justified and practically inevitable.
On the high platform, Kai Xiusu surveyed the grand spectacle below, forcing himself to maintain a dignified posture.
"Awkward situation, huh? The Propaganda Department really went overboard this time. But…"
"…the effect? Seems to be working."
The Red Dragon watched the Foreign Envoys—their faces frozen in shock, fear, and utter bewilderment—and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
It was clear: when it came to public opinion campaigns, these Players had already left the rest of Feanso far behind.
(End of Chapter)
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