Unlike the Ice Magic that almost changed the structure of the Sivalentine Capital not long ago, the burning golden flames immediately made Vivian think of the True God praised by many, embodying justice and righteousness.

Vivian couldn't recognize what magic this was, nor had anyone ever recorded a similar spell.

She glanced inadvertently at Ethan. She wondered if Ave-Margaret felt the same way when she arrived at the execution platform in the Imperial Capital, witnessing her father falsely accused and about to be executed.

But for the enemy soldiers wailing across the field, the fireballs falling from the sky awakened the fear within them.

"Retreat quickly, it's Merlin!"

"Merlin has returned!"

Crying out from the crowd arose, for in their understanding, only the Great Guardian of the Gallog Dynasty could unleash such disaster-like elemental magic.

If Merlin weren't dead, no one would dare wage war against the Gallog Dynasty.

Those who could still move scattered in the flames, the Chief of Imperial Guard gazed at this inexplicable Fire Elemental Magic, bewildered, and involuntarily uttered, "Lord Merlin, have you returned?"

Merlin's position in the hearts of the dynasty's residents was unshakable; he had created countless miracles to date.

Perhaps...

Perhaps resurrection was also part of Merlin's plan.

"He is not Merlin."

Hearing this, Vivian interrupted the Chief of Imperial Guard's thoughts. As the "Princess of the Fallen Country" traveling with Ethan, the youth who resembled the Evil God in demeanor had long surpassed Merlin in her heart. Unlike the names existing only in mythology, Ethan had tangibly appeared by her side in the most perilous times.

She didn't want Ethan to be regarded as someone else, nor did she want him to live in Merlin's shadow.

She emphasized to the guards, "His name is Ethan, that's his name."

The guards' gazes uniformly turned towards Ethan; many remembered their initial appearance and their self-introduction, which sounded like a scam.

——Don't provoke Ethan, he recently slaughtered an entire city!

This was Vivian's initial threat to the guards, which anyone dismissed with a laugh, just an impromptu exaggeration from a young girl, devoid of threat and more amusing.

But at this moment, witnessing the comet falling within the Royal Capital, many guards couldn't help but feel a chill.

Of course, Vivian's assertion was soon refuted by Ethan himself.

He was no psychopathic killer, naturally incapable of committing such a massacre. He technically explained to the Chief of Imperial Guard the principles behind the advanced Ice Elemental Magic—technically speaking, the residents of the Golden Kingdom didn't die. The appendages growing from their bodies merely limited their actions, and once the golden radiation was removed, those growths could revert.

For the residents of the Sivalentine Capital, it was merely a nightmare.

The Chief of Imperial Guard was bewildered, but he fully understood now.

"Technically speaking," if Ethan intended to use Elemental Magic to commit genocide, it wouldn't be too difficult.

...

It was destined to be a sleepless night, as a meteorite crashed into the Land of Gold, and history's trajectory veered off course.

But not everyone was willing to accept the change in history. Upon learning of the upheaval in the Royal Capital, the ministers around the King sprang into action.

A self-proclaimed legitimate heir to the dynasty and a potential Elemental Shaper capable of summoning meteors made them restless, the kingdom they'd already secured now developed in an unpredictable direction due to this sequence of events.

Before dawn, the ministers gathered everyone and urgently convened a meeting, presided over by the young king himself.

In the meeting, Vivian personally saw this last king of the Gallog Dynasty.

Despite being surrounded by ministers, he cowered and hid among the crowd, appearing younger than Vivian, uninterested in state affairs, unable to contribute to the heated discussions, seemingly uncared for by anyone, while the ministers argued passionately, emphasizing the purity of dynastic bloodlines and demanding the sudden heir prove their legitimacy.

They left themselves enough leeway in their words—even if Vivian were the legitimate heir, she would have no right to assume the throne.

The ministers argued based on reason, never had the Gallog Dynasty seen a queen before, against tradition, and they accused Vivian of being too extreme to rally popular support.

The most agitated was the diplomat summoned by the ministers. Upon learning of the military casualties, he erupted with threats and warnings, demanding more territory compensation due to Vivian and Ethan's actions, and drafting new indemnities, or else they vowed to continue the war until their forces leveled the Land of Gold.

Vivian merely sat quietly beside them, listening to the spirited arguments.

The sound of furious shouting and table pounding made her feel a little dazed.

Those attending the meeting were key ministers of the dynasty and diplomats from the empire, each capable of deciding the Gallog Dynasty's direction. Despite differing identities and factions, they all seemed to stand united now.

They had already agreed on the terms, implicitly blaming these two unexpected "troublemakers" for ruining everything.

So...

Is this how the Gallog Dynasty met its end?

This thought surfaced in Vivian's mind, the ministers' dispute shattering her last illusions about the Gallog Dynasty.

"The outcome of the war is certain; do you still want to incur unnecessary casualties?"

Someone questioned Vivian, "Would you make the dynasty's residents bear unnecessary sacrifices, tearing families apart, is this what you want?"

"Are you saying ceding half of the dynasty's territory is the best solution?"

The minister halted, unsure where Vivian had heard these secrets—they hadn't disclosed the specifics of the treaty yet, given the negotiation progress.

Despite this, for those outside the royal family, the kingdom's territory range never held such importance. After the Great Guardian's death, they began preparing backup plans, not immersing themselves in national mourning. Gradually, they realized this might actually be beneficial for them.

If Merlin were still alive, if the old king hadn't passed, they couldn't have possibly seized such power today.

Once the treaty was signed, their power could persist for a long time.

With time, as the dynasty took on a new name, the narrative of a legitimate Gallog bloodline would gradually fade, and by then...

"These are unavoidable measures."

The speaking minister adjusted his emotions, finally mustering a sorrowful demeanor.

"So, what do you plan to do with me, the sinner who broke the peace treaty out of personal desire?"

A question interrupted the heated debate, and silence fell over the crowd.

They hesitated, their gazes shifting between Ethan and the diplomat.

Ethan didn't want to waste time on meaningless arguments; the true threat lay elsewhere rather than with this invader who wouldn't last long in history's course.

He had crossed the timeline through Merlin's puzzle, arriving in the streets of the Land of Gold in 407, but hadn't yet encountered the King of Gold himself.

The diplomat raised an eyebrow, "Naturally, you must account for such vile actions!"