Capítulo 143: Chapter 143: The First and Second Eras
Not long after, the dark clouds that had covered Sandsea Town receded.
The land that had been polluted and turned into a dark swamp was purified by the well-armored elven cavalry.
Meanwhile, the similarly armored dwarves were setting up a camp for the army outside the town, assisting in rebuilding the damaged walls and restoring the core of the magical barrier.
Many residents who had left their homes moved through the streets of Sandsea, bringing food and water to reward the surviving defenders, and bandaging and treating the wounded.
In the central castle of Sandsea Town, within the council hall:
The space was spacious and simply decorated, with no extravagant adornments. A row of stone pillars stood by the entrance leading to the northern garden.
In the center of the hall was a large sand table. The towns, villages, and surrounding terrain simulated on the sand table were so lifelike that they rivaled the detail of a holographic map.
At that moment, the lord of Sandsea Town, a few surviving commanders, and a group of elves and dwarves gathered around the sand table. Among them was the "young" female elf the lord had addressed as queen.
This queen had amber eyes that sparkled like gemstones, her features were exquisitely balanced, and her long, pointed ears were hidden beneath her waist-length hair. Her face remained calm and expressionless, betraying no emotions.
"Thank you all for your timely assistance." The lord, his face still stained with blood, looked around the group and spoke with sincere gratitude: "Sandsea Town has little to offer in return, except our finest local wine as a token of our appreciation."
"You're too kind!" A dwarven lord responded with a hearty laugh. "It's only right that the people of Terraria stand together against Moedo. But... having some wine at a time like this is a rare treat!"
"Indeed, as Lord Dalein said," the elven queen responded with a gentle smile, bowing slightly as she spoke in a soft voice, "The people of Terraria should help each other and fight together against the now awakened Dark Lord. There's no need for thanks, Lord Xiheton."
As soon as the queen finished speaking, the previously harmonious and joyful atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly. Everyone, except the elven commanders, grew visibly tense.
"He's really awakened?"
"We can't win this war…"
"Without the royal family, Moedo is unstoppable..."
Several human commanders who had fought the fanatical followers up close knew how terrifying those crazed individuals were. Upon hearing the elven queen's words, they were overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
History from the First Era had made it clear: only the human royal family could suppress the sealed Moedo.
The royal family, the elves, the dwarves, and the people of Terraria—all lived on a planet known as Terraria. This planet had existed for nearly four billion years since its formation.
Though it was smaller than Earth, Terraria's orbit around the sun and its rotation were nearly identical to Earth's.
Located in the habitable zone of its star system, Terraria had undergone periods of biological explosions and mass extinctions, eventually giving rise to intelligent life forms such as humans, elves, and dwarves.
In many ways, Terraria could be seen as another Earth in the Zero-Seven Universe.
Life and civilization on Terraria mirrored Earth closely, which was why figures like Leon and Mike could understand the traveler's guide at the inn in River Creek Town.
However, the existence of magic had led to significant differences in the advancement of civilization, with Terraria's technological development branching off from Earth's entirely.
Thus, while those gathered in the council hall used familiar concepts like years and dates, the current date—April 2—was not in the year 2000, but rather the year 1447 of the Second Era.
The First Era, which had ended approximately 12,000 years ago, was the dawn of all civilization.
On Terraria, there were many intelligent species, including humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, giants, and dragons.
Humans, elves, and dwarves shared a common ancestor, and because their cultures were similar and there were no reproductive barriers between them, the three races had always maintained close relationships, frequently helping one another.
Despite this cooperation, they faced constant struggles.
For example, the orcs despised all other intelligent life forms, had a high reproductive rate, and possessed physical abilities second only to the elves.
In the third millennium of the First Era, the orcs had conquered the entire southern hemisphere of Terraria, gradually encroaching on the last remaining space for other races.
Finally, at the end of the third millennium of the First Era, a human emperor—who stood over four meters tall and had mastered magic to its utmost—emerged.
In just one year, this emperor united the elves and dwarves, securing control over the northern hemisphere. He brought the dragons, giants, and other races under his banner and launched a full-scale counterattack against the orcs.
At the start of the fourth millennium, the emperor led the united races to victory over the orcs, establishing a human-led empire that ruled over all of Terraria with unmatched power.
The orcs, who hated all intelligent life, were driven to the depths of the southern pole, hiding within underground tunnels.
The empire, with its limited forces, could not spare enough troops to fully eradicate the orcs, allowing them to survive.
By the middle of the fourth millennium, the human emperor—despite his extended lifespan and still being in his prime—chose to abdicate the throne, entrusting the empire to his eldest grandson.
Then, the emperor vanished without a trace, as if he had disappeared from existence entirely.
Some said he had retreated to the mountains and forests, while others claimed he had built a tomb underground, awaiting the inevitable end of his life.
Regardless, the empire flourished without the emperor, reaching a peak population of 4.2 billion across all the races.
But at the end of the First Era, a distant relative of the royal family named Moir embarked on a solitary journey to the southern abyss.
Twisted in mind and consumed by madness, Moir sought to use the orcs to gain supreme power.
In the end, Moir sacrificed his soul to an orc shaman and offered up his royal bloodline, becoming the vessel for the god the orcs worshipped—Moedo.
Without the emperor, Moedo's army of "monsters" became nearly unstoppable.
The First Era ended with the disintegration of the empire and a drastic reduction in population.
However, before the end, the adult descendants of the royal family willingly sacrificed their lives and souls to seal Moedo and his massive army within the southern mountains, bringing that dark chapter of history to a close.
The Second Era began with the rebuilding of the empire by the last remaining royal bloodline.
But in the year 1133, the peace that should have been maintained between the races was shattered by yet another power struggle within the royal family—an internal conflict that led to mutual slaughter.
Humanity was left without any royal descendants.
It was then that the elves made a prophecy to the world: "A new human emperor will descend from the heavens with his descendants and warriors, saving Terraria from destruction."
At this moment, a fierce debate erupted in the council hall of Sandsea Town, centered around that prophecy.
Moedo's awakening was undeniable, but the "new human emperor" was nowhere to be seen. The stubborn dwarves argued for retreating to the northern hemisphere and building fortifications to stop the spread of Moedo's dark forces.
"Everyone, the emperor has already arrived on Terraria."
Suddenly, the elven queen's words silenced the entire hall.
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