Chapter 257: Beginning of the Faction

[: 3rd POV :]

Daniel then slowly turned his head.

His gaze moved toward the Fifteen Rulers standing proudly behind him.

His mother, Melira, smiled gently while looking at him with pride.

Caelira gave him an encouraging nod.

Xereth crossed his arms with complete confidence.

Kaelgor grinned fearlessly.

Sylthara smiled elegantly.

Every ruler met his gaze.

Not a single one hesitated.

Not a single one doubted him.

Seeing the trust within their eyes caused Daniel to smile faintly.

Then...he turned back toward everyone.

His expression gradually became serious.

The atmosphere itself seemed to become heavier.

"This..."

Daniel began calmly.

"...is perhaps the most important announcement I have made since becoming your King."

His voice was neither loud nor forceful.

Yet every single person heard him clearly.

It was as though his words resonated directly within their hearts.

"I thank every one of you for gathering here on such short notice."

He slowly looked around the enormous hall once more.

"I sincerely thank you."

Many people unconsciously straightened their posture.

Some smiled proudly.

Others lowered their heads respectfully.

Daniel continued.

"There is something I wish to tell every one of you today."

He paused briefly.

His next words caused everyone’s expressions to become solemn.

"As all of you already know..."

"Our enemies..."

"...are not few."

The atmosphere became noticeably quieter.

"They are not merely kingdoms."

"They are not merely races."

"They are not merely worlds."

Daniel slowly raised his head.

"Our enemies are existences capable of destroying planets."

"Our enemies are beings who regard civilizations as insignificant."

"Our enemies are entities who can erase countless lives with nothing more than a single thought."

His calm voice echoed throughout the Grand Hall.

"There are beings who could crush every one of us..."

"...with nothing more than a flick of their finger."

Silence.

Nobody interrupted him.

Nobody dared to.

Some representatives subconsciously clenched their fists.

Others lowered their heads.

Several younger leaders felt their hearts become heavy.

The sheer difference in scale was overwhelming.

One Dragon Commander whispered quietly.

"...So even after becoming this strong..."

"...we’re still that insignificant..."

An elderly Human General sighed.

"The Universe truly is vast..."

A young Beast warrior bit his lip.

"So this is the reality beyond our world..."

Fear slowly began appearing throughout the hall.

Daniel noticed every expression.

He understood exactly what they were feeling.

Then...he smiled.

A confident smile.

A reassuring smile.

A smile that instantly calmed countless anxious hearts.

"But..."

The single word immediately drew everyone’s attention back toward him.

"As long as I stand here..."

Daniel’s golden eyes shone brilliantly.

"...none of them will ever lay their hands upon you."

His voice became firmer.

"Not Apostles."

"Not Chosen Ones."

"And not even Gods."

The declaration exploded like thunder throughout the Grand Hall.

Everyone widened their eyes.

Even the Fifteen Rulers felt chills running down their spines despite already knowing Daniel’s ambitions.

Melira smiled proudly.

"...That’s my son."

Xereth burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! That’s exactly how a King should speak!"

Kaelgor slammed his fist against his chest.

"Now those are words worthy of following!"

The Dragon Empress smiled elegantly.

"He truly has become someone extraordinary."

Meanwhile...

The countless people gathered below stared at Daniel with burning eyes.

Not a single person doubted him.

Because every impossible promise Daniel had ever made...

He had fulfilled.

If anyone else had spoken such words...

They would have been laughed at.

But Daniel...

Was different.

He had already proven countless times that impossibility meant nothing before him.

Daniel slowly extended one hand before him.

"I did not gather all of you merely to speak of danger."

"I gathered you because today..."

"...marks the beginning of a new era."

His voice echoed throughout every corner of the Grand Hall.

"A day will come..."

"...when every civilization throughout the Universe knows our name."

"A day will come..."

"...when no enemy dares threaten our people."

"A day will come..."

"...when those who seek refuge will look toward us."

"And a day will come..."

"...when the entire Universe shall tremble upon hearing the name..."

Daniel’s eyes became sharper than ever before.

"...Vahl’Zareth."

The instant the name left his lips...

The atmosphere changed.

An indescribable pressure silently descended.

It lasted only an instant.

Yet everyone felt it.

Many representatives instinctively held their breath.

Some felt goosebumps spread across their entire bodies.

Others felt their souls tremble slightly.

A young Human Commander blinked repeatedly.

"...Vahl..."

He subconsciously attempted to repeat the name.

"Vahl’Za..."

The moment the second syllable left his mouth...

A sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest.

"...Ah!"

He immediately covered his heart.

Beside him, an elderly mage suddenly grabbed his throat.

"My... voice..."

Another representative staggered backward.

"It hurts..."

Several dragons instinctively stopped speaking midway.

"What is happening?"

The pain was not unbearable.

It was not enough to injure them.

Yet it served as a clear warning.

A warning that continued growing stronger the more they attempted to force themselves to pronounce the name.

The entire Grand Hall became filled with shocked expressions.

"W... What was that?"

"I merely tried saying the name..."

"My soul actually reacted..."

"It felt as though something warned me not to continue."

Even the Fifteen Rulers exchanged surprised glances.

Mika blinked in astonishment.

"So this is..."

"The authority of the Progenitor..."

Erika covered her mouth.

"So Big Brother’s faction name really became protected by the Universe..."

Daniel quietly watched everyone’s reactions before speaking once more.

"The name..."

"...is not meant to be spoken lightly."

His calm voice instantly silenced the hall.

Daniel looked at the countless people kneeling before him.

Not a single one spoke.

Not a single one dared to interrupt.

Every pair of eyes remained fixed upon him, waiting for his next words.

A faint smile appeared across Daniel’s face.

"The consequences you have just experienced..."

He slowly glanced around the Grand Hall.

"...are merely a warning."

"The name of my faction is no ordinary name."

"It carries the Origin of our existence."

"It carries our purpose."

"It carries our future."

"It carries the will of everyone who shall stand beneath its banner."

His voice gradually became louder.

"That is exactly what I wanted."

His golden eyes shone with unwavering conviction.

"I want a faction whose very name causes the Universe to hesitate."

"I want a faction whose existence makes even ancient beings think twice before becoming our enemy."

"I want a faction whose enemies fear speaking its name."

"I want a faction that no one dares to provoke."

The atmosphere grew heavier with every sentence.

"I want the entire Universe..."

"...to fear us."

His declaration echoed throughout the Grand Hall like a heavenly decree.

The representatives felt chills run down their spines.

Not because of fear.

But because every word Daniel spoke painted an unimaginable future.

A future where they would no longer be insignificant.

A future where they would no longer be prey.

A future where they would stand among the greatest powers in existence.

Daniel slowly raised his right hand.

"But..."

His voice suddenly became calm again.

"There is one question I must ask every one of you."

His gaze became incredibly sharp.

"So answer me honestly."

He slowly pointed toward the countless people gathered before him.

"Are all of you..."

"...willing to become part of Vahl’Zareth?"

Silence filled the hall.

Daniel continued.

"Understand what that truly means before you answer."

"Joining Vahl’Zareth is not joining an ordinary kingdom."

"It is not joining a powerful clan."

"It is not joining an empire."

"It is not joining a faction that seeks wealth, fame, or authority."

He slowly lowered his hand.

"It means declaring yourselves enemies of those who believe they stand above everyone else."

"It means challenging beings who have ruled since ancient times."

"It means standing before gods without lowering your heads."

"It means walking a path where retreat may no longer exist."

His voice became increasingly powerful.

"A path where defeat is never accepted."

"A path where surrender does not exist."

"A path where every battle may become your last."

"A path where your enemies are the rulers of countless worlds."

"A path where the outcome may not promise victory."

Daniel’s golden eyes swept across every face.

"So tell me..."

"When that day arrives..."

"When gods descend before you..."

"When death stands before your very eyes..."

"When every instinct tells you to kneel..."

"...will you still stand?"

The representatives felt their breathing become heavier.

Some unconsciously clenched their fists.

Others gritted their teeth.

Daniel did not stop.

"The name Vahl’Zareth..."

"...is not meant for cowards."

"It is not meant for those who seek an easy life."

"It is not meant for those satisfied with mediocrity."

"It belongs only to those who refuse to bow."

"It belongs only to those who laugh before impossible odds."

"It belongs only to those who are willing to sacrifice everything for the people standing beside them."

His voice thundered across the Grand Hall.

"It belongs to those who fear no death."

"It belongs to those who refuse to be chained by fate."

"It belongs to those who reject every law imposed upon them."

"It belongs to those who wish to surpass all limits."

"It belongs to those who seek a freedom that no one can ever take away."

Daniel slowly spread both arms.

"So answer me."

His voice shook the entire hall.

"Do all of you possess the resolve..."

"...to bear the name of Vahl’Zareth?"

The moment those words fell...

The entire Grand Hall exploded.

"YES!"

The roar shook the walls.

Thousands of voices merged into one.

"We’re ready!"

"We’ll follow you!"

"We fear nothing!"

A Beast Commander slammed his fist against his chest.

"I’ve spent my whole life fighting for my tribe!"

"If fighting gods gives my descendants true freedom..."

"Then let them come!"

A Dragon Elder spread his wings proudly.

"My race has never feared the heavens!"

"If the gods wish to stand before us..."

"We shall greet them with dragon fire!"

An elderly Human General raised his sword high into the air.

"I’ve lived long enough to know that freedom is never given!"

"It is taken!"

"And I’ll gladly stake this old life for it!"

The Spirit representatives smiled brightly.

"Our spirits have chosen you long ago!"

"We shall walk beside Vahl’Zareth!"

The Dwarves lifted their hammers.

"We’ll forge weapons that split the heavens apart!"

The Elves drew their bows.

"Our arrows shall reach even the stars!"

The Demons laughed wildly.

"Hahaha!"

"Finally!"

"A battle worthy of our blood!"

Even the younger generation shouted until their voices became hoarse.

"We’re with you!"

"We’ll never retreat!"

"We’ll fight until the very end!"

"We’ll build the strongest faction in the Universe!"

One voice became ten.

Ten became hundreds.

Hundreds became thousands.

Soon...

The entire Grand Hall trembled beneath their unified roar.

"WE’RE MORE THAN READY!"

The sound surged into the sky like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Every person’s blood boiled.

Their hearts pounded violently against their chests.

Their veins coursed with adrenaline unlike anything they had ever experienced.

Their fear had vanished.

In its place remained only determination.

Only conviction.

Only the desire to become stronger.

Only the desire to fight for the future Daniel had shown them.

Melira quietly wiped away a tear before smiling proudly.

"My son..."

"...you’ve truly become a King worthy of leading everyone."

Xereth burst into thunderous laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Now that’s the spirit!"

Kaelgor’s grin widened.

"This is what I wanted to hear!"

Sylthara smiled gracefully.

"Their hearts have become one."

Caelira looked toward the crowd with warmth in her eyes.

"They’re no longer following him because they have to."

"They’re following him because they truly believe."

Mika watched the roaring crowd before looking toward Daniel.

A gentle smile slowly appeared on her face.

"...You’ve done it."

Erika nodded excitedly.

"Big Brother’s dream..."

"...everyone wants to protect it."

Daniel looked upon the countless faces before him.

Every single one of them burned with unwavering determination.

Every single one of them had made their choice.

At that moment...

Vahl’Zareth was no longer merely a name recognized by the Universe.

It had become a conviction shared by every soul standing within that Grand Hall.

And from that day onward...

The first heartbeat of Vahl’Zareth truly began to echo across the Universe.