On the stage, an ethereal projection was running, which displayed various background scenes. Damien felt as if he was watching a movie and now understood why this interested the people so much.
He also found out that this stage show was something that happened every week.
Some people came upon the stage dressed in costumes, and Damien guessed that they must be the ones who would enact the play, and the narrator would be talking from behind the background projection.
"Ten thousand years ago, the Xeton Empire was not as powerful and glorious as now. But at that time, it was still a very prosperous empire. The Xeton Emperor of that time was a very benevolent and kind person who took care of his subjects like his own children."
As the narrator talked behind the curtains, a grandly dressed person on the stage played the emperor's role as he acted according to the script.
"But of course, anything good always attracts evil and greed. A newly settled group of people known as the Zirians enjoyed the emperor's benevolent treatment, including letting them own vast areas of land and giving them jobs. Although they were less in numbers, some of them were very powerful. They were also offered high positions in the empire as the emperor thought that they were a loyal and decent group of people.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"But no. They weren't happy enough with the grace they had been bestowed and wanted more. They eyed the throne of the Xeton Empire and the various resources that lay under our land. For years, they plotted and schemed to take over the empire slowly. They even bribed various high-ranked officers who were unknowingly playing a part in their schemes.
"The Zirians deviously sabotaged various parts of the empire and were slowly gaining control over the major workings of the empire. The kind emperor was oblivious to these things. Before he knew it, he had lost control over the empire and was forcibly dethroned by the Zirians. They killed him in front of the public and had his body hanged on the gates to let the people know that the Zirians will be the ones ruling over the native Xetonians."
On the stage, the actor playing as the actor playing as the emperor had his neck hung by a rope as some other people on the stage playing as the Zirians cheered on.
The audience had tears filling their eyes as they showed expressions of pity and resentment.
Damien didn't feel anything but watched the show in a light-hearted way as if he was watching a movie.
Valentina also watched the stage show with curiosity. She found it interesting and enjoyable to see a play like this.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Many Xetonians died an unjust death as the Zirians took over the empire. Many families of the high-ranked officials were put to death. Not even the elderly, women, and children were spared. They wanted to completely root out any thoughts of revenge or vengeance and make sure none of them comes back to bite them.
"However, they missed a very important person. The crown prince went into hiding along with some other Xetonians who survived the onslaught of the Zirians. The crown prince was a heavenly genius who was said to be blessed by the seas. Many loyal Xetonians gladly laid down their lives so that their crown prince could escape and come back more powerful to take vengeance.
On the stage, a young man with a cold and determined expression stood in front of many people who were acting as his loyal subjects. His eyes had tinges of grief as he looked at the bodies of his fallen men.
'Wow, great acting.' Damien was impressed by the young man's acting who played the role of the crown prince.
"Many centuries passed, and the Zirians lavishly ruled while tormenting and torturing the remaining Xetonians in the empire. However, one day, an elderly man visited the imperial palace on his own. The Zirians received that elderly man with great respect. His ethereal aura was very profound and deep, like the oceans, and they felt suffocating pressure from him. All he requested was to let him meet the Zirian Emperor, who was almost reaching the end of his lifespan. Each and every action of his was polite and without any arrogance.
"Despite the shocking strength of the elderly man, they decided to befriend him by letting him meet the emperor. But as soon as the elderly man met the emperor, his ethereal strength exploded and completely engulfed the imperial palace. Every single Zirian in the empire fell on their knees as the elderly man looked at them from above with centuries of hatred and resentment in his eyes."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})On the stage, many people dressed as Zirians were on their knees, and an aged person floated above them as if a god was looking down upon the mortals who had sinned.
The audience had stirred expressions on their face as some cried, feeling emotional. After all, everyone could guess who that elderly man in the play was.
"This elderly man was none other than the son of the late Xetonian Emperor and the rightful heir to the empire, Vasco Xeton, who had come back for revenge. Not even the Zirian Emperor was able to raise a hand against him due to the immense pressure from just Vasco Xeton's aura."
Damien now realized why Vasco Xeton was so respected and remembered by the people even in the Xeton Empire's annals and various books.
"Just before Vasco Xeton was preparing to drown every Zirians in the oceans, the Zirian Emperor pitifully begged him to spare his people and to forgive his people's sins. He was ready to do anything as long as Vasco Xeton would let them live.
"Vasco Xeton was prepared to drown every last one of the Zirians, but probably because he inherited his father's benevolence, he decided to give them one last chance as he thought that he would be no different than the Zirian villains if he slaughters them all mercilessly. Using his godly powers, he came up with his own form of ethereal seal known as the 'Cursed Seal' and placed it on every Zirian. Of course, those who participated actively in the dethronement were either imprisoned or executed and some of them had already died due to old age."
'Strange, how did he come up with such a powerful seal that even passed on to their descendants for thousands of years…' Damien remembered Fynn and wondered if Vasco Xeton was truly that powerful for him to invent the Cursed Seal on his own.
"Of course, this seal didn't torture or kill the Zirians. They were allowed to live peacefully despite their heinous deeds and cruel torture of many Xetonians. However, once they act or do something which can be considered a betrayal to the Xeton Empire, then their cultivation would be immediately crippled along with their minds. The proof of this Cursed Seal is the grey mark that would appear on their foreheads when they use their cultivation, and it would be passed on to their descendants. This act ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity for the Xeton Empire while the Zirians still to this day repay the benevolence that was bestowed upon them."
On the stage, a group of people dressed as Zirians kneeled in fear and reverence before the elderly man playing as Vasco Xeton.
However, Damien felt that something was off with the story. He didn't fully buy the story and wondered how someone who carried hatred and resentment for centuries easily forgave the Zirians? Unless the crown prince was a saint who let himself detach from worldly matters.
"But not all Zirians were satisfied with this peace. A certain group of ungrateful Zirians grouped together to form the rebel group known as 'The Forsaken'. They carried out anarchist attacks and killed a lot of Xetonians over the centuries. Somehow, they were able to nullify the effects of the Cursed Seal. But fret not, our Xeton Empire didn't get cold feet and—"
"Quickly get out!" Luna suddenly shouted a warning in his head. Valentina's ears twitched just as she tightened her hand around Damien's arm.
Not bothering to ask her why Damien instantly executed his Mirage of Myriad Phantasms as he flashed back a few dozen meters pulling Valentina along with him.
*BOOOM!!!*
Damien's eyes went wide as an earth-shaking explosion erupted near the stage, and the intense shockwaves swept him a few meters away, making him crash on a stall with Valentina in his arms.
