Chapter 74
Five Years That Changed the World
After showing the two Archbishops the truth—his divine power and the existence of the other Apostles—the atmosphere inside the grand hall of the cathedral had changed completely.
The two Archbishops had originally arrived with stiff pride and guarded eyes, expecting a political negotiation.
But the moment Alex revealed his divine aura, the radiant blessing of the Goddess, and the truth that there were two other Apostles walking this world, their confidence shattered.
The sacred light surrounding Alex was impossible to deny.
It was warm.
Pure.
Ancient.
The Archbishops immediately fell to their knees.
"Your Holiness… Your Highness… please forgive us!"
"We swear we will never walk the path of corruption again!"
Their voices trembled with fear and desperation.
Alex simply looked at them calmly.
His golden eyes were cold but steady.
"Remember this moment," he said quietly.
"If the Holy City falls into corruption again…"
"…there will be no mercy next time."
Both Archbishops bowed deeply until their foreheads touched the cold marble floor.
"Yes, Apostle!"
From that day onward, the Church of the Holy City began to change.
And Alex left the cathedral behind.
---
Soon after, Alex returned to the Royal Capital of the Ether Empire.
This time, he did not hide anything.
Before, he had moved carefully in the shadows.
Now… there was no need.
The entire world already knew who he was.
The Holy Apostle of the Goddess of Light.
Because of that, Alex openly revealed many of the secrets he had been hiding.
He announced publicly that he was the owner of the famous Fancy Boutique.
The luxurious shop that nobles across the empire fought to buy clothes from.
He also revealed that he was the founder of a powerful trading company that had quietly spread across multiple cities.
The reaction across the empire was explosive.
Nobles were stunned.
Merchants were shocked.
Even the imperial court fell into chaos.
"The Holy Apostle owns businesses?!"
"A prince controlling half the trade routes of the empire?!"
Some nobles admired him.
Some feared him.
Some began planning carefully, realizing the power Alex now held.
But Alex ignored the whispers.
He had far more important work to do.
---
With the authority of the Goddess, the Church, and the Royal Family, Alex began cleansing the shadows of the empire.
One of the first targets was the secret organization hiding in the dark.
The Eclipse Covenant.
For years, this organization had spread chaos, manipulating nobles, cultists, and dark mages.
But now things were different.
Alex sent Paladins from the Holy City.
He sent Royal Knights from the Imperial Army.
Holy light and imperial steel swept across cities and forests like a storm of judgment.
One by one, the hidden bases of the Eclipse Covenant were discovered.
Underground temples.
Hidden laboratories.
Forbidden ritual sites.
They were destroyed completely.
Cult leaders were captured.
Dark artifacts were sealed.
The whispers of the Eclipse Covenant slowly disappeared from the empire.
A dangerous seed that could have grown into catastrophe in the future… was removed before it could bloom.
---
During the second year, another crisis appeared.
The Western Cities of the empire were struck by a terrible famine.
The rains failed.
Rivers dried.
Crops withered under a merciless sun.
Fields that once glowed gold with wheat became empty wastelands.
Soon hunger spread.
Families began starving.
Merchants refused to travel west because bandits attacked food caravans.
The nobles of those regions sent desperate requests to the capital.
But before the imperial council could even decide what to do…
Alex had already acted.
Using his trading company and the massive transportation network he built, Alex sent hundreds of supply caravans toward the western lands.
Grain.
Medicine.
Livestock.
Seeds for the next harvest.
The caravans moved under the protection of royal knights and holy paladins.
Within months, the famine was contained.
The people of the western cities gathered in their plazas and prayed with tears in their eyes.
They spoke Alex's name with gratitude.
From that day onward, the western nobles and merchants made a powerful promise.
"All mana stones mined in the western mountains will be traded only through the company of Prince Alex."
It was both a thank-you… and a political alliance.
The trade agreement made Alex's company even more powerful.
---
During the third year, another event shook the world.
Far in the dark lands beyond the northern mountains lived the Demon Race.
For centuries, humans believed demons were evil creatures.
Enemies of the Church.
Enemies of the Goddess.
But Alex knew the truth.
Demons were also children of the Goddess of Darkness.
And one day, the time finally came.
Hidden deep within the demon kingdom, a young girl awakened.
The Apostle of the Dark Goddess.
But the awakening was unstable.
Dark power threatened to destroy her body.
If she lost control, the entire demon capital could be swallowed by shadows.
Alex personally traveled there.
Together with the blessing of the Goddess of Light and the power of the system, he helped stabilize her awakening.
Darkness and light met for the first time without conflict.
The Demon Apostle survived.
And the truth finally came to light.
The Church had no choice but to publicly announce something that had been hidden for centuries.
Demons were not enemies.
They were also creations of the Goddess.
The announcement shocked the world.
But it changed history.
For the first time in centuries…
Demons became allies.
---
At the same time, Alex continued strengthening himself.
Inside the quiet chambers of the royal palace, he used the system to purchase the Second, Third, and Fourth parts of the Dragon Art.
Ancient power flowed through his body like burning rivers of lightning.
Day after day.
Night after night.
He trained relentlessly.
His body became stronger.
His mana deeper.
His mind sharper.
The dragon blood inside him awakened further, responding to the ancient techniques.
Eventually…
He mastered the complete Dragon Art.
His strength reached a new realm.
An S-Rank existence.
His strength.
His speed.
His endurance.
His mana.
Every stat had reached the legendary S Rank.
He was no longer the fragile prince the world once mocked.
He had become a warrior capable of standing among the strongest beings in the world.
---
But Alex did not stop there.
His next destination was the chaotic city known as Labyrinth City.
A place filled with adventurers, criminals, merchants, and danger.
When Alex arrived, a familiar figure was waiting.
George.
The loyal manager of Alex's trading company.
George bowed respectfully and handed him a thick stack of documents.
"Your Highness… this is the complete list."
Inside the papers were the names of every corrupt noble, criminal group, and underground organization operating in Labyrinth City.
Alex studied the list quietly.
Then he began his work.
Using his authority as a Prince of the Empire, combined with the support of the Holy Church, he began cleaning the city.
Crime groups disappeared.
Corrupt officials were arrested.
Dark guilds were dismantled.
The city slowly began to change.
---
During this time, Alex also expanded his alliances.
The Elves, who were already his friends, stood beside him without hesitation.
Soon after, Alex traveled to the deep mountain kingdoms of the Dwarves.
At first the dwarves were suspicious.
But when Alex helped them solve several political disputes and protect their mines from monsters, the dwarven kings accepted him as an ally.
From that day onward, the three races stood together.
Humans.
Elves.
Dwarves.
And now…
Demons.
---
Together, they achieved something incredible.
Using the combined knowledge of dwarven engineering, elven magic, and human resources, they completely reorganized the massive dungeon beneath the city.
The dangerous Labyrinth was stabilized.
The dungeon became safer.
Clear ranking systems were created for adventurers.
Soon the city became famous across the world.
Adventurers arrived from every kingdom.
Merchants followed.
Scholars came to study the ancient dungeon.
With time, the chaotic Labyrinth City transformed into something new.
A shining city of opportunity.
Alex renamed it.
Dream City.
A place where anyone could chase their dreams.
Leon's growing companies became the economic backbone of the city.
Trade flourished.
Guilds prospered.
People from all races lived together.
Peacefully.
Happily.
---
But none of it happened overnight.
It took time.
Hard work.
Sacrifice.
Five long years passed.
Five years of battles.
Five years of politics.
Five years of building something better.
Alex fought monsters.
Negotiated with kings.
Trained endlessly.
Protected the weak.
Built alliances.
And step by step…
The world began to change.
---
Now, five years later…
Alex stood at the balcony of a tall tower overlooking Dream City.
Below him, thousands of lights filled the night.
Elves walked beside humans.
Dwarves laughed loudly in taverns.
Demons spoke peacefully with merchants.
Adventurers prepared for dungeon raids.
Children played in the streets.
A peaceful world.
A world worth protecting.
Alex looked up toward the dark sky.
Somewhere beyond those stars…
The Ancient Evil God was still waiting.
Alex clenched his fist slowly.
"Well…"
He smiled faintly.
"Only one problem left."
His golden eyes burned with determination.
"Let's kill that bastard."