novelraw Chapter 21 : The Throne
Chapter 21 : The Throne
Chapter 21: The Throne
Ya tightly grasped Apollo’s hand.
“Father! Please hold on a little longer!”
“I’ll send someone—no, I’ll go myself to bring Lei back!”
“He must already be on his way!”
Apollo shook his head with difficulty.
“No… need…”
His gaze swept over his children one by one.
As if he wanted to carve their appearances into his soul.
Then, he slowly closed his eyes and left his final words.
“After I die…”
“The throne… the three of you…”
“Decide… among yourselves… who will inherit it…”
Before his words even finished.
The hand that held Ya’s completely loosened.
However, his body did not grow cold and stiff like that of an ordinary corpse.
Instead, under the shocked gaze of everyone present, it began to emit a gentle starlight.
Specks of light drifted out from his body.
Like countless meteors flying in reverse, they gathered into a faint stream of light and flew toward the boundless sky.
“God—!”
Apollo’s final voice rang out.
That voice was filled with attachment and release.
Then, together with that starlight, it dissipated between heaven and earth.
“Father!”
Ya cried out in grief, unable to control herself.
Wa recovered from his immense shock and brief daze. Taking a deep breath, he shouted with all his strength toward the direction where the starlight vanished.
“Farewell to the Sun King—!”
His voice awakened the stunned crowd.
Everyone present knelt on the ground, filled with utmost reverence and sorrow, and shouted in unison.
“Farewell to the Sun King—!”
In the thirteenth year of the Sun Dynasty, the founding ruler, the first Sun King, Apollo, passed away.
The news of Apollo’s death spread to every corner of the dynasty, bringing immense grief and emptiness.
Perhaps, during these thirteen years since the dynasty’s founding,
Apollo, who enforced laws and was cold and merciless, had made many tribesmen feel fear and distance.
But at this moment, with his passing,
it was as if people suddenly awoke from confusion.
They clearly saw the order, prosperity, and territorial expansion of the dynasty over these thirteen years.
They finally realized,
how heavy the responsibility and loneliness that king had borne alone.
In his own way, he had been guiding the dynasty toward a better future.
People began to recall Apollo’s achievements, speak of his kindness, and repent for their own faults.
The entire dynasty fell into mourning.
However, beneath the mourning…
a vacuum of power had already appeared!
……
At this moment, in a side hall of the royal palace.
Three people gathered together, each with a different expression.
Wa was the first to break the silence.
“Father has returned to the sea of stars. The dynasty cannot be without a new king.”
“We must decide on a successor as soon as possible.”
Ya suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with anger.
“Wa! Father has only just left!”
“His soul may not have gone far yet!”
“And you’re already so eager to sit on that throne?!”
“Do you have even the slightest respect for Father in your heart?!”
“Ya!”
Wa’s voice also rose slightly.
“I am just as grieved as you are!”
“But can grief keep the dynasty running?”
“Can it soothe the unrest of the people?”
“The dynasty Father devoted his life to cannot fall into chaos in our hands!”
“We need a new leader—now!”
His words were realistic and cold.
“If you want to fight, then go ahead!”
Ya’s eyes were filled with disappointment and pain. She suddenly stood up and slammed the door as she left.
“I have no interest in that throne!”
Only Wa and Ze remained in the hall.
Wa cast his gaze toward the silent Ze, hoping that this younger brother would understand the situation and withdraw on his own.
“Ze, you know my capabilities. It is best for the dynasty if I inherit the throne.”
“Wa, I understand your thoughts, and your abilities are indeed outstanding. However, I will not give up.”
He paused, his voice low yet firm.
“The throne itself—I do not care about it.”
“What I care about is…”
“After Father’s departure, who can still communicate with God?”
“Who can still represent God’s will?”
“Wa, you and I both know that everything we have comes from God’s grace.”
“Without God, we are nothing!”
“This throne must be inherited by the one closest to God!”
Wa looked at the unwavering conviction in Ze’s eyes and knew that words could no longer persuade him.
He fell silent for a moment and said nothing more.
But he understood clearly that neither side was willing to yield—there was no longer any possibility of a peaceful succession.
A struggle centered around the throne…
and even more around “divine authority”—
was about to unfold upon this land!
Perhaps he would die, like En in those past years.
Perhaps he would win and become the new Sun King.
No matter the outcome, he would never regret it!
For power, and also to prove that he was the one capable of leading the dynasty toward a stronger future!
……
In the days that followed,
the atmosphere in the royal city grew increasingly tense.
Although Wa and Ze had not yet clashed with weapons, open and hidden conflicts had already begun.
The grief that had once united them after Apollo’s death gradually gave way to a restless unease.
Faced with this situation…
the tribesmen felt confused and at a loss.
Both Wa and Ze were God-blessed, and in the eyes of the people, they carried a divine aura.
More importantly,
although Apollo had established the dynasty, there had never been a concept of “primogeniture” or “hereditary succession.”
The tradition carried over from the tribal era was “abdication” or, in other words, “the capable shall take the position.”
The position of tribal leader had always been held by the most prestigious and capable person within the tribe,
rather than necessarily being inherited by the previous leader’s offspring.
Thus, the tribesmen hesitated between Wa and Ze.
Not because they were Apollo’s sons, but because they were “God-blessed.”
But as the throne remained vacant for longer and longer,
the debate over who was more suitable to become the new king grew increasingly intense.
If one spoke of past achievements,
Wa’s advantage was obvious.
Before receiving God’s grace, he had been the leader of the tribe’s planting team, bringing a stable food supply to the tribe, with outstanding contributions.
As for Ze, before receiving God’s grace, he had not held any important position.
However, after both became God-blessed,
their achievements seemed to even out.
Both had successfully expanded outward and established new cities.
Not only did they open up broader territories for the dynasty,
but they also effectively diverted the ever-growing population, allowing the dynasty to continue developing.
This caused their supporters to argue endlessly, unable to reach a conclusion.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate,
someone unexpected returned.
Lei, who had been missing for more than a decade.
Not only did he return safely, but behind him followed a large, well-disciplined force.
He had successfully subdued the Great River Tribe
and developed it into a powerful tribe with a population of five thousand and unified faith!
Even more shocking—
every single person in this tribe had eyes filled with devotion to God!