Mother Earth now encompasses several continents: the Black Veil Continent, Eternal Breeze Continent, Cradle of Crowns Continent, Monster Terror Continent, and the newly renamed Giant Tremble Continent. Additionally, there is the Mother Earth's World Tree. Notably, outsiders are not permitted to tread upon the land near the World Tree, as magical forces will immediately eject them if they attempt to enter. This process is non-harmful; it simply removes outsiders without aggression.
As we move into the 14th century, there have been significant breakthroughs, with numerous class evolutions, mutations, and the emergence of new races. The Black Veil Continent is home to the Demon Emperor, the Twin Demon Queens, the Quadruple Demon Lords, and a newly established demonic hierarchy led by the so-called Demon Goddess of Eternal Darkness.
On the Eternal Breeze Continent, new life forms known as Frost Beings have adapted to survive the harsh icy conditions, specializing in Ice and Winter Magic. They are guided by the Frost King.
The Cradle of Crowns features one Empire and eight Kingdoms, along with approximately 12 to 16 Dukedoms, each with its own distinct hierarchical structure for nobility and military rankings.
The Monster Terror Continent is beginning to develop its technological infrastructure, with the emergence of a new intelligent species called Beastmen, who are similar to demi-humans. These beings can be either born or transferred to live on the continent.
The Giant Tremble Continent remains unchanged, while the World Tree continues to grow, not in width but in height, now reaching up to the skies and above the clouds.
As time progresses from the 14th Century into the 15th Century, the main story unfolds on the Cradle of Crowns Continent. This continent is home to one empire, eight kingdoms, and several dukedoms that separate them. Among the eight kingdoms is the Kingdom of Unified Crowns, located on the North Island, which has a population of approximately 250 million. The majority of its inhabitants include humans, elves, demi-humans, and dwarves. Some races, such as dragonewts, high elves, ancient dwarves, and other beings with significant mana and aura, appear rarely in certain regions.
The Kingdom of Unified Crowns consists of two islands: one small and one large. The smaller island is governed by a dukedom belonging to a noble family known as Stormvale. The larger island is where the capital city, Solaris Reach, is located.
The Kingdom of Unified Crowns operates under a government structure known as a Militarist Monarchy. This system blends the roles of nobility and military, providing a unified command structure. Promotions are based on military merit and good deeds, while bad deeds lead to criminal status and legal repercussions.
The Kingdom Military Power boasts over 50 million active soldiers, with an additional 25 million reserves from various noble households and the imperial army. There are strict rules governing territory management, particularly regarding territorial warfare, which primarily focuses on conquering lands. However, such warfare is expensive due to the challenges of repairing damaged buildings and restoring agriculture.
To address this, the Cradle of Crowns Representatives of Each Nation has implemented a new policy for territorial warfare. Instead of attacking lands directly, the policy emphasizes a military conflict between armies. If one army is defeated or eliminated, the victorious side claims the territory.
Individuals seeking to claim and control larger territories will be granted higher status. Territorial lords can come from any background, including commoners, mercenaries, or even fallen nobles looking to regain their family's former lands.
In a small territory in the northern mountains of the Kingdom of Unified Crowns, the noble household of Ashbourne is currently in control. The family name is Ashbourne, and it is led by Lord Rowan de Ashbourne, who inherited the noble title at a very young age after his father, Owsin de Ashbourne, passed away. Owsin died from injuries sustained during a territorial conflict between two knighthood armies, each with a military force of 500. He was shot in the stomach and endured five years of pain before his death.
Despite the tragedy, their victory in the territorial warfare elevated their status from knighthood to a baronet family household. At the age of 12, Rowan began his training in nobility and knighthood while his father was recovering from his injuries. Now, at the age of 17, he has become the new Lord of Wintermere following his father's peaceful passing.
Rowan's family includes his mother, Seren de Ashbourne, and his two younger sisters: Isolde de Ashbourne, who is the second youngest, and Nimue de Ashbourne, the youngest. Their father, Owsin, now rests peacefully in the family tomb.
Rowan stands at around 181 cm tall and weighs 74 kg, a result of his rigorous physical training that has sculpted his physique. He has an average appearance with black hair, which he prefers to wear in a military-style cut. Rowan consistently dons formal attire, whether he is overseeing his territory or training and commanding the Knight Order, which consists of 500 active soldiers.
As a member of the Asbourne family, Rowan specializes in Aura, while his mother and two younger sisters practice Magic. He has achieved Advanced Tier Swordsmanship and has reached Master Level in Aura Mastery. Additionally, Rowan created the Ashbourne One-Hand Sword Technique.
One of the key techniques is the Ashbourne Draw. This is a swift, single-motion strike executed from a resting position. The sword is drawn from its sheath and cuts in one continuous motion. This technique focuses on speed rather than power, aiming to end a duel before it begins. By infusing the sword with Aura, the wielder can increase both the damage and durability of their weapon.
In December 1522, a territorial conflict emerged between the Lord of Grimsbane and the Lord of Hawthrone, neighboring lands near Wintermere. The conflict began when both armies accidentally encroached upon the territory of Lord Rowan of Wintermere. In response, Lord Rowan sent two letters to both lords, demanding that they withdraw their forces or face the consequences, warning that he would declare them hostile. Despite his warnings, they chose to ignore him, leading to a full-scale territorial war among the three factions.
The results were unexpected. The forces of Lord Grimsbane consisted mainly of untrained soldiers and hired mercenaries, while the newly appointed Lord of Hawthrone had only a few forces at his disposal. In contrast, Lord Rowan commanded a well-trained contingent of knights. As a result, both Grimsbane and Hawthrone were defeated, and their territories were seized.
In late December, an envoy from the Imperial Palace arrived, announcing that Lord Rowan de Ashbourne was being promoted from Baronet to Baron and granted the military title of Field Knight, with command over 1,500 soldiers.