The Conquerors Path Chapter 980 - 978-Actions, Reaction And Consequences.

Third Person POV:

Once again, the world was plunged into utter chaos!

This was no minor disturbance; it was a cataclysmic shift. The academy, which was supposed to be the ultimate sanctuary for students and a beacon of hope for the world, had failed to remain pure. The foul darkness of the world had managed to seep into its very core.

A student—one who was beloved, gentle, and essentially a celebrity—had nearly been kidnapped, facing the threat of unspeakable evils. Most shocking of all was that this plot was orchestrated by the very teachers entrusted with her safety. There could be no greater failure. It was a disgrace to the academy and a massive disappointment to the entire world.

With teachers proving themselves untrustworthy, how could any parent feel safe sending their child there?

This question loomed over society like a sharpened blade.

Despite the scandal, the name on everyone’s lips remained Austin Lionheart. While he was previously known as a rising young hero, his recent actions were so staggering that even when reported by the most reliable sources, people struggled to believe it. The events were so surreal they seemed to be ripped straight from the pages of a fairy tale.

The truth felt like the stuff of legends—a literal myth unfolding in real life.

In a public display, Austin Lionheart had defeated the titan of his generation. He didn't use mana or complex techniques; he won through a traditional contest of raw, physical strength. This fact alone would have shocked anyone, but it was merely the beginning. In reality, Austin dominating such an impossible challenge was the most mundane part of his deeds.

What followed was a sequence of events that defied belief. The entire archery association had been targeted by the war council, who aimed to dismantle the archery tower. Everything had been meticulously prepared, with laws and logistics set firmly in place. On paper, the law and the truth supported the war council. They had executed such maneuvers many times before, and it likely wouldn’t have been their last attempt.

However, this time, the plan failed spectacularly. The resulting backlash brought more disgrace to the war council than to the academy itself.

Austin Lionheart.

This young man, not even nineteen years old, had systematically taken down guards at the Origin level 10 and had even overpowered their elite force of Imperial realm Elders.

It sounds like pure fantasy, doesn't it? But this time, it was the cold reality!

The entire event was captured on record and witnessed by journalists. With undeniable evidence everywhere, no one could dispute the facts. If that were the extent of it, Austin might not have been hailed as such a hero. But he didn't just win a fight; he stripped away the war council's facade and exposed their internal hypocrisy. They had marched in with swords drawn, claiming the archery association was corrupt, while corruption was actually festering within their own ranks.

Like a figure out of legend, Austin radiated such brilliance that the hidden rot in various sectors was dragged into the light, including the corruption within the war council's own guards. This forced several major organizations to act simultaneously. Powerful Elders had to emerge from their private seclusion to manage the crisis. With a single stroke, Austin had revealed the decay that had grown while everyone was distracted by a long peace.

The world’s turmoil only intensified. Celebrated as a hero, Austin forced the world to acknowledge a weakness it could no longer ignore. His actions changed everything. Global powers were forced to shift their stances. The war council lost its reputation and authority, as it was proven that such deep corruption had flourished under their watch. Something that should have been a myth had grown right beneath their noses.

It became glaringly obvious that they were failing in their duties. Public outcry grew, and factions that had long suffered under the war council’s rule began to revolt. They fueled the fires of dissent, and because of the momentum Austin created, the war council was trapped. Their avarice was exposed, their blunders were visible to all, and no amount of damage control could hide the truth.

Consequently, they were forced to take responsibility. The war council paid a heavy price for their false accusations against the archery association, which, surprisingly, was found to be entirely free of the stain of corruption.

Out of everyone involved, the archery association emerged with the most prestigious reputation and a massive surge in power. It was undeniable. They leaped from the middle tiers of influence to the very pinnacle, bolstered by the fact that Austin was one of their own.

The organization that was meant to be destroyed instead rose higher than ever, and any group wanting to appear righteous felt compelled to praise them. Even the war council was forced to join in the acclaim.

The war council had to act, and they had to act quickly. They scrambled into motion. Because of Austin’s intervention, a great deal of evidence had surfaced. Those implicated had to be arrested, and an investigation began. Having lost their dignity and a significant portion of their control, the war council had to follow the rules perfectly this time. The eyes of the world were fixed on them, waiting for a single slip-up so they could tear into the council like a pack of hyenas.

The war council spared no effort. They brought in their best people, utilized all their resources, and for once, functioned as they were originally intended—without bias or hidden agendas. It seemed as though the entire world had united for this cause. The war council even went as far as to officially praise Austin’s deeds, hailing him as a great hero. Only the heavens know what they truly felt in their hearts while being forced to do so.

For the first time in an age, the war council had lost it all: their honor, their influence, their divine favor, and their justification for ruling over other powers. All of this was caused by a young man who hadn't even reached his nineteenth birthday.

One can only imagine the sheer depth of the fury they must have felt. For many, the situation was awe-inspiring. It felt like the authentic tale of a hero rising when the world needed one most—the emergence of a true legend. Yet, Austin wasn’t finished yet.

While he was exposing the world's secrets, evil forces were attempting to harm his family, specifically his younger sister. Teachers who were supposed to be Elda’s mentors and protectors had conspired to abduct her and two other students. Their true motives remained a mystery, but the plot had been nearly successful.

A pure and innocent girl was almost swallowed by the world's darkness, but Austin intervened.

The moment she was threatened, Austin sensed it. Utilizing the remaining traces of the majestic power he had absorbed, he moved with such force that he shattered the academy's spatial defenses—barriers that had never been breached before. He arrived to save his family, bringing with him a storm of rage and retribution.

Before the eyes of the entire academy, Austin demonstrated the consequences of hurting his kin and targeting his loved ones. In that moment, Austin Lionheart was no hero. He wasn't the kind-hearted youth everyone admired. He was a demon, an executioner, a man driven by pure vengeance against those who dared to strike.

His brutal actions were witnessed and recorded, yet no one dared to protest. No one could even find the words to object. Given the circumstances, nobody could claim his reaction was excessive, nor could they say they wouldn’t have reacted with the same fury if they were in his shoes.

And so, the legend was carved into the annals of history—the story of a lone young man who, in just one hour, altered the course of the world and spurred the nations into action. Nearly a week has passed since those events, yet Austin’s name is still the only thing people talk about.

The world is left asking one major question: what is Austin doing now?