Chapter 293

I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍am a human who was a sword.

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍am a sword that became human.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ancient times, he had been called the Master of Mana. Now, he was a human seeking to reach a new realm by using the power of his former enemy.

SHWISH—

Space ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rippled along the path of the sword as it cut through the air.

‘Slow.’

Killian tightened his grip on the sword.

Once more.

SWISH—

Contrary to his intention, the wide swing only cut away part of Cronis’s hem.

[Is that strange?]

Claudio de Cronis.

Cronis, wearing the Pope’s form, asked as he examined the severed hem of his robe.

SLIDE—

The cut hem returned to its original state.

‘Did he turn back time?’

[I did not turn back time.]

‘....’

Insight was being used.

The divine power Killian now emitted far surpassed the level of 8-Star.

In terms of mana, was it perhaps around an incomplete 9-Star?

[Your thoughts are being read by me.]

“Hoo.”

Killian let out a quiet breath.

Cronis was different from Atoz, Pantera, and Roto.

He had thought that he had surely realized how to handle divine power, yet the sword he wielded could not reach Cronis.

At the very moment it seemed about to connect.

‘He is beyond my sword’s range.’

That was why his repeated swings could do no more than graze Cronis’s clothes.

“You spoke as though you would let me strike you at any moment.”

[A divinity that yields easily cannot make you grow.]

“The others would take offense if they heard that.”

[There is a reason I am called a Higher God.]

Pantera and Roto were Middle Gods, while Atoz was a Lower God.

Cronis drew a line between himself and the others Killian had cut down.

It was the arrogance of someone who looked down on everything but himself.

“Yes. This is the sort of god I know.”

As he faced Cronis, Killian came to realize something.

‘This one is special.’

Even knowing that such thoughts would be read by Cronis, he could not help thinking it.

This fellow was so strong that Killian wondered whether even his ancient self could have defeated him by fighting with all his strength.

‘Strong.’

He was different even from Silvana, Neptune, Styx, Veritas, and Murus, who had likewise been called Higher Gods.

‘Why is he different?’

As he thought that.

SLIDE.

“....!!”

Cronis was suddenly standing before him.

Killian swung his sword at a moment that could have been called simultaneous.

SHWISH—

This time, he could not even graze Cronis’s collar.

[Your mind seems complicated. Is that not the same as returning to the beginning?]

“....”

[You have the ability to cut me down.]

He had already proven that by cutting down three divinities.

[You could cut down not only me, but also Veritas, who is protecting you.]

“....”

[But that is only a level that applies to divinities beyond the door.]

Once the door was opened, he would be unable to cut down gods who retained their complete ranks.

[Was it called Palantir?]

“....”

[It was an interesting sword.]

With a flick of his finger, Cronis reacted as though he had glimpsed Killian’s memories.

[A sword strike that cuts down gods. If it had been Edan Eurasia, he could have cut down a complete god. He had the Magic Sword Adamas, after all.]

The Magic Sword Adamas.

A sword in which a being who had reached the rank of transcendence as a human had been sealed.

Though he had lost his body, he had not lost that rank.

Through the Mana Heart of his contracted partner, he could use a power like an Authority.

Indeed, together with Adamas, Edan had cut down the transcendent Anomaly.

[Who do you have?]

‘I....’

The swords Killian Eurasia had used were merely masterpieces by mortal standards.

They were insufficient to cut down a complete transcendent being.

[It will be even less effective against a complete Higher God.]

No matter how much power he poured into it, it could not replace Adamas.

[Strictly speaking, the rank you attained as an ancient human is that of a Middle God.]

He could overwhelm a Middle God, whose level was similar to that of a Lower God, but he did not measure up to the rank of a Higher God.

[Of course, that alone is remarkable enough. A mortal changed the laws of the world, after all.]

Cronis said that the true blow he had dealt the gods had not been killing them, but changing the laws of the world and imposing limits upon their actions.

Cronis spoke of a truth no one had ever told him.

The sword he had formed in his unconscious mind could not reach him.

‘If the door opens, he is saying that even at my current level, I will not be able to contend with Higher Gods....’

If that was true, it was serious.

There was a danger that what had happened in ancient times would repeat itself.

‘Why is he telling me such things....’

For now, they were only helping each other because their purposes aligned. He was not an ally.

‘He can see thoughts like this too.’

Cronis, still in the Pope’s form, suddenly shook his head.

[In any case, there is trouble.]

“....?”

[You accepted this method so that you could leave within three years.]

The space was rippling more slowly than he had expected.

“How much time has passed?”

[Three years passed long ago.]

“....!!”

[How regrettable.]

Before the flustered Killian could respond.

[Eurasia has perished.]

Cronis drove in the final nail.

***

Inside the Holy Tower, where a Makeshift Boundary Formula had been inscribed.

“Damn it.... Hah....”

Lan de Styx cursed and exhaled.

Thick tobacco smoke billowed from her mouth.

“Cough, cough.”

She began to cough.

It was because she had smoked too often lately.

“I should have quit sooner, as His Holiness the Pope said.”

Muttering to herself, she looked at the formula before her.

It was a formula created through the combined efforts of the Holy See’s greatest priests to reach the Divine Realm.

Those who had formed Hollyheart could cross the formula and reach the entrance to the Divine Realm.

The problem was that no one had been able to open the door leading to the Divine Realm.

That was why they had admitted Killian Eurasia.

He had formed both a Mana Heart and Hollyheart, and he was the Apostle of God Murus.

If he was truly born with fate, they had hoped that he might open the door and restore the severed connection with the gods.

But.

“So it has come to this in the end.”

Lan shook her head with a bitter expression.

Over the past three years.

The war that began in opposition to the Empire swept across the entire continent.

It was the Holy Nation that declared the diplomatic war.

There were more than enough justifications for the war.

They had uncovered that the Emperor of the Empire had blasphemed the gods and carried out forbidden experiments.

The formal diplomatic relations collapsed.

Under orders from the Holy See, they mobilized all temples and priests.

It meant that the Empire and its vassal states would no longer be allowed to use the temples, and that there would be no official dealings with them until the Emperor stepped down.

The Empire did not reject it.

It merely raised an army, declaring that only retribution awaited those who sought to bring down the thousand-year Empire.

The Great War that had long been anticipated began.

A territorial war between humans for hegemony over the continent.

They had believed that every piece needed to confront the Empire was in place.

Luminescia in the center, Eurasia in the east, Cornelia in the west, and Elvenheim in the south.

Beyond them stood the Kingdom Alliance, created by the gathering of lesser kingdoms and families from every region.

At its head was the 9-Star knight Simon Eurasia. The number of 8-Star knights alone exceeded thirteen, while the forces of Archmages centered on Hegel Cornelia, who had mastered 8-Star, were no less formidable.

There was also Claudio de Cronis, the Pope whose Existence Force was said to rival that of a 9-Star, the Holy Knight Order directly under the Holy See, and the Cardinals and temple priests who followed him.

The strength of the Holy Knight Order secretly raised by the Holy Nation would not be inferior to the Imperial Knight Order.

As they gathered one by one, the Kingdom Alliance’s forces overwhelmed the vassal states.

In fact, the Kingdom Alliance gained the upper hand in battle after battle.

Eurasia’s knight order and Cornelia’s mage order reported victory after victory.

Only after five vassal states fell did the Imperial Knight Order and Imperial Mage Order appear on the battlefield.

By then, the Kingdom Alliance’s great army had already reached their doorstep.

Even though the Emperor was rumored to be a 9-Star Magic Swordsman, and the White Duke who served him was also rumored to have reached 9-Star, they believed it would not be easy to reverse the tide at that point.

‘I was mistaken.’

Their lines began to collapse from an unexpected direction.

No, more precisely, it would be correct to say that the defenses they had expected and prepared for collapsed.

Monster Waves erupted simultaneously across hundreds of mountain ranges.

They were such overwhelming Waves that the rear forces stationed for contingencies could do no more than buy time.

At their center stood the Monster Lord.

The Monster Lord’s advance, after suddenly revealing himself, showed no sign of stopping.

The Superhumans in the rear were slaughtered helplessly, and he swiftly conquered the castles of kingdoms and families that had turned to defending their walls.

It was like fighting humans rather than monsters.

That was what the lords who had barely preserved their lives in the Wave all said in unison.

And it was true.

She personally led the Holy Knight Order to the rear to block the Monster Lord’s great army.

It was to prevent the disaster of troops withdrawing before the decisive battle out of concern for their own kingdoms’ safety.

The Kingdom Alliance contributed Superhumans and elites.

Among them was Eurasia’s Extermination Squad.

Monsters were carved into pieces by the sword of a Superhuman who had stabilized 7-Star.

“It bears such a close resemblance to Killian Eurasia’s sword.”

He was strong enough that even Gasli de Bellium, who had fought alongside him, acknowledged it.

From Cornelia, Celot Cornelia, a direct descendant who had mastered 8-Star, moved in person.

Through Cornelia’s Arcane Magic, he could synchronize with the Magic Tower anywhere on the battlefield, allowing him to use incomplete 9-Star magic.

He was strong enough to slay the Monster Lord, while she intended to suppress the great army he led with the Holy Knight Order and her Authority.

That plan failed.

‘That failure was decisive.’

Why?

Her divine power did not work before the Monster Lord.

The Holy Knights’ divine power was the same.

The king of monsters had revealed his rank.

Against someone who radiated Haki so overwhelming that merely standing before him could blow one’s mind away, knights and mages were inadequate.

It was a crushing defeat.

“Go.”

Gasli de Bellium risked his life to buy time.

“You have to live.”

Serena Constantine and the Extermination Squad opened an escape route.

The Monster Lord led his great army onward.

From the lesser families of the frontier to the lesser kingdoms, and eventually, Eurasia’s capital was razed.

Even so, Simon Eurasia did not turn his army around.

He only focused on the war before his eyes.

He had sensed it.

If he did not bring down the Emperor here, there would be no future for the Kingdom Alliance.

The Emperor was no different.

Even if he defeated the Kingdom Alliance, he would still have to wage war against the great army led by the Monster Lord.

Yet he made no move at all against the monsters sweeping across the continent.

People’s screams did not cease, and chaos descended upon the world.

A man walked into the Holy Tower.

FWOOOSH.

He lit a Holy Flame upon a freshly opened cigarette.

“So you were here.”

After examining the formulas inscribed around him, the man turned his gaze toward her.

“A Makeshift Boundary. Saintess, you have made something truly interesting.”

Rastian Arken.

The master of the White Magic Tower, once called the White Duke.

Now that he was the master of three Magic Towers, he was called the Duke of Mixed Colors.

“That is not a formula a vermin like you should put in his mouth.”

“Such a foul mouth. Are you trying to show courage before death?”

WHOOOSH—

Mixed mana leaked from the staff held by the Duke of Mixed Colors.

PTUI.

Lan spat out the cigarette she had been holding.

‘This is my grave.’

The commander of the enemy army had made it all the way here. She could easily imagine what the situation outside must be.

A battle destined for defeat.

Even so.

‘I do not intend to yield my life easily.’

FWOOOSH.

Divine power surged from Lan’s body.

“God’s punishment shall descend upon those who do not heed the boundary.”

Her eyes, synchronized with the Holy Tower, were dyed with divine power.

“You will never die as a human.”