…
Gilland was startled as he looked at Luna.
Luna’s emotionless silver eyes evoked a strong sense of déjà vu in Gilland.
Gilland overlapped the memory of Rune, whom he had met near the Forbidden Forest in the past, with Luna, and his intuition proved to be correct.
Meanwhile, several more people emerged through the Warp Gate, including Luna. Among them was Hayden, the highest councilor of the Imperial Magic Tower.
When Hayden introduced himself, Alfonso IV welcomed him warmly.
“I thank you for coming this far to greet me.”
“It is fortunate that Your Majesty is unharmed.”
After exchanging greetings with Hayden, Alfonso IV naturally headed toward the Warp Gate.
However, Hayden stepped in front of Alfonso IV and spoke.
“Your Majesty, I apologize, but…”
“…?”
“The reason I came here is not to greet you, but to assess the situation and ensure the safe closure of the Warp Gate.”
“…I understand. Please do your best.”
If the Warp Gate were to fall intact into the hands of the followers of the Dark God, unforeseen problems could arise.
Thus, Hayden’s decision to take appropriate measures on the Warp Gate was reasonable, and its closure could proceed after Alfonso IV crossed over.
But Hayden blocked Alfonso IV’s path again as he tried to pass by.
“Your Majesty should use land routes instead of the Warp Gate.”
“…?”
Alfonso IV couldn’t understand why Hayden insisted on using the land route when the fastest and safest escape route was right in front of him.
With an irritated tone, Alfonso IV raised his voice.
“Why suggest the land route when the Warp Gate is right here!”
“If Your Majesty uses the Warp Gate to disappear, it will only make it harder to control those remaining in Alimo’s territory.”
“That is not your concern! Besides, my loyal subjects will lead the troops in my stead—what is there to worry about?”
Alfonso IV shot back irritably and signaled for Hayden to step aside.
Yet Hayden responded with a smile.
“Your Majesty, this is not a suggestion but a notification.”
“How dare you!!”
Alfonso IV erupted in anger, and the atmosphere grew tense as knights placed their hands on their sword hilts in preparation for any eventuality.
However, interest in Hayden didn’t last long.
Luna, who had been gazing at the distant sky, turned her eyes toward Alfonso IV.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming aura emanated from Luna, pressing down on the space around her.
BOOM!!!
“…!!!!!”
The air vibrated.
Startled knights reflexively drew their swords and aimed them at Luna.
As they did so, the oppressive aura intensified even further.
CRACK!!
Knights standing on the ground began to be pushed backward by the massive flow of mana radiating outward from Luna.
Even with all their might, only a few knights managed to maintain their stance.
While the knights struggled desperately, strangely enough, the space where Alfonso IV stood remained calm, without a single breeze.
Confusion written plainly on his face, Alfonso IV watched as Luna finally spoke.
“If you wish to cling to your petty authority despite losing all your territory…”
“…”
“Prove your worth.”
Luna was demanding that Alfonso IV ensure the maximum preservation and retrieval of valuable human resources and supplies during the evacuation process.
She was essentially saying that if he wanted to be treated like a king despite losing all his land, he needed to prove his utility in some way.
“…”
Luna’s words were an unprecedented insult to the ruler of a nation.
Yet, despite the insolent girl standing before them, none of Alimo’s knights or mages dared to step forward, their faces pale with fear.
Realizing that raising his voice would not resolve the situation, Alfonso IV reluctantly put aside his pride and protested.
“Are you unaware that the cursed ones’ army is already within reach…! Even gathering in large numbers will only increase our casualties…!”
The speed at which the Blessing of the Dark God spread across the land far exceeded that of ordinary human footsteps.
If Alfonso IV delayed their movement by attempting to command the evacuation ineffectively, they might end up being annihilated entirely.
Although Alfonso IV’s argument wasn’t entirely baseless, Luna ignored his protests and turned away.
“My will is…!”
Alfonso IV tried to continue his protest.
However, Luna activated all five magic circles before he could finish.
ZAP!!!
Mana flowing in the air resonated with Luna’s circles, emitting flashes of light.
Streams of mana swirling in the sky like lightning crackled ominously, ready to descend upon the ground at any moment.
“Guh…”
Despite struggling under the immense pressure weighing down on his body, Hayden maintained his smile.
The awe-inspiring display of power from someone brimming with limitless potential was exhilarating to Hayden.
In the silent shock that filled the space,
Luna shifted her gaze toward the horizon.
“…”
Beyond the horizon, she sensed the presence of a colossal demon drifting in the skies.
This creature, nurtured by the Blessing of the Dark God deep within the Demonic Realm, now roamed the skies above Alimo, accelerating the realm’s expansion.
Its sheer size and distinct presence made it an easy target even from a great distance.
By eliminating the airborne demon and devastating the surrounding area, some time could be bought.
KRAAAGH!!!
The swirling streams of mana gradually formed intricate runes, soaring higher into the sky.
Gilland once again faced the unsettling sensation he had experienced in the past.
As everyone else retreated in awe and wonder,
Gilland took a step forward and shouted.
“Just a moment…! The evacuation isn’t complete…!”
Due to the chaotic battlefield caused by rampaging demons, the front lines were uneven.
There were still numerous regions beyond where evacuations were ongoing or where people were partially isolated.
Dropping a meteor there would result in the annihilation of anyone with an ordinary physical constitution, regardless of their rank.
Though Gilland knew his voice wouldn’t reach her, he instinctively called out.
And amidst the flashes of light, Luna responded to Gilland’s shout.
“It won’t help.”
“…?”
“Their survival would only cause unnecessary consumption.”
“…!!”
Land infected by the Blessing of the Dark God would take decades, if not centuries, to recover.
With limited resources due to lost lands, an excessive number of refugees from Alimo would only exacerbate chaos and confusion.
Therefore, it was more practical to “filter out” those who couldn’t immediately contribute to the fight.
Of course, the situation itself was far from ideal for rescuing everyone.
Delaying sacrifices now out of hesitation would likely amplify the damage later.
Moreover, Luna couldn’t stay in Alimo for much longer.
“…”
Gilland stared at Luna, his lips trembling, but ultimately clenched his jaw, unable to continue pleading.
And soon enough…
BOOOOM!!!
A pillar of light surged upward, splitting the crimson-streaked sky.
The five circles, the Obelisk’s cosmic map, and the artifacts provided by the Royal Magic Tower under Hayden’s support—all preparations were complete.
Once again, Luna opened the skies above Alimo.
RIP!
With a tearing sound, the heavens fractured apart.
Soon after, a massive meteor entered the atmosphere at a slanted angle, emerging from the darkness beyond the stars.
The meteor ignited into a fiery mass, tracing a brief yet brilliant trajectory through the sky before obliterating the enormous airborne demon without a trace and colliding with the ground.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A luminous sphere resembling the sun rose beyond the horizon.
It was followed by fierce winds and tremors that shook the earth violently.
Having achieved her purpose, Luna turned her back to the scorching wind, her emotionless silver eyes glowing faintly.
WHOOSH-!
The Warp Gate through which Luna had entered Alimo flickered unstably.
The instability wasn’t due to the aftershock of the meteor but rather had begun the moment Luna initiated the Meteor spell.
Hayden calmly commented,
“There seems to be unrest at the Royal Magic Tower.”
There was no need for panic.
It was a situation they had anticipated.
*
The Royal Magic Tower could be considered a kind of alliance.
The Empire’s royal family needed to stabilize the control of the Royal Magic Tower, so various factions operated within it, ensuring mutual checks and balances.
To such an extent that among the nine supreme councilors of the Royal Magic Tower, at least two must be non-mages.
Already one of the most critical facilities in the Empire, the importance of the Royal Magic Tower increased even more after the destruction of the Imperial Capital.
Thus, major forces within the Empire dispatched troops to protect the Royal Magic Tower.
However, the supreme councilors of the Royal Magic Tower unilaterally decided to cooperate with the rebels occupying the capital.
Though conducted secretly, information leaks were inevitable, and strong opposition arose.
Ordinarily, the supreme councilors whose secrets leaked would have easily lost their heads to enraged knights of the Empire.
Further, it wasn’t impossible for the Royal Magic Tower to be occupied by external forces and the Obelisk destroyed.
But when news of Luna surfaced, it was already too late—the expansion of the Demonic Realm had begun.
As the expansion of the Demonic Realm progressed, panic spread across the continent.
Everyone sought to consolidate their forces amidst the chaos, and many troops stationed at the Royal Magic Tower returned to their main units upon receiving orders.
At that point, the involvement of the Royal Magic Tower’s leadership with the rebels was exposed, drawing harsh criticism and condemnation.
However, everyone was preoccupied with extinguishing the fires under their own feet and had no spare energy to divert elsewhere.
Nevertheless,
There were still those who prioritized honor, belief, and revenge over survival or pragmatism.
Intense conflicts of opinion erupted within the Royal Magic Tower regarding the unilateral decisions of the supreme councilors.
Ultimately, while Luna was traveling via the Warp Gate, internal strife broke out within the Royal Magic Tower.
Of course, the unrest within the Royal Magic Tower was more of a diversionary tactic to buy time.
Luna’s temporary departure meant the Imperial Capital was left vulnerable.
Seizing the opportunity, some forces entered the Imperial Capital to exact revenge, reclaim it, or restore the Empire’s glory.
Though hastily organized, their determination was sharp and unwavering despite insufficient preparation.
*
“…”
PING! BUZZ!
An artifact beside Johanna flashed red.
It was a warning that intruders had been detected inside the Imperial Capital.
The artifact continued to flash and emit warning sounds, but Johanna sat motionlessly, staring vacantly at the throne with dry eyes.
She quietly held her position, looking at Ray, who sat silently on the throne.
Ray didn’t move.
His body was torn apart, and there was a gaping hole in his chest, frozen stiff.
Ray was dead. Johanna knew it.
Yet, Luna had promised her that she would return warmth to Ray.
It was a lie. A futile hope that would never come true.
Johanna wasn’t stupid enough to fall for such a foolish lie.
But…
Without relying on such a foolish lie, she couldn’t find the strength to stand up.
So, Johanna chose to believe that Ray would return.
Thus, Ray…
“Now it’s my turn…”
Johanna reached out her hand.
“I’ll protect you.”
And gripped the Empire’s divine sword tightly.
