It was leaked that Luna would be moving to Alimo.
If Luna left the Imperial Capital, it could be retaken by a small number of troops. However, with the limited time remaining before Luna reached Alimo, coordinating an organized ambush with multiple factions proved challenging.
But some were bold enough to seize this opportunity, knowing they might not get another chance to reclaim the capital.
As a result, the moment Luna departed from the Imperial Capital, various groups and individuals—unaware of each other’s presence—rushed in for a surprise attack.
Their motives and goals differed slightly, but one thing was clear: they all agreed that the traitors occupying the Imperial Capital must be eradicated.
KWAH-AH-AHNG!!!
Explosions began echoing throughout the Imperial Capital.
At least dozens of intruders had infiltrated the city.
The defense systems of the Imperial Capital and the palace were far from fully restored, making it impossible to properly stop the invaders. At best, they could only delay them slightly.
Thus, combat was inevitable; swords would have to clash to hold back the attackers.
…
Numerically, the “rebels” holding the Imperial Palace were vastly outnumbered by the intruders.
There was no room for retreat or protection for the inexperienced or young—they had to fight.
Delun, too, armed himself and moved out to confront the invaders. Thanks to a few functioning components of the defense system, the approximate positions of the intruders were relayed.
Moving toward the eastern side of the palace, Delun soon encountered one of the intruders in the middle of a corridor.
The armored invader immediately swung their sword upon spotting Delun, who charged forward without hesitation.
KAGH-GHAK!!
Their Sword Auras violently collided, sending shockwaves through the air.
The power of the Sword Aura surrounding their blades was evenly matched.
Realizing the strength of their opponent, both Delun and the intruder drew upon their Core Mana to amplify their Sword Aura.
KAGH-GHAGH-GHAK!!
Relentless slashes aimed to tear flesh apart, driven by sheer determination to cut down the adversary without mercy.
After the initial clash, Delun seemed to gain a slight upper hand.
The intruder’s movements appeared overly aggressive due to excessive excitement, while Delun sought to exploit these flaws calmly.
At first, Delun’s strategy seemed effective.
However, as the battle dragged on, the intruder gradually began pressuring Delun instead.
KAGH-GHAK!!
“Hooouk! Huh…!”
Every time their Sword Auras clashed and sparks flew, Delun’s breathing grew more erratic.
With his breath unsettled, Delun’s sword techniques started becoming chaotic.
This wouldn’t do. He needed to quickly steady his breathing and regain composure.
He had to calmly analyze the intruder’s sword skills and reclaim control over the flow of the battle.
Only then could he secure victory and survive.
Delun understood this intellectually…
Yet, as time passed, he found himself increasingly struggling just to block the intruder’s attacks.
“Huuh! Hek!”
Instead of employing the swordsmanship he’d learned at Izhise—the empire’s premier training institution—he was now shrinking back like a frightened child.
His performance was deeply disappointing for someone trained there.
“Gruuuh…”
This was essentially Delun’s first real combat experience.
For the first time, he stood alone at the crossroads of life and death, with no one to rely on.
It wasn’t uncommon for rookies to collapse under pressure, failing to demonstrate even half of their true abilities during their first actual battle.
But Delun’s current failure to perform wasn’t solely due to the stress of his debut in live combat…
“Huh! Huuh!”
KAGH!!
As their swords clashed again, flashes of light erupted.
Each time their blades met, Delun felt the intense emotions radiating from his opponent.
Anger, resentment, hatred, loathing… and conviction.
A firm belief that what they were doing was honorable and just.
That unwavering resolve shone brightly in the intruder’s eyes, directed straight at Delun.
Facing such fierce determination was overwhelming for Delun.
KAGH-GHAGH!!
The balance of the battle continued to tilt, and eventually, the intruder began completely dominating Delun.
As Delun swayed precariously, on the verge of collapsing, the intruder unleashed their full force, shouting with the fury boiling within them.
“You vile turncoat!!!”
“…”
The intruder’s rage was deep and heavy.
The more Delun was weighed down by it, the more he lost his sense of direction.
Vile turncoat. Delun struggled to accept such an insult.
All he had done was trust and follow the hero he admired most.
Ray. The person Delun trusted and followed above all others. He was undoubtedly a hero.
He was Delun’s hero, the Empire’s hero, and even the continent’s hero—a great and celebrated figure destined to be remembered in history for generations.
Surely, surely that must be true…
“…”
This is the Empire’s Imperial Capital.
Beyond its walls lies the devastated Imperial City.
Further out, cities reduced to ash and rubble stretch across the landscape.
And if one looks up to escape the sight of destruction, the sky above is stained crimson.
What once gleamed brilliantly in memory now smolders darkly, emitting nothing but acrid smoke.
“…”
Whose fault is all this devastation?
Who should bear the responsibility for this horrific massacre?
And why… why does a knight, who prides themselves on their integrity, wield their sword against me with such clear malice and hatred?
Delun was confused about everything.
Crunch!
His stance faltered, twisting his knees.
As Delun lost his balance and stumbled, the intruder struck with full force, pinning him down.
KWAH-GHAK!!!
“I’ll send every last one of you to hell, even if it costs me my life…!! Definitely…!!”
GRINDING SOUND!
The intruder’s blade pushed aside Delun’s, embedding itself into his shoulder.
Blood spurted from the wound, splashing across Delun’s cheek.
“…”
Delun stared unsteadily at the intruder.
He wanted to ask if the intruder truly saw him as a follower of calamity, someone responsible for plunging the continent into despair.
Even as his shoulder was being torn apart, Delun desperately wanted to know.
But before he could move his dry lips to speak, someone else intervened in their battle.
KWAH-GHAK!
An unexpected sword strike knocked the intruder away.
Attempting to recover from the surprise attack, the intruder tried to step back.
However, Johanna, who had initiated the surprise attack, swung her sword with one hand before the intruder could create any distance.
The intruder thought they could easily deflect Johanna’s one-handed strike—but they were mistaken.
KWAHNG!!!
Johanna accelerated her sword by detonating the mana stored in the holes along its blade.
The unexpected speed and force of her attack overwhelmed the intruder, disrupting their balance.
As the intruder froze, unable to dissipate the shock of the previous blow, Johanna clenched her fist towards the empty air.
SWISH-SH!
From where Johanna gripped the void emerged the Empire’s Divine Sword.
Recognizing the Divine Sword, the intruder became enraged.
“How dare YOU…!!!!!!”
The intruder screamed furiously, intent on tearing Johanna apart.
But their shouts couldn’t stop Johanna’s blade.
The trajectory of Moros carved into the intruder’s waist, emerging in a diagonal slash.
CHUNK!!!!
The intruder’s body split into two.
Sprays of blood rained down on Johanna’s head like a shower.
Wiping off the blood carelessly, Johanna turned her desolate gaze towards Delun.
“…What are you doing? Get up.”
“…”
Delun remained seated on the ground.
At a time when every able body was needed, staying put because of a minor injury to the shoulder was unacceptable.
He needed to staunch the bleeding, stand up, and continue fighting.
Delun knew this well, yet he sat there numbly, staring at the severed corpse before asking Johanna abruptly.
“Sister… Why are we fighting right now?”
“…”
“Are we… Are we doing the right thing? Are we doing something good? Right?”
Delun wanted to hear a positive answer, even if it was hollow reassurance.
But Johanna, too, harbored a multitude of suppressed emotions within her chest, making it difficult to simply boost Delun’s spirits.
“I don’t know either.”
Undried blood trickled down Johanna’s cheek.
Though the sensation was unpleasant, she made an effort to ignore it.
Are we doing the right thing? Is what we’re doing good? She didn’t know. She didn’t care. She didn’t want to care.
“You can ask later. Ask Ray… You can ask him later.”
“…Brother is dead.”
“He will rise again.”
“…”
Delun wanted to deny Johanna’s futile hope but stopped himself after seeing her distorted face.
Johanna clenched her fists tightly, forcing herself to speak with strained determination.
“He will rise again… So until then, I will protect Ray.”
TSUZ-ZUCK!
Multiple streams of Sword Energy ascended along the Divine Sword.
Although insufficient Core Mana prevented Johanna from manifesting a proper Sword Energy, she utilized Moros’ amplification effect to produce a brilliant beam.
“I will fight to protect Ray. That’s enough for me.”
“…”
More intruders were approaching the palace.
Among them were high-ranking forces.
Nevertheless, Johanna turned her back on Delun to face them.
Fiddling with the pendant in her pocket, she activated her defensive Artefact and stepped forward.
Delun watched Johanna’s retreating figure until the very end.
KWAH-AH-AHNG!!!
Not long after, a deafening roar filled the air.
The sounds of clashing Sword Energies, crumpling metals, and roaring flames reverberated loudly in Delun’s ears.
“…”
Johanna said she would fight to protect Ray.
She claimed she could dive into a pit full of filth and blood if it meant protecting Ray.
However, Delun’s heart did not align with hers.
Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Delun leaned his head against the wall.
His mind spun.
“…Brother.”
Delun yearned to see Ray.
He wanted to see Ray smiling trustworthily as he always did.
Delun extended his hand into the empty air.
But the hero Delun longed for would no longer grasp his hand and lift him up.
“Hah…”
Delun let out a bitter laugh.
He didn’t know who this mockery was directed at.
