[6]
BOOM!!!
Sword Energy clashed.
Jimy deflected the impact of the collision to the side and slid backward.
The moment a Sword Aura aimed at Jimy from the corner grazed his nose, a wave of scorching heat enveloped him. It was magic.
KABOOM!!!
Not knowing how to properly use it, Jimy threw an Artefact to block the raining fireballs.
As the Artefact crumbled under the intense heat, Jimy immediately turned and fled.
The flames rising around him momentarily concealed his retreating figure.
“Huff… Huff…”
Jimy pressed on the wound in his side and panted heavily.
Defending the Imperial Capital would be impossible given the overwhelming numbers of the invaders.
Fortunately, this attack was hastily organized, so the coordination between the intruders wasn’t perfect.
‘…If they had pushed all at once from the start, we’d have been done for.’
Jimy and the other “traitors” scattered, either picking off the invaders one by one or striking and retreating to buy time.
But continuing such tactics indefinitely was impossible.
Once the invaders realized their situation, they began actively cooperating, making even stalling difficult.
“Huff… Huff…”
Currently, the only forces defending the Imperial Capital were two Graduates and a few Experts.
Outnumbered and outmatched, Jimy kept retreating while trying to delay the invaders’ advance as much as possible.
Though Jimy fought desperately, he knew his limits were approaching.
‘If I retreat any further… it’s over.’
Stopping mid-step, Jimy’s expression hardened as he confirmed his position.
Retreating further risked endangering those he must protect from the battle’s aftermath.
This was Jimy’s line in the sand.
“…”
While Jimy pondered his next move, the internal barrier of the Imperial Capital that had briefly confused the invaders began to collapse.
ZING!!!!!
Through the broken barrier emerged an invader wielding Sword Energy, advancing toward Jimy.
Confident in his ability to defeat the opponent in a one-on-one fight, Jimy prepared himself.
However, more invaders would soon arrive.
Gripping his sword hilt, Jimy decided not to retreat, instead wrapping his blade with multiple streams of Sword Energy.
KA-GA-GAK!!!
Jimy clashed swords with the invader.
Without looking back, Jimy poured all his strength into pushing the opponent back, quickly gaining the upper hand.
Yet, if even one more invader reached this location, Jimy’s head would surely fall.
Jimy contemplated whether this moment might truly be the end of his life.
As if confirming his ominous thoughts, the sound of approaching invaders grew louder.
Just then…
A massive tremor shook the ground.
BOOOOOM!!!!
“…”
“…”
The Mana Vein beneath the Imperial Capital began resonating.
Only a very limited number of beings could provoke such a colossal vibration from the Mana Vein.
Luna. She had returned to the Imperial Capital. This signaled to the invaders that their limited time was up.
Failing to achieve their objective, the invaders acknowledged their defeat.
“…”
The invader locked in combat with Jimy took a step back.
With what seemed like a calm resignation, the invader exhaled deeply and looked at Jimy again.
“What do you desire?”
“…”
“Why have you brought such a terrible calamity upon us?”
Facing death, the invader wanted, at the very least, to understand the purpose behind the catastrophe they had unleashed upon the continent.
Unfortunately, Jimy couldn’t provide the simple answer the invader sought.
“Hmm…”
After standing silently for a moment, Jimy muttered bitterly.
“The endpoint of our struggles against the tides has led us here.”
What a goddamn mess.
That was all Jimy could offer in response.
*
Luna returned from Alimo.
The disturbance at the Royal Magic Tower had subsided, and the invaders who attacked the Imperial Capital failed to achieve their objectives.
Though Jimy, Johanna, and others who defended the Imperial Capital sustained various injuries, fortunately, no one died.
Healing Clerics Luna brought with the cooperation of the Royal Magic Tower treated the wounded, though somewhat reluctantly.
Once things settled down, Hayden, who accompanied Luna back to the Imperial Capital, stood overlooking the horizon beyond the city walls and spoke.
“…If Meteor is used any further, the ‘continent’ won’t survive.”
Using Meteor dozens of times wouldn’t sink the entire continent.
However, the people living on it weren’t as resilient as the land itself.
“It could lead to self-destruction.”
Currently, the Demon Realm’s expansion was destroying the southern breadbasket of the Empire.
Food and supply shortages were already visible and would worsen with time.
Moreover, Meteor caused devastating aftereffects matching its destructive power, including climate change.
Research remained from 600 years ago when Resina used Meteor twice, causing significant damage to the continent’s food production due to climate changes.
Should the same occur now, it wouldn’t merely result in a few deaths.
The loss of the breadbasket due to the Demon Realm’s expansion, the adverse effects of the red sky, and the impact of climate change could reduce the continent’s food production to a fraction of its current capacity.
In such a scenario, more than half of humanity would starve, raising doubts about whether nations could maintain their structure.
For rulers to retain control over their populations, minimal infrastructure and resource production were essential.
Conversely, followers of the Evil Deity faced far fewer such constraints.
“Engaging in a decades-long war with demons without proper control over groups is impossible,” Hayden concluded based on his knowledge.
Of course, if Luna chose to ignore his advice, there was little Hayden could do.
After expressing his thoughts, Hayden quietly waited for Luna’s response.
“I know.”
Luna understood.
Currently, barring special circumstances, using Meteor would likely harm the continent more than help it.
Still, Luna implemented Meteor in Alimo because there were no immediate means to halt the demon advance within a short timeframe. Additionally, she aimed to imprint a clear ‘presence’ and ‘message’ on the rest of the continent.
“Our goal is achieved.”
Until recently, many doubted that Luna played a decisive role in the destruction of the Imperial Capital.
The idea that an enigmatic Mage appeared without warning and destroyed the Imperial Capital was hard to believe.
Thus, various rumors circulated across the continent about the true identity and abilities of this so-called ‘Luna.’
However, by revealing herself directly in Alimo, Luna crushed all speculation.
Now everything was clear.
The Demon Realm was expanding.
Alimo had already fallen, and half the continent would soon be overtaken by the Demon Realm.
Faced with annihilation, the Royal Magic Tower began cooperating with Luna, who proved capable of unleashing unimaginable destruction alone.
Furthermore, events demonstrated that recapturing the Imperial Capital through amateurish special operations would be extremely difficult even if Luna left it unguarded.
As a result, Diorica’s argument for crowning a ‘new Emperor’ gained significant persuasive power.
“Prepare for the coronation.”
It was time for everyone on the continent to choose sides.
The skies had already turned too red to hesitate any longer.
*
The schedule for the coronation of the new Emperor was announced throughout the continent.
Had the south of the Empire been safe, and had the Demon Realm not begun expanding, the continent would have mocked and condemned Luna’s declaration of a coronation.
But now, things were different. As the news spread, more and more nobles of the Empire began to support the coronation.
Though the political situation remained as unstable as thin ice, one thing was crystal clear:
A single Mage known as ‘Luna’ now dictated the fate of the continent.
“…”
Luna stared silently at the small crown placed on the table.
For a long time, she remained silent, reflecting on Ray’s final choice.
Even though Ray had resolved to save ‘Lea,’ that day there were undoubtedly other paths he could have chosen.
But Ray didn’t opt for naive hope or optimism.
Instead, after his life ended, he chose to leave a place in the world for those he loved.
To accomplish this, Ray decided to reclaim all the miracles he had bestowed upon the world.
“…”
When Ray returned the Sacred Sword to Anthonyus, he preserved its symbolic significance.
And by confessing hidden truths to Anthonyus, Ray handed over the Command Blade alongside it.
Ray’s decision collapsed the core of the Church, one of humanity’s central pillars, and destroyed the system that had safeguarded the continent for centuries.
“…”
Ray was confident in Anthonyus’ choice.
However, Ray couldn’t possibly have perfectly predicted and calculated every other variable.
Fortunately for Ray, the fate of the continent flowed in the direction he intended.
The continent faced an unprecedented crisis of extinction.
The Empire fell, and the Holy Church collapsed.
The worst Apostle, embracing the malice of transcendent beings beyond the stars, was born, and the Demon Realm began to expand.
At this very moment, as the nightmare tightened its grip around humanity’s neck…
Luna was the only remaining Lord-level individual. She was the sole survivor. Ray made it so.
Through his actions, Ray forced those living on the continent to submit to power and conform to survival.
This was the conclusion Ray chose by abandoning everything he had built, all to protect the wish of a single person.
“…”
The ‘crown for Lea’ before Luna symbolized the endpoint of Ray’s chosen path.
Staring at the small crown for a long time, Luna slowly contorted her expression.
“Ray… Are you satisfied now…?”
Her hollow question dissipated into the air, reaching no one.
Finally rising from her seat, Luna picked up the crown and began walking.
This was where Ray’s chosen path ended.
But Luna’s chosen path still required more time.
Under the crimson sky,
the coronation for the new Emperor was about to begin.
