Hooves trampled the morning mist as Diana and Otto’s group galloped along the gravel road leading to the Royal Capital.
Despite everyone’s attempts to comfort her along the way, Diana still couldn't forgive herself…
It's hard to imagine what kind of resolve Mil harbored to make such a decision: embracing light in his heart while facing darkness?
Those who sell their souls to the abyss will have their souls tormented by the Demon God after death, and if they betray, they will suffer absolute damnation—
“Burning in the lowest level of hell, never to rise again, until the end of time!”
From the moment Mil made that decision, this was his destined end.
But why… why was it always her who hurt him?
Diana’s face turned pale, and a chill ran down her spine again and again…
This was the first time she regretted becoming a Holy Sword User.
Thus, Diana, tormented in body and mind, rode with the others, enduring another night of travel;
Finally, at dawn, they arrived at a town slightly further out from the Royal Capital.
Checking the map, Diana nodded with certainty:
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be the central area where Black Mage Ibon plans to trigger the demon tide…”
As she spoke, everyone slowed their pace.
Due to its location at a leyline node, the land here was fertile, and the population was not small;
Smoke curled from the town’s chimneys, and the shouts of early market vendors mixed with the aroma of baked bread. Farmers played cards, merchants set up stalls, and there were constant sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking.
Charles, the adjutant of the Royal Knights, frowned deeply and spoke in confusion:
“That’s not right, is it? It doesn’t look like they’ve received any news.”
Stimulating chaotic power from the leylines to induce a demon tide outbreak is not a simple matter; it requires the deployment of large-scale magic.
Logically, someone should have already returned to report, and by now, a large number of Royal Knights and magicians should have been dispatched to investigate the situation.
However, there wasn’t even a shadow of a Royal Capital envoy in this town…
“Let’s go find the town mayor first.”
After First Prince Otto suggested it, everyone agreed and found the local priest and mayor near the church;
However, both of them were completely unaware after hearing the explanation:
“Your Highnesses, we have not received any news from the Royal Capital.”
Everyone’s hearts sank. Diana and Otto exchanged glances, a premonition of ill omen forming in their minds…
Either the Royal Capital didn't believe them, or the student who went back to report encountered an accident.
Diana pondered for a moment and suggested:
“Mr. Mayor, we don’t know when the demon tide will break out. It’s better to notify the residents to evacuate first. Evacuate towards the Royal Capital. We will figure out a way to resolve the official evacuation decree later.”
However, the priest and the mayor looked at a fugitive and a person who had been dead for half a month…
Some words were simply too difficult to say.
Fortunately, there was a student in the group who displayed his family crest:
“I am the fourth son of Modelin Baron’s family, from this fiefdom. I will guarantee for Your Highnesses in the name of my family. Please immediately ring the alarm bell and gather the townspeople to evacuate!”
At these words, the mayor and the priest both showed relieved smiles.
Diana and Otto could only give an awkward smile.
“Your Highnesses! This is what I should do!”
The student enthusiastically patted his chest, bowed, and smiled with great excitement.
Soon, the church bells rang six times, and the townspeople, guided by the priest, began to pack their belongings.
Diana and the others did not linger for a moment longer, mounting their horses and continuing their journey towards the Royal Capital…
They had to notify the Royal Capital as soon as possible to arrange for magicians to investigate the area.
…
Two hours later, when they arrived at the next town, they found nearly 20 Royal Knights warhorses tethered outside the town.
“Buzz—!”
As soon as she got close, the Holy Sword at Diana’s waist vibrated intensely…
The stronger the vibration, the stronger the enemy. The intensity just now was even more violent than when she encountered her fallen teacher, Volk, before.
If she wasn't mistaken, Volk was here, and he had even stronger helpers.
Diana reined in her horse and said to Otto:
“Brother! You all go back to the Royal Capital first. I’ll go check the situation.”
Otto saw the serious look in Diana’s eyes and guessed some of the situation; the others staying would only hold her back.
“Okay, be careful yourself!”
Everyone sped up and headed for the Royal Capital, while Diana entered the town alone…
At this time, the square was crowded with people, the Royal Knights formed a circle, a large cross stood in the center, and dry straw was piled below it;
Diana looked up and saw that the person tied to the cross was the student she had previously entrusted to go to the Royal Capital to report the news of the demon tide.
His hands, feet, and shoulders were all pierced by demon-suppressing nails, pinning him to the cross.
The bishop held a thick book of laws, proclaiming his crimes—
Desecrating sacraments, worshipping the abyss, covenanting with demons…
The bishop’s gold-edged stole fluttered in the morning breeze as he raised his scepter, inlaid with starlight gems: “Purify the heretic with the Sevenfold Holy Fire!”
“Stop! What are you doing?!”
Diana’s sharp rebuke interrupted the bishop’s judgment ceremony. The crowd turned their heads to look at Diana, their eyes filled with terror.
An infant in the arms of a nearby farmer’s wife suddenly cried, a blacksmith’s apprentice knocked over a quenching tub, and whispers came from the sizzling white smoke: “Didn’t the Holy Sword User betray the country?”
The Royal Knights raised their weapons, and the bishop looked at Diana with contempt:
“Diana! As a Holy Sword User, you murdered your own brother, broke out of prison to escape punishment, and even covenanted with the abyss, betraying the grace of the Main God. Do you feel no shame at all?!”
“Slander! If I had fallen, the Holy Sword would have abandoned me long ago!”
As she spoke, Diana drew her Holy Sword, and a dazzling pale golden light burst forth.
The surrounding residents were astonished…
“Oh my goodness! This is the Fourth Princess, Her Highness Diana, the Holy Sword User!”
“She’s practically an angel descended…”
“How could someone chosen by the Holy Sword covenant with the abyss? Impossible, right?”
The sacred radiance, carrying the power of blessing, spread to the surroundings, and everyone felt the miracle of the Holy Sword;
A warm and powerful force circulated within everyone’s bodies, and many people’s old ailments and pains felt significantly relieved.
Then, Diana pointed the tip of her sword at the bishop and questioned:
“He is a student of the Royal Guard Academy. By what right did you arrest him?!”
“This person has been implanted with a demon seed, possessed by a demon, spreading fear in the Royal Capital, proclaiming the demon tide’s arrival. His judgment was jointly decided by our Holy City Cardinalate!”
The bishop spoke with conviction, even producing a decree of judgment. Diana gritted her teeth and rebuked:
“The demon tide is about to break out! I sent him to the Royal Capital to report this matter. In the name of the Holy Sword, I demand that you release him immediately!”
“Hmph! What right do those who have sided with the abyss have to say such things? Seize her!”
With that, a group of Royal Knights surrounded her.
Diana held the Holy Sword horizontally in front of her, and with a sudden surge of strength, golden light patterns expanded outwards in a spherical shape, knocking all the surrounding Royal Knights to the ground.
Seeing this, the bishop directly threw a torch into the dry straw pile.
Immediately, a raging fire ignited on the execution platform…
“Stop him! Put out the fire quickly!”
Diana jumped off her horse, screaming at the top of her lungs.
The surrounding residents also quickly reacted, surging forward and rushing onto the execution platform, pressing down the officiating bishop;
People used forks to remove the burning straw piles, then brought basins of water, soaked their clothes, and threw them onto the flames, quickly extinguishing the large fire.
Diana finally let out a sigh of relief and roared at the surroundings:
“Volk! I know you’re here, come out!”
However, when people pulled the last demon-suppressing nail from the sufferer…
“Buzz—!”
The roar of the Holy Sword interrupted Diana’s thoughts, and a wave of dark-attributed magic erupted from the execution platform…
“Diana, you are still too naive.”
The voice of Volk, the Chief Royal Magician, echoed around them.