After the incident, Shin Yato and Kore vanished without a trace.
A week passed.
At first, it was only whispers carried by frightened survivors. But soon, the rumors reached the Holy Kingdom. Along with them came a message sent by the White Tiger Captain, delivered by a lone carrier pigeon—its small body carrying news heavy enough to shake an entire nation.
The report confirmed the death of Captain Lochagos Tychon.
What had unfolded over the past two months began spreading across the continent like wildfire. Stories of slaughter, destruction, and the failed summoning of a demon by Saintess Kyria traveled from town to town, kingdom to kingdom—along with tales of a terror no one could fully explain.
Some people were filled with fear, believing that a terrible demon had appeared in the world.
Others began to doubt the Holy Kingdom itself.
And there were even those who whispered something far more unsettling—
That what had happened was not simply chaos…
Not merely a massacre…
But a judgment upon humanity itself.
The King of the Drakontigeras Kingdom was furious upon hearing the news of his second son.
Sitting upon a massive throne carved from black and red stone, his presence alone filled the grand hall with suffocating pressure. A terrifying killing aura leaked from him, spreading through the palace and sending chills down the spines of everyone present.
His furious gaze fell upon the royal council.
"Look into this matter," he ordered coldly. "Find out the real cause… and who is behind it."
His voice echoed through the chamber, heavy with rage. Not a single person in the palace dared to speak, their hearts trembling under the weight of the king's fury.
The king's words fell over the chamber like a blade.
For a moment, no one spoke. The royal council stood frozen beneath the crushing weight of suffocating pressure. Even the seasoned generals, men who had survived countless battlefields, felt cold sweat run down their backs.
One of the older ministers finally stepped forward, bowing deeply, his voice trembling despite his effort to remain composed.
"Your Majesty… we will immediately investigate the matter. We will gather every report from the border regions and the Holy Kingdom."
The king's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers gripping the armrest of the throne. The black and red stone beneath his hand cracked faintly from the pressure.
"Good," he said coldly.
Another council member spoke cautiously.
"If the rumors are true… then Second prince Lochagos Tychon is dead, then the one responsible must be extremely dangerous."
A heavy silence filled the hall again.
The king leaned back on his throne, his terrifying aura still filling the chamber.
"Dangerous?" he muttered, his voice low and filled with rage.
"Whoever dared to kill my son… will wish they had never been born."
No one in the hall dared to respond.
The air itself felt frozen under the king's fury.
The King of the Drakontigeras Kingdom looked down from his throne and spoke.
"General Drakontes… I am giving this task to you."
At once, General Drakontes stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty, I will not fail you."
His voice was firm and confident.
Yet a small drop of sweat ran down his face under the crushing pressure of the king's terrifying aura.
Far away, across the continent, the shadow of the unknown disaster continued to spread—
Meanwhile, the Holy Kingdom's sacred council chamber was far from calm.
Inside the sacred council chamber, the High Priests and Saintesses were gathered around a massive round table made of pure white stone.
The atmosphere was heavy with tension.
One of the High Priests slammed his hand on the table and spoke loudly.
"It is a false claim! The summoning of a demon is impossible. We all know that."
His voice echoed through the chamber.
Another High Priest leaned back slightly, his expression calm but serious.
"But the rumor has already spread across the kingdoms. People are beginning to doubt the Holy Kingdom."
A High Saintess, her face elegant yet arrogant, crossed her arms.
"The rumors will fade with time."
Her voice was calm, almost dismissive.
Another Saintess slowly shook her head.
"Even if they fade… the stain on the Holy Kingdom's name will remain."
Silence filled the room.
The priests and saintesses exchanged uneasy glances as the tension in the chamber slowly grew heavier.
Then an elderly Grand High Priest, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.His voice was steady, but his eyes carried the weight of centuries.
"If the kingdoms begin to suspect us… it may lead to political conflict. But the message sent by the Captain of Redtiger, Lochagos Tychon Drakontigeras, says this is a far more serious matter."
His words made the room even colder.
A younger priest hesitated before asking,
"Your Holiness ,then… what should we do? And what was written in the message?"
The Grand High Priest closed his eyes for a moment before answering.
"It speaks of a ghost from past centuries… that has been released and is now heading toward our Holy Kingdom."
His voice remained calm, his expression unchanged.
The younger priest frowned in confusion.
"Your Holiness, more serious than political conflict? And what is this 'ghost from past centuries'?"
One of the High Saintesses spoke.
" Priest Andrew, You might not know because you are not in a position high enough yet. Even within the kingdom, only a handful of higher authorities know about it."
Her voice was calm, but her expression had turned serious—very different from her earlier arrogance.
"There is a classified secret book in our Holy Kingdom called 'Age of Dead', also known as 'The Great Holy War.'"
The room fell silent as she continued.
"It records an ancient war… between the entire continent… and a single being."
She paused slightly before finishing.
"A man… a demon… or a monster. Whatever you might call it."
Those in the council who knew about the book fell silent, their expressions turning grave.
Then Priest Andrew spoke, his face serious.
"Saintess Emma… if the man mentioned in the message is the same one written in the book—and if he is heading here—then we must act immediately. But why would he be coming to our Holy Kingdom?"
Saintess Emma slowly turned her head toward the Grand High Priest.
A minute of silence passed before the Grand High Priest finally spoke.
"Everyone… follow me."
His voice was calm, but his face was serious.
Without asking any questions, everyone in the council rose from their chairs and followed him.
They walked through the sacred halls until they reached the Holy Relics Chamber. The relics inside shone brightly, illuminating the room with holy light.
But the Grand High Priest did not stop there.
He continued walking, leading them toward a hidden passage that opened into a secret chamber.
It was a vast, dark room.
Nothing could be seen.
Only darkness.
Then the Grand High Priest spoke.
"Jamis. Emma. Light the room."
With a calm yet serious voice.
Priest Jamis and Saintess Emma raised their hands and cast light magic.
The chamber slowly illuminated.
And then everyone saw it.
A sword, bound tightly by heavy holy chains.
A dark aura slowly leaked from it.
Beside the sword lay an ancient book, so old it seemed as if it had defied time itself. Its cover was made of pure gold, layered with aged leather and cloth.
The entire council fell silent.
Just looking at the sword sent a chill through their bodies.
Then the Grand High Priest spoke.
"Everyone here who knows about this book already understands… it was never a myth."
He gestured toward the chained weapon.
"The proof is this Demonic Sword… and the blood that still stains it from that war."
His voice trembled slightly.
He paused for a moment before speaking again.
"And the master of this sword… is heading here."
His voice grew lower.
"Because the Holy Kingdom was the first to wage war against him."
His expression darkened.
"And now… he is coming for his revenge."
He glanced at the sword.
"And for his sword."
Priest Jamis spoke nervously.
"But, Your Holiness… the man mentioned in the message might not be him."
His voice trembled.
The Grand High Priest slowly shook his head.
"No."
His dead eyes stared at the ancient book.
"It is him."
A long silence filled the chamber before he spoke the name.
"Shin Yato… the Reaper of the World."
Priest Jamis tried to speak again.
"But—"
The Grand High Priest cut him off.
"The message said that Sphragidón Nekropolis was burned to ashes."
He spoke calmly, his face emotionless.
"Just as the prophecy of the previous Grand High Priest said… on his deathbed."
Murmurs spread through the chamber.
"Prophecy…?"
Priest Andrew stepped forward slightly.
"Your Holiness… what did the prophecy say?"
The Grand High Priest slowly spoke, his voice echoing through the dark chamber.
"THE BLOOD WILL RUST THE CHAINS.
THE DEMON WILL BE RELEASED.
ASHES WILL COVER THE WORLD.
TRUTH WILL BE TWISTED.
SOULS WILL CRY WITHOUT JOY.
THE HOLINESS WILL FALL BENEATH HIS FEET.
AND THE DEMON WILL BE WALKING… ON DEAD."
His terrifying voice echoed across the chamber.
Silence followed.
A cold, dreadful chill fell upon the entire council.