The revelation of the sword, the ancient book, and the prophecy, the chamber fell into heavy silence.
Priest Andrew suddenly stepped forward, panic visible on his face.
"Then, Your Holiness, we must inform every kingdom and unite against this threat!" he said hurriedly, his voice filled with worry.
The Grand High Priest let out a quiet sigh.
"No. We cannot do that."
His voice was calm, his expression unchanged.
Priest Andrew stared at him in disbelief.
"But… why?"
The Grand High Priest slowly looked around the chamber.
"Because it would stain the name of the Holy Kingdom. And this matter is a secret that must never leave these walls."
Priest Andrew's face turned pale.
"I… I don't understand, Your Holiness. If we hide this, everyone will be in danger."
His voice trembled as he took a step forward.
The Grand High Priest's expression remained cold.
"I said… no."
His voice echoed through the chamber.
Priest Andrew clenched his fists and spoke again, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
"But when that man reaches the kingdom… everyone will know."
Before anyone could react, the Grand High Priest stepped forward. His gaze hardened as he stared at Andrew.
Then—smack.
The sound of the slap echoed across the chamber.
Andrew staggered slightly, shocked.
"If he reaches this kingdom," the Grand High Priest said coldly, "we will deal with it."
He turned his head toward Priest Jamis, his expression now serious.
"Tighten the defenses. Alert every Holy Knight in the capital."
His voice was firm and commanding.
"He may arrive at any moment."
Without another word, the Grand High Priest turned and walked away, leaving the chamber in heavy silence.
A saintess lowered her gaze quietly, unwilling to interfere.
Priest Andrew slowly touched his cheek, still stunned by the slap.
The council chamber remained silent for a moment before the Grand High Priest's order echoed again.
"The council is dismissed."
The priests and saintesses began to leave the chamber one by one.
Andrew stood still, his mind still struggling to process everything he had heard.
As he turned to leave, a gentle tap touched his shoulder.
He looked back.
Saintess Emma stood behind him.
"Don't worry, Priest Andrew," she said calmly, her expression carrying a hint of arrogance.
"He may be powerful… but his strength is no longer what it was during the Great Holy War."
She began walking past him toward the exit.
"His power was divided into seven parts and scattered across the continent."
She glanced at him briefly.
"So even if he comes… we can handle him easily."
With that, Saintess Emma walked away, leaving Andrew standing alone in the quiet chamber.
His hand slowly clenched.
But deep in his heart… a terrible unease remained.
Along the massive walls of the Holy Kingdom, the defenses were quickly reinforced.
Thousands of Holy Knights began preparing for battle.
Helmets were fastened. Heavy armor clanked as soldiers moved into formation. White cloaks bearing the sacred symbol of the Holy Kingdom—the Holy Grail Cup—fluttered in the cold wind.
Some knights stood with spears and swords in tight ranks.
Others climbed the stone walls, bows in hand, arrows already nocked and ready.
The entire capital had suddenly transformed into a fortress.
Below the walls, the citizens watched in confusion.
People gathered in the streets, whispering among themselves.
"What is happening?" one man asked nervously.
"Why are the knights preparing for war?" another woman said, clutching her child.
Fear and uncertainty slowly spread through the city as the preparations continued.
Yet no one knew the truth.
The Holy Kingdom was preparing for the arrival of a single man.
Far away from the Holy Kingdom…
A lone figure arrived at the half-destroyed town of Amfiválo̱ .
The streets were eerily silent. Broken walls and shattered buildings stood like empty shells.
The figure wore a dark cloak, its hood covering their face.
As the hooded traveler walked through the ruined street, noticed a woman standing nearby. Her clothes were dusty, and her eyes looked dry from crying.
The hooded figure approached her slowly.
"What happened here?" the traveler asked calmly.
The woman looked at the stranger with suspicion.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Oh… forgive me," the traveler replied. "I'm Elizabeth. A traveler."
She slowly removed her hood.
The woman froze.
Elizabeth was strikingly beautiful—her slim figure tall and elegant, long brown hair tied neatly behind her , clinging to her pale face like ghosts.
She stood around five feet eight.
But her eyes…
They were lifeless.
"There was… a massacre," the woman said quietly, her voice trembling as she looked down.
"A massacre?" Elizabeth repeated calmly.
The woman nodded slightly, her body shivering as she remembered.
"Yes… the temple stairs were flooded with blood. Bodies everywhere… torn apart…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
Elizabeth watched her silently.
"Can you tell me who did it?" she asked.
The woman shook her head quickly.
"Don't ask me… I don't know!"
Fear filled her face as she hurried away down the street.
Elizabeth remained standing alone in the ruined town.
Her lifeless eyes slowly turned toward the direction of the temple.
As Elizabeth walked toward the temple, she quietly observed the people of the town.
Some sat on the ground with empty expressions, their faces filled with despair. Others tried to rebuild the broken houses, lifting stones and wood in silence.
The entire town felt heavy with grief.
When Elizabeth finally reached the temple, she stopped.
The once-sacred place was now nothing but ruins.
The walls had collapsed, and the ground itself had split apart. Broken stone lay scattered everywhere.
At the entrance, she saw the fallen sign of the temple—the sacred symbol of the Holy Grail Cup, now cracked and half buried in the rubble.
Elizabeth stepped closer.
Dark stains covered the broken stone ground near the fallen symbol.
She slowly knelt down.
Her hands trembled.
Her chest tightened as she touched the cold stone stained with dried blood.
Suddenly—
The voices returned.
"Avenge us… AVENGE us… AVENGE US…"
The echoes of vengeful souls rang inside her head.
Elizabeth grabbed her head with both hands, struggling as the voices grew louder.
Her breathing became heavy. Her body trembled.
For several minutes, she remained like that.
Then slowly…
The voices faded.
Her breathing steadied, though her body still shivered.
Elizabeth slowly lifted her head.
Now she understood.
The one responsible…
The one who destroyed her kingdom…
The one who wiped out the small village of Chorío…
The one who turned this town into a graveyard…
Shin Yato.
Her eyes darkened.
And she knew she was heading in the right direction.
Suddenly—
A loud horn echoed through the town.
Then screams followed.
"Demons are attacking! Demons are attacking!"
"Run away!"
"Why is this happening to us?!"
"Someone… please save us!"
Elizabeth stood up quickly.
Her hands were shaking again, sweat forming on her skin as old trauma resurfaced.
For a moment, fear tried to take control of her.
But Elizabeth forced herself to breathe slowly.
In… and out.
Her trembling slowly calmed.
Elizabeth walked toward the screams… her lifeless eyes slowly filling with something darker than fear.
Toward the demons.