Three days later. Another morning appeared with pieces of clouds scattered across the sky of Zeldia. Raizel seemed to be prepared a bit earlier than usual as he changed his dress into a long dark-red coat.
Raizel drew a magic circle from inside his home and instantly vanished from there.
In the holy world, a cloudy morning appeared. It was silent all around, as no one could hear even a single whisper in the world itself. A magic portal appeared in the middle of the city, in front of the largest castle of the land.
It was Raizel, who slowly stepped out of the portal and set foot on the land.
As the portal disappeared, Raizel calmly walked toward the castle and entered it. He then stepped inside a room placed just beside the entrance. There was a presence in the room—someone simply sitting there. The appearance wasn't familiar to Raizel.
The person was tall, his presence effective yet gentle. His expression carried neither a smile nor sadness, but behind his face lingered a faint presence of anger, hidden from the naked eye. He wore a long dark-purple coat with gloves as a disguise. His hair fell forward, covering his eyes as his face lowered.
Raizel slowly entered the room and sat in front of the person.
"Why are you here?" the person asked casually.
"Arnes, if you truly want to conclude this for us, then we can conclude it," Raizel replied.
"I no longer care whether any of you survive or not. In the end, the heavy truth will always force me into the role of a man who seeks revenge against the supreme rulers and the sacred spirits," Arnes said a bit loudly, glaring at Raizel.
"My beloved ones became victims of your foolish games with those sacred spirits. Why did it have to be me who paid the price for your burden? Why were my beloved ones the ones who died in a war between supreme beings?" Arnes added, his expression heavy and hostile.
"I no longer want to know the reason. But if your childish game became the reason for my destruction, then I will force you all to be destroyed by your own game. That is why this war will mark the beginning of destruction—the destruction of both supreme forces," Arnes concluded.
Raizel took a long breath and lifted his gaze toward Arnes.
"I was never able to understand human desire, and I don't believe I ever can. Maybe this is why I cannot understand your words," he spoke.
Right afterward, Raizel drew a magic circle and stepped into the portal, disappearing from there along with it.
As Raizel disappeared, he returned to Zeldia. Later that day, he gathered with his companions in a flower garden located a bit away from his home. It was time to conclude everything in a finale—the war between the two sacred authorities.
After gathering, Raizel announced his decision, and everyone there gladly accepted it, prepared to fight against the sacred spirits.
"Is it really fine for us to go straight to their root? I feel like their overwhelming number will cause serious trouble for us," Maria spoke.
"I have my fellow supreme rulers with me. As soon as we leave from here, they will be there as well," Raizel replied.
"However, we are definitely going to use a few tricks that will help us win," he added.
"Just follow the way Aizis handles everything, and watch how victory runs toward us," Raizel concluded, taking a breath afterward.
"As you wish, mister," Maria replied.
Afterward, Raizel drew a magic circle and left the place through the portal, leaving the others behind. He soon arrived in the holy world, appearing inside the main castle at the center of the realm.
Sensing the presence of Arnes waiting in the throne room, Raizel slowly walked toward it and opened the door. A faint smile appeared on Arnes's face as he lifted his gaze toward Raizel, who had just entered.
"I was waiting. You are late, like you always used to be," Arnes spoke.
"Could be. I was never the one to arrive early at the battlefield, right?" Raizel replied.
"I don't really remember the way you used to be. Perhaps I do, but I don't want to remember. I don't want to recall the time when betrayal destroyed everything I once had," Arnes said slowly, anger and hostility flickering in his eyes.
Raizel remained expressionless and silent. He walked toward Arnes's throne and raised his right hand toward him. Arnes lowered his gaze.
"If your wish is to destroy the person behind your loss, then go ahead—kill me here and now, and conclude the war," Raizel said, glaring at Arnes slightly.
Arnes did not reply for some moments, keeping his gaze lowered. Then, lifting his head, he stared at Raizel casually.
"Was it just you, the reason behind it? No. It was the entire layer itself that carried the burden. The cause of my loss lies in all of it, and so, every part of the layer will pay the price. I will destroy everything and show them the same terrifying pain I felt long ago—the moment I lost everything," Arnes spoke, breathing heavily after his words. His eyes brimmed with the flames of hatred, restrained only by his own will, forcing himself not to unleash the rage consuming him.
"I don't understand these feelings, but for some reason, I do not want to fight against you," Raizel replied.
"But if you wish to go against creation, then I must stop you—the way I was ordered to do," he added, lowering his gaze as he spoke.
"You won't ever change, will you?" Arnes said.
"Does it matter? When this is the end of either of us, does it matter to you? Does it matter to me?" Raizel replied, smirking right after, covering half of his face with his left hand while glaring at Arnes intentionally.
Arnes glare toward Raizel for some seconds and then smiled a bit as his eyes were glowing.