There was a sharp, suffocating silence inside Duke Jacob Crowell's office.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
Roman paced across the marble floor like a caged beast. His eyes burned with a fury that didn't belong to a nineteen-year-old noble. This wasn't the warm young master who smiled at village children. This was someone else entirely cold, calculating, dangerous.
He wasn't just angry.
He was thinking.
Hard.
Jacob felt the pressure in the room like a second heartbeat pounding against his skull.
"Prepare the dukedom's defense protocol immediately," Jacob finally barked to his knights, shattering the silence. "Evacuate the civilians. First priority: the elderly, then women and children."
The knights saluted in perfect synchronization and rushed out.
"Call every able-bodied man who can hold a sword," Jacob added. "They'll assist the knights in holding the gates if the monsters break through."
Selena moved instantly.
She wasn't panicking she was commanding.
"Reinforce the mana barriers on the western wall!" she ordered. "Check the supply caches! Switch to emergency formations. No delay!"
Her voice carried through the hallways like fire.
Meanwhile, Roman finally stopped pacing.
He pulled out a chair and sat down slowly, staring at nothing and everything at once.
"Father," he said, voice low. "What about the Holy Paladins?"
Jacob hesitated. "…They have been stationed across the kingdom. But some of them haven't made their move yet. They are… waiting."
Roman snapped his gaze toward him. "Waiting? Waiting for what?"
"…For someone," Jacob admitted reluctantly. "They act only when the Goddess sends a sign. Without that, they won't march."
Roman slammed his fist onto the desk.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
His aura flared for a moment golden and black intertwining like two storms devouring each other.
"Father. Contact the Holy Paladin — the one who saved Ephor during the first dungeon outbreak. What was her name again?"
Jacob straightened. "Ezra Violet."
"Good. Contact her. Tell her the situation. A monster breakout is coming — on a massive level. Bigger than what we faced."
Jacob shook his head slowly. "Roman… they won't believe us. They only act based on visions from Goddess Aria. Not mortal warnings."
Before Roman could argue, the Shadow System activated with a violent flicker.
> [WARHERALD — NEW DIRECTIVE]
You must travel to the Holy Empire of Arcania.
Meet Pope Lucius Seraphael.
Receive the blessing and support needed for the incoming catastrophe.
Roman's pupils shrank.
He stood up immediately.
"Big sister," he said without hesitation, "you take command of the mission in Ephor. Keep a close eye on every movement. Report everything."
Selena nodded sharply. "…Understood."
"Father," Roman continued, "brace yourself for anything. This next outbreak won't resemble the first one. And we're going to need help."
Jacob stared at him. "Roman… how do you know? How do you know when the dungeons will break? How do you know the scale?"
Roman remained silent for a few seconds.
His expression hardened.
"At this moment, that doesn't matter. I'll explain later."
He stepped toward the window.
"I'm leaving now. I may return late."
"Where are you going?" Jacob pressed.
Roman didn't hesitate.
"To get help from the Holy Empire of Arcania."
Jacob's voice cracked. "WHAT?! Roman, no one is allowed to enter the Holy Empire without invitation! Especially nobles! If they invite us, we may go but not on our own!"
Roman just smirked faintly.
"Relax, Father. Write a letter. Send it directly to Pope Lucius Seraphael."
Jacob froze. "…Your confidence terrifies me."
Roman stepped onto the window ledge.
"And contact Tower Master Velkan. Tell him to activate the defense barrier we prepared. Follow everything I instructed."
"Roman!"
But he was gone.
Roman leapt into the night sky, golden aura swirling around him as he shot toward the horizon, heading straight for the Holy Empire.
Jacob stood frozen, torn between fear and awe.
"…That boy," he whispered. "What is he becoming?"
Still, he obeyed. He wrote the letter and sent it through the secret noble channel — a method only a handful of nobles possessed.
Far away, in the Holy Empire of Arcania…
A young receptionist named Lucy sat at her desk sorting documents. A faint flash of divine mana startled her.
A letter materialized in her hands, stamped with a sigil she recognized instantly.
Presia Dukedom. Clover Kingdom.
Her heart skipped.
She opened it. Her eyes widened as she read the short message:
Deputy Duke Roman Crowell requests an urgent audience with His Holiness regarding an incoming massive dungeon outbreak.
Lucy's blood ran cold.
Everyone in the Holy Empire every priest, paladin, and archbishop had been briefed about one thing:
The Warherald, the Goddess's chosen warrior, was from the Clover Kingdom.
A noble blood.
A Crowell.
Lucy didn't waste another second. She sprinted down the sacred hallway until she reached the Pope's chamber.
She knocked rapidly, almost panicked.
"Your Holiness! It's me Lucy!"
Archbishop Desmond Herman opened the door with a glare. "The Pope is busy. Deny the meeting."
Lucy blurted out, breathless:
"It's from the Presia Dukedom! Their deputy duke Roman Crowell wants to meet His Holiness!"
The name froze both men.
Desmond's face drained of color.
"The… the Warherald?"
Lucy nodded frantically.
Pope Lucius Seraphael stood up slowly, eyes wide with awe.
"Roman Crowell…" he whispered. "The chosen warrior of Goddess Aria."
Desmond rushed forward, snatching the letter from Lucy's hands. He read it once twice and his expression hardened.
"Your Holiness. It's true. He is coming. And he left his dukedom already. He may arrive at any moment!"
Pope Lucius's voice trembled.
"Prepare everything. Summon every Paladin. Inform the clergy. Open the sacred gates."
Desmond bowed deeply. "At once!"
He ran, shouting orders down the hall like a man possessed.
In the Pope's chamber, Lucius turned toward the towering statue of Goddess Aria and sank to his knees.
"Thank you, merciful Goddess…" he whispered, tears falling silently. "For allowing us to meet humanity's last hope."
Because the Warherald…
Was already on his way.