As the giant cross descended near the gates, everyone looked up—but no one had the chance to move. Darkness seemed to grow, spreading unnaturally, as the cross emerged from the depths of the sky.
Eleana, John, Kerin, and the others, along with the blue mages who had cast multiple barriers, watched in horror as it crashed into the fleeing commoners, crushing the hopes of hundreds who were trying to reach the castle.
Only after the thunderous impact did the golden knights and their leader finally react. Rio drew not a sword, but a golden spear, and spoke in a strange voice—one unfamiliar even to Eleana. Their eyes met for a brief second, just as Eleana arrived. Hatred burned undisguised in her gaze, while his held no emotion at all.
He spoke in an emotionless voice."Our time has come… Prepare."
Another tremor shook the ground as all the golden knights moved together. The blue mages hurriedly cast several layers of protection across the area.
John raised his voice as he looked at Eleana."We have to move everyone—the citizens—inside the castle! This is insane!"
Eleana, still stunned, nodded as Kerin whispered from behind her, finally standing up from his shock."Eleana… they seem to be elites of the Headless Church. They're not human—humanlike monsters."
Eleana raised an eyebrow as she powered up her stance."Who? What is this?"
Kerin didn't need to answer. Eleana finally noticed the truth—strange moving figures, puppets or humans, crawling across the massive cross. The huge headless figure shifted slightly as numerous unfamiliar knights landed on the ground below.
John muttered something as Eleana manifested two moons. They were massive, blue-white orbs—one hovering near the fleeing citizens, the other high above the castle.
The citizens cried out in despair."All my life I never cared for anything but… my wife…""Oh great protector of Drudar Piorova, what is happening in your name?"
As they prayed, a large portion of them—nearly two hundred—vanished.
Moments later, they reappeared from the second moon Eleana had cast near the castle. Eleana staggered slightly, taking deep breaths."I won't be able to cast manifestations like this again anytime soon," she muttered.
Meanwhile, John rescued citizens in his own chaotic way—running at full speed and throwing them into the air. Blue mages caught them mid-flight with barriers, guiding them safely inside the castle gates.
Kerin grimaced."That's… a really strange way of saving people."
Sethsi summoned her weapon and clashed head-on with a headless knight. Nyelle recovered quickly, her punches shattering the knights in her path.
Kerin's group joined the fight. The golden knights clashed with the headless ones, whose leaders seemed to match them in strength. The battlefield descended into chaos.
People poured into the castle as John continued throwing survivors, blue mages cushioning their landings. Kerin's group, Eleana's group, remaining knights from Breavan, and Rio's aggressive advance around the massive cross created a disturbing, frenzied scene.
Kerin spoke gravely."Eleana, we should head to the tower top. I think this is a ploy."
"These knights aren't that strong," he added as he crushed a knight's helmet.
Eleana frowned."Doesn't John have any idea what's really going on?"
Kerin shook his head helplessly as he moved through the madness."I have no idea what he's thinking. Just look at him…"
Eleana nodded, and together they entered the castle gates. As they moved inside, Eleana sensed a gaze—Rio was watching her. He nodded once.
Eleana gritted her teeth and turned away.
"Don't hate him too much," Kerin said quietly. "You can settle this later."
Eleana said nothing as they continued onward.
.......
Some time earlier, in a high place overlooking Drudar, a man sat silently watching. A shadow stood beside him.
A massive flamingo swooped down and caught a small bird in its beak, flying away—
Then the giant cross descended from the sky, crushing the flamingo and hundreds of citizens below.
The man watched without expression."How many?" he asked.
"Three should be enough… for the process."
"Hm."
"They seem a bit restless."
"And that woman has gone completely mad."
"Be quick."
The shadow vanished.
The man continued watching the distant chaos, humming softly."Oh, Clayren, my beloved… you seem to have realized."
"Don't blame me," he murmured."Blame your ancestors."
..........
In a secret room, Eryssa writhed like a trapped beast, trying to scream—but no sound escaped her.
The saintesses' eyes had changed. They weren't singing—it seemed they were screaming.
A shadow had manifested within the chamber. Eryssa's pupils dilated, not because of the shadow, but because of what she saw.
The saintesses—as they screamed and chant a strange sinister energy seemed to blow as the veils wore off.The two of the saintesses were none other than her sisters ,Alicia and Eve—who began to break apart. Strange emerald like two objects emerged from them as the room drowned in emerald light. Flesh twisted as a massive hand materialized within a void at the center of the room, reaching for Eryssa. Somehow, it could not fully enter.
The shadow spoke as it threw a third emerald object,"This should suffice...otherwise..."
Eleana struggled desperately. Even after the three emerald objects emitted strange energy that seemed to help the hand that manifested out of nowhere to enter Eryssa's body, it still wasn't ale to
The shadow spoke for the second time."Start.Start it...". A few seconds passed by.
Eryssa heard it clearly—the sound of a massive explosion. She had heard it before, but this time it was closer. As if it had happened directly above them.
........
Moments earlier, Eleana and Kerin rushed up the stairs.
"Kerin," Eleana said a bit intrigued, "it seems not only John—even you are hiding many things."
Kerin sighed as he ran and looked over. "I'll explain when we find Veer. It's—"
The strange darkness atmosphere was veiled by a figure on the stairs to banquet hall.
He stopped.
A blue knight stood before them.She was familiar.Very familiar.So familiar that Kerin's anger started to consume him.
Both Eleana and Kerin recognized her.
Kerin's muscles twitched as he screamed in anger,"Eleana… it's her. That damn bitch—she attacked us."
"I know," Eleana said as her hair flowed and raised her sword. "She also attacked us in the basement at the Puppet Bazaar."
A laugh echoed from above.
"Interesting guests…I should give you a present...."
The knight removed her helm gently.....
"Move, bitch!" Kerin shouted—then froze.
"Those eyes,that face, that hair....how?"
His eyes widened. His weapon slipped from his hand.
Eleana's vision clouded as well. Seeing the familiar face before her was almost unbearable.
From the above stairs, Caria smiled, twirling her helm."So, Mister Kerin… and Miss Silver Knight."
"How… how can it be you?" Kerin whispered in rage.
There was a scream.
"Howww?!"
Caria laughed softly."Finally. What a show. Many people say you are one of the wisest person in Drudar.It really saadens and excites me seeing you like this...oh Kerin..."
"We escaped"
"Praise the founder...."
She glanced at the people fleeing into the banquet hall and spat,"Bunch of ants."
"Now… where was I?"
Eleana meanwhile grabbed Kerin's arm."Get a hold of yourself, Kerin."
"This isn't her… it can't be," he muttered through tears."Did you enjoy it? Your foot on my head? Return my family's item!"
He lunged forward moving away from Eleana. Eleana was too late to stop him.
He went straight for her stomach. Caria struck him effortlessly, sending him tumbling down the stairs.
"Useless trash," she sneered."You and that fool Veer—utterly worthless."
Eleana tightened her grip on her sword, but Caria was suddenly right in front of her and caught her sword with a pair of knives ,golden knives.
"So," Caria smiled, "does my technique look real?"
Eleana trembled with rage."Since when…? No—this can't be you. They said Caria was being rescued by Sythris!"
"Oh...Is that so..?"Caria stepped aside."Go on. Pick him up."
Then her expression hardened as though she was listening to something.
Eleana went to Kerin as she picked him up.
"Want to see a trick?"said Caria.
Eleana and Kerin felt something as Eleana lunged and arrived near Caria but still she was a step late.
Caria snapped her fingers.
"Boom."
The banquet hall exploded—killing everyone inside.
Kerin collapsed to his knees.
Eleana stood frozen.
Smoke filled the silence, broken only by Caria's gentle laughter.
........
Outside, John was cutting down headless knights when he heard it.
Everyone did look up.
"Boom."
The banquet hall was gone.
John stared at the castle, stunned. His flaming sword slipped from his hand.
"What…?"
.....
Veer was trying to understand the events but he was not able to relate to anything old man said. He could not remember anything.The old man was watching Veer with gentle eyes as Veer suddenly started crying....
"It feels I lost something...."
"Something happened to Eryssa"
"I can feel it..."