The scene stood frozen without a single movement. Silence extinguished the entity that had once pulsed with life. Instead, a monochrome painting emerged, telling a sorrowful tale. Trees longed for the caress of the wind, while the grass had lost its radiance,
draped in a black mantle as if mourning the ashes of the creatures that once roamed upon it.
From above the sky, Commander Walter gazed with grief at the bleak scenery and said somberly:
"It was never meant to be this easy… as though I have not had enough of hearing those screams. They have become a part of me now, robbing me of sleep. Yet in the end, this is but a trivial price for loyalty."
A masked knight hovered beside him, her voice laced with disdain:
"How sentimental you are! Shepherds do not deserve pity. They exist solely to fulfill the ambitions of their masters. Consteena stands above all."
Another masked knight shouted sharply:
"Alexandra, do not let arrogance consume you. Such excessive pride will lead you to ruin. Speak to the commander with proper decorum—you have already received your first warning."
Below them, upon the lifeless ground, the twin waterfalls had ceased to flow, and the bridge had lost its golden luster.
Roy rose from his brief ordeal with heavy steps and spoke calmly, his voice filled with confidence:
"Is this truly your ultimate purpose?
You will be dragged down the moment your usefulness ends. You are fully aware of that."
Leora rushed toward him in fear:
"Roy! Are you alright? Leave them alone! You cannot face them!"
Al-White trembled at the horrific sight:
"Let us leave this place at once! The current situation is not in our favor!"
A wide grin split Walter's face behind his crystal:
"Throughout my journey, I have witnessed nothing but submission and acceptance of fate. But this… this is a rare experience for me. You are no ordinary passerby, boy."
Alexandra removed her hood, revealing a pale yellowish gaze, while her crimson hair shimmered in harmony with the blood-red moon behind her. She spoke coldly:
"Your name shall be etched into history—as one who tried to show off and met a tragic end. Isn't that right, William?"
William removed his own mask, revealing the gleam of his black hair, golden lines streaking down from beneath his dark crimson face. He sneered:
"History does not remember those who merely claim bravery. They fade into the depths of oblivion."
Roy stood firm, clenching his fist resolutely:
"Do you wager on those words? That saying suits the arrogant like you perfectly."
Leora grabbed his arm urgently:
"Roy, you are no match for them right now! Retreat does not necessarily mean surrender!"
Al-White nodded:
"Leora is right! This grants us time to plan. The scales are currently tipped in their favor."
Yet Roy seemed to exist in a parallel world. He paid no heed to their advice—only the screams of children and women echoed within him as they slowly vanished.
Roy brought his hands together, then spread them apart. A sword inscribed with blood-red symbols in an unknown language flashed between his palms. He drew it forth and unleashed a swift wave that shook the earth, racing toward William, who floated within his golden crystal.
Leora screamed:
"Roy! What are you doing, you fool?!"
Walter shouted in warning:
"Watch out, William! That is no ordinary strike!"
The wave surged at terrifying speed. William summoned his gemstone-encrusted shield, attempting to block it:
"Is that all you've got?"
Suddenly, the attack changed its trajectory and struck his crystal instead.
William gasped in shock:
"What?! It deviated from its path!"
His construct shattered in the brilliant white sky. He fell slowly, crashing into the ground with tremendous force, sending violent tremors through the land.
Leora's eyes widened in astonishment:
"You actually hit him… You truly knocked him unconscious. This will certainly not go unpunished."
Al-White's emotions mixed between shock and dread:
"It is as if my words meant nothing to you… They will surely retaliate."
Walter observed Roy with calm interest:
"That insignificant fool fell because of his own carelessness. Battles are decided by the smallest details—those the arrogant never heed."
A masked knight beside Walter spoke sternly:
"This matter must be taken seriously. Long ago, we suffered devastating losses because of such arrogance."
Alexandra frowned in anger, then steadied herself:
"It seems you have judged your fate prematurely. Why not let destiny snatch you away without all this noise?"
She slowly drew out a large bundle of golden cards, etched with mysterious symbols and drawings. She selected one bearing the image of a vastly cracked land.
She threw it into the sky. The card expanded in an unnatural manner until it completely eclipsed the moon's light.
The three stood in shock at the terrifying sight.
Leora whispered in disbelief:
"That's a card, isn't it? Why is it growing to such a massive size?"
Roy warned:
"Be on guard. Something extremely dangerous is about to happen within minutes."
Al-White:
"..."
Alexandra snapped her fingers—and the card vanished instantly.
Leora pointed toward the sky:
"Look! It completely disappeared! Yet… the atmosphere feels unstable."
Alexandra smiled faintly as the ground began to tremble little by little, slowly cracking apart.
Al-White cried out in terror:
"The ground is shaking beneath our feet!"
Leora screamed without pause as Roy struggled to keep his balance.
The fissure expanded to encompass the entire area, with tongues of flame swirling around it.
Walter burst into hysterical laughter:
"The real show has begun! I have not tasted such delight in ages!"