At Bagelina’s curse, everyone realized.
Something enormous had gone wrong.
“Could something have happened in the Nail Kingdom?”
Bao asked.
“Yeah.”
Bagelina nodded, her face full of irritation as she continued.
“It looks like Gaon showed up. All our people in Nailium are dead.”
Most of the soul stones of their subordinates in the Nail Kingdom had shattered.
How many beings on the continent could create such a situation right now?
Only one.
Gaon.
No one else even came to mind.
And if it wasn’t Gaon?
That would be an even bigger problem.
It would mean there was another unidentified existence besides Gaon.
“…Didn’t you say he was in the Himal Mountain Range?”
Lilith countered.
Just moments ago, Bagelina had said Gaon had appeared in the Himal range.
The distance between the Himal Mountains and Nailium, the capital of the Nail Kingdom, was immense.
Even if he had flown at full speed the instant their conversation ended, he shouldn’t have arrived this quickly.
“He could have used spatial movement magic, or there might be a warp gate. There are ways. It’s him, after all. Shouldn’t we keep every possibility open?”
Bagelina answered with a shrug.
Silence fell.
Everyone sank into thought.
Of course, the silence did not last long.
“The Nail Kingdom seems finished already…!!”
Bagelina broke the quiet.
“How about we use this chance to blow up everything around Varta while we’re at it?”
After the demonic invasion, Abyss had rapidly devoured human territory.
Especially the areas centered around Varta.
Though many obstructions had prevented them from fully swallowing Varta, they had still weakened it by carving out numerous principalities and families.
And right now, they held strong influence over the nations and powers bordering the Varta Kingdom.
If they simultaneously executed the great plans they had prepared in those places?
Even Gaon wouldn’t be able to block everything.
“…!”
Several of the Ten Strong who held sway over nations and factions bordering Varta frowned, while the rest looked intrigued.
Bagelina spoke to those who were frowning.
“Look at what happened to the Nail Kingdom. Do you really think you can hold out until your own goals are achieved?”
At her words, some of those frowning relaxed their brows.
And at what she said next, even the ones still frowning had no choice but to relent.
“Besides, if we all trigger the great plan at the same time, we can at least open an 8-star grade rift somewhere, right?”
An 8-star demonic rift was large enough for even marquess-class demons to cross over. It would contain that much demonic energy.
In other words, the moment a rift opened, that region would become a zone completely dominated by demonic energy.
“Good idea.”
“I agree.”
“Very well.”
One by one they spoke, and soon everyone agreed.
Bagelina smiled broadly and looked at Murin.
“Lord, may we proceed?”
They had already decided to go ahead.
Yet she asked Murin specifically because there was something only he could do.
Murin did not answer immediately.
Instead, he swept his gaze across the Ten Strong.
Having confirmed everyone’s reaction, Murin opened his mouth.
“Very well. I will contact them.”
“Thank you.”
Bagelina expressed her gratitude at Murin’s reply.
Murin rose from his seat.
“Let us end today’s meeting here. I will contact you once I receive their reply.”
With those words, Murin immediately left the conference chamber.
The Ten Strong who were unrelated to this matter also stood and departed.
Soon only those directly involved remained, and Bagelina spoke.
“Even at this very moment, that bastard is moving. Don’t hesitate—just get it done quickly. If you dawdle and he shows up, everything will go up in smoke.”
At that, Kamadir smirked and said.
“Like the Nail Kingdom?”
Bagelina gave a bitter smile in return.
“Yeah. So you don’t end up like me—losing everything and regretting it later.”
…Please… now…
Latus begged desperately, trembling.
Gaon turned his head toward Lumi.
Lumi gave a small nod.
Gaon looked back at Latus.
WHOOSH!
A wind blew.
THUD!
Latus’s head fell.
***
ROAR!
Immediately after, Latus’s body burst into fierce flames.
Hmph.
Gaon inwardly clicked his tongue as he watched Latus’s corpse turn to ash.
If I had been even a little later, it would have been disastrous.
Latus was Bagelina’s direct subordinate.
And just before Gaon arrived, Latus had received orders from Bagelina.
Invade the Varta Kingdom at once, buy time, and activate both Galan’s Shaman Formation and the Ritual of Sacrifice.
Galan’s Shaman Formation was no ordinary array.
It was a massive formation that offered every living soul within the Nail Kingdom’s capital, Nailium, as sacrifice.
And the purpose of activating Galan’s Shaman Formation was to create a “demonic rift.”
If Gaon had not come straight to Nailium?
A demonic rift would have opened in Nailium.
Of course, the problem was not completely solved.
But Nailium probably isn’t the only one.
Was Nailium the only place where Galan’s Shaman Formation had been installed?
Within the Nail Kingdom, yes—only Nailium.
Yet the continent held countless other nations.
Even among the countries bordering Varta, there were three besides Nail.
If Bagelina’s subordinates were in those three places, and she had not given orders only to Latus?
If demonic rifts opened in all three remaining locations?
This is no time to be standing around.
Gaon ended his thoughts.
He looked at Lumi again.
“Could you possibly help?”
“It would be an honor if I can be of assistance.”
“M-Me too! I want to help!”
Lumi answered, and Kazan—who had been watching nervously—shouted right after.
Gaon smiled at their replies.
Lumi was a great shaman.
Kazan was a swordmaster.
If two wall-crossers helped him?
It would be an enormous help.
“Thank you.”
Gaon expressed his gratitude and pulled out a map.
It was a map of the Nail Kingdom with every location of the Ritual of Sacrifice marked.
“There may or may not be someone guarding the arrays. Kill them if there are; if not, just destroy the arrays. If any have already activated, abandon them.”
Lumi and Kazan were strong.
But they were not strong enough to stop an already-activated Ritual of Sacrifice.
“Yes, understood.”
Lumi accepted the map and answered.
Then, cautiously, she asked.
“Will helping with just this be enough?”
“Yeah, for now.”
Gaon nodded.
There were two tasks in the Nail Kingdom.
Destroying every Ritual of Sacrifice scattered across the kingdom.
And destroying Galan’s Shaman Formation in the capital.
Gaon planned to destroy Galan’s Shaman Formation personally.
“Ah.”
A sudden thought made him exclaim softly before continuing.
“If Kerhen contacts you, tell him to come to Gardion.”
He asked Lumi whether she had a way to contact Kerhen.
Unfortunately, the communication crystal she possessed was one-way only; she could not reach Kerhen.
“Yes, I will pass the message the moment my master contacts me.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. After we finish destroying all the arrays, what should we do…?”
Originally, Lumi and Kazan’s goal had been to prevent war.
Thanks to Gaon, that goal was already achieved.
There would be no war between Varta and Nail.
Yet a new problem had arisen.
It wasn’t about the Rituals of Sacrifice.
Lumi had been present since the interrogations began.
She had learned many things.
That the Nail Kingdom was not the end.
Hmm…
Gaon let out a low hum.
After thinking for a moment, he answered.
“For now, just help Lemun.”
“Yes, understood. If there is ever anything you need, please tell us anytime.”
Lumi bowed politely.
Then she left the interrogation chamber with Kazan.
Once the two had gone, Gaon also stepped out.
He was heading to destroy Galan’s Shaman Formation.
To dismantle it, ten of the fifteen core points had to be destroyed.
Of course, thanks to the interrogations, he already knew every location—it would not be difficult.
Leaving the chamber, Gaon moved toward the nearest core point and thought.
I hope I’m just being paranoid.
***
The capital of the Kraniul Kingdom, Kranium.
Deep within the separate mansion of Count Terian.
Family head Ail Terian prostrated himself before the crystal and answered.
“Activation preparations are complete.”
At Ail’s reply, a murky voice flowed from the crystal.
- Oh, preparations are already done?
“However, reinforcement is not yet finished. If activated right now, the power will be extremely weak.”
- How much?
“Around 50 percent.”
- That’s far weaker than expected.
“Yes. Even if a rift opens, it will be limited to 5-star grade.”
- Doesn’t matter. Proceed. And return the moment the rift opens.
“I receive Lord Kamadir’s command.”
FLASH!
With Ail’s final words, the light in the crystal vanished.
Ail rose from his seat.
“Heh heh.”
Standing, Ail smiled broadly.
“Finally…”
The moment he had waited and waited for had come.
Ail left the hidden chamber.
He spoke to his limbs waiting outside.
“Begin the great plan.”
“We receive the elder’s command.”
His subordinates answered and melted into the ground like shadows.
Ail left the mansion and headed for the royal palace.
“Greetings, Count Ail.”
“Greetings, Count Ail.”
“You have it rough.”
Soon arriving at the palace, Ail responded with a friendly face to the knights’ greetings as he entered.
He went straight to the king’s bedchamber.
Upon reaching the chamber, Ail met King Tony.
Tony’s condition was extremely poor.
The reason was the “drugs.”
“Oh… Ail…! My brother…! Has better medicine… arrived…?”
Drugged and giggling, Tony greeted Ail.
Ail answered Tony’s greeting with a gentle smile.
Then he walked to the corner.
Ail had not come to the bedchamber to see Tony.
It was because the formation stone that controlled Galan’s Shaman Formation was hidden there.
Reaching the corner, Ail waved his hand.
The wall split open, revealing a secret space.
At its center floated the “formation stone.”
Such a pity.
Naturally, it was not in perfect condition.
But there was nothing to be done.
Orders had come down.
And imperfection posed no obstacle to activation.
Ail poured his energy into the formation stone.
WHOOSH!
The moment energy flowed in, blood-red light coated the stone, followed by various runes appearing.
And shortly after—
It was done.
WHOOSH!
A shamanic circle appeared on the floor of the bedchamber.
“Hm?”
Tony showed a puzzled reaction upon seeing the circle.
But only for a moment.
WHOOSH!
The circle began draining life force.
Tony, already skin and bones from the drugs, collapsed instantly and soon met death.
Ail paid Tony’s death no mind.
He poured all his focus into operating the formation.
Success.
Having activated every core point of the shamanic circles spread throughout the capital, Ail smiled brightly and set the formation stone down.
He stepped outside the bedchamber and looked up at the sky.
High above, a massive blood-red sphere floated.
Gazing at the blood-colored orb, Ail wore the brightest smile imaginable.