...
In the Moonspire of Luna.
The prince's entourage looked upon the chaos falling upon the city, they wanted to take action and protect the citizens, but they couldn't move without the prince's orders.
Inside Selia's study, an elder rushed inside to inform Elaria and Selia about the turmoil that was taking place within the city.
Meanwhile inside the room, the tense confrontation between the 2 heroes and Selia had come to a sudden halt because of the city's trembling.
"Bad news!" The elder shouted as he entered.
"What is it?" Selia asked in a serious tone as her gaze shifted.
"Monsters are falling from every corner of the city! A bloody barrier has also replaced the city's barrier, blocking the city's entrances and exits. Many of the citizens are dying under the monsters' assaults!" the elder said.
Elric frowned upon hearing this, then suddenly spoke up.
"Have the royal knights and magicians spread out through the city and aid in eliminating the monsters and protecting the people."
As soon as he uttered these words, everyone in the room froze.
Although the purpose behind this chaos was not clear, it was obvious whom the Ash Hands was targeting.
"Your highness! We cannot do that; these people are clearly targeting you!" Lina shouted.
"This is an imperial order from me." Elric said in a firm voice.
Although the 2 heroes were personally put in charge by the emperor and empress. An imperial order coming from a member of the royal family themself was an absolute command. Even if that order came from the weak and fragile prince.
"Besides, we don't know for sure if I'm the target. With the royal guards here, plus you two. I don't believe anyone would try to target me. And even if they did, the royal guards would be more useful out there protecting hundreds of civilians than me alone." Elric spoke with determination.
"Very well," Selia suddenly spoke up as she looked out the window, seeing the bloody barrier in the sky.
"I'll go out there and lead the royal knights and magicians to wipe out the monsters,"
She paused, then looked at the 2 heroes. "You two will stay in the temple by the prince and Saintess' side."
Glancing at Elaria, she pointed to the bloody barrier and spoke.
"Can you find a way to deal with that from within the temple?"
"I'll see what I can do." Elaria replied with a nod.
"You?" Meanwhile, Carlos was surprised upon hearing that Selia would personally lead the royal guards, but before he could continue, "No problem. We'll leave it to you." Lina suddenly cut him off.
Although this was their first meeting, she had heard of Selia's strategic genius.
Mainly because of Paladin Commander Draven Miren, Selia's husband.
Rumoured to be even more powerful than the heroes, he had made a name for himself throughout the empire. Sweeping across battlefields like a wave of divine light.
However, during his rise to fame back in his youth. Many didn't know that behind his overwhelming power, was a strategic genius supporting him from behind.
Coming up with sophisticated and clever strategies to influence the flow of the battlefield like a puppet master.
That genius was none other than Selia herself, only a few high-ranking noble families within the empire knew of this, even the royal family had once tried to recruit her.
So given the current situation, there was no one better than her to take command of the royal guards.
Soon after, the royal knights and magicians stationed just outside the temple spread out into the city under Selia's orders.
Spreading out and saving many civilians from the monsters' onslaught along the way.
Only the 2 hero siblings remained by Elric's side, closely keeping an eye on him within the temple.
"So, the revelation has begun." Elric murmured as he saw the scene of monsters falling from the sky outside the window.
"It seems so," Elaria responded in a calm voice, worry written on her face.
Carlos and Lina grabbed their weapons tightly as they felt anxious.
At this moment, their main objective was to protect Elric and make sure not to leave his side during the chaos.
"Follow me, it's not safe here." Elaria said as she led everyone out the room.
While the royal guards left to aid the city. There were still dozens of elite holy knights who were left to defend the temple.
Most of the priests within the temple were also dispatched to heal the injured within the city.
...
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The royal guards swept across the city as they moved about in all directions. Killing each and every monster they came across.
Co-ordinating with the holy knights spread across the city, they broke into small groups and watched over the city while evacuating the citizens to the nearby underground safety shelters.
Meanwhile, Selia stood at the highest building just outside the temple. Her eyes closed and her arms spread out.
Buzz...
A magical hum came from her fingertips, countless tiny threads of magic spread out. Connecting to every member of the royal guards and holy knights fighting the monsters throughout the city.
She sent commands and received information through these magic threads. She could see everything happening within the city.
This was her unique ability, "Moonweave."
An overpowered ability that allowed her to control any battlefield.
...
Back in the city centre, the Ash Hands executives gathered. Ready to take the next step of their plan.
"The prince's royal guards have already been deployed into the city to wipe out the monsters, with their strength, it won't be long until the monsters are wiped out and the 'core' is exhausted." An elderly burly man with a large scar across his face spoke.
"Yes. We should start moving now." Another cloaked figure said.
"Okay, head for the temple and contact our spies inside. There should be a few dozen elite holy knights guarding the temple so be careful. Our main objective is to draw them away from the temple so we can sneak in and find the prince." The High Inquisitor said before turning his gaze over to Ilyra and her brother who stood side-by-side.
His gaze lingered on the burly, red-eyed man beside her, "I'll leave the High Priestess to you."
"Hahaha! Thank you, my lord!" Ilyra's brother was excited.
"And you Ilyra, along with a few more executives will handle the heroes.
"What about the Saintess?" Ilyra asked with an annoyed expression over her brother's loud and obnoxious behaviour.
"We'll handle her personally," the High Inquisitor replied with a serious tone as the Dark Priest stepped forward beside him.
Everyone present was surprised.
The Dark Priest and High Inquisitor rarely took action. For both of them to step up to the plate meant that Saintess Elaria was no easy opponent.
Between the heroes and Saintess Elaria, it was obvious Elaria was more dangerous. Especially within the Moonspire of Luna, where she had boundless amounts of divine mana.
Although Elaria wasn't well known for her combat ability, a Saint is still a Saint. With so much divine mana, such a person was very dangerous.
Not to mention she was the Moon's favorite and the fourth most powerful Saint within the empire despite her young age.
The other 3 Saints above her were forces to be reckoned with as well, capable of sweeping an entire area of monsters by themselves.
But compared to Elaria, they were older and more experienced. So given this fact, it made sense for Elaria to be considered weaker than them.
Even with this fact, the High Inquisitor and Dark Priest were weary of Elaria since they didn't know what she was capable of.
Ilyra's gaze shifted to the girl who floated above in the city centre, "What about this core? Won't the royal guards find her eventually?"
The High Inquisitor's gaze shifted to the other executives as he spoke, "Half of you will stay here and guard the core while we retrieve the third prince."
"Heh! Those royal dogs won't get past us!"
"Hahaha! I've always wanted to fight against the royal forces!"
"Hehehe, I wonder if there are any women among them."
The executives remarked, all excited at the thought of facing off against the royal guards.
Not far away, the Dark Priest thought of something then spoke.
"Don't be reckless, all of you are powerful enough to kill or at least escape from the royal guards, but that girl..." he paused.
He was referring to Nolan, although the strength she showed last time was not enough to threaten the executives, he was sure that she was hiding her true power.
What made him even more certain was the fact that the 'revered one' had opted they use prince Elric as the core instead of Nolan, even though she was the most suitable 'core'.
This clearly told him that Nolan was far more dangerous, like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Her young age and appearance made her seem like an easy target, but he still remembered her cold and calm expression after brutally slaughtering the Ash Hands mages who were sent to capture her.
Unlike swordmasters , magicians were rare and far more valuable and powerful than most swordmasters.
So, having so many of their magicians fall to a single child was a huge hit to the Ash Hands.
The High Inquisitor picked up on who the Dark Priest was talking about and spoke, "Ah, yes. Don't forget, if that child shows up again, don't even try to capture her. Kill her on the spot."
The executives were confused but didn't dare question him except for one young executive with green hair.
"Can't we have our fun with her first? With such a beautiful face, I'd hate to kill her before I have my fun."
Both the High Inquisitor and Dark Priest glared at him with cold look. Causing his body to shake as he quickly changed his mind.
"Y-Yes! Kill her on sight! Got it!" he quickly spoke.
After that, most of the executives headed towards the temple, prepared to execute their plan.
...
Meanwhile, outside the adventurer's guild.
Nolan moved like a shadow cutting through the storm.
Her short, dark-bladed sword was already soaked in monster blood, and still it gleamed with a sharp, cold light.
As she rushed through the ruined streets towards the heart of the city, her sword swept low and fast, tearing through anything in her path.
She didn’t stop. She didn’t hesitate. The monsters that fell from the sky screamed as they lunged at her, but their cries were cut short—split in half by her blade before they even touched the ground.
Each strike was clean. Brutal. Bones cracked. Flesh tore. Heads rolled across the city's marble stone.
Some monsters didn't even get a chance to scream. One second, they were alive, the next they were nothing but piles of steaming remains.
A thin aura rose from her sword, like black mist laced with silver. It pulsed with killing intent—sharp and cold.
"Still far," she whispered.
The monsters that saw it were stunned frozen. Some tried to run.
But it was too late. Her steps were silent, but each strike roared like thunder.
Her speed was incredible, moving past broken homes and towers. She never looked back; her face was cold and expressionless.
No fear, no anger, no pity. Just silence.
Within the chaos, cloaked figures tried to hide as soon as they saw her.
They were the ones who had planted the dark-red crystals throughout the city.
They hid in the shadows, thinking it was safe.
But that didn't help them, Nolan found every last one of them as she passed through.
She cut through them without a word.
One tried to run, but a flick of her wrist sent her sword through his back.
Another raised a hand to beg for mercy, but her blade took off his head before the words left his mouth.
She kicked aside the bodies and kept moving forward.
The dark-red crystals shattered under her heavy sword aura. The mask she wore also radiated a heavy aura of death.
Despite her small body, she moved like a storm of death.
Like the grim reaper himself.
During this time, she had sealed off her magic and fully unleashed her Elemental swordsmanship.
'The city centre,' she thought to herself as she slaughtered the monsters and Ash Hands remnants along the way.
She had used her "Heaven's gaze" ability on one of the members of the Ash Hands to determine the source of all this chaos within the city.
As she moved past, Nolan didn't pay attention to the royal guards and holy knights spread out through the city.
But they saw her figure moving like a storm of death.
...
Elsewhere, on top of the tall building just outside the temple.
Selia received new information from the royal guards, it was about a tiny figure in a wolf mask sweeping across the city like a storm.
As soon as she heard about this, she came to the conclusion that this tiny figure was most likely Nolan.
"Haa... at least she's willing to help." Selia murmured to herself.
Just then, she suddenly felt something from the distance, a few powerful figures moving towards the temple.
"It seems they really are after the prince," she muttered to herself.
Deep within the Moonspire of Luna.
Elaria suddenly received a message from Selia, warning her of the approaching figures.
She turned to the prince and the 2 heroes behind her and spoke, "Prepare yourselves, it seems we are about to receive some uninvited guests."
The 2 heroes tensed up as they became weary, while Elric frowned slightly.
By this time, Elaria had already led them to the 'Moon Altar.'
The deepest part of the temple where she usually prayed in front of Luna's statue.