The dim sky was gradually brightened by the morning sun as the battle neared its conclusion amid the ruins at the heart of Brillda.
The once-bustling city-state had weathered one catastrophe after another. Within a two-kilometer radius of the central district, towering buildings were reduced to fractured masonry and rubble, and even outside the perimeter of the Holy Astry Barrier, streets twisted by the shockwaves could be seen everywhere.
Smoke and dust still lingered in the air.
Yet with Hyacinthus utterly defeated by Loren, the entire world seemed at last to welcome a fleeting peace.
Lanqi stood atop the shattered ramparts beyond the barrier, gazing down at the debris underfoot.
The morning breeze stirred his black hair, fluttering like a banner of triumph in the wind.
"We won."
He removed his silver-white mask and cast back the hood of his papal white vestments, revealing his dark gray collar.
Though his entire body carried the deep exhaustion of drained mana, a look of serene relief washed over Lanqi's face.
Had it been merely his own life on the line, he would have had little to fear.
This time, however, he had borne the lives of all his companions—and the future of the entire Southern Continent.
"Torriador, can you take me to the center of the battlefield?"
Lanqi took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping past the ruins before him to fix on the silhouettes of Loren and Hyacinthus at the far end of the horizon.
"No problem."
Not far away, Torriador gathered his wits and opened a pathway for Lanqi.
Stepping across the silver arc of flame, Lanqi approached the center of the battlefield, where Loren's attention remained sharply focused.
Even with his foe thoroughly vanquished, Loren refused to let down his guard.
Yet true to his combat ethos, Loren would not desecrate a dying opponent.
Hyacinthus was at his last gasp, coughing up blackened blood, his internal organs ruptured beyond repair. In all likelihood, death would claim him in moments.
"..."
Lanqi walked up beside Hyacinthus.
Until Hyacinthus drew his final breath, only he and Loren could safely approach.
"Heheheh... you won."
Indifferent to how speaking would quicken his demise, Hyacinthus coughed up another mouthful of seething blood and laughed with the arrogant posture of a victor.
As the loser, he was prepared to endure any mockery and humiliation.
Especially from this man, who had seen his memories and ought to know how to tear him down completely.
"Did you kill Violet?"
Lanqi had come here solely to ask Hyacinthus this final question.
After witnessing the Imbalance Devourer and deducing everything that had taken place on the night of the National Day celebration, only one detail had remained unresolved: how exactly Hyacinthus had dealt with Violet after ambushing her, leaving no trace for the other War Gods to verify her fate.
Having lived through the Blood Moon Ruined World, Lanqi knew all too well how tenacious a werewolf's vitality was.
Even the Tier 5 werewolf prince back in Lichtens Castle had not perished instantly upon losing his heart, surviving until Lancrosse sealed him away beneath the cliff.
To say nothing of transcendent members of the Wolf Clan of Tier 7 or above; beneath the cover of night, their regenerative power rivaled that of the Blood Clan.
"What were you thinking when you looked into me?"
Hyacinthus had no intention of answering Lanqi's question, his hollow gaze fixed on the murky heavens.
He simply spoke his mind with careless abandon. He was about to die anyway; none of it concerned him anymore.
He was merely curious why, when Landry looked at him now, there was an expression in those eyes unlike anyone else's.
"..."
Lanqi said nothing.
His gaze was filled with a clear, sorrowful pity, like a deep pool reflecting the boundless firmament, yet also mirroring a profound helplessness.
Inside the Land of Gentle Slumber, even Hyacinthus's happiest dreams harbored a crimson sky and an inescapable dread, allowing Lanqi to understand how Hyacinthus had become what he was today.
He could not claim to truly understand Hyacinthus, but having lived Lancrosse's life, he could empathize to some degree with Hyacinthus's agony.
"Did you want to save me?"
Hyacinthus's breathing grew fainter still, and his murky, deep blue eyes drifted away from Lanqi.
If this had been twenty years ago...
If the Creti Empire had possessed a capable powerhouse like this back then, perhaps everything could have been changed.
In his youth, Hyacinthus had fantasized countless times about someone coming to save him.
Yet it was all an illusion.
"I cannot save you, Hyacinthus,"
Lanqi admitted.
There was not the slightest pretense or hesitation in his voice.
Silence fell over the ruins for a time, neither speaking.
"No one can save me."
Hyacinthus showed no surprise at the answer, allowing the cold snowflakes to melt against his blood-soaked cheek.
Or rather, whatever the response had been, it no longer mattered.
Whether facing reality or clinging to an idealistic refusal to admit it, it made no difference.
Even if one truly could travel back twenty years to rewrite the Day of the Bloodbath and make everything in the dreamscape a reality, would that person still be him?
He was doomed never to be saved, and so he could only tear everything apart.
"Yet I will do everything in my power to ensure the tragedy you endured is never repeated by anyone else."
Lanqi sat down beside Hyacinthus. His voice sounded far more exhausted now, yet it was filled with absolute sincerity.
This was the final answer Lanqi had arrived at along his journey, honoring every experience he had passed through.
What had driven Lancrosse forward was not revenge, but the determination never to let his tragedy be repeated by another.
That was why Lancrosse had learned to let go, cast off his burdens, and gradually find fulfillment.
Carrying that conviction to the very end...
It would ultimately bridge and transcend life and death.
And thus the Blood Moon Ruined World had met its close.
"Heheheh..."
Hyacinthus slowly closed his mouth, a mysterious smile gracing his lips—whether in mockery or in relief, none could tell.
Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as the light in his eyes faded away.
"That woman was still of some use to me. I hid her in the extradimensional space of the First War God's chamber in the Hall of Divine Descent."
Hyacinthus's life force faded into absolute silence as his words trailed off.
Lanqi looked toward Loren with wide, startled eyes, but Loren only shook his head.
Hyacinthus was dead.
Lanqi had no chance to press him any further.
Still, werewolf blood alone was an invaluable treasure. Logically speaking, it was entirely reasonable for Hyacinthus to have hidden her away, and he had concealed her so well that no one had discovered her.
"Thank goodness. Violet is alive."
As if sleepiness finally washed over him in a great wave, Lanqi slumped limply onto the ground.
He was the one who had personally asked Violet to intercept the Blood Clan, leading directly to her plight, a burden of guilt Lanqi had carried deeply ever since.
Yet none of that had swayed his resolve to do the right thing first in the final battle. His original plan had been to investigate the mystery surrounding Violet after defeating Hyacinthus.
Now it seemed that as long as they secured Hyacinthus's Diamond Key, they could rescue Violet shortly.
Whether Hyacinthus had softened his heart and spared Violet, or truly regarded her as a valuable tool, no one would ever know. It remained an enigma buried alongside his death.
Perhaps even Hyacinthus himself had not known the answer.
Lanqi looked toward Julius outside the barrier.
He was certain Julius had already overheard the news through the communication channel.
Standing beyond the Holy Astry Barrier, Julius had reddened eyes, looking as though he had never dared hope Violet might return.
Over the past days, he had lived with agonizing remorse for having berated Violet at their last parting, able only to channel his grief and fury into doing the right thing and safeguarding the Creti Empire.
"*Sigh*, Meow-lius, didn't I tell you? Violet's vitality is as tough as iron. As for you, I doubt you'll ever dare raise your voice at her again for the rest of your life."
Bianca sighed, clapping Julius on the shoulder, though the upward curl of her lips betrayed her heartfelt joy.
"A happy ending for all,"
Saron said, lowering his sword with a look of deep gratification.
"Now I can finally report back to my little sister. This time, I shouldn't make her cry again."
Ryan gazed toward Lanqi's silhouette at the center of the battlefield with profound gratitude.
Behind them, the Imperial Army was already springing into action.
Red Kestrel Nikolai was leading the Imperial Special Operations Division to comb through the rubble for wounded survivors.
At this moment, the Imperial Special Operations Division and the Capital Garrison Command were no longer at each other's throats; they cooperated in seamless harmony, acting with practiced discipline.
Their uniforms were already stained with blood and soot, but the determination in their eyes had never wavered.
The mafia under Boss Barton also joined the post-war relief efforts, blending in as though they had returned to the Imperial Army this very hour.
Peace was hard-won and had to be treasured all the more.
Hyacinthus's fallen frame lay upon the scorched earth, his eyes closed forever.
Yet this did not mean the Creti Empire should forget its lesson. If they failed to learn from it, history would repeat itself again and again.
The disaster born from the Day of the Bloodbath was the clearest proof of all.
"Is it over?"
"Looks like the fighting is finally done."
Along the outer perimeter of the triple-barrier ruins, people who had narrowly escaped death were helping one another to their feet.
The faint light breaking through the cloud cover grew brighter and brighter, and the shattered dome of the Creti Central Command headquarters gleamed once more in the dawn.
The haze that had hung over this city was gradually dissolving with the arrival of a new day.
White doves beat their wings overhead, bearing tidings of peace and freedom.
Lanqi watched the doves soar into the distance.
"Meow, meow! We did it! I truly am the most miraculous cat in the world!"
Boss Cat leaped out of the shadows, bouncing with joy.
Certain that absolute safety had returned, it finally dared show its face.
"Indeed. Thank you,"
Loren said with a warm, gratified look, gazing at the little black cat.
"Wait a moment... why did the wind magic you cast carry the special aura of an Original Slate?"
Loren suddenly caught the discrepancy. Cupping the little black cat in both hands, he brought it directly before his face to interrogate it.
During the heat of battle, seeing the Absolute Immunity Gale Barrier radiating the brilliance of the Wind Original Slate hadn't struck Loren as strange at all.
"Meow...?"
Boss Cat's conscience instantly seized up.
So the Great Prelate had only noticed it just now.
Before and during the fight, Loren's mind had been entirely focused on striking Hyacinthus down, with no room for extraneous thoughts.
Loren was evidently the kind of man who would never waste a second on words or wandering thoughts if he could simply pummel his enemy to death.
And now, the scheme of impersonating the Great Prelate was finally about to be exposed.
Before Loren could react any further...
The War Gods and Imperial soldiers arriving from the north side of the barrier swarmed forward, draping a heavy mantle over Loren's shoulders.
"Sir Loren, the weather has turned cold. Please put on some warm clothes."
"This was originally prepared for Hyacinthus, and there isn't time to tailor another. Please make do with this for now."
"We hereby pledge our loyalty to you. You have successfully conquered the Creti Empire."
Led by the Fourth War God, Jasper of Jade, the War Gods issued commands and made arrangements in methodical order.
Loren stood frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.
He turned to ask Lanqi, only to find that Lanqi had vanished into thin air, whisked away by Torriador's spatial portal.
And so, only he and the little black cat were left standing at the center of the battlefield.
Hyacinthus's final words had been heard by the other War Gods.
Both the remaining War Gods and the Imperial soldiers now fully understood the truth behind Violet's ordeal and the Blood Clan's involvement.
"Great Prelate Loren, we are willing to surrender unconditionally to you."
Rank upon rank of Imperial officers declared in unison.
"Wait! Why are you surrendering to me?!"
Loren pointed at himself in sheer disbelief.
From his perspective, he had simply been inexplicably rescued today, fought continuously, and ended up in this state when the dust settled. He had no idea what had actually transpired over the past two months!
If they wanted to surrender, they should be surrendering to the Council Nations!
How could a state affair be directed at a single individual?
"Did you not stop Hyacinthus in order to raise an army, launch a revolution, and claim the imperial throne?"
the Fifth War God, Lucayed of Mica, asked Loren in surprise.
As a healer, he was now thoroughly won over by Loren's virtue and conduct; even surrendering to Loren on behalf of the empire brought him no resentment.
A total turnaround from such a hopeless situation would have been impossible without meticulous planning from the entire team. And yet Loren, their primary vanguard, looked as though he still hadn't grasped the situation at this hour? Was this for real?
The Eighth War God, Conzel of White Gold, scratched his head as well, oddly sensing that Loren was the most bewildered person present after the battle—or perhaps the sole honest man who hadn't been looped into the group's communications.
"I truly hope there will be a chance to trade blows with you again in the future. Even if I fall by your hand, I will have no regrets. Until then, your orders are our command."
The Seventh War God, Philip of Blood Carnelian, folded his arms, expressing his respect for the mighty.
"Wait, Migaya, Almis, what in the world is going on here?!"
Loren tried to turn to his old friends outside the barrier for answers, but both of them averted their eyes with deeply embarrassed expressions.
Migaya and the Ice Witch understood the situation all too well.
At this moment, someone possessing overwhelming deterrent power was needed to clean up this impossibly convoluted mess. And right now, the strongest figure commanding the respect and fear of both the Council Nations and the Empire was undeniably the Tier 9 Loren.
"Say no more. Up you go."
Director Simonro pushed Loren directly toward the fractured imperial dais, and Jasper promptly ordered the mechanical legion to sound the salute on the memorial throne.
They needed to hurry and seat Loren upon the throne. That way, even if they had to sign a surrender treaty with the Northern Alliance nations later, they could obtain lenient terms out of respect for Loren, which would be far better than surrendering directly to the Northern Alliance.
If they failed to thrust Loren to the forefront, the Creti Empire would be the one left in panic.
Whether as Holy Emperor or Pope, Loren had to be roped into the Creti Empire's public camp no matter what.
"Supreme Imperial Authority, the Faith of the Empire!"
From generals to junior officers, and from officers to every rank-and-file soldier across the ranks, an earth-shaking slogan resounded.
It seemed this was a slogan Professor Landry of the Imperial Special Operations Division was always chanting, which had spread throughout the military over time. No one had expected Professor Landry to actually belong to the Allied camp, but it no longer mattered. Since the war was ending and everyone was effectively on the same side now, universal harmony was achieved.
If the War Gods were taking the lead, they would follow suit.
Loren: "???"
Surrounded and championed by the crowd, Loren felt a mantle of responsibility settle upon him—for the sake of peace, he could only shoulder it.
He remained in a daze.
Seated upon the mechanical throne, Loren looked as if he had just woken from a slumber, and the black cat perched on his head was just as bewildered.
"How did I become the enemy nation's Guardian Divine Beast, meow?"
Boss Cat began to panic.
Never in its wildest dreams had it imagined that it would indeed achieve its wish of becoming the most dazzling divine beast...
Only to sit at the absolute pinnacle of the Empire.
Finally, Loren looked out at these overwhelmingly earnest Imperials and those heartless scoundrels beyond the barrier.
"You've truly ruined me..."
Covering his face, he let out a wry, helpless laugh.
"..."
That aura of carrying an unspeakable burden in solitary silence, bearing it all on his own shoulders, moved the surrounding Imperial soldiers deeply. None of them could fathom why Loren wore such an expression.
Behind every glory lay an engraving of solitude.
The Imperial soldiers cheered for Loren with heartfelt reverence.
"'A person's life passes through three stages: questioning Loren, understanding Loren, and witnessing Great Prelate Loren carve out an immortal epic.'"
Having made her way from the top floor of the Voice of Truth conglomerate to the perimeter of the battlefield, Abigail silently recalled the press draft she had once read.
It seemed the words were spot on.
Though Loren himself might be unwilling, starting from a certain turning point, his life had gradually slipped beyond his own control.
Abigail briefly lowered her mana camera, took in the distant panoramic view, and raised it again with one hand.
"This camera has been capturing so many historic moments. As of today, its duty is just about done,"
Abigail narrated as she recorded through the lens.
"From now on, though, I'll keep filming everyone, capturing plenty of joyful everyday moments. So let's make many more memories worth cherishing!"
She turned the lens toward her rear, away from the clamorous center of the battlefield.
The viewfinder was instantly blocked by Torriador's face.
He seemed to be deliberately barging in to hog the shot.
"Hurry up and prepare the script for the Half-Witch volume of the Holy War Chronicles! I have directing to do!"
Abigail kicked Torriador, speaking without a shred of courtesy.
"I'm technically a wounded patient here! Watch where you kick, will you?"
Clutching his leg, Torriador hopped on one foot several times.
"Even if I gave you a full-force low kick, I couldn't hurt a Grand Demon like you."
Abigail hadn't used any real strength at all and couldn't be bothered with this clown of a cardinal, sweeping her lens onward.
Soon, Talia's figure appeared in the frame.
Her performance had ended, and the moment she returned, she gathered Xigelei into her arms, gently stroking the back of the girl's head as though lulling her to sleep.
It was clear that everyone was utterly exhausted.
After the fight, Torriador remained the most energetic.
Talia came next, still possessing the stamina to look after others, as if the energy she spent wasn't even her own.
"Still, how on earth does she go from being an idol to babysitting the moment she steps offstage?"
Abigail trailed off, utterly baffled.
Outside the barrier, two kilometers south of the battlefield, the area had largely cleared out.
Most of the journalists had rushed over to photograph Loren.
The War Gods who had previously chosen to stand on their side had already departed the chaotic grounds after brief farewells.
The Tenth War God, Julius of Rubellite, had likely hurried off to the Hall of Divine Descent in search of the Sixth War God, Violet of Aquamarine. When Torriador had pulled Lanqi back through the spatial gate just now, Lanqi had brought back the Diamond Key from Hyacinthus.
Meanwhile, the Ninth War God, Ryan of Amethyst, the Second War God, Saron of Obsidian, and the Twelfth War God, Bianca of Cat's Eye, had probably all gone along with him.
Several eye-catching figures soon appeared within the commemorative footage Abigail was filming.
"Our loving demon family can finally head back to Ikerite!"
Migaya and Iphatia were happily chatting with several other Grand Demons.
"By the way, Duke Migaya, what is actually hidden in the secret chamber beneath your ducal manor? Hyperion, Sinnola, and I tried to crack it for ages and never managed. When we go back, can we keep exploring?"
Antanas felt that the most fun thing to do in the Hutton Kingdom was exploring beneath the ducal manor.
It would be a pity if she couldn't finish playing through it with Hyperion and Sinnola.
"Of course, no problem. Feel free to come over anytime."
Migaya's placid complexion suddenly turned pale.
He hadn't been home in two years.
His house had nearly been looted clean.
"...Duke, what's wrong? Were you injured in the battle just now? Ah, we meant no disrespect! I only tried to undo the barrier because Hyperion told me there might be clues to your whereabouts inside,"
Antanas explained with concern, looking at Migaya.
There had even been rumors in unscrupulous media outlets claiming that items related to the Night Cardinal were buried there, which was why the manor's wards were so intricate and prone to attracting ill-intentioned eyes.
"Those are all just some personal belongings of mine—they have nothing to do with Migaya! Good thing you didn't crack it, or it would have caused such an embarrassing misunderstanding, ahahaha!"
Iphatia hurriedly stepped in front of Migaya, laughing it off to Antanas.
While chatter and laughter bubbled on that side, Lanqi sat back down on the ground not far away, as if he lacked even the strength to stay on his feet.
Only Lanqi was completely quiet, weighed down by immense fatigue.
He was the only one who had fought through the entire campaign from start to finish today, bearing the heaviest pressure of all. Now that his strung-out nerves had finally relaxed, the combined weight of mental and physical exhaustion left him looking utterly spent.
He possessed everyone's unconditional trust, but he had also shouldered everyone's lives; any misstep in judgment could have caused the entire situation to collapse.
Calm though he appeared, as the commander of the operation, Lanqi had borne the full weight of what he once said: "Responsibility should not be divided equally; I will bear it all."
Having served as a commander in Blood Moon City, Abigail understood intimately what kind of resolve Lanqi carried to command everyone to risk their lives for him.
"Forget it. That guy deserves a proper rest; I won't disturb him."
Seeing Lanqi's work ethic, Abigail was always a bit worried that he pushed himself too hard and might collapse from overwork.
Ever since Lanqi arrived in the Creti Empire, taking over Landry's identity, he had worked day and night without pause.
Those in this world who knew what they wanted to do were fortunate, for such people would never feel the misery of labor in their lives. Yet there was another group—a tiny minority—about whom one could hardly say whether they were fortunate or not: they had found something they must do, something that consumed them, something that would drive them mad if left undone.
And Lanqi was clearly one of them.
He was the one who needed rest the most.
"Lanqi!"
Hyperion didn't pull Lanqi up. Instead, she bounded over and leaned against his shoulder, resting beside him to share in his idleness.
It had been a long time since they had enjoyed a moment of leisure so completely free of worry.
"The goal the two of us set at the very beginning... it's finally accomplished now, isn't it?"
Lanqi smiled faintly, looking down at his right hand. He recalled the pain Lancrosse had endured throughout his life in the Shadow World, and the Witch whom Lancrosse could never bring back.
Now, this peace felt like something Lancrosse had longed for yet could never reach, a tranquility that remained unattainable no matter how many trials he crossed.
Lanqi clenched his fist, feeling the warmth rising from his palm, which made him acutely aware of how precious life truly was.
"Fate has been changed, hasn't it?"
Hyperion leaned hard against Lanqi, playfully trying to push him over with her back.
From the very beginning, when their fortunes were intertwined, to now, the ill omens hanging over both of them had been unraveled. The murderous threat of the Blood Clan and the dark clouds looming over the Southern Continent had all been swept away.
"Yeah. And Hyperion, you're pretty heavy right now,"
Lanqi replied with a helpless chuckle.
Even without looking at Hyperion's face, he could feel her excitement, as though she wanted to transmit a bit of her vitality into him through the warmth of her body.
"My, my."
Abigail sighed in admiration as she captured their expressions on film.
The two of them turned their heads in unison, noticing that Abigail was recording them.
"Should we make peace signs?"
Hyperion didn't dodge or hide. Instead of feeling shy about leaning so close to Lanqi, she held up two fingers in broad daylight.
"No need. The way you two look just talking to each other is perfect."
Abigail gave them a thumbs-up.
She thought she had probably found her lead actress for the Half-Witch.
"I have a question,"
Abigail said suddenly.
"Ask away."
Lanqi nodded to her.
"What do you plan to do next, Lanqi?"
Abigail voiced her curiosity.
Over this period, she had heard plenty of stories about Rocky McCarthy from Torriador.
Now that Lanqi's mission was finally accomplished, he might very well continue pursuing the work he loved—much like his presidential speech in the Protos Empire. Yet he might also choose to bow out, having achieved his goals.
"I'm looking forward to my holiday,"
Lanqi answered without hesitation.
Above all else, he wanted to return to Ikerite.
"Aside from that, just as before, I'll keep working hard until I become the human dean of Ikerite Academy. I'll become a proper dean, just as I envision."
Lanqi grinned with unburdened ease.
Purgatory Corridor Academy was no more.
It was a beautiful dream from ten thousand years ago.
Yet since he lived in the present, why should he cling to a single remnant of an old dream?
"I'll support you wholeheartedly, just like before,"
Hyperion said to Lanqi with pleasant surprise. This was precisely what she had always hoped for—Lanqi was finally setting foot upon the path of being a proper human being.
"Lanqi, Hyperion, look! The sky is finally clearing up!"
Antanas shouted, waving her hand from over by the others.
They were preparing to head home.
At this rate, lunchtime was right around the corner!
They couldn't let Tata go hungry, after all.
"Lanqi, let's go."
Hyperion pushed against her knees to stand up, extending her hand toward him.
Lanqi looked up suddenly. Beneath a sky where the clouds were brightening to pale gold, Hyperion was looking down at him with a warm smile.
Behind her radiant face stretched a horizon woven of pink and orange. Her bright, gentle eyes shone with breathtaking brilliance, glowing vividly even without the aid of any light.
"Let's go home."
Lanqi smiled knowingly.
It had all finally come to an end.
Whether beneath boundless clear skies or howling wind and rain, they could now appreciate it all in peace.
The sun broke through the clouds, illuminating Lanqi's silhouette as he was pulled to his feet.
Until here, the snow ceased, the mist parted, and the sundial melted away.
Chapter 855