Chapter 81: City In Chaos

Leo stared at his teacher's back.

"Are you trying to save a criminal, Edgarth?"

"No." Edgarth pulled out a long black sword, its edge gleaming with a faint, ominous glow. "I'm not." He remained facing away, his grip firm but relaxed. "Tell me, what do you hope to gain from all of this?"

The smile on Oryu's face wavered for the first time. His expression darkened. "What am I going to gain? Do you even understand what that old man is doing against the God of Light?" Oryu's voice grew sharper. "I'm simply following God's will, nothing more, nothing less."

"Maybe." Edgarth's mana flared, a suffocating pressure filling the air. The ground beneath him cracked slightly, responding to the surge of power. "But you hurt two of my students. That alone is enough reason to stop you."

The weight of his words hung in the air for only a second before he spoke again. "Leo, run." 

Leo didn't hesitate. He hoisted Elna onto his shoulder and sprinted toward the door. Each step felt agonizingly slow, the sounds of steel clashing behind him sending chills down his spine.

He could hear Edgarth and Oryu's battle unfolding, the sharp clang of blade and staff, the crackle of energy splitting the air. Sparks flew, illuminating the darkened corridor in brief flashes of violent light.

The moment Leo burst outside, cold air hit his face. A flicker of relief crossed his mind—he was almost free.

Then a shadow loomed over him.

A massive figure lunged from the right, his sword already mid-swing, aiming to cleave Leo in half. The sheer force behind it made the air shudder.

Leo barely had time to react.

…

Ryan twisted his body mid-air, dodging the massive sword that came crashing down beside him. He landed on the balls of his feet, springing back just in time to avoid another swing.

"I always hated statues," he muttered, eyes darting between his opponents. "No illusion spell works on them."

Without wasting another second, he whispered an incantation under his breath.

Thick wooden branches erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling like serpents. Within seconds, they wrapped around the advancing statue, locking its limbs in place.

But before Ryan could relish his success, the second statue lunged forward. Its massive sword slashed through the entangled wood with a single strike, severing the branches and freeing its trapped counterpart.

"Oh…" Ryan blinked. "That's inconvenient."

Before he could react, a shadow flickered behind him. A blade whistled through the air—then sliced straight through him.

Ryan's body shattered like glass. A few meters away, another Ryan emerged from thin air, completely unharmed. He turned with a smirk.

Den stood a short distance away, his sword still raised. His eyes narrowed. "How long do you plan to play this game?" Den asked, voice cold.

Ryan grinned. "Don't you like games?"

Before Den could reply, a wave of familiar mana surged from the cathedral. "It looks like your master is busy," he noted, eyes glinting.

Den's expression darkened. Without warning, he charged—not at Ryan, but past him.

Ryan's smirk faded. He spun around in time to see the reason. Leo had just made it outside and Den's sword was already swinging toward him.

"Did you really turn your back to me?" he called out.

A massive branch erupted from the ground, spiraling upward in an instant. It coiled around Den's sword arm, stopping the blade mere inches from Leo.

Leo didn't hesitate. Seizing the moment, he sprinted toward Ryan.

Ryan let out a breath and chuckled. "You really did it."

Leo, still catching his breath, nodded. "Thank you for saving me. I owe you."

"You owe me a lot." Ryan's gaze shifted back to Den, whose armor had begun to glow with a radiant light. The intense heat scorched the branches, reducing them to ash.

Ryan's smile faded. He reached into his coat and pulled out a scroll. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to Leo. "It's a teleport scroll, use it in the worst case scenario."

He caught the scroll, gripping it tightly. "What's going to happen here?"

"The situation is a lot more complicated than we thought." Ryan turned back toward Den, rolling his shoulders. "You go. Leave the rest to the grown-ups."

Leo hesitated for only a second before nodding. He turned and ran.

Ryan watched him disappear into the distance before turning back to Den.

The knight stood among the smoldering remains of the branches, his glowing armor radiating power.

"You wanted the game to end?" Ryan spread his arms, mana surging from his body like a storm.

"Fine. Let's end it." The ground beneath them trembled.

…

Edmond sat in his office, his gaze fixed on the sword resting on his desk. The blade was long and straight, its silver edge gleaming under the dim light. A golden core ran through its center, adorned with intricate engravings—runes or perhaps symbols of power. The hilt was an elaborate masterpiece, featuring golden sculptures of a solemn face, likely representing a deity or an ancient being. The guard extended outward in sharp, golden embellishments, resembling a pair of wings.

A voice echoed in his mind. 'Captain, there was an explosion in the cathedral.' It was Lara.

Edmond immediately stood, grabbing the sword and sliding it into his bag. Whatever had been brewing in this city, the final stage had begun.

He stepped out of his office. "Contact everyone. Find out who's here and who isn't. Tell them to come—fast."

"Understood." Without wasting another second, Lara reached out with Telepathy.

Within minutes, Faleria arrived at the main hall, accompanied by Wina, Peter, and Liamond.

"Where are the others?" he asked.

"They were home, so it'll take time for them to get here," Lara answered. "Also... Leo didn't respond."

Edmond's brows furrowed. "Alright. Faleria, I want you to take charge of everyone here. Evacuate as many civilians as you can and bring them into the church."

"But Captain, even though this place is large, it can't hold everyone." Said Peter.

"Then use the dungeons. Use any space we have—just get them to safety."

"Shouldn't I be with you instead?" Faleria said.

"If we bring every B rank and above into the fight, people will die."

Faleria clenched her fists, then gave a firm nod.

"I must go." Edmond turned toward the door.

The moment he stepped outside, a brilliant light erupted from his body, then, in a flash, he launched himself forward—racing toward the cathedral at incredible speed.

…

A statue loomed behind Ryan, its massive sword raised high, ready to cleave him in half. But before it could strike, a gigantic wooden foot came crashing down, shattering the statue into rubble.

Behind the crumbling remains, twisted branches writhed together, merging into a towering wooden monster. It was a grotesque construct of gnarled bark, rotting wood, and sickly green veins pulsating with energy. More a cursed, walking forest than a singular being, its form was a chaotic tangle of jagged splinters and knotted roots, woven into a monstrous frame. One of its arms was a thick, club-like limb, capable of flattening entire squads with a single swing, while the other ended in razor-sharp claws resembling the talons of a beast.

Its head lacked true features, more like a hollowed-out tree stump, but from its deep cracks, an eerie green glow seeped out. Its legs—great, root-like pillars—moved with slowness, but each step was heavy and unstoppable. It stood twice as tall as the statues.

The other statue leaped into the air, its sword poised to strike Ryan. But before it could reach him, the tree monster's clawed hand lashed out, snatching it mid-air. The statue's mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came out before the wooden beast crushed it in its grasp.

At that moment, two massive wings unfurled from Den's back, glowing with divine energy. His eyes blazed as he surged forward, cutting through the writhing branches that tried to ensnare him. His sword flashed, precise and ruthless.

The monster swung its club-like arm to crush him, but Den vaulted into the air. Raising his sword high, he plunged the blade straight into the creature's hollowed head.

Fire erupted from within.

The wooden beast trembled, its body igniting from the inside out before collapsing into a heap of burning bark and smoldering branches.

Den landed amidst the wreckage, his sword still glowing.

"Illusionists are cowards," he spat. "Can't you fight like a man?"

Ryan stepped forward. A shadow stretched unnaturally behind him.

"Really? You're trying to provoke an A-rank?"

Darkness coiled around him.

Within seconds, his form shifted—his body became a living shadow, shifting and flickering with unnatural fluidity. Two piercing blue eyes glowed within the swirling mass.

He strode toward Den.

Den charged in return, his sword ablaze with golden fire. He brought his blade down in a powerful arc, aiming for Ryan's head—but it passed through him like mist.

From the right side of Den's sword, Ryan emerged again, his dagger poised to strike.

Den twisted his blade with blinding speed, managing to block the attack just in time. But Ryan didn't relent.

Instead of attacking Den himself, he struck his sword.

The moment the dagger connected—Den was launched backward.

The sheer force sent him flying over thirty meters, smashing through trees before his body finally slammed into a massive tree, which barely stopped his momentum.

Den groaned, disoriented.

Ryan stood still, watching. His voice, now layered with unnatural tones, echoed across the battlefield.

"You look surprised. Can't understand how a mere dagger can send a paladin flying?"

He took a slow step forward. "That's the difference between A and B." His voice had changed. It was no longer human—it was as if multiple voices spoke in unison, something monstrous lurking beneath.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Ryan vanished. He reappeared above Den, dagger poised for the kill. Den barely had time to react. His sword flared into golden light, meeting Ryan's descending blade. Light and shadow collided, unleashing a shockwave that tore through the ground.

Den pushed back with all his might, but Ryan's dagger inched closer.

Then a blinding beam of light shot out from the Grand Cathedral, slicing through the air toward Ryan.

Ryan teleported away just in time and the attack left a searing line across the battlefield.

From the shattered cathedral wall, Edgarth leapt out, landing near Ryan. The black sword in his hand was broken, so he threw it away. 

Ryan chuckled, his form shifting back to normal. "Looks like you're having trouble with the bishop."

From the dust and rubble, Oryu stepped forward.

"That staff is annoying," Edgarth muttered.

"Den, are you alright?" Oryu called out.

"Your Holiness, thank you. You saved me."

Den stepped back, standing behind Oryu. Oryu hovered slightly above the ground, his gaze locked onto Ryan and Edgarth.

Then more figures began to appear. Edmond and the other captains arrived, along with Rorin and Cristina.

Edmond's voice was cold. "Do you think you can fight all of us, Oryu?"

Oryu smirked. "Of course not. But do you really think I came unprepared?" The tension in the air thickened. Everyone readied themselves.

Then—Oryu floated higher into the sky and pulled out an ice crystal. He raised it above his head, chanting an incantation, before shattering it.

The entire city trembled. The very air in front of Oryu shattered like glass. From within the abyss beyond the broken space, a figure emerged.

A woman, clad in an enormous white dress and a towering, pointed hat, stepped forward.

The moment she arrived, a crushing wave of mana swept through the city. The very earth groaned beneath the pressure of her presence. She gazed down at the figures below—Edgarth, Edmond, and the others. One look was enough to send a shiver down their spines.

Cirnath clenched his fists. "I don't like this." He turned to Edgarth. "Who is that?"

Edgarth's eyes widened in shock.

"Why… are you here?" he said, his voice barely hiding his disbelief. He turned to Oryu. "Did you really sink this low?"

Emma, her voice trembling, asked, "Who is that, Mr. Alston?"

Ryan hesitated before answering.

"That," he said finally, his voice unusually serious. "…That's the Icethrone Empress."