The Radiant Church's Reckoning

The Radiant Church's Response

News of the devastating loss reached the Radiant Church, prompting an emergency council meeting.

Pope Kais sat at the head of the grand chamber, his expression grim. His voice was steady yet heavy with the weight of the dire situation.

"Everyone, we have just received grave news from the front lines. The knight order we dispatched has been utterly annihilated. Commander Vance has fallen in battle."

A heavy silence blanketed the room as the gathered high-ranking officials absorbed the shocking revelation. Their widened eyes and stunned expressions betrayed their disbelief. For a moment, none could even muster a response, struggling to accept the brutal reality.

"The Duchy of Lann has not only reclaimed its lost territory," Kais continued, his tone darkening, "but has now launched an aggressive assault into the Lorland Principality. The tides of war have shifted against us, and the situation has become dire. We must discuss our next course of action."

The chamber erupted into murmurs and whispers, the tension palpable. It was Judge Solon who finally broke the silence, his brows deeply furrowed.

"Your Holiness," he said, his voice heavy with concern, "our knight order was always known for its superior strength. How could they have suffered such a catastrophic defeat? What exactly happened?"

Cardinal Caro let out a weary sigh, his expression solemn. "Regrettably, we have yet to receive a detailed account. However, based on preliminary reports, it is likely that Commander Vance, eager for victory, led his forces too deep into enemy territory and fell into an ambush."

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the officials could no longer contain his fury and slammed his fist on the table. "That reckless fool! He threw caution to the wind for the sake of glory, and now we're paying the price for his arrogance! He deserves nothing less than eternal damnation!"

"Enough!" Pope Kais's voice rang with authority, instantly silencing the outburst. "Now is not the time for blame. Our priority must be to formulate a strategy to deal with this crisis. If we fail to act swiftly, the Radiant Church will face utter ruin."

Solon took a deep breath, contemplating for a moment before speaking again. "Your Holiness, despite this setback, we still hold the advantage in terms of high-level combat power. Perhaps we should leverage that strength. I am willing to go to the front lines personally and eliminate the enemy knight commander. Without a leader, their forces will inevitably fall into chaos, which could buy us time to stabilize the situation."

Caro immediately shook his head, his face filled with concern. "Solon, you must not act recklessly. There are undoubtedly hidden experts among their ranks. If you charge in blindly, you might meet the same fate as Vance. Losing you would be an even greater disaster for us."

Solon, however, remained steadfast. "The number of high-tier combatants in the Luminous Church is limited—I know their capabilities well. The only real uncertainty is whether their Pope, Rowan, is personally leading their knights. If he's absent, I am confident I can complete the mission."

Caro's frown deepened. "That is precisely the problem. We have no information on Rowan's whereabouts. The risk is too great. You cannot act impulsively."

After a moment of contemplation, Caro turned to Pope Kais. "Your Holiness, I propose traveling to Lorland City. The royal family of the principality is still there. If I can rally their remaining forces and establish defenses, we may be able to stall the enemy's advance and gain valuable time."

Kais pondered for a moment before nodding. "Your suggestion is sound. We cannot allow the royal family to fall into enemy hands. This mission will be crucial. I entrust it to you."

Before Caro could leave, Kais added, "One more thing—reach out to the Holy Alliance. See if they are willing to mediate. Inform them that we are prepared to negotiate an immediate ceasefire. If we can stall for time through diplomacy, we may yet turn this situation around."

Caro nodded firmly. "Understood, Your Holiness. I will make the arrangements immediately."

Meanwhile, within the grand palace of the Duchy of Lann, Augustus stood before his gathered council, his expression alight with triumph as he addressed his officials.

"Rejoice, my friends! Black has led our forces to a glorious victory! The Radiant Church's knight order has been utterly crushed. Not only have we reclaimed our lost lands, but we have also pushed into Lorland Principality!"

A wave of exhilaration swept through the hall. The officials erupted in cheers, their faces beaming with excitement and pride.

One of them exclaimed, "Commander Black is a true hero! We all misjudged him before, thinking him weak and cowardly. But in truth, he was merely deceiving the enemy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike! His strategy and courage are truly admirable!"

Another official nodded fervently. "Indeed! He endured great criticism and humiliation, yet he never wavered. We were blind to his genius, but he has now proven his worth with undeniable results!"

A third added, "We were too short-sighted. We saw only his retreats, failing to recognize the brilliance of his plans. How foolish we were!"

Someone else scoffed, "At least we stood our ground and fought alongside our allies. Unlike those cowards who fled at the first sign of trouble! I bet they regret their cowardice now."

Laughter echoed through the chamber as the officials reveled in their victory, a mix of mockery for the deserters and relief for their own correct decisions.

Augustus allowed the merriment for a moment before raising his hand, his tone turning serious. "Rejoicing must wait. Though we have won a critical battle, the war is far from over. Challenges still lie ahead."

The chamber quickly fell silent as Augustus continued, "Our next priority is to ensure the front lines remain well-supplied. From this moment forth, we must mobilize all resources—food, weapons, medicine—everything must be transported to the battlefield without delay. We cannot afford any disruptions."

His gaze hardened. "Furthermore, I will not tolerate corruption in these critical times. Anyone found hoarding supplies or sabotaging our war efforts will be punished without mercy."

The officials straightened, their expressions solemn as they responded in unison, "Understood, Your Grace!"

With that, they swiftly dispersed to fulfill their duties, ensuring the continued momentum of their campaign.

Back in the Luminous Church's sacred halls, Raymond was poring over documents when a messenger burst in, breathless, handing him the latest war report.

His heart pounded as he skimmed through the contents. Without hesitation, he rushed towards Pope Rowan's chambers. However, upon arrival, he was met with an unexpected response from the guards.

"His Holiness is in seclusion. No one is to disturb him."

Raymond's eyes widened in disbelief. "At a time like this? The battlefield is at a crucial turning point! We've just secured a decisive victory—now is the time to press forward! Why is he shutting himself away? This makes no sense!"

As realization dawned on him, a thought flickered through his mind. His expression darkened, and without another word, he turned and hurried away, determination burning in his eyes.