The council chamber was silent, but the tension was palpable. Each figure around the polished oak table felt the weight of the decisions before them. King Edmaris' gaze swept across the council—Reyhiem, Cardinal Nikolaus, Royal Knight Commander Folgen, and Razen—all waiting for his command. Outside, sunlight filtered through the tall windows, but inside, the air was thick with strategy, fear, and anticipation.
Edmaris broke the silence, his voice steady but cold. "Atem's movements are not idle. Reports confirm he is currently in Ingracia. Eterna… his city… grows stronger with each passing day, even while he is absent."
Razen tapped the table, spreading charts and magical analyses across its surface. "Your Majesty, while our barrier research continues, this is the perfect window. Sending a small reconnaissance force now allows us to test their defenses without committing the full army. If they falter, we gain critical intelligence. If they cooperate, diplomacy can be manipulated to our advantage."
Nikolaus' voice boomed, filled with both authority and fervor. "These monsters, led by one man, are abominations in God's eyes. But we cannot act recklessly. Our first strike must be subtle—let them feel our power without provoking a full response. Psychological pressure is as important as physical might."
Reyhiem leaned closer to the king, speaking so softly only Edmaris could hear. "Majesty… the city's master is away. Atem's focus is elsewhere. This is the moment to act. A decisive move now will shape the battlefield before he even returns."
Edmaris' lips curved into a subtle, dangerous smile. "Very well. The advance team will depart immediately. Prepare them with intelligence and discretion. Magical suppression research continues in parallel. When Atem returns, he will find our plans already in motion."
Nikolaus' eyes gleamed with divine fervor. "And should they resist, we will demonstrate God's might through the courage and skill of our soldiers. Even subtle action carries the weight of holy justice."
Folgen nodded sharply. "Shogo, Kyoya, and Kiara will proceed under the guise of diplomatic scouts. Their mission: provoke the city, gauge its defenses, and collect intelligence for our eventual full deployment—including the barrier magic."
Razen interjected, pragmatic as ever. "Coordination is everything. Operatives' provocations and magical suppression must be perfectly synchronized. A misstep, and Atem and his monsters gain an unnecessary advantage. There is no margin for error."
Edmaris leaned back, calm yet calculating. "Let it be so. Eterna grows too fast, and Atem's influence spreads too widely. We temper it quietly… efficiently. And when he returns, he will discover that the seeds of our plan are already sown. Prepare the operatives. Time is our weapon."
Later on one of the Falmuth soldier came to tell king Edmaris a good news..."Your Majesty we were able to build a prototype of the Holy Barrier..." the king smiled and said "great, tell Folgen to use it when he sends his otherworlders, this will tell us how good the barrier is before we launch a full attack"...
The day in Eterna began like any other. Merchants filled the market, their stalls overflowing with goods. Monsters, spirits, and humans traded side by side, their voices mixing in a chorus of life. Children—goblin, kijin, human—ran through the streets laughing together.
The city Atem built was thriving, alive, and filled with harmony.
But on the main road leading into Eterna, three strangers appeared. Their aura was wrong—human, yes, but stained with something darker, a residue of another world.
Shogo Taguchi walked first, swagger in his steps, muscles flexing like he was daring someone to challenge him. Kyoya Tachibana followed, eyes cold and calculating, dissecting everything like a hawk ready to strike. Between them moved Kiara Hoshino, graceful and quiet, her lips curved in a playful smile that promised trouble.
At the city gate, soldiers stiffened immediately.
Hakuro's hand went to his sword, his sharp eyes narrowing.
Shion, towering beside him, folded her arms, hostility radiating off her.
Shuna stepped forward, calm but watchful, her eyes faintly glowing as she called on her spiritual arts.
"...Humans," Shion muttered under her breath. "But not ordinary ones."
The three intruders stopped in the square, gazes sweeping across the city. For a brief second, all of them looked… stunned.
Shogo clicked his tongue.
"Tch. This is ridiculous. Monsters and humans walking around like it's normal? Nah. This ain't natural."
Kyoya smirked.
"I'll admit… it's more organized than I thought. Almost civilized. But that makes it more disgusting."
Kiara tilted her head, amusement glittering in her eyes.
"A city where monsters play at being people. How charming. I almost want to break it, just to hear it shatter."
The crowd began to notice them. Murmurs spread. Something about the three humans felt wrong, dangerous.
Then, suddenly, Kiara stumbled forward. She clutched her arm, let out a piercing scream, and collapsed dramatically to the ground.
"AHH! No—stop!!" she shrieked, pointing at a group of goblin merchants frozen in shock. "These goblins—! They attacked me! They tried to drag me away!!"
The goblins paled.
"W-Wait! We didn't do anything!"
"She just fell on her own—!"
Confusion rippled through the crowd. Kiara's eyes glowed faintly. Her voice changed, laced with unnatural force.
"Bewilder."
Her Unique Skill spread out like a wave, bending thoughts and emotions. Humans in the square faltered, hesitation flashing in their eyes. Some even began glaring at the goblins.
But then—
A soft, warm light spread across the square. Shuna stood tall, her hands clasped in prayer, her spiritual energy blooming like a flower.
"Purification—Resonance."
Her power swept through the villagers, washing away the mental interference. The haze in their eyes cleared. Whispers turned into glares—not at the goblins, but at Kiara.
Shuna's voice cut through the tension, calm but unyielding.
"Your tricks will not work here. I will not allow you to poison our people."
Kiara's smile faltered, but only for a second. She rose gracefully, brushing off her clothes as if nothing had happened.
"Oh my… clever girl. I didn't expect resistance. That makes this game even more fun."
Hakuro stepped forward, hand firm on his katana.
"You three are no ordinary travelers. State your purpose."
Shogo cracked his knuckles and sneered.
"Hah! Purpose? We're just here to see what this monster playground's about. That's all."
Kyoya's voice was cold, almost mocking.
"And maybe… to test its defenses."
At that moment, Kiara held up a black crystal. It pulsed with light, and the ground shuddered faintly.
"...Activate."
A heavy wave spread across the city. The air itself seemed to thicken.
Monsters staggered. Their magicules drained away, their strength cut in half. The barrier was active.
Shion gritted her teeth.
"Kh—damn it… my strength—!" Her aura flickered violently.
Shuna's face paled as her purification waned. Soldiers and villagers gasped, some collapsing to their knees.
Shogo laughed, his voice booming.
"Bwahaha! Look at this! All these big bad monsters, suddenly crawling like worms! What a joke!"
Kyoya smirked, hand on his sword.
"So this is Eterna? Pathetic. If this is all it takes, your so-called nation isn't worth anything."
Kiara twirled the crystal, her eyes sparkling with cruelty.
"Now… let's see how long your little harmony lasts once fear takes root."
The square trembled with tension. Shion's eyes blazed, Hakuro's hand tightened on his blade, and Shuna forced her trembling hands to steady her barrier.
The pressure of the barrier fell over Eterna like a suffocating fog. Monsters, beastmen, and spirits crouched low, their magicules forcibly drained. The air grew thick with dread, heavy with hostile intent.
Shogo's grin stretched wide, feral and manic.
"This is it! Time to crush some monsters!"
With a roar, he lunged. The ground split under his steps as his fist, wreathed in violent aura, tore through the air toward Shion.
"Shion!" Hakuro barked.
But Shion didn't retreat. Even suppressed, her instincts roared louder than fear. She raised her massive blade, meeting Shogo head-on.
BOOM!
The clash shook the square like a thunderclap. Market stalls burst apart, fruits and silks scattering through the air. Shion slid back, her heels carving trenches into the stone road, her arms trembling under the force.
"Kh... damn it! My power really is halved..." sweat streaked down her brow.
Shogo cackled, pressing harder against her blade.
"What's wrong, monster? Losing your edge?"
Before Hakuro could intervene, Kyoya moved. His blade whispered through the air, a flash of silver aimed at Hakuro's throat.
CLANG!
Hakuro's katana intercepted the strike, sparks bursting as steel met steel. Kyoya's sharp eyes gleamed, cold and merciless.
"...Old man, not bad. But under this barrier, you won't last."
Hakuro's gaze narrowed, his breath steady despite the crushing suppression.
"We shall see."
The two broke apart, then clashed again in a storm of steel. Their blades sang, every strike swift and deadly, too fast for the frightened villagers to follow.
Meanwhile, Shuna's soft glow was the only sanctuary in the chaos. Her hands clasped in prayer, she pushed her spiritual power outward, forming a barrier of purification around the weaker humans and monsters. The field trembled under the weight of the suppression, but it held.
"Shion... Hakuro... endure," she whispered, her voice carrying like a prayer.
Shion roared, her voice cutting through the square.
"You think this will stop me?!"
Her sword swung with savage force, forcing Shogo back a step. His grin faltered for the first time.
"What the—?!"
But his shock turned into exhilaration. His laughter rose, wild and unhinged.
"YEAH! That's it! Fight me harder, monster!"
Their battle turned brutal. Shogo's fists hammered against Shion's blade, every strike rattling her bones, every counter-swing from her sword shattering the stone beneath them.
Hakuro and Kyoya's duel was the opposite—measured, precise, deadly. Kyoya's swordsmanship cut with surgical precision, exploiting every falter caused by the barrier. Hakuro parried with calm defiance, his katana reading every motion, though his breathing grew heavier.
"You're holding back," Kyoya taunted between strikes. "Is it pride... or weakness?"
Hakuro's reply came sharp, his katana grazing Kyoya's cheek.
"One strike is all I need. When it comes, you won't block it."
At the edge of the square, Kiara watched like a child at play. She twirled the black crystal between her fingers, her voice laced with honey and poison.
"Oh, how delightful. Eterna's proud guardians, flailing in the dirt. And Atem isn't here to save you..."
Fear rippled through the villagers. Some humans, still affected by Kiara's earlier manipulation, cast doubtful glances at their monster neighbors. Shuna's light fought to keep their hearts steady, her voice calm, urging them to resist the panic clawing at their minds.
The square had become a battlefield. Steel clashed, fists slammed, the air itself trembled under the barrier's crushing weight.
The barrier's oppressive weight dragged at Shion's body, each breath heavier than the last. Her greatsword trembled as she forced it against Shogo's relentless fists.
"Grrr... damn you!" Shion snarled, eyes blazing with fury and pain.
Shogo laughed like a mad beast, his muscles swelling with murderous intent.
"YES! Show me more! Struggle harder, monster! I'll smash you into pieces and bathe in your blood!"
His hook punch slammed into her blade, forcing Shion back across the plaza. Her heels carved deep lines into the stone, her arms shaking under the impact. Pride burned hotter than pain—she refused to bow.
"I won't... lose to some rabid dog like you!" she roared, bringing her greatsword down in a wide, crushing arc.
The ground cracked, stone fragments exploding into the air. One shard cut across Shogo's cheek. Blood dripped, and he licked it with a feral grin.
"YESSS! This is it!"
He lunged forward, fists like a storm, hammering against Shion's guard. Her sword quivered under the assault, each blow driving her further back. Her strength was bleeding away—every second heavier than the last.
Hakuro, locked in a deadly clash with Kyoya, caught the sight from the corner of his eye.
"Shion!" he shouted, parrying desperately.
Kyoya's blade pressed him mercilessly.
"Don't look away, old man. Or you'll lose your head."
Hakuro's jaw tightened. He couldn't reach her.
Nearby, Shuna's barrier flickered weakly, her mana almost spent.
"Shion... please, just a little longer..." she whispered, voice shaking.
But Shion's body betrayed her. Her arms felt like lead, her breath ragged, her swings sluggish.
Shogo's grin split wide, his fist glowing with killing intent.
"DIIIIIE!!!"
The punch landed square in her chest.
BOOOOM!
The plaza quaked. Her sword flew from her grip as the shockwave ripped through her body. Shion was hurled backward, smashing into the stone with a sickening thud. Blood burst from her lips.
"SHION!!!" Shuna screamed, her voice breaking.
The people of Eterna—goblins, ogres, humans alike—cried out in horror. Their strongest shield had fallen.
Shion coughed blood, her hand trembling as she tried to reach for her sword. Her vision blurred, but her spirit roared.
"Not... yet... I won't... lose... I have to protect..."
Her body collapsed, too broken to rise, crimson spreading beneath her.
Shogo loomed over her like a demon, eyes wide, grin twisted with savage joy.
"HAHAHA! That's it, monster! You're NOTHING! Weak! Pathetic!"
He raised his fist high for the finishing blow—
—but Shuna's barrier blazed, holy light flaring around Shion's fallen body.
"Don't you DARE!" Shuna cried, her voice trembling but unyielding.
The light shoved Shogo back, halting his strike mid-air. He clicked his tongue, glaring at the priestess.
"Tch. Annoying brat."
The chaos raged on—Hakuro straining against Kyoya, Shuna desperately shielding her sister, and the people of Eterna frozen between terror and despair—as the first great tragedy struck their home.