Breath nearly ceased amid the stillness of the place…
Nothing stood out but the sound of fragments of flame shattering, flowing like a river through the artificial rift, as fate eagerly awaited its next step.
In the clouded sky, beneath a blood-red moon that barely shone, the five Templar Knights hovered within their crystals—while Sir William had met his end, fallen below.
Alexandra contemplated the catastrophe with mockery:
"Commander, you were wise enough to let those present rest peacefully under the weight of this hell."
Walter turned his head toward her, his features cold:
"Perhaps the Constina's desire for ascension decreed their annihilation before they could dive deeper into indulgence. It was, indeed, a merciful judgment."
He paused briefly, caressing the jeweled scabbard of his sword, then continued:
"But their ashes will not fade easily. They are spoils for Her Majesty. Do you share my view, Albert?"
Albert slowly removed his black iron mask. His silky crimson hair fell past his ears, revealing a pale white face and piercing green eyes.
In a calm tone he replied:
"Certainly. Reclaiming what was taken from you is no sin. Punishment befalls those who claim righteousness… Only the three below remain. We must conclude the rite swiftly."
Below, there was no wind, no air, no noise.
Kneeling upon blackened grass, surrounded by white trees stripped of all color, they heard nothing but the sound of burning emanating from the rift stretching for miles.
Roy staggered to his feet, choking on the dense smoke:
"Ugh… all I remember is that she pulled out a massive golden card… and then everything happened."
Leora coughed repeatedly, her eyes reddened, speaking in a hoarse voice:
"It bore the image of a rupture—or something like it… and that image manifested before us."
Al-White rose from the ground, his body smeared with dirt:
"I noticed she drew from a bundle of cards. What we saw was merely a prelude… Perhaps the only option is to seize them from her."
Roy shot Leora a sharp glance:
"Leora, you'll distract her. I'll handle seizing the cards."
Leora stiffened at the proposal, answering with a tremble, fear tightening her throat:
"Are you serious? You want me to be easy prey for that wretch? That will only make things worse!"
Roy waved his hand insistently, hope evident in his eyes:
"This is our only escape from this predicament. I'll guarantee your protection."
The flames grew stronger, crawling toward the white trees…
In the sky, Albert watched them with sovereign disdain:
"The whispers of their voices reach my ears. They cannot contend with fate at the mouth of a volcano. Escape is but a wish before the eruption."
A mocking laugh cut across Alexandra's freckled face:
"They seek salvation in the lines of destiny. Fire will burn what remains of their bones."
Suddenly—Leora's scream shook the place:
"Hey! You old hag! I'm curious about the effect of those cards. That blazing rift wasn't enough to satisfy my curiosity!"
Alexandra bit her lip in rage, pulling out her bundle:
"As you wish. I shall grant your request… fools do not die easily."
The moment she reached for the next card, a swift green wave struck her!
She fell slowly from her tranquil crystal toward the ground.
On the dead land, smoke rose from Roy's sword—the residue of the strike.
Meanwhile, Al-White sprinted forward to seize the cards, gripping them firmly with his pale hands.
A moment of silence enveloped the place…
Dust slowly began to settle.
Walter rested his hand on his chin, gazing calmly:
"They fall like wounded birds. They embodied the seven deadly sins to the letter. William was a slave to his desires, while that one is forever dragged by wrath."
Albert drew his long silver spear, baring his brow with composure:
"I never imagined I would reach this stage. Punishment has become a dire necessity."
His gleaming weapon expanded amid the red rays of the clouded moon, then he hurled it forcefully from the sky toward the earth, causing a violent tremor.
Roy and his companions were lifted by gravity—Leora losing balance—while a massive dark crimson marble dome hovered above them like a spacecraft. Below, stone columns rose, one atop another.
Leora's heart raced in confusion at nature's response:
"What is this miracle?! Columns of marble… like a staircase in the sky!"
Roy's cloak fluttered as his heart thundered like war drums:
"The spire rises before us, like a towering mountain touching the heavens. We must escape this trap."
Al-White floated in the void, swallowing his terror:
"Fate controls us… and we have no choice but to follow our destined path."
The colossal spire completed its form, engulfing the entire area.
Albert descended from his crystal directly onto the temple floor he himself had created. He leaned upon his woolen couch, flower garlands scattered across every corner, sorrow weighing down his voice:
"The last time this place was stained with blood was long ago—when I was forced to dismember a mother who tried to strangle her firstborn daughter. It was a purification of the hatred that had consumed her heart."
He clapped his hands gently:
"You will learn the meaning of purity through this journey."
In the blink of an eye, the three vanished from the spire…
Roy opened his bluish eyes to find himself in a parallel realm with his companions. Numerous massive eyes with crimson spiral pupils stared at them. Dense black fog flooded the space, and a tall shadowy figure sat solemnly upon a golden throne. A foul-smelling breeze permeated the endless void.
Leora's body trembled violently, her words broken:
"My God! Where are we? What are these eyes staring at us?! It's like being prey in a dark forest!"
Al-White wiped sweat from his brow in horror:
"Who is that tall figure… He looks like a king—or the lord of this world."
Roy rose to his knees, brows furrowed, his voice rough:
"We're still inside the spire. This is one of his games. We must find a way to break free."
The mysterious entity approached slowly, carrying what looked like a saw, as if starving for them. He wore an iron mask shaped like a door lock, and his pace quickened as he drew nearer.
Leora stepped back, on the verge of tears from terror:
"I can't believe this! He's coming toward us—his steps are accelerating!"
Roy braced himself, gripping his sword's hilt with ferocity:
"It seems there's no choice. Stay back—I'll handle him myself."
Al-White frantically flipped through the golden cards, his hands trembling as he searched for salvation from death:
"Where is it? Where is that card…?"
The incubus-like presence crept closer, like a calm wave before the storm.
Suddenly, Al-White pulled out a card bearing the symbol "Instant Transfer."
"I found it… I finally found it…!"
The card expanded in the air like a mysterious flower blooming in the darkness, amid the gathering fog. The colossal eyes stared at it, as if searching for hidden meaning within its symbols—then it vanished instantly, its effect taking hold.
The three disappeared like fading phantoms, leaving behind no trace that could be followed.
The mysterious entity removed the lock-shaped mask, as if shedding a cloak, revealing Walter's cold, frozen features. He looked around, walking slowly as though in a dream, inspecting the ground for any sign—yet found nothing.
He smiled and said:
"We have obtained what we sought. Her Majesty the Constina cannot afford to wait… As for those three, the curse of escaping purification shall pursue them."