Darkest Night

The sky across the continent began to darken in the middle of the day.

A suffocating darkness bled into the atmosphere, turning the high noon sun into a distant, faded memory. 

It was not a common storm. It was the heavy pressure of an apocalyptic omen. As if something truly terrible was coming.

Way to the south, at the absolute edge of the continent, the Grand Church was in a complete uproar. 

Holy knights marched through the marble corridors, swords drawn, as Sir David exposed dozens of devil worshippers hidden deep within the high ranks of the bishops and saints.

Amidst the chaos of the sudden purge, David stepped onto the cathedral balcony and stared at the swirling black sky.

"This is an omen of ruin," David whispered, tightening his grip on his holy cross.

"Oh, Goddess Freya... please protect everyone."

With a heavy heart, he turned back to face the corruption within his sanctuary.

Far away at the southern valley frontier, the sound of iron hammers came to a sudden halt.

"Hey, everyone get inside! It looks like it's going to rain!" Juan shouted to the laborers, his voice echoing across the construction yards as they tried to rebuild the destroyed town.

An old villager paused, leaning heavily against his stick as he stared up at the pitch-black clouds. "I don't know, Innkeeper... this doesn't look like rain to my old eyes."

I hope you are eating well, boy. Juan wished.

Inside the Valley of the Perfect Town, old nun Grisha, now acting as the temporary mayor, was rubbing her temples in pure frustration.

"That Perfect Brat!" Grisha spat, slamming her fist onto the wooden desk. "A perfect mess, if you ask me! Ugh, I should have stayed retired in my cave!"

"Ma'am!" a local vanguard warrior announced, bursting into her chamber with a flustered face.

"The armory report is not good! The guards are saying all the reserve weapons were sold off to the town's farmers... and now they are refusing to give them back!"

Grisha's eyes widened. "What?! Why on earth would they sell the blades to the farmers?!"

"Well..." the soldier scratched his head naively.

"Because we had the Perfect Prince protecting us, we thought we would never need extra swords again. The farmers just needed something sharp to cut the tall grass with."

"Ughhh! You perfect piece of trash!" the new mayor cussed out the old mayor to the empty room.

Near the borders of the Monster Kingdom, Suzuki suddenly let out a massive sneeze, rubbing his nose as if someone across the world was aggressively badmouthing him.

On the opposite side of the region, a massive caravan of weary refugees finally arrived at the borders. 

Standing near the front line, Granny Geko stared up at the black vortex forming above the trees. The ominous atmosphere made her entire body shudder.

"I hope you are safe, Kara dear..." the old woman whispered into the wind, clutching her old shawl.

Far from there, way east, near the sea.

Deep within the luxurious Merchant Palace, Queen Casandra Horngold was facing a different nightmare.

The moment Goddess Seya's spell had sealed her system, her likeness meter magic completely vanished!

Down in the grand courtyard, her massive harem of handsome men had instantly snapped out of their magical trance, immediately drawing their daggers and aggressively brawling with one another over old grudges.

Goddess Seya let out a hearty laugh at the absurd sight, though her eyes remained deeply worried as the dark clouds swallowed the palace grounds. 

Beside her, Zale adjusted his blue headband as he prepared to depart. His carefree smile was entirely gone, his mind racing with worry for the safety of his companions.

On the highest floor of the ruined Castle, the darkness was so absolute it looked like the dead of night.

"Luck! Kara! Wake up!" Millie frantically shook the two vanguard fighters, her voice cracking with fear.

Luck blinked awake, his vision swimming as he pushed himself up from the stone debris.

He carefully crept up the remaining shattered steps, peeking over the edge of the rooftop terrace grassland.

The sight that met his eyes made his breath catch in his throat.

The physical body of the White Demon, Nero, lay motionless on the grass, cut cleanly into two halves. The legendary warrior was dead.

Luck’s hands began to tremble violently as he stared at the fallen champion, a wave of cold sweat rolling down his neck. His very first thought wasn't about the world, or the gate, or the invading shadow army.

What... what am I going to tell Lily?

At that exact moment, Lily’s Forest Deer finally entered the sacred grounds of the Elven Forest.

The apocalyptic black clouds had reached even here, casting a dark shadow over the ancient trees.

The High Elves rushed forward, carefully taking the frail, sick grandmother from her arms to carry her into the healing sanctuaries.

An elite elven guard turned to the exhausted flower girl. 

"You have traveled far, Hero Lily. You must rest inside the pavilions."

"No," Lily refused firmly, her eyes flashing with absolute determination as she gripped her staff. 

She turned her mount back toward the direction of the burning capital, ignoring her trembling muscles.

"I need to go back right now."

Wait for me, brother!