Liamond heard Leo's voice echo in his mind, sharp and urgent, as if dragging him out of a deep slumber.
'Everyone, jump out of the windows!'
His body reacted before his mind could catch up. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the nearest window, barely registering the chaos unfolding around him. The moment his feet left the ground, he saw Wina diving from another window. The wind rushed past him, his heart pounding as he braced for impact. He landed hard, rolling to absorb the force, pain jolting up his side, but there was no time to dwell on it.
As he pushed himself up, Peter came running toward him, his expression a mix of panic and confusion.
"What the hell is going on? What happened to your hand?!" Peter's eyes widened as he took in the hastily wrapped cloth around Liamond's arm, already dark with blood.
Liamond didn't answer. His breaths were shallow, his mind still racing.
Moments later, Wina ran to them. She barely took a second to steady herself before demanding, "Where are Leo and Frank?"
Liamond turned toward the building, his stomach twisting into knots. His breath caught in his throat as he waited, but no one else emerged. The longer the silence stretched, the more the dread in his chest grew.
Then something inside him snapped. Without thinking, he stepped forward, ready to run back toward the building—but the moment he moved, his vision blurred. The world around him wavered, distant voices blending into an incoherent hum. He could faintly hear Wina and Peter shouting his name, their figures flickering in and out of focus, before darkness took him.
His body gave out, and before he could even register the sensation of falling, his consciousness slipped away, consumed by blood loss.
…
The two S-rankers returned to Oryu's side.
The Empress lifted her hand, her eyes focused as she assessed the city around them.
"It would be faster if I simply destroyed the city and forced the remnants to emerge," she declared in a flat, commanding tone.
At her signal, two enormous swords—crafted entirely of glistening, razor-sharp ice—appeared in midair. Each blade shone with a frosty brilliance, identical in size and deadly intent to the first.
The Black Knight turned his head toward an empty space in the air, a subtle alert that something was about to unfold.
"It's too late," he stated quietly.
Both the Empress and Oryu followed his gaze. In that moment, the empty space transformed: the faint shimmer coalesced into the unmistakable figure of the Pope, emerging as if drawn from another realm.
Without missing a beat, the two icy blades surged ahead, chasing the first—still cutting through the air like a shard of frozen blade. They cut through the air in precise, coordinated strikes aimed at encircling the Pope, leaving thin trails of frost in their wake.
Yet as the blades approached, cracks appeared along their edges, and the frozen steel began to melt into streams of glacial water, as if nullified by an unseen force.
"All of this… for the remnant of a fallen god?" the Pope asked evenly. Despite the damage, on the city and it's people, his voice held no trace of anger.
"We can take him down together," Oryu replied, tightening his grip on his staff as he watched the two S rank warriors.
"There's a reason he's called the strongest S rank," the Black Knight noted, his tone edged with weariness. He then turned to the Empress. "Prepare the teleport spell—I'll hold him off. The mission has failed."
Oryu's face hardened as he raised his staff, magic coiling through his fingertips in anticipation of the coming clash.
"Bishop Oryu," the Pope's voice rang out clearly, carrying a weight of authority. "As the Pope, I hereby punish you for what you have done."
Light burst through the dark, heavy clouds overhead as thousands of enormous hands made of pure light emerged, each forming deliberate gestures. Slowly, faces bloomed from the same radiance, their luminous expressions unreadable, yet undeniably part of the same presence.
Oryu's hand, which had held the staff with confidence moments before, began to tremble under the intensity of the scene.
A small, swirling portal of dark shadows appeared beside the Black Knight. He reached into it and pulled out a massive two-handed sword pulsing with grim energy. With a powerful swing, he launched the weapon toward the descending, divine hands. In its wake, a vast, dark hemisphere formed—a barrier of solid shadow. The impact between the dark hemisphere and the radiant hands was immediate, sending a shockwave that rattled the ground and streaked black and golden lightning across the sky.
Below, every remaining eye in the city was fixed on the battle above. No one dared to intervene, as if witnessing a conflict between forces beyond mortal ken.
The Black Knight continued his assault, launching calculated strikes to strengthen his shadow barrier. However, the divine hands pressed forward, gradually overwhelming his defenses. His jaw tightened with effort as he fought to keep the onslaught at bay.
With a forceful swing, he summoned thousands of dark, spherical orbs—each a concentrated mass of swirling shadow, etched with the image of a weeping face. The orbs went through his barrier and struck the radiant hands, forcing them back.
At that moment, with a little gesture from the Pope, a massive platform—reminiscent of the one Cirnath had used—materialized above the city. It hovered beneath the Pope and the other S ranks, serving as a protective barrier. Their spells alone were lethal enough to kill a B-rank with a single glance, corrupting the soul as they glimpsed what was never meant to be seen. Suddenly, a luminous face emerged fully from the swirling clouds—a colossal, inverted humanoid figure formed entirely of light. It raised its fist, glowing with the intensity of a thousand suns, and struck directly at the dark hemisphere.
The impact was devastating. The shadow barrier shuddered violently, flickering as if about to collapse, and then began to fade under the relentless force of the divine assault.
"It's ready," the Empress shouted.
Before anyone could react, more luminous figures descended.
"You will go nowhere," the Pope demanded.
Within seconds, the sky filled with inverted figures made entirely of light.
The Empress unleashed a wave of mana that made it hard for Oryu to breathe. The ice groaned as it came to life—shifting and twisting as if sculpted by unseen hands. Shards of frost spiraled through the air, drawn into a growing mass as towering pillars of ice erupted. The structure thickened and refined itself, gradually taking shape into a massive figure—a woman carved from pure, glacial crystal.
Her hands came together, though they did not quite touch, leaving a narrow gap between her palms. Within that space, the Empress and her allies stood, their breath visible in the freezing air. The ice molded around them not as a prison, but as a protective embrace. Her fingers curled slightly, as though shielding them from an unseen force, while the glass-like surface refracted light into dazzling patterns.
Then, from her back, additional hands began to emerge. One by one, they unfurled and spread outward in a display of protection. They reached toward the sky, colliding with the advancing luminous figures. This brief delay gave the group the precious seconds they needed to teleport, and as soon as their forms vanished, so too did the luminous figures.
For a few moments, the Pope stared at the now-empty space. Gradually, the radiant hands and figures began to recede back into the sky, disappearing along with the platform.
…
Just as the platform began to disappear, Gerhard sprinted into the cathedral and, in a few minutes, reached the chamber where Edmond lay.
"Edmond, stop it—it's over!" he shouted.
Edmond slowly turned his head to look at him. His once-black hair had turned completely gray, and deep wrinkles marred his face.
He tried to stand, but his strength had abandoned him. His sword slipped from his grasp, and before he could fall, Rorin rushed forward and caught him.
"Come on, I got you," Rorin said.
Gerhard's eyes locked onto Edmond. Although they weren't close friends, they were comrades, and witnessing him in such a state was almost unbearable. Gerhard moved to support him, placing a firm hand on Edmond's shoulder. Together, with Rorin's help, they made their way toward the infirmary.
…
After ensuring that the enemy had been driven off, the Pope descended in front of the cathedral where the paladins had gathered.
Edgarth ran to him and pressed his fist against his chest. "Your Holiness, I'm sorry—I didn't uncover Oryu's betryal in time, and now the city is in this state."
The Pope shook his head. "This plan was devised by a god and involved three S rank individuals. You did all you could." He then scanned the assembled faces. "Is anyone injured?"
Silence reigned until Gerhard burst out of the cathedral, running.
"Your Holiness, Captain Edmond Goldenshield is in critical condition."
"Show me the way."
The Pope followed Gerhard to the infirmary with others following behind.
All eyes widened in disbelief and sorrow when they saw Edmond. The friend and comrade who had once been a man barely in his forties now appeared as though he were in his seventies, lying in a bed with his eyes closed.
The Pope approached Edmond's bedside and placed his hand on his forehead. A gentle light emanated from his touch, and soon Edmond's entire body began to glow. As the radiance subsided, the deep wrinkles on Edmond's face had vanished—though his hair remained gray.
Edmond slowly opened his eyes and met the Pope's gaze.
"Edmond Goldenshield, you have rendered great service to the people of this city. Unfortunately, the Godshackle Blade you used has inflicted severe damage on both your body and soul. You will not be able to increase your rank any further."
His words struck a heavy silence over the room, and although the revelation upset everyone even more, none dared to question the Pope, for they knew he had done all he could.
Edmond managed a faint smile. "Thank you, Your Holiness."
The Pope nodded solemnly, then turned to Edgarth. "I must return to the north—there is a beast that needs to be put back to sleep." His gaze shifted briefly before he fixed his eyes on Ryan. "I also have a mission for you."
Ryan offered an awkward smile.
In an instant, the Pope vanished—only to reappear moments later in a small, dark house. In front of him lay two figures: one passed out, the other dead.
…
Leo slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at an old man dressed in a white and golden robe standing before him.
"Am I dead?" Leo asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
The old man smiled gently. "No, you're alive. But I'm sorry—your friend is dead."
Leo glanced to his side and, with a deep sorrow, saw Frank's lifeless body.
"Because you summoned a god, I sensed the danger threatening this city and came here. Had you not done that, the city would have been lost. I want to thank you personally," the old man continued.
Leo frowned in confusion. "Who are you?"
"I'm the Pope."
The confusion on Leo's face shifted quickly into surprise.
"You've done well, but you must leave this city, Mr. Leo Mantine," the Pope stated firmly.
Leo's surprise deepened. "Why?"
"The S ranks have been hunting for the remnants of the fallen goddess, Selvanna. And since she has chosen you, if you remain, they will eventually find you," the Pope explained, locking eyes with Leo as if reading his inner turmoil. "I know what you're thinking."
"But what about my family?" Leo interjected, his voice trembling. "And Elna? Oryu turned her into a vampire just to further his own damn goals."
"Leave her with me," the Pope replied calmly. "I will take care of her and teach her to control this new nature."
"But you're the Pope—she's a vampire!"
"And?"
Leo was momentarily lost for words.
"You may choose four people to whom I will relay that you are alive; any more, and it becomes dangerous."
After a long pause, Leo spoke, his mind racing with unanswered questions. "My mother, my sister, Captain Edmond, and Elna."
The Pope nodded. "As you wish."
At that moment, a circle of light began to glow beneath Leo's feet.
"I will teleport you to another location. Once there, leave the house and turn right. Walk until you reach an inn by the road, and stay there for a week—after which a friend will come for you. You must change your name and assume an entirely new identity."
"What about my name in that big book?" Leo asked, a note of concern in his voice.
"Don't worry—I'll clear it, as long as I live the God of Light cannot harm you." the Pope replied confidently.
Leo was taken aback. He had already heard these words from Selvanna. 'So, he is the 'He'? The Pope is against the God of Light?' He shook his head, pushing the thought aside for now. There was little time and far too many questions.
"Your Holiness, is everyone okay?" He asked, worry creeping into his voice.
"Your captain is injured, and several officers and paladins are either injured or dead. Among those you knew, two are injured, and one is dead," the Pope added, nodding toward Frank's body. "That's all I know right now."
Leo's gaze fell again on Frank.
"I will bring his body back," Said the Pope.
The circle's glow intensified. "I know you have many questions, but I have no time now. Just remember this: Go to the Kingdom of Magic and seek out my son, Arthur. Understood?"
Leo nodded, the weight of his new destiny settling in.
"And also, become stronger. If Selvanna has chosen you, a difficult path lies ahead."
Leo longed to ask a million questions, but there was no time, so he asked the most important one.
"Your Holiness, who will protect my family now?"
"Don't worry. Your family will continue receiving your salary for the service you have given to this country, and they will also be protected from any harm. Go. Leave everything here to me."
In the next second, Leo's figure vanished. He reappeared in another room, a bag waiting near him. After a few moments, he picked it up and looked inside. It contained his clothes and a few other stuff.
'That old man knows everything,' he thought.
He opened the sole door in the room, and bright light poured in. Closing his eyes against the brilliance for a moment, Leo stepped out, embarking on a journey that would change his life forever.
The End Of The First Volume, The Remnants Of The Fallen Goddess.