The Slane Theocracy might have been hailed as the shield of humanity, but in truth, the nations of humankind — the Re-Estize Kingdom, the Baharuth Empire, the Roble Holy Kingdom — were little more than small clusters huddled at the edges of the continent.
It was the demi-human nations of the vast central lands — stronger in body, long-lived, ruthless — that truly ruled. Humans, by comparison, were weak. Short-lived. Frail. Their entire history was an endless string of enslavement, predation, and near-extinction.
It was only six centuries ago, when the Six Great Gods descended and founded the Theocracy, that humans had been saved from absolute annihilation. They left behind relics — divine armaments capable of countering demi-human monstrosities — and then vanished. Ever since, the Slane Theocracy had seen itself as the shepherd of mankind, protecting the race from extinction for six hundred long, brutal years.
Is it any wonder, then, that the Theocracy harbored deep hatred for all non-human life?
And now, a different tale:
The Kingdom of Re-Estize — once a prosperous nation blessed with good soil and plentiful resources, raised with the Theocracy's assistance two centuries ago. Expectations had been high; perhaps heroes would rise there.
…but they did not.
Prosperity had rotted into decadence. Crime spread. Drugs flourished. The nobility fractured into warring factions. The royal faction weakened. The nation, ignorant of its own decay, drifted toward ruin.
The Slane Theocracy, having lost all hope in the kingdom, now wished for the Baharuth Empire to devour it. Their first step: eliminate the Kingdom's strongest protector — Gazef Stronoff.
"Gazef Stronoff… the cancer that prolongs that dying kingdom's life."
Nigun Grid Luin murmured to himself as he oversaw the quiet plains at dusk. A forgettable face, empty eyes. He stood with forty-four Sunlight Scripture members at his back, staring toward Carne Village.
The Sunlight Scripture — one of the Theocracy's Six Scriptures — specialized in exterminating demi-humans. Today, their mission was not demi-human slaughter, but assassination.
"Listen well. The prey has entered the cage. Dedicate your faith to the gods."
Cruel light glimmered in Nigun's eyes.
On the plains dyed orange, two forces clashed.
The Kingdom's strongest warrior, Gazef Stronoff, led the Warrior Troop into battle.
Facing them stood Nigun Grid Luin and the Sunlight Scripture — executioners sent to end Gazef's life.
The battlefield had descended into chaos.
"—Martial Art: Sixfold Light Blade!!"
Gazef roared as he swung the beautiful long sword in his hands — a weapon far too exquisite for a rough warrior like him. Its translucent blade pulsed with pale-blue flame, rippling with deadly enchantment.
With a single downward cleave, the flame-lined arc cut through six attacking angels at once, reducing them to particles of light.
"Martial Art: Instant Reflex!!"
His battered stance instantly reset as if time rewound. His hawk-like gaze tracked the next threats — four more angels.
"Flow Accel!!"
He spun mid-leap like a whirling top, slicing the four angels before they could land a blow. His subordinates cheered in awe.
Nigun, however, clicked his tongue.
"Impressive, Gazef Stronoff. I didn't think you could wield so many martial arts… but that is all."
Every angel they summoned had been cut down. Their planned advantage — overwhelming him with numbers — had failed.
Sweat rolled down Nigun's temples.
(Why? He shouldn't have been able to bring adequate equipment…)
Then he saw it — the sword.
Razor Edge.
A legendary blade, comparable to a divine razor, and — damnably — perfectly enchanted with an anti-angel attribute.
There was no way Gazef had anticipated their plot… or secretly held such a treasure. Impossible.
But there the weapon was, cleaving his troops apart.
Their forty-four men had already fallen to thirty.
"Have all angels target Stronoff. Ignore the others — they don't matter. His stamina isn't infinite. Move!"
The Sunlight Scripture rapidly shifted formation, surrounding Gazef with precision. Angels lunged from all directions.
Gazef gritted his teeth and swung.
"RrrAAAAAAAH!"
He cut, cut, cut — a demon of the battlefield. Even Nigun felt a grudging desire to applaud him.
The clash became a battle of attrition:
Gazef's stamina versus the Scripture's summons.
But on the battlefield, a single slip is fatal.
After slaying several angels, a blade pierced Gazef from his blind spot.
"Ghh—! URRRAAH!"
He tore the attacker apart, but another blade stabbed him from behind… then another… and another.
Soon he fell to his knees, bleeding heavily from countless wounds. His vision blurred, yet he glared upward at Nigun.
Nigun wiped sweat from his brow and smiled — the smile of a man who believed victory was his.
"We took more damage than expected… but this is the end, Gazef Stronoff."
He signaled his troops.
"Do not relax. Finish him."
Angels approached the fallen warrior.
Death's breath whispered against his ear.
(Am I… am I going to—?!)
Memories flashed — villagers he vowed to protect, his loyal subordinates, his king… and finally—
—the smile of Albedo, who had gifted him the sword.
"—!!"
The dying flame within him blazed back to life.
"Do NOT— underestimate meeeee!"
He rose, vomiting blood, body shaking but spirit unbroken.
"I am the Warrior-Captain of this Kingdom!! I will NOT lose to you, who defile it!!"
Nigun only sneered.
"Pathetic. In that condition, what can you possibly do?"
"We'll kill you, then the villagers. Lie down and accept death. I'll kill you painlessly, if nothing else."
Gazef exhaled — and laughed softly.
Nigun frowned.
"What is so funny?"
"You think… you've cornered us. But there is someone in that village far stronger than I."
"Bluffing. Angels — kill him."
Nigun dismissed the words instantly.
The angels moved.
Gazef tried to stand—
And then—
A voice whispered inside him.
"Warrior-Captain. You have done well. It is time for me to take over."
The world blurred.
He was no longer on the plains. He was inside a warehouse — Carne Village's residents huddled together in fear.
"Where… where is this…?"
"This is the village storehouse," the chief replied. "Lady Albedo has sealed it with magic."
"Albedo…?"
His soldiers had been teleported as well, wounded and whole alike.
"And she vanished just after swapping places with you…"
Gazef pulled out the wooden doll Albedo had gifted him. At once, it dissolved into particles of light — just like the slain angels.
"I see…"
He collapsed where he stood.
—
"Greetings, members of the Slane Theocracy."
A woman appeared before the Sunlight Scripture.
"…Who are you?" Nigun demanded.
Her luxurious robe, crimson mask, and exposed pale skin were impossible to ignore. The robe parted boldly from collarbone to navel, barely holding up a thin layer of cloth over her large breasts.
A magic caster — and a woman.
And one who radiated power.
"Just a passerby with ties to that village," she said.
"Here to beg for their lives?"
"No. I was listening to your little conversation with the Warrior-Captain. You're quite bold."
A chill swept the plains.
Her aura changed — like a dragon opening its eyes.
"Truthfully, I couldn't care less if your Theocracy and the Kingdom annihilate each other. War is war. People die. I am… indifferent to most of it."
Her tone carried both apathy and unmistakable fury.
"But you laughed at Gazef Stronoff."
"…What?"
"You dared to mock a man who risks his life to protect the innocent? What qualifies you to do that?"
Nigun bared his teeth.
"You dislike us, do you? So what? What can you—"
He gestured subtly.
Two angels moved behind the woman for a surprise attack.
She didn't seem to notice.
Nigun smirked.
The angels lunged—
—and were instantly pulverized as she turned and slammed them into the ground with one hand.
Nigun froze.
"What… what are you…?!"
A cold voice answered:
"Do not overestimate yourselves, humans of the Slane Theocracy."
Her snap of the fingers dropped every Sunlight Scripture member like puppets with cut strings.
Nigun tried to stand—
—and realized his limbs were missing.
"Wha— AAAAAAAGH!!"
The entire Scripture screamed. None had even noticed the moment they were dismembered.
"Ambush from behind? You thought that tactic belonged to you alone?"
Horrors appeared behind her — undead monstrosities far beyond anything the Scripture had faced. They surrounded her like loyal hounds.
Nigun's mind shattered.
"H-HELP!! I'm sorry!! I'll give you anything!! M-mercy! Mercy!! Just me! Let me live!"
"Mercy…?"
The masked woman tilted her head.
He groveled, forehead scraping the dirt.
She stepped on his chest, voice colder than death.
"Do not misunderstand, human.
I am a demon."
Her mask vanished. The hood fell.
Emerging was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with onyx-black hair, golden slit-pupiled eyes glowing red at the core, and a pair of curved demonic horns.
Gazef's words echoed.
There is someone in that village stronger than I.
Nigun wanted to scream.
"You are unworthy of my hands or my servants'. Crawling like worms suits you better. I'll throw your disarmed bodies into the Great Forest and let the beasts feast."
She pointed toward the Treant-infested depths of the Great Forest of Tob.
The Scripture howled in terror.
"Mercy!! MERCY PLEASE!! MERCYYYYY!!"
"Your voices are irritating. I'll have them remove those, too."
Her monsters bowed. "As you command."
"Experience the fear you once inflicted on all those villages."
They screamed—
She vanished—
And that night became the longest and last of their lives.
Even the wind-priestess of the Windflower Scripture, who had been spying from afar, exploded.
No mercy.