The unconscious soul of El drifted across seas, forests, deserts, and snow filled land before descending upon the royal palace of the Spade Kingdom.
The palace was in turmoil. Flames burned along the walls, explosions shattered the corridors, and the sound of screaming echoed endlessly as the massacre continued without pause.
In a distant corridor, a newborn had just died in his mother's embrace but a moment later, the tiny body gasped.
Through the collapsing corridors ran Ciel Grinberryall, her royal dress stained with dust and blood. In her arms slept a small child with soft features and peaceful expression, completely unaware of the nightmare around him. A blue pendant rested against his chest, rising and falling with each calm breath.
Yuno Grinberryall.
"Don't worry, Yuno. Nothing will happen to you," she whispered, tightening her hold as another explosion shook the palace behind her.
Then—
A painful child's cry reached her ears.
She stopped.
It came from a side corridor.
Changing direction, she hurried toward the sound. Around the corner, her head attendant lay crushed beneath a broken pillar, blood pooling beneath her motionless body. Beneath the woman's protective embrace was another baby—no older than Yuno.
He was bleeding from head, but awake.
His eyes half shut but when he sensed the nearby presence, he extended his small hand toward her, as if asking for help.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.
Ciel immediately concealed her magic presence and stepped into the shadows, holding the sleeping Yuno close. A rogue mage appeared, ice forming along his arm as he approached the injured child.
"I thought I had killed you, little piece of shit…" he muttered coldly, raising an ice spear above the baby.
Before the spear descended, a crescent of moonlight flashed across the hallway.
The mage's head fell before his body hit the ground.
Ciel stepped forward, Moon Magic fading from her fingertips. She picked up the injured child and gently closed her dead servant's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Norma, we couldn't protect you." she whispered.
A soft silver glow enveloped the baby's wound. The torn flesh slowly sealed as Silvery Moon light restored his body. Within seconds, his breathing steadied, and he drifted into sleep.
She ran again, following her husband's last order—to save their son. While Loyce Grinberryall and the strongest royal mages held the enemies back.
The palace trembled as overwhelming magic clashed in the distance. Maniacal laughter echoed through the halls.
"How long can you delay us, King Loyce? We will catch them," a woman's mocking voice resounded.
Then another voice followed—thrilled, amused, cruel.
"Don't worry, Loyce. We will not kill your beautiful wife… but the prince will soon join you in the afterlife."
The voice of Dante Zogratis spread through the palace.
A massive explosion tore through half of the palace, illuminating the darkness as if the sun had risen.
Slowly, she turned her gaze toward the far end of the palace, where Loyce Grinberryall and the royal knights were still fighting against the Dark Triad and their disciples.
"Loyce…" she whispered, tightening her grip around the two sleeping children.
The Dark Triad—three siblings once counted among the strongest mages of the Spade Kingdom—had always hidden their true strength. They waited patiently, building influence in the shadows.
Tonight, they struck. The palace guards were ambushed, the strongest brigade had been sent away on a false expedition, and the capital was thrown into chaos before anyone could react.
Hearing the screams of soldiers and the threats against her son, Ciel's heart cracked. A decision formed in her mind—one no mother should ever have to make.
"I apologize for the sin I am about to commit," Ciel Grinberryall whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at the two sleeping babies. "If the gods are listening… please let this boy survive the hardships meant for my son Yuno."
The children were sleeping but even if they were awake, they were too young to understand her words and apology.
With shaking hands, she switched their clothes. Yuno was dressed in the servant child's bloodstained garments, while the other boy was wrapped in royal fabric. But she kept the blue pendant with Yuno.
Then she ran again.
In a corridor ahead, a middle-aged royal knight was struggling against three Dark Disciples.
"Moonlight Flash."
Silver light burst through the hall, blinding friend and foe alike. Before the disciples could recover, a crescent slash cut cleanly across them, dropping their bodies to the ground.
"My queen…" the knight gasped, recognizing her. "Your shoulder—"
"Rem," she said, breathing unevenly. Blood seeped through her sleeve. Without hesitation, she placed Yuno into his arms.
Rem froze. "My queen… this—"
"The Dark Triad has rebelled," she interrupted, forcing herself to stay calm. "They are using unique devil power. We may not survive tonight."
Rem's eyes reddened.
"In your arms is the last hope of this kingdom—Prince Yuno." She kissed the child's forehead. "Take him to the Clover or Heart Kingdom and ask for their help. Hide him. Raise him. Prepare him for what is coming."
His jaw tightened, but he knelt immediately. "I, Rem, commander of the 2nd division of Royal Magic Knights, accept this mission, even if it costs me my life, I will protect prince Yuno."
They parted without another word.
As Ciel stepped outside the palace, the sight before her made her stomach churn. Snow turned red with blood. Citizens screamed as homes burned.
Magic Knights and Dark Disciples clashed across her.
"Silencing Moon Slash."
Tens of moon Slashes cut through the bodies of enemies in the blink of an eye.
"Marcus," she called, handing the other child—dressed as the prince—to one of the king's most loyal knights.
"Take your most trusted men and escort Prince Yuno to the clover or heart kingdom and ask for their help."
"As you command My queen, please come with us—"
A massive explosion interrupted him. Half the castle collapsed as a wall of fire rose into the sky, melting the falling snow.
Ciel's face went pale. "I can't feel Loyce's mana anymore…"
Marcus understood. This was her last stand.
He left with seven knights, with the fake prince in his arms.
El woke up to chaos.
The memories in his head were fragmented, confusing—but one thought was clear.
This is a nightmare.
He was being carried by men in royal robes, fleeing while dark figures chased them. One by one, the knights fell but the pursuers only increased.
Soon only Marcus and two other knights remained, surrounded by six Dark Disciples who seemed to be stalling.
Then the air changed.
A portal opened and three figures walked out of it—two men and one woman. Their presence alone made the remaining knights stiffen in fear.
"Did you really think we wouldn't find you, Marcus?" said the man in the center, smiling calmly.
Dante Zogratis.
Before Marcus could react, a blade pierced through his chest from behind. Blood spilled from his mouth as shock filled his eyes. A second strike severed his head.
As his life slowly faded, realization struck. Those two traitorous comrades had never intended to stand with him—they had been leaving subtle clues to their location all along, pretending loyalty while guiding the enemy straight to them.
'I am sor…' his thoughts were cut short as the baby slipped from his arms.
El hit the ground, pain flashing through his small body.
He floated in the air, his tiny bones felt like they were being crushed by gravity. He cried instinctively, his body unable to endure the force.
Dante observed him with mild curiosity, as if inspecting an object.
"What should we do with him?" the female mages asked casually, examining the supposed prince.
"Kill him."
The voice came from the mage whose back was twisted with protruding bones, his tone completely indifferent. A dark portal swirled open behind them, distorting the air.
"He would've made an excellent experimental subject," Dante added casually, glancing at the child suspended in midair. "But leaving even a spark of hope for these monkeys would be troublesome."
Dante Zogratis didn't hesitate.
Gravity intensified.
The pressure folded inward.
The child's tiny body was crushed instantly, reduced to a mangled mass before he could even properly cry out. Dante released his hold and flicked his hand. The remains were hurled deep into the forest like discarded trash.
Without another glance, they stepped into the portal. The others followed. The darkness swallowed them whole.
Silence returned to the forest.
Deep into the forest, beneath the cold starlit sky, a small broken mass of flesh lay abandoned on the snow.
But the earth beside it suddenly cracked open.
From within the roots of an tree emerged a dryad—the forest spirit of Elysia. Her skin resembled smooth bark, faint green veins glowing softly beneath it. Long hair like woven leaves cascaded down her back, and her eyes with deep sorrow as she knelt before the body El.
"I received a prophecy," she spoke in distressed tone.
"Two children were to be born in the Spade Kingdom at the same time—one a saviour, the other a destroyer. I do not know who the destroyer is, but the prophecy was certain that the prince of Spade would save our world."
"I came as quickly as I could after receiving the prophecy," she whispered softly. "But you were already killed by those terrifying demon mages."
She had watched from within the trees, powerless to interfere.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't protect you."
Kneeling beside the broken body, she addressed him.
"Prince of Spade Kingdom"
The ground beside her split open gently, forming a natural grave. She extended her hand to lift the body—
Then it happened.
A golden mark ignited across the ruined flesh.
A pillar of radiant golden light shot into the sky, piercing the darkness so brightly it could be seen from kilometers away.
The dryad staggered back, shielding her eyes.
Before her, the mangled body began to untangle. Bones realigned. Flesh regenerated. Skin restored itself in seconds. The crushed infant returned to perfect humanoid form as if time itself had reversed.
The golden light slowly faded.
Life returned.
Then—
A sharp, painful cry broke the stillness of the forest.
The newborn wailed, the trauma of death lingering even in a healed body.
A faint voice echoed in his ears.
[Omni King's Blessing has been activated.]
The dryad stared in disbelief. "What… what kind of magic is this?" she whispered. "Does this mean… the prophecy is still alive?"
Her shock lasted only a moment.
Several powerful magic signatures were approaching rapidly from the nearby direction.
Without wasting another second, she scooped up the crying child. The bark of the tree behind her split open like a doorway.
Cradling the newborn close, she stepped inside.
The tree sealed shut.
And the forest fell silent once more.
***
Author's Note:Thank you all for your amazing feedback! Many of you asked me not to skip the MC's story — even though I originally planned to introduce it later — so I've brought it here. I hope you enjoy it!