Chapter 58
The cavern trembled endlessly.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The massive sealing formation continued spreading across the volcanic floor like glowing veins of white light.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
At the center of the battlefield—
John remained bound by countless golden chains.
But the chains were beginning to crack.
CRAAAAACK.
Black lightning exploded violently around his body.
At the same time—
dark crimson flames erupted harder around him.
The fire wrapped across his arms and shoulders like living rage itself.
The volcanic heat intensified instantly.
Several nearby justice worshippers were forced backward from the pressure alone.
John pulled against the chains again.
BOOOOOOM.
The entire cavern trembled violently.
Multiple Divine Devour chains shattered apart—
only for more to immediately replace them.
The commander's expression tightened.
Commander: "Hold him!"
Every justice worshipper nearby immediately poured more holy energy into the chains.
Golden light flooded the battlefield.
The chains tightened harder around John's body.
Burning.
Restraining.
But even then—
the flames around John only grew stronger.
A young ritualist glanced toward him accidentally.
And froze.
Because John no longer looked human.
Not completely.
Black lightning crawled endlessly across his skin.
Crimson flames twisted around him violently.
And his eyes—
cold.
Furious.
The ritualist's hands began trembling.
Ritualist: "…W-What is he…?"
CRACK.
Another chain shattered apart.
The ritualist flinched violently.
Commander: "Don't stop chanting!"
The commander slammed both hands together.
Golden formations expanded wider across the cavern walls.
Commander: "Finish the seal quickly!"
The ritualists immediately resumed chanting faster.
Holy energy surged violently through the formation.
The white symbols spread wider beneath the volcanic stone.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
But the battlefield outside the ritual circle had already descended into complete chaos.
BOOOOOM.
A fire spell exploded against a massive holy barrier.
One of John's squad members clicked his tongue in frustration.
Squad Member: "Damn it!"
Golden chains suddenly shot toward him.
He barely dodged sideways before the chains pierced through volcanic stone behind him.
Another justice worshipper rushed him instantly.
Holy energy wrapped around the man's blade.
CLANG.
Steel collided violently.
Nearby—
another member of John's squad raised both hands forward.
Thunder magic exploded across the cavern ceiling.
CRACK.
Several justice worshippers were thrown backward instantly.
But more immediately replaced them.
Squad Member: "There's too many of them!"
The battlefield continued shaking violently around everyone.
At the center—
John remained restrained by divine chains.
One squad member noticed instantly.
His eyes widened.
Squad Member: "They trapped John!"
He immediately tried rushing toward the center—
but three holy barriers appeared directly in front of him.
BOOOOOOM.
The collision blasted him backward violently.
A justice worshipper stepped forward calmly.
Justice Worshipper: "You're not reaching him."
Another squad member unleashed crimson flames across the battlefield—
only for nearby Divine Devour formations to consume part of the attack instantly.
Squad Member: "…Tch."
The ritualists continued chanting faster.
The sealing formation spread wider beneath everyone's feet.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
One of John's squad members glanced toward him again briefly.
And for the first time—
uncertainty crossed his face.
Because even together—
they still couldn't break through.
At the center of the battlefield—
John slowly lifted his head again.
The red flames around him intensified harder.
Wild.
Violent.
The cavern itself began trembling from his power.
John took one step forward—
while still chained.
CRACK.
The obsidian floor beneath him shattered instantly.
Several ritualists widened their eyes in panic.
Because despite everything—
he was still moving.
Commander: "Do NOT let him reach the formation!"
Golden chains erupted again from every direction.
Wrapping tighter around John's body.
The chains burned brighter now—
trying to suppress the black lightning and crimson flames together.
For a moment—
John stopped again.
The young ritualist stared at him fearfully.
Sweat rolled down his face.
But then he forced himself to continue chanting.
Faster now.
Desperate.
Because the seal was nearly complete.
John's eyes slowly shifted toward the glowing formation beneath the floor.
His expression darkened.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM.
A wave of black lightning exploded outward from his body.
Several justice worshippers were thrown violently backward.
One chain snapped completely.
Then another.
The commander's eyes narrowed immediately.
Commander: "…Damn it."
John pulled harder.
The red flames exploded violently around him.
CRAAAAACK.
More chains shattered apart.
Several justice worshippers immediately panicked.
Justice Worshipper: "He's breaking through!"
Commander: "Reinforce the chains!"
Holy energy surged harder into the battlefield.
The golden chains tightened again.
Burning into John's arms.
His shoulders.
His chest.
But even then—
John continued moving forward slowly.
Like a monster forcing its way through judgment itself.
One step.
Another.
The commander stared at him silently for a moment.
Then his golden aura exploded outward violently once more.
BOOOOOOOM.
The holy pressure flooded the cavern instantly.
Dozens of Divine Devour formations activated together across the walls and ceiling.
Golden chains erupted everywhere.
Not toward John's magic.
Toward John himself.
They wrapped around him repeatedly.
Arms.
Legs.
Torso.
Neck.
The pressure multiplied instantly.
John finally stopped moving again.
The commander stepped forward slowly.
Breathing heavily.
Blood running from multiple wounds.
But his eyes remained steady.
Commander: "…You're too dangerous."
John said nothing.
Black lightning still crackled endlessly around him.
The commander looked toward the ritualists.
Commander: "How long?"
One ritualist looked toward the formation.
His face pale.
Ritualist: "…Almost complete!"
The white symbols had nearly covered the entire cavern floor now.
The volcanic island trembled violently above them.
And deep beneath the cavern—
something ancient shifted.
Far away—
inside the prison—
the atmosphere remained heavy.
Cold stone walls.
Dim torchlight.
Silence.
Isabel slowly lowered her gaze after finishing her explanation.
Isabel: "…That's everything I know."
Princess Flora stood quietly for a moment.
Thinking carefully.
Then she nodded once.
Princess: "…Understood."
A pause.
Princess: "At least now we know enough to move."
Guinevere leaned silently against the wall nearby.
Watching her carefully.
Then—
a faint smirk appeared on her face.
Guinevere: "…Finally."
A pause.
Guinevere: "I was starting to get bored in here."
Chris immediately looked toward her.
Chris: "Don't worry."
He crossed his arms dramatically.
Chris: "I'm still here. You'll never be bored with me around."
Guinevere slowly turned toward him.
Completely expressionless.
Guinevere: "…Oh."
A pause.
Guinevere: "You were here?"
Chris froze.
Chris: "…Wow."
Marco snorted quietly from the side.
Chris pointed at Guinevere immediately.
Chris: "Tell me you're joking."
Guinevere only smirked slightly before looking away again.
Even Princess Flora let out a faint breath afterward.
The tension inside the prison eased—
if only slightly.
Then Princess Flora slowly looked around at everyone again.
Marco.
Chris.
Captain Bochy.
The recovering soldiers nearby.
Her expression hardened once more.
Princess: "You all remember the plan, right?"
Guinevere nodded first.
Guinevere: "…Yeah."
Marco gave a quiet nod as well.
Chris crossed his arms again.
Chris: "Got it."
Captain Bochy slowly stood fully upright.
Exhaustion remained visible across his face—
but his eyes were sharp again now.
Captain Bochy: "…I'm with you."
Several nearby soldiers nodded weakly in agreement.
The atmosphere inside the prison slowly changed.
Not hopeful.
But prepared.
Chris glanced toward the recovering soldiers.
Chris: "…Then we need to make everyone aware before it's too late."
Princess Flora nodded immediately.
Princess: "Quietly."
A pause.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess: "…We still don't know who might be listening."
Silence settled across the prison once more.
Heavy.
Careful.
Waiting.
…CHAPTER 58 ENDS…