Chapter 68 —
The crimson flames continued flickering throughout the sanctuary.
Low chants echoed endlessly across the massive stone chamber.
At the center of the glowing formation—
the Princess remained restrained on the stone platform.
And standing before her—
the Lord slowly lowered his ceremonial sword.
Lord: "…Very well."
The chanting softened slightly.
Lord: "Ask."
The Princess glared at him immediately.
Princess: "…Why are you trying to kill me?"
The Lord remained silent for a moment.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
Lord: "…Because your existence threatens something important to me."
The Princess frowned instantly.
Princess: "…Important to you?"
The Lord gave no answer.
The Princess's voice suddenly rose.
Princess: "…Do you even hear yourself?!"
The surrounding chants continued echoing across the sanctuary.
Princess: "…The earth is dying."
Her restrained hands tightened.
Princess: "…Monsters are everywhere. Kingdoms are collapsing. People are suffering every single day."
The crimson symbols beneath her slowly glowed brighter.
Princess: "…And you're talking about something important to YOU?!"
Silence.
The Lord simply watched her calmly.
Princess: "…What could possibly matter more than saving the world?!"
The Lord's eyes lowered slightly.
But he said nothing.
The Princess stared at him in disbelief.
Princess: "…Answer me!"
Still—
no answer came.
Only the endless chanting surrounding them.
Then—
the Lord finally spoke.
Lord: "…Your soul is special."
The Princess froze slightly.
Princess: "…My soul…?"
The Lord nodded once.
Lord: "…You were never meant to live as an ordinary human."
The Princess's expression hardened immediately.
Princess: "…You still aren't explaining anything."
The Lord slowly looked toward the glowing symbols beneath her.
Lord: "…A prophecy exists."
The chants throughout the chamber deepened.
Lord: "…One day… the blood of peace will awaken the sleeping gods."
The Princess's eyes widened slightly.
Fragments of old stories resurfaced inside her mind.
Whispers.
Legends.
Princess: "…And you think that's me?"
The Lord looked directly at her.
Lord: "…I know it is."
Silence spread briefly across the sanctuary.
Princess: "…Then why are you trying to stop it?"
The Lord's expression remained calm.
Almost distant.
Lord: "…Because some things are not meant to awaken again."
The Princess immediately shook her head.
Princess: "…That explains nothing!"
The symbols beneath her flared brighter.
Princess: "…If the prophecy can save this world then why are you trying to destroy it?!"
The Lord remained silent again.
Princess: "…What are you actually afraid of?!"
No answer.
Only chanting.
Princess: "…You keep avoiding everything!"
The Lord slowly raised the sword once more.
Princess: "…WAIT—!"
The crimson blade reflected across her widened eyes.
Princess: "…You still haven't told me the truth!"
The sword rose higher.
Princess: "…If I'm going to die then at least answer me properly!"
The Lord looked down at her quietly.
Then—
Lord: "…No more questions."
The chants intensified violently throughout the sanctuary.
Behind the surrounding guards—
Chris slowly shifted his stance beneath his robe.
Guinevere's hand slowly moved toward her blade.
The Lord raised the sword fully overhead—
And then—
KRRRRRRAAAAAASH—
A massive explosion of holy magic slammed against the sanctuary barrier from outside.
The entire chamber trembled violently.
Several hooded figures instantly looked upward.
Golden light spread across the crimson barrier surrounding the sanctuary.
Another impact struck moments later.
KRAAAAAK—
But the barrier remained standing.
Outside—
dozens of glowing holy formations surrounded the sanctuary.
Elite justice worshippers.
Holy magic continuously bombarded the barrier from every direction.
Inside the sanctuary—
the Lord slowly lowered his sword again.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
Lord: "…I knew you people were here."
Another explosion struck the barrier.
The sanctuary trembled once more.
But the crimson barrier still held firm.
Lord: "…Unfortunately…"
His eyes slowly moved toward the Princess.
Lord: "…You arrived too late."
Chris suddenly took one step forward beneath his robe.
Guinevere immediately followed.
Both hands moved toward their weapons—
And then—
SLASH.
A black blade suddenly tore directly through part of the crimson barrier.
CRAAAAACK—
The sanctuary shook violently.
The chanting instantly stopped.
Everyone froze.
Cracks rapidly spread across the barrier.
Golden holy energy poured through the opening—
And slowly—
a figure stepped inside.
The Commander.
Burn marks covered his body.
Blood still dripped from parts of his damaged armor.
His breathing remained uneven.
But inside his hand—
a black sword burned beneath dark flames.
The Lord's expression changed instantly.
His eyes locked onto the blade.
Lord: "…That sword…"
The Commander slowly looked down at it himself.
Black flames twisted quietly around the edge.
Commander: "…I see…"
His grip tightened slightly.
Commander: "…So this sword really is something else after all."
Silence filled the sanctuary.
The Lord's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lord: "…Why do you have that sword?"
The Commander gave no answer.
Behind him—
more justice worshippers entered through the broken barrier with glowing holy weapons drawn.
The atmosphere inside the sanctuary shifted instantly.
The hooded guards surrounding the ritual formation slowly stepped backward into defensive positions.
Then—
Chris suddenly ripped off his hood completely.
Chris: "…Finally."
BOOM—
He launched himself toward the nearest guard.
At the same moment—
Guinevere drew her blade.
SLASH—
One hooded guard collapsed before reacting.
The sanctuary instantly erupted into chaos.
Holy magic exploded across the chamber.
Steel collided violently.
And at the center of it all—
the Lord slowly tightened his grip around the ceremonial sword.
His eyes remained fixed on the black blade burning inside the Commander's hand.
...CHAPTER 68 ENDS...