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n?On the other side of the continent, in the bustling port city at the heart of the Braham Republic, the newly erected temple of the Church of the Three Paragons stood as a beacon of faith.

nThe city, nestled on the westernmost edge of the Braham Republic, and at the eastern side of the continent, had become a sanctuary for the Cardinals who fled the Milton Kingdom.

nThe revelation that the Immortal of the enigmatic forest was the same as the Masked Devil Incarnate who had claimed their Divine Sword had scared them away. The fear of retribution, had driven them from their homeland!

nNonetheless, despite their departure, the Church’s work persisted, for they believed the Immortal would not harm innocents over a personal vendetta.

nThey believed that the Archbishops and the Priests would be safe from Immortal’s wrath.

nAt this time, however, they had a different worry.

n“The Abyss Realm’s invasion has commenced. May the Paragons absolve us and deliver us from this plight…” Cardinal Lucius, the sage elder of the trio, prayed with a heavy heart. His life’s work had been the study and dissemination of the Paragons’ teachings—the divine trio that they believed had shaped the world.

n“We must rouse the Messenger of the Paragons. Time is of the essence!” implored Cardinal Sophia, whose youth and beauty were matched by her cunning and ambition. She envisioned a Church that wielded unparalleled power and influence.

n“I concur… We must no longer hold back. The sacrifice of the five designated villages will awaken the Messenger. We await only your consent, Cardinal Lucius…” Cardinal Marcus, a man of valor and strategy, urged. His role had always been to safeguard the Church’s interests and allies.

nCardinal Lucius’ resolve wavered as he was faced with the weight of their proposal.

n‘Sacrificing those five villages might bring us more trouble… Even the current leaders of the Braham Republic weren’t looking at us kindly. If we were found out, then our Church would have no place in this country…’ Lucius gritted his teeth.

nYet, as he pondered, a new Rift tore through the fabric of reality, its ominous presence felt even from afar. The Republic was now under threat!

nThe three Cardinals looked at each other as they all felt that opening of the Rift. They could not be mistaken since the three of them were already starting to grasp the secrets of Spatial Arts. It was just one of the benefits they had after becoming the Cardinals of one of the dominant churches of the continent.

nWith a clenched fist and a heart laden with sorrow, Lucius knew there was no alternative.

nThe awakening of the Messenger of the Paragons required a sacrifice he wished he didn’t have to make.

nAs the Cardinals convened, a plan was set into motion—a plan that would alter the fate of many in hopes of saving the world, or perhaps the Church, from the encroaching darkness of the Abyss.

n***

nIn the village of Elmswood, where the railways hadn’t reached yet, a blacksmith’s hammer sang against the anvil, shaping the day’s first task.

nChildren’s laughter echoed through the streets of Brookstone as they chased one another, their games were innocent and carefree.

nIn the orchards of Greenvale, farmers tended to the bountiful trees, their hands deftly picking the ripe fruits of their labor.

nThe villagers, each absorbed in their daily labors, remained unaware of the fate that loomed over them. They greeted their neighbors with warm smiles, shared stories of yesteryears, and looked forward to the evening’s communal feast.

nLife, with its simple joys and sorrows, continued unabated.

nBut as the sun climbed higher, an unnatural heat began to suffuse the air. It was a warmth that did not come from the gentle rays of the sun but from an unseen, malevolent force.

n“Mother… It’s getting hot!” One of the children playing in the streets of the town immediately complained as he felt his skin getting burned.

n“Get inside the house! Hurry! This is not normal!” A concerned parent immediately exclaimed. He had learned the basics of Arcane Arts, and he immediately realized that this phenomenon wasn’t normal.

n“Ugh… I’m really thirsty…”

n“Not good… I think there’s a Dark Magician attacking us!”

n“We’re going to die at this rate!”

n“I think that we’re being cursed! Did the Fire Elementalists attack us?”

n“Where are the Arcane Inspectors?!”

n“Call the Priests!”

nSome villagers paused as they tried to understand what was happening, and some began to panic as the heat was unbearable. Nonetheless, a sense of unease crept into their hearts.

nThe laughter stopped, the hammering ceased, and the picking hands froze as they all hurried to find water or shelter, hoping to cool themselves down.

nIn the distance, the grand temple of the Church of the Three Paragons stood silent…

nWithin its hallowed halls, guarded by their Knights and Priests, the three Cardinals—Lucius, Sophia, and Marcus—gathered in solemn assembly.

nTheir faces were etched with the severity of their decision, the weight of the impending sacrifice pressing upon their souls.

nWith heavy hearts, they began the ancient rite, their voices rising in a chant that had not been uttered for generations.

nThe air within the temple shimmered… Soon, the ritual started shaping as the fabric of reality thinning… Their actions continued for more than an hour as they called upon the divine Messenger of the Paragons.

nCrack… Crack… Crack…

nOutside, the villagers felt the ground tremble beneath their feet.

nThen, a searing pain enveloped them, as if their very essence was being drawn outwards, towards the temple.

nThey clutched at their chests, their eyes wide with terror, as the heat intensified, becoming an all-consuming inferno that threatened to engulf their souls.

nAnd then, amidst the chaos and despair, a figure descended from the skies—an eight-winged angel, glorious and terrifying at the same time.

nIts wings bore celestial light while also emitting a suffocating aura.

nThe villagers, in their final moments, gazed upon the divine being, their fear giving way to awe.

nThrough the Secret Eye Spell of the Cardinals, they watched as the Messenger took form, confirming that their ritual was complete.

nThe sacrifice of the five villages had been made, the price of their salvation was paid in full!

nThe Messenger of the Paragons turned its gaze upon the Church and was able to see Cardinals behind its walls…

nThe Messenger then glanced at the people who had been sacrificed just to summon him, but after that, it disappeared and showed itself to the three Cardinals.

n“The Paragons had instructed that you can only call me if the Church is in immediate threat… Did you call for me to ask the Paragons to bless you again, or do you want me to help you eliminate the threat?”

nThe Messenger asked as he glanced at the Rift that was opened by the Abyss Realm. It was quite far from the Church, but he knew very well that the chaos would soon reach this place.

nCardinal Lucius took a deep breath before he answered. “We want your help to fight back the Abyss. We need to ensure that they know not to send any Demon Saints in this area… We need to intimidate them enough and let them focus on other areas.”

nHe knew very well that the Messenger couldn’t win against the whole Abyss Realm, however, dealing with a few Demons and Demon Saints, wouldn’t be that difficult, especially if the three of them and other Knights and Priests joined as well.

nThe Messenger nodded, its wings unfurling as it prepared to lead the charge against the encroaching darkness…

n***

nAs the Rift tore through the skies of the Braham Republic, two Demon Saints emerged, their formidable presence would guarantee that the Rift would remain unchallenged.

nAfter confirming that there was no force that could stop them here, they unleashed the Abyss’s minions upon the unsuspecting city, creating a chaos for the unprepared citizens!

nGraaaghh~

nThe demons immediately sensed the abundant presence of life and were excited to devour the people!

nYet, amidst the destruction, the Demon Saints paused, sensing a potent Aura that does not belong to their side…

nAfter a moment of observation, the two Demon Saints felt thankful.

n“Hmm… It is not the Shadow Immortal…” One of them murmured with a hint of relief in his tone.

n“True. This entity is something we can handle…” The other agreed, confidence lacing his words.

nThey had faced the Life Devourer Shadow Immortal, a title they gave to the Celestial guarding this Human Realm. The two of them knew well the terror it wrought upon their ranks.

nThe Demon Saints prepared themselves, not for retreat, but for confrontation against the Messenger…

nAs entity arrived in front of the two Demon Saints, the surrounding space even started to twist.

nThe Angel, the Messenger of the Paragons, alighted upon the battlefield with eight wings unfurled, each feather shimmering with divine light.

n“Ha! You’ve come alone?!”

n“Just because we’re fleeing from that Immortal doesn’t mean that we’re weak. Do not underestimate us!”

nThe Demon Saints shouted in fury!

nThe Demon Saints, armed with their Corruption Energy, met the Angel’s radiant strikes head-on.

nBoom! Boom! Boom! .

nThe battle was a spectacle of light and shadow, each blow from the Angel parried with the Corrupted Force brought by the Demon Saints.

n𝘳𝘦.𝒸𝑜𝘮

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