Breaking Through to the Isolated Temples
Meanwhile, Sione, Professor Nah Tes, and Nadan arrived at the Setra Church's Solenute branch through the Gate of Setra, only to realize they were too late.
"So... the safest places right now are here at the Setra Church, the Mare Church, and the Lanur Church. The Celioum and Terra Churches, located near the plaza where the erosion beasts are pouring out, are isolated."
"That's correct, Your Highness the Crown Princess. According to the messenger from the Celioum Church, the Terra Church is currently holding out in the Earth Citadel, and the Celioum Church has raised the Wind Veil."
A knight from the Setra Church spoke up, briefing the three on the current situation.
"That means they're safe for the moment."
"What are your plans?"
"First, we need to clear paths between the churches. Especially to support the two isolated ones—Celioum and Terra—as quickly as possible. The Earth Citadel and Wind Veil are both large-scale saint laws. They might hold for now, but they won't last long."
"But right now, each church lacks even the manpower to defend their own branches."
The church knight expressed concern at Sione's opinion. She nodded.
"Indeed, with an erosion of this scale, a high-grade erosion beast could emerge at any moment. And with the possibility of Salvation Cult remnants appearing... it's impossible to move the church knights."
"The only hope seems to be the Capital Guard. But even that's not ideal. They've requested aid from the Capital Guard via the Celioum Church, but the Guard says they lack the manpower to protect their headquarters and evacuate civilians."
"...Then let's do this."
Sione pondered for a moment before presenting her idea.
"First, send a command to the Capital Guard through the Celioum messenger who came here earlier. Tell all Capital Guard personnel except those rescuing and evacuating civilians to immediately encircle the plaza and drive out the erosion beasts."
"But won't that leave the Capital Guard headquarters vulnerable?"
"Right now, we have to abandon the headquarters if necessary and create focal points everywhere to support the churches and fight the erosion beasts. We can rebuild buildings. People are more important than structures. If we delay even a little longer, it'll be a disaster."
"...Understood, Your Highness."
"Once we encircle the plaza widely and pressure the erosion beasts, we'll get some breathing room. Then we'll support the Celioum Church first."
"The Celioum Church?"
"This place, along with Lanur and Mare, aren't in immediate critical need, so they can hold with nearby Capital Guard help. Bring the Celioum messenger here right now."
"Yes!"
A short time later, the Celioum messenger arrived before Sione.
"You called for me, Your Highness?"
"This is important. You must deliver it. Go straight to the Capital Guard. Convey my orders."
"What orders?"
"Tell them that all personnel guarding the Capital Defense Headquarters, except those evacuating civilians, must immediately encircle the plaza and pressure the erosion beasts. I'll join at the plaza and give the details. Hurry—every second counts."
"Understood!"
As the messenger turned to leave, Sione urgently added,
"Oh, and this. Show it to Capital Guard Captain Aquila Ladern. He'll believe you then."
With that, Sione pulled a pendant depicting the sun from her bosom—a symbol of the Crown Princess.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The messenger took the pendant, activated his saint law to sprout wings, and soared into the sky.
Sione watched him go, then turned to Professor Nah and Nadan.
"You two, help me out."
"Yes."
The two nodded. The Setra Church wasn't in dire peril yet. Even if a high-grade erosion beast appeared, the priests and knights here could handle it.
Sione immediately addressed the knight at the main gate.
"Knight, open the gate."
The knight looked at the three with worry etched on his face.
"...Are you sure?"
Reading the anxiety in his heart, Sione nodded calmly.
"Understood. Please take care, Your Highness."
As the main gate opened, the three stepped out in unison, as if by prior agreement.
"If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've gone looking for the professors somehow... Regret always comes too late."
With Nadan's sigh, Professor Nah replied,
"We couldn't help it. We never expected all the professors to be away at once."
Indeed. They'd roamed Solemnute Adem seeking other professors' help but found none. It was the weekend, and with knight faculty students dispatched, many professors had taken the time for personal research or seminars.
"I should've headed to the imperial palace instead. Commanding from there would've been easier."
"That was impossible, Your Highness. There's no Gate of Setra at the palace."
"Next time, we'll seriously consider installing one at the palace."
"That's not feasible. What if a Salvation Cult member kidnaps and brainwashes a Setra bishop to attack from within?"
Sione sounded regretful, but Nah replied it was unavoidable.
"True. Their methods are deviously unpredictable."
At that moment, countless erosion beasts surged toward them from beyond the gate.
"Enough chit-chat... Let's clear the path."
Sione channeled her divine power.
Kwagang!
In an instant, radiant light struck her like lightning, forming a massive warhammer of brilliant light in her hand. She gripped it one-handed and stomped.
Kwang!
Glorious radiance spread around her, and low-grade erosion beasts disintegrated into ash from that alone.
But it didn't end there. Each swing of her massive warhammer crushed mid-grade erosion beasts under overwhelming force, erasing them without trace.
Professor Nah and Nadan did the same, enveloping their fists in starlight divine power.
The close-combat technique devised by Istradim Seta, the Setra priest among the Six Heroes—Whispers of the Stars. Infamously difficult to master, few in the Setra Church knew it, but the two had endured grueling training to acquire it. Their honed prowess burst forth: each punch and kick exploded erosion beasts.
No grand saint laws were needed.
Thus, the three advanced toward the plaza.
Meanwhile, the Celioum messenger poured out all his divine power and finally reached the Capital Guard headquarters. He rushed to Captain Aquila Ladern and relayed Sione's command: abandon the headquarters if needed to pressure the plaza and rescue the Celioum and Terra Churches.
"Abandon the Capital Guard and head to the plaza... That's the Crown Princess's order?"
"Yes, Captain Aquila Ladern."
"Proof?"
"This is what Her Highness entrusted to me."
"This... It's an imperial seal."
"Yes."
"What else did she say?"
"She'll give details after joining at the plaza."
"I see."
Aquila stood immediately.
"Let's move. Her Highness's safety comes first. You—any divine power left?"
"Barely, but if there's a task, I'll do my best."
"Good. Carry these documents then. Celioum saint laws should suffice. Even if they take the headquarters, we can rebuild with these files. The palace will build us something grander anyway."
"All of this?"
The messenger looked stunned at the office's piles of materials. He stuffed them into several large bags and signaled readiness.
The two left the office, gathering all remaining Guard personnel. Preparation was swift; soon, all except those rescuing civilians marched armed to the plaza.
Meanwhile, Idilrock Seraha, who had been sustaining the Earth Citadel to block the erosion beasts' invasion, sensed her limit approaching.
'Not much time left.'
Even with devout faith fueling the saint law, limits existed. The Earth Citadel, drawing on the entire priest corps' divine power, was nearing collapse.
'I need a way... some way...?'
Staying put would only lead to crumbling under their relentless assault. Idilrock racked her brain.
But then—
Kiaaaak!
The horrific shriek that tore the sky when an erosion opened engulfed the church skies, followed by a massive roar. The impact on the Earth Citadel was unprecedentedly fierce.
Reeling from the sudden shock, Idilrock vomited blood and collapsed.
"Urk!"
"Saintess!"
"No...!"
With Idilrock down, the priest corps' divine power faltered. The Earth Citadel was crumbling.
Students waiting outside sensed the anomaly, gripping weapons tensely. Church knights heightened their divine power, bracing for threats.
As all prepared, the outer Earth Walls shattered, revealing the nightmarish scene beyond.
In that moment, faces darkened with despair.
Terra Church's final bastion, the Earth Citadel, had completely fallen.