The Moment the Citadel of Earth Crumbles
In the instant the Citadel of Earth collapsed, Ludenberg Lavante and the other students from Solemnute Adem rushed straight toward the main gate. There, they saw why it had fallen.
Erosion beasts several times larger than mid-grade ones were slamming into the cult's outer walls, which had been built quite sturdy.
"High erosion beasts...!"
What was truly despairing was that there wasn't just one. Even by rough count from what they could see, there were at least three. But the erosion rift was still open, so more could emerge at any moment.
The cult knights, renowned for their steadfast resolve, wore grim expressions—the situation was dire.
The students heading to the main gate trembled at the sight of these high erosion beasts they'd never seen before. Each bore a different form, instinctively instilling primal fear in all who beheld them as they began shattering Terra Cult's outer walls.
The knights channeled their divine power to block the erosion beasts' assaults with sword strikes, while the priests cast saint laws to repair the crumbling walls. But it was all for naught.
High erosion beasts stood on the cusp of becoming the catastrophe known as highest-grade ones. Their overwhelming size brought sheer intimidation, and having devoured far more beings than mid-grade erosion beasts, they'd absorbed their traits. They weren't simply "a few times stronger" than mid-grades—it didn't work that way.
Only because the Terra Cult knights were so skilled could they hold out this long. Any lesser knights would have seen the main gate breached long ago.
"This way!"
As the knights and priests desperately plugged the main gate, one priest gathered the citizens and students inside the cult grounds.
"You know the situation by now, right? This place will be dangerous soon."
"...W-what do we do? Are we just going to die like this?"
As the panicked citizens trembled in fear, the priest calmed them and said,
"Stay calm. It's too early to despair. We still have the Saintess and the Archbishop. They'll surely find a way."
The people nodded, and the priest pointed to the corridor leading deeper into the cult.
"Follow this corridor straight ahead—it'll take you to the cult's heart where the Saintess is. Head there. We'll hold this somehow, so don't look back. Run straight to the center. You'll be safe. And students of Solemnute Adem."
"Yes!"
"If—if we get breached... please protect the Saintess and the other priests."
"...Yes."
"Go now. No time to hesitate."
"Wait."
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Shouldn't those who can fight stay and fight? If the knights and priests fail to hold the erosion beasts... won't it be even more dangerous?"
"But Your Highness, everyone in the Solemnute Terra Cult has a duty to protect Solemnute Adem's students. We can't send you into the jaws of death."
"Then let's do this."
Ashytara said that, then looked around at the students.
"Those who want to fight the erosion beasts, raise your hand."
The students hesitated, gripped by the fear of possibly losing their lives. But soon, they remembered what Ludenberg had said.
"What are we attending Solemnute Adem for?"
To that question, they had answered:
"To protect... people from erosion beasts."
"Right. So... protect the people. Fulfill your duty."
Duty. They had come to Solemnute Adem to elevate their own worth, to make their names known, to prove their greatness. They'd received countless privileges: equal education regardless of status, knowledge from the finest scholars.
Having enjoyed those rights, now was the time to fulfill their duties.
In that moment, the students accepted their fear. Terror of death and pain crept in. But they pushed it back with resolute will—just as they had pierced through erosion beasts to protect citizens moments ago.
Ludenberg raised his hand first. One by one, others followed, arms stretching toward the sky.
Ashytara nodded.
"This... is our answer. Priest, we must fulfill our duty."
"......"
The priest stared at the ground silently for a moment, then turned to the citizens.
"Everyone, head to the cult's heart immediately. We'll... hold here."
"Y-yes!"
The citizens bolted down the corridor toward the center. The priest then addressed the students.
"Understood. We won't stop you from supporting us. But... avoid mid- and high-grade erosion beasts as much as possible. We'll handle those."
"Yes!"
The priest led Ludenberg, Ashytara, and the students to the heart of the battlefield. The outer walls were nearly destroyed, and knights, bearing wounds great and small, blocked erosion beasts trying to invade.
In the chaos, Ludenberg drew Liberra and charged the erosion beasts.
* * *
The Terra Cult priests cast saint laws to slow the outer walls' destruction and block high erosion beasts from entering, while knights swiftly slaughtered the low- and mid-grade ones that had breached inside.
The students, unsure at first, soon joined in, intercepting low-grade erosion beasts recklessly charging the knights. Those who could use Mare saint laws healed the knights' wounds, however slightly, and infused them with vitality.
The knights, suddenly given breathing room, were bewildered. Not knowing why the students—who should have evacuated safely—had returned, they shouted in confusion.
"Why didn't you evacuate?!"
"If you knights get pushed back, everyone inside dies! Those who can fight must fight!"
It was logical, but receiving aid from those they were meant to protect? The knights gritted their teeth, ashamed of their weakness. They surged forward with all their might, massacring the erosion beasts inside.
Ludenberg and Ashytara charged alongside them. Though the knights tried to stop them in panic, the pair's sword auras were so fierce it stunned even them.
The jet-black blade flashed, slicing erosion beasts' hearts. The flame-wreathed greatsword crushed and incinerated them.
Such power from students drew awe to the knights' faces. Refusing to be outdone, they pressed their assault, rapidly clearing mid- and low-grade erosion beasts inside.
But as they cleared the interior and caught their breath—
Screams like wails rose from the priests.
"Hold!"
The priests desperately blocked the high erosion beasts' attacks with saint laws, but it wasn't enough. The earthen walls they raised cracked from a single punch and soon shattered completely.
Even Saintess Idilrock couldn't withstand the onslaught. A few priests couldn't hope to stop high erosion beasts. They knew that, buying time until the interior's low- and mid-grades were cleared—so the knights could focus solely on the highs.
But with the outer walls fully collapsed, three colossal high erosion beasts lumbered inside.
"Fall back!"
The knights urgently pulled the students behind them and assumed battle stances.
* * *
"Ugh......"
Saintess Idilrock barely regained her senses from the Citadel of Earth's collapse.
"Saintess, are you alright?!"
"Y-yes... I'm fine. Archbishop Harmata. What's the situation outside?"
Archbishop Harmata also looked unwell from the shockwave.
"Not good. Citizens who evacuated inside say high erosion beasts have appeared."
"High erosion beasts! No wonder the Citadel fell so easily... Wait. Then how are the knights and priests holding up? And where are the Solemnute Adem students?"
"They're fighting outside."
"Even the students?"
"Yes. All of them volunteered to help the knights. They said if those who can fight don't, the casualties will rise."
"This......"
Idilrock bit her lip, pondering how to break this impasse.
What should I do? If we stay put, those outside are in danger. But even if I go help, my battered body can't do much. I'd just get in their way.
She was caught between inaction and interference. If there were more knights guarding the cult, but Solemnute's Terra Cult wasn't the main branch—only about fifty knights total. With many still at the prayer festival, barely thirty remained.
If I hadn't been so stubborn... and requested more from the main branch.
Before the festival, the Terra Cult had offered many knights for a grand event at her request. But Idilrock refused, not wanting citizens intimidated by their presence. The result? This disaster.
Guilt crawled up her spine; despair loomed.
No. Don't dwell on it. Don't chew on despair. Look to hope. Do what I can.
Idilrock shook her head sharply, gritted her teeth, and stood.
"Archbishop. Priests."
"Your command, Saintess."
"We'll rebuild the Citadel of Earth. I need your power."
"No. Any more strain could be irreversible. Please reconsider."
The priests and Harmata opposed vehemently.
"If we don't, those outside are at risk. More high-grades could come, or hordes of others. At least this way, we buy them time by blocking entry briefly. So... please."
"Saintess......"
In the end, they nodded to her plea.
"Understood."
They pooled their divine power once more, channeling it to Idilrock. Blood trickled from their eyes and mouths—their bodies pushed to the limit.
Within that flowing divine power burned a fierce, desperate wish to protect the people. That intense resolve amplified their frail power, infused with their very lives...
BOOM!
With the rumble of the earth turning, new ground surged between the ruined walls, sealing off the outside from Terra Cult once more.