After the icy rainstorm—
All that remained on the battlefield was a land reduced to ruins, buried under ashes and silence.
A ghostly fog draped over everything, so cold it felt like it could freeze time itself. The air was thick, heavy, suffocating—even the wind seemed to have been strangled silent.
"...."
"Haa... haa..."
Standing amidst the desolation, the figure of a woman gasped for breath. Each inhale was ragged, scraping through her throat like broken glass.
Her body was on the verge of collapse—she had to force herself to stay upright.
That finishing blow had drained nearly all her strength.
But at the very least... now her daughter, in the heavens, could rest peacefully.
"...I'm sorry... Mana..."
The broken whisper, sharp as a knife through the heart, fell into the void—like the final echo sent toward the sky.
She was once the greatest mage in all of Thorvalis…
Yet in the end, she hadn't been able to protect her own daughter.
That pain washed away every ounce of glory, every trace of regal composure she once carried—
Now, she was nothing more than a grieving, broken mother.
"If you miss your daughter so much...
Why not join her?"
A voice rose behind her—
And at the same time, a searing pain exploded in her chest.
Irina's eyes widened in shock.
Before she could even register what was happening, a flaming sword had already pierced straight through her back—
Tearing through her lungs and heart.
"Wha—!"
PFFFFFTT—!
A sickeningly wet sound rang out, echoing through the still air like the very noise of life being torn apart.
A spray of bright red blood gushed from Irina's mouth.
"Looks like age really has dulled your senses,"
the mocking voice continued, and Irina's pupils constricted in horror.
She turned her head—
Only to see Julius standing right behind her, gripping the hilt of his blade, a triumphant smirk tugging at his lips.
"Y-you… how could you…?"
Her voice trembled. She tried to speak, but the burning pain in her chest choked her into silence.
Julius only chuckled, eyes gleaming with condescension.
"You're strong, I'll admit that.
But strength alone isn't enough to bring down a Supreme Knight."
"You really thought that while you were hiding up on that snowy mountaintop, the Twelve Knight Apostles stayed the same? That we never surpassed the shadows you left behind?"
"You've been far too naïve, Irina."
"HAHAHA—!!"
His laughter rang out through the wreckage, cruel and cutting.
"You were once the kingdom's greatest weapon.
But so what?"
"The Emperor once said:
'No matter how sharp a blade may be—if it can no longer be wielded, then it's nothing more than a rusted piece of scrap.'"
"So now—
Let me be the one to carry out His Majesty's will, and erase that broken weapon from this world."
"YOU!... Khak—"
Irina screamed in agony, blood choking her throat as she coughed violently, each breath feeling like it was tearing her organs apart.
Her body slowly sank to the ground, every drop of life draining from her.
The fatal blow had pierced through her chest—
The magical flames still burning inside, boiling her blood instead of letting it flow, releasing thin wisps of white smoke.
"It's over, Great Mage Irina."
Julius's voice rang out like a death sentence.
"Right after your death, I'll hunt down that little brat… and let her reunite with her dear mommy."
He crouched down, leaned in, and whispered into her ear:
"Don't worry… I'll make sure it's the most painful death imaginable.
I'll let the Fire Dragon tear her apart piece by piece—right before her own desperate eyes."
Julius chuckled with cruel satisfaction, drunk on victory.
But—
Pride is the poison of the arrogant.
With the last flicker of strength in her broken body, Irina clenched her trembling fists.
In her eyes—
A final, fierce gleam blazed.
She wouldn't let anything happen to her daughter.
If she had to die here…
Then he would die with her.
Before Julius could even react—
The ground beneath his feet cracked open.
A jagged black fissure yawned wide, spewing a chilling air that felt like it came from the mouth of hell itself.
Zzzzzzt—!!
From within, a jet-black chain shot out, wrapping tightly around his leg.
"What the—?!"
He jerked in surprise, but it was too late.
The chain coiled tighter, yanking him downward.
Julius panicked.
"No… This can't be! You… how is it possible?! You… can wield Dark Magic at the .....DIVINE TIER?!
It's impossible!
A mere mortal daring to harness godly power?!
Such audacity defies heaven itself!"
Blood still staining her lips, Irina gave a bloody, triumphant smile.
"So you can feel the power of this magic, can't you?
You fools, do you really think I've done nothing for the past ten years to prepare for this?"
"Haha… You thought I'd let you bastards lay a hand on my daughter?"
"If I'm going to die here… then I'm taking you with me."
"Let's go to hell—together."
Her voice dropped to a chilling calm, even as the knight's eyes widened in horror.
"I, Irina Feather—
Offer my life, my soul,
A thousand lifetimes never to reincarnate,
For one purpose alone—
To drag you, filthy wretch,
Down to the pits of Hell with me.
Unleash—
'CALL OF THE ABYSS!'"
The moment the words left her lips—
Irina took her final breath.
Her soul was torn asunder and vanished—
But the spell was complete.
Chains erupted from the earth, twisting, coiling, binding Julius, dragging him into the gaping black abyss below.
"NO!!! I CAN'T DIE HERE! LET ME GO!!"
He thrashed wildly, but half of his body had already been pulled in—completely numb.
"Lord Julius!"
His soldiers rushed in, trying desperately to pull him back.
But as the first few touched him—
A strange, dreadful aura swept over them—
Instantly, they collapsed.
Their hearts stopped.
It was clear—
Those who dared disrupt a demon's sacrifice would pay with their lives.
The rest of the soldiers froze in fear, paralyzed.
"DAMN IT! I WILL SURVIVE THIS! I REFUSE TO DIE BY YOUR HAND!"
"Flame of Purification!"
From his sword, a white fire exploded outward—
Like holy light banishing the shadows.
The blinding radiance engulfed his body, forcing the infernal chains to evaporate.
When the light finally faded—
The fissure was gone.
Irina's spell had been completely purified.
The vile knight… had survived.
But her efforts hadn't been in vain.
Because now—
The entire lower half of his body, the part submerged in that cursed void—was gone.
From the waist down... there was nothing. Just empty air.
"AAAAARGHHHH!!"
The knight screamed in agony, blood gushing from the severed end of his torso.
The pain.
The humiliation.
Unbearable.
His soldiers hesitantly ran to his side.
"Lord Julius! Are you alright?!"
"DOES THIS LOOK ALRIGHT TO YOU?!!"
He roared, eyes burning crimson with rage—on the verge of madness.
"Irina... HOW DARE YOU!!!
You dare take my legs?!
Then your daughter—I'll—
I'LL CUT OFF HER LEGS!!
MAKE HER CRAWL ON THE DIRT LIKE A FILTHY ANIMAL!
I'LL TORTURE HER—UNTIL SHE BEGS FOR DEATH!!!"
.....
END OF CHAPTER 1