(Let's temporarily skip the flag Beelzebub set in the previous chapter.)
The Tidal Festival of the Royal Capital has begun.
This was by no means an ordinary religious holiday.
Every ten years, the elemental energy of the Azeria continent reaches a peak, known as the "Elemental Tide." Whenever this occurs, energy active to the extreme spreads across the heavens, unfolding a flowing, rainbow-colored aurora visible to the naked eye.
The festival in the Royal Capital was intended to use this majestic natural power to "send" the prayers of the faithful through a ritual. Legend has it that on this day, wishes can reach the ears of the gods directly.
The ritual site was set at the "Starlight Square" in front of the Royal Palace.
The Ground had long been outlined with mithril, forming an Eighteen-pointed Star Elemental Magic Circle that covered the entire square. Each of the eighteen points corresponded to a basic element, emitting a breathing-like shimmer of different colors.
On the northern high platform, the King, princes, and princesses sat upright in formal attire embroidered with national flowers and dragon patterns. To the east, the thirteen-member College of Cardinals of the Church of Light were already seated, their pure white and gold-trimmed vestments solemn and dignified in the sunlight as they held scepters and ancient codices.
The air was filled with top-grade incense of burning myrrh and dragon's bloodwood; this scent was only permitted during the Tidal Festival, as if even the air itself had been sanctified.
Eighteen members of the elemental choir stood at each corner of the magic circle, chanting mysterious harmonies without lyrics. The sound resonated with the light of the magic circle, weaving a faint, shimmering colored halo over the square.
However, beneath the calm, undercurrents were surging.
Although the "Incident" at the Hester Estate three days ago was eventually taken upon herself by the awakened Veronica and explained as an "attack by a demon," the high-ranking officials of the Church had already sensed the scent of danger.
Furthermore, the rumors Caesar spread anonymously through Otto—"Underworld mercenaries assassinated the Saintess and accidentally injured a noble Young Miss"—pushed the Church to the center of public scrutiny. If the safety of even a Saintess Candidate could not be guaranteed, where was the Church's prestige?
Therefore, today's security level had been raised to an unprecedented height.
Beside every Saintess Candidate stood a fully armed Paladin. They were no longer ceremonial decorations; their hands were constantly on their sword hilts, their hawk-like gazes scanning back and forth through the surging crowd.
At the high points surrounding the square, the iconic black figures of the Church Inquisitors could be seen. The detection arrays under their robes continuously emitted a faint light, fully activated. Within the crowd, a large number of plainclothes Faith Guards were stationed, with miniature communication runestones behind their ears; any abnormal fluctuations in magic would find it hard to escape their net.
Cecilia stood on the circular platform in the center of the magic circle.
Like all the Saintess Candidates, she wore a uniform moon-white linen robe and was barefoot. The robe appeared simple, but under the reflection of the surrounding elemental light, faint, dense holy runes would emerge—protective spells applied by the Church.
She could feel pulses coming from the magic circle beneath her feet, like the earth breathing and its heart beating along with the tide.
Cecilia gripped the "tear of light" at her chest.
Inside the gemstone, the remnant soul of the original owner "Colette's" prayer was growing slightly warm along with the tidal energy.
Veronica had said that the Tidal Festival was the only chance to use the elemental flood to send this remnant soul to the side of the god of light she believed in, allowing her to find peace.
Cecilia took a deep breath and looked toward the noble viewing area.
Veronica was waving vigorously at her, silently mouthing: "Good luck!"
The expectations of her friend and the warmth of the gemstone allowed her to forcibly suppress the Silver Dragon's instinct to turn and run.
She clenched her claws—now the slender hands of a human girl—a little tighter.
(Isn't it just lip-syncing! This Young Lady has had professional training!)
...On the west side of the square, in the narrow shadow between the clock tower and the residential houses, Caesar squeezed his massive body inside.
His ordinary cloak was pushed out into several dangerous protrusions by his sharp dorsal fins, but this was already the limit of his disguise.
What entered his eyes was not some mysterious energy field.
It was an airtight wall of people, a forest of armor reflecting light, and the dazzling jewels on the nobles' lavish clothes.
His ears were an even more clamorous ocean.
The whispers of people, pious prayers, the crying of children, the shouting of distant vendors, and the ubiquitous chanting of hymns that made his scales tingle.
When Cecilia stepped onto the central platform, Caesar's pupils dilated slightly.
What he saw was no longer that stupid dragon who would howl with hunger in the cave and be fooled into lameness by him with a bowl of poisonous soup.
But a... performer who, under the gaze of tens of thousands, although her body was stiff, still kept her back straight.
The light from the spotlight array hit her, and the runes on her moon-white robe flowed slowly, making her look... actually not that useless?
Even though Caesar knew this girl had almost missed a beat just now, and it was only thanks to the quick-handed mage responsible for the recording that she didn't get exposed.
"Heh."
Viola's voice rang in his head, carrying a bit of sighing: "It seems our Silver Dragon has a talent for being an idol. She's much more pleasant to look at than when she's gnawing on wood."
Caesar curled his lip.
His claws unconsciously scratched the wall bricks, carving several deep grooves into the stone.
"She's just alright," he replied in his mind, his gaze sharply scanning every corner of the square. "After making such a big scene, the bait is tasty enough... let's see if those bastards from the Plasma Cult can hold back."
Just as he finished speaking, an anomaly occurred.
Right when Cecilia's "singing" reached its climax, and the gathered emotions and tidal energy made the aurora in the sky reach its most brilliant peak—
Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
Throughout the Royal Capital, those undiscovered demon specimens spontaneously ignited silently at the same moment!
There was no firelight, only pure darkness suddenly expanding!
Ordinary people noticed nothing, but the souls of all the casters in the square—whether Cardinal or hidden Inquisitor—suddenly trembled, feeling a nauseating collapse of magic originating from the planar level!
Immediately after, the brilliant, flowing rainbow aurora above the square was crudely torn apart by a domineering force!
A purple rift with edges rolling with thick, pitch-like black mist appeared out of thin air like an ugly scar!
The Ultimate Cave!
It wriggled and expanded like a greedy living thing, beginning to frantically devour everything around it—the glow of the elements, the complex emotional energy scattered in the celebration, and even... the light itself!
"Wh... what is that?!"
"The sky has split open!"
Just as the commotion began, a non-human roar erupted from the VIP seats.
"ROAR—!!!"
The "Fafnir" who had been sitting there pretending all along suddenly stood up.
The exquisite noble attire on his body instantly exploded. Red dragon scales flipped up, and thick black blood seeped from the gaps. His eyes were no longer the vertical pupils of a dragon, but black hollows burning with sulfur fire.
This was Beelzebub's new body.
This old demon was nearly driven mad with rage.
It stared fixedly at Cecilia on the stage. It was this woman! It was this despicable Saintess! She caused its split soul to be destroyed and its plan to be ruined!
"I will... tear off your disguise!!"
Fafnir—or rather, the controlled Fafnir—opened his mouth, and a dark red light lit up deep in his throat.
That was no ordinary Dragon Breath; it was mixed with the corrosive poisonous fire of a demon.
With this single roar, all the crystal glasses in the VIP area shattered.
The King was pinned to the Ground by his guards. The old men of the College of Cardinals hurriedly raised their staves, attempting to prop up a barrier.
But it was too late.
A pillar of red and black fire, carrying an Aura that could destroy everything, blasted straight toward Cecilia in the center of the stage.
Cecilia's mind went blank.
The demon's hatred and the dragon's pressure were like physical shackles, pinning her firmly to the spot.
She instinctively activated [Luster Purge], but this thin film of light melted instantly before the Legendary-level demonic flame, like paper.
She saw that distorted dragon face clearly; the outline belonging to Fafnir was struggling in pain, but deeper inside was Beelzebub's extremely spiteful sneer.
It's over.
Just as the light film shattered and the dragon flame was about to consume her—
"BOOM!!!"
Beneath the central platform, the hard enchanted stone slabs suddenly exploded as if ignited by explosives!
Amidst the swirling dust, a deep blue giant shark burst out from the Ground.
[Protect]!