Meanwhile—
Far east of the Ocean of Noctara.
Within the Royal Palace of the Astryx Empire.
A man with emerald-green hair sat lazily upon a golden throne.
One leg rested over the other as he absentmindedly spun a jeweled crown upon his finger.
His expression was relaxed.
Almost amused.
The report in his hand slowly crumpled.
Then—
he laughed.
A deep laugh echoed throughout the throne room.
"So that's what has happened."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"A sleeping calamity, huh?"
The king leaned back against his throne.
His smile widened.
"Do you hear that, Lucivar?"
The entire throne room grew silent.
Standing below the throne, Lucivar remained motionless.
The king chuckled.
"These Retainers of Oblivion truly have no idea."
His gaze slowly drifted downward.
"As to who the real calamity is."
Silence.
Then—
he stood.
The atmosphere inside the throne room shifted instantly.
The playful king disappeared.
Only a monarch remained.
His eyes swept across the figures standing below him.
Every noble.
Every knight.
Every commander.
Lowered their heads.
"Send every available force to the Ocean of Noctara."
His voice carried absolute authority.
"I want the heads of those three Retainers."
No one dared question him.
No one dared hesitate.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
One after another—
the figures vanished from the throne room.
Soon only two remained.
The king.
And Lucivar.
The king slowly descended the steps of his throne.
His footsteps echoed softly.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Until he stood directly before Lucivar.
Then—
he leaned toward his ear.
A smile still rested on his face.
"It seems your son has become involved in something rather interesting."
Lucivar remained silent.
The king's smile deepened.
"You told me he died in Valorheim."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And yet..."
"He's alive."
The throne room felt colder.
"What exactly does that mean, Lucivar?"
Silence.
Lucivar's expression didn't change.
His cold eyes merely met the king's.
For several moments—
neither spoke.
Then the king laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Far more dangerous than before.
"I don't want any mistakes."
His voice softened.
Which somehow made it even more terrifying.
"Find him."
"Kill him."
"Then return to me."
Lucivar slowly dropped to one knee.
His head lowered.
"As you wish, my king."
The king smiled.
Satisfied.
"Good."
The next moment—
Lucivar disappeared.
The throne room became empty once more.
The king gazed toward the distant horizon beyond the palace windows.
Toward the Ocean of Noctara.
Toward the three pillars of light.
And his smile slowly widened.
...
Meanwhile—
Inside the Royal Palace of the Verilian Empire.
King Altheris Verilian sat upon his throne, his fingers lightly tapping against the armrest.
Before him stood three figures whose names alone could shake nations.
Alaric Ryker.
Aurelia Lioren.
Elena Astra.
The atmosphere inside the throne room remained strangely calm.
Then Altheris smiled.
"So all three of you have decided to head toward Astryx."
His gaze first landed on Aurelia.
"Aurelia, your disciple is involved."
Then Elena.
"And Elena, one of your guild members is currently there."
Neither woman responded.
Both silently acknowledged the obvious.
Then—
his eyes shifted toward the white-haired man standing between them.
For the first time, genuine curiosity appeared on the king's face.
"But you..."
His smile widened.
"Alaric Ryker."
"The strongest human on the planet."
"What exactly has drawn your interest?"
The throne room grew quiet.
Altheris leaned forward slightly.
"I can understand those two."
"But you?"
His eyes narrowed.
"So tell me."
"What is waiting for you in Astryx?"
Alaric remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"There is a man named Azrith."
The name caused Aurelia's eyes to narrow slightly.
"He contacted me before this entire ordeal."
Alaric's expression remained unchanged.
"He possesses information that I require."
The throne room fell silent.
King Altheris studied him for several moments before leaning back against his throne.
"I see."
His fingers tapped against the armrest.
"Very well."
"I won't question the three of you any further."
"The Verilian Empire shall provide you with full support."
"Noctis has done much for the Empire."
He slowly rose from his throne.
The atmosphere within the room instantly changed.
The warmth disappeared.
Only the pressure of a king remained.
His gaze drifted toward the shadows behind the throne.
Dozens of figures slowly emerged.
Phantom Knights.
The Empire's hidden blades.
Their kneeling figures filled the hall.
A smile appeared on Altheris's face.
"It seems fate has given us a golden opportunity."
His eyes gleamed.
"Astryx is currently in chaos."
"Their strongest forces are occupied."
The king slowly spread his arms.
"Then let us end this once and for all."
Mana surged throughout the throne room.
The Phantom Knights lowered their heads further.
"From this moment onward..."
"The Verilian Empire is officially at war with the Astryx Empire."
The declaration echoed throughout the hall.
Not a single person questioned it.
Not a single person objected.
Because everyone present understood.
This war had been inevitable.
Aurelia remained silent.
Elena, however, stepped forward.
Her crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
"I'll be taking my guild members as well."
Altheris nodded.
"As expected of the Guildmaster of Saviant."
Then—
the throne room doors opened.
A man slowly entered.
Brown hair.
Emerald eyes.
A flawless smile.
Too flawless.
Too perfect.
Every movement appeared carefully practiced.
Every expression seemed deliberate.
Quill Thorne.
Guildmaster of Abyss.
The First-Ranked Guild.
The man smiled warmly.
"We would also like to provide support in this war."
His voice was gentle.
Polite.
Perfect.
Altheris glanced toward him.
A smile slowly appeared on the king's face.
"Quill Thorne."
"To think even Abyss would involve itself."
Quill simply chuckled.
"Some matters are worth moving for."
His emerald eyes briefly shifted toward Aurelia and Elena.
Then toward the east.
Toward Astryx.
Toward Noctara.
Toward the three pillars of light.
Altheris nodded.
His voice echoed throughout the throne room.
"Together..."
"We shall bring down the Astryx Empire."
A terrifying silence followed.
Then the king smiled.
"And bring Noctis home."
...
Meanwhile—
Far beneath the world.
Within the deepest abyss.
A place where light had never existed.
Ten figures stood gathered around a circular chamber.
Shadows concealed their appearances completely.
Their faces.
Their bodies.
Even their presence seemed distorted, as though reality itself refused to acknowledge them.
Only their voices remained.
Then—
a woman's amused laughter echoed throughout the darkness.
"Hehe~"
One of the figures sat lazily upon a throne of black crystal.
Her hands gently pinched the cheeks of another figure seated beside her.
"My disciple seems quite desperate."
Her voice carried endless amusement.
"It seems she wants to save her boyfriend."
She tilted her head.
"What a troublesome age this is."
Her smile widened.
"It appears we have no choice after all~"
This was—
Cecillia.
The Fifth Apostle of the Black Cross.
Beside her, Reina remained expressionless.
Her crimson eyes were cold.
Almost detached.
Yet the slight tightening of her fists betrayed her thoughts.
Across the chamber—
another figure leaned against a massive pillar.
Only his amethyst-purple eyes were visible beneath the shadows.
Sharp.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Fine."
His voice echoed throughout the abyss.
"We shall lend the boy a hand."
The chamber fell silent.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"But make no mistake."
A terrifying pressure swept through the darkness.
"If he refuses our offer again..."
His voice turned colder.
"He dies there."
"No second chances."
"No third chances."
"His value lies in becoming one of us."
The shadows around him distorted violently.
"If he rejects that future..."
"Then he is of no use."
Silence followed.
Then—
a loud laugh erupted.
"HAAAAAH!"
The entire chamber shook.
A massive figure rose from his seat.
Unlike the others, he made no effort to hide his imposing physique.
Even beneath the darkness, his enormous frame seemed capable of crushing mountains.
For years—
he had waited.
For years—
he had remained trapped within the abyss.
And now—
action had finally arrived.
A savage grin spread across his face.
"Finally!"
His laughter echoed endlessly.
"Some damn action!"
The Apostle cracked his knuckles.
The resulting sound resembled thunder.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Let's go."
Around the chamber—
the remaining Apostles slowly rose from their seats.
One after another.
The shadows stirred.
The abyss trembled.
And for the first time in a very long while—
the Black Cross began to move.