Kehahahaha.

Laughter echoed throughout the tent.

A sound that could be called the howl of a beast, as if it were scraping away at his vocal cords. Todd laid down in the center of the magic circle, laughing.

Splurt

His flesh ripped open, and a fountain of blood gushed forth. The burst of blood lingered in the air for a moment before dripping back down to his body.

There was a burning-like pain where the blood had gushed, but Todd took pleasure in it.

The vitality arising from the flesh tearing and regenerating gave him a sense of omnipotence that made him feel he could do anything.

Woooooooo

There was an ominous cry. As Todd slightly glanced up, he caught sight of the magic circle that had completely turned red.

How much longer do we have to do this?

W-wait a moment

The soldiers voice trembled as he looked at the magic circle.

Todd waited for an answer, savoring the pain ripping through his body.

T-the magic circle was activated smoothly, but you still lack power. Your Majesty Sh-shouldnt Your Majesty return to complete your royal body more thoroughly?

No.

Todd interrupted the soldier and continued.

That will not do. The Apostle is not here. Does that damn Apostle think he can hide the Imperial Descendant from me, let alone the army?

This wasnt supposed to happen.

The Imperial Descendant had to die.

For the sake of his grand unification and for the glory that would be his alone, Todd wasnt going to leave the slightest risk behind.

Power Its because of power

Grrk.

His veins surged, and mixed with the regurgitated blood of ruptured intestines.

Todd expressed a little bit of regret at this poorly built flesh that was still unfinished.

It still wasnt enough, even after adding the body of the general.

A spell that added the life and power of another to ones own flesh.

He thought that with this spell, he would be finally able to achieve unification. He believed that unification was right within his reach, but the completion of his body was too slow.

His body was merged with that of his own general, Baretta, who was considered to have the strongest body among the generals of the Five Kingdoms, but his body was still incomplete

I am dissatisfied.

I-I will do as you desire, Your Majesty

Theres no time to spare.

Dududuk.

Todds body was torn apart again. The stitches in his eyes burst open and tears of blood flowed. Todd glanced up at the soldier, his face unrecognizable.

Adjutant.

Y-yes, Your Majesty

There is an Apostle.

Thats right

What do you mean, thats right? There is an Apostle beyond those peaks, dont you understand what I mean?

He meant that their long-cherished wish could also fail, that the efforts of all the people who had been sacrificed could be for naught.

Todd didnt say anything, but looked at his adjutant silently.

The soldier dropped to his knees with a thud, bowed his head, and said.

P-please have mercy

As those sudden words came out of his mouth, the adjutants entire body began to shake. His hands that had been gripping the floor were now in front of him, his palms rubbing together.

Have mercy Have mercy

Todd stared at the soldier, who kept repeating the words have mercy over and over again.

What are you talking about? I wasnt blaming you, so why are you crying so much?

Have mercy Please

The adjutants trembling intensified. As if rubbing his hands together wasnt enough, he began to pound his forehead into the floor.

Todd watched, and made a belated ah sound.

Is that so?

The corners of Todds mouth went up as he suddenly realized the reason for the adjutants behavior.

A line was tearing across his cheeks to the corner of his eyes, like a clowns smile. The corners of his mouth began to tear, not figuratively, but literally, until it reached his eyelids.

Todd said, Yes, I suppose that was what you were trying to say.

Todd pushed himself up.

Mercy, huh? You were begging for mercy.

Todd thought that he was being rational currently, and he could see through the adjutants intentions.

Youre afraid of being killed by the Apostle, and therefore afraid of not being able to help me in my long-cherished wish, arent you?

Keuheu.

The adjutants head hit the floor again with increasing force, until the sound turned from a thud into a bang.

Thud. Thud. Bang. Bang.

Have mercy, have mercy!

I understand. I understand the will of my adjutant, and the will of my proud soldiers.

Ah, what a blessed king I am, with so many soldiers so dedicated to the service of their kingdom. What a glorious life this is.

I will never forget your commitment to serve your kingdom.

Ahhhhhh!!!

The adjutant scrambled up to his feet and ran for the barracks exit.

Todd looked at his back.

Thank you, I will remember you.

Todd swung his arm.

Splurt

The fleeing officers body was snapped in two.

Todds step resounded with a thud.

Thud.

With an inhumane gurgle, he opened his mouth and swallowed the adjutant whole.

As Todd grinded his flesh, crushed his bones and swallowed him, he reminded himself about the promise that he made.

I will never forget this sacrifice.

I will never forget this noble cause.

Todd shuddered at the resounding echo in his mind before asking himself a question.

But.

What was his name?

He tried to recall it.

Gulp.

The adjutants hand fell through the back of his throat.

Crack.

Flesh tore and regenerated. Before the gushes of blood could trickle, the wound healed.

Todd wept and laughed at the same time as the energy surged within him.

Khh!

Todds gaze snapped to the tents entrance.

I I will never forget anything of mine.

A murmur arose and faded.

Thud.

Thud.

Todd headed outside the camp.

His throat was dry.

****

At Dovans forge.

Vera was there, pulling out the unfinished Demon Sword.

This is

Veras gaze snapped to Dovan, his face both surprised and hesitant.

Please.

Veras head tilted downwards.

Clearly, Orgus had shown him that scene with intent. Though he didnt know much yet, Vera surmised that it had something to do with the completion of the Demon Sword.

It wasnt Dovan who completed the Demon Sword.

Since Aishas resentment completed it, then that must have meant that it could also be completed in another way.

If the masterpiece is completed

The odds were in his favor.

Vera didnt look up. He kept his head down, waiting for an answer, as if he would continue to do so until Dovan gave him permission.

Dovan looked at him and his expression clouded.

Are you going to fight?

Only a fool would not have made that assumption. There was no other explanation for why he would suddenly want to borrow a sword in the middle of the night, given the way he spoke with such determination.

The Vera he had seen wasnt like that.

At Dovans words, Vera lifted his bowed head and spoke.

I am going to fight.

Wrong.

I am going to protect.

It wasnt for the battle that he drew his sword, but as a means to end it.

Do I know about the sword that protects? If anybody asks me that, I will still shake my head in denial.

Do I hold the light in my hand? If anybody asks, I will still say no.

But if anybody asks me why I hold the sword at this moment in time

Because I know there is a duty to be upheld, and I am going to uphold it.

He would answer like that.

Dovans gaze pierced Veras.

He stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out his intentions, and then asked another question.

You didnt inform the Saint, did you?

Yes, I did not inform the Saint, for I will return before she wakes up.

He would surely win, so there was no point in worrying her.

I see.

With that, Dovan turned to Vera.

Holding a dark-colored sword and clad in robes, he could easily be seen as someone with dubious intentions, but the determination on his face erased that impression, leaving a different one in its place.

Dovan thought to himself. Thats how a knight would look.

Meanwhile, Vera turned to him.

Please sleep comfortably. Ill return before sunrise.

Vera, who was standing at the end of his gaze, left those words as he walked away.

****

The camp of the Third Kingdoms army was in shambles when he arrived.

Every wooden post had been knocked down, and the soldiers tents, which had been densely packed, had been toppled.

As Vera watched it from a distance, he came to a realization when he saw the pool of blood inside.

Todd had eaten his soldiers.

That was how Galatea stirred the battlefield, so it was easily understandable.

The predator and the prey.

He must have devoured both foes and allies alike as a trick to restore his mana.

Vera chewed his lip as he tried to recall it.

Is he completed?

Has Galatea been completed?

Vera exhaled sharply as he thought about it, clearing his throat of the anxiety that came with it.

No.

It doesnt matter.

There is nothing to fear.

What is the meaning of duty if you cower before your enemy?

Vera steeled himself and took a step forward.

At that moment.

Kwoong!

The central tent collapsed.

A giant stood in the middle of it.

It was Todd. No, it was the demon called Galatea.

A beast three times his size. His entire body was bathed in blood, glistening red.

Three horns crowned its head. There was a gaping hole where his face should have been. Perhaps it was the mouth. He could only assume that as the hole gurgled and spilled pieces of flesh.

Thump

Galatea took a step forward with his two front legs. It was a toeless foot, shaped like a single mace below the knees.

Vera pursed his lips as he watched Galatea, who hadnt noticed him yet, and just looked up at the sky munching on human flesh.

I declare.

Huaaaaak!

An ashen divinity was overlaid onto the space above. A vast, dome-shaped space that encompassed the camp and the surrounding forest, beyond Vera and Galatea, was filled with divinity.

Galatea twitched and turned his head in Veras direction.

Grrrrrrr

The sound of a boiling phlegm echoed throughout.

Vera drew the unfinished Demon Sword and recited the rules.

From now on, all battles within this space shall not cease until one side wins or loses.

Above the space, a golden rule was engraved.

There was a clang as Galatea took another step forward.

You must not back down. You must not break your beliefs. And you must not go against your duty.

Three rules were recited in quick succession.

The one he would inscribe on the Sanctuary was his own.

As long as this is upheld, those within the Sanctuary will never fall.

It was his resolve as a human being to deal with a beast that had forgotten its duty.

Vera raised his sword. His feet were a shoulder-width apart, his gaze focused straight ahead, and his blade pointed in the same direction.

Galatea crouched. His muscles expanded, his mouth opened wider, and his back raised.

All these rules are enforced in the name of Lushan.

As the Oath was completed, the Sanctuary glowed.

The ashen space was covered with golden rules engraved on it, illuminating and obscuring the moonlight.

Thump!

Galatea lunged.

In response, Vera took a step forward.

The distance narrowed in an instant.

In the midst of it, a faint golden glow emerged from the Demon Sword.