Chapter 31: Why are you more excited?

Bloodstained Valley, Alliance Army Central Tent. A wave of panic spread like a plague.

The kings of the five great kingdoms sat on both sides of the long table, none daring to meet

Pope Uther VII’s gaze. Every face was ashen with despair.

“Your Majesty, our losses have exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand.”

Shield of Guardians Commander Xavier’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

“Three thousand Griffin Knights, one hundred thousand Aoslan Legionnaires, and various small detachments…”

“Enough!”

Sword of Judgement Commander Bartholomew slammed his fist on the table.

But even his voice betrayed a lack of confidence. He himself could hear the weakness within.

“We came to save the Sacred Body, not to be deserters!”

“Save?”

The Windermeer Foreign Minister sneered coldly. He stood up and paced slowly inside the tent.

“Bartholomew, haven’t you realized yet?”

“What do you mean?” Bartholomew frowned. “We’ve been wrong from the very beginning.”

The Foreign Minister stopped and glanced around at everyone.

“The Sacred Body never wanted to be saved.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

“I’m not lying.”

The Foreign Minister shook his head, his voice growing heavy. “Think about it—if she really wanted us to save her, why are there so many mysterious deaths?”

“This is more like Divine Punishment.”

“Divine Punishment?”

King Lorien suddenly lifted his head, a flash of realization in his eyes.

“Yes, Divine Punishment.” The Foreign Minister nodded firmly.

“We started this war without permission. We never had the Sacred Body’s consent. She is punishing our audacity.”

The tent fell into dead silence. Everyone was deep in thought, and the more they thought, the more sense it made. Every strange death left no trace. It seemed more like some supernatural force at work.

“If that’s true…” King Aethelin forced a bitter smile.

“Then aren’t we just wasting our efforts?”

“No! You’re all wrong!” Uther VII finally spoke.

He slowly stood, the “First Ray of Light” in his hand glowing softly. All eyes turned to him.

“This is not Divine Punishment, but a Holy Gift!”

“A Holy Gift?” Everyone looked at him in confusion.

“The Sacred Body has been imprisoned by the evil Bloodkin for too long. But her divine nature has already awakened.” Uther’s voice grew fervent.

A holy fire blazed in his eyes.

“She is responding to us! In a way mortals cannot comprehend, bestowing upon us the highest glory!”

“The soldiers who disappeared—they are not dead!”

“You think that was death?”

“No! It is transcendence!”

“The Sacred Body has lifted them from their mortal shells.”

“Transforming them into pure divine energy, becoming her immortal spirits!”

“They are clearing the path ahead of us in a higher dimension. Paving the glorious road to the Sacred Body for our army!” Everyone exchanged looks.

“Your Majesty, do you mean…” Xavier asked cautiously.

“We will conduct a Divine Prayer Ritual.”

Uther raised the holy relic in his hand, its light growing brighter.

“Directly communicating with the Sacred Body. Let her know we are ready to receive her glory. We thirst for this divine grace!”

“As long as she senses our sincerity, she will guide us forward.”

Bartholomew was the first to rise.

“Your Majesty is right! We must show the Sacred Body our true hearts!” Others nodded in agreement.

Better to take the initiative than continue being beaten passively.

“Send the orders.”

Uther’s voice was full of authority.

“All troops assemble for the Divine Prayer Ritual. Everyone must participate. Not one may be absent.”

***

Nightfall in Nightfall City, the silent royal court.

Sylvia tossed and turned in her room. She was terribly bored. She had long grown tired of fairy tales.

Avila’s “true stories” were far too terrifying. She desperately needed something normal to read.

“I’ll go check Mother’s study.” Sylvia slipped on her fluffy slippers. Put on a light blue coat. And quietly slipped out of the room.

Ophelia’s study was on the highest floor of the palace. It housed the Empire’s most precious tomes.

Sylvia tiptoed and pushed open the heavy wooden door. She was stunned by the sight before her.

The entire wall was lined with bookshelves, stretching from floor to ceiling. Ancient texts, histories, spellbooks were all neatly arranged.

“Wow, so many books. Maybe I can find something normal after all.” She wandered carefully between the shelves, flipping through various volumes.

Bloodkin Secret History, Dark Law Studies, Mystery of Authority Shards… All highly academic, professional texts.

Her head started to ache.

“Mother’s interests really are… academic.” Sylvia shook her head helplessly.

Just as she was about to give up, a huge mirror in the corner caught her attention.

It was three meters tall, its surface smooth as water. The frame was carved with intricate magical runes, shimmering in the candlelight.

“What is this? Such a magical mirror.” Sylvia stepped forward and curiously reached out to touch the surface.

Instantly, ripples appeared, and the image began to change.

“Wow! A Magic Surveillance Mirror?” She recognized the device.

It was a magical apparatus used by the Empire to monitor conditions everywhere. It connected to all the Surveillance Crystals within the Empire.

The mirror showed the streets of Nightfall City at night. Several Bloodkin civilians leisurely strolled through the night market.

“This thing’s pretty interesting.” Sylvia swiped the mirror’s surface, and the images began to shift rapidly.

Border outposts of the Empire, miners at work, merchant ships at the harbor… Various scenes flashed through the mirror.

“Hm, looks like the Empire’s running pretty normally.”

She continued swiping, hoping to see outside the Empire. Suddenly, the image froze.

Bloodstained Valley, Alliance Army main camp. Sylvia saw a shocking sight.

Millions knelt tightly packed, stretching for miles.

Everyone clasped hands and bowed their heads in prayer. At the center of the crowd, an elderly man in white robes held up a glowing holy relic. Muttering prayers under his breath.

“Huh? What’s going on here?” Sylvia blinked, confused.

“Is this some kind of suspicious ritual?” She turned up the mirror’s volume to hear what they were saying.

“Great Sacred Body Sylvia…” Uther’s voice echoed from the mirror.

“Please forgive our impertinence, pardon our sins…”

“We only wish to save you, to free you from the dark prison…”

“Please send down a miracle to guide our path…”

Millions responded in unison: “Please, Sacred Body, send down a miracle!” “Please, Sacred Body, guide us!”

“We are willing to give our lives for you!” Sylvia’s scalp tingled. Her eyes widened.

“What the hell? These people are chanting my name?”

“Sacred Body… since when did I become the Sacred Body?”

She recalled the rumors she’d heard—that the Alliance Army had made her some kind of savior.

“No way. They really think I’m a deity?” Sylvia was speechless.

The prayer ritual continued in the mirror. Uther’s voice grew more fanatical.

The cries of a million grew louder and louder. Her name echoed throughout the valley.

“Sylvia!”

“Sacred Body Sylvia!”

“Please save us!” Sylvia grew irritated.

These people were way too noisy. And bizarrely shouting her name.

“Shut up, will you?”

She silently mouthed at the mirror, scrunching her face.

At that moment, something strange happened. The mirror suddenly flashed a faint light.

Bloodstained Valley. Uther VII, mid-prayer, suddenly stopped.

He sensed something. He abruptly lifted his head toward the sky. His entire body trembled with excitement.

“There’s a response!” He shouted excitedly.

“The Sacred Body has responded!” The million-strong Alliance Army also felt the oddity and all looked up.

Though they saw nothing, everyone felt an indescribable pressure. It was the attention of a higher existence.

“The Sacred Body is watching us!”

Uther raised the holy relic, his voice trembling.

“She heard our prayers!”

“This is a miracle! A true miracle!”

The Alliance Army erupted in deafening cheers. Countless people wept with excitement.

Meanwhile, Sylvia in Nightfall City watched the crowd’s frenzied celebration through the mirror,

completely dumbfounded.

“No… I just told you to shut up, and now you’re even more excited?”