The sight in the sky had become a death sentence for all inhabitants of the lower world.
Except for the blind, everyone could see the second moon in the sky wasn't a natural phenomenon. Even those who were sleeping would wake up—either by family members shaking their shoulders, or by the increasingly intense commotion outside their windows.
Noisy voices, screams, and running footsteps shattered the silence.
At first, there was only confusion and curiosity. People crowded the streets, pointing, whispering, and speculating.
That second moon was silent, static, an inexplicable foreign object. However, when that round object slowly began to transform, elongating and curving into an elegant giant bow, then a light arrow was created and aimed directly at the planet, only then did that confusion turn into fear.
Panic that initially was confused whispers exploded into mass hysteria when the gods gave terrifying confirmation: it was the strongest arrow in heaven, and if released, all life on the surface would be annihilated without a trace.
Naturally, that information was like a spark in dry land. Mass panic exploded beyond control.
This information became the trigger for the collapse of humanity's moral foundation. In Rakia, Altena, to the Far East, riots broke out on an unprecedented scale.
The fragile societal order shattered instantly. When people learned the end of the world had arrived with only a little time left, they began revealing the dark side usually hidden to maintain social order.
What was the point of continuing to be hypocritical, upholding morals and laws, when death was certain ahead?
What use was restraining desire, accumulating wealth, or harboring grudges?
In major cities, people stormed shops, looting food, wine, and valuables.
Fights broke out over a bottle of water or a piece of bread.
Some nobles locked themselves in their magnificent palaces, feasting with their last supplies, while watching the chaos from balconies.
Others burned their own homes, drowning in hysteria or attempting suicide before the arrow fell.
On the streets, people expressed long-held hatreds—family feuds settled with murder, debts paid with blood.
However, the most horrifying impact occurred in remote villages, far from any authority's supervision. There, fear turned into uncontrolled primitive madness.
Shrouded in fear of extinction and loss of sanity, men surrendered to their darkest instincts. They no longer cared about status, marriage bonds, or blood ties. As long as a beautiful woman appeared, she would become a target. Screams for help only triggered coarse laughter. If there were husbands or fathers who tried to resist, defending honor about to be stolen, they would be brutally slaughtered before their families' eyes.
Except for the Elf race which had better self-restraint and lower sexual desire, other races truly showed their dark sides. Humans, Demi-Humans, Amazoness, Pallum, Dwarves, and other races fell into madness caused by despair.
Meanwhile, among the gods witnessing those unsightly scenes, some showed joy—especially evil gods who enjoyed that moral destruction.
On the other hand, the situation in Orario was relatively better. Basic order was still maintained thanks to Freya Familia and Loki Familia acting as deterrents. Adventurers from both major Familias patrolled the streets, becoming enforcers every time adventurers from other Familias or civilians caused trouble—looting or inciting violence—they were immediately subdued quickly and firmly.
The threat from the two strongest Familias successfully prevented Orario from falling into total anarchy, though rumors and hysterical screams were still heard in dark corners.
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At the top of Babel Tower.
As usual, the most renowned Goddess of Beauty, Freya, wearing only thin silk clothing that exposed most of her porcelain skin and perfectly followed her enchanting body curves, sat lazily on the sofa.
She sipped red wine from a crystal glass, her eyes fixed on the second moon outside the large floor-to-ceiling window. She appeared calm, even indifferent, to the end of the world only minutes away.
"FREYA!"
The door slammed. Loki, with a face usually full of mischief now filled with real panic, rushed in.
"That's Artemis's arrow! You must know something I don't! Quickly tell me!" Loki shouted without ceremony.
This sudden disturbance caused Freya, who was enjoying admiring the moon, to slightly shake the wine glass in her hand. Her good mood—which rarely happened—was tarnished by Loki's noisy arrival.
"Loki. Is there any use in you asking me this? You know very well that Artemis and I aren't close. Complaining to me won't change anything."
Freya's gentle words contrasted sharply with Loki's anxious tone. However, this calm reaction made Loki even more anxious. She couldn't bear to imagine death now. She cherished her Familia members, especially Ais. They couldn't perish by Artemis in such an unclear situation.
"Now isn't the time to joke, Freya!" Loki approached, her hands clenched. "The bow has been fully drawn! If not stopped, everyone will die! Are we just going to sit here and wait for death?"
Freya turned slowly. A thin smile spread on her lips. "I've already seen it, Loki. No need to remind me. But will panicking help? Even if we want to act, we can't stop what will happen. Artemis is called the strongest archer in heaven for a reason. Her power isn't for us to face directly."
She sipped her wine again, her gaze returning to the sky. "Even if we interfere, we can't prevent this. So it's better to stay calm and wait for the outcome."
"Wait for the outcome? Death?" Loki nearly jumped.
"Ouranos and Hermes are already handling this." Freya still with an annoyingly calm voice. "Hermes even held some kind of event in Orario last night. Unexpectedly, the situation worsened beyond their expectations. I'm worried they haven't reached their destination."
However, there was a faint light of conviction in her eyes. "But, if it's that child who's involved... I'm sure he'll solve this problem from its root. For now, you should focus on sending your children to the Dungeon. The monsters there must also be rampaging sensing the end times."
Loki was confused hearing Freya's enigmatic words.
(That child? Who?)
But seeing Freya's unwavering calmness and confidence, she felt relieved.
"I don't know who the 'child' you mean is. But seeing you so calm, it seems you really believe the worst scenario won't happen."
A bit more relaxed, Loki approached the table, took an empty glass, and without hesitation poured wine for herself.
"..."
Freya only glanced at Loki's rude behavior, making no comment. Her attention returned to the sky.
As for the third person in the room, Ottar, known as Orario's ultimate weapon, a Level 7, only stood watching without speaking a single word.
"Pffft—!!"
Suddenly, Loki spat out the wine she had just drunk. Her expression was ugly, her trembling finger pointing at the window.
"Freya! Look at what's happening! That arrow has been fired! Oh no! Ais-tan! I don't want to be separated from you!" She screamed hysterically, holding her head.
Ignoring the frustrated Loki, Freya who had been calm, was also stunned.
In the sky, the super large light arrow had shot from the giant bow, leaving a bright light trail painful to the eyes, launching inevitably toward the planet.
Her smile disappeared. An extremely rare doubt shrouded her perfect face.
"Did... that child fail...?" She whispered almost inaudibly, her remaining conviction wavering for the first time that night.
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