When Count Morgan finally returned to his estate, he was met with a vision of ruin. His mansion burned uncontrollably, its western wing reduced to rubble. Smoke filled the sky as he screamed the names of his daughters in desperation. Seaberry stood beside him, watching the destruction in silence. Without a word, she vanished, retreating to her hidden sanctuary.
Within her hideout, Seaberry was confronted by Valerian, a vampire of ancient origin, seated coldly behind an ornate desk. His crimson eyes locked onto her as he spoke with quiet menace. "So Count Morgan has failed as well."
Seaberry replied calmly, "Not yet. But he is no longer rational."
She knew the truth—Count Morgan had crossed the point of no return. His rage had fully consumed him.
Back in REF Territory, Kael and his companions summoned an acquaintance: a High Priest of the Church. The priest performed a powerful purification ritual, cleansing Arra of the demonic corruption flooding her body. Dark energy seeped out and dissolved under holy light. When the ritual ended, the priest prepared to depart. Vex offered gold in gratitude, but the priest refused, stating Kael's group already owed him a favor that would be repaid in time.
Lyra then stepped forward, casting Nature Healing, a high-tier restorative spell. A massive luminous flower bloomed around Arra, continuously restoring her vitality and stabilizing her magic core. Though unconscious, Arra's breathing finally became steady.
Elsewhere, Count Morgan descended fully into madness. His grief twisted into hatred, and he declared his intent to annihilate Kael and everyone connected to him.
He transmitted orders to the Supreme Three, demanding immediate war against REF Territory—and by extension, the kingdom itself. Monsters of unknown origin began advancing from multiple directions. Count Morgan even declared war on the capital, vowing to dethrone the king. When the king received the declaration, he laughed coldly and ordered the Ghost Knights to secure the capital without restraint.
Soon after, Ember informed Kael that Count Morgan had lost all control. His daughters had vanished from the estate.
The truth surfaced quickly. Malina had taken the girls herself. Through intelligence gathered by her bluebird familiar, she discovered Morgan's ultimate plan: sacrificing his own daughters to summon Outer Gods capable of annihilating the continent. His obsessive isolation of them had never been love—it was preparation.
Kael immediately ordered Luminor to reinforce REF Territory's defensive barrier. Shadow Scouts confirmed massive monster waves advancing from all four directions—north, south, east, and west. Ember mobilized her knights toward the city gates.
Pallas, sensing the battlefield through her draconic instincts, confirmed their worst fears. This was no isolated incident. Count Morgan was aligned with all major evil factions.
Seated upon a throne formed of dark magic, Count Morgan issued a single command:
"Attack. No matter the cost."
Demons, vampires, werewolves, and corrupted monsters surged into nearby towns and villages. However, unknown to them, the magical communication towers built earlier by Luminor and Arra activated automatically. Reinforcement barriers expanded outward, shielding civilians from harm and nullifying the monsters' advance into population centers.
Kael and Brown moved to the northern gate, where Ember and her knights were already holding the line. The battlefield was overflowing with A-rank and S-rank monsters. Ember's forces were exhausted but unbroken.
Kael surveyed the field and calmly asked Ember if they could keep up. She showed him the battlefield—knights bloodied, strained, yet still standing. Kael nodded, then ordered her to withdraw all knights and escort civilians to safety.
Once the gate was cleared, Brown raised his staff.
Thirty thousand SS-rank Skeleton Warriors emerged from the ground. Archers formed the rear lines. Mage units erected defensive arrays. Vanguard units advanced with shields raised.
Kael lifted his twin daggers and issued a single command:
"Attack."
The battlefield turned apocalyptic.
Kael tore through monsters effortlessly, cutting them down like grass, while Brown continuously added fallen enemies to his undead army. Explosions shook the land as waves of monsters crashed forward endlessly. Soon, the third wave arrived—boss-class monsters and flying beasts darkened the sky.
Kael contacted his father, Aelric, to assess the situation in his territory. Aelric reported that the barrier was holding, but he had deployed one thousand elite troops to the front lines. Kael immediately ordered reinforcement.
Zephyr and Malina were dispatched as special-class support.
Using Luminor's pre-established instant teleportation network, they arrived within moments. Malina summoned two SSS-rank catastrophic beasts, entities capable of leveling nations. Their arrival shifted the battle instantly, causing Aelric to laugh with exhilaration as enemy formations collapsed.
Meanwhile, the capital endured relentless assault. The Ghost Knights held firm, preventing monsters from breaching the city. Luminor's barrier proved unbreakable—for now.
Kael issued further commands.
Pallas, Thorne, and Elian were sent to reinforce the capital.
Luminor, Vex, and Arden were deployed to support Ember at the west gate.
The Guild Master and adventurers continued defending the east gate.
From his vantage point, Count Morgan sneered, believing monsters alone would crush Kael. But when Kael confronted him directly through magical transmission, Morgan laughed maniacally, demanding the return of his daughters in exchange for peace.
Kael's response was merciless.
He insulted Morgan's intellect, ambition, and arrogance, revealing that while Morgan plotted destruction alongside the Supreme Three, Kael had already forged a secret alliance with forces beyond Morgan's comprehension—figures who would never allow the continent to fall.
Morgan turned to Seaberry for confirmation.
She froze.
She had known nothing of this alliance.
Enraged yet eager, Seaberry ordered the monsters to redirect, clearing the battlefield for herself. She stepped forward, her eyes burning with intent, declaring she would personally discipline Kael for his insolence.
Kael laughed once more and spoke two words:
"Forbidden Heir."
Seaberry's face twisted with fury. She understood instantly. Kael had struck at the deepest wound in her soul.
Once, she had dreamed of ruling the elven race through fear and power. That dream ended when the High Elf chosen by the World Tree was murdered—by Seaberry's own parents. Branded as cursed and exiled, Seaberry was cast out forever.
Now, standing before Kael, her past, her hatred, and her ambition ignited into a single truth.
This war was no longer about territory.
It was personal.