Oh? What's this? So the rumor was true after all? Reinhardt, the Divine Paladin, has finally woken up."
A cheerful voice rang through the training grounds.
A carriage rolled through the gates, and out stepped a handful of richly dressed nobles. Leading the group was a plump man of short stature whose stubby legs shuffled in a way that tried very hard to look dignified.
He was clad in lavish clothing decorated with gold stitching, and a small balmoral hat perched precariously on his round head. Everything about him screamed "look how important I am!"
"Marquis Boulevard, so you came too," Raymond acknowledged, watching the man's slow waddle toward them.
"I greet the Duke," the chubby noble said, bowing just enough to be polite before his eyes immediately landed on Reinhardt. His entire rosy face split into a grin. "Hahaha! Amazing! The commander of the Temple of Light up and moving again, our kingdom shines brighter than ever! Truly a day worth feasting!"
"Wrong," Raymond replied calmly. "I didn't call for this gathering. Reinhardt did."
"Oh? The commander himself, eh?" Boulevard leaned forward, clearly interested. "Then perhaps you wanted to make your grand return known to all your loyal men, my Sir Reinhardt?"
Reinhardt gave a faint smile. "That was part of the reason, yes. But I've summoned everyone for something far more important." His expression turned sharp, confidence radiating in his tone. "In fact, Marquis, you couldn't have arrived at a better time."
The plump noble chuckled, fans of sweat already forming on his forehead. "Oh-ho? Then do enlighten us."
BOOM!
The air itself trembled as Reinhardt's divine aura exploded outward like a shockwave. Every knight and noble in the courtyard froze. The ground cracked faintly, and invisible pressure slammed down on them like a mountain.
"Today," Reinhardt announced, his booming voice rumbling through the ground, "I've gathered you all not for ceremony, but for the very reason our order exists... to cleanse this world of demons!"
A brief silence followed his words. Then—
"WOAAAAHHHH!!!"
The knights erupted in thunderous cheers. Armor clanged, swords raised high, the air vibrating with excitement. Their commander hadn't even been awake a full day, yet he was already declaring war on demons again. For them, that was enough to stir every ounce of pride in their hearts.
Reinhardt waited for the noise to settle, his smirk deepening. "I know you're wondering why I'm rushing into battle so soon. While it's true that fighting demons is what we do, this time it's personal. This time it's revenge."
His eyes glowed faintly as his divine energy rippled again. "You're all well aware of the curse that nearly took my life. A curse like that isn't something that can simply be placed on a Divine Paladin. That's not power, it's planning. It was no random accident. It was a scheme."
The murmurs across the knights dried up instantly. Reinhardt's tone grew sharper.
"During our last crusade at the Lost Valley, I fought the Seventh Heavenly King himself. The battle left me drained and weakened. But even that monster lacked the finesse to plant such a destructive curse on me unnoticed. Which means…"
He paused, cold eyes scanning every face. "…he had help."
Whispers. Uneasy glances. The tension thickened like fog.
Reinhardt's next words cut through the silence like a blade. "An insider."
The ground seemed to shake not from magic, but from the sheer weight of his accusation.
The rows of knights exchanged worried looks, though none dared to question his claim. Reinhardt had once led them through impossible battles; they trusted him implicitly.
But one person couldn't hold it in.
"Have you lost your damn mind?!" Marquis Boulevard sputtered. "You gather everyone here just to accuse your own order of treachery? This is madness!"
Reinhardt turned his head slowly, calm as ever. "Marquis Boulevard, this is Temple of Light business. Don't interfere."
"Don't interfere?!" The noble grew red, jowls quivering. "You seem to forget all knightly orders report to the crown! Which means to me as a council elder! I demand you st—"
"Shut up."
A wave of divine force exploded outward like a shockwave. [Divine Presence] instantly activated.
In the blink of an eye, the Marquis crumpled to his knees, face twitching. His eyes rolled back as foam frothed from his mouth before he collapsed completely unconscious.
Reinhardt sighed and dusted his hands. "Perfect. He never shuts up otherwise."
The knights all stood stiffly, expressions unreadable. Not one dared to breathe wrong.
With the nuisance out of the way, Reinhardt turned back to his men. "I know you all are wondering, who among you betrayed me? Who helped the demons infiltrate our order?" His voice softened, eyes glinting coldly.
"You don't need to waste your time guessing. I already have a way to find them."
He took a deliberate step forward, his boots echoing. "I called you all here to purge the rot hidden in our ranks. Those who've served faithfully, stand proud. Those who served dark masters..." he paused, smile faint but dangerous, "…pray."
A few knights swallowed hard. Their armor suddenly felt heavier.
Reinhardt's tone turned casual again, almost amused. "Now then. Let's see what this new world's graphics can handle." He stretched his arm outward and clenched his fist.
"Time for the debut of my new powers."
"[Radiant Ascension]!"
The sky responded instantly.
A blinding pillar of light tore through the clouds, descending like divine judgment. White flames crackled around Reinhardt's body, his eyes glowing with streaks of pure brilliance. The entire mansion, training grounds, and even the valley beneath trembled from the unleashed force.
It was mesmerizing, terrifyingly so.
From the city below, citizens gawked at the spectacle, whispering and pointing in awe at the colossal pillar of holy light piercing the heavens.
Back above, inside the blaze, screams erupted. A handful of knights collapsed, writhing on the ground as black smoke poured from their armor. The foul miasma twisted violently before dissolving into pure holy radiance. It was fast, merciless, and absolute.
Reinhardt stood in the center, unwavering, aura flaring like a god among mortals. The light surged one final time before fading, leaving silence in its wake.
He scanned the grounds calmly, eyes gleaming. "Well then," he said, voice steady, carrying to every corner, "now that the trash has been burned clean, let's continue."
And just like that, the Divine Paladin's return began with holy fireworks, a faintly smoking Marquis, and a new legend in the making.