The one who spoke was, of course, Pharaoh, the aged guardian of Ravenshade City's temple.
Even though his body trembled and blood still seeped through his robes, his voice carried a fierce conviction.
"This secret realm cannot be closed—absolutely not!"
The crowd erupted. Dozens of parents—frantic, pale, clutching one another—stood before the glowing crimson portal. Their children were still inside the Scarlet Secret Realm, fighting for survival.
"Yes, it cannot be closed! Our children are still in there!"
"My son was doing so well—he'll survive, I know it!"
"If anyone dares to shut it, I'll fight them myself!"
The deputy commander beside Pharaoh looked torn, anxiety etched across his face.
"My lord," he pleaded, "if we don't close this realm now, we'll all be finished! Not only us—the entire Ravenshade City will fall! Have you forgotten what the Scarlet Secret Realm represents?"
His words cast a shadow over the crowd. Some parents exchanged confused glances; others began whispering nervously.
Thirty years ago, two cities were erased from the map in a single night when a Scarlet Secret Realm went out of control.
Millions died.
For half a year afterward, the air still stank of blood and smoke.
The crowd trembled as the story resurfaced.
"Close it," one terrified mother whispered. "Close it, please! I still have two little ones at home—they'll awaken next year. I can't risk them!"
"My child already came out. Close it now—why should we all die for the others?"
Another parent wept and shook his head. "I'm sorry, son… I don't want to die."
---
Pharaoh removed the hood from his head, revealing a wrinkled, time-worn face. His eyes, however, burned with the same light they had when he was young.
"No," he said, voice low but resolute. "We must trust our students. There are powerful ones among them. They can and will conquer the realm!"
He took a step forward, standing between the panicked parents and the control crystal that could seal the gate.
"If we close it now, it cannot be reopened until next year. If they have succeeded by then, they'll starve to death inside—that's no different from killing them with our own hands!"
Someone muttered, "But the danger—"
"This is only an elementary Scarlet Realm," Pharaoh interrupted. "Even if monsters rush out, half of Ravenshade's defense force stands here. We can hold."
Straightening his back, he declared,
"**I am still the overseer of Ravenshade's Career-Change Temple. From now on, if anyone dares to step within half a pace of that entrance—I will kill them on the spot."
---
His voice had barely faded when—
Swish!
A blade flashed in the sunlight.
Gasps tore through the crowd as the long knife plunged into Pharaoh's shoulder.
The attacker was his own deputy.
"Sir! Let me be the sinner—this realm must be closed! I'm sorry!"
The sound of steel sinking into flesh echoed horribly.
The blade cut deep, nearly severing Pharaoh's arm. Blood poured freely down his side.
Yet Pharaoh didn't even flinch.
He staggered back one step, then steadied himself. There was no anger in his eyes—only understanding.
The deputy froze, guilt flashing across his face.
The other temple guards rushed forward, but Pharaoh barked, "Don't come closer!"
He placed his trembling right hand on his deputy's shoulder.
"Xiao Wu… I know you've reported me to the higher council before," he said quietly. "Even so, I still made you my deputy. Do you know why?"
The deputy looked stunned. "Why? I betrayed you—why would you still trust me?"
Pharaoh smiled bitterly.
"Because I've done too many bad things in my life. But you… you were the only one brave enough to call me out. I don't want another fool like me to inherit this position after I'm gone."
He took a breath, voice growing softer but steadier.
"I know your nature. You always choose the safest path. But just this once—trust me instead. Trust the students inside."
Then, without hesitation, he wrapped his right hand around the blade's hilt—
and ripped it free from his shoulder.
Blood erupted like a fountain.
Yet what startled everyone was not the wound, but the reddish-brown tint of his blood, darker than normal, almost rust-colored.
Pharaoh calmly handed the blood-stained knife back to his deputy. The temple guards restrained the man at once, fearful he might strike again.
A priestess from the Temple of the Goddess ran forward, staff glowing with healing light.
But Pharaoh shook his head.
"No… let me bleed. It feels better that way. Save your magic for the injured—you'll need it soon."
The priestess hesitated, then nodded silently. She could tell—Pharaoh was already beyond saving.
---
The old man, drenched in his own blood, turned toward his soldiers.
Once bent with age, he now stood tall and proud.
"Guards of Ravenshade!" His voice boomed. "You will remain here today. If anyone tries to flee, remember—your names will be stripped from the rolls of the Dragon Kingdom itself! You'll have no home, no honor!"
He pointed toward the blazing scarlet portal.
"Behind you lies Ravenshade—your roots, your families, your children! If you must die, die standing. Squeeze out every drop of magic, every ounce of strength, before you fall!"
He paused, voice trembling.
"But don't worry," he whispered, "even if I die… I'll die before you."
"Do you understand?"
"Understood!" came the shouted reply.
"Louder! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
"UNDERSTOOD!!!"
The air vibrated with their cry. The guards' killing intent erupted, surging like fire through the temple courtyard.
They were ready to die.
---
Pharaoh nodded in satisfaction.
Abandoning his wheelchair, he planted himself firmly before the entrance, sword drawn, the crimson light flickering across his face.
Turning slightly, he addressed the two trembling young priests nearby.
"Hold your ground," he ordered. "If the students succeed, you'll live. But if you run now, you'll die for nothing. Think of your families—your children! Stand with me!"
Around them, chaos erupted. Many of the professionals—mercenaries, adventurers, even some students who had already escaped—fled in terror. They wanted to save their own skins.
The priestess looked to Pharaoh again.
"Sir, should we stop them? If the monsters break through, we'll need every fighter—"
"Let them go," he said coldly. "They're cowards. If they die, at least they'll serve as a warning for the rest."
He stared at the red swirling portal before him, eyes narrowed.
Who was that man in black?
Why did this outbreak feel so similar to the dungeon riot from before? No one had gone near the entrance—so how had he caused it?
Despite the pain tearing through his body, Pharaoh allowed himself one final spark of hope.
He believed in Ethan, the young student inside the realm.
If anyone could end this nightmare, it was him.
He didn't know how many students Ethan could save… but if someone could bring light into that crimson darkness, it would be him.
---
Pharaoh stood alone, blood pooling beneath his feet, yet his gaze never wavered.
Behind him, Ravenshade waited.
Before him, the Scarlet Secret Realm roared like an open wound in the sky.
And with iron-willed determination, the old man whispered one last promise to the burning horizon—
"If death comes… I'll greet it first."
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