"Do you know something, Princess?
I truly want to protect you, not because of you yourself, but because of the path we are walking.
I am not being disrespectful, because in truth this is not a conversation between a superior and their subject, but between someone who saves and someone who needs saving.
I know it may sound ridiculous for you to understand, but I will tell you a truth.
Lebem, this city, was destroyed long ago.
Three hundred years ago, by the three demons you saw.
However, it was rebuilt, and its past was hidden. There are still many secrets.
Do you know why?
I will tell you, and then you may decide for yourself whether you want to take this hand or not."
Janeus opened her eyes. She was in a luxurious room; the furnishings and paintings all reflected the nobility of a princess.
Beside her were her friends from the academy, the ones she trusted enough to allow into the private guest chamber reserved for high-ranking participants of the tournament.
Yet, for some reason, everyone seemed strangely dazed, like people who had just woken from sleep, even though they were still carrying out different actions.
"Was what he said true?"
Janeus murmured to herself.
She silently observed the room. Everyone appeared normal until she noticed Promet, whose white shirt was soaked with sweat, and Hadelus, who let out a weary sigh before exchanging a glance with Promet. Only then did she begin to realize something was wrong.
Promet? Hadelus?
Before she could act, a servant appeared behind her sofa, carrying a tray of water as she walked past.
Janeus grabbed an ink pen nearby, leaned forward, and thrust it straight through the maid's chin.
She remained calmly seated on the sofa while the girl's head slumped against the armrest.
The people in the room turned when they heard the noise, but before they could understand what had happened, another stabbing sound rang out.
Promet, the usually composed and cold man, bent down and stabbed a rat hiding beneath the sofa. It screeched before collapsing dead.
He stood up and glanced at his companions. They were frightened and confused, but they quickly regained their composure, something natural for those trained in the top academy.
We're under attack?
That was the first thought that crossed their minds.
Five seconds after Janeus killed the maid, the wall behind her was blasted apart. Smoke and dust filled the air.
The room, which had contained only five people—Janeus, Promet, Hadelus, Luce, and Alaxin—was torn apart in an instant. An explosion suddenly engulfed the chamber, throwing the five of them off balance.
Clang!
A blade flew toward Janeus but was blocked by a piece of iron armor. A figure stood between them, someone with light red hair, wearing a wool cap and iron armor beneath cloth garments.
"Jinxite, escort us!" Luce shouted.
Her blue hair fluttered as mana symbols surrounded her body. Yellow and blue runes shimmered with white light like a small galaxy. They wrapped around her arms and formed a black tattoo resembling a tentacle coiling around them.
The attackers slowly emerged through the gray-white smoke.
Their bodies were slick with a reddish-brown liquid, and they were naked. Most of them were women.
"Promet! How's your leg?" Hadelus asked.
Hadelus looked at his own arm and gripped his wrist tightly. Veins bulged across his arm and his muscles swelled like balloons.
Behind him, Promet dropped to one knee. He covered his mouth with one hand and silently began forming a spell to summon something.
At that moment, a door opened and three figures stepped inside.
"Sorry to interrupt. Are you all available?"
Jax, Emma, and Rack had arrived.
Behind them, black threads wrapped around their necks.
Their hollow eyes stared directly at the enemies before them.
"Are you the ones he mentioned?" Janeus asked.
Crack… crack…
The ceiling began to collapse, revealing a girl fleeing from a gigantic hand.
It was Wellay.
"The third layer of reality?"
A deep voice echoed from the void, paralyzing everyone's senses.