Si's expression remained calm, her figure graceful even as she was placed in a cage like one of those creatures from hell who sometimes dared to trespass in heaven.
She said nothing, even as the residents of heaven looked on, muttering words of pity as they tried to make sense of the scene.
But her eyes, hidden beneath the blindfold, squeezed shut the moment she spotted her friends among the crowd. They tried to rush forward, but Sebastian blocked their way.
It was only when she was brought into the Heavenly Hall—where the powerful met to discuss matters of highest significance—that she understood what was happening.
Surrounded by countless higher beings, immortals, and gods, her father stood at the center, looking just as majestic as he had the first time she laid eyes on him.
She trembled under the pressure, yet she stayed composed even under the gaze of so many powerful and majestic figures.
She listened to her father; however, unlike everyone who expected her to protest, she nodded, a beautiful smile gracing her lips.
"I agree, and I will not run. I only hope I won't be restrained and that I can live a normal life here until that time comes."
The powerful beings seemed pleased with her response, but Sebastian's face twisted briefly before he quickly regained his calm.
The leader of the Angels told the young ones to leave. Si cast a cold glance at the angels who hurriedly opened the cage to release her, then turned to follow them.
Just as she neared the exit, Si heard an immortal speak, his voice authoritative.
"We are all bound by the rules and cannot intervene too much. Besides, our presence here has already given the dark gods' side an advantage in the war. Send the young ones to eliminate the Queen of Spirits."
The leader of the Angels agreed, as if he weren't speaking about his former partner.
"Let us wait a few more years. Time is not yet right. She still holds value. According to the divine omens, the next King of Hell and Spirits are fated to be born within her line."
Si let out a bitter sigh and left. She didn't even have a long life—so how could she possibly spare a thought for anyone else?
That's why she, Sebastian, and the young angels failed to catch the commotion that erupted in the hall after everyone heard the words of the leader of the Angels. The god from the dragon race was the first to voice disagreement, shouting in displeasure.
"What? No. According to the divine omens, the next King of Hell and the King of Spirits are fated to be born within my dragon race."
The god from the human race spoke next.
"Wait, I checked the divine omens as well. How come I calculated the same results?"
Silence fell over the hall.
Everyone's faces were complicated.
In the end, they all decided to consult the divine omens again to end the confusion.
However, the results stunned everyone—it revealed that there was also a chance the next King of Hell and King of Spirits might be born within the demons or angels.
The leader of the Angels frowned.
"Just what is this? I have never seen such results in my life. How can even the divine omen be confused? Who is this person?"
Yet no one had any answers.
All the powerful beings could do was wait and see who would ascend to those ranks.
Still, one thing was clear: no one present expected it to be a mortal from the lower universes. After all, they were considered nothing more than materials for the war.
Even the Keeper of Time thought same.
***
A week later, after the chaos on the fourth level had subsided, on the thirteenth level of the Battle Royal, five haggard figures trailed a hooded individual into a walled village—or, more accurately, they dragged themselves through its gates. The village was bustling, with countless people moving in and out.
The kind villagers, with plant-like features—such as green leaves and vines for limbs—who saw the five figures couldn't help but ask the hooded figure if they were alright.
Whispers spread through the air, blending worry with curiosity as the villagers from the plant race hurried to aid the figures.
However, the hooded figure stopped them, an evil smile slowly curling across his lips, visible beneath the dark hood. The wicked smile sent dreadful chills down the spines of the villagers as they retreated, watching the hooded figure turn to his companions.
"Do you want their help? If so, we are heading back to continue our journey."
Instantly, the five figures cried out.
"No, no, no!"
They didn't even have the power to shake their heads, pleading with their eyes alone. Skyler was satisfied with their response.
"Good. We will rest, then."
He hired a horse-drawn ride using system points at the entrance of the village, quickly tossed the five men onto it, and instructed the driver to take them to the nearest inn.
By the time they arrived at the inn, the five had already lost consciousness, so Skyler booked a room and threw them all inside.
As a considerate boss, he even asked the innkeeper—with a tree-like appearance—to send them good food when they woke up.
Then he settled at one of the tables in the inn, where people were drinking and eating.
Various races mingled with the villagers, though he mostly noticed humans. Skyler listened to their conversations, trying to gather some information about the level.
A woman was saying.
"You are right. From this level onward, we don't need to search for the gates. Instead, we need to clear challenges to call them."
She exuded a powerful presence, and the people opposite her nodded in agreement. A burly man then continued her words.
"These challenges open at a specific time every day in different locations. We already know the challenge for this level is a maze. We can try again when we've more people in our team, since many died last time."
Skyler closed his tired eyes as he ordered something to eat, leaning into the wooden chair while quietly listening to the gossip.
Suddenly, a figure burst into the inn with a joyful expression. Overcome with thrill, he forgot to lower his voice as he rushed over to the same group Skyler was listening to.
"Guys! Guys! I just got news—someone announced a sudden commission in the villages in the north! They're offering a lot of treasures as rewards if we help them!"
His teammates were stunned.
The woman was the first to react.
"But aren't the villages in the north too far away? They are all beyond the boundary of where people from Eldoria are transported. Our area is separated from other planets and realms by a faint, flickering barrier."
The man who brought the news nodded, though his excitement hadn't faded at all.
"I know, I know! But the rewards are worth it! Even facing dangers on the way is worth it! Many people are already heading north! The rewards are greater than completing a hundred missions for the villagers to earn points! We need to hurry before it's late!"
The group silently exchanged glances before hurrying out of the inn, trailed by others who had overheard the news.
Skyler watched them leave with a thoughtful expression and sighed.
"In the north? Pity I don't have the time to go so far, otherwise I'd have gone myself."
What he didn't imagine was that none of the many people who went north returned—except for one lone survivor, barely clinging to life. Skyler and his group, who had rested for an entire day and were searching for the challenge that would help them advance to the next level, stumbled upon the man.
The person turned out to be part of the group Skyler had heard the news from.
He dropped from above and clutched Isaac's leg with bloodied fingers, nearly giving the young man a heart attack.
"H…elp."
Austin was the first to spring into action, activating his most powerful healing skill. After all, he was not only a capable fighter but also a healer. But it was too late—the man's lower half was missing. He quietly shook his head toward the others.
Skyler frowned and hurriedly crouched down to question the dying man, noticing that the man's injuries didn't look like they were caused by monsters—the clean cut was clearly from a blade. But all he got in return was a broken, fragmented reply.
"…Dark Lights… sacrificing people… I escaped… with an artifac… gasp..."
With those broken final words, the man coughed up blood and stopped breathing.
Skyler's frown deepened further. His eyes met Zack's, who looked just as perplexed as he was. The villains were killing people?
But nothing like this had ever happened in the original story… Did that mean this event was something that originally occurred but was never revealed to anyone—because it happened too early, before the protagonist and his team could even reach this level?