Some time later, ten people arrived above the gathered group of people. Leading them was Overlord Sandpike, a tall man with brown hair who carried a spear.
Behind him were three Senior Protectors and six Protectors.
When Overlord Sandpike saw the corpses on the ground, he took a deep breath.
Four Demon corpses and eight human corpses, one of them being Overlord Stygian.
"Overlord Cloudhorn's message was accurate," Overlord Sandpike transmitted to every other Overlord.
None of the other Overlords sent an answer.
"Overlord Cloudhorn," Overlord Sandpike announced, "do you confess to collaborating with the enemy?"
"Yes," Cloudhorn answered with a calm and accepting voice.
"Are you willing to share information about the incident and your collaboration?" Overlord Sandpike asked evenly.
"No," Cloudhorn answered.
"I suggest answering our questions," Overlord Sandpike said with narrowed eyes. "Execution is only for uncooperative traitors. You may survive on the frontlines as a dishonored Protector. You have already confessed. There's nothing to be gained by keeping further secrets."
"There is only one piece of information that I am willing to share," Cloudhorn said.
"We're doing this for the good of Ayuvar and Humanity."
Overlord Sandpike waited for two seconds, but Cloudhorn didn't say anything else.
"Is that all?" Overlord Sandpike asked.
"Yes," Cloudhorn answered.
Overlord Sandpike took a deep breath. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he decided against it.
"I've made my judgment," Overlord Sandpike said. "Crisis order: execute Overlord Cloudhorn immediately."
The Senior Protectors and Protectors narrowed their eyes as they pulled out their weapons.
Kyle's heart rate shot through the roof. He didn't want Cloudhorn to die after what he had done for them, but he also knew that he couldn't change it.
He was just a Sage.
"Is there anything we can do?" Kyle asked Manny via voice transmission.
"Yes, but..."
"The other sacrifices would become meaningless."
"Cloudhorn is doing this so that we may succeed. It is the best way, and he agreed to it."
Kyle watched as the three Ascendants charged at Cloudhorn, who didn't pull out his weapons.
The others watched.
Kyle wanted to step forward and show his strength. If he could show his power, he might be able to convince the newcomers.
Yet, as the other sacrifices shot through his mind, he stopped.
One more sacrifice.
Just one more sacrifice, and everything would end.
"I hate this," he thought. "I know why so many people have to sacrifice themselves, but I still hate it. I know it's necessary... I just wish it weren't!"
The three Senior Protectors reached Cloudhorn and readied their weapons.
In Kyle's perception, the world seemed to freeze for just a moment.
And then...
A spear broke through Cloudhorn's Center as a sword decapitated him.
Cloudhorn's corpse fell down, joining the other corpses.
Kyle clenched his fists in frustration and rage.
He knew he had done the right thing, but at the same time, he felt like he had made a mistake.
Countless Karmic Lines vanished with bursts of green and red. The biggest burst of red traveled to Manny, dropping his Karmic Luck by an entire level. The other bursts were not nearly as significant.
Overlord Sandpike glanced at Manny. Apparently, Overlord Sandpike also knew quite a bit about the Laws of Karmic Luck, and he had noticed the significant burst of red.
This meant that Manny had the biggest share of blame when it came to Overlord Cloudhorn's death. Usually, this would be a good thing since Cloudhorn was a traitor, but Overlord Sandpike's gut instinct didn't agree.
Cloudhorn's life could have been saved. There had been a way out.
"May I give a suggestion?" Senior Protector Blooddrought asked.
Overlord Sandpike looked at Blooddrought without saying anything. Technically, he was supposed to refuse her request since this was an investigation, but the unusual circumstances made him hesitate.
"Checking Overlord Stygian's body might make things easier," Blooddrought said without waiting for an answer.
Overlord Sandpike glanced at Blooddrought for a moment before going to Overlord Stygian's body and activating several complicated Formation Arrays.
Moments later, Overlord Stygian's Emblem started to shine, and Overlord Sandpike inspected it.
There were detailed records inside the Emblem. Overlord Stygian had always documented everything he had witnessed. He hadn't done that for himself but for Humanity. When he died, he didn't want his knowledge to be lost.
Yet, there was almost no information about what had happened here. There was only a last message.
"Today, I am sacrificing my life for the good of Humanity and Ayuvar. Despite how things may look, trust that today is a hopeful and lucky day instead of a tragic and unfortunate day. Today, I have seen true hope, and I can embrace death without any regrets."
"As a last wish, I wish that Humanity acts like nothing has happened today. Forget everything that has happened today and continue life as if none of this had happened. If you do this, Ayuvar might finally recover."
Overlord Sandpike furrowed his brows. He couldn't imagine what could have possibly led to this outcome.
How could someone as powerful as Overlord Stygian die near one of Humanity's most fortified and safest locations?
What could possibly be so important that it was worth the sacrifice of one of Humanity's three pillars?
Overlord Sandpike knew about the event that was supposed to happen today. He knew that a Sage was supposed to show their power to a group of the most powerful humans.
Yet, how could this event cause the deaths of two Overlords and ten Spirit Lords?
Why did Overlord Cloudhorn suddenly confess, and why did he refuse to share any information?
It was like Overlord Cloudhorn just wanted to commit suicide.
"All of you are under arrest," Overlord Sandpike announced. "You will remain here until the investigation has been concluded. A second Overlord will arrive soon, and we will interrogate you one by one. Refusal to share information is grounds for execution."
Overlord Sandpike looked at the group, and what he saw made him furrow his brows more.
They all seemed surprisingly calm.
Usually, these words would make people nervous. After all, if someone explained something incorrectly or if their words differed from other people's words, they might be seen as an accomplice. There was a lot of uncertainty involved in these investigations.
Some time later, the Overlord stationed in Headquarters Three arrived. It was a stunningly beautiful and tall lady with white hair. She was a New Ascendant, and her name was Overlord Sunlight.
Yet, despite her bright appearance and her innocent name, her aura seemed almost oppressive. Her name did not represent the gentle rays of a spring morning but the overbearing rays of a high summer noon.
Overlord Sunlight didn't say anything as she arrived. She just looked at all the present people to get a clear picture before wordlessly teleporting away again.
Overlord Sunlight would wait millions of kilometers away, outside the range of any voice transmissions.
"Protector Urkin," Overlord Sandpike said, looking at a random man in the group. "Follow me. You will be first."
Moments later, Overlord Sandpike and Protector Urkin teleported away.
They went to Overlord Sunlight to conduct the interrogation.
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