The Shadow Sect .. the final land to shelter humanity after the Empire failed to survive the last war.
Its towering walls had become the last line of defense, now crowded with soldiers.
Guards remained on constant alert, braced for any potential assault from the enemy.
Security was so tight that even some of the Shadow Sect’s statues had joined the watch .. creating a strange coexistence between humans and those cold beings that looked more like machines than living creatures.
Normally, the situation was calm.
The view beyond the walls never changed:
An endless dark forest, and a clear sky that merely shifted between night and day.
The guards had grown used to that sight.
But today... for the first time, it changed.
It happened at the break of dawn .. when the sentries spotted a beam of light approaching from afar at terrifying speed, fear instantly gripping their hearts.
They ran frantically to warn everyone of a possible threat knocking at their gates—only to discover in the end that their panic had been unnecessary.
The returning figure from the distance was none other than Snow Lionheart himself.
The Hero of the Empire had returned, carrying with him the body of a strange individual in a pitiful state.
Of course, the guards did not know then that the wretch who stirred their pity was none other than Nito, the Ninth Seat among the High Demons.
The moment Snow landed atop the walls—upon an empty section the guards had cleared as they scattered to either side—he narrowed his eyes, glancing around as if searching for someone in particular.
"Where is Frey?" Snow asked, sensing no trace of him.
The guards did not answer immediately.
It took them a moment before one of them stepped forward to speak.
"Ah... Frey Starlight hasn’t shown himself since the last battle. Hardly anyone sees him—he keeps everyone away," the soldier said, then paused and corrected himself.
"Everyone except the commanders... and his family."
Hearing that, Snow nodded, then leapt down into the sect without sparing them another glance.
Step by step, Snow made his way through the Shadow Sect .. now effectively the new Belgrade.
Wherever he looked, people were moving through the districts, already beginning to adapt to their new home.
Morale was far from high, given the sheer number of losses.
Most of the humans here—those considered the luckiest—had lost at least one family member in the recent conflict.
And yet... they continued to live, clinging to life until the very end.
Only a few million humans remained now .. a terrifyingly small number for an entire race.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that humanity stood on the brink of extinction.
And the war itself was far from over.
As Snow’s eyes took in those people .. men and women, children and elders alike .. he could not help but wonder:
How many of them will survive... and how many will die?
Snow was no dreamer, nor was he naïve.
He knew well that death was an inseparable part of war—there was no escaping it.
Gazing at them one by one .. human faces he did not personally know, yet had lived among for a very long time—Snow closed his eyes.
Then he turned away, continuing on his path.
It could be said that the Hero of the Empire lived in a peculiar state when it came to his sense of belonging to humanity.
What Snow was now was no longer just a student, nor merely the hero chosen by mankind.
He was the other half of the First Lord of Light .. the Pure Vessel, complete with all his memories and powers.
A transcendent being that far surpassed the concept of humanity itself—one whose Lightbearer genes had long eclipsed those of ordinary humans.
With a faint demonic taint, staining the white with a single black dot.
"What exactly can I offer this land?" Snow wondered as he leapt from building to building.
"I owe them nothing... and yet, at the same time, there are many among them to whom I am grateful."
His thoughts turned to a handful of friends—chief among them, Frey.
The man who had been like a brother to him .. the dark counterpart to the same coin that bound them both.
As Snow thought of Frey, a sudden urge welled up within him—a desire to go and see his friend immediately.
But he suppressed it.
First, he would settle the matters at hand.
Moving at blinding speed, Snow reached the temple that had become the command center for humanity’s side.
He pushed the doors open and entered without seeking anyone’s permission.
The interior was dark.
At the far end of the hall, the blue eyes of a single man served as the only source of light.
Snow approached slowly, stopping at a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Gehrman.
The man raised his head gradually, locking eyes with Snow.
"The heir of the Lord of Light... no—the Lord of Light himself.
You’ve finally returned."
"..."
At first, Snow said nothing in reply.
His cold gaze alone made clear how wary he was of Gehrman.
But the silence did not last.
Snow suddenly tossed Nito’s broken body onto the floor before Gehrman.
"I know you’re the one pulling the strings from the shadows," Snow said calmly, gesturing toward Nito.
"So I believe you’re the right man to deal with this traitor."
Gehrman placed a hand beneath his chin, studying Nito .. then Snow with unmistakable admiration for what Snow had accomplished.
"You defeated the Ninth Seat alone... and brought him back alive without suffering any notable injuries," Gehrman said.
"As expected of the First Lord of Light."
What Snow had achieved proved one thing clearly:
He was the only one who could truly be considered Frey’s rival.
Among the new generation, the two of them were growing at an overwhelming pace .. far beyond all their peers.
Snow showed no pleasure at Gehrman’s praise.
He ignored it entirely and went straight to the point.
"We can make use of Nito in more than one way," Snow said evenly.
"He is highly sought after by the Pantheon—which makes him a valuable bargaining chip.
I trust you already understand that."
In response, Gehrman nodded.
"Your words are certainly correct. Still, I’m surprised you’re willing to leave this matter to me—I can see that you’re wary of me."
Hearing this, Snow’s expression gradually hardened, his eyes confirming Gehrman’s observation.
"Yes. I don’t like people like you .. those who manipulate others from the shadows," Snow said coldly.
"Your motives are completely unknown, and you wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to achieve your goals—even if it meant causing a catastrophe that costs thousands of lives."
As he spoke, Snow slowly clenched his fist.
It was fair to say that he was uncomfortable fighting alongside Gehrman .. or the so-called Shadow Sect standing behind him.
That discomfort stemmed from Snow’s knowledge of Gehrman’s past—of what he had done to Frey, how he had tormented and manipulated him for so long.
Gehrman was the kind of person Snow despised the most:
a being whose limits could not be measured, and who might go any distance for the sake of their ambitions.
Yet the Hero of the Empire did not rebel, nor did he turn against the Shadow Sect—for one simple reason.
"It’s true that I don’t like people like you... and I don’t trust you at all," Snow said, his expression caught between suspicion and resolve.
"But I trust Frey."
His face showed a strange mixture of emotions .. instinctive distrust toward Gehrman, and blind faith in Frey that made him accept the situation as it was.
"I trust Frey," Snow continued.
"And he believes that you and your sect are our greatest chance of survival. So I have no objections—as long as you don’t turn against us."
Hearing Snow’s true thoughts, Gehrman smiled, closing his eyes calmly.
"Very well. Then let me clarify just one thing for you, Lord of Light," Gehrman said evenly.
"The only person I care about is Frey—and no one else. So don’t expect me to fight for the humans you’re trying to protect."
"I’m already aware of that," Snow replied with a light sigh.
From Gehrman’s words, Snow confirmed something important:
Frey was the sole link between them and the Shadow Sect.
If Frey were to disappear, the entire sect would vanish with him .. leaving them completely alone in the coming war.
That was how important Frey was.
The pillar .. the very foundation—upon which their entire side stood.
Once Gehrman and Snow had clarified the nature of their relationship, they dropped the subject entirely and turned their attention to what mattered most.
The man lying on the ground between them.