When she first saw the incredibly vast explosion, so close she could nearly touch it, Dee Eye Ell smiled, thinking that it was the result of her own strategic masterpiece. But shortly after, the smile vanished from her face as the torrid heat exploded out of the ravine and toward her four-wheeled carriage. The searing wind brought with it the dying screams of all the nonhumans and the dark mages she worked so hard to raise into a proud combat force.

Messenger: Due to a drought of the spatial dark power of unknown origin, our wide range incineration projectiles failed to activate. Immediately afterward, a large-scale attack by the enemy destroyed 90% of the demi-Human unit, 70% of the ogre archer unit, and over 30% of the dark mage unit.

The messenger rasped with shock.

Dee: What do you mean, a drought of unknown origin? That ridiculously massive formal art is what absorbed every drop of spatial dark power in the ravine! But that's impossible. An art of that scale, not even I... So who was responsible?!

Dee raged, her screams were left unanswered.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Alice descended to the ground, Eugeo was waiting below for her since he would always worry about her. No matter what, he realized long ago, that she would always be Alice it didn't matter if it was the Integrity Knight Alice or Alice Zuberg. The second Amayori landed on the ground, Alice fell off the dragon and Eugeo quickly caught her before she collided with the ground.

Eugeo: That was great, Alice.

He whispered softly, he knew that must've taken a lot of concentration.

Alice's eyelids rose, giving her a glimpse of the burning red floor of the ravine and the figures of enemy soldiers fleeing in an uncontrolled panic. She couldn't see any bodies, even. EIther the initial burst of light had evaporated them instantly, or the explosion had scattered them to pieces.

Alice then turned to the blonde childhood friend that had been holding her, a smile crept onto her face, even after what she had done. Eugeo's smile was bright, warm and allowed light even in the darkest of times. For the last 6 months, Alice realized it bit by bit but she slowly fell for the blonde boy and Yami. But knowing she wasn't the Alice he fell for made her bury the feelings; she didn't have a chance.

She remembered what Yami spoke to her when she had the Right Eye Seal.

Yami(flashback): that's right, the means is to protect the people, backing up your comrades and your will to fight back. The higher nobles don't have that they only see the lower nobles and commoners as meat shields. The law made them weak and made them like punks.

She sees lower nobles, commoners even a few high class nobles were working with each other to stop the invasion and they do have the Spirit of a Knight. She blushes that she fell in love with Yami and Eugeo and she was shocked that Eugeo was bisexual. She confused but understood on the situation.

From behind the pair, Fanatio had walked up to them and she told them,

Fanatio: The enemy has retreated. You guided us to victory.

Alice using as much strength as she could muster glanced at the vice commander.

Alice: The battle is not yet over, Fanatio. We must consume the sacred power created by that attack for healing arts, lest the enemy reuses it against us.

Alice tried getting up on her own but almost fell over, Eugeo helped her to her feet as she continued.

Alice: After all, their main forces, the dark knights and the pugilists guild are still untouched.

Alice slowly walked away with Eugeo right next to her as Fanatio turned to the guards, monks and others.

Fanatio: Everyone who can move, take the wounded and fall back! Monk unit, focus on healing the wounded until all spatial power is depleted! And watch for any movement by the enemy!

Fanatio finished ordering them and turned to that pair of blondes.

Fanatio: I'm going to report to the Knight Commander. Can I leave things here to you both?

Eugeo: what about Yami? Is he okay?

Fanatio: he's safe away from the battlefield. Shame if he was here this fight would've been over already.

They both nodded and Fanatio quickly trotted off. Alice made her way to Amayori who was most definitely tired from all the flying it had done since the battle had begun.

Alice: You did well, too, Amayori. Go back to your bed and eat your fill."

The dragon trilled excitedly, then flapped its wings and rose into the air until it could glide back to its own kind at the rear of the camp.

Eugeo and Alice had just taken their very first step toward aiding the injured when they heard a voice.

????: Mentor.

It was low and soft and belonged to Eldrie.

They both turned around and were shocked at the sight in front of them. Eldrie was covered in blood, his weapons and armour had thick dried blood on them. The Knight didn't move and stood there still as a statue, his emotions all over the place.

Alice: E...Eldrie! Are you hurt?!

She asked, holding her breath.

With a vacant expression, he shook his head.

Eldrie: No... I did not take any major wounds. But... I ought to have lost my life in the midst of battle...

Alice: What are you saying? Your duty is to lead the guards until the battle is over."

Eldrie: I failed to carry out my duty.

The young Integrity Knight murmured, his voice cracking.

Eldrie: Not only was my camp breached by the goblins, but their chief was also brought down by Sir Renly. How shameful is that? I betrayed your expectations of me...

He returned the FrostScale Whip to his side and used the empty hand to cover his face.

Eldrie: So Stupid... so miserable... so humiliating... A disgrace of a knight

Eldrie: To think I had presumed to seek her heart... Her love. It's beyond Laughable! This boy has always had it.

Eldrie thought to himself while looking at Eugeo and then back to Alice and thought about Yami.

Eldrie: I have no right to call myself your disciple!

Spat Eldrie, so fiercely that blood nearly flew from his lungs.

Alice: You... You did well!!

Alice stammered, in a daze. It was all she could bring herself to say, Eugeo let the teacher-student moment happen as he had nothing to add right now.

Alice: I, the guard unit, as well as all the people of the Human Empire need you. Why are you being so harsh on yourself?"

Eldrie: Need? For my strength?

Eldrie's voice was barely audible to the pair.

????: Frrrh...

Eugeo had gripped his blade causing both the knights to instantly turn around, the sound was wet and throaty, like a wolf's warning signal. A figure walked out of the smoke from Alice's explosion, it was not human. The lower extremities were folded at an odd angle, the waist was extraordinarily long, and the torso was powerful but slouching forward. The head atop its shoulders was nearly indistinguishable from a wolf. This was the last remaining demi-human race of the Dark Territory, the ogre.

The others readied their weapons as the wolf slowly approached them.

Alice: Your life must almost be depleted. So why are you standing there unarmed?

Alice asked sharply.

Furgr: I'm the chief of the ogres, Furgr."

The Demi-Human growled miserably.

Eugeo.!The chief of the ogres?"

Alice: A member of the land of darkness's Council of Ten?

Furgr: I saw. That light art... it was you who unleashed it. That power, that appearance... It's you, the Priestess of Light. If I take you back with me, this war will end. The ogres can return to the grasslands.

Furgr murmured, unable to take another step.

Alice: What are you talking about? Priestess of Light? This war will end?

Alice asked as none of this made sense.

Eldrie: Curse you! You lowly beast, how dare you spout such drivel!!

Eldrie screamed, leaping forward, his sword raised into the air. He swung downward, directly toward the ogre chief. But it did not finish its swing.

Eugeo was the first to react, surprising even Alice but she then reminded herself that Kirito had trained him so it wasn't all that surprising. Eugeo had stopped the swing by grabbing Eldrie's wrist and spoke in a whisper.

Eugeo: Can't you see he is almost dead? What good will killing him do?"

Eldrie couldn't formulate any kind of response, instead, he fell to his knee all the strength leaving his body as the fatigue was hitting him. Alice walked past them, she sensed Furgr's consciousness itself was hazy, but she asked her questions anyway.

Alice: I am indeed the Priestess of Light. Tell me, where will you take me? Who is it that seeks me?

Furgr: Emperor Vecta.

The trio tensed up at the name.

Furgr: The Emperor only wants the Priestess of Light. He'll grant any wish to the one who captures and delivers the priestess. The ogres will return to the grasslands. Raise horses, hunt birds, and live.

Alice: You don't resent me? It was I who massacred your people.

Alice said unable to help her words.

Furgr: The strong carry a burden as heavy as they are strong. I also shoulder the burden of a chief. That's why I'm going to capture you, and take you with me!

The ogre's answer was a simple one.

Orge: Grrrrooooo!!

The ogre suddenly bayed ferociously. Its powerful right arm lunged for Alice, quicker than the eye could follow.

Ting

It was the briefest of sounds: The Blue Rose Sword's hilt hitting the sheath. Eugeo had drawn it, slashed, and returned it to its scabbard at several times the speed of even the ogre's attack.

The creature's large body froze.

Eugeo took a step back, and the ogre slowly sank to the ground. There was a fresh bloody line across its burly chest, from which the last bits of its life spilled out as pale dots of light. Alice took a step forward, reaching toward the body of the proud wolf-headed warrior, stopping the sacred power that floated up from it and creating a number of wind elements.

Alice: Let your soul travel across the plains, at least..."

She swept her hand aside, turning the formation of green lights into a little whirlwind that rose up and up into the eastern sky.

———-
Over Emperor Vecta's tank, he was currently looking at the woman in front of him, his eyes had no anger behind them but his stare was enough. Dee Eye Ell was trembling on the ground in fear as the Emperor spoke.

Miller: So you're saying the reason your strategy failed and a thousand dark mages perished was because the enemy absorbed and depleted the spatial dark power before us, is that right?"

Dee: Y...yes!

Dee stammered, lifting her face just the tiniest bit.

Dee: That's correct, Your Majesty. I wasn't informed that, even with the Pontifex gone, the enemy still had a mage of that calibre.

Miller: Is there no way to replenish that dark power?

Dee: Unfortunately, sir. In order to replenish enough spatial dark power to annihilate the enemy, we'd need ample amounts of rich land and sunlight but both are absent from the battlefield

Miller: I see.

the emperor said simply, then turned his sharp features toward the distant ravine.

Miller: But from what I see, there's no grass or trees in this land, and the sung seems to have already set. What source were you going to use to attempt to cast this large-scale spell?

Dee: Well, the blood spilled by both the demi-humans and enemy soldiers, and their expire lives became dark power and had filled the air.

Dee explained, she put her head back to the ground when Vecta started to move.

Millet: Blood and life, huh?

The emperor walked to the edge of the tank.

Miller: Dee Eye Ell. Would 3,000 be sufficient?

He asked in a dry voice devoid of all emotion.

Dee: What?

Dee asked unsure of what he meant. The Emperor was looking at something, Dee followed his gaze and saw him looking at the Orc unit. Even Dee, who was cruel by the measure of her peers, gaped at this suggestion. But the more the idea sank in her mind, it all turned to sweet intoxication.

Dee: That would be enough, Your Majesty.

——-

In the guardian, army supply camp, Bercouli, Fanatio, Kirito, Alter Saber and Eugeo were sitting in Bercouli's tent.

Bercouli: Priestess of Light...?

Commander Bercouli muttered, broad jaw working as he chewed on a flat pastry cooked with dried fruit and nuts.

Sitting across the folding table from the leader of the knights, Alice said.

Alice: Yes. I don't recall that name showing up in any of the history texts, but seems clear that the enemy commander strongly desires this person.

Bercouli: Commander... the Dark God Vecta, huh?

Fanatio poured siral water into his cup and added.

Fanatio: It's very difficult to believe... a god, coming back to walk among us...

Alter Saber: Can I assume you all feel that eerie incarnation that hangs over the enemy camp or...?

They all nodded and Bercouli turned to Alice.

Bercouli: Little one. Let's assume that Dark God Vecta has descended to the Dark Territory, that he's seeking the Priestess of Light, and that this priestess is you. The question is, how will that affect the current battle situation?"

Kirito and Raikou both glanced at each other for a mere moment. This changes everything. If their theory that this Vecta was someone from the real world, especially the cause of the attack on Rath they heard half a year ago, this changes everything.

Raikou: May I?

Raikou raised her hand gaining everyone's attention.

Bercouli: Sure, Raikou.

Raikou couldn't reveal the whole truth since he knew nothing about the attackers onboard the Ocean Turtle. But they needed to get to the World's End Altar by any means necessary with both Alice, Edith and Eugeo in tow while ending this war.

Raikou: I suggest we use this Priestess of Light to our advantage.

Bercouli raised an eyebrow at the young woman.

Raikou: If we breach through into the Dark Territory and depending on how badly Vecta wants Alice, he wouldn't just ignore her. He may send a good portion of his troops after us and once they split you- here- can attack them and kill them while they're off guard.

Raikou: looked over at the four others he is going to take with him or so he thought.

Bercouli: Fine, then. But you're taking a third of our troops with you.

He said picking up his empty bowl and dipping his bread into it.

Alice: But...

Alice began as Bercouli glanced over at Kirito, Raikou, and Eugeo.

Alice: We can't have you spare a third of your men!" she argued.

Bercouli: The enemy still has more than 30,000 troops left. I don't think that many would come after you if you're the sole decoy. Only if a big enough number fled together would it take to split them up.

He pointed his finger at Alice.

Bercouli: You do have a point, but. Also, I have one more condition.

Alice: What's that?

Bercouli: I'll be joining the raid unit.

Bercouli took a bite out of his bread and had a smile on his face. The others were stunned by the commander but nevertheless knew they couldn't argue with him.
————

Dark Territory, Orc Tribe's camp, Dee stood in front of the Chief, her arms were crossed elevating her bust.

Dee: Orc Chief Lilpilin. You're to offer 3,000 sacrifices to be the foundation of the dark mages' attack art.

Dee told the orc.

Lipilin: Th-that's insane! We all came here to fight! Not to pay for your failure with our lives!

Dee: This is an Imperial order from the emperor himself.

Those words stopped the orc as he couldn't go against the emperor.

????: Chief.

A voice came from behind him and he glanced to see a female orc standing there.

Female Orc: We have no choice but to obey the emperor's orders.

Lipilin: Lenju...

Lipilin mumbled the name of a distant relative of his.

Lenju: I and 3,000 of my troops will gladly give up our lives. For the emperor and for our tribe.

Lilpilin could only turn away at her words, clutching his hands. tightly.

Lenju: Lil.

Lenju grasped his hand calming him down.

Lenju: I believe. That the souls of not just humans, but of orcs will be sent to the heavens after they die. Let's meet again there someday.

She offered a smile to the chief.nTears welled up in Lilpilin's eyes as he grasped her hands with both of his.

Lenju: I'm so sorry, Len. Forgive me. I'm so sorry.

Dee who was watching the whole thing had disgust in her expression as she scoffed and demanded.

Dee: Gather 3,000 of your troops in close formation 100 mels before the ravine within five minutes. That is all!

Dee walked away leaving the two orcs as they went to their camp to get ready.

Five minutes later, all the orcs had gathered in the formation they were told and Lilpilin stood on the sidelines as he watched the Dark mages start uttering their commands. The chanting reflecting the horror of its intended content, set the atmosphere on the edge with hideous discordance.

Lilpilin: Aa...Aaah...

Lilpilin croaked. The forces suddenly began to writhe in apparent agony and collapsed to the ground. As they flopped and struggled, little white twinkling lights emerged from their bodies, sucked out by some invisible pressure. As they flew toward the mages' hands, the lights turned black and bunched together, growing sticky and clumping until they took a shape like some eerie, unnatural serpent.

The screams of three thousand soldiers stabbed at Lilpilin's ears, sharp and vivid. HE could make out the words, too.

Long live the orcs. Glory to the orcs.

Their bodies began to burst in quick succession. As the blood and flesh went splattering in all directions, the light gushed out of them in great quantities, travelling toward the mages.

Before he knew it, Lilpilin was on his knees, slamming his fist against the ground. The tears that flowed from his eyes trailed down either side of his large nose before falling to the black gravel. Through stained vision, he watched as the princess knight in her especially conspicuous armour issued blood from all over her body like the petals of a crimson flower.

Lilpilin: Lenju....!

He gasped as the princess knight slowly toppled toward the ground and out of sight. His jaws clenched so hard the fangs burst through his lips, dripping blood of his own.

Humans.

Humans!

Damnable Humans!!

With each internal scream of fury and loathing, the orc felt his right eye pulse.
———

The guardian army had split into two groups and everyone was getting ready to take off. Alter Saber and Kirito and were all on different dragons since Eugeo was already on Alice's dragon. Too much weight on one dragon would cause them to slow down and right now they needed speed. Alter Saber was on Sheyta's dragon while Kirito was with Renly.

Bercouli: All right, let's head out!"

Bercouli shouted and took hold of his reins, ordering his dragon to take flight.

Bercouli, flying slowly up ahead, turned back and shouted.

Bercouli: When we leave the ravine, we use the dragon's breath against the enemy's main force! They should have almost nothing left in the way of long-ranged attacks, but keep an eye out for their dragon knights!

Each Knight gave a nod in response, Renly, Alice and Sheyta. Sheyta hummed looking straight ahead but then Alter Saber said.

Alter Saber: What the hell?

Like Sheyta was looking at the end of the ravine. The chanting of a group sounded out at the end of the ravine.

Alice: A group chant? Of a sacred art command?

Alice murmured at the lack of spatial resources couldn't allow something like this to happen right now.

Alice: Impossible! There's not enough sacred power left in this area to cast a large-scale formal art!

Alter Saber: took half a second to sense what was happening over at the end of the ravine.

Alter Saber: Those Bastards...!

She exclaimed as Bercouli came to the same conclusion he did.

The misty black substance gathered around the extended hands of the two thousand cohorts, forming a number of hideous long insects, each with countless writhing legs. They were simulacrums of life, things generated from darkness elements, and were called life eaters. Nothing with physical form, not even the highest priority swords and armour, could stop them. It was a less efficient form of conversion from darkness than fire attacks were, but that didn't matter when the source of power was so rich.

Dee: Ohhh. What power! ah, how magnificent! This devastating spatial dark power.

Dee exclaimed reaching up at the sacred art above them.

Messenger: Madam Chancellor, there are Integrity Knights approaching ahead.

A messenger came from right behind her.

Dee: Ready...?

Dee called out on high.

Dee: Prepare to unleash the death worm curse!!

But as she stared forward, to her shock, she saw a mad rush of four dragon knights approaching through the ravine. Her alarm promptly turned to joy. Now she would be able to wipe out the Integrity Knights and their dragons, the most powerful piece of the enemy army.

Dee: Don't rush it!! Let them come closer!!... Closer.....closer........Now! Unleash!!

Zwaaaah!!

Countless black insects thrummed in horrifying fashion as they leaped straight for the oncoming enemy.

The moment they saw the enemy's spell, that great black wave of horror rushing toward them, both the civilian men at arms and even the elite Integrity Knights found themselves unable to think for entire seconds at a time.

Bercouli finally gained control of his thoughts and turned toward the knights behind him.

Bercouli: Get close and lure them this way!" He flew forward for half a second before he bellowed another command.

Bercouli: Pull up!!

Four dragons turned quickly, spiralling around, heading higher right above the ravine. With a terrible rustling of wings, the swarm of snaking creatures turned accordingly.

Bercouli: no!!

The worms that chased after them were not even half of the total. The rest proceeded straight for them guardsmen and the supply team running along the ground. Alice not wanting any more causalities whipped around and raised her sword.

Bercouli shouted after her.

Bercouli: Little one! It won't work! Not that move!

Kirito: Alice! Eugeo!!

Shouted Kirito, pulling his sword out to use his Perfect Weapon Control, unsure if it would make it in time.

As Alice approached the Supply team's carriages, a glint appeared in front of the carriages. It was Takiguri- the dragon of elite Integrity Knight Eldrie Synthesis thirty-one.

Alice and Eugeo: Eldrie?

Alice and Eugeo questioned as they approached.

Eldrie: GO!

Eldrie commanded Takiguri flying full speed at the curse.

Alice: No! Eldrie!

Alice shouted, her weapon already in Perfect weapon control.

Eldrie: Divine Serpent of ancient times! If you claim to be the king of the snakes, then let's see you devour that horde of mere worms completely!!

Eldrie pulled the reins with his right hand, Takiguri shot upward, the FrostScale Whip in his left hand.

Eldrie briefly glanced at his mentor with a smile on his lips, he then bellowed the final word for the command he was chanting.

Eldrie: Release Recollection!!

The Frostscale Whip shone a brilliant silver. Amid that light, the whip split into countless ends. Hundred upon hundreds of beams of light lashed out at the squirming black things. And then the light turned into glowing snakes. the Swarm of reptiles fanning outward from Eldrie's hand opened jaws of sharp, glinting fangs and bit down on the dead worms.

Eldrie: This way! You vile insects!

He shouted at the death worms. Abruptly, the swarm that was heading for the guards and the swarm following the airborne dragons changed directions, recognizing the glowing hydra to be their most urgent foe. The snakeheads were soon beset by countless writhing worms. The curse travelled up their length, bearing down on the source.

Pain seared through Eldrie's hand, arm, then his entire left side as the worms ate away at his life. The Stacia window showed his rapidly depleting life as he tried to bear it as best he could as long as he could.

The worms made it up to his face and etched into his eyes as his life finally hit zero, tears spilled out due to the sheer pain he was under.

Eldrie's body went limp, the dark light flickered in one of the carriages, visible through the covered top. Eldrie through the searing pain he was going through, began thinking about what had him fighting.

Eldrie: What go me so confused? The Knights have been trying to save humanity and here I am trying to monopolize her feelings.nLady Alice, especially, has been trying to save all of humanity.

Regaining the strength to do so, Eldrie gripped onto the reins of Takiguri.

Eldrie: Not Yet! I can't fall just yet!!

Eldrie crawled up the top of his dragon as the worms continue to devour away at this armour, cape and flesh near his feet.

The life value of the Integrity Knight Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-one, plummeted to negative five hundred thousand. He closed his eyes with a grin on his face and let his mentor's name slip out of his lips.

Eldrie: Lady Alice.

He fell off of Takiguri and fell to the ground but  he was caught by none other than Kitsune.

Eldrie: who are you?

Kitsune: remember my master who kicked your face?

Eldrie: Yami!?

Kitsune: no, I'm Kitsune, Master's inner demon. Do not fear you'll be healed.

He uses Diarama to largely Eldrie's wounds and used Patra to remove the Death Worm Curse. He flies down to where the group was in and Kirito was shocked.

Kirito: Yami!?

Kitsune: no, I'm Kitsune, Yami is my master, I'm his inner demon/hollow.

Fanatio: what did you do with Eldrie?

Kitsune: I healed him and removed the Death Worm Curse.

He flies up towards the sky and shouts out to "Him"

Kitsune: Vecta, I hope you're ready to fight my master!! You will never get your hands on Alice, the one that master cares for!! You will suffer from his wrath until you are forgotten!!

He made a finger gun as he grins.

Kitsune: let me give you a warning...

He then blasted a ki bullet and shot it towards the dark castle. Gabriel rose from his seat as Alice's announcement registered in his head.

Gabriel: Alice.

He muttered in shock before his thin lips, which assumed only the shape of a smile, a quiet voice said.

Gabriel: Alicia.

Then the Ki bullet hits the wall beside and exploded damaging him and PoH

PoH: what the fuck!? That's bullshit!!

But it was a warning for their battle.

End of Volume