“There are three more Heralds at the other Points of Power, hmm? Now, where could they be? Think. Think. Think.”

They said something about some sort of ceremony that would enslave the city right?—even Elders?

Yeah. Assuming all this is true, and assuming that’s what the eastern runes were for, there must be three other sites guarded by three other Heralds hiding somewhere around Ivory City.

So… the city is kinda triangle-ish thanks to the geography… the palace is smack right in the middle… the other sites should be in the surrounding districts… right?

Or maybe not. We don’t know how the spell works.

Right… Goddamn…

“If I can’t find them then I only have to smoke them out. Hmm… I need a loud enough microphone for that.”

Adrian emerges from the dungeons only to see that half the palace is in ruins and people are chaotically battling each other. spells are flying across the air. Mages and knights are fighting among themselves. King Zhu Zhen and Duke Ambrose are facing dozens of cultists in the sky.

“I’ve been gone for ten minutes. What the hell happened here?!”

Duke?

The dungeon explosion caused part of the palace to collapse. People panicked. Several cultists used boosters on themselves and aimed for the king. Things just spiraled from there.

Yes, after I informed the duchess as the master ordered, I accompanied Tessa to safety. But some cult members catch up to us, shouting, “All betrayers must die!” Master shields us by jumping in front of the incoming attack. She tears the cultists to pieces and sucks up their mana.

“W-w-what is that thing! Eep! Don’t hurt me! I’m just s-skin and bones! Hic!”

“Calm down, Tessa. Master, is that you?”

“Declan, I need to broadcast my voice to the entire city. Is there a spell for that?”

“W-wait… Lord Devil is a snake?”

“I believe there is an emergency voice transmission system that can be accessed from various strategic points. The closest one to us should be in the palace’s left wing.”

Adrian points at the collapsed area.

“That left wing?”

“…There should also be one in the barracks in the lower district.”

“Fine. Take me there.”

Adrian wraps his snake body around Declan’s shoulders. Declan picks up Tessa and casts a spell to propel forward at great speed. Tessa Tate screams her lungs out until Declan drops her off at her store.

Adrian restocks his mana bombs, then he and Declan reach the Barracks. They sneak in, take out the guards, and set up the broadcasting system.

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“Hear me, citizens of Ivory City. I am Adrian Acker, the Devil, and my words may be the last you’ll ever hear, so pay attention! By now you must have noticed the destruction at the royal palace. That right there is my little handiwork and a small demonstration of my power!

“Hidden around the city are three bomb sites, set up to go off at dawn. I assure you, the explosions are enough to wipe this city off the map. Hehehe! If you wish to live, you have two choices—abandon Ivory City or locate the bombs before then. But I warn you, each site is protected by my trusted servants and they don’t take too kindly to strangers. The choice is yours so choose wisely. Mwahaha! Mwa hahahaha!

“Oh, and for those of you who doubt my words… look towards the barracks.”

Adrian and the professor remove the guards from the command tower and blow it to smithereens. Professor Declan creates a pillar of fire that shoots up to the sky, making sure everyone can see it.

Sigh… They’ve done it now… it’s going to be a riot in the streets.

What else could they do?

I don’t know, man… I don’t know…

Raise of hands. How many of us were present in the city back then?

One-quarter of the room raises their hands.

It was utter bedlam. I was scared out of my wits!

I almost had a heart attack as I ran home to check up on my wife and kids.

I can still hear the screams. So many people got hurt… trampled in the streets…

And Saint Eleanor was responsible for it…

The devil is not Saint Eleanor! He’s trying to smear her name!

Yeah! The saint was the one who reached out to us and saved us from the chaos! There’s no way she would ever put anyone’s life in danger!

Even if it means preventing a greater tragedy? There must be a reason Jia Ju and the Tongue used the word ‘sacrifice.’

…There has to be another way.

Declan stands on the clock tower, watching the chaos unfold below. Adrian, who's still in the form of a snake, captures the sights with calm eyes.

“What now, master Adrian? Do you believe the other heralds will reveal themselves?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Will someone be able to find their locations?”

“Maybe. Couch! Cough! Maybe not.”

“Master… can we win?”

“Why do you care all of a sudden? Aren’t you here under duress, four eyes?”

“Ah yes, you did bully me and Tessa into becoming your subordinates. Hahaha…”

Professor Declan scratches his hair.

“Would you believe me that I originally joined the cult believing it was just a rich people’s club? I was expecting drinking parties and card games and high-class courtesans.”

“Ha! What about Tessa?”

“Lady Tate is a merchant. She only wanted the connections to give her business a leg up.”

“What a couple of disappointments both of you are… Declan, take me down there and go protect Tessa. I got it from here.”

“Master, you don’t mean to use the booster again, do you?! You’ll die!”

“Shut it, four eyes. I never permitted you to talk back to me. Now go!”

Declan reluctantly does as told. Adrian slithers along the rooftops, trying to figure out his next move.

Suddenly, he hears a sharp cry from the streets below. He looks down and sees an injured woman crying for help.

She must’ve been knocked down and trampled on.

“Shit, this again! Like I don’t already have enough on my plate!”

The snake jumps down and quickly transforms into Eleanor. She crawls on all four to the woman and holds her hand. Eleanor calms the woman and assures her that she can heal her… only if she believes. The woman kicks and screams and cries until she almost passes out. Eleanor bites her lips and decides to sprout white wings from her back. The woman stops screaming and gawks at her.

“Listen to me, child. Listen. I am Eleanor, priestess of the lord. Through my body, you can be saved. By God’s grace, you shall be healed. Trust in me. Take my hand. And your suffering will be gone.”

“…Elea… Eleanor…”

“Yes, child. Open your heart and trust me. Yes, that’s it. Trust me as you trust in the lord.”

Eleanor establishes a connection and pours her mana into healing the woman. Soon enough, her bones connect and her bruises fade. The woman looks at her body in awe and then starts praying to Eleanor.

“Thank you! Oh, Praise be, goddess!”

“N-no, it’s okay. There’s no need to pray to me.”

“Angel! It’s an angel!”

“Save us! Deliver us from evil!”

“My father, he’s blind! Please, help him, your grace!”

“Angel!

“Angel!”

The devil looks around and feels her temple pounding.

“Huh… I hate this damn realm so much it hurts.”