Bellic's escape from the clutches of Valicar and her nightmarish undead creations was nothing short of miraculous. The gruesome recollections of her sinister powers continued to torment him. Her necromantic prowess exceeded anything he had witnessed since his earlier expeditions into the northern continent with the guidance of his mentor, the Pillar of the East. Together, they had confronted the darkest horrors of the arcane world, engaging in fierce battles against necromancers, vampires, and even an elder lich dating back to the time of the Undead Emperor. The history, largely hidden from the world, unveiled a horrifying truth: a female dragon with the help of Death Tooth had orchestrated the catastrophic conflict that had transformed the northern continent into a desolate wasteland of the undead.

Now, another monstrous dragon, Ignial, an ancient worm of unimaginable power, had resurfaced to terrorize the empire. Past encounters with the Pillar of the North had invariably culminated in frustrating standstills, their might too overwhelming to unleash without the gravest consequences. Only the immortals understood the precarious balance that prevented the world from plunging into chaos.

The empire was shrouded in gloom following the shocking news of Ignial's obliteration of the Pillar of the South. Responding to this dire situation, the Pillar of the North issued a direct command to Bellic: he must take control of the empire. The emperor, whose usefulness had come to an end, could no longer shield the Norail family, and the empire was in desperate need of restoration.

Bellic, with the Pillar of the North's orders echoing in his mind, recognized that he had a monumental task ahead. But there was more to the Pillar’s fury than the fall of the South. Through his shared power and divinity with his daughter, the Pillar of the North had seen through her eyes in her final moments as Ignial tore her apart, helpless to stop it. The agonizing vision had driven him into a blind rage, and now that same fury coursed through Bellic, adding a grim urgency to the command he had been given. He knew failure was not an option.

However, the threat of Ignial loomed large, surpassing all other concerns. With the tragic death of the Pillar's daughter, the Pillar of the North had to act swiftly, so he gave the command before vanishing at unfathomable speeds. Ignial and the Pillar of the North engaged in an epic battle, their clash of dragon fire and divine energy illuminating the distant horizon and casting an eerie glow across the capital. The Pillar, a conduit of the gods' will, fought with fervor, each strike a testament to his unyielding commitment to safeguarding the Empire and the Church.

Bellic, now tasked with carrying out the Pillar's orders, moved through the imperial city. Flashes of immortals clashing in the skies above created an awe-inspiring spectacle that none dared to challenge. As instructed by the Pillar, he swiftly executed the emperor and his son. Blue Dawn, the legendary sword, had vanished, leaving behind only a trail of destruction. The death of the Pillar of the South had pushed the empire and its factions to the brink of chaos, and this act would break it.

The mounting sense of dread within Bellic deepened as he considered the implications of the impending civil war he was now entrusted to manage. In the face of this looming catastrophe, he was promoted to the position of the Pillar of the East, and the Pillar of the North granted him a significant power boost. His new mission was to eliminate the remaining members of Valicar's family, who were still under house arrest, particularly now that the emperor had been slain.

Bellic, holding steadfast faith in his master's ability to overcome the vile lizard, pressed on toward the Norail manor in the capital. He disposed of the few houseguards who dared to obstruct his path with ease. Inside the manor, he carried out the grim task of executing the duchess and her children, an eerie sense of déjà vu washing over him. Only weeks ago, he had stood in this very place when he had gruesomely skinned Elinor Norail alive before his family, extracting the information that confirmed his association with the Death Tooth cult.

Yet, amid the macabre scene, two significant absences befuddled him. Jon-Luc, the eldest son who was now a young man and the next in line to inherit the dukedom, had vanished without a trace. Additionally, Alexandra, Valicar's mother, remained conspicuously absent. Despite the manor being surrounded by templars, they had somehow eluded capture, leaving Bellic to wonder how they had managed such a feat.

Though he knew that locating Jon-Luc and Alexandra was imperative, his immediate priority was to act swiftly in the face of the looming civil war. With the Pillar of the West embarking on a campaign in the Western Republic after ravaging the Southern continent and the Pillar of the South now deceased, the responsibility of quelling the impending conflict fell upon him. Throughout the night, he systematically eliminated all officers who refused to join the fight for the divine, their wavering faith in the gods serving as the catalyst for their downfall. He worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames of rebellion before they could engulf the capital.

The armies of the Church and Empire would now need to be unified to stand against the forces Valicar sought to rally against them.

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Days later, Amid the war-torn landscape, Bellic found himself thrust into the heart of the empire's turmoil at the head of an army. He bore the responsibility of leading the charge on behalf of the Pillar of the North. Each lord he encountered on the battlefield harbored a burning desire for retribution, their former emperor now a memory of a shattered era. The kingdom's alliances had been dismantled and assimilated, leaving a complex web of loyalties between the lords and their divine authority. The Church, once again, had to reaffirm its control over the rebellious nobility, who dared to challenge their rule.

On this campaign, Bellic pondered his master, The Pillar of the North, an enigmatic and revered figure, who stood as a living embodiment of divine will. He represented the very essence of the gods, a bridge between the mortal realm and the divine purpose that flowed through him. His vision transcended the earthly bounds of politics and power, reaching into a realm of higher significance. His mission was no mere conquest; it held a sacred purpose—to emancipate the lords bound by the limitations of the mortal realm and rekindle their connection to the gods. For the Pillar, this was more than a campaign; it was a spiritual odyssey, a journey to reclaim his rightful place among the gods.

During this cataclysmic conflict, the Pillar of the North, guided by his divine rage, once again clashed with Ignial, the ancient dragon of unimaginable power. Each of their mighty assaults left indelible scars upon the land, bearing witness to the colossal forces at play, entire cities wiped off the map. It was a confrontation between deities and ancient powers. It was a war where armies clashed like ants at the feet of giants.

As days stretched into weeks, the relentless war showed no signs of abating, and the empire's armies, guided by Bellic and the Church, remained resolute. However, new threats emerged continuously. In the West, the war against the Western Republic seemed to be progressing favorably. The Pillar of the West had recently dealt a devastating blow by obliterating the Senate House of the Republic. He had also thwarted the attempts of three S-rank adventurer teams sent to eliminate him, proving his might beyond doubt.

In the east, the situation remained chaotic, with rumors circulating of a massive army consisting of orcs and elves on the move toward the Beast Kingdom. These whispers were accompanied by news that the Arch Mage of Helm Hold had awoken from a coma that had kept him incapacitated for some time.

Nevertheless, one of the most significant occurrences was the ongoing confrontation between the Pillar of the North and the formidable dragon Ignial. Their clashes had resulted in an enduring stalemate, leaving both adversaries gravely wounded. Ignial, the ancient dragon, retreated to its lair to lick its wounds, while the Pillar of the North returned to the Church to bolster the prayers and faith of his devoted followers.

The Church, with the unwavering guidance of the Pillar of the North, continued its relentless efforts to consolidate power within the empire. The loss of the Pillar's daughter had ignited a blaze of determination that transcended mortal emotion, fueling a growing rage within him. His actions took on an increasingly aggressive tone, reflecting the divine wrath that he embodied.

Under Bellic's able leadership, the campaign to secure the empire's borders had yielded significant gains. Yet, the time had come to redirect their efforts beyond the fortified boundaries of the empire. The world was uniting against them, led by the formidable Valicar, who stood as a prominent figure in this coalition. The empire had taken steps to fortify its defenses, but the looming storm on the horizon necessitated a proactive response.

As the Pillar of the North oversaw the assembling of their vast army, he spoke to Bellic, his words carrying the weight of their divine mission. The combined might of the empire was formidable, with the ranks of the templars swelling as more individuals were granted the gift of holy magic.

"We have endured the dominance of these beasts for far too long," the Pillar of the North declared. His gaze was resolute, and his voice carried a divine authority that inspired unwavering loyalty among his followers.

Bellic, standing alongside a dozen templars, bowed with reverence. "We shall vanquish the dragons, my lord. By our eternal souls, we shall restore you to your rightful throne."

The Pillar, however, delivered a cryptic response, "Humanity alone will stand with me." His words left no room for ambiguity; his alliance would include only the human race. The Pillar's vision was one of single-minded determination, and his chosen path was clear with only one threat standing in his way with Easton Von White gone.

Valicar, the enigmatic figure at the heart of the empire's turmoil, was becoming a legend, much like her uncle. She was an unpredictable force, wielding power beyond her years and knowledge never seen before. Her reputation grew as tales of her exploits spread far and wide, especially after her remarkable feat of defeating the Pillar of the East. Her use of a mysterious magical device that could negate the Pillar's regeneration abilities was awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Rumors suggested that Valicar had acquired most of the keys required to unlock the Vault, amplifying her perceived power. With each key she collected, her influence over the alliance expanded. Her actions were setting the stage for a confrontation that would shape the empire's future.

"The hunt for Valicar begins," the Pillar of the North decreed with a menacing undertone. "She is to be taken alive. The dragon has spoken. It killed my daughter, for that witch. We must understand why."

Bellic, tasked with the solemn mission, commenced the preparations to locate the elusive Valicar. Every detail and resource at their disposal was to be dedicated to this pursuit, ensuring that she was captured alive. The commandment was absolute: the motives behind the alliance between Valicar and the dragon needed to be unveiled. The Pillar's demand for answers was clear, and the empire was to rally behind this critical directive.