The air grew dense with foreboding as the opposing forces prepared for the imminent battle. Despite the Lightborns outnumbering their adversaries, the mere presence of the Loyal Sentinel, the strongest guardian knight of the Lux Empire, was enough to instill fear and repel any cult that dared to challenge them. However, it would be a grave mistake to underestimate Selena and Sebas, for they possessed their own formidable abilities.

Selena Everdean, known as the Saintess of the Luminous Dawn, was renowned for her striking beauty that radiated serenity and peace. But behind her alluring facade lay a dark reputation for her mercilessness in executing her enemies in the most brutal and unforgiving ways imaginable. As the bearer of the Moon Crest, Selena was a master of the arts of illusion, capable of manipulating human emotions with uncanny precision. Her skills allowed her to heighten or diminish the emotions of her adversaries, granting her a significant advantage in battle. And let us not forget the transformative powers bestowed upon her by the Moon Crest. With the ability to assume a fearsome beast form, Selena became an unpredictable opponent, excelling in both ranged and melee combat.

But Selena was not the sole force to be reckoned with. Sebas, a bishop of the Luminous Dawn, was a formidable warrior in his own right. Known as the Earth Knight, Sebas had earned his fame through his exceptional skill in close-quarters combat and his mastery over the manipulation of the earth itself. His strikes were powerful and precise, shaking the very ground beneath his foes and leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.

As the imminent battle drew near, Selena suggested, "Sebas, you hold down Paul, and I'll handle the rest of the Lightborns. I should be able to keep them at bay for 30 minutes. The rest of you, go inside and check on the situation of His Holiness."

On the side of the knights, a knight with blond hair and blue eyes addressed their captain, "That's Saintess Selena and Earth Knight Sebas. What do you think we should do, Captain?"

Paul, the captain, pondered the situation before responding, "If I were alone and went all out, I could kill every one of them. But it would take time. Both Selena and Sebas are formidable opponents. I believe their goal is to obtain something inside. So, Sebas will try to hold me down, while Selena deals with the rest of you. The rest will go inside, and there's nothing we can do about it. Arthur, the moment the battle begins, you go and restrain Sebas. I'll go after Selena and stop her from using her psychic attacks. The rest of you, half of you assist Arthur, and the others eliminate those heretics."

"Yes, sir!" Arthur and the rest of the knights replied in unison, prepared to carry out their captain's orders.

As the two sides braced themselves for the impending clash, Selena suddenly employed her abilities, enveloping her companions in a dense fog. She commanded, "Retreat! His Holiness is still alive. I can sense his life force."

Sebas, slightly skeptical, questioned, "If His Holiness is still alive, shouldn't we rescue him?"

"We don't need to. Those dogs of the Empire won't harm him," Selena confidently declared.

Sebas remained unconvinced and inquired further, "Why are you so sure?"

"Because I know something you don't," Selena replied with a mischievous smile. "Don't worry, I'll take full responsibility." With that, Selena turned around, and the rest of the group followed suit.

"Be careful," Paul reminded his knights, observing the sudden fog that shrouded the heretics. "That's Selena's doing. What is she planning?" Paul mumbled to himself. As the knights stood ready for battle, the fog mysteriously dissipated, revealing an empty space where the heretics once stood.

"They retreated?" Arthur asked, uncertainty lingering in his voice.

"Be cautious. This must be one of their tricks. Divide into two teams—one team on guard, and the other team will search for a way inside," Paul commanded, preparing his knights for the next phase of their mission.

"Sir, what should we do about the seals?" asked Arthur, the blond knight, as he looked towards the abandoned mansion. A visible yet faint barrier surrounded the structure, but what caught their attention were the floating symbols, enveloped by ethereal wisps and sparking with otherworldly magical effects. These were the seals.

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Paul furrowed his brow, pondering the situation. "Has anyone here ever seen these seals before?"

"No, this is my first time," replied Arthur, while the rest of the knights shook their heads in agreement.

"It would take a considerable amount of time to remove the protection seals individually. Let me handle it," Paul declared, taking confident strides towards the mansion, his great sword held firmly in both hands. As he reached a certain distance, he came to a stop and raised his sword high above his head, pointing it towards the heavens.

A focused and determined gaze replaced Paul's frown, his eyes emanating an otherworldly light. His entire being resonated with a surge of magical energy, his aura glowing with a divine light. With a gentle yet resolute movement, he struck down diagonally, uttering in a calm voice, "Celestial Severance." As he did, the magical glow and swirling wisps dissipated, leaving no trace of their presence. Paul turned away, casually hanging his great sword behind his back.

Then, a resounding *clink* echoed through the air.A rift appears signifying the severing of reality. A slash mark shot forth, creating an expanding void that sliced through the barrier and the floating seals along its path.

*Boom*

The collision reverberated, followed by a series of explosive booms.

*BOOM* *BOOM*

The barrier shattered, and all the floating seals were cleaved into two, at the same time.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

They exploded, releasing their pent-up energy.

Arthur and the rest of the knights watched in awe as Paul walked back towards them, his presence exuding a newfound sense of power and accomplishment.

"So this is Celestial Severance, capable of severing literally everything," Arthur murmured in amazement.

With the seals obliterated, the path lay open before them. The knights exchanged determined glances, ready to venture into the depths of the abandoned mansion, where dark secrets and eerie mysteries awaited. They followed Paul's lead, stepping forward with renewed courage, their swords at the ready, prepared to face the unknown that lay within.

Paul, Arthur, and the knights of Lightborns cautiously stepped into the dilapidated mansion, their footsteps resounding through the empty hallways. Once grand, the halls now stood in eerie silence, haunted by the whispers of forgotten secrets. Faded wallpaper peeled from the walls, revealing the decay beneath, as if the very essence of life had been sucked out of the place.

As they searched room after room, they found little of importance, mostly inconsequential files and evidence of the mansion's former occupants, who appeared to be mere attendants and servants. Arthur voiced his realization, "Most of the files here are trivial, and the residents seem to be insignificant. No wonder those heretics simply left." Paul reminded them not to let their guard down, their initial purpose in coming to Grimwood Hollow being the immense magical power that resonated even from the capital.

Suddenly, a shout rang through the air, "There's a secret passage!" The knights turned their attention to Dave, who had made the discovery. Arthur swiftly moved towards the source of the shout, prompting Dave to explain his findings. After a while, all thirteen knights, including Paul, gathered around a door cleverly disguised as a bookshelf.

Paul sensed a dense aura of evil emanating from beyond the door. "It's creepy as fuck," Dave remarked, a sentiment shared by everyone present. The lingering magic made the passage appear even more foreboding. Paul quickly gave instructions, "Dave, Kevin, John, and Anderson, you four stand guard. The rest, follow me.

Paul led the way, his towering stature nearly brushing against the low ceiling. As they advanced cautiously, Paul stretched his hand towards Arthur, requesting his short sword. Arthur obliged, exchanging weapons with Paul while unsheathing his own remaining short sword. The rest of the knights mirrored their leader's actions, a testament to their professionalism and readiness for combat.

They reached a room filled with an oppressive atmosphere, the source of the intense magical power they had sensed. Paul furrowed his brow and cautioned, "I sense a feeble presence of life in this room, but be on guard. Proceed with caution."

Upon entering, the knights were assaulted by a foul stench that nearly caused even the seasoned veteran, Paul, to retch. Before them lay nine mutilated bodies, so grotesque and disfigured that they hardly resembled humans anymore. Arthur covered his nose and asked in disbelief, "What are these abominations?"

"Secure the area! We have found the source of the disturbance. This room reeks of dark magic," Paul commanded, his voice firm and resolute. The knights swiftly took up defensive positions, ensuring no ambush or danger awaited them. Paul, ever vigilant, approached the sole survivor amidst the carnage.

Although he sensed no magical power emanating from the survivor, Paul remained on guard, prepared to strike if necessary. As he drew closer, he recognized the face of the survivor and his eyes widened in surprise.

It was Luke Arcadia, the eldest son of Duke Arcadia and rightful heir to the noble family. Luke was known for his humility and kindness, qualities that had earned him respect and admiration. Paul had a personal connection to Luke, being friends with his father, Duke Arcadia. The fact that Luke, who had gone missing three days ago, was found in this place troubled Paul deeply.

"Luke! What happened? Why are you here?" Paul asked, his voice filled with concern as he moved swiftly towards the survivor, eager to unravel the mystery that had brought them all to this forsaken mansion.