The valley had fallen into a strange silence.
The crimson light that had once dominated the battlefield was rapidly fading, leaving behind only the golden radiance that still surrounded the Saintess. The shattered road was covered with cracks, broken weapons, and fallen Cultists, while the mercenaries slowly recovered from the shock of what had just happened. Even the creature beneath the bridge had become strangely quiet, its enormous crimson eyes fixed upon the Saintess as though it still couldn't comprehend how the ritual had failed.
Luca gently lowered the Saintess into the arms of one of the mercenaries standing nearby.
"Take care of her."
The mercenary immediately nodded, though his expression still carried disbelief.
Luca straightened.
His eyes slowly moved toward the creature.
The enormous being was still staring at the place where the dark entity had disappeared.
Its earlier arrogance was gone.
Its confidence was gone.
For the first time since it had appeared...
