Hwang Mountain was three thousand meters tall, and stood as the barrier that protected the capital of the Central Empire. It was near impassable if one strayed from the roads hewn into it, and any passes were fiercely guarded. Intruders were killed on the spot, and no matter how prestigious their standing, anyone who entered without the permission of the imperial family were severely punished.

Theo stood at Hwang Mountain’s slopes and scoffed.

So this is what the empire has come to. 

The empty guard posts and scattered bodies of the soldiers. There were no signs of conflict, so it was likely they had entered Geongun Castle on orders. Lust preferred sacrifices over guards. Theo broke down the door and clenched a hand. He didn’t need chants anymore, as magic followed his will to destroy the guard post before him like a sandcastle before the coming tide.

“Hmm, your hands seem a bit callous today. Did something bad happen?” Seimei, who had come to stand next to him, looked strangely at him.

Theo hadn’t realized it, but he was being a little rougher than usual. He shook his head with a bitter smile. “It isn’t a big deal. The final battle is approaching, so I’m probably just tense.”

“Is that so? From my point of view... No, I guess it is okay,” Seimei tried to say something before shrugging...