News quickly spread through the Paladins and the Inquisitors that Eugene Lionheart had crossed through the warp-gate and violated the temple’s barrier. The first three Inquisitors to confront him had been overpowered in an instant, while the three Paladins had stood helplessly as Eugene passed them.

With things turning out this way, Giovanni, the Captain of the Blood Cross Knights, could no longer leave things up in the air. The presence of the Blood Cross Knights in the temple wasn’t permitted by the knight commander, but Giovanni believed the ritual to be sacred and holy and felt tremendous joy at being able to abet the ritual as a knight serving God.

Giovanni wasn’t alone in the desire to stay true to his faith. All the Paladins who accompanied Giovanni considered it an honor and joy to have the opportunity to participate in the sacrament. So why did it matter that they were here without orders from the commander? This was the work of God, and nothing was more important for the devotees of Light.

Even if the intruder was the Hero chosen by the Holy Sword, his will to cause destruction could not precede God’s will. Indeed, it was an unacceptable act of rampage for Eugene Lionheart to have invaded the temple without consent, then hurt the Inquisitors.

He needed to be stopped, even if the Hero was injured in the process. The Hero, the Incarnation of Light, could never ruin the Sacrament of Light. Bodily wounds could be healed over time, but sin was irreversible, especially if it involved denying God’s will and insulting the sacrament. It was an even greater transgression if the sinner was the Hero, who was supposed to be nobler than anyone else and obedient to the Will of Light.

‘He must be stopped.’

Giovanni’s earnest,...