Humanity perished.

No, it was more accurate to say it was on the verge of extinction, but it practically had already perished.

The Parasite Queen had turned her blade toward mankind as soon as the Federation collapsed.

She had rarely touched humanity while Tigol Fortress was still standing, but the situation changed after the Federation fell apart.

Once the Parasite army started their assault, they began to sweep through the entire continent with unstoppable momentum.

Humanity had belatedly attempted to gather its forces and fight back, but they were beaten too easily, crumbling like a rotten tree with its insides hollowed out.

Haramark, the city that had held the southern front, was utterly demolished under the invasion of the Parasites.

Teresa Hussey had scraped together some troops that could barely be called troops and attempted to hold the city, but they were quickly forced to retreat, unable to endure the enemy’s unending waves.

Eva was the same.

Evangeline Rose and a few other individuals remained and desperately fought with their lives on the line, but the city was still captured in the end.

And today. Humanity’s capital went up in flames.

It was only natural.

Scheherazade was no longer a safe city after Haramark fell. This was something that was foreseen ever since the Spirit Realm fell, causing Tigol Fortress to be razed to the ground along with the city of Eva in its aftermath.

There still were cities standing, but it was all too clear that they, too, would soon become ashes.

They had thought about it too easily.

Who knew that the temples within the city would close and the portals would be destroyed as soon as the siege began?

No one had imagined there would be that many traitors— they had just not taken action until now.

Mankind noticed far too late that they were long since within the grasp of the Parasite Queen.

And now, they were paying the price.

*

Dark smoke could be seen rising from the distance,...