Chapter 325 : Chapter 325

Chapter 325. Resolving the Royal Guard

“His ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Highness Dorg was assassinated and is on the verge of death. The important ministers of the court who attended the banquet suffered heavy casualties. I have been ordered to lead troops to suppress the rebellion and arrest the assassins’ accomplices. I came here to ensure the safety of the national treasury, to prevent them from using the chaos to counterattack, steal from the treasury, and shake the kingdom’s foundation!”

Aureus’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍brows tightened. Dorg had been assassinated? The core nobles had suffered heavy casualties? The nature of this incident was far too vile.

If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this was true, half of the kingdom’s administrative system had already been paralyzed, and protecting the treasury was indeed the highest priority.

“Your ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Highness, this matter is of great importance. Without conclusive evidence, I cannot hand over the defense of the kingdom’s lifeline based solely on your word.”

Sylvia ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not refute him. She shifted half a step aside and pointed in the direction of Redleaf Manor.

“Commander, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you may personally go and verify it. His Highness Dorg is currently inside the manor, and Professor Logaris is stabilizing his injuries.”

Aureus frowned deeply and looked at Sylvia for a long moment.

BANG!!

A terrifying sonic boom rang out, and the marble ground beneath Aureus’s feet instantly cracked like a spiderweb.

Aureus’s figure instantly turned into an afterimage tearing through the night, shooting through the air toward Redleaf Manor at an extremely terrifying speed.

In less than thirty seconds...

WHOOSH—!

A violent wind suddenly descended. Aureus’s figure crashed heavily in front of the two armies like a meteor, and his heavy combat boots stamped several faint cracks into the marble ground.

The veins on the back of the hand gripping his heavy sword bulged. His chest rose and fell slightly, and his originally iron-hard, resolute face now carried a trace of unconcealable pallor and shock.

In those few dozen seconds just now, he had personally witnessed the hellish scene inside Redleaf Manor—the black blood covering the ground, the core nobles who had died in miserable states, and Logaris, who was “examining” His Highness Dorg.

Professor Logaris had indeed been standing nearby, and had confirmed to him that it was the cursed poison left behind by Moran.

Aureus forcibly digested this shocking news, one that was enough to overturn the entire order of the kingdom.

Moran’s remnants... had actually gone mad to this extent?! And as the Commander of the Royal Capital Guard, he had not noticed a single thing?!

He suddenly recalled the strange power that had erased every trace of Moran himself when Moran had defected.

Could it be the same power as back then?

He opened his eyes again and looked at Sylvia. This young princess’s expression remained calm, while the Northern Territory army behind her was strictly disciplined, its killing intent soaring into the sky.

Aureus instantly understood.

At the moment when this nation was about to fall apart, the old nobles were nearly all dead, and the First Prince was gravely wounded and on the brink of death... the only one who could stabilize the overall situation and clean up this mess was the Governor of the Northern Territory before him, who held heavy military power.

He took a step back. Amid the heavy sound of metal scraping, he slowly sheathed his sword.

“Royal Guard, hear my order. Make—”

“Commander, please wait.”

Just as Aureus was about to order his men to make way, Sylvia’s cool voice interrupted him.

“Commander Aureus, you personally saw the tragic scene at Redleaf Manor just now. Now His Highness Dorg is gravely wounded, the core ministers are either dead or injured, and the Royal Capital is already on the verge of collapse.”

“Moran’s remnants may stir up even greater unrest in the city at any moment. The Northern Territory’s army is elite, but when it comes to familiarity with the Royal Capital’s streets, alleys, and city defenses, it is far inferior to the Royal Guard under your command. At this moment, the only people the royal family can absolutely trust are you and this iron army that has guarded the Royal Capital for many years.”

Aureus froze. The hand gripping his sword hilt subconsciously tightened, and he listened in silence.

Sylvia looked into his eyes, her tone sincere and gentle.

“The Golden Rose Palace and the treasury will be personally guarded by me, so they should be safe for now. But the Royal Capital’s four gates absolutely cannot be lost. If those rebels are allowed to flee in the chaos, or if they coordinate from within and without to bring in foreign enemies, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

“Therefore, Commander, I hope you will divide the Royal Guard into four forces and have your deputy officers lead them to coordinate with the Northern Territory troops and fully take over the defenses of the four gates.”

“Before the situation is completely pacified, seal off the entire city. Only with the Royal Guard stationed in all four directions can we truly soothe the people’s hearts and stabilize the overall situation. Commander... what do you think?”

This proposal could be called killing two birds with one stone, yet it was wrapped so flawlessly that not a drop leaked through.

It gave the Royal Guard a “supreme honor and legitimate mission” that they could not refuse, one that aligned with their duties.

At the same time, in the most tactful and respectful way possible, it dispersed this armed force of two thousand men, which was strong enough to pose a threat, and transferred them away from the Golden Rose Palace, the core of power.

After a brief weighing of the situation, Aureus made the only choice available.

“Your Highness is too serious! Sharing the royal family’s burdens is the Royal Guard’s duty.”

Aureus replied in a deep voice, without the slightest hesitation left in his tone. “The Royal Guard will defend the four gates to the death and will not let a single rebel escape!”

Soon, the two thousand Royal Guards, led by their respective officers, transformed into four silver-white iron streams and swiftly set out along the broad central avenue, heading toward the four directions of the Royal Capital.

The plaza that had originally been filled with drawn swords and taut bows instantly became mostly empty.

She had dismantled the most troublesome armed force inside the Royal Capital without shedding blood, but there was not the slightest relaxation on Sylvia’s face.

She turned her horse’s head and cast her gaze toward the Royal Treasury, which crouched in the night like a steel beast, and the National Archives pressed close beside it.

“Pass down my order.” Sylvia’s cool voice rang through the rainy night as her gaze swept toward the personal guard deputy officer at her side.

“Present, Your Highness!” The deputy officer stepped forward in his heavy Third-Generation Magitech Armor, producing a deep metallic clash.

“Take three hundred men and fully take over every entrance and exit of the Royal Treasury and the National Archives.”

Sylvia’s commands meshed like precision gears.

“From this moment on, even if it is a Cabinet minister, anyone who dares approach within ten steps of these two buildings without my written order is to be killed without mercy.”

“As you command!”

The deputy officer abruptly waved his hand, and half of the Northern Territory elites swiftly broke away from the main formation.

Heavy Third-Generation Magitech Armor stepped onto the treasury’s high stone steps, and ghostly blue magitech autocannons were swiftly set up at every commanding height.

After confirming that the treasury was completely secure, Sylvia flicked the reins.

“The rest of you, follow me into the palace.”

The pure-black warhorse broke into a trot along the rainy night street, its hooves ringing crisply.

The fully armed Northern Territory elites followed closely behind, advancing toward the Golden Rose Palace, symbol of supreme power.

When the grand palace gates appeared in sight, Sylvia pulled the reins and stopped before the main entrance of the Golden Rose Palace. She dismounted, casually tossed the reins to an attendant nearby, and walked forward.

She stepped onto the wet marble stairs and ascended step by step.

Heavy metal boots struck the stone steps, producing a uniform roar like the funeral bell of the Grim Reaper knocking at the door, mercilessly announcing the end of the old master and the arrival of the new.

Sylvia pushed open the heavy gilded doors of the Golden Rose Palace with both hands, crossed the high threshold, and walked without hesitation along a hidden spiral staircase behind the throne toward the deepest underground nexus of the palace.

There slept the ultimate foundation of the Astrelia Kingdom—the core of the Royal Capital Grand Array, Astral Maze Lock · Radiance of Astrelia.

An absolute trump card of the royal family, capable of erupting with Eighth-Tier power at a critical moment.