“Master Gregory! It has been a long time.”

  Freya bowed to a man with a commanding presence. He had a square jaw, a refined look, and hair combed back. He was clean-shaven and carried himself with grace. He had the air of a gallant nobleman at the prime of his life.

  He was Freya’s teacher.

  “Freya. I’m happy to see you are well.”

  “I didn't expect to see you here. Imagine my surprise when Warden Myers informed me of your presence.”

  “Heh... Even our stern leader can make a soft face. Imagine that.”

  “Quiet you! Read the room!”

  “Ow!”

  Freya and Gregory ignored the whispers that they definitely heard.

  “Master, what business brings you here?”

  “It’s classified, I’m afraid,” Gregory shook his head. “And you? Shouldn't you be in the Empire territories, searching for the Cardinal?”

  “My team has tracked the missing Cardinal Josephine to a place called Bresnavi Valley. Have you heard of it?”

  “I have. The so-called living labyrinth. Even Level 5s went missing there. Why would Josephine go there...” Gregory looked at the disciple who used to be under his wing, grown up. “Do you mean to pursue?”

  “Cardinal Josephine is far too important for the Church, especially in the current situation. After consulting with HQ, we might have a way of navigating the valley. There is a prisoner here who has gone in and out of the valley repeatedly.”

  “So you mean to find yourself a guide.”

  “Aye. I've been granted permission and the Warden has been informed.”

  “Warden Myers won't like that. He has the opinion that what enters his prison never gets out.”

  “He made his objections quite clear,” Freya nodded. “But we have orders from the top. The conditional release process will take some time, I’m told.”

  “We got some time off, at least. Won't say no to a soft bed and warm bath.”

  “Cedric, dude, shut your pie hole!”

  Gregory decided to extend his mercy to the others that Freya brought.

  “So these are your squad.”

  “Yes, Master. People, introduce yourself.”

  Freya raised her glasses and gave them an intense look. Her eyes said: if you embarrass me in front of my master, docked pay!

  “Vice-Captain of Special Investigation Freya Squad, Legionnaire Eliott, Level 4, Sir!”

  “Member of Freya Squad, Legionnaire Hunter, Level 3 scout!”

  “Same as my left, Legionnaire Casey, Level 3 healer.”

  “Legionnaire Cedric. Level 4. Captain Freya’s loyal servant. She says it, I do it.”

  Freya’s glasses cracked as Cedric did his introductions. He was always a troublemaker. The next training session will be extra hard and long. Casey stomped on Cedric's foot.

  “Hahahaha! What a lively group,” Gregory didn't take offence. “Solid foundations and skills all around at your age. The future of the Legion looks bright. The Radiant Lady is kind.”

  “Ha! Thank you for the praise,” Vice-Captain Eliott replied. The small approval from a Level 5 like Gregory meant a lot.

  “It’s an honor to finally meet a war hero like you, General,” Hunter said. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Enough. I’m just a retired old man now. So, what’s your opinion on your commanding officer? Is she a good leader? Speak freely because I'll shield you from her ire,” Gregory made a light-hearted jest. The usually stoic Freya made a twitch.

  “Well, she could do with a little less scowl and more flexibility,” Cedric accepted the offer.

  “And you need to have less mouth!” The healer elbowed him in the side. “Disregard his nonsense, General. Captain Freya always made the best command in the field and always led us to victory.”

  “Hahaha! At ease, at ease. Take a seat and relax... While you can.”

  The last part was almost imperceptible but not to Freya.

  The others were visibly happy about the offer. They had been busy lately. It was one setback after another searching for the Cardinal’s trail. Sometimes, it felt like two steps forward, one or two steps back.

  As soon as they took a seat, the alarm was blaring.

  Apparently, the Goddess demanded more from them today.

  “Ain't it just great. I haven't even had a drink yet!” Cedric grumbled.

  “The Goddess tests our faith,” Eliott prayed. “Mine remained strong.”

  “General Gregory,” the warden’s voice came from a speaker in the room. “I need you at the command room.”

  “Affirmative,” Gregory replied.

  ***

  Warden Myers put on the appearance of a stable sea rock for his men. No matter how hard the waves battered it, he was undisturbed. Because of that, the men could do their duties smoothly.

  “Detecting dimensional breach! One, wait two... scratch that. Three breaches detected at this point.”

  “Victa signatures locked! Major incursions! Code Red Snake! I repeat, Code Red Snake!”

  “Communication silence from the barrier watchpost. Possibly wiped out!”

  “Primary visual detection is jammed. Resorting to auxiliaries. Rerouting...”

  “Victa spike! My Goddess! Gauges are at the max! Disaster-class attack incoming!”

  “D-disaster-class? Khhh! Shields at full power! Second and third backup primed!”

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  “Brace!!!”

  The tremor of the barrier holding against the unseen attack was fierce. Things in the room fell messily on the ground. Not a small number of people ducked under the table or covered their heads while utilizing defensive Artes. However, no one was harmed. The barrier held and the Tower endured.

  “M-match from the records! The Victa signature belongs to Grausam the Catastrophe!”

  “From the Warbringers? Holy Hell... There must be a mistake!”

  “Damn those maniacs! When they appear, the fires of war burn like an inferno!”

  “No! Have you forgotten where we are? In this dimension, no unauthorized Level 5 can set foot here. The Warden and the other Level 5s can defend against any force they send against us!”

  “Restoring visuals! Putting it on the main screen!”

  “...Goddess save us.”

  What the people of the command room saw made their blood run cold.

  As if reality were a glass, there were fissures in multiple places. From the bigger cracks, men and monsters entered by the thousands. Behind their processions, like generals overseeing the movement of troops, stood the Level 5s in all their imposing glory.

  Their aura was at full spread, like gods on the battlefield.

  “Warbringers and Death Society at the western breach!”

  “Wicked Tempters and Blood Church in the south!”

  “Gardeners of Perfection, Black Ice Apostates, both are coming from the east side!

  “Excluding the Bone Ravens, all seven major cults are attacking!”

  “You fool! They are bloody stealthy assassins! Expect them to be present among the invaders!”

  “Hells and Damnations! Now they’re working together? They should have killed each other like always.”

  “It's like... we’re facing the full might of hell. O Goddess...”

  “C-calm down you lot. Their Level 5 can only watch from the periphery. They can't come in from our defensive measures. The world itself denies them entry. We can do this. We can hold them like any of the previous invasion attempts!”

  Then they saw the enemy Level 5s ripping something like a translucent veil before they made their approach. Their previous assumptions were proven false.

  Now, true panic began to spread among the officers in the command room. It was only natural, since this was an unprecedented feat. The Tower of Remorse was an impregnable stronghold but it was never attacked by a hostile Level 5 despite having many in its bowels.

  From what they could detect, there were six Level 5 Pathseekers and nine Rank 5 monsters coming from all sides.

  Warden Myers had no illusion that the number would not go up.

  Two enemies were particularly dangerous. It was the one who fired the first shot, Grausam the Catastrophe and Marlborough the Undying Juggernaut. They were famous figures from the Warbringers and Death Society, respectively; their powers were without question.

  The gaol only had seven Level 5s, including him and General Gregory. They were the only ones capable of keeping Grausam and Marlborough in check.

  Things didn't look good, to say the least.

  Myers exchanged a look with General Gregory, who had entered the command room at some point. The two men shared a look of understanding. Unlike the others, they didn't panic.

  As if they knew the unprecedented incursion would happen beforehand.

  ***

  “Gentlemen. We are the defenders of the bastion of peace and order. Here, where we keep the chaotic elements under lock and key, is under attack. There is only one reason for attacking a prison: a jailbreak. We will not let this happen. We have the sacred duty from the Radiant Lady of protecting the peace. The Tower of Remorse will not fall to the cultists and their false gods! Have no fear, for the Goddess will surely give her loyal servants might to defeat the graceless. We will, without fail, be victorious!”

  Gregory listened to the words of Warden Myers from the side. It was a pretty speech and managed to rouse the men from despair. After getting back their fire, they began to organize the defense.

  It’s time... The stage is set. What’s left is doing my duty.

  “I’ll meet them outside to dissuade their top figures from acting too early. Warden Myers, you’d be better served in the Tower. There’s much to do here.”

  “You have my thanks, General,” Warden Myers saluted.

  Gregory replied with a nod. When he exited the command room, he saw Freya and her team waiting.

  “We’re here to lend our blades to the cause.”

  “You will be welcomed. See to the Warden for your duties.”

  “We will,” Freya said. She hesitated a bit before speaking again. “Take care of yourself, Master. At your age-”

  “If I were ten years younger, I would have single-handedly fought the invasion force and gone back home in time for dinner. Now, they still don't have what it takes. I’ll kick Grausam's butt like before. You whippersnappers need only to worry about yourselves. Now go. Be careful and may the Radiant Lady be with you.”

  “...Good fortune be with you.”

  Seeing Freya’s back, Gregory could tell his protege, granddaughter of his old friend, was holding her words. Hm. Perhaps she already had an inkling. Her intuition was always razor-sharp.

  Either way, they all had their roles to fill.

  Gregory closed his eyes and recalled the conversation he had in Sephoria several weeks ago.

  ***

  “The Tower of Remorse will be attacked!?”

  “Not only have we picked up suspicious movements from the cults, the other information basically confirms it.”

  “Flavia,” Gregory nodded at his old friend.

  “Gregory,” she did the same. The respect they had towards each other was something born out of decades of trust.

  The old general looked at the state of the Silver Council and felt the weight of his years. Usually there were six people. The Popess, the four Cardinals, and the Supreme Commander of the Silver Legion.

  But now, the main seat, where Popess Sallustia had occupied for many years, was vacant. One of the Cardinal’s seats was similarly empty.

  The Estellian Church was undergoing an ordeal to keep the world afloat.

  And now there's this. As if we haven't stretched thin already. If the worst villains in history from the Tower got free, the effect would be immeasurable.

  “I’ll organize a defense from what resources we can spare.”

  “You may not, General,” the elven Cardinal, Siora Watermoon said with a slightly sad expression.

  “What?”

  “The Interpreter of Fate has given us an oracle,” Cardinal Judith of the Free People Coalition said. “Adeline?”

  “I will now speak the oracle,” Cardinal Adeline opened a folded letter.

  Gregory closed his eyes and listened.

  “In the last month of the sun season, the fate of doom is written in the hidden white tower where sinners are asked their due. Familiar strangers bring strife and sorcery. Earth will rage, sky will weep, man will fear, as it is born. If the daughter of light is there without intercession, guided by untainted destiny, a sliver of greatness will fall into her grasp. The shadow in the form of man will not surrender it without a fight. Sweet defeat, swift and fleeting. Death stalks the stalwart mentor. Broken shell will contain either hope or emptiness.”

  No one spoke for a while. Some parts were too cryptic to understand but some he could translate their meaning.

  “So it is written,” Adeline concluded.

  “The daughter of light...” Gregory murmured.

  “Yes. In previous prophecies, it refers to your disciple and Commander Flavia’s granddaughter. Freya,” Judith said.

  “Untainted destiny...” Gregory frowned.

  “Meaning, we cannot act because of the prophecy,” Siora clasped her hands on the table. “Nor can we nudge Freya or reinforce the Tower of Remorse beforehand.”

  “All this for the so-called sliver of greatness. For something we don't know, we risk the integrity of the world’s most important prison. There’s no word about its successful defense or the consequences of this attack. From the cults, most likely. Who else is there?” Gregory took a deep breath. “Are we sure about this?”

  “The Goddess writes the Fates. Going against Fate means defying the Goddess’ will," Adeline said.

  “Without Sallustia, our options are even more limited,” Judith sighed. “General Gregory, the council has made its decision. Do you accept it?”

  “I am the Goddess’ instrument... Her will be done.”

  Gregory's acknowledgement caused a pained expression on the others, especially Commander Flavia.

  Death stalks the stalwart mentor.

  That line most likely meant he was going to die there. Gregory’s faith did not waver in the slightest.

  “The Church... thank you for your long and uncountable contributions, old friend,” Adeline shed a tear.

  “For the sake of this world,” Gregory replied.

  A phrase they always said. All for the good of the world and all living beings.

  “...For the sake of this world,” the Silver Council said as one.

  ***

  Gregory ended his reminiscence. As it was foretold, the attack happened. He only told the Warden about the attack. None other knew.

  Prophecy...

  His beloved disciple Freya appeared in several prophecies. Most of them were good. The Goddess had a big plan for her. He only hoped she was ready for it and wherever she ended up, she could still smile in the end.

  Just like himself.

  That said, oracles aren't absolute either. Even made by the greatest seer in the world. Not all her prophecies came true. The benevolent wing of fire that is supposed to be the other pair of the stern wing of light never came to pass. Some still hoped the other wing would appear in the future but the time was missed.

  Gregory always wondered whether this meant the Church was a bird that had lost one of its wings.

  If so, what hope did they have for the Tenth Hellwar? The one long said was going to be the greatest in history?

  May the Goddess have mercy on us all.

  The old general said his prayer as he made his way to the battlefield.

  ***

  “So, this is the Tower of Remorse, eh? Watch out, world. There’s a new villain in the neighborhood and he’s going to cook!”

  Arsène S. Tanael smiled confidently behind his mask.