The mist covering the heavens was instantly torn open by a massive rift, revealing the blood-red sky beyond.
Space-time trembled violently at that moment, and endless, terrifying pressure spread from above the shadows of the distant palace.
An invisible force spread through the void, and fine cracks appeared across the densely packed crystallized roots of the World Tree.
He Ao looked up at the sky. He knew very well that these disturbances were not a direct manifestation of battle, but the "aftershocks" of some battle spreading outward.
The true battlefield was likely neither within this mist nor beneath this blood-red sky.
This was a war belonging to true angels.
Thud, thud, thud—
Just then, rapid, hurried footsteps came from the palace direction within the distant thick fog.
He Ao continued taking deep breaths, turned around, and looked toward the source of the sound.
Several hurried figures emerged from the dense mist.
He Ao held out his hand. Silvi naturally leaped up, grabbed it, and climbed along his arm onto his shoulder.
"Bishop, are we really just running away like this? Won't the Archbishop punish us?"
As the figures rapidly approached, their frantic conversation rang out through the mist.
"Running is the Archbishop's order," an aged voice said. "Do you think we're fleeing? We're preserving the faith's last embers, leaving seeds of hope for its future. As long as we remain alive, the faith will not perish!"
"As expected of the bishop's foresight!" the first voice immediately replied. "And as expected of the Archbishop's wisdom!"
"But how do we get out?" another voice nearby asked quietly. "The road to the gate of Midgard has already been sealed off by those Anomaly Association heretics."
"There is more than one route to the gate of Midgard," the aged voice said quickly. "Ahead is