Battle of the Skyreach (12)

Anselmo was like Pallas, possessed of divinity, controlling the Rainbow Bridge as tens of thousands of Thornflower Knights charged toward Arnold.

What shocked everyone was that even a Great Being descended into the world could not stop the Thornflower Knights from closing in bit by bit, nor could he evade the Thornflower Knight's Greatswords falling upon him.

"What... have you done?"

Arnold stared wide-eyed at Anselmo. These mortals, these ants—why had they become like this? When he awakened and returned, he had not sensed the passage of time. A century was far too brief for Them, but in his memories, the people of this world should not have been like this.

In the distance, Gallen Russell watched Arnold as the holy radiance around him dimmed, his heart tense. This was his first time wielding a Grand Duke's authority. The clash between royal authority and divine authority left him both uneasy and exhilarated.

"We are blasphemers. From the moment we committed blasphemy, we bore an eternal curse. If we wished to survive, we had to possess the power to contend against gods."

"The power of Pallas's divinity will sever your descent. When you are merely a Legend..."

The Thornflower Knight Legion surrounded Arnold. This vessel of divine descent fell to the earth, trampling the thornflowers beneath his feet. More sharp greatswords greeted him. The divine defense around him vanished, and in that instant, Anselmo appeared before him, the scepter in his hand radiating an earthy yellow glow.

"Earth Prison of the Never-Manifesting Eternity, soil where prosperity blooms, land unreachable by the heavenly kingdom."

Anselmo murmured, and the ground began to rise. A mountain emerged from the flat earth. Countless natural disasters forced Arnold into immobility as he watched helplessly while the rising earth around him surged over to engulf him.

Arnold's