Night hung low.
Linsey and Alvitte stood facing each other.
The Black Mist shrouding the city was spreading, nearly crushing the breath from people's lungs. Yet Black Street, where they stood, had become the only place untouched by darkness.
Not long ago, after the Royal City broke free from the Thorned Necklace's blockade,
the Law Knights who had regained their freedom had surged forth, striving to maintain order and barely stabilize the city.
But now, an even more terrifying panic was erupting throughout the city.
The oppression of war had blanketed this world for a long time.
Even in the Royal City, where people could live relatively stable lives at the cost of scarce resources,
the pain accumulating in their hearts would not be healed.
At this very moment, the wails echoing through the city sounded both like humanity's cries and the world's lament.
Linsey stared intently at the map in his hand.
The City was already in such chaos. The Refugee Camp outside Quiet River Gorge might become the enemy's next target—
"Alvitte, the Awakened of the Abyss School excels at wielding negative emotions."
"This guy draws power from despair, and now he's going to attack the people outside the city. I think this must be related to the spread of despair. He's planning something even bigger!"
"..."
Upon hearing Linsey's information, Alvitte hesitated hardly at all.
She sheathed her longsword, hung it at her side, and turned toward the Believer Base.
"Linsey, I'm heading out of the city."
Linsey asked,
"You're going to save those people?"
Alvitte replied,
"I'm going to kill that lunatic."
"Just as you said, since he abandoned the city to launch a surprise attack outside it, he must have a purpose."
"And I'll stop him."
In just a few sentences, Alvitte had arrived at