Beneath the gloomy sky, a suffocating stench permeated the air.
Watching the demons that seemed to cover the mountains and plains, the blond Holy Knight merely tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand.
"You... you damned devils, don't even think about disturbing the temple's peace!"
The prolonged battle seemed to have numbed his tongue. It was not merely that—his very form was gradually twisting, as though it might collapse at any moment.
Watching this, the leading man could not help but grin.
"Why go this far, Holy Knight? The age you once lived in has long since vanished. The age of dragons has already been forgotten. All that remains now are a few remnants."
He spread his arms, gesturing at everything around them.
"Think carefully. Is there really any need for you to persist? What exactly are you protecting? The glory that has already passed? Or that dragon master of yours, who no longer answers you?"
"I..."
"Really, think it over, knight of Phylogrant. Step aside and hand over what you are protecting. Now that even the progenitor dragon has fallen, there is no reason for you to keep struggling."
"I..."
"The vigil with neither end nor result is over."
As he spoke, the shadows across the earth gradually swelled, seemingly swallowing the knight's figure.
Just as the knight was nearly losing himself, the demon that seemed to lurk within the shadows and wander beneath the earth revealed a wild smile.
"Rest well, Holy Knight."
"Never!"
Just as the shadows were about to completely consume the knight, shining golden radiance scattered them.
A blade plunged into the ground, and the black-robed man let out a pained howl.
"Aah!!"
"I will not retreat, nor will I fall here! Even if I am the last knight of the order, I