As the world descended into turmoil.
Mary Geoise.
Last night's torrential rain had stopped, but the entire Holy Land remained shrouded in oppression.
Pooled water slowly flowed along the shattered streets. Collapsed palaces had yet to be cleared away, and statues overturned by battle and broken walls could be seen everywhere.
Farther away.
Where the central granary had once stood, there was now nothing but a vast expanse of charred ruins.
A faint smell of smoke still lingered in the air.
On the other side of the Holy Land, inside a Celestial Dragon palace that had fortunately remained intact through last night's great battle.
It was breakfast time.
Eight exquisitely prepared dishes sat upon a pure white dining table dozens of meters long.
Silver cutlery.
Golden goblets.
Delicate porcelain plates.
Every dish had been made by the Holy Land's finest chefs.
Outside, even a single one of them would have been enough to feed an ordinary family for a long time.
Yet the Celestial Dragon seated at the head of the table stared at the spread before him in silence for over ten seconds.
Then.
Bang!
He slammed both hands down on the table.
"Why is there only this much—?!!"
The shrill roar instantly echoed through the entire dining hall, and the attendants around him all dropped to their knees.
The chef in charge of preparing breakfast trembled violently, pressing his forehead tightly against the floor.
"S-Saint..."
"The central granary has already..."
Bang!
Before he could finish, a silver platter flew straight at him.
It struck him squarely on the forehead.
The chef let out a muffled groan. His brow split open at once, blood streaming down his cheek.
But he did not even dare wipe it away, and the Celestial Dragon did not spare him a glance.
"Where are