God Valley Incident · Eight

Holy Land Mary Geoise · Land of Gods.

The Celestial Dragons who had not joined the competition gathered in the spacious viewing plaza.

A massive screen floated in the air, its image so clear it felt close at hand. Displayed on it was—

God Valley.

Cheers rose one after another.

"OOOH!! Go!!!"

"The Figarland Family has a huge advantage!!"

"The Bapette Family! The Manmayer Family is catching up too!!"

They pointed at the screen, discussing rankings and scores in relaxed, familiar tones.

As though they were watching nothing more than an ordinary sporting event.

On the screen, Saint Garling swung his blade and severed a slave's head in one clean motion.

Before the blood had even fully sprayed out, the image swiftly switched to the shifting scoreboard as the rankings refreshed.

In the viewing seats, a group of heavily made-up, distorted-looking female Celestial Dragons had eyes practically turned into hearts.

"AAAAAH!!"

"So handsome!!!"

"Lord Garling—!!!"

Their shrieks were piercing and hollow.

The image changed. Saint Somaz stood beneath a thick, sturdy tree.

He lifted his foot and impatiently kicked the trunk, making the branches shake violently.

Up in the tree, a child clung desperately to a branch, his knuckles white.

He gritted his teeth, tears welling in his eyes, yet he did not dare make a sound.

Somaz raised his head, his tone light and gentle, as if coaxing him. "Jump down—"

"I won't hurt you~"

But beneath the tree—

A whole patch of thorny spikes had already been spread out by his power.

Sharp, cold, and densely packed, like a net waiting to harvest its prey.

The child's father rushed out from the side.

He did not think about anything. He simply ran forward on instinct, his voice torn apart by fear. "Please—stop!!"

"That's my child!!!"

Somaz tilted his