After the Blood Moon passed the highest point of the sky, the world's strongest malice slowly sank into the depths of the Blood Mist.
In the place humanity feared most, the hall hidden in the Blood Moon's shadow took shape once more.
A huge round table stood at the center of the hall, surrounded by twelve thrones representing different calamities.
Several seats farther away were shrouded in darkness, concealing whatever they held.
At the far end of the table, the plain stone chair that stood above the twelve seats was empty, as it had been most times before.
The Crown-Skull Duke's seat was the first to change.
The human heads hanging around the throne slowly opened their eyes. Blood seeped from within the chair back and gathered into a human figure at the center of the seat.
The Crown-Skull Duke sat there, one hand resting on the armrest, his pale face turned toward the round table.
At the other end, the Faceless Priest's black veil descended from the Blood Mist. Only after a while did the ordinary face of a middle-aged man slowly emerge from the blankness.
The blood-colored liquid receded, revealing the full territory of a kingdom before them.
The Seran Kingdom.
The Royal Capital lit up first, followed by cities across the land.
Following the main roads outward, local Holy Temples and hospitals became tiny points of light. Mining districts, storage hubs, and logistics areas near military camps appeared one after another.
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The Sacred Flames were still the most numerous, their dense white-gold glimmers scattered throughout the Kingdom.
Every flame appeared normal. Not even a trace of Blood Moon corruption could be detected.
The Faceless Priest watched for a long time before his features slowly shifted, finally taking on the appearance of an elderly Cleric.
"The