The Holy Land, Mary Geoise. The Power Hall.
Three of the Five Elders' seats, once symbols of supreme authority, now stood empty.
Three high-backed chairs representing the highest authority in different domains
stood cold and silent, bearing witness to the devastating losses at Egghead.
Saint Topman Warcury, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, and Jaygarcia Saturn Saint.
Three "stars" had fallen.
Only Saint Shepherd Ju Peter and Saint Marcus Mars remained in their seats.
Below them stood the core members of the Holy Knights whom the Holy Land could currently muster,
along with a handful of Celestial Dragon family representatives possessing special standing or combat strength.
They were the World Government's last hidden blades, and now the final line of defense beneath the Empty Throne.
The atmosphere was almost suffocatingly heavy.
Saint Mars gave a dry cough, breaking the deathly silence.
"We summoned you because... the situation has deteriorated beyond recovery."
"The Fleet Admiral, 'Heavenquake' Gern Reginald Sigma, has formally declared war on the World Government.
His fleet and elite fighters will march on the Red Line in three days, targeting... Mary Geoise and Pangaea Castle."
Though they had already braced themselves, hearing the news confirmed by the Five Elders themselves still sent a suppressed stir through the crowd below.
"And in the battle of Egghead..." Saint Shepherd Ju Peter added, each word seemingly forced through clenched teeth.
"Saint Nusjuro, Saint Saturn... and Saint Warcury... all met their end at Heavenquake's hands."
"The Five Elders... three dead, two 'lost.'"
Those words struck every heart like a final death knell.
Three dead, two lost!
The supreme seat of power that had ruled the world for eight hundred years had nearly collapsed in a single battle!
Dead silence.
An even deeper, more hopeless silence than before.
Just then-
"Heh."
A sneer dripping with mockery