Dragon Guard Lan fell silent. She could offer no explanation.
And in truth, she knew there would be no explanation.
Because that had been the will of the entire Jailer Group. Amid the Great Cataclysm that brought down the Divine Realm, they had chosen to protect themselves, to sacrifice the pawns to save the king.
Even now, many of the Jailers still did not consider that a mistake. Under those circumstances, even with all of Hell's strength and the Female Host's power, they could never have defeated that calamity, never have overcome the nightmare sweeping over everything.
And the deities...
Could only serve as pawns to be discarded.
"Did you know that nearly half the deities were still surrounded, fighting desperately for their lives?"
Divine Sound staggered to her feet and stared at her with reddened eyes.
"We knew."
Dragon Guard Lan fell silent.
"Why didn't you go? If you knew, if you wanted to preserve your strength, why didn't you take us with you?!"
"Because many Jailers hadn't managed to evacuate yet. Because we knew your deaths... could buy us enough time."
Dragon Guard Lan spoke softly.
A deathly chill drifted through the air.
Humm-
Divine Sound's blade appeared before her in an instant, its sharp tip pointed straight at her throat.
Scarlet blood dripped down her neck.
Dragon Guard Lan did not fight back. She stood there, her weary gaze fixed on the girl's blood-red eyes, on the anguished tear tracks and the tears dripping from her chin.
"This isn't easy to bear."
She spoke.
"But the few of us who disagreed couldn't change the decision of the entire group. Because in most Jailers' eyes, you... were the continuation of evil. You were everything our Great Lord had once sworn to resist, even at the cost of his