It was already 9 PM. A mounted squad of warriors emerged onto a mountain path near Pomegranate Village.

Most knights wore thick armor, wielding spears and battle-axes. Their banners bore a golden wing emblem on white. From afar, they radiated lethal precision—a true elite force. Every member possessed supernatural physiques. They belonged to Pope Majesty’s personal summons: the genuine Feather of Light Knights.

At their head rode a knight clad not in armor, but simple white robes, a white cloak, white headwrap, and face veil. Only his sun-kissed forearms and sharp, narrow eyes were visible. Even his steed was a white stallion. His weapon: a Holy Silver Sword.

Bai. Captain of the Feather of Light Knights. Had anyone scoured the Vatican archives—those dust-choked scrolls locked in the deepest chambers—they’d learn every captain before him had also been named Bai…

"Bai-sama… This is Pomegranate Village. Beyond lies enemy territory. How shall we proceed?"

A burly middle-aged knight urged his horse forward. Bronze skin, rugged face, unwavering eyes, cropped black hair, and a thick beard—he looked forty. In different clothes, he might pass for a village fruit farmer.

"......"

Bai rode silently, as if he hadn’t heard.

"Understood. Then I’ll issue the assault orders on your behalf—" The knight bowed respectfully before turning to the troops.

"Form defensive perimeter! Shield-bearers on the outer ring—watch for archer ambushes! Two-handed swordsmen center stage! Charge the moment shields block ranged attacks! Priests and Templars, reinforce defenses and speed mid-formation! Once swordsmen shatter their ranks, annihilate!"

"Deputy Captain! But Pope Majesty’s orders were to wipe out everyone—"

"I know! Wasting time on peasants is pointless. Crush their main force first! Any objections?"

"But… some might escape…"

"......"

The deputy captain slowly reined his horse before the questioning soldier. His eyes—wide as bronze bells—locked onto the man’s face.

"Soldier. Answer me: who commands this knights’ order?"

"Captain Bai, wielder of the Holy Silver Sword…"

"Good. And who is deputy?"

"You, Grand Knight Kane-sama!"

"Then obey."

"Yes, sir!"

The knights reformed ranks and entered the village. Finding no soldiers, they advanced toward the next settlement.

————

Hope Village—formerly Nameless Fishing Village.

Purames was briefing Scarface when the door burst open. Seeing Greenland enter, Purames waved Scarface away.

"Scarface, stay. Purames—we’ve got unidentified hostiles approaching. Elite troops. Their leader’s a powerhouse."

"A powerhouse? Scarface—order your men to hold position. Maintain order inside the village." Purames stood, issuing commands.

"Understood! Leave it to me, Boss Purames, Boss Greenland!" Scarface saluted and sprinted off.

"Powerhouse… Captain’s probably telling Sasha stories right now. No need to trouble him. Let’s catch a few strong ones for experiments."

"Boring. What’s left to test? Ants like them."

"No. Sasha still can’t speak. We don’t understand this world’s incantations. Capturing a powerhouse might yield spell knowledge. After trials… we could cure Her Highness Sasha. If she speaks again…" Purames smiled faintly. "Captain will be overjoyed."

She grabbed a voice-puppet, relayed orders to Faglas on the other end, then left with Greenland.

————

Meanwhile, the Feather of Light Knights advanced along Hope Village’s tree-lined path, formation tight against potential rebel ambushes. Many scoffed at the caution—4,000 elite troops versus rabble? Like infants challenging giants. A handful could slaughter a village in minutes.

"Halt!" Deputy Captain Kane stopped the column, riding forward. Battle instincts screamed danger… but the captain remained aloof. Troublesome.

"Captain—"

"......"

Bai raised a hand, silencing him. His first response all night. Still wordless.

As Kane struggled to continue, a song drifted through the trees. A woman’s voice—ethereally beautiful. No lyrics. An unfamiliar melody built from simple, almost vocal-exercise-like notes. Yet it held magic. Like a first love whispering sweet nothings in your ear. Like a mother’s gentle scolding after years abroad. Like a long-lost friend’s drunken confession.

"Mother… Mother… What am I doing? Why am I holding this weapon?"

"Maria… wait for me. Soon I’ll… marry you…"

"…Am I truly alone now? My comrades… my friends… all gone…"

Everyone except Bai—Kane included—fought back tears.

"...... *SKREEE!*"

A jarring screech—like metal scraping metal—jolted them awake. Cold sweat soaked their backs. Bai was already riding ahead. Kane stared blankly at his troops.

"Everyone! Tear cloth strips! Plug your ears—now!"

"Uh—right!"

They fumbled to block the song. Kane watched Bai advance, sweat beading on his brow. *He saved us? What was that…? Even our priests were helpless…*

Scanning the ranks, he saw grim faces following Bai. Kane drew his weapon and spurred his horse after the captain.

Moonlight bathed the path as they exited the trees. Ahead, atop a massive boulder, sat a woman.

Stunningly beautiful. A mesmerizing blend of contradictions: sensual yet pure, seductive yet innocent, alluring yet sacred. Long, glossy black hair cascaded like a waterfall. Emerald eyes held vertical pupils. She wore a black coat, unbuttoned at the top, revealing a pale neck and the deep cleavage of full breasts. Her head tilted slightly, feigning surprise and reproach as she regarded them. Purames.

"Incantation—Sacred Heart! Judgment! She’s a Siren! Avoid eye contact! Focus your minds!"

The field priests cast their spell. White light enveloped the knights, purging lustful thoughts.

"Hehe… Such adorable little lambs… You won’t escape tonight. Come quietly… and spare yourselves pain…"

Though ears were plugged, her voice pierced through. The sacred white light shattered like glass under a hammer.

"N-no… impossible!"

The song swelled. Unthinkingly, every knight locked eyes with Purames. A strange sensation surged through them. They saw and heard normally—but their bodies felt alien. Heavy. Immovable. Like stone.

"......"

Bai dismounted. He walked forward alone, ignoring the others. Even his horse stood petrified—human and beast alike frozen by Purames’ Medusa Gaze. Outwardly unchanged, yet turned to stone within.

"Fascinating. How do you resist me? I’ll find out soon enough… But if you kneel now, lick my boots, and tell me yourself… I might spare you. What say you?"

Purames amplified her Siren power—enchantment, petrification, mind control—all focused on Bai. Yet he advanced steadily, Holy Silver Sword drawn.

"How intriguing… Incantation? Innate defense? No matter. I’ll know once I have you…"

White flames erupted from the Holy Silver Sword. Bai shot forward like a meteor. Purames’ lips curled into a smile.

*Crack! Boom! Thud!*

Dust settled. Bai knelt on one knee, wiping blood from his mouth. His headwrap and face veil were gone. His cloak was torn. His left cheek was swollen and bruised.

"Truly strong. To stand after taking my strike—even at 40% power… I must commend you. You’re the strongest human I’ve ever met."

Blue flames coiled around Purames’ arms like living gauntlets, radiating biting cold. One hand rested on her hip; the other hung loose. She smirked, voice teasing. That blow should’ve killed any ordinary powerhouse. Should’ve knocked him unconscious…

Bai rose. He ripped off his tattered cloak. Sword in one hand, the other formed a seal. White flames blazed anew along the blade. This time, he didn’t charge. He blurred into afterimages, circling Purames.

"*Break.*"

Crescent waves of white fire shot from every angle—no blind spots. As if all his afterimages attacked at once.

"Tch… Time you learned: against absolute power, submission is wisdom."

Purames raised one hand, catching every fire-crescent. With the other, she slammed her palm onto the ground. Rising slowly, she crushed the sputtering flames in her fist. They dissolved into glowing embers.

"Now… my turn?"

"Hmph..."

Purames vanished from his spot.

"...!"

He reappeared—the next instant, Bai was sent flying again. Half his body was already frozen solid.

"What now? What are your odds of defeating me? One in ten? One in a hundred? One in a thousand? Or one in ten thousand? ...I must admit, humans who reach your level are rare indeed."

Though his words dripped with mockery, a trace of surprise flickered within Purames. *How can he still stand? Still stay conscious after taking Frostbite Bite? Do humans like this truly exist?* Yet here one stood before him... a genuine threat. *Perhaps I should eliminate him...*

---

Meanwhile, inside a heavily guarded room in Hope Village, Pipe tucked the blankets tighter around Sasha.

*Taking care of kids is exhausting.* Had his own parents once tended to him like this? He couldn’t recall. It’d been years since he’d returned to his rural hometown. Even phone calls were rushed these days. Since moving to the city to chase his dreams, he’d missed countless New Years. *Do they even remember me? Or have they already written me off as dead?* But—*huh?*

His thoughts shattered as a violent energy surge rippled through the air—the vibration of the Tenfold Cloudless Moon Imperial.

Pipe rushed out, pulling the sword from his snuff bottle. Its blade trembled fiercely, as if straining to break free.

"Strange... Slasher Juro? What’s happening?"

A human head materialized above the blade—Slasher Juro’s face, alight with wild excitement.

"Lord! There’s a powerful sword aura nearby! Intense! Take me to see it! Trapped in that void with no fights... I’m bored stiff!"

"Sword aura?"

"Aye! As a swordsman, I sense sword energy most keenly—and this one makes my warrior’s blood boil!"

"I see... But who could it be? Fine. Lead the way. Which direction?"

"That way. About a kilometer beyond the village woods."

"Got it."

No need to fly such a short distance. Pipe’s boots exhaled dark smoke as his form dissolved into the air. He slipped through a hazy, shadowy realm where the world seemed frozen—then reappeared where the scenery snapped back to life. Before him, a blazing pillar of white light pierced the sky, turning night into day.

"What is this...?"

---

Numbness had swallowed most of Bai’s body. His life force drained rapidly. The frost’s bite had crippled his healing... *I’ll die here today. Good. Good.* Yet regret lingered—he still didn’t know the answer he’d chased so desperately. His past... his origins... *Can a life without a beginning truly be called life? All lives should have a start and an end...* When had he begun thinking this way? He didn’t know. It felt innate.

Dragging his half-frozen body, Bai charged at Purames. His sword blazed with searing light, streaking forward like a falling star.

"How touching... A human’s death struggle... That fleeting moment where life and death collide... Your desperate grasp at survival, your despair at the end... To honor you, I’ll end you with my strongest blow. Final seal—released. Frostbite Bite..."

Azure flames erupted, solidifying into a crystalline gauntlet encasing Purames’s arm. Ice spikes flared from its side like a frozen wing. The Frostbite Bite had awakened to its ultimate form. Frost swirled around the gauntlet as Purames clenched his fist. With a sharp thrust, he punched forward—the very air seemed to freeze solid.

A vortex of glittering white ice crystals engulfed Bai. Then—light. The light he’d craved in his prison cell. The light he’d sought through endless battles and bloodshed... That man. That little girl. *Why? They shouldn’t exist in my memories... When did they carve a place in my heart? It was meant for that distant light alone... Or perhaps... they were the light itself?*

A five-meter-wide trench scarred the earth, its surface glazed smooth with ice. Bai was gone. Only the glowing Holy Silver Sword hovered in the air.

"Hmph. Stubborn thing. Even after its master was shattered by my frost... it remains. Worth studying after retrieval."

As Purames stepped forward to claim the sword, a familiar presence neared—her beloved. The only man she’d ever loved... Captain Pipe! But in that split second of distraction, a surge of pure, holy radiance erupted ahead. From the Holy Silver Sword, a ten-meter radius of blinding white flame shot skyward like a pillar.

"What is that?!"

Pipe seemed to step through a rift in space, appearing beside Purames. Within his skull’s hollow sockets, red embers flickered.

From the flame pillar, the Holy Silver Sword stretched forth an arm... then a torso... upper body... lower body... a head. The light dimmed, revealing a youth clad in silver armor. He gripped the Holy Silver Sword—sun-kissed skin, an unremarkable face, yet eyes sharp and narrow, burning with white fire. Silver-white hair streamed down his back. It was Bai... only his hair color had changed. Every detail—stature, features, presence—was identical.

*Snap!* Wings of light unfurled from his back, spanning a meter wide.

"So... this is my past. Bai’s past..."

Pipe stiffened in shock. The Tenfold Cloudless Moon Imperial in his grip shuddered violently. He hurled it forward—the sword spun through the air and plunged into the earth, sheath and all.

Slasher Juro leaped from the blade. Black smoke coiled around him, forging ancient armor from dark bamboo plates across his bare torso—shoulder guards, a lower-body harness. A stag-horned helmet settled on his head, white mane flowing down his back. A tattered coat draped over the armor. His face, now masked by an oni visage wreathed in smoke, twisted into a feral grin.

"Hey! You’re a sword spirit too, huh? Name’s Slasher Juro—soul of this blade. You reek of power... pisses me off. So... I’ll kill you. Let’s have a duel with no winners—only life and death."

"......"