The Empress’s figure seemed to grow even more solid.

Her elegant yet icy eyes never left Phield for a single moment.

Something’s wrong.

Cold sweat instantly ran down Phield’s back.

I’ve been making assumptions from the very beginning, treating the Empress as some angel sent to save everyone.

I’m acting just like an incurable gambler.

This is an erotic world.

How could something this perfect possibly exist...?

For all I know, after suppressing the demons, she may have become the leader of the demonic army... Ahem.

Human greed gradually led people into the abyss.

But if the Empress really had become a demon, there’d be no reason for her to persuade me not to kill them.

Maybe I’m just overthinking things.

Perhaps she’s simply an impossibly kind saint.

Just to be safe, I shouldn’t go in yet.

At the very least, I absolutely must not open the last treasure chest.

After a rapid series of calculations, caution finally triumphed over greed.

Pointing at one of the surviving sailors, Phield ordered,

"You."

"Go open that treasure chest for me."

"Then bring the Divine Artifact back."

"Huh?"

Everyone froze.

"W... Why?"

Riemann began questioning his entire life.

The treasure chest he had dreamed about was being treated as though it were worthless.

Phield was actually giving up the final grand treasure chest and ordering an ordinary sailor to open it instead.

If they hadn’t already witnessed his strength, everyone would have suspected that a ghoul had eaten his brain.

"Phield is becoming more and more like me."

Rosalia placed her hands on her hips, laughing so hard that her whole body shook.

"I guess Lords really do resemble their Divine Chosen."

Tisiana stared at her own hands in disbelief.

"That’s impossible."

"My lord must have his reasons."

"I support every decision he makes."

Before her words had even finished...

The ground suddenly fractured.

Cracks spread at incredible speed as countless streams of violet light burst upward from beneath the earth.

"Hmph."

The Empress’s cold voice echoed from behind them.

"So despite having no informational advantage whatsoever, you still came to your senses at the final moment."

"But it doesn’t matter."

"The instant you stepped into my palace..."

"...your fate was already decided."

"Purification Grand Formation."

"Devour Demons."

Phield suddenly felt an overwhelming force seize hold of his soul.

It dragged at his spirit with terrifying strength.

The minimap rapidly began shrinking.

His Soul Power was being consumed at an astonishing rate.

Even his Lord abilities were becoming impossible to maintain.

"It’s a trap!"

Tisiana’s expression changed dramatically.

She had never imagined that the gentle and compassionate Empress from moments ago would suddenly attack.

Without the slightest hesitation, she spread her wings and unleashed a barrage of feather arrows toward the Empress.

Rosalia also charged with her greatsword raised.

Her attack struck nothing but empty air.

The Empress instantly appeared beside Riemann’s group.

After sweeping a majestic gaze across everyone, she calmly explained,

"Stop standing there."

"I’m not some mindless puppet."

"Twilight Knights."

"Prepare yourselves."

"Fight alongside me."

"The fact that I just saved your lives should be proof enough of where I stand."

"I knew it!"

Farlo was overwhelmed with excitement.

He gritted his teeth.

"I knew justice would never abandon us!"

With a wave of the Empress’s hand, countless demons materialized inside the grand formation and surged toward Phield.

The Twilight Knights immediately placed their complete trust in her.

Their blood boiled with renewed determination as they unleashed every technique they possessed and charged forward alongside the demons.

Rosalia and Tisiana immediately intercepted them.

"Riemann."

"Take this."

Finding a brief opening, the Empress extended her hand.

Resting in her palm was a brilliantly glowing snow-white pearl.

"This..."

"...is the true key to defeating Calamity."

"And you..."

"...are the one destined to stand against it."

"M... Me?"

It felt as though Riemann had been struck by a sledgehammer.

I haven’t done anything...

Ever since entering these ruins, everything has gone wrong.

"It was destiny itself that guided me to find you."

"You need only accept it."

The Empress placed the pearl into Riemann’s hand.

"The Ancient Moon Empire possesses two supreme treasures."

"The first is the Goddess of Life’s Fate Lock."

"The second..."

"...is this."

Divine Artifact: Orb of Destiny (Supreme Treasure, World-Class, One-Time Consumable, No Rank)

Origin: Goddess of Order

Classification: World-Class Supreme Treasure

Effect (Unique): Ignores race and forcibly forms a contract with any uncontracted Divine Chosen. Cannot be used on Divine Chosen who are already contracted. The Orb disappears permanently after a single use.

Description: Through the supreme authority of Order, it compels any wild Divine Chosen to obey its master, even a Calamity Divine Chosen.

"Fuck..."

Riemann stood frozen.

"Can something this terrifying really exist?"

Sweat poured down his forehead.

His heart nearly leaped from his chest.

"You’ve got to be kidding..."

"Am I dreaming?"

"This isn’t power like Phield’s."

The Empress smiled beautifully.

"He became a servant manipulated by Calamity."

"You, however, will wield this power while remaining completely in control."

"You’re not dreaming."

"Release your current Divine Chosen."

"Once my ritual is complete..."

"...you will form a contract with the Nether Divine Chosen."

"Huh?"

Marianne stood there in complete confusion.

"What about me?"

A Lord could contract only one Divine Chosen.

Their Lord was actually replacing his wife.

"I see..."

Phield gritted his teeth.

"So that’s why opening every treasure chest consumed Soul Power."

"You’ve been preparing this trap all along."

Forcing himself upright despite his rapidly draining Soul Power, Phield stared coldly at the Empress.

"So this is how you treat your descendants?"

"I’ve always been fighting on the front lines against Corruption."

Fortunately, he hadn’t opened the final treasure chest.

Otherwise, he would probably have fallen unconscious already.

"Descendants?"

The Empress’s expression turned icy.

"You are unworthy."

"According to the prophecy..."

"...you are the true source of the uncontrollable Calamity."

"You are the genuine servant of disaster."

She bit down on every word.

"The fact that your Soul Power can awaken Calamity is proof enough."

"Search your remaining conscience."

"Think carefully."

"Has everything you’ve done..."

"...advanced the Calamity’s devouring of humanity?"

"Awaken... Calamity?"

Phield’s pupils contracted violently.

His Corruption Divine Chosen had indeed grown stronger and stronger under his command.

Even the Destruction Divine Chosen had been revived.

The Border Fortress, capable of suppressing Corruption, had fallen into his hands.

At any moment, the army of corrupted corpses could march south.

If he were to die...

Rosalia, whom he had nurtured so carefully, would instantly become one of Corruption’s greatest weapons.

And if even more Corruption Divine Chosen appeared...

He would undoubtedly recruit and cultivate them as well.

Then another memory suddenly surfaced.

Agnes had willingly abandoned the three outer territories and allowed him to develop freely.

Violet had even come to help him personally.

It seemed...

Calamity had been helping him all along.

Isn’t that... a little too much of a coincidence?

If one day I truly become the Lord of Corruption...

Will I lead the forces of Calamity and destroy the Empire myself?

Countless questions flooded his mind.

"So that’s it..."

Phield inhaled sharply.

A suffocating heaviness settled inside his chest.

The demon from subspace...

...was me all along.

"If any conscience still remains within you..."

The Empress spoke without the slightest emotion.

"...then take your own life."

"Only your death will prevent you from interfering with this world’s fate."

"Your Soul Power will be used to awaken Nether."

"Riemann will command the Nether Divine Chosen."

"He will stop the Calamity."

"He will save this pitiful world."

"When that happens..."

"...you will become a hero as well."

"Sacrifice yourself."

"For everyone’s sake."

This had been the Empress’s plan from the very beginning.

The treasure chests slowly consumed Phield’s Soul Power.

Then the grand formation would drain what remained to awaken the Nether Divine Chosen.

Had Phield not exhausted his Soul Power beforehand, he would have remained fully conscious.

He could have interfered with Riemann’s contract...

or perhaps even stolen the Nether Divine Chosen for himself.

"Chirp!"

A shrill, anguished cry of a bird suddenly echoed through the chamber.