On the outskirts of Heaven's sub-world, aboard the burning, smoke-spewing flagship Aslan, Alliance Commander Lawrence sat slumped on the deck in a daze. He kept blinking and rubbing his temples like he couldn't process what he was seeing.

Around the flagship Aslan, the demon hordes that should have surrounded the warship and torn them all to pieces had somehow vanished without a trace.

Not just around the flagship - the terrifying demons that had densely filled the surrounding star sectors like a black ocean had all disappeared.

For a moment, the vast battlefield had nothing but Alliance survivors, countless corpses of both demons and Alliance soldiers, and massive amounts of warship debris floating through the star field. An atmosphere of deathly silence covered this region of space.

Logically, with the demon hordes gone, the surviving Alliance forces should have felt the joy of surviving a disaster.

But in reality, most soldiers just stood there staring blankly at the empty space where demons used to be. Some kept looking around like they expected the monsters to reappear any second. After all, from their perspective, the demons' retreat was too sudden, too weird.

Demons were the most terrifying monsters that absolutely hated them. For such creatures to give up their complete annihilation after gaining absolute advantage and choose to retreat instead??

And that Abyssal Lord who'd beaten their Saint earlier? She'd also vanished without a trace...

"What the hell happened??"

This question spread wildly through countless minds.

Compared to his clueless subordinates, Lawrence as a Lv9 powerhouse obviously knew more and understood the real reason for the demons' retreat.

Thinking back to that scene from moments ago, Lawrence's hands started trembling slightly.

Just dozens of seconds earlier, right when he and the Alliance flagship were about to be torn apart by the rampaging demon hordes, a figure covered in golden-red light had broken through the demons' encirclement like a meteor shattering darkness and appeared before him. Along with that figure's arrival came a terrifying yet suppressive, but somehow deeply reassuring sacred power...

The moment he felt that power, Lawrence's supposedly used up stamina began rapidly recovering.

As that golden-red murderous aura spread rapidly, even those supposedly fearless demons began instinctively trembling and ultimately fled in terror... This despairing demonic crisis had ended in such an unexpected way.

Logically, knowing the truth, Lawrence shouldn't have so many doubts.

But precisely because he'd witnessed that scene personally, Lawrence kept shaking his head and muttering to himself. He even banged his head against the deck a few times trying to wake himself from this 'dream.'

The reason Lawrence was so unwilling to accept reality was simple.

A few seconds ago, just as he'd prepared to express gratitude to that world-class powerhouse who'd saved the day, Lawrence suddenly discovered an unbelievable fact.

That person radiating sacred aura was none other than... that terrifying Abyssal Lord who'd just thoroughly beaten up their great Guiding Saint?

An Abyssal Lord?! Saved them?! And radiated holy aura?

What the fuck?!

"What... what the hell is going on?!"

Lawrence violently pulled out two handfuls of his own hair and let out a hysterical roar toward the heavens.

Right now, this incredible feeling wasn't unique to Lawrence. Vinova, along with the surviving Alliance soldiers, were having the same thoughts.

"J... just who are you?!"

Black-red gradient flowing hair. A beautiful face with a trace of wicked charm. A slender figure...

After coming to her senses and seeing the opponent's face clearly, Vinova's jaw dropped open. She took several quick steps backward, nearly stumbling over herself.

After experiencing those nightmarish dozen-plus minutes, that dark-haired Abyssal girl's face had been deeply carved into her brain, never to be erased.

So Vinova was certain that the girl before her was that abyssal demon who'd slaughtered Alliance forces and defeated their Guiding Saint.

The moment she realized this, Vinova backed away in terror, looking quite pathetic. But at the same time, she couldn't help but tilt her head and squint at the girl.

Just now, it was her – she scattered the cold air, she saved us?

Why...?

Didn't she want to kill us before? Aren't she and Lena companions, both Abyssal Lords? Why would they suddenly fight each other?

Staring at Yumo's back, Vinova kept opening and closing her mouth like she wanted to ask something but couldn't find the words.

Also...

This aura... it's completely different from that bone-chilling violent Shadow power from before. Instead, it's... a sacred and holy aura that makes one involuntarily want to submit, carrying natural authority...

The moment she felt this aura, Vinova found herself unconsciously lowering her head and taking a knee. This feeling - Vinova had only experienced it when facing the Guiding Saint Maya...

This is... the aura belonging to a Saint. Plus such powerful killing intent and bone-deep coldness - this is the aura of the Judgment Saint...

But why? Why would an Abyssal Lord give off the Judgment Saint's aura?! What... what is happening to this world?!

Just as Vinova was completely confused, practically pulling at her own hair, a serious yet gentle and reliable voice slowly drifted into her ears.

"Can you still move?"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Vinova suddenly noticed the Abyssal girl had turned slightly to look at her.

The moment their eyes met, Vinova's whole body jerked backward like she'd been struck by lightning.

That... that's?!

The Eye of Judgment?

Staring at the ancient golden-red symbol radiating holy light in Yumo's eyes, Vinova's mouth fell open again and she started shaking.

After all, the Eye of Judgment was the Judgment Saint's symbol!

The eye's symbol might be fakeable, but when meeting that gaze, the way her knees went weak was absolutely genuine. This meant the girl before her really was the Judgment Saint who'd been absent for countless years?!

What... what... what is this situation??

Though she kept looking back and forth between Yumo's face and her eyes like she couldn't believe it, after meeting the Eye of Judgment, Vinova still nodded very obediently.

"I... can..."

"Then hurry up and get these people out of here! I can't protect you all while fighting her!"

Glancing at the equally shocked Alliance forces nearby, Yumo said sternly.

Faced with these words, Vinova could only nod instinctively.

"Yes, yes!"

While responding, Vinova hastily used what little spiritual power remained to cast gravity manipulation magic, pulling the stunned crowd as far away as possible.

Vinova didn't hesitate about retreating.

Because under her shocked gaze, Yumo had already raised the sword in her hand, pointing it at Lena's forehead. In the air, two terrifying auras suddenly clashed.

Obviously the dark-haired girl seemed to plan on fighting Lena.

If they got caught up in this battle, Vinova and the others would definitely die.

Not only did she save us, she even gave us strength? And she's even facing off against Lena?

Plus this completely different aura... Though I don't know why she has that Abyssal girl's appearance, but... but... she's clearly the Judgment Saint!

Vinova pressed her forehead to the ground in a deep bow.

"May you have good fortune in battle, Lady Saint."

----

Meanwhile, as Vinova and the others retreated, Yumo's gaze locked onto Lena. At the same time, golden-red divine power suddenly erupted, surging toward Lena like an overwhelming tide.

To this, Lena just stood there with her mouth slightly open, ice-blue eyes darting around like she was trying to solve some impossible puzzle.

She'd clearly decided to break with Source Star earlier, even showing Shadow power to attack Alliance forces and grinding Maya into the ground.

Logically this girl should have become her ally, right?

But now? She's crossing swords with me?

"Yumo, what... are you trying to pull here..."