"I understand, Lady Saint."

After taking in the black-haired girl's serious face, Vinova made her decision. Her stomach dropped as the weight of what was to come settled on her shoulders.

She concentrated the last trace of power from burning her soul onto her staff. Though doing this would consume massive life force in her current state, Vinova's movements showed no hesitation. Her hands remained steady even as her chest tightened with dread.

After all, the Saint planned to use her life to seal that monster. How could she hesitate?

She began chanting ancient, complex incantations to open the gate to the Trial Space. Her severe injuries and soul power consumption made her voice weak, but it carried determination that cut through the air. Each word bore strong magical power, gradually forming a flickering magic array around them.

The next instant, a massive spatial teleportation array descended beneath Yumo. Azure spatial light enveloped the rampaging crimson field and dancing blood butterflies.

Feeling the spatial power surging around her, the black-haired girl whose face already showed crimson cracks from erosion, revealed a sweet, holy smile and cast grateful eyes toward Vinova.

"Thank you. You made the right decision."

"I wish you all the best, your holiness."

Gritting her teeth, Vinova suppressed her inner conflict and reluctance toward her benefactor, then resolutely activated the magic array. Her finger trembled as she triggered the final sequence.

Under Lawrence and the other Alliance members' respectful gaze, the black-haired girl disappeared in rippling azure light along with her terrifying crimson Shadow power aura and the sky full of bloody butterflies.

As the array's light faded, only scorched earth remained where she had stood.

...

Just as Yumo was teleported to the Trial Space, a powerful sealing force enveloped the entire space, as she had predicted.

The passages connecting various spaces began violent distortions. These passages had maintained spatial stability for eons, but now powerful external forces disturbed them, making them extremely unstable. Space boundaries flickered with irregular light, like glass under tremendous pressure.

Gradually, the passages closed one by one, accompanied by deep, intense vibrations, as if the universe itself was responding to Yumo's sacrifice. Each closed passage severed the Trial Space's connection with the outside world, until intense light sealed the last passage completely. The Trial Space entered total isolation.

This space that had once held unknowns and challenges became a sealed domain, unreachable from outside.

The Trial Space's closure marked the end of an era and foreshadowed the Guiding Saint's heroic, tragic sacrifice.

...

With Yumo's departure and the Trial Space's complete closure, everyone present no longer faced mortal danger.

However, after receiving news of the closure, neither Vinova, Lawrence, nor the distant allied soldiers showed any joy. A desolate atmosphere enveloped everyone.

Vinova, as a devout believer of the Creator, felt her throat tighten. Her chest ached with a pain she couldn't name.

After thousands of years, the Judgment Saint had appeared in this world again. Yet not long after appearing, she would fall into slumber due to sealing.

The saint saved her, her benefactor. Yet she could do nothing. Vinova told herself she'd done what was necessary, but the truth was it felt like betrayal.

Thinking this, Vinova felt her composure crumble. Finally, she could no longer support herself. Her knees went weak, and she collapsed on the scorched earth. Her body leaned forward, head bowed, hands clenched, tears sliding from her eyes.

As a devout believer, watching the Saint sacrifice herself while being powerless to help dealt Vinova an unprecedented blow. She was heartbroken, more heartbroken than she'd ever been.

Lawrence beside her maintained slightly better condition, though his jaw was tight. Though he also felt guilt gnawing at him, at least he wasn't kneeling in pain.

Gazing at where the Judgment Saint had disappeared, Lawrence sighed with complex emotions.

"Sigh."

The Alliance captain cast his serious gaze toward the allied soldiers nearby.

"Remember this matter in your hearts. Never forget this moment's feelings. Never forget Lady Judgment Saint's kindness. Do you understand?"

"""""""Yes sir! """"""""

Hundreds of Alliance soldiers responded with thunderous roars.

The sound rang mighty and magnificent, but contained indescribable desolation.

All soldiers, when looking toward where the black-haired girl had stood, showed eyes filled with deep respect. After all, if not for Lady Saint choosing self-sacrifice to seal that terrifying Abyssal Lord, not only they, but many surrounding worlds would probably have faced destruction.

The Judgment Saint had become not only their benefactor, but the faith in their hearts.

Pressing hands to their chests, all Alliance soldiers simultaneously half-knelt and bowed, paying highest respect to the Judgment Saint.

These hundreds of allied soldiers would never forget what happened today, much less forget the Judgment Saint's resolute expression when she chose sacrifice.

Some soldiers even used their phones. In several young Alliance survivors' view, the Judgment Saint's heroic deed of sacrificing herself to save the World Tree must reach more people!

Especially the people of sub-worlds near Sky Nation, they must know who saved them!

Supported by this idea, many Alliance soldiers had recorded this scene when the black-haired girl struggled against Shadow power, transmitting it to the Alliance's vast network system.

For a time, not only Sky Nation's sub-world, but countless worlds under the Alliance's jurisdiction became immersed in desolate atmosphere.

...

At this moment on Blue Star, many ability users from Skina City's National Special Affairs Bureau gathered in the conference room, watching the live broadcast from Sky Nation.

When they saw the Judgment Saint choose to sacrifice herself to suppress that terrifying Abyssal Lord for Source Star's peace and stability, these military-uniformed men couldn't help but feel their eyes moisten.

"Sacrificing herself to suppress that abyssal lord, what noble person."

"Thanks to Lady Saint. Otherwise, if that demon had continued rampaging, the entire Alliance might have collapsed."

"Yes, we should be grateful to Lady Saint. Otherwise, my family in Sky Nation would probably have been doomed."

"Sealing herself with the Abyssal Lord? Worthy of being the Judgment Saint, worthy of being the Creator's messenger. This dedication deserves our learning."

"After this incident, the Alliance should probably establish a mourning day, right?"

"That's natural."

The room filled with sighs, all expressing sincere respect to that Saint who had entered the Trial Space, sacrificed herself, and sealed the evil demon.

However, while everyone expressed respect, a certain young man leaning against the wall corner showed a completely different expression. His eyes held no reverence.

His entire face, especially his eyebrows, kept twitching. His whole face seemed to scream frustration.

When he looked at the report about the Saint's sacrifice in his hands, his expression grew more disdainful.

This audacious man was none other than Yumo's childhood companion, classmate Satoru. His hands clenched into fists as anger built in his chest.

Facing everyone's moment of silence, Satoru had the urge to roar out loud.

Sigh! You've all been fooled by that brat!

Satoru's mind raced with frustration.

Knowing Yumo's true situation, Satoru had already pieced together the truth. He told himself he should speak up, but the truth was he was terrified of what would happen.

Well, her acting was not bad.

Of course, Satoru didn't dare say these words aloud. Once spoken, these guys who worshipped the Judgment Saint would probably beat him to death in minutes. The thought made his stomach clench.

After all, no one would believe that the Judgment Saint, who was supposed to protect the Source Star, had intentionally beaten up the allied forces and Guiding Saint.

Looking around at his sorrowful comrades and the overwhelming tribute on the Alliance network, Satoru sighed.

"Sigh..."

If Yumo knew about these situations, she'd probably laugh herself silly.

As it turned out, Satoru's judgment proved extremely accurate.

At this moment, high in the sky within the Trial Space, just as the entire Source Star Alliance became enveloped by sorrowful emotions, the instigator of it all was falling rapidly from high altitude while clutching her stomach, letting out unprecedented joyful laughter.

"Hahahahahaha! They're just a bunch of idiots, so easy to fool! As expected, the Alliance's essence is also a damn shoddy operation!"

While laughing, Yumo, whose body had reached its limit, spat out mouthfuls of blood, leaving a brilliant arc in the sky. Her laughter was wild, unhinged. She told herself this was just another successful manipulation, but the truth was she felt more alive than she had in years.