"Lord Noah…" One of the templars, while crying, replied, "Barg has fallen."
"What?!" Noah was shocked. "How?" He asked. "Countless demons have advanced to the frontlines…"
"…together with the Demon Emperor."
Noah's eyes widened with shock; his hands clenched in anger. Even if it is just one, a comrade of his died in the hands of those foul demons. He wanted to rush there and kill all of them, but with the Demon Emperor around, he must become cautious. Although his strength had risen compared to fifty years ago, it could also be the same case for that demon.
Knowing what's imperative, Noah waved his hand. The knights' horses, as if suddenly acquiring wings, ran towards the city twice, even thrice, their normal speed.
In the city outskirts, where the Ark was being displayed, everyone was shocked as they saw the knights galloping on their horses with Noah behind them. Before the leaders could even ask what was going on, Noah gave his command, "Evacuate the citizens to the Sacred Land! Tell all of the Knights to prepare for a bloody battle!"
Without even being able to ask anything, the leaders hurriedly did what was asked of them. They all began escorting the people to the Sacred Land while Noah rushed to the Keep within the city.
After what had happened here, a keep was built surrounding the archangel's and his lover's body that turned into statue. The land itself where The Prince's blood was spilt had become equal to that of a Sacred Ground, blessing the land with his authority. It then became the center of the capital, the place where all the plans to fight against the demons were made.
Noah, with his divine powers, reached the keep almost in an instant. He descended on the castle's walls and, without delay, gave the order, "Sound the horns!" Noah's shout reverberated throughout the city.
The knights within the castle halls rushed to their positions with urgency. Seconds after they arrive at their positions, they raised the lurs that were situated on the walls and blew hard.
Soon the collective sound of the lurs echoed throughout the city. The citizens who stayed within the city, knowing what those sounds meant, immediately stopped all that they were doing and rushed to the forest that was preserved as the Sacred Place of worship, where God's Light shines to protect them all.
The streets that, a minute ago, were filled with joy and anticipation were emptied in minutes. Stalls were left unattended and untouched as the people rushed to safety.
Several seconds after Noah arrived, Elric had already gone straight to the Gathering Hall of the Keep. When Noah arrived, he immediately raised a question, "Why would the demon attack us now? Possibly with their entire force?"
"I doubt that this is a coincidence." Elric replied while pondering, "They might know something about the Behemoth attacking us."
"How would they know? Is there a spy within the State?" Noah arrived at a terrifying conclusion. Elric, after some seconds said in turn, "It isn't impossible, but considering our way of inspection, I doubt anyone who had ulterior motives would have been able to go past us."
Elric was right. Right after the Archangel Gabriel died, Elric, as the only person who had his Blessing, immediately received a huge portion of the Archangel's authority, one of which is his ability to see truth. This ability of his was used by the Heavenly State to filter out all spies that might have wanted to infiltrate the city.
Also, with Gabriel's authority surrounding the capital, no mortal would be able to hide anything from Elric's sight. One would need to be at the same level as The Prince to be able to escape his watch.
Suddenly, a thought slid its way to Elric's mind. Gasp!
Noah noticed his paleness as he asked, "What is it, Elric?"
"There are only numbered beings that we know that is equal or even greater than Prince Gabriel…"
"And the only one who has a motive is…"
"Lucifer himself!"
"How would a Demon God be able to enter God's Sacred Domain?" Ilmar, who had just arrived with the other leaders shook his head to the possibility.
"Simple! Because Lucifer is a fallen angel!" Elric replied straightforwardly. When he said that, everyone in the room had a strange look on their face.
Noah, on the other hand, was looking at him with bewilderment. "How did thou knowest that?" Hearing that subtle confirmation from Noah, everyone was shocked. They couldn't believe that the Demon God they were fighting against was once a fallen angel!
Realizing that he might have said something too much, Elric froze as sweat ran down his back. "Actually, all these years, thy intelligence still befuddles me." Noah said ponderingly, his eyes narrowed as he recalled the feats of this patriarch of the Garensons. Continuing, he added, "Thy intellect is something that is ahead of its time. Too much, even."
"Except for being a Garenson…" Noah slowly inched his way towards Elric, and asked with his deep and authoritative voice, "Who art thou, truly?"
A gulping sound could be heard from Elric as he was pushed to a corner. After some time, his eyes had already lowered, resigned to his fate. He was about to answer Noah's question, when…
"My Lord!" An urgent cry came from outside as a soldier came rushing in, "The Demon Army is sighted! They are too many!"
Everyone hastily turned around and went to the highest point of the Keep. When they saw the ocean of black mass charging at them from miles away, everyone became solemn. The skies, influenced by the massive size of the demonic army, had already turned dark, as if the greatest storm is coming. Noah, knowing the circumstances, turned and looked at Elric, whispering, "I don't know who thou truly are, or what thou hath done to the true patriarch of the Garensons, but we need thy strength right now. Prove to me that thou art an ally."
Elric was silent before smiling, the nervousness within him dying down, "Ever since we began this path, I have always been thy ally, Master of The Ark." After saying that, Elric was basked in divine light. His once short black hair turned golden and quickly extended down to his back while his body was enveloped by light as it turned into an armor. In his hand, a long whip materialized from divine light, similar to the late archangel's form in battle.
He soared to the sky, where the sea of demons could clearly be seen quickly reaching midway towards the city. "Ye who hath turned against the Creator, be judged by His eternal light."