Ryo entered the grand audience hall of Eldoria and took his seat on the throne. His presence alone commanded attention, and the hall fell silent as he settled in. Moments later, the large doors swung open, and a group of robed figures stepped inside. At their lead was a tall man, draped in white and gold robes, with an air of superiority surrounding him.
He was a cardinal from the Temple of the Holy Nation, sent directly by the Pope. However, neither he nor his subordinates bothered to kneel in respect. Their defiant stance caused murmurs among Ryo's court, but it was Seyra who spoke up first.
"Don't you know how to show respect?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing at their arrogance.
Before the cardinal could respond, a voice boomed from the side. "Silence, you ungrateful beasts!" one of the Holy Nation's bishops sneered.
Ryo, remaining calm, rested his chin on his hand and spoke in an even tone. "What purpose do you have coming here?"
The cardinal stepped forward, his gaze filled with disdain. "I am a cardinal of the Holy Nation, acting under direct orders from the Pope. We have come to bring you the teachings of our temple and to show you the truth—the truth about these so-called 'beast races' who remain ungrateful to our god."
Ryo's expression did not change, but his eyes grew colder. "You do realize that I am also one of those people you call beasts, correct?"
The cardinal's lip curled in disgust. "Yes, I am aware. However, you are also half-human. Perhaps that is why the messenger of God, the noble angel, was seen near this land. Perhaps our god intends to reclaim what is his and purge this land of the unworthy."
At the mention of the angel, Ryo's fingers twitched slightly. He had already dealt with that so-called messenger, but it seemed the Holy Nation was unaware of the truth.
"I will give you one warning," Ryo said, his voice carrying a deadly edge. "Leave now before I kill you all."
One of the bishops beside the cardinal scoffed. "How dare you?! Do you have any idea who this man is?!"
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp sound echoed through the hall. Blood splattered on the floor as the bishop collapsed, screaming in agony. His legs had been severed in an instant. Ryo, now emitting his true aura, glared at them with an overwhelming presence that crushed their arrogance in mere seconds. The entire group fell to their knees, trembling in fear.
The cardinal struggled to lift his head, his body shaking uncontrollably. "H-How dare you—"
"This is your final warning," Ryo interrupted, his voice as cold as ice. "Return to where you came from. If you test my patience again, I will not only kill you but will erase that so-called Holy Nation of yours from existence."
With that, he turned to his guards. "Throw them out of Eldoria."
The guards swiftly obeyed, dragging the battered and terrified messengers out of the hall. The large doors slammed shut behind them, marking the end of their disgraceful visit.
Seyra, watching the whole event unfold, hesitated before speaking. "Was it really alright to make enemies of the Holy Nation?"
Ryo waved his hand dismissively. "They are nothing I can't handle. Don't worry."
With that, he left the hall and returned to his chambers. As he sat on his bed, he thought back to what the cardinal had said. The angel… It was all connected. If the Holy Nation was still talking about that, then there was more to this situation than he initially believed.
"So, they still think that angel was some divine being," he muttered to himself. "Let's see what they try next."
Meanwhile, outside the walls of Eldoria, the cardinal and his remaining bishops struggled to compose themselves. Their pride was shattered, but they dared not stay any longer. One of them pulled out a teleportation scroll, and in a flash of light, they vanished, returning to the Holy Nation.
Upon arrival, they entered the grand temple, walking through its towering halls until they reached the inner sanctum. There, sitting upon an extravagant throne, was the Pope himself, his expression unreadable. But there was another presence in the room.
Chained to the floor was a girl, barely Ryo's age. Her pink hair was unkempt, her body covered in bruises, and yet her golden eyes still held a defiant spark.
The Pope turned his gaze to the kneeling cardinal. "You have returned."
The cardinal lowered his head. "Yes, Your Holiness. But… things did not go as planned."
The Pope's gaze darkened. "Explain."
The cardinal hesitated, then recounted the entire ordeal—the humiliation, Ryo's overwhelming power, and his final warning. As he spoke, the Pope's fingers drummed against the armrest of his throne, deep in thought.
"So he is stronger than we anticipated," the Pope murmured. His gaze shifted to the chained girl. "It seems we must take a different approach."
The girl clenched her fists. "Whatever you're planning, it won't work."
The Pope merely smiled. "We shall see."