The escort force of the 2nd princess marched through the streets, reaching the military district in the east.
The public bid their goodbyes, the admirers of the young lady sobbing quietly as they waved at her for what would be the last time.
Isadora wasn't disturbed by the wave of sadness that enveloped the city. Nor was she scared of going to a mission that would almost certainly kill her.
What ticked her off was the image of a man that kept appearing in her mind, again and again.
With a cheeky smile and a teasing expression, he seemed very familiar with her. Like that old neighborhood friend one would grow up with. Or that school friend who knew all your dark history.
Everytime she saw him, the sense of familiarity toward him just kept growing. If they really knew each other, then they weren't ordinary friends.
'But the man in the memory is much more powerful. The one I saw...even if he looks the same is too weak.'
That wasn't all.
The man surfacing in her memories was as ruthless as he was powerful.
If it really came down to it, Princess Isadora might hesitate in slaughtering an entire kingdom to seal the devil.
But that man?
He wouldn't even blink an eye.
Like a butcher who would slice heads without any guilt, he too would end lives with a pure mind and heart.
"Princess, it's time!"
Inside the military district, only the soldiers and various military officers stood outside the carriage.
The sun was at the center and the wind was slowly heating up. The air carried the faint scent of sweat from the soldiers, scent from the military ladies and fragrance from the nearby flower gardens.
As the door to the carriage opened and a pristine lady stepped on the tiles with her barefoot, the world seemed to still for a moment.
"The kingdom hereby thanks the princess for her bravery. May god bless her!"
The escort soldiers, including the honorable knights leading them, all bowed. The military officials, most of them thrice her age, lowered their heads in respect.
Isadora, clad in a soft blue leather armor, stepped into a protected zone heavily guarded by rank 8 and rank 9 powerhouses.
The air changed.
Sometimes, it was so hot that it would turned ice into steam and sometimes, so cold that even a living person might freeze.
The solid tiles made of precious military-grade alloy folded and unfolded without warning, like the entire floor which could withstand the full blow of a rank 8 was but a sheet of paper.
The wind was sucked in violently for a moment before a fierce wind blew out, alternating without any pattern and predictability.
The cause of these anomolies, the crimson vortex which looked like the open mouth of devil himself, greeted the princess.
It led directly to the forbidden grounds--the land where the devil was kept sealed for thousands of years.
Isadora put her hand into the vortex and a violent energy surged into her body. Akin to placing a finger on the burning stove, the heat scorched her delicate skin. From the tip of her fingers to the top of her head and the soles of her feet, everything seemed to burn and burn like she was thrown into a furnance.
The pain soon surpassed the physical realm and Isadora knelt in front of the vortex, her eyes out of focus.
The pull on the soul was too much, like someone was grabbing her by the arm and ripping with bare hands.
Isadora could feel the pain of her skin splitting, flesh tearing and bones breaking as the pull grew stronger and stronger.
The world went dark and when she opened her eyes again, there was a red tattoo on the back of her hand.
"God bless! The princess has obtained the right! We will throw our lives for the holy cause!"
"For the holy cause!"
"Death is glory!"
An old voice said from behind and cheers followed.
It's the captain of the holy squad.
Since the forbidden grounds was such an important place, not everyone can access them.
First, a member of the royal blood must undergo a strict test to open up the path.
Second, to prevent the royal members to be harmed by miscreants, only members weaker than the member can enter with them.
In the beginning days, there had been some cults who tried to destroy the world by killing the royals going to seal the devil.
Now, it's understandably strict.
Third, there were limited slots. Only less than ten warriors could go. But they too would have to pass the test.
The test treats the royal bloodlines kindly but others wouldn't get that mercy.
So, if someone wanted to enter after Isadora, they'd have to be not only weaker than her but also bear pain that would be at least five times higher.
No wonder only four or five people qualify.
There were replicas of the test all over the kingdom to find the right candidate. Unfortunately, those with the will power rarely had the strength and those with the strength lacked the will power.
Only a handful in the entire kingdom had both. But most of them underplayed their own ability and lost deliberately.
It's understandable since while the survival rate for the prince or princess was close to zero, the survival rate of these holy warriors was always zero.
People who were capable enough to have the necessary strength and will power had no desire to die.
And certainly not for a sealing ceremony that seemed to be working fine without help from people like them for the past few centuries.
The qualified helpers for this mission were either fierce patriots or old powerhouses on the verge of death wanting to exchange their lives for the benefit of their descendants.
"For peace." Isadora said softly and entered the vortex.
The holy squad consisting of three very old powerhouses followed. After bearing the pain inflicted by the vortext, they entered it.
The vortex began to shrink and dim. In a few hours, it'd vanish until the sealing ceremony ends.
"Open!"
Varian, along with ten others, was allowed into the room after a series of strict checks.
He managed to fake his aura using the sliver powers, so no one knew he only had the strength of a rank 3.
"Only eleven volunteers who passed the tests. What a cowardly and incompetent populace." A military official shook his head and gestured them to step forward.
The first of the group stretched her hand into the vortex.
"Arghhh!"
A few seconds later, the unconscious woman was carried out on a stretcher.
'Fuck.'
Varian took a breath and tried to maintain a cool head.
'I have the regressor's ring. I have the regressor's ring. I have the regresso—'
"Next!"
When his turn finally came, he placed his hand into the vortex.
A violent aura flooded his body, far greater than the one he faced in the tests so far. Despite being prepared, he was overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the power and let his rank disguise slip.
The pain began to subside but a sharp killing intent rose behind him.
"…A rank 3?"
Varian wanted to teleport away but the vortex kept pulling his hand.
Ssss!
A sharp pain stuck his neck and the world inverted.
The sight of a headless body was the last thing he saw before everything turned dark.
