If even a man like him, who had been living in the capital for so long, could turn out to be a demon, who could say that the very person next to them might not be one?
Everyone gulped hard. Panic was starting to take root once again when Reinhardt’s words, like a beacon of light, cut through the darkness.
But of course, how could demons make it easy?
"Trial?! You call this a trial?! We were told nothing. How do we know this won’t kill the innocent?"
"That’s right, what if someone who is not a demon catches fire? Are you going to be responsible for those lives?"
"Why is the Queen not here?! Shouldn’t she address us herself?!"
To cause as much panic among the crowd as possible, they even spouted lies about how they saw a child getting burned inside or people getting killed by the knights.
Reinhardt calmly observed those people, his eyes pinpointing the ones hiding among the crowd. He did not say anything and quietly stood by, observing everything.
Until the demons took action, he did not move. There was no need to. The effects of [Voice of Providence], the force of compulsion, was not something the likes of them could try to match. The trial continued.
Many walked up willingly, while others needed to be dragged forcefully. Some walked like it was a stroll in the park, while some carried slight hesitation in their steps. Very few had to be carried by the knights.
Most emerged unharmed, their sighs of relief giving hope to others. The screams coming next made it worse.
After all, demons did burn.
A woman disguised as a seamstress... burned.
A teen boy who played in the streets... burned.
A nobleman who donated to orphanages... burned.
At first, the instances were only a few and far between. However, as more and more people were brought to the plaza, the number of those who turned out to be demons increased.
This naturally planted doubt among everyone.
"This city... was this city always this infested?"
"What if my neighbour is one?"
It was not just the citizens; even the knights felt their hair rise on end seeing the number of demons that had actually infiltrated their society.
"Sir Reinhardt knew... He knew it was this bad..." It also made them realise the deeper meaning behind the actions of the Divine Paladin.
If not for the events of today, who knew how long these demons would have disguised themselves among them? It shook them to the core just thinking about it.
.
As the trials carried on in the plaza, meanwhile, the rest of the capital began to ignite with chaos.
As the echoing screams of the dying demons filled the capital, many of them soon realised there was no longer any hope of maintaining their disguises. They unhesitatingly dropped their human skins and bared their fangs.
Thus, the city was plunged into further chaos.
With the emergence of demons all around the capital, all hell broke loose. Some demons ran wild, attacking everything in sight. Others, more cunning, used devious schemes. They barricaded themselves inside buildings, homes, inns, warehouses, every place where humans gathered.
What’s more, they took civilians as hostages, stacking them like sheilds.
That said, their response was within Reinhardt’s predictions.
"Third, Fourth, and Fifth Battalions of Royal Guards, begin sweeping the districts. Find those hiding. Demons do not get the mercy of a trial."
The battalions of Royal Guards left to carry out his command. Soon, sounds of clashing erupted everywhere. Accompanying it was the noise of shattering glass, roaring flames, and demonic shrieks.
With this, the crusade had entered its final stage. The demons had brought the war to their home. However, they forgot this was the capital, the place where the knights and the Seven Commanders stood.
.
Inside a tavern in the western district, a pair of demons had taken the entire place hostage.
"Don’t move! If I see anyone even twitching, I’ll slit all of your throats..." A demon threatened. However, before it could complete its sentence, the tavern trembled.
Then, with a thunderous noise, the ceiling collapsed and through it fell Brutus, landing like a falling mountain.
The next second, before the demon could even react, the knight’s large sword blurred. Three snake heads flew in different directions, rolling on the floor like blood covered marbles.
In the same breath, Brutus exhaled; the temperature of the sword rose, distorting the air around it. The swing had yet to complete a full arc when it transitioned into another attack, striking the demon hiding behind the humans.
Two demons, one strike. Brutus, the commander of the number one knight order of Solaris, defeated the demons in the blink of an eye. His commanding presence and heroic appearance caused the crowd to shout his name.
"Get to the plaza!" He remained unbothered and began moving towards the next building immediately.
.
In another district of the capital, Leona descended with a burst of starlight, crashing through a manor window where a noble who turned out to be a demon had bound twenty servants to sacrifice them for a summoning gate. Her blade slashed the air.
SHING... A crescent of blue brilliance cut the demon in half without harming a single hostage.
Then her blade moved again, this time cutting the bindings of the servants.
"Move now. Stay low and follow the knights." She calmly guided the terror stricken citizens.
.
Another corner of the capital...
A warehouse packed with captives burst into demonic fire. People were screaming, about to be swallowed, when a loud feral roar, powerful enough to even freeze the flames for a moment, rang out.
ROARRR... Along with the roar came a man exuding noble elegance and grace that was mismatched with the power he held.
He extended his hand, and a golden black orb the size of a football manifested out of his palms. The orb exerted a tremendous suction force, devouring the flames.
"Y-You... don’t you care about the humans here?!" The demon roared in fear.