The grandest event had come to an end, shaking the very foundation of the Empire to its core.
Several figures leapt into the massive crater, rushing toward the two young men lying motionless at its center.
Both of them were in a dire state...
especially Frey Starlight, who could barely breathe.
Meanwhile, the audience was still frozen in shock.
"Did the hero... really lose?"
To whom? Frey Starlight?
Many simply couldn't accept it.
The blessed hero, hailed as the most gifted prodigy in history, had fallen ...even after unleashing all his power.
And the shame of House Starlight ..the one once branded a black stain upon their noble legacy .. had achieved the impossible before their very eyes.
The crowd grew more and more agitated.
"There must be some trick!"
"He must have cheated!"
"There's no way his strength could have risen that much in such a short time!"
The unrest snowballed with every word, a single whisper of doubt enough to ignite an uproar of resentment.
Even unconscious, Frey Starlight found no mercy.
Not even the towering figures among them knew exactly how Frey had done it ..
but to accuse him of cheating?
That was nothing but slander.
How could someone so "insignificant" deceive the eyes of the giants themselves if he had truly cheated?
In truth, their accusations were an unconscious insult to their own pride.
Phoenix Sunlight seethed, struggling to contain his anger as he listened to their pitiful cries.
Iris Sunlight said, resting his chin in his hand as he continued to watch Frey below with ever-glowing eyes.
"Their anger... it's nothing but proof of their own weakness. A reminder of just how pathetic this world truly is."
With a detached tone, Iris went on:
"Frey Starlight is a being apart from the rest.
Despite coming from a strong lineage, his talent was far inferior to that of his opponents."
"To see him defeat monsters who were deemed invincible—to witness a miracle with no equal—"
"Of course they can't accept it.
Because if they did, they'd have no choice but to admit they themselves are nothing more than failures."
Most people surrender before the battle even begins.
They comfort themselves with cheap excuses:
"I wasn't talented enough."
They fed those lies to their own souls—to soothe the sting of their own cowardice.
Frey Starlight, with nothing but meager talent, had crossed the chasm they couldn't even fathom ... through blood, and through steel.
Of course they wouldn't acknowledge him.
Acknowledging Frey would be like driving a dagger into their own hearts.
And so, Frey Starlight ...
"Even while unconscious... you must endure this too."
What a miserable, cruel reality.
Phoenix Sunlight said nothing.
He knew that Iris was right.
Every word had struck painfully deep.
Even after all that agony ...
All Frey received was scorn and hatred.
There was no justice in this world.
Frey Starlight's victory carried devastating consequences.
Consequences so vast they had yet to be fully understood.
The Church—those who had pinned all their hopes on their promised hero—stared in disbelief.
Joseph Blatter, his glowing eyes dark and cold, glared down at Frey from his seat.
The chosen hero ..the bearer of Vermithor ...
Everything had been shattered.
The grand design that had taken so long to build...
The High priest grand vision ..to unite the Empire under the hero's rise ..was now crumbling before his very eyes.
Victory at the Victoriad would have solidified Snow's standing, rallying countless followers under his banner.
But that ugly ending... had destroyed everything.
The promised hero… had fallen to the disgrace of House Starlight.
No tale could surpass such a devastating narrative.
The priest struggled to contain his composure.
"If only he had used Vermithor..."
But that was impossible.
Flaming weapons were strictly forbidden in the Victoriad from the start.
"Just who is that boy… Frey Starlight?"
How could he fight like that?
How had he defeated their chosen hero?
Suddenly, Frey Starlight had become the center of every conversation.
And no one burned with more fury than the Church.
Many of them were shaken by the hero's defeat.
Some were outright enraged.
But amidst all the chaos, there was one woman ...only one, Who remained perfectly calm.
Seated quietly behind the High priest, her face showed no emotion.
With a voice as serene as ever, she spoke:
"Why do you all wear such expressions now?"
Simultaneously, the three priest turned toward her, desperate for an explanation.
"Whether the hero wins or loses... it changes nothing,"
Who ever claimed the hero would win every battle?
"From the moment Snow Lionheart bore Vermithor, every action he took became part of the Lord of light will.
If he lost here, then there must be wisdom behind it."
The Lord of Light made no mistakes.
"There is a reason for this defeat. One way or another, blessings will follow."
That was her message:
Their god did not forsake them.
There was purpose even in loss.
Joseph Blatter remained silent, but he gestured toward one of the Archbishops seated below him.
"Your command, my lord?"
"Make sure everyone hears the Saintess's words."
Joseph Blatter did not resemble a simple clergyman despite his robes.
He was more like a general .. a ruthless strategist orchestrating every detail.
Using the Saintess's words, he restored the congregation's faith, calming the chaos within the Church.
In the old priest eyes, Frey Starlight had already ascended to a high, undeniable rank.
As for their chosen hero... his time would come.
Snow Lionheart would fulfill his destiny when the right moment arrived.
The Church moved swiftly to stabilize itself.
The Archbishops carried the bulk of the burden;
They were the true pillars holding the Church together ...
while the Bishops were merely its public face and weapons of war.
Among the busiest was a young man with white hair, reading glasses, and a black robe.
He slipped away quietly amidst the chaos.
"Hey! Micah! Where are you going? We're not done here!"
One of the Archbishops shouted after him.
But Micah Starlight merely waved back with a lazy smile.
"Cover for me for a while. I spotted my family nearby."
With that mischievous grin, Micah Starlight strode off.
"I must go pay my respects."
The other Archbishops stared at him in disbelief.
But none dared complain.
He was, after all, their strongest Archbishop ..their greatest prodigy.
Even among equals, human beings were never truly the same.