The same time...

Glow City.

Hearing the midday bell, Hoford Quinn put down the quill in his hand and couldn't help but look southwest.

The news of Wimbledon IV's ascension to the throne had spread not only throughout Graycastle but also throughout Dawn—according to the pamphlets, if nothing unexpected happened, it would be the hour of that young man's coronation.

It was too fast.

Hoford couldn't help but sigh. His daughter, Andrea, was a few years younger, but he was already the undisputed ruler of a country, his influence even crossing the border.

Since the battle with the Moya family, perhaps some of the nobility in Dawn's capital did not know Wimbledon III's real name, but few did not know the name Roland Wimbledon. At first, it was only circulating in the underground chambers of commerce, but later anecdotes about the prince spread through various channels, like wildfire across the prairie.

And three years ago, he was just a lord of a remote town, the least favored of all the Wimbledon royals.

Such a rapid rise was almost like a fairy tale, and it was no exaggeration to describe him as a monster. And his many actions were as unfathomable as a monster—such as this coronation ceremony. Throughout history, he was probably the only one to hold a coronation ceremony in the winter when the Evil Moon was rampant.

Usually, such a monarch would only appear in times of turmoil or chaos. Recalling the inside story of the Battle of Divine Will, he vaguely felt that the world might be about to usher in an earth-shattering change.

"Your Majesty," the guard's words interrupted his thoughts, "Sir Hill Fox has sent a letter."

"Oh?" Hoford turned his gaze back. "Open it and read it to me."

"Yes."

'Your Majesty' was indeed an intoxicating title. He had been the Hand of the King for nearly twenty years and had called countless majesties, and he thought he had developed immunity. But when someone addressed him like this, he could still feel something swelling in his heart.

Then offer blessings to the King of Graycastle.

Hoford knew that he was able to sit in this position and deter other restless people precisely because of the support of the neighboring country behind him. Those large families were not afraid of the swords in the hands of Quinn knights, but they were full of fear of the earth-shattering thunder. At this moment when a great change was coming, the safest way was to tie the fate of the family to the Graycastle chariot.

"The letter says that a mining team from Graycastle has entered the Dawn border and they hope to get your assistance and support."

"Inform Earl Rossi of this matter and let him lead the Knights to meet them," Hoford quickly ordered. "Also, take my oral decree to notify the lords along the way, and be sure to provide this team with all the help they need."

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

...

Wolfheart Sea, Grand Duke Island.

Although this place was far away from the area affected by the Evil Moon, the wet and cold sea breeze still made the town appear desolate. Few people came and went on the muddy streets, and only the dock area barely maintained a little vitality.

Therefore, an open-air tavern built next to the dock warehouse was particularly conspicuous—it mainly provided sailors with extremely cheap warm wine. Compared with the taverns that could shelter from the wind and rain, passers-by usually just wanted to satisfy their craving and dispel the cold in their stomachs. Few people would stop after drinking it, but at this moment, nearly a hundred people had gathered in front of it.

A woman in coarse cloth clothes was also attracted by it.

"Farina?" someone whispered. "What are you looking at? We should go."

"Demons," she replied.

"What—" The latter's face changed.

"I heard someone mention demons," the woman called Farina repeated. "Wait a little longer, Joe."

The man hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and replied in a very low voice, "Yes... Your Eminence."

"This is not an order," Farina waved her hand dismissively, then took a few steps closer to the crowd, hoping to hear more clearly.

"I have never seen such terrible monsters. They have wings longer than humans, and fangs as thick as arms. The city walls are nothing to them!" The source of the sound seemed to be a merchant, who was particularly proud of being surrounded by everyone, and his voice became louder and louder, "But this is not the most terrible thing. Those demons are sitting on another kind of demon, like humans, but much stronger than humans. The spears they throw are like they have eyes, so fast and so fierce that the armor can't stop them! I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, I almost wet my pants at the time."

A chorus of gasps rang out from the crowd.

"Really? Wouldn't that be invincible?"

"If they only stay in the sky, you can't touch them!"

A small number of people also expressed disdain.

"You're talking nonsense, demons—can you tell the difference between Evil Beasts and demons?"

"Yes, go to the Hermes Plateau and take a look. There are all kinds of monsters there. I'm afraid you'll pee so easily that you'll freeze your little brother off."

"Bah, what do you know!" the merchant shouted. "That's the name given by His Highness Roland Wimbledon! He's been in the Western Region for many years, how could he not know the difference between Evil Beasts and demons? I'd say that Evil Beasts are a bunch of chaotic refugees, while demons are a well-trained army! Have you ever seen that group of beasts launch attacks on cities in batches and with a focus?"

"If what you said is true, can Graycastle still stop them?"

"You don't understand this. It was indeed a very critical situation at the time, but flames and lightning flashed on the city wall in an instant, like hail falling!" He sputtered, "The demons exploded in the sky in the blink of an eye, and blood and flesh splattered everywhere. There was also one that fell in front of the hotel where I was staying—the big hole in its chest was almost the size of a bowl, God knows how they did it!"

"No bed crossbow could have such power. According to what you said, wouldn't that prince's strength be no different from that of a god?"

"Ha, otherwise how do you think he killed the Church?"

Hearing these words, Farina clenched her fists.

"..." Joe held her shoulder and shook his head at her silently.

"I know." She took a deep breath and let go of her hand. "What do you think of this?"

"The Red Moon has not yet appeared, and demons should not appear in the wilderness, but his description of the demons is so similar to the records in the Holy Book that it doesn't sound like a fabrication, so I also... cannot tell." Joe paused, his face a little worried, "However, these are all already and us——"

"Irrelevant," Farina continued. "You're right, Joe. We have to solve our own problems first."

After the death of Acting Pope Tucker Thornden, she followed his last wish and led the remaining Judgment Army to evacuate from the New Holy City, intending to go to Grand Duke Island in Wolfheart to rebuild the church. It used to be the stronghold of the witch organization Bloodfang Society. After the church army wiped it out, in order to prevent the other party from making a comeback, the Holy City sent people to station there, which can be regarded as a long-cultivated land, and it is very ideal as a new foothold.

But unexpectedly, the news of the fall of the Holy City spread faster than their footsteps. After learning of the fall of Hermes, the Grand Duke Island Bishop no longer recognized the identity given by the church, turned around and colluded with the nobles, transformed himself into the Earl of Grand Duke Island, and even hanged the envoy who arrived first outside the city.

This incredible betrayal gave the Judgment Army a heavy blow. After that, many people left the team. Now they have been on Grand Duke Island for half a year, but they can only hide like street rats. If they can't raise the church flag and reunite people's hearts, I'm afraid the church will be completely ruined in her hands.

There is no doubt that only by sacrificing the traitor with blood can the precarious situation be reversed.

The difficulty lies in the fact that the other party also has a team of God's Punishment Warriors.

This battle will inevitably be extremely tragic.

"Let's go," Farina pulled up her hood and took one last look at the tavern.

The merchant was still talking endlessly, "There are many more interesting things there! Such as black iron ships as big as mountains, and giant buildings taller than the Tower of the Sky, you will never forget it once you have been there!"

"Tell us all about it, and I'll add wine for you!"

"These are all from the hand of that fourth prince?"

"Hey, of course, but you can't call him Prince anymore—because when I left Neverwinter City, he had already decided to officially ascend the throne! The date... let me think about it, um... it should be today!"

"Oh? So he is the King of Graycastle now?"

"Haha, that title is good," the merchant raised the filled glass. "Since it's such a coincidence, let me toast the King of Graycastle in the distance!"

"Respect the King of Graycastle!" Everyone also raised their glasses in a clamorous manner.

King of Graycastle... Farina sneered twice. Continue to build your seemingly prosperous kingdom in the mountains, when the Battle of Divine Will is coming, this world will eventually be turned into ruins. We will meet in the real hell sooner or later, the only difference is who goes first and who goes later. If I fail to defeat the traitor this time, I will take a step first; and if I win, then I will be here, quietly waiting for the news of your fall into hell.

His Majesty Roland Wimbledon.