Sylvester's heart returned to its normal rhythm as the illusion the Shadow of Masan had created vanished. He could now see everything clearly. Chonky was sitting on his lap, crying and calling his name, while Julius was sitting in the distance with his sword planted firmly on the ground.

'So much destruction?' he muttered and looked up. The sky was in view, and the entire roof of the castle had vanished. Heck, the entire castle wasn't around him anymore. 'Did my Hellfire Purge do this?'

Cough!

Sylvester looked down again in front of him. Right there was Shadow of Masan's body, coughing and gurgling. The Spear of Infinity was plunged deep into her helmet as it pierced through her skull and even came out from the back of her head.

"Only…" She tried to speak her last words. "If only we were partners…we could have taken the w-world."

Sylvester was bleeding profusely, so he first tended his wounds with Miraj's help. He ate a mouthful of Solarium crystals and poured potions on his wounds. Only then did he approach the Shadow of Masan's body while groaning in pain.

He pulled the spear out of her head, making her cry in pain. However, instead of showing mercy, he plunged the spear into her chest, piercing through her armor and striking her heart. This time, death came instantly.

"I don't hate you. For we're all born with a purpose, and your journey was destined only until this moment. May you find your path in the afterlife." Sylvester addressed her before collapsing on his back to catch his breath.

"Maxy~ Are you okay?" Miraj leaped onto his neck, worrying for him. "I tried to throw explosives on her, but she was fast."

"I'll live…"

At last, Masan was conquered. Five years in the desert and then over a year in Masan. He outdid the Shadow of Masan in everything, considering she had schemed for almost a decade to bring down the Gracia Kingdom, only to fail.

In the end, Sylvester was just the better spy. His significant defeats against the Shadow of Masan were only because he was never fully focused on fighting her.

"That was one of the strangest battles I've seen in my life." Julius' voice came, drawing nearer.

Sylvester chuckled. He could imagine how it appeared for someone watching the fight outside the illusion magic. "Thank you, Julian…I almost thought you wouldn't come."

The old, serious-looking man came closer to Sylvester's head and peered down at him. "I was hesitant…But then I remembered that you are the only man who is truly trying to change the faith from within. Against all odds, with enemies all around who are far stronger than you. I wouldn't have been able to face my family in the afterlife if I hadn't come."

"Haha!" Sylvester laughed suddenly and coughed out some blood. "Afterlife? So you do believe in god."

Julian sighed and knelt down to heal Sylvester's most severe injuries. He hovered his hand on the deep gashes and used healing magic. "I do believe there is a God—but it's not Solis. There has to be an afterlife…or else, all my life's work would mean nothing."

Sylvester was instantly reminded of Diana and the fact he was technically living in an afterlife. "Indeed, it'd be unfortunate if there was nothing after death…I wish to meet someone too."

Moments later, Julian got up, ready to leave. "Remember. One year—only eight months left now."

Sylvester felt too exhausted to speak and merely raised his thumb a little. Afterward, all alone with Miraj, he rested on the blood-soaked floor. Above, he gazed at the sky, occasionally spotting birds in flight.

"It is mine now—Masan is mine."

Seeing Sylvester fine, Miraj also rested on his chest. "Maxy, when do we go home? I miss Big Mum."

"Next month, we'll head home. But…it's going to be a continuous fight from now until I win the seat of the Pope." Sylvester had grown tired of fighting. But he had fought for so many years already, and victory was within reach, albeit posing the most difficult challenge yet.

"Maxy, why are you shining?" "Shining?" Sylvester quickly raised his head and looked at his own body. "I…I'm Ranking Up!"

Sylvester sat up and felt the heat surging through his body. He knew it would be a painful process, but he had forgotten how it felt since his last Ranking Up was years ago during the first battle with the Shadow Knight.

"Finally after so long…Or perhaps earlier than expected according to normal folks." Sylvester even took delight in the pain, as it meant he was getting stronger. He allowed the Solarium in the air to enter his body and help in the process.

'Wait! What if I use the Elder Magic to force more Solarium into my body?'

No pain, no gain. He had lived by that saying for years already. So he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged as if he was meditating.

'Okay, the pain and burning are intensifying now.'

"Woah! Maxy! You're on fire!"

Sylvester opened his eyes and noticed a red hue enveloping him. Indeed, he was clearly on fire. But he didn't feel his skin burning, but his insides were.

'Ugh…It's excruciating.'

But he persevered, as Ranking Up involved a transformation of the entire body. The veins were enhanced, and his capacity to carry Solarium was upgraded. The body became more refined, extending his lifespan.

He panted and clenched his teeth, suppressing the urge to scream in agony. He tightened his fist to control himself and stop himself from halting the process. For two hours, the fire on Sylvester's body only grew more intense and scorching. To the point that even Miraj had to jump back to avoid being burned.

"Come on! Just a little more!"

He felt the ground shaking beneath him again. The influx of extra Solarium was having trouble combining with the body. The veins, the solarium reserves that were in the process of expanding, got stretched even more with Elder Magic.

Woosh!

Thud!

Two hours later, suddenly, the fire vanished from his entire being, and he fell back again. Breathless, his heart seemed to race. Yet, his face bloomed with an excited smile of satisfaction.

"YES!" He exclaimed excitedly. "YES! YES!"

"What happened?" Miraj jumped onto his face and stared into his eyes.

Sylvester giggled like a little boy who found candy. "Hah—I'm now a Grand Wizard…Level Two! A double rank-up, buddy!"

With his peak Archwizard power, he was capable of killing Grand Wizards with Elder Magic. However, now…he was eager to find out. Although the chances were slim that he would encounter many Grand Wizards to battle anytime soon. Most were in the Holy Land, and the rest were his allies. But what intrigued him more was...

'How will I fare against a Supreme Wizard now?'

But he set aside those thoughts for the time being and stood up, albeit limping on one side as the Shadow of Masan had punctured his liver, and it took some time to fully heal. He first burned all the bodies there and then left.

"Let's go find Aurora and meet with Avanss. I hope their work outside was successful."

…

When the battle inside the Imperial Castle was happening, a different struggle took place outside the Thousand Castle city.

In the Southern City, all of a sudden, thousands of armed Imperial Knights appeared and began attacking anyone they saw, harassing the people and subjecting them to unwarranted interrogations. They even killed a few people, and it was all done in the open for everyone to see. At first, the people were scared, adhering to their sheep mentality. But, once the Imperial Knights killed a child and burned down a family's home with them still inside, anger surged. With a single stone thrown at the right time, the already tense city erupted in a fury against the nobles.

Just then, for the protection of the people, the famed beloved goddess of the city, Saint Cardinal Lady Aurora appeared and fought against the knights, defeating them with ease. From there, word spread around that the famed Sylvester Maximilian, the Son of Solis, the Lord's Bard was inside the Imperial Castle and fighting against the tyrannical mad Emperor.

The enraged crowd attacked the ordinary soldiers, prompting the soldiers to send all their manpower to respond. Within a few hours, the city turned into a battlefield. It's safe to say that the commoners were of no match against the soldiers with magical items and sharp swords.

A massacre began to take place, and the anger continued to rise. At that moment, the strangest thing happened. A lot of midgets began to appear throughout the city. No one questioned them, for they fought the soldiers remarkably well and protected the people.

Through Aurora's account and a few well-placed men by Hozin and Kimino, rumors began to spread. The midgets were Dwarves that had been held captive by the tyrannical Emperor for the past few centuries, underground inside the darkness, forced to forge.

The fact was emphasized that they were all followers of Solis, and yet the Emperor enslaved them. Hence, the Church of Solis was now furious with Emperor Zenith, and similarly, the wrath of Solis had brought back Lord Bard to protect the people.

Of course, the story seemed far-fetched. But backed by violence and physical proof of the Dwarves speaking the common language perfectly and saving them—everyone believed the beloved Aurora.

In reality, the Imperial Knights were planted there by Aurora and Sylvester. The soldiers attacking the people were also part of their plan. The entire chaos was organized by Sylvester's master plan from beginning to end.

After all, without destruction, they couldn't build something new. Similarly, for the people to accept the Dwarves and Sylvester's new leadership, chaos had to occur.

At the fifth hour, the battle finally came to an end, and Sylvester arrived at the Southern City. His halo shone, and his armor gleamed golden. He raised his palm towards the kneeling people, casting brilliant light magic upon them.

'It appears she succeeded.'

"The heretic Emperor and his heathenous followers have been killed! Masan is liberated, and soon prosperity shall return. Forgive this Bard, for I was late to your pain-filled concerns!" Sylvester apologized in his majestic voice. "But from this point forward. Happiness shall flourish throughout. From the southern borders to the northern mountains—my light shall spread wherever lives the devout!

"Furthermore, I shall bring peace to your south and stop the nonsensical war with Warsong, fought because of the greed and ego of your past Emperor!"

A planted man in the crowd roared abruptly in response. "All hail the Bard! Long live the Bard!"

In no time, the chants reverberated, and the entire city echoed with the same words. It was easy to manipulate people as long as they held the narrative. And that was something Sylvester excelled in.

He continued to walk amidst the crowd while people tried to at least touch him once for good fortune. It was important for Sylvester to impress them as the West had only heard his story, and had never laid eyes on him before.

"May the Holy Light enlighten us." He kept saying until he finally entered the monastery, which was surrounded by the Church's guards.

He found Aurora seated in Saint Cardina's chamber. "Any problems?"

"None. And you?" she asked wearily.

Sylvester took a seat. "Emperor, Magistrates, Shadow of Masan—all dead."

"Who was the Shadow of Masan?" She asked, something the world wanted to know.

"The wife of the Emperor's exiled elder brother. It's a long story, and I'll tell you on our way back home. Right now, I need to see Avanss as soon as possible. He has a great task to fulfill for me." Sylvester got to work quickly and stood up. "Where is he?"

"In the room above. I'll take you there."

Without wasting time, they swiftly arrived at the modest room, but only Sylvester entered as the topic was extremely important. Rather, he asked Aurora to stand guard outside so none may hear him.

"You feel different—Congratulations." Avanss saw Sylvester and instantly noticed the change in his Wizard rank.

'Ugh…These elves and their senses.'

"Avanss, will you do me a great favor?" Sylvester settled into a chair, facing the elven man. "It's of great importance to Sol and Beastaria."

"Sylvester, or should I say Bard…Although I like you, I have no reason to do anything for you. So before asking me a favor, tell me what it is."

'Of course…' Sylvester sighed and took out a sealed letter with his personal stamp on it. "Avanss, I want you to return to Alfia and give this to…King Rathagun."

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Thank you for reading. GT votes are much appreciated.