PFBE 05

Chapter 05

“W-what… there’s something in the sky!”
“What on earth is happening?!”
“This… this is unusual!”

Count Paul Elang and his knights, steadily reducing the numbers of Denver’s loyalists as they advanced toward the last prince of the empire, suddenly found the sky filled with a crimson magical aura. At its center floated ancient symbols, causing Elang to open his mouth in shock.

“T-this… a Stigmata hasn’t been used in actual combat since the Age of Myth…!”

Of course, with their limited knowledge, they couldn’t possibly interpret the ancient symbols. Still, the sheer appearance of such a powerful crimson magic sweeping across the heavens was enough to create a foreboding atmosphere for Count Elang and his army.

“Why would a wretch like him wield a Stigmata…”

The House of Pelberg in the empire was long believed to be the sole lineage inheriting the divine power of the Stellar Thrones from the Age of Myth. But over the last five hundred years, no emperor had awakened the power of the Stigmata. People quietly accepted that the imperial bloodline no longer possessed the abilities of the Thrones.

Yet here and now, the rogue prince of the Pelberg Empire was using a Stigmata. For Count Paul Elang, who had marched his forces here to execute the last royal heir in allegiance to the Imperial Faction, this was a disastrous variable.

Only those who inherit the blood of the Thrones can wield a Stigmata and its divine power—the foundation that maintains the Pelberg imperial family.

Over the past five centuries, the empire’s gradual decline and the dwindling loyalty of the aristocracy were due to the absence of any royal who could manifest these powers.

“And now, of all times, the bloodline of the Thrones has reappeared…”

If news spread that the Pelberg prince had wielded the Stigmata, even the lukewarm loyalists among the nobility might rally again. Count Elang hesitated briefly before finally making his decision.

“He must die.”

At this point, there was no going back to the emperor’s side. If he chose to align with the Imperial Faction, he needed to eliminate the prince entirely, leaving no loose ends.

Count Paul Elang raised his staff, gathering powerful magic. He was a high-ranking sorcerer on par with a Grand Chevalier-class knight, capable of wielding battlefield-altering war magic.

“Die, Third Prince!”

Elang aimed at Cain, completing his signature ice-elemental war magic. The northern wind carrying icy blades coalesced into a massive ice giant, unleashing a snowstorm as it advanced toward Cain.

“Damn it.”

Cain muttered a curse as he observed the deadly magic unleashed toward him, sensing the murderous intent behind it. Meanwhile, the Stigmata he had drawn barely reacted; the Stellar Throne he had temporarily summoned offered no aid. It seemed to merely observe.

Then, suddenly, a message appeared before Cain’s eyes:

[<Crimson Archduke Rydel> bestows a boon upon the Wanderer. The follower of <Crimson Archduke Rydel>, ‘Executioner of Hellfire,’ will assist the Wanderer.]

The long-awaited Stellar Throne, Crimson Archduke Rydel, was sending his direct subordinate, the “Executioner of Hellfire,” to Cain’s aid.

A dazzling flash erupted from the Stigmata as the immense power of the Stellar Throne descended beside Cain. The divine authority, dormant for centuries, was awakening once more.

Cain, formerly a modern-era developer, had worried whether he could handle the Throne’s power when the Stigmata first responded. Fortunately, he didn’t need to worry himself this time.

Crimson Archduke Rydel, though not on the level of a monarch-class Throne, was one of the most powerful among the aristocratic Thrones, occupying the rank of Archduke—a being impossible to summon by ordinary means.

‘Just curious, perhaps…’

In the game’s lore, Rydel was known for his capriciousness. The awakening of the Stigmata after centuries likely piqued his interest, resulting in the descent of his follower.

[<Crimson Archduke Rydel>’s follower, ‘Executioner of Hellfire,’ will assist the Wanderer.]
[‘Executioner of Hellfire’ is Rydel’s apostle of the power ‘Hellfire.’ Use its power to overcome your obstacles!]

However, the “Executioner of Hellfire” had not fully manifested on the surface. Recognizing this, Cain quickly guided the Stigmata to induce the apostle’s materialization. Though Rydel himself did not descend, a terrifying divine aura began to tint the sky dark red.

“W-what on earth…!”
“W-what is happening?!”

As the Stellar Throne’s power spread across the battlefield, the enemy troops felt overwhelming fear and descended into chaos. They had expected an easy conquest—strike a lone imperial prince with minimal forces—but never imagined facing the divine power of a Stellar Throne.

“What are the knights doing?! Kill the prince before it fully descends…”

A young mage, sensing unusual magical energy from Cain, barked orders at the knights. He seemed to be a commander among them.

But Cain’s Stigmata was faster.

[<Crimson Archduke Rydel>’s follower, ‘Executioner of Hellfire,’ has fully descended to the battlefield.]

A suffocating, crimson-black aura swept across the land.

Following the power of the Crimson Archduke, his apostle finally appeared in the flesh—a deathly, crimson-black figure shaped like a reaper.

Cain recalled having seen a concept art of this figure back in his developer days. It was Rydel’s direct subordinate, responsible for the power of Hellfire.

The fully manifested apostle, the “Executioner of Hellfire,” raised a long, jagged scythe. A new system message appeared before Cain:

[‘Executioner of Hellfire’ intends to burn all entities on the battlefield to ash.]

Cain instinctively shouted, “No, wait!”

Targeting the entire battlefield would naturally include allies. Cain shook his head in denial. The crimson reaper lowered its scythe and instead extended its skeletal left arm.

[‘Executioner of Hellfire’ has acknowledged your intent and will execute judgment only on hostile entities.]

Fortunately, the Executioner seemed to accept Cain’s implicit request, and the Throne’s power was finally unleashed.

Cain, however, was unprepared for the terrifying scope of Rydel’s power, Hellfire.

In the blink of an eye, those raising swords against the Pelberg prince vanished.

It was as if they had been erased entirely.

“W-what just happened?”

The seven Chevalier-class knights surrounding Count Denver had been incinerated. Their ashes drifted in the wind. Not just the knights—soldiers opposing Cain, as well as Elang’s summoned ice giant, mages, and troops, had all disappeared without a trace, leaving only swirling gray dust.

Count Paul Elang and his army, who had stormed Kanosa Castle intending to eliminate Cain, had vanished in an instant.

Count Denver, witnessing this unbelievable scene, stood frozen. Though he had seen it with his own eyes, it defied belief.

Then…

“Long live Pelberg!”

Before Denver could process the chaos, a young knight’s voice shouted in loyalty. Only then did Denver recognize Prince Cain’s presence on the battlefield and hurried to ensure his safety. Despite rumors of incompetence, Denver had long sworn loyalty to the Pelberg imperial family.

His gaze fell upon Cain, and he was struck dumb. The last scion of the Pelberg dynasty lay before him, blood streaming from every orifice of his face.

Yet the royal knights could not approach to support him. Even as Cain bled, they dared not come near. They had all witnessed the horrific devastation he had just unleashed with a mere gesture.

Count Denver, fuming, shouted:

“What kind of madness is this?! Don’t you see the prince lying there?! Rodolfo! Schweissen! What are you—”

Denver moved forward to provide first aid, only to realize why his subordinates couldn’t touch the prince.

His hands stopped short. The prince bore an ancient glowing sigil on his wrist—a Stigmata symbolizing the Stellar Throne.

“Long live… Pelberg.”

Denver, like a devotee before his god, was overcome with reverence and could not move.