Chapter 267: Hero Updates!

( Past Two Chapters were Swapped )

The Kingdom of Lumeria was very dim in the current moment. After consecutive losses to the Demon Kingdom and the Demon King, who felt more and more like an unstoppable obstacle, things were becoming problematic.

Still, within the Kingdom of Lumeria, the Holy Church’s headquarters stood as a massive beacon of hope and faith for various civilians.

Where the Demon Capital thrived beneath deep hues of crimson and shadow, the Holy Church basked in an almost overwhelming radiance, white stone structures reflecting sunlight in sharp brilliance, towering spires crowned with golden sigils, and banners that carried the symbol of divine authority fluttering proudly in the wind.

Everything here was meant to inspire faith. To maintain the perception of order and superiority that had fueled the mindsets of those within the Church for as long as anyone could remember.

At the heart of it all stood the central command hall, a vast, cathedral-like chamber reinforced not just by architecture, but by divine magic itself. Light pooled across the polished floors in radiant streams, and faint echoes of distant hymns seemed to hum through the very air.

Inside, gathered around a long table marked with glowing maps and divine projections, stood the remaining Heroes.

The atmosphere... wasn’t as steady as it used to be.

At the head of the table stood

Killian,

looking the same as always, golden hair, sharp golden eyes, and armor that gleamed as if blessed by the heavens themselves. The radiant sword at his side pulsed faintly with holy energy, proof of his status, his power and his importance.

However, today, like many days in the past few weeks, there was some tension in his posture. Subtle, barely noticeable at most, but to those very close to him, it was obvious.

"...We still don’t have a confirmed location," Killian said, his voice firm, but edged with concern.

His gaze flicked across the map again, lingering on one specific region far longer than necessary.

"Just like Natasha, her beacon deactivated the moment the Demon King got his hands on her, and since then, we’ve gotten no sightings, no movements, absolutely nothing,"

Killian paused, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he looked intently at this map, "...Alexi just... vanished, taken by the Demon King to a place we have no information of. The highest likelihood is she’s at the new Demon Capital, but that place is an impenetrable fortress,"

Alicia, standing nearby, shifted slightly at the mention of it, her fingers tightening subtly around the edge of the table.

"...Do you think she’s okay?" she asked quietly.

Her voice carried a-lot of worry and genuine concern and Killian’s expression hardened just a bit. "...She’s strong," he said. "She can handle herself."

But even he didn’t really believe what he said. A faint silence followed that, and then

"...You’re worried she’ll end up like Natasha."

Killian’s eyes snapped toward Alicia as he heard that.

"...What?"

She didn’t back down, though her expression wasn’t confrontational, just honest.

"...You’ve been thinking it too," she said. "Haven’t you?"

Killian didn’t answer immediately, because he couldn’t deny it.

Natasha was the first to be taken, and the memory of their last meeting still burned. The calm expression on her face and her complete lack of hesitation when she stood beside the Demon King, as if she always belonged there.

How she fought them without hesitation. It seemed as if Natasha had absolutely no regrets or resistance. They were worried she had been mind-controlled, but none of them could sense that kind of magic on her.

Deep down, they were all worried she had been tortured into complete submission by the Demon King.

Killian’s hand tightened slightly at his side, "...Alexi isn’t like her," he said finally.

But even he could hear the slight uncertainty in his voice. Touka exhaled quietly, stepping forward slightly.

"...Whether she is or not doesn’t matter right now."

Her tone wasn’t cold, but it was very focused, "We can’t afford to stand still because of it."

Her gaze swept across the group, "We’ve grown stronger again,"

That much was undeniable. The air around them carried a different weight now, divine energy woven more deeply into their existence.

Blessings and Enchantments granted directly from the Goddess of Light, Kayle.

"...The Angels have also acknowledged us," Touka continued, "They’ve backed us and will be there when we next decide to battle the Demon King, especially Angel Freya,"

At the mention of that, faint golden sigils along the walls pulsed slightly, as if responding.

"We’re not the same as we were before."

Killian’s expression steadied slightly at that.

"...Yeah."

Touka nodded once.

"So stop hesitating."

Her eyes locked onto his.

"We focus on the mission."

Alicia glanced between them, still uneasy—but she didn’t argue.

"...Another push into Demon Territory?" she asked.

Touka nodded.

"Yes."

Her tone didn’t waver.

"We keep the pressure on them. Keep advancing. Don’t let the losses get to us,"

Killian exhaled slowly, his posture straightening as he forced the lingering doubt down.

"...Right."

That was what he was supposed to do. Lead without hesitation.

His gaze hardened again, that familiar confidence beginning to resurface, layering itself back over the cracks.

"...We move forward."

But even as he said it, uncertainty lingered within him.

Then, a soft sound broke the tension.

"...Killian~"

All eyes shifted to Lizzy, who was the one who spoke.

She stood slightly apart from the group, her golden hair cascading down her back, her blue eyes locked entirely onto him.

She stepped forward slowly with a soft dreamlike expression, "...You’re overthinking things again."

Killian blinked once, "Lizzy"

She didn’t let him finish.

In the next moment, she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against him without hesitation.

"...It doesn’t matter what happens to anyone else," she murmured softly against his chest.

Her voice was gentle. But there was something beneath it, the intense love she had for him.

"...I’ll never change."

Killian stiffened slightly. Lizzy tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his, a bright and devoted expression on her face.

"...No matter what that Demon King does," she continued, her voice unwavering.

"He’ll never break me."

Her grip tightened slightly around him.

"...Because I belong to you."