Harcos Holy Land, deep within the central castle complex.

The ancient stone doors connected underground, inserting into a vast subterranean ruin through a rune-carved stone tower.

In the depths of the ruins, a tide-like horde of monsters roared and bellowed, charging towards the stone tower that led to the ground above the high platform.

They were pitch black all over with ferocious appearances, exuding an aura of darkness and corruption—indeed, they were frenzied Blood Demons one after another.

Around the stone tower, the robed Bloodline members stood solemnly, arranged in orderly formations.

Magic power surged within them, controlling a dark red Magic Barrier that enveloped the stone tower.

The afterglow of sword skills and the brilliance of magic flashed constantly, armored Bloodline members transforming into bats or black mist at times.

They shuttled inside and outside the Magic Barrier, either slashing monsters with long swords or rending them into shreds with magic.

Beneath the stone tower, the corpses of monsters had piled up like small hills, and the black-red blood had long dyed the ground a profound black, the rich stench of blood filling the entire ruin.

And deeper within the ruin, countless Blood Demons continued to pour out from the darkness, seemingly endless under the dim magic lights.

Suddenly, a series of frenzied howls echoed, and several monsters with a far more terrifying presence than the others leaped from the "tide" towards the stone tower.

The outermost Bloodline members were grievously wounded just from facing these monsters, and even the protective barrier around the stone tower trembled violently under their assault, as if it would collapse at any moment.

Watching the unstoppable monsters, the defending Bloodline members changed color:

"Not good! These are the Lost nearing the Blazing Sun!"

"Retreat! Strengthen the barrier!"

However, just as those monsters were about to break into the stone tower, dark red brilliance fell from the sky, and streams of blood arrows plunged into the ground, piercing through them one by one.

"Great Prophet Margo!"

Seeing the figure above the stone tower, the Bloodline members were heartened.

"What's the situation?"

Great Prophet Margo of Harcos looked over the Blood Demons in the ruins and asked calmly.

The Bloodline members glanced at each other, gave a salute to Great Prophet Margo, and said:

"It seems that a Duke's seal has loosened, leading to this disturbance."

"We apologize for disturbing you and the Lords; we will quickly clear out the Demon Monsters."

The Great Prophet shook her head:

"Don't blame yourselves; even the Fallen Bloodline that has lost their sanity still retains the instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm. It was my taking away the legion's main force that made them stir."

With that, she looked back at the Bloodline warriors who had followed her and continued:

"Blood Legion, heed my command. Viscounts and above, continue to stay in the forbidden area to maintain the Sealing and suppress the Fallen Bloodline. There is no need to continue pretending to be high-tier Bloodline members above Earl rank."

Several Earls from the chasing Bloodline looked at each other with concern:

"Prophet, with so many 'high-tier Bloodline' members absent, could the banquet... reveal our true state?"

Great Prophet Margo said:

"I will handle the banquet side. Maintaining a good Sealing is the most important thing. This is, after all, the task given to us by the Queen. Before the Queen succeeds, we must fulfill our duties."

"Their power has been growing stronger over the past two years. Do not be negligent; this is for the Queen as well as for our Harcos Clan's future."

"The Queen is in a critical moment. Once the Queen succeeds, we can be freed from the curse."

"My fellows, continue to fight; everything... for the future of the Bloodline!"

"For the future of the Bloodline!"

The Bloodline members raised their swords and said in unison.

...

Queen's Palace banquet hall.

The mellifluous music flowed gently, and the elegant Bloodline members chatted and laughed.

Charlotte leaned against the VIP seats, slowly opening her eyes, gazing out the window in a thoughtful direction.

The last bit of spiritual power attached to the Bloodline warrior had cut off.

But in her mind, she still recalled the scene sensed before the break of spiritual power.

The stone tower, the Sealing... and the ruins.

The Bloodline, the Demon Monsters... and the battle.

"So that is how it is, the holy castle complex beneath Harcos Clan's grounds, sealing the Fallen high-tier Bloodline, huh..."

"It was also mentioned in Sigurd's memories that the Harcos Clan has always been combating the curse of the Fallen Bloodline, but since he was just a guard at the Royal Palace, there were no specific details of the resistance in his memories."

"Now it seems... that subterranean ruin must be where the Harcos Clan primarily battles the Fallen Bloodline."

"Unlike the Nais Clan, the Harcos Clan has not engaged in any large-scale wars on the continent, but they seem to be in a worse state than the Nais Clan..."

"They appear to 'fall' more easily, and most of their high-tier Bloodline... seems to have already fallen."

"The lucid members of the Harcos Clan are 'internally warring' with the Fallen high-tier Bloodline. The Prohibition looming over the Northern Territory might not be just to suppress the power of the gods but also to delay their own fall."

"The Harcos Clan is clearly in trouble; combining the recent scenes and Sigurd's memories, they are increasingly struggling against those Fallen Bloodline members."

"But even so… the Crimson Queen Royena seems to have not intervened."