The battlefield of Sorriso was chaos.

  The portals in the North of the capital spewed trolls, ogres, and barbarians, and every explosion made the ground tremble.

  The air was fire and ash.

  Smoke swallowed the skies.

  But among the chaos, a single calm voice echoed:

  — Elisandra. The wind has changed.

  The portals in the East had been closed.

  In the center of the capital, the Gath were pulling out the wounded, giving assistance, collecting the bodies of allies who had fallen in battle.

  A colossal support force, spread throughout Sorriso but concentrated in the center—where the wounded were many.

  From above, she observed: Ravia Dreadwell.

  Long hair tied in a high ponytail, the Gath uniform, and the characteristic cap.

  Still a cadet, but the most promising.

  She saved lives while eliminating enemies — all to protect others.

  THE TECHNIQUES OF THE GATH SQUAD ARE INCREDIBLE.

  THEY SHAPE MANA HOWEVER THEY WANT — FOR ATTACK, DEFENSE, HEALING, AND EVEN LIMB RESTORATION.

  BUT FINDING A GATH WITH THE POTENTIAL OF SíLVIO DREGBOURNE IS RARE TODAY.

  THE TECHNIQUES ARE HARD TO MASTER, AND MANY DIE FOR LACK OF APTITUDE — AND FOR INSISTING.

  Elisandra, watching, murmured:

  — But they’re all incredible… so many of them, with this coordination, agility, and strength. Silvio has an amazing squad.

  She raised her glowing mental-blue staff, planting it at the top of the northern tower.

  — Bond of a Thousand Souls. Astral Fortification.

  The spirit of the allies rose.

  Mana regenerated.

  Wounds closed.

  A mage from the Eye of Shadow House, astonished:

  — Incredible… so this is the strength of the legendary Chess? The Veil of Mind makes sense now… this concentration… this mana… she was truly blessed by the gods. Why wasn’t I born a Chess?!

  Another whispered:

  — She’s beautiful… and amazing!

  The wounded soldiers began regenerating.

  Steam rose from their bodies — support mana.

  Fatigue faded. Mana increased.

  All of this because of one support mage.

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  But not just any mage.

  A CHESS — from the most respected family of support mages in the entire Empire.

  And in the Northern Wing of Sorriso… this support was essential for holding the line.

  — Octagon Barrier! Seal of Eight Points! — Elisandra’s voice echoed.

  The portals began to compress and close — with the shrill sound of mental magic.

  Dum. Dum. Dum.

  It was the Sun of Magic forcing the portals shut.

  And they were closing.

  But Elisandra was at her limit.

  The veins in her neck and arms glowed gold — a clear sign of mental strain from mana.

  At this stage, the heart accelerates, sending more blood mixed with mana through the body — overloading the brain.

  If one doesn’t have the mental strength and focus to hold it…

  The heart or the brain can explode.

  — Not yet… — Elisandra panted.

  — I still need to keep everyone fighting… Everyone is fighting with their lives on the line. I won’t stand still. I won’t be a burden to him again.

  On the horizon, the main portal began to close.

  Black lines spread through the sky like cracks in a mirror.

  The sound — if there was still sound — seemed to come from underground.

  The wind began to spin.

  The air split with a dry crack.

  Light — sucked, bent, consumed.

  Absolute cold rose from the ground.

  Not like temperature — but like the absence of existence.

  The portals closed across the entire North wing in an explosion of light.

  The earth sank.

  The screams, explosions, the sounds of battle… all seemed to vanish to Elisandra.

  — Tailer… I did it… — she whispered.

  Blood dripped from her nose.

  Her body, at the limit, finally gave in — and she fainted.

  — Elisandra is at the limit! — Leli shouted, running.

  Below, the battle continued — but this time, no more monsters were coming.

  The portals in the North had closed.

  Because of a single support mage.

  The MVP of that battle.

  From atop the walls, Lukas watched.

  César murmured into his mind:

  — That’s it, legionary. The tide is turning to our side. The move is working… soon Catarina will receive your letter.

  Morgana sighed, both lascivious and impressed:

  — Yes, sweetie… and don’t forget it was me who suggested this very specific play…

  Lukas tightened his shield with a smile.

  — Yes. I won’t forget.

  Soldiers, paladins, templars, mages… shouted in unison:

  — The portals are closed! Don’t let any escape! This is our chance!

  The tide turned.

  It turned in favor of Sorriso.

  Ravia carried Elisandra to the Gath support base.

  She looked up and saw a skinny boy, brown skin, charcoal-black hair… and a smile that wasn’t normal.

  Gold and purple eyes — radiating command amid chaos.

  As if everything had been planned.

  As if he had just been waiting for the right moment… to make his move.

  — Lukas Fernandes… you really changed.

  Kyros and the Patriarchs advanced through the central wing, leaving a trail of death in their path.

  — Let’s go! Sorriso will not fall today! We are the true wall of Sorriso! We are the heart of the South! Forward, my people!

  The squads responded:

  Gath

  Copas

  Valquíria

  Paladins

  Mages

  Priests

  Templars

  All in unison, a single war cry:

  — TOGETHER UNTIL THE END! SORRISO WILL NOT FALL!

  —

  Lukas raised his gladius.

  — Not this time, damn plague. This time… the Blood Demon is here. To deliver the checkmate.

  The light hit the boy’s face…

  And the insane smile from his past life returned.

  The Smile of the Blood Demon.

  End of Chapter 5.