chapter 62
Chris: "Stay DOWN!"
The hooded figure suddenly grabbed Chris by the throat.
Hard.
Chris's grin twitched slightly as his back slammed against the iron bars.
Then—
BOOM.
Captain Bochy finally moved.
His fist crashed directly into the side of the hooded man's head with enough force to shake the corridor.
The masked fighter staggered sideways instantly.
And Princess Flora didn't waste the opening.
The broken iron chain wrapped tightly around the man's neck—
before she twisted her entire body and slammed him violently into the stone floor.
CRACK.
The impact echoed through the prison.
Then—
silence.
Heavy breathing filled the corridor.
Dust drifted slowly beneath the dim torchlight.
Marco stared at the unconscious bodies with widened eyes.
Marco: "…Even their guards are THIS strong…?"
No one answered immediately.
Guinevere crouched beside one of the unconscious men quietly.
Then slowly removed the broken mask completely.
Purple symbols had been carved directly into the skin around his neck.
Ancient.
Painful-looking.
Almost ritualistic.
Guinevere's eyes narrowed slightly.
Guinevere: "…These people aren't normal soldiers."
Princess Flora slowly picked up one of the black cloaks from the floor.
The fabric felt strangely heavy in her hands.
Her eyes lingered on the purple markings stitched along the hood.
Then she spoke quietly.
Princess: "…We don't have much time."
Her voice was calm—
but serious enough to silence everyone immediately.
Princess: "…Let's do it."
And as she stared at the cloak—
a memory slowly surfaced inside her mind.
Esabell's voice.
Soft.
Uneasy.
Careful.
---
Earlier
The prison had been quieter then.
The torches burned lower.
The air heavier.
Princess Flora sat beside Esabell while the others listened nearby in silence.
Princess Flora's expression remained calm—
but her eyes stayed sharp.
Focused.
Princess: "…Tell me everything you know about the Heaven Books."
Esabell blinked slightly.
Esabell: "…Everything…?"
Princess nodded once.
Princess: "…Everything."
Esabell lowered her gaze slowly.
Thinking carefully.
Esabell: "…Most of what I read were stories."
A pause.
Esabell: "…Stories about the gods before they became gods."
The prison grew quieter.
Even Chris stopped joking for once.
Esabell folded her hands together weakly before continuing.
Esabell: "…In the beginning… there was only one true God."
Her voice softened slightly.
Like she was reciting something sacred.
Esabell: "He created humanity."
A pause.
Esabell: "He gave them land to walk on… skies to dream beneath… and time to grow."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…But humanity was never satisfied."
The torchlight flickered softly across her face.
Esabell: "No matter how much they were given… they still felt empty."
Her voice became quieter.
Esabell: "And eventually… humans began looking at their creator differently."
Marco frowned slightly.
Esabell slowly raised her eyes.
Esabell: "…Not with worship."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…But with envy."
Silence.
Esabell: "They wanted to become gods themselves."
The atmosphere inside the prison shifted slightly.
Even Guinevere's expression darkened.
Esabell continued quietly.
Esabell: "So the God returned."
A pause.
Esabell: "…But not in his true form."
Her eyes reflected the torchlight faintly now.
Esabell: "He descended as a great phoenix."
Chris leaned forward slightly.
Esabell: "Burning wings."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…Golden flames bright enough for the entire world to see."
Her voice almost sounded distant now.
Like the story itself was alive inside her mind.
Esabell: "The books say every human saw him that day… no matter where they were."
The prison remained completely silent.
Then Esabell continued.
Esabell: "And the God spoke."
A pause.
Then quietly—
Esabell repeated the words.
Esabell: "'Whoever stabs me shall become a god.'"
The room stiffened slightly.
Esabell: "'You will become a Guardian God.'"
Another pause.
Esabell: "'You will gain everything humanity desires.'"
Her eyes slowly lowered.
Esabell: "'But you will lose every memory of being human.'"
Silence.
Esabell: "'You will stand between humanity and destruction forever.'"
Chris frowned slightly.
Chris: "…Yeah, we already know that part."
Another pause.
Chris: "…But losing their memories…"
He looked unsettled now.
Chris: "…That's new."
Princess Flora immediately glanced toward him.
Princess: "…Quiet."
Chris raised both hands dramatically.
Chris: "My apologies, Princess."
Guinevere rolled her eyes.
Esabell continued softly.
Esabell: "Then the God gave them conditions."
Her expression darkened slightly.
Esabell: "'If your soul desires power…'"
A pause.
Esabell: "'If your heart is filled with greed…'"
Another.
Esabell: "'If you seek godhood for pride…'"
She lowered her gaze.
Esabell: "'You will fail.'"
The prison remained silent.
Esabell: "The first human stepped forward."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…And stabbed the God."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Esabell: "…But instead of becoming divine…"
A pause.
Esabell: "…He turned into stone."
Marco's expression stiffened slightly.
Esabell continued.
Esabell: "Then another tried."
"Then another."
"Kings."
"Priests."
"Warriors."
"Saints."
"One after another."
Her voice became quieter.
Esabell: "…And every single one became stone."
Chris muttered softly.
Chris: "…Damn…"
Esabell nodded weakly.
Esabell: "The books say the world became filled with statues."
A pause.
Esabell: "…Monuments of failed ambition."
The torchlight flickered again.
Then—
Esabell slowly lifted her head.
Esabell: "…Until finally…"
Another pause.
Esabell: "…Eight humans succeeded."
Princess Flora spoke quietly.
Princess: "…The Guardian Gods."
Esabell nodded immediately.
Esabell: "…Yes."
Her expression softened slightly.
Esabell: "Their human names disappeared."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…Their memories vanished."
"Everything they once were…"
"…Gone."
Silence settled heavily across the prison.
Esabell: "But they protected humanity."
A faint sadness appeared in her eyes.
Esabell: "Not as rulers."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…But as guardians."
Then her expression darkened again.
Esabell: "…Until humanity changed."
Guinevere slowly crossed her arms.
Guinevere: "…Humans got jealous."
Esabell looked toward her in surprise—
then nodded slowly.
Esabell: "…Yes."
A pause.
Esabell: "Humans began asking why the Guardians became gods… while they remained weak."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…And eventually…"
Her voice lowered.
Esabell: "…They began testing them."
Chris frowned.
Esabell: "Lying to them."
"Manipulating them."
"Pushing them toward sin."
Marco's expression slowly hardened.
Esabell: "…And one by one…"
A pause.
Esabell: "…The Guardian Gods fell."
The prison became silent again.
Esabell: "Some gave in to rage."
"Some to despair."
"Some to desire."
Her eyes lowered.
Esabell: "…And when they sinned…"
Another pause.
Esabell: "…They turned into stone."
No one spoke.
Even Chris stayed quiet now.
Esabell: "Their divine bodies were buried."
"Hidden."
"Forgotten."
A pause.
Esabell: "…Until no Guardian Gods remained."
The air felt colder somehow.
Esabell slowly clenched her hands together.
Esabell: "…And that was when the God became angry."
Another pause.
Esabell: "…Not because humanity failed."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
Esabell: "…But because humanity destroyed its own protectors."
Silence.
Esabell: "Then came the curse."
Marco immediately spoke.
Marco: "…The cursed monsters."
Esabell nodded weakly.
Esabell: "…The lands began dying."
"Food became scarce."
"Seas became violent."
"Creatures born from fear and hatred began appearing everywhere."
A pause.
Esabell: "…Humanity started collapsing."
Princess Flora slowly lowered her gaze.
Thinking.
Princess (thinking): "…And now they want to awaken the gods again…"
Another pause.
Princess (thinking): "…But why only some of them…?"
Esabell continued quietly.
Esabell: "Then the prophecy appeared."
Chris frowned again.
Chris: "…The Blood of Peace?"
Esabell nodded immediately.
...CHAPTER 62ENDS...