The sun has hidden itself behind Rever Point. The town guards that remained with the holy knights are busy preparing the camp for the night ahead. Tascus and his ilk are preparing to seal the Great Ark forever, but for its last teleportation, a cart of bodies emerges from the entrance. Holy Knight Mavel passes his eye over the corpses, and upon recognising Brother Johan, he offers a brief prayer before returning to his crucial work.

The cart is pushed out the cave and toward a small clearing where the other bodies are arranged. Under the invisible glow of the World Stream, the dead’s companions are allowed to grieve as their souls depart for their next life. Carefully, a pair clerics begin carrying the bodies onto the grass.

Thud.

The clerics turn around, and to their alarm, the body of Brother Johan has tumbled onto the floor. They hastily retrieve the knight’s body… unaware of the other cadaver that disappeared from beneath him. As more torches are lit around the camp, the quiet entity rushes between the tents before the light can cast his shadow. Finally, he slips into an empty tent and presses himself against a wooden box.

The “corpse” spits out what remains of a magic herb from his mouth and takes a few moments for his body temperature to rise. He could wait until he’s healthy enough to escape, but the information he has is far more important than the mere preservation of his life. Stuffing his finger into his mouth, he forces himself to gag then vomit until a small, round orb emerges from his maw. He quickly wipes the high-level communication orb before activating it.

(I am here, my child. Go on.)

“Your Holiness, Tascus is dead and the elder lich’s core is lost. However, in his final moment, he gleamed the truth of Maleosis’ design.”

(At least he somewhat delivers. Please continue.)

“Understood, your Holiness. I have shall send you a copy of Tascus’ final conversation. I extracted it from a damaged communication core on his remains, so only a single fragment remains.”

(… Doing so will not go undetected, my child. The mana required is too great from this distance. Is the secret so great that you’d offer your head to the priory?)

“Yes, my hierarch.”

(Hmmm, very well. Your sacrifice will be a memorable one.)

“I feel blessed, but if you would hear me, your Holiness,” he says suddenly, no longer fearing death and filled with glorious purpose, “I believe this message needs to be imparted to all the Apostles.”

(… I will hear it first, but for the life of a true believer such as yourself, I will certainly consider your suggestion carefully.)

“That is more than I could hope for, your Holiness. Please listen…”

Hidden within a flesh wound on his belly, the infiltrator gorges out another artefact then presses it against the orb. As he channels all his mana into the magical devices, a voice is suddenly projected from the bloody piece.

“Enbos Novuseus.

Black-Cloaked Berserker, Hero of Kasseus… Saviour of my soul.

I, Tascus, Apostle of Light, Hierarch of the New Dawn Order… have borne witness to Enbos’ extraordinary nature… and found him worthy.

With my dying breath… in His holy name, I declare Enbos the Black to be…

… His One… True… Champion.”

(… You have done very well, my child.)

“T-thank you, your Holiness. A-and my advice?”

(Oh, I’ve already passed it on. Your bravery this day has ensured His full rebirth. We will seek this Enbos the Black and judge him ourselves, even if only to rally the remaining Aspects. Now rest, my dear son. I wish you a smooth return to His loving embrace.)

“Y-yes, my hierarch… For Maleosis.”