The legend of the Pagan Empire’s Second Prince

Chapter 37: The Siege of the Imperial Capital – Part 2

The Inner Capital 

The scent of burning flesh and charred stone lingered over the ruins of the outer wall, the remnants of the first battle still fresh, a grim reminder of the horror that had unfolded.

Blood, ashes, and the corpses of defenders lined the streets leading to the inner walls, now the last barrier protecting the Royal Palace and the Imperial Bloodline from annihilation. The bodies of civilians lay strewn across the broken remains of homes, their lifeless eyes staring at the heavens as if pleading for salvation that never came.

The Crown Prince, his golden armor tarnished with soot and dried blood, grimaced in pain as he sat within a makeshift command center inside the Inner City. His body was wrapped in bandages, a wound across his abdomen still fresh from the collapse of the outer gate. Even as healers tended to him, his mind remained sharp. He could not afford to falter.

His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a man draped in flowing maroon robes, his head completely shaved, his presence commanding yet serene.

The Head of the Sarsana Order, the religious leader of the Supreme Being's followers, had arrived.

A New Ally – The Order of Peace Stands Against the Church of the SunThe Crown Prince, despite his injuries, quickly straightened himself in respect. He clasped his hands together, his fingers forming the sacred Mudra of Reverence, a gesture reserved for the holiest of figures.

"May I know what business brings you here, Your Holiness? This is war, and the Order of Peace does not concern itself with warfare."

The Head of the Sarsana, his eyes deep and unreadable, merely smiled softly.

"True. We have sworn to forsake violence in all forms. To take life is against the Supreme Being's teachings. But we cannot stand idly by as our faith, our people, and our world are consumed by madness. We will not fight, but we will stand."

The Crown Prince furrowed his brows.

"Then what do you intend to do?"

The old monk turned his head, glancing at two figures standing behind him.

Nyan Pone Nya, the Right Hand of Sarsana, a man whose very presence radiated divine purity, stepped forward. His voice was calm, yet filled with an undeniable force.

"I will heal your soldiers, Crown Prince. The Order of Peace has brought every healer within our ranks. No one shall perish under our watch while breath remains in our lungs."

Beside him, Ba Nyar Thura, the Left Hand of Sarsana, a man clad in unbreakable discipline, bowed slightly.

"We will strengthen your defenses with divine power. Though we will not kill, we shall turn away the enemy without violence. We shall erect a barrier of light, one that will not be easily breached. We shall invoke the Supreme's compassion, forcing doubt into the hearts of those who wish to destroy without thought."

The Crown Prince, for the first time since the battle had begun, felt something he had not allowed himself to feel.

Hope.

"Then we will stand together," he declared.

The monks bowed before departing to their respective tasks, holy chants filling the air as they moved.

The final battle had begun.

POV: The Church of the Sun 

The scent of blood did not bother Head Inquisitor Gabriel d'Montagne.

Standing amidst the ruins of the outer city, his crimson robes untouched by the filth of war, he stared at the infernal stronghold that remained.

The Inner Walls stood proud and unyielding, the final shield before the heart of the Pagan Empire.

And yet, he felt no concern.

His golden eyes burned with fanatic devotion, his hand resting upon the hilt of a silver blade, a relic said to be blessed by the Creator Himself.

Commander General: "Do we really need to killed everyone without resistance Head Inquisitors"

"Commander General, do you doubt the will of the Creator?"

The Commander General of the Crusade, a veteran of many battles, stiffened at the tone.

"No, my lord. But—"

"Then you need not concern yourself with questions. This Empire has rejected the one true faith. The time for talk is over. The Inner Wall shall fall by the Creator's hand. It is unforgivable to not believe in Creator. Death is the only mercy we can only granted to them" 

High priestess, Eliora clenched her fists.

"But there are children—"

Before she could finish, her father stopped her with a firm hand.

"Silence." His voice was quiet, yet sharp. "The Head Inquisitor is correct. You will learn in time.Forgave my daughter's lack of understanding. I will lecture her later.Can we discuss about next plan?"

She bit her lip, lowering her gaze.

The Head Inquisitor's smirk widened.

"I will forgive her impudent only this once. There will be no other time.　About the next plan, Our Holy Cleansing Ritual takes three days to recharge. But we still have 300 Inquisitors. We will break the inner wall with another cleansing, and while the ritual is prepared, we will assault them without rest."

The reason why Commader In general is bowing down to the head inquisitors is because he is powerful entity aside from the Pope. Second to none. He can brand anyone within the church or outside regardless of status as heretics without prove or not and torture them to death or execution with fire. Even though Commander General is the head of the expedition he is powerless against Head Inquisitors. The Pope know the Commander General is in the opposition faction and to put in check he order Head inquisitors to accompany this invasion.

A flick of his wrist, and the High Inquisitors of the Church stepped forward, each clad in ornate silver armor, their faces obscured by veiled helmets, their hands grasping holy tomes of power. 

They began to chant.

A wave of golden energy rippled across the battlefield.

"The Creator is Supreme. The false gods are dust. Purge the wicked. Let the righteous be reborn."

As the words filled the air, the soldiers of the Holy Church roared in unison.

"Burn the heretics! Burn them all!"

The war restarted after six hours of silence.

The sky turned red once more.

The holy light that had obliterated the outer gate now gathered once again, a storm of divine wrath descending upon the Inner Wall.

The Crown Prince, his face pale from injury, shouted orders as the ground trembled beneath them.

"Reinforce the walls! All units, prepare for impact!"

The monks of the Sarsana Order raised their hands, their golden auras flaring to life.

"Divine Barrier – The Supreme's Mercy!"

A radiant wall of golden light enveloped the inner walls, intercepting the enemy's divine attack.

BOOOOOM!

The world shook as two divine forces clashed—the wrath of the Creator against the mercy of the Supreme Being.

The air rippled with a clash of faiths, the very sky splitting apart from the raw power unleashed.

The barrier held— but only for a moment.

Then—

CRACK!

The golden defense fractured.

SHATTER!

The Inner Wall collapsed, an earthquake of destruction ripping through the defenses, sending Imperial soldiers tumbling like ants.

A howl of victory erupted from the Holy Crusaders as they charged.

The last shield of the Empire had fallen.

The Royal Guards braced themselves.

The Crown Prince, despite his wounds, drew his sword, his golden eyes burning with rage and desperation.

"We fight to the last man!"

The Church of the Sun surged forward, their crusaders slicing through the wounded defenders with merciless precision.

The monks of Sarsana, unable to harm their enemies, stood their ground, using spells to disable, to slow, to force peace upon those who would bring destruction.

But the Holy Crusaders had no mercy.

One by one, the monks fell, their pacifist ways unable to protect them against unforgiving steel.

The Crown Prince, his vision blurring from blood loss, watched as his forces were slaughtered.

The Capital was lost.

And then—

A single, powerful presence filled the battlefield.

A golden light—not of the Creator, nor of the Supreme Being—but something far greater.

The earth trembled.

A storm of divine power gathered in the distance.

And far beyond the battlefield, a figure clad in immaculate white and gold, his eyes burning like twin suns, stood upon the horizon.

Jason had returned.

And the war was far from over.

(Continue…)