The remaining time for the main scenario quest was quickly ticking down.

[Main Scenario Quest Conditions Met.]
[CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.]
[Time Remaining until Invasion: 119 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds]

With the clock counting down, countless players speculated about what was going on, coming up with all sorts of theories. But without any official word, it was all just guesswork.

Then, at last, the leader of the Red Revolution, Comrade Yuna, made an announcement.

"We will not be defending the Empire."

Her statement divided the players.

The idealists, who believed that joining the Red Revolution was fate rather than coincidence, sided with Yuna. Meanwhile, the realists, who joined simply for fun, declared they’d participate in the main scenario quest.

Those who stayed with the Red Revolution followed Yuna without even knowing their destination.

"Comrade Yuna, may I ask something?"

"Of course."

"Where exactly are we going?"

The remaining idealists followed Yuna for days on end, growing restless as complaints began to rise.

Gathering the players together, Yuna smiled and spoke through a megaphone. "Comrades, I’ve gathered you all here to explain our destination."

Raising her hand to the sky, something astonishing happened.

The sky began to crack.

Even if this was a game, was such a thing possible?

The crack grew wider, and with a thunderous shattering, the sky broke, revealing massive creatures within.

First came a colossal, one-eyed monster, followed by hordes of others pouring through the rift.

Players froze in terror, but as they started to flee, Yuna’s voice boomed.

"Everyone, calm down!"

With her command, their bodies froze. The sheer power of her skill, to immobilize thousands in an instant, was awe-inspiring.

As they stared, trembling at the monstrous forms, Yuna reached into her robes and pulled out a crimson flag.

One by one, the monsters began waving their own red flags and tying crimson headbands on.

"These are our comrades."

A chill ran down everyone’s spine.

Yuna had managed to recruit monsters of such immense power. The potential of her abilities was truly frightening.

---

Finally, the fateful day arrived.

To defend the Avalon Empire, legions of players gathered in the capital.

Normally, low-level players wouldn’t dream of stepping foot in the Imperial City, but it was temporarily opened due to the main scenario quest. The crowds grew as players swarmed in.

[Main Scenario Quest Conditions Met.]
[CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.]
[Time Remaining until Invasion: 00 hours, 00 minutes, 59 seconds]

With that, a new message appeared:

[Due to the main scenario quest, all channels are being merged.]
[CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.]
Invasion Initiated.

At that moment, the Imperial Knights began to appear, one by one.

Sensing the imminent danger, the Avalon Empire prepared its formidable forces, led by ten Master-ranked knights, including Adonis Ether, Duke of the Holy Sword.

Then came the beating of a war drum.

[Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum.]

In response, Adonis received an urgent report.

"Emergency, sir! Demons have appeared!"

"Impossible… Why would the demons invade the Empire?"

But as the approaching wave of demons became visible to the naked eye, he could no longer deny it.

A sea of demons was marching forward, waving crimson flags.

…Wait, waving what?

He rubbed his eyes, but there was no mistaking it. The demons were brandishing red flags, with red headbands tied around their heads.

And mixed among them were humans.

"What… is happening?"

A trembling officer pointed up at the sky, and as Adonis looked, he saw something gracefully descending from the shattered sky.

It was a figure straight out of ancient texts—the Demon Queen.

Her jet-black hair flowed around majestic horns, with eyes like molten embers and lips painted blood-red. She wore a flowing black dress, exuding a terrifying beauty.

As she raised her hand, the once-clear sky turned blood red, two massive crimson moons appearing above.

Dark energy rippled outward, making everyone feel unbearably heavy.

[All stats decreased by 50% due to dark energy.]
[All stats decreased by 80% due to dark energy.]
[Unable to move due to dark energy.]

How could they possibly counter such a force?

In that moment of despair, another figure appeared.

She had golden hair that gleamed, mysterious blue eyes, and an aura that radiated a strange warmth. She was dressed oddly, but her small stature and familiar face captivated everyone who looked at her.

Then, she raised a crimson flag above her head, shouted into a strange device, and her voice echoed across the Empire.

"The Avalon Empire must reform!"
"The Avalon Empire must reform!"
"The Avalon Empire must reform!"

And with that, the demons and their human allies joined in.

Thankfully, they didn’t seem intent on attacking. They only chanted, yet the force of their voices was deafening.

"Perhaps we should… send a delegation to negotiate…" a general suggested.

"No, I’ll go myself," said Duke Ether.

"But, Duke!"

"Enough. There are only a few who can move right now."

With most of the soldiers paralyzed by the dark energy, even Adonis could barely manage a few steps with trembling legs.

Enveloping himself in magical energy, he leapt from the wall, landing with a resounding thud before approaching the demons. The girl with the crimson flag descended to meet him.

"I am Adonis Ether, the commander here."

"Nice to meet you!" she replied with a bright smile.

This girl was a stranger, yet somehow, he felt an inexplicable fondness for her.

Was it some form of charm or…

"I represent the Empire here."

"Perfect! That means negotiations will go smoothly."

She reached into a dimensional space, pulling out a parchment and handing it to him.

At this distance, he could kill her with a single strike. No… he realized he couldn’t.

Looking into the eyes of the creature coiled around her neck, he recognized it wasn’t just a snake. It was something far more powerful, something he’d be a fool to provoke.

Taking the parchment, he began to read.

"W-What is this…?"

"An hour should be plenty of time to think it over, right?"

"We need at least a month! No… ten days, at least! I need the emperor’s approval…"

"Fifty minutes."

The more he tried to buy time, the more the clock ticked down.

Left with no choice, he promised to report to the emperor and return. The girl waved him off cheerfully.

But when he reached the palace, the emperor was nowhere to be found.

"Where is His Majesty?!"

The soldier stationed there stammered, delivering a shocking report.

The emperor had fled, abandoning the people.

How many citizens were still in the capital? Had his eyes truly been so blind?

"Summon the generals immediately," Adonis ordered.

Soon, the ten master knights of the Empire gathered. All of them looked grim as they learned of the emperor's escape.

After a moment of silence, Adonis spoke, "Here’s what I propose…"

Given their limited options, they concluded that negotiating, rather than clashing, would be in the Empire’s best interest.

With that, Adonis began to outline the terms for a peaceful resolution.