German emerged from a rift of black shadows, stepping out with an aura both dangerous and terrifying. His outfit was different—majestic and mysterious.
He wore a long black coat, open at the front, with a luxurious classic design. His suit was a three-piece set: a vest with elegant pockets, and a white shirt. The vest had a Victorian pocket watch chain dangling from it.
On the coat were three special Phantom cards.
The hunters were stunned by the presence of these three unique Clintine cards.
"Looks like the knights are waiting for the Emperor's arrival," German spoke with arrogance and majesty toward the hunters.
Everyone was stunned except for Ophelia, who leaned against the wall, half-eyes open, gazing at him.
"Look who showed up—German, the man who picked his name while in the bathroom," Clintine mocked sarcastically.
German appeared right behind Clintine, startling him with his sudden presence.
'How did he get here so fast?' Clintine muttered to himself.
"Trying to be a clown, Clintine? Then this isn't the right place," German spoke with mystery and intense terror, so much so that the air in the hall turned suffocating.
Faceless clapped three times and called everyone back to their places.
"That's enough, everyone. And Clintine, tone down your silly jokes, please. Now I will explain the plan: to completely eliminate the first zone," Faceless said as he began detailing the mission.
Elianora was looking at German. Her gaze was interrupted by the hunter Lankaten.
"Looks like you're into the hunter German."
"Don't be ridiculous, Lankaten. He's just someone growing more insane and terrifying at the same time. Also, he seems to be fond of Ophelia, since they both belong to the category of the Three Cards," Elianora replied with semi-angry expressions and a calm tone.
"That's true. I didn't expect his insight to be that high. He should be careful—there are terrifying entities in this cursed kingdom," Lankaten said mysteriously, hinting at a distant future.
"Are you two talking about that madman?" A girl with white eyes appeared between Elianora and Lankaten.
"What is it, Amelia? You scared me! And why does everyone call German a madman?" Elianora was surprised by Amelia's sudden appearance.
"Probably because he's powerful. So we call him that," Amelia replied softly with a sweet smile.
Lankaten answered while pulling a cigar from his pocket, glancing at her with one eye:
"That… is not a logical reason, Amelia."
After the secret discussion between Faceless and Vanix ended, Faceless spoke with strong determination:
"You will split into groups. Each group will have two people… and each group will take a different path to exterminate a large number of monsters. All of these paths lead to one road… the road to the 'Jester's Graveyard'…"
"Your journey will not be easy. You will face monsters, werewolves, and even hunters who despise monster hunters… And you must be careful—be careful of the emergence of the second form of the Crimson Moon."
Faceless continued as he floated in the air near the stairs:
"Lankaten and Clintine, your starting point will be from the ruined palace. Then you continue your path to reach the Jester's Graveyard. Amelia and Elianora… your starting point will be from the statue with the broken head, and then you make your way to the graveyard. As for the mad hunter with the Three Cards, German, and the saintess Ophelia, your starting point will be from the cursed sewers… That is all… Does anyone have a question?"
Hunter German raised his hand. Faceless looked at him and said calmly:
"Do you have an important question, German?"
German approached Ophelia, who was leaning against the wall, and spoke in a playfully romantic tone:
"Thank you, Faceless, for pairing me with this beauty."
Ophelia smiled sweetly and looked at German, saying:
"Try not to stand in my way. My knight might accidentally cut your head off."
She passed by him and stood near the oddly styled staircase.
"What I like most about this nightmare… is her," German whispered softly with a strange smile as he stepped toward the staircase of the second dimension.
"It seems there are no questions… Let the hunt begin," said Faceless in a sharp tone, extending his hand forward to declare the start of the hunt.
All the hunters vanished from the cathedral and headed toward their destinations.
Faceless and Vanix stood in the center of the hall, looking at the ground. Vanix spoke calmly with a distant look:
"This mission will be heavy, old hunter… Do you expect them to succeed?"
Faceless responded with a heavy tone that reflected the depth of the matter:
"I want to say there is hope, but only our family and the 'Sratdra' family remain. I can't be certain… Two families were wiped out by hunters who hate hunting monsters… But with German's presence, I expect everything to change."
"You mean the 'Dekronma' family? They have no logic at all. We're liberating these monsters from the torment they brought upon themselves," Vanix said angrily, spreading his hands.
"You remind them of their sins… Am I right, Hunter Vanix?" A man and a woman appeared out of nowhere through a black hole bleeding profusely, with the screams of shadows and terrifying wind music. The mysterious man spoke to Vanix.
"I didn't expect your arrival, Isaac. What do you seek with this strange entrance?" Faceless half-turned toward Isaac as he spoke.
Isaac had sharp, beautiful features. His long blond hair reached his shoulders. He wore a priest's black robe, radiating a terrifying aura. His eyes were sunset-yellow, giving a chilling look. In his right hand, he held a horrifyingly designed book made from dragon skin.
"We didn't find time to send messages, old hunter and friend of Gideon, to inform you," the woman said in a calm yet terrifying tone.
She had calm, simple, yet very beautiful features. Her eyes were large and black, with wavy lines drawn across them. She wore a nun's white robe that covered her head and shoulders on one side and flowed down in a layered, flowing design. Her chest and abdomen were exposed, showing faint abs. In her right hand, she held a golden sword engraved with the Crimson Moon.
"Looks like you waited for the perfect moment to show up," said Faceless, his tone slightly angry.
Priest Isaac looked around and then at Faceless, speaking with a sly tone:
"Why send these children to their doom? Why not go instead? It seems the hunters will face other hunters along their path."
Vanix was extremely angry, gritting his teeth hard as he said:
"Is that a direct threat, or what?"
The nun placed her sword on Vanix's neck, whispering eerily into his ear:
"Yes, it's a threat. Do you have the guts to object?"
Vanix raised his Crimson Sword, ready to strike her… but she caught it with just her index finger and said in a calm, frightening voice:
"What a lovely sword. Try not to wave it around like a lunatic."
Vanix quickly pulled his sword back, muttering to himself:
'Damn, just her proximity made my body tremble. What if that priest stands before me?'
"Put your sword back in its sheath, Vanix. These guests came only to deliver a few veiled threats," Faceless requested with a chilling tone.
"Looks like Faceless understood the message. This nightmare isn't just some trivial thing compared to others, but what makes it unique is the presence of Gideon… and the Nameless Lord," Isaac said as he raised his hand slightly toward Faceless.
He continued:
"Do you think you can destroy all ten zones? Don't make me laugh, Faceless… You know very well that five of the remaining zones are held by the great Daemos. Will you dare raise your sword against a Great One?"
Faceless laughed maniacally, placing his hand on his face as he said with dread:
"No matter. This kingdom has lost its taste since what happened to Gideon… And because of whom? The monsters you now defend… I can crush you and that 'Great One' too."
The nun laughed as she approached Faceless, speaking softly and chillingly:
"And you think you can defeat us? Seems like you've grown bold ever since Londes joined your hunters—or should I say, 'German.' Enough of your nonsense, Faceless."
She turned fully and walked toward Isaac, finishing her thought:
"The crying of a baby and his mother's screams must have driven you insane… No one asked you to reach the highest level of insight."
Faceless was furious and asked with terrifying tone:
"And does a baby's cry and a mother's slap to her face not disturb you?"
The nun smiled strangely, yet calmly, and spoke mockingly and indifferently:
"No. We're not guilty to feel pity… Only the guilty think about what they've done."
Isaac smiled as he listened to the nun's exchange with Faceless, then added with eerie mystery:
"Even the first Emperor had some principles… True, he was terrifying in battle, but he was a great man… Be like him, and don't be a fool."
In this chilling silence, the air turned unbearably heavy… when a horrifying sound pierced the ears, making them bleed. Only those who reached Great Insight could hear it: the sound of a baby crying—
"Waaah… waaah… waaah…" the baby's cry.
Slaps on a face… slaps on a face… skala on a face.
His mother was violently slapping her own face as she screamed:
"Why was his head torn apart…? Tell me whyyyyyy!"
Both Isaac and the nun smiled, then opened a rift—a black hole dripping with blood.
Isaac entered the rift… and the nun spoke her final words before stepping into it as well, her tone filled with gentleness and calm:
"Enjoy the sound of the infant and his mother now… and take good care of Germane."
They both stepped through the rift, which closed with a thunderous crack.
The sound of the infant tore through Faceless' ears… and he stood there, helpless, powerless.
Phanyx looked at Faceless.
His gaze carried a faint trace of sorrow, but it was unclear.
Phanyx then turned his back, opened a foggy gate, and spoke toward Faceless:
"I'll leave you alone now, ancient hunter."
"Gideon… Metkoulsh… Arais… does anyone hear me? The voice of a child has shattered my being," Germane was broken, torn apart, calling out strange and unknown names, his tone heavy with grief.
Meanwhile, on the other side—Clentin and Lankaten were walking through the ruined streets of the Hrayamed district.
Destroyed carriages, terrifyingly slain monsters and humans… and corpses of unidentifiable creatures filled the streets.
As they walked, Clentin spoke angrily:
"What annoys me the most is that idiot Germane thinks he's the best among us… Hmph, damn him."
Lankaten smiled calmly and said:
"Don't bother yourself with such foolish thoughts, Clentin. For now, let's just focus on our mission."
At the end of the street, they reached the gate of the ruined palace.
Lankaten spoke while looking through the gate:
"Looks like we've arrived."
"And it also seems we have some guests here to welcome us," said Clentin, glancing behind him as he spoke to Lankaten.
A group of monsters appeared—from buildings, from the sewers, even from cracks in the earth.
They wore normal human clothing and wielded weapons like swords, sickles, and tools meant for cutting crops.
"What a delightful sight. I hope their numbers increase—for even more fun… hahaha. Let the hunt begin, Clentin."
Lankaten spoke with intense enthusiasm as he placed his card into the four slots and drew a sword made of black water.