The silence and sounds of sobbing continued for a minute before Honor sighed.

Honor's voice emerged from behind his wyvern helm. "This destiny that the Saint saw is cruel." His massive frame shifted, torn banner rustling against his armor. "But for his plan, it's a must."

He moved toward Reinhard, each step crushing the fragments of charred root beneath his weight. The motion carried inevitability, like watching an avalanche begin its descent without a care in the world.

Janus trembled, his entire body shaking as words forced themselves through clenched teeth. "The Saint foresaw this happening?"

Honor's helm turned slightly, and the silence stretched for a couple of seconds before he said. "He did."

Janus laughed, the sound erupted sharp and bitter, cracking on the second note before dying completely. "Why didn't he-"

"If you knew this would happen." Honor interrupted, his voice remaining steady despite the accusation forming. "Would you have joined the cause to stop the Dark Silence?"

Janus trembled harder before he gritted his teeth. Beside him, Amiya's hands clenched into fists so tight her knuckles went white, nails digging crescents into her palms.

Honor continued walking, each step bringing him closer to Reinhard. "If you knew that the destruction of the Dark Silence requires the release of this..." The torn banner gestured toward the spreading crimson-black flames below. "Would you have the courage and determination to venture with us?"

"Of course he would."

Reinhard's voice cut through the tension. His light blue eyes remained fixed on Honor, unwavering despite the massive warrior's approach.

Honor paused mid-step with one boot hovering above ground.

Janus trembled, his gaze dropping to the root fragment beneath his feet. His shoulders hunched inward as if trying to make himself smaller.

"He would just have had the townspeople evacuate with the kids and teenagers." Reinhard's tone carried absolute certainty, stating fact rather than speculation.

Honor's helm tilted slightly. "Those townspeople would refuse. They are stubborn."

Reinhard nodded, the gesture slow and deliberate. "That's true." A faint smile appeared on his face. "But then that's where we come in. As his friends, we would just knock them out and forcibly take them out."

Janus's head snapped up, eyes widening with shock, his mouth opened slightly.

Joseph chuckled before shaking his head while his green eyes shine. Then his expression shifted into something fond and exasperated simultaneously.

"Hmm." Marie caressed her chin as delight appeared on her face with her golden eyes sparkling. "That does sound like something we'd do."

"But that does sound like we are a bit… Insane?" Joseph says softly.

"Aren't all Inquisitors?" Marie asked with a raised brow, leading Joseph to chuckle.

Reinhard's smile widened slightly. "If your Saint foresaw this, then he is wrong for not informing us of this." His voice hardened, gaining an edge. "And you are further to blame for not stopping him."

Honor fell silent, his massive frame stood completely still, and the torn banner hung motionless against his form.

Five seconds passed in absolute quiet.

"Maybe you are right."

The words emerged soft, almost contemplative. Then his helm lifted, those twin pools of absolute blackness fixing on Reinhard with renewed focus.

"But what does it matter now?" The resonating voice carried finality. "Everything is following what the Saint wishes, and now it will continue."

Honor rushed forward, turning into a blur.

His massive frame exploded forward with speed, the roots below fragmented, each impact creating cracks that spiderwebbed outward. The torn banner swept back, black fabric streaming behind him like a shadow given form.

Reinhard's hand moved as the massive warrior's charge carried force that promised devastation.

The space between them instantly closed as Honor's charge ended in a collision that sent shockwaves rippling outward.

Reinhard clashed with Honor, Zenuken appearing in both hands as black-blue metal screamed against the torn banner!

The impact drove Reinhard's boots backward, heels carving trenches through charred root. His arms shook from absorbing a force eight times what his body could naturally withstand.

"Hand over the Star Jewel and you won't die."

Honor bluntly stated, with the darkness in his helmet staring down on Reinhard.

Reinhard gritted his teeth before saying. "As if."

Honor sighed in resignation mixed with grim determination. "Then die."

The amber eyes began rotating.

Invisible shackles slammed down, leading Reinhard's limbs to freeze mid-motion, and feeling like chains wrapped around every joint. His muscles strained against pressure that shouldn't exist, fighting bonds he couldn't see.

But then, a moment before Reinhard had already switched to Fenrir.

Golden light erupted as Reinhard's eyes transformed with a diamond pupil and markings appearing under his uniform. Power flooded his body, senses expanding to razor-sharp clarity.

Ursa Suppression.

The roar burst from Reinhard's throat, and visible sound waves exploded outward in rings, each one carrying a force that made the air itself vibrate.

Honor's form froze when the waves smashed into his body, and locked him into place, with the spinning of his eyes stopping.

Both broke free simultaneously.

Reinhard's shackles shattered while Honor's freeze dispersed. The massive warrior's banner swept up, rushed up in an arc that cleaved through the air.

Then three black orbs formed before rushing out, each swirling with darkness that pulled at light itself. The gravitational force became immediately apparent as debris and fragments began curving toward the spheres.

Reinhard waved his hand, and Azure portals materialized behind him. A dozen small circles hovering at different heights, swirling with light mixed with darker currents.

Then the beams blasted out, rushing forward.

The ice disguised as azure energy crashed into the black orbs.

Cold met dissolution in an explosive clash!

The beams began disappearing, slowly devoured by the orbs' breaking-down effect, but they bought seconds.

Reinhard stepped to the side, boots pushing against the roots fragment as he cleared the orbs' pull radius. The azure beams continued their futile assault, being consumed inch by inch.

Honor sighed, banner already moving to track, but then a crimson-gold spear rushed over, and Longinus drove toward his exposed side.

Honor's banner swept down to intercept. The weapons met with a crack that sent Marie skidding backward, but the distraction cost him positioning.

Arondight came from the opposite angle, with Joseph driving towards Honor back, the wind howling around the strike. The massive warrior twisted impossibly fast despite his size, and the banner sweeping in an arc caught the grey weapon.

The impact sent Joseph flying backward, boots leaving the ground completely.

He crashed into a fallen root section twenty feet away. His spiritual armor absorbed most of the force, but his grimace showed the blow's power.

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