The withered wood staff in his hand slowly cracked open its wrinkled bark, emanating an ancient and sluggish voice.

"I too thought that was the only time... But now it seems, perhaps that was not at all."

Terrell looked towards it with surprise, his expression grave.

"What do you mean."

Yet, the branch weathered by years did not directly answer his question; instead, it dropped a meaningful prophecy.

"Perhaps it has never ended, perhaps it has not yet begun."

...

Not only the Great Graveyard was shrouded in turmoil.

Those living outside the Maze, and the dead buried deep underground have always been firmly bound together in fate.

The reopening of the Gate of Chaos not only furrowed the brows of the priests of Thunder City but also made Charles, the Commander of the Demon Hunters of the Trident Knights, tense with vigilance.

Ever since the death of Knight Commander Mel, he was designated by Prince Edward as the captain of the Trident Knights' "Demon Hunter" squad.

This force was originally created to prevent the corruption of Chaos from spreading to the Knights, but so far their work seems to have had nothing to do with guarding against Chaos.

It was at this time that the Church's Priest found him, informing him that the Gate of Chaos had opened once more, and seemingly in a location similar to before...

Within Campbell Castle, the capital of the Campbell Duchy and some hundred kilometers from Thunder County, the Duke who lay unconscious in bed suddenly clenched his emaciated hand.

The surrounding servants burst into surprise, their voices spreading rapidly in all directions.

"The Duke has awakened!"

"Praise Lord Saint Sis!"

"Quick, go notify Young Master Edward!"

A servant hurriedly ran out the door, while the butler called for the court physician and Priest, sitting by the bedside.

The Holy Light could heal most wounds, but it couldn't make someone whose life was at an end become young again. The court physician and Priest exchanged a few words, then turned to the Duchess, shaking their heads gently.

Realizing something, the Duchess covered her mouth in grief, trying hard not to let out a cry of bereavement.

The atmosphere of sorrow began to spread.

Looking at the furrowed brow of her father lying sick in bed, the young Princess rushed to the bedside, wanting to hold her father's hand.

However, as she reached out, she was gently stopped by a maid standing nearby.

"Miss Erin Campbell, your elder brother is on his way here... May he come first?"

This was a custom of the Ryan Kingdom, but also an unwritten convention established to ensure that the succession was beyond dispute.

To prevent the aged Lord from speaking nonsense on his deathbed, thereby making an unjust will, it was customary for the legal heir to send him off in the presence of the clergy.

Before this, no one was to converse with him without permission.

Even if it was one's own flesh and blood.

But the rules are rules, and those standing here are after all living people.

Erin Campbell looked up, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at the maid and then at her crying mother, struggling to suppress the sound of her sobs and said.

"I, I also have many things I want to say to Father..."

The Duchess's face showed a hint of compassion, but still gently said.

"There will be a chance."

To spare her daughter the agony of grief, the Duchess gestured to the maid to take the young Princess out to wait.

However, just then, the Duke lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes and coughed out a word.

"Stay!"

The maid heading towards the door stopped in her tracks.

Everyone turned in surprise toward the bedridden Duke.

Including the Priest sitting at the bedside.

Just as the Priest was about to speak, he was silenced by the lifted hand of the old Duke.

Looking at those eyes filled with clarity, the Priest eventually said nothing, only nodded slightly in respect to the Duke.

Aaron Campbell was the Chosen of the Gods.

If this was divine will, as a servant of Lord Saint Sis, he certainly had no reason to object.

At the doorway, stopped in her tracks, Erin turned back and like a gust of wind, dashed to the bedside, kneeling down to hold her father's hand.

"Dad!"

Those tear-filled eyes were full of reluctance to part.

She, still young, couldn't understand why her father, who was robust just a few months ago, suddenly fell bedridden and became what he was now.

It seemed to happen overnight.

Looking at his lovely daughter, the Duke rarely showed a tender smile on his stern face.

Yet all too soon, that tenderness was replaced by expressions of heartache and reluctance.

The trials of the Campbell Duchy did not end with the death of the Demon King, and the true disaster still hid in the dim light of dawn and dusk.

If possible, he wanted to continue the fight, to mount his warhorse, to sweep away the chaos for his descendants once more...

But not far away, Lord Saint Sis was already beckoning to him.

His time was running short...

The Duke took a deep breath, looking determinedly at his daughter.

"Erin... how is your swordsmanship?"

"Swordsmanship?"

Erin was slightly startled, not knowing why her father would ask this, but still managed to smile through her tear-stained face, boasting cheerfully, "The teacher says I'm improving fast and it won't be long before I can break through to the Fine Steel Level."

Breaking through to the Fine Steel Level before sixteen.

This pace was not outstanding in the Campbell family, but in the hierarchy of the nobles of the Ryan Kingdom, she was indeed one of the best.

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