"Today, at approximately 2:00 PM, a terror attack struck the Royal Museum—the very heart of our empire."
The news anchor's voice carried a mix of concern and disbelief, their solemn expression reflecting the weight of the unfolding events. Across the empire, citizens gathered around their televisions, eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for more details.
"According to initial reports, the demonic organization known as the Black Hand is believed to be behind the attack, though a full investigation is still pending."
Gasps and murmurs spread among the audience as the broadcast continued. The anchor adjusted the papers in front of them before reading further.
"Our sources indicate that a monster horde was sohow summoned inside the Royal Museum, while demon contractors launched a simultaneous assault from the outside. The exact number of casualties remains unknown, but early speculations suggest significant losses."
Just then, movent stirred behind the anchor. A staff mber hurried over, handing them a fresh report. The anchor's brows furrowed slightly as they skimd the new information before addressing the viewers.
"Breaking update—Duchess Elara Frost has arrived at the Royal Museum with reinforcents. The area is now secure, though the final count of survivors and casualties is still being determined. For now, the imdiate danger has been neutralized."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the empire, but the unease lingered. Conversations erupted among the citizens—how had this happened? The Royal Museum was supposed to be one of the most secure locations in the empire. Had security failed? Had soone allowed this to happen?
"Although reinforcents arrived swiftly and the rescue operation was largely successful, one critical question remains—how were the monsters summoned inside the Royal Museum in the first place?"
The news anchor's voice carried a sharp edge, echoing the unease spreading throughout the empire.
"Was it a lapse in security? Negligence from the guards? If the nobles can't even protect the empire's most important landmark, how can the citizens trust them to ensure their safety?"
A chilling question followed—one that resonated across every household:
"After this incident, one thought lingers in the minds of the people—are we truly safe in the Hestia Empire?"
As the broadcast continued, the weight of these questions settled deep within the hearts of the people. Doubt took root, and the once unshakable confidence in the empire's security had begun to waver. In recent years, demon attacks within the empire had grown alarmingly frequent, and this latest incident only fueled further speculation.
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anwhile, within the ruined halls of the Royal Museum, the aftermath of battle painted a grim picture. The Black Hand's forces had been utterly annihilated, their monstrous horde reduced to nothing but corpses and remnants of dark magic.
It was thanks to Kaela that the summoning ritual had been stopped—she had uncovered the ritual site and destroyed it before further reinforcents could arrive. However, despite their victory, one bitter truth remained.
Their leader had escaped.
Within minutes, the situation was brought under control—a testant to the swift and decisive response of the royal forces. Soldiers wasted no ti in evacuating the shaken survivors, while the injured were rushed to nearby healers for urgent treatnt.
As order slowly returned, the grim reality of the attack beca apparent. The confird death toll stood at 28, with over 100 individuals critically injured and more than 150 sustaining minor wounds.
The destruction was catastrophic. Many of the dead were barely recognizable, their remains mangled beyond identification by the monstrous rampage. The once-pristine Royal Museum, a symbol of the empire's cultural heritage, lay in ruins. Scattered debris and shattered artifacts painted a bleak picture, while missing relics hinted at looting amidst the chaos.
Reinforcents from the Arcane Academy, led by Professors Luke and Harris Sander, arrived shortly after, offering their aid in assessing the damage and stabilizing the wounded.
Among the academy students present during the attack, there were no casualties, but many bore the scars of battle:
Alex groaned in pain, struggling with broken ribs and a fractured arm.
Nadia, completely drained of mana, teetered on the edge of unconsciousness from severe mana exhaustion.
Akira, though standing, was visibly drained, his body trembling from the prolonged fight.
Kaela's hands were mangled beyond recognition, rendered almost useless.
Elven Princess Nyra, gravely injured and unconscious, was rushed away for ergency care.
And then, there was Arthur Ludwig—the young warrior who had slain not one, but two leaders of the Black Hand.
Unlike the others, Arthur had no visible injuries. However, he lay unconscious, completely drained from overdrafting his mana. All the students were escorted back to the academy for further treatnt.
Though the imdiate threat had been eliminated, the empire now faced an even greater challenge. The attack on the Royal Museum—right at the heart of the empire—had shattered the people's sense of security. Fear and uncertainty lingered, leaving citizens to question the dangers lurking within their beloved nation.
*******
The capital's sky was bathed in hues of deep orange as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Though its descent followed the usual rhythm of the day, the scene it illuminated was anything but ordinary—it was pure pandemonium.
Broken debris and shattered asphalt littered the streets. A lone child sobbed beneath a shattered lamppost, its once-luminous stone now dark, the pole itself snapped in half. Soldiers moved tirelessly, so carrying the wounded on makeshift stretchers, while others solemnly transported lifeless bodies, their expressions grim.
Though the reinforcents had successfully neutralized the threat, the lingering remnants of chaos refused to fade.
On one side, healers and dics rushed to stabilize the injured. On the other, massive abyssal monster corpses were being hauled away by mages and knights, who remained on high alert, still searching for any traces of the perpetrators.
A young mage knelt near the entrance of the won's restroom, his fingers pressed against the cracked tiles as he focused his detection magic. His eyes flickered open, frustration evident on his face.
"No traces of mana. Looks like they used an artifact."
Beside him, a towering middle-aged man—his broad fra covered in battle-worn armor—crossed his arms. The sheer difference in size made the younger mage seem even smaller in comparison. His voice was rough, carrying the weight of command.
"Clever bastards. But even if they used an artifact, breaching the capital and organizing a summoning ritual inside the Royal Museum? Impossible. The barrier should've prevented that."
The speaker was a middle-aged man, his towering fra and bulging muscles making him seem like a giant compared to the younger mage beside him. His deep, commanding voice left little room for doubt—he was clearly soone of authority.
The young mage nodded, his brows furrowed in thought. "Yeah... That ans soone must have helped them from the inside."
The older man let out a deep hum, crossing his arms. "Then the real question is, how do we find the traitor? Anyone suspicious?"
"For now, we have to assu everyone is a suspect," the younger mage replied. "The royal soldiers stationed at the city gates should be investigated first. There's a chance they were bribed or coerced into letting the attackers in."
"That's a possibility." The older man stroked his chin, his mind running through potential leads.
The young mage continued, "We should also consider the possibility that one of the visitors was involved. There are plenty of ways to bypass security with the right tools or connections."
"Any reports of unusual activity from the guards?" the older man asked.
The young mage shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary... It's like they planned everything down to the last detail. It'll be hard to find any leads."
A new voice cut through the discussion. "Regardless, we will do everything in our power to uncover the truth."
They turned to see Duchess Elara Frost, her presence alone demanding respect. She had been quietly listening, but now, she made her stance clear.
"Since the situation here is under control, I will take my leave," she added.
The young mage gave her a polite nod. "Of course, Duchess. You should check on your daughter. I heard she fought valiantly today."
Elara said nothing in response. With a composed expression, she turned and walked toward the carriage escorting the students back to the academy.
*****
News of the Royal Museum attack spread like wildfire across the Hestia Empire. The public outcry was imdiate—many openly criticized the royal family for failing to prevent such a catastrophe in the very heart of the empire. Doubts about security and leadership swirled among the citizens, their trust shaken.
However, amidst the controversy, another discussion began to take shape—one not about failure, but about a rising legend.
"The Reckless Genius."
That was the na given to Arthur Ludwig, the young swordsman who had accomplished the impossible—defeating a master swordsman despite only recently stepping into the Advanced Swordsman realm. It was an achievent unheard of in Hestia's history, sothing that defied logic and expectations.
And he wasn't the only one who left a mark.
The heroes who had fought in the battle were each given titles, a recognition of their prowess and bravery:
Alex Stale – "The Stalwart Blade"
Kaela Howler – "The Phantom Huntress"
Akira Frost – "The Glacial Reaper"
Nyra Vilde – "The Starlit Archer"
Their nas would soon spread beyond the capital, centing their reputations as rising figures in the empire.
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