Ch.0Ep.0 Prologue

“I lost.”

When the man seated at the head of the table uttered those words of complete surrender—

BOOM!

“Commander! We can still fight! What are you saying?!”

“That’s right! How can we give up here? We must continue the struggle to the end!”

Some groups protested against the man’s words.

“Everyone, please calm down. The commander is right… We have lost.”

“If we retreat any further, we’ll lose the Temple of the Underworld Lord, our last stronghold… If it’s either death or retreat, isn’t that the definition of defeat?”

Others spoke up in agreement with the man.

However, there was one thing they all knew.

This kind of argument couldn’t reverse their confirmed defeat.

Despite knowing this—no.

Because they knew it, they couldn’t help but argue.

As the dispute among the leadership dragged on after his declaration of defeat.

After much deliberation, the man made his decision.

“I’ll stay behind alone. The rest of you… escape.”

“Commander!! Don’t talk nonsense! We absolutely cannot leave you behind! Absolutely not!!”

“That’s right! If we flee, we flee together. We can’t let you sacrifice yourself!”

This time, even those who had agreed with the man about their defeat reacted vehemently.

But the man knew there was no hope in the current battle situation.

“You all know it too, don’t you? If we just try to run… we’ll definitely be caught.”

“…”

“The power of the Outer Gods is too strong.”

The otherworlders who suddenly appeared one day.

Those who served beings called Outer Gods started a war in this world, Kadinant.

All nations of Kadinant put aside their interests and joined hands against them.

During the first fierce battle that began with the fate of the world at stake,

Most of the skilled fighters managed to hold their ground against the apostles of the Outer Gods.

But that lasted only a moment.

The Outer Gods appointed new otherworlders as apostles and pressured Kadinant.

Since that day, the “Guardian Spirit” gathered to protect Kadinant had forgotten the word “victory.”

Moreover…

Until the world reached this state.

The gods hadn’t even made their voices heard.

That’s right.

The gods had certainly abandoned Kadinant.

“By the name of Heresy Inquisitor, Radios Magnum, I command. The Guardian Spirit is hereby disbanded… Do not gather again until I give further orders.”

At Radios’s firm decision, the leaders of the Guardian Spirit shouted.

“Commander!!”

Just yesterday.

This would have been laughed off as a joke, but Radios had to be strict.

“It’s an order.”

“I cannot accept—”

THUD!

As one man was about to flare up in anger at Radios’s command, someone struck the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.

Radios looked at the person who had knocked the man out.

Recognizing her as the Guardian Spirit’s strategist who had enabled them to effectively confront the otherworlders,

The Best Guardian, Arsia Cromwell.

He suppressed a smirk.

She might have already known about his decision.

Arsia spoke while supporting the fallen man.

“Don’t worry about this idiot. He won’t interfere with your plans, Commander.”

“Arsia… thank you.”

Arsia seemed to have an idea of what Radios was planning.

That’s why she knocked the man unconscious.

“Thank you all for following my stubborn orders until now. So… we are now disbanded.”

When Radios ordered the disbandment of the Guardian Spirit, the leaders left the place, grinding their teeth.

Who was Radios Magnum?

The strongest Heresy Inquisitor who had survived until now in the fierce war against the otherworlders.

Such a man had made up his mind to sacrifice himself for the survival of the Guardian Spirit.

Because they had lost. Because they couldn’t protect by fighting against the otherworlders.

The members of the Guardian Spirit wanted to honor what amounted to Radios’s last will.

He was a man who always kept his promises.

Therefore, he would return by any means necessary.

Hoping that he would someday return and rebuild the Guardian Spirit.

The Guardian Spirit disbanded.

.

.

.

.

.

About an hour later.

Radios rose, sensing the powerful magical energy filling the area.

There would be no more retreat.

For the survival of his comrades, he had to buy time.

At that moment.

“To the resistance! You are surrounded! If you surrender now…!”

As the garbage otherworlders shouted, distorting the name of the Guardian Spirit to “resistance” as they pleased,

Radios felt irritation rising at their audacious attitude.

“There are no Kadinant people who would bow to filthy otherworlders.”

“Radios Magnum!!”

Looking carefully at the battlefield.

Led by six apostles of the Outer Gods, the otherworlders swarmed like ants.

Among them, the strongest was undoubtedly…

‘The apostle of the Dream Witch…’

An apostle with power strong enough to compete for 3rd or 4th place among the Outer God apostles.

There was no way to survive.

He had held a tiny hope, but it seemed this was the end.

Nevertheless, Radios unleashed his magical power with the intention of reducing at least half of that army.

BOOOOOOM!

The otherworlders flinched when they saw he was serious about fighting.

Even though they had the upper hand, they knew well what a monster Radios was.

As they hesitated, Radios declared.

“By the name of the Heresy Inquisitor, I proclaim. The otherworlders who have invaded Kadinant are deemed heretics and shall all… be executed!”

SCREEEECH!!

As soon as Radios finished his declaration.

He raised his arm toward the sky and activated his skill.

A massive sword reminiscent of twilight appeared.

The apostle of the Dream Witch Idra, Milia, was shocked.

The number of otherworlders swept away by that sword easily exceeded 100,000!

“The Twilight Sword..! Are you really going to end it all here?!”

“Though this may be the end for me… I only hope my comrades’ lives will be spared.”

“Radios Magnuuuum!!”

“Die, all of—!”

THUNK!

Before he could finish his words.

He spat crimson blood as he saw the cold, gleaming blade protruding from his chest.

What?

He couldn’t sense any otherworlders around him.

Although Radios had activated his skill with desperate momentum.

He never thought he would expose his back so easily.

Who was behind him?

‘No way…!’

Just as Radios imagined the worst possibility.

A soft voice tickled his ear.

“Commander… why do you continue this hopeless fight?”

A familiar tone.

Judging by how she called him “Commander,” the owner of this blade was undoubtedly a member of the Guardian Spirit.

Radios slowly turned his head to confirm who had stabbed him.

He hoped it wasn’t true. He hoped it wasn’t.

When he confirmed the face, he trembled with the feeling of betrayal that surged up to his chin.

“You… you bastard! Do you know what you’re doing?!”

It hurt.

He wanted to shatter the blade piercing his heart right now.

But looking at the owner of the blade brought anger beyond pain.

A woman who belonged to the Guardian Spirit and served as the commander of the First Corps.

Serena Tolos.

She had betrayed Radios and the Guardian Spirit by stabbing him in the back.

She began speaking while looking at Radios’s furious gaze.

“Well, don’t blame me. I’m not the only one who betrayed you.”

“Don’t… talk… nonsense… Sere…na..!”

At Serena’s words, Radios’s heart sank.

Among those who had worked together for a single purpose all this time.

There were traitors?

“You shouldn’t have trusted too much. The reason you’re dying is because of your overconfidence,”

“Serenaaaaa!!”

Uncontrollable rage took over his body at her nonchalant attitude.

He wanted to tear that filthy mouth apart right now.

He wanted to pull this blade out of his body and judge these damned otherworlders.

But contrary to his wishes, strength was gradually leaving his body.

Serena, knowing this, spoke with an expression like a vicious demon.

“Goodbye, our Commander?”

With a devilish smile, she swung down her sword.

SLASH!

Radios met his death.

Or so Serena thought.

“W-what is this…?!”

With his heart pierced and a diagonal slash across his upper body.

Radios, who should have certainly met his death.

Instead showed no movement, causing anxiety to surge within her.

After all, if he were dead, he should have fallen or collapsed.

But Radios remained standing rigidly without the slightest movement.

“T-this can’t be happening?”

There was one thing she had overlooked about Radios.

That was that Radios was an apostle of Hades, the god who dealt with death.

For him, death was one of the ways to get closest to the Underworld Lord.

Consumed by boiling vengeance, Radios prayed to his god, Hades.

Hoping that at least this one plea would be heard.

“Lord of the Underworld… I offer this body to you… Please grant me the opportunity to punish these heretics…”

“No!!”

FLASH!

As blue light fell from the sky and enveloped Radios.

Serena hurriedly slashed at the light with her sword, but.

“He’s gone…?”

Radios Magnum had long since disappeared.