Chapter 505

Heiberyen sighed and looked at Makarov.

Silence gradually spread among them as they came to realize how vast the gap in strength had become between you and the other side.

No matter who it was, their hearts felt particularly heavy.

Especially for them, who had long since stopped improving.

On the other side, the capital of the Fiore Kingdom.

Within the Wang Gong, Princess Jade gazed at the battlefield report in her hands.

She let out a breath of relief and sat upon the Wang Zuo.

For the past two days, she had been too agitated to sleep or eat properly.

Everyone in Ishgar, every nation, knew of the Albares Empire's strength.

With their power, it was impossible for a single kingdom to stand against an empire.

Yet the constant stream of victory reports had greatly strengthened Princess Jade's confidence.

"Your Highness, the war has finally ended."

"Surely, we can finally take a breath now."

Alcadios watched the relief on Princess Jade's face and smiled faintly.

But Princess Jade shook her head, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

"The matter is not over. We must further deploy the power of the Seven Deadly Sins Knights."

"When Fiore Kingdom was attacked, the other kingdoms showed not a single sign of support."

"If that's the case, we cannot be blamed for acting without mercy or righteousness."

"Ishgar... is due for a dominant empire."

Princess Jade rose to her feet; her ambitious words left the court officials momentarily stunned.

As Voro's aura began to weaken, Meliodas left directly.

By the time the Holy Ten arrived, Voro still retained a faint trace of life.

After great effort from several of the Holy Ten, they finally pulled Voro back from the brink of death.

"Lord Voro, are you alright?"

Kind-hearted Jura, watching Voro slowly awaken, wore an expression of profound relief.

As the oldest surviving member of the Holy Ten,

his death would have been a tremendous loss for Ishgar.

Yet now, even these Holy Ten lacked the confidence to speak such words, for they themselves had chosen to prioritize the big picture over saving a life.

"Voro, we truly cannot fight against those otherworlders."

"Sometimes, recognizing the gap between enemy and ally may not be a bad thing."

Heiberyen sighed deeply, helping Voro sit up as he spoke.

Once one of the younger members of the Holy Ten, he now looked far older.

The massive explosion earlier had made them fully understand the chasm in strength between themselves and the other side.

The gap between them was a difference of immense dimensions.

It was something they could not possibly accept—and yet it was precisely what they could not deny.

They, called the strongest, could not even stand against the weakest of those otherworlders.

No matter who it was, no matter whose heart it was, it was profoundly unbearable.

"What happened, Heiberyen?"

"I can hardly believe such words came from your mouth."

"You were once such a reckless boy."

Voro shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips.

Reflecting on his life, Voro couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.

"Lord Voro, let me help you see for yourself..."

"Then you might understand."

Jura sighed deeply, clasped his palms together, and slammed them onto the ground.

The ground beneath the Holy Ten suddenly surged upward, rising a hundred meters in an instant.

It pierced directly into the clouds, and Voro, supported by Heiberyen, rose to his feet.

He looked down at the scene below.

The enormous, terrifying crater made him unable to imagine that a lake had once existed outside Magnolia Town.

And recalling the massive explosion just now, as well as the Albares Empire soldiers they had encountered on their journey here,

"Did all this... come from those otherworlders?"

Voro's face twisted into a bitter smile; though he already suspected the answer, he still asked Makarov.

Makarov said nothing, only closed his eyes and nodded.

The other Holy Ten, upon seeing this sight, were also deeply shocked.

This wonder might well become a defining feature of Magnolia Town from now on.

"Perhaps you are right, Makarov."

"I was too fixated on the past. I should prioritize the Yigong Society, prioritize Ishgar."

A faint smile touched Voro's lips, as if he had suddenly been freed—he collapsed onto the ground.

At that moment, Jura began slowly lowering the earth with his earth magic.

"We need to hurry back to the Fapingyi Society."

"Makarov, once you've finished dealing with things, come over as soon as you can."

"We'll notify you in advance when the time comes........"

Hyiberion sighed and looked toward Makarov.

Silence gradually began to fall over the crowd, once they realized the gap in strength between themselves and their opponents was growing ever wider.

No matter who they were, it felt deeply unpleasant inside.

All the more so for them, who had almost no room left to grow stronger.

Elsewhere, the capital of the Kingdom of Fiore.

Inside the Wang Gong, Princess Emerald stared at the dispatches of victory that had just been delivered into her hands.

She let out a breath of relief as well, and sat down upon the Wang Zuo.

For the past two days, she had been so restless and uneasy that she had hardly had any time to sleep or eat.

Everyone in Ishgar — every nation — knew full well the might of the Alvarez Empire.

Relying on their own strength, there was simply no way a single kingdom could stand against an empire.

But the dispatches of victory that kept arriving did greatly bolster Princess Emerald's confidence.

"Your Highness, at last the war is finally over."

"I imagine we should be able to breathe a little easier for a while now."

Arcadios looked at the breath of relief that had finally eased Princess Emerald's face, and a smile tugged at the corner of his own mouth.

But Princess Emerald shook her head, and a flash of cold indifference passed through her eyes.

"The matter is not yet over — we must make further use of the Seven Deadly Sins Knight Order's strength."

"When the Kingdom of Fiore was under attack, the other kingdoms offered us no response whatsoever."

"Since that is so, our kingdom cannot be blamed for showing no benevolence or righteousness either."

"Ishgar... it is time a flourishing empire rose within it."

Princess Emerald rose to her feet, and these words, brimming with ambition, caused the expressions of everyone in the great hall to stiffen for a moment.