Illyria's main Temple of Light, in the kingdom's capital, was accommodating much more people than its maximum capacity, and its huge double doors were wide open so that the crowds outside could also see what was happening inside.

But even that wasn't enough for the millions of people who crowded the city streets to witness the Ritual of Virtue. Thus, Priests held transmission crystals in hundreds of public spots, displaying live holograms of what was happening inside the temple.

On a raised platform in the temple, the King of Illyria was kneeling before a woman wearing a white robe. The ritual had to be hosted by a High Priestess, but Illyria was too small a kingdom to have someone with an advanced class stationed there. The ritual had been delayed until she arrived from another kingdom.

She had an expressionless face and looked straight ahead, ignoring the king and the crowd, as if she considered herself above those lowly mortals present there. The king had a pale face and an expression of fear, as if he were going to the gallows instead of being about to receive a great honor.

The sun reached its peak in the skies, illuminating the Holy crystals on the skylight of the Temple of Light and creating a beam of light that descended right at the platform. It was what the High Priestess had been waiting for.

"We are gathered here to witness the Ritual of Virtue," she said, still without expression on her face. Her magically enhanced voice resonated throughout the city and its surroundings. "The Goddess of Light orders everyone who carries weapons to sheathe them, everyone who has their heads covered to uncover them, everyone who is sitting or lying down to stand up. Whoever disobeys, let them do so at their own risk!"

After she said the last word, a huge pillar of light descended from the skies, covering the entire city in its radiance.

The ritual had begun.

Madame Selna was beside a middle-aged man who wore the same arcane robe as her, purple with silver symbols. They were in the middle of the Arcane Circle army, looking at the pillar of light that had just come down on Illyria.

"This complicates things," said Madame Selna. "Now the Arcane Master must ask the Goddess of Light if we can attack."

The man, who had arrived less than an hour ago, ignored Madame Selna. She clenched her teeth, irritated. How she hated that man!

Of all those who could have come as a backup, why did they need to send William Wolf to help her recover her city?!

The chairs, the large table, and even the round room itself were made of Arcane crystal. Nine Timelords were sitting there, wearing white robes with golden details.

Their robes had hoods with the golden design of a single eye. Because of the way the Timelords wore the hoods, the eye was at the level of their heads where human eyes would be.

They were all watching the perfectly transparent Time crystal ball in the center of the table. It showed the image of a human killing the Timelord they had exiled a few years ago.

As if such murder wasn't bad enough, that was a Timelord who had just evolved to the Five Star level. Such a high level would allow him to return to the community despite his crimes, as long as he asked for forgiveness and showed regret!

A mouth appeared on the faceless head of one of the Timelords present there.

"Avenge him," he ordered.

"Yes, Cabal Leader!" three Champion Timelords replied and disappeared.