Maris floated in the air, her chest rising and falling as she tried to regain control of her breath. The violent surge of power from breaking her seal had left her drained. She needed to restore her mana. Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath, focusing inward, pulling in the surrounding energy from the atmosphere.


    Slowly but surely, the chaotic storm inside her began to settle, the overflowing power retreating into a more manageable state.


    As the radiant glow around her dimmed, Maris concentrated on replenishing what she had lost. The magic in the air flowed into her, merging with her own energy, and she could feel her strength returning, piece by piece. But that invisible wall still haunted her mind. It was no ordinary barrier—it was something far more terrifying. She needed to understand it.


    Once her mana was restored enough for her to continue, Maris made a decision. She closed her eyes again, but this time, instead of focusing on her power, she reached out with her senses. With the gentlest touch of magic, she spread her mana outward, letting it flow in all directions like a ripple in water.


    Her awareness expanded, her consciousness stretching beyond her immediate surroundings, into the air, across the skies, and down to the earth below.


    In an instant, she could sense everything.


    The Saint''s Region lit up in her mind, every tree, every mountain, every living creature. Her mana touched the cities, the viges, the forests, sensing every person, every heartbeat, every flicker of life. It was as if the entire region had opened up before her,id bare for her to understand.


    But then, her breath caught.


    Maris''s eyes shot open, her face turning pale. Her heart pounded in her chest as her mind struggled to process what she had just sensed.


    They were sealed.


    The Saint''s Region they lived in—**the entire region**—was trapped inside an invincible box.


    Her mana had spread to the edges of their reality, and there, she had felt it—the same invisible wall that had blocked her path moments ago. But it wasn''t just in the sky. The barrier encased everything. It surrounded the Saint''s Region like an unbreakable cage, a prison with no door.


    No matter how far her mana reached, no matter how deeply she searched, the invisible walls were everywhere—above, below, and all around them.


    Her stomach twisted with dread as the horrifying truth sank. They had been trapped here, unaware, living their lives within this invisible boundary.


    Maris clenched her fists, her body trembling. Who could have done this? How long had they been sealed like this, living in a world that was nothing more than a cage? Why had no one ever noticed before?


    Maris had read every book about history, but there was no mention of this invincible wall.


    Her thoughts raced. The truth was too overwhelming. And worst of all, the barrier was invincible. Her greatest attacks, her Empire-ss power, had done nothing to it.


    Maris stared into the sky. Maris can''t understand who did this and why.


    Is this box is prison, trapping  them for experiment  or some other reason or this invincible box is saving from some outside threat?


    Maris can''t understand but one thing she knew is that, she want to get out of this sealed box, now knowing that she was sealed inside, she want to get out, she doesn''t want to be sealed.


    "But before that," Maris looked at north. She had came here in the sky because she want to find Dark Crow and finish him.


    ---


    The Dark Crownded gracefully on a rocky outcrop, his wings ring wide before shrinking, his sleek feathers shifting, molding, until the familiar form of a tall, handsome man stood in their ce. His long, white hair cascaded down his back like liquid silk, contrasting against the dark sky. His red eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he gazed down at the Sria Sanctum.


    The massive, golden towers of the sanctum glowed in the distance. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he sensed the energy within—priests and priestesses of various ranks, all basking in the divine light.


    He hade for blood. Not just any blood—the blood of the faithful. Their life force was potent, infused with the divine, and he could already feel its call, the pull of power that awaited him.


    Without a word, the Dark Crow moved forward, his steps slow and deliberate as he descended upon the sanctum. The gates loomed ahead, but they posed no threat. With a flick of his wrist, a surge of dark energy shot out, tearing through the heavy iron doors like paper. They crumpled inward, and the sanctum wasid bare before him.


    The priests inside were quick to react. They rushed forward in a wave, their weapons drawn and magic ring to life. But to the Dark Crow, they were nothing more than insects.


    A priest of D-ss rank sprinted forward, his hands glowing with divine magic. "You shall not pass!" he shouted, hurling a bolt of golden energy toward the intruder.


    The Dark Crow didn''t even blink. He waved his handzily, and the bolt dissipated in mid-air, fizzling out like a candle in the wind. Before the priest could react, the Dark Crow was upon him. With a swift motion, he plunged his hand into the man''s chest, ripping out his heart in one fluid movement.


    Blood sprayed out, painting the floor, as the priest copsed, dead before he even realized what had happened.


    More came after him, C and B-ss priests, their magic sparking like fireworks. One sent a barrage of ming spears hurtling through the air; another unleashed a wave of freezing water. A third raised his staff, summoning the holy light to shield hisrades.


    None of it mattered.


    The Dark Crow blurred into motion, weaving between their attacks with a speed that defied reason. He reached the first priest, snapping his neck with a casual twist of his wrist, then moved to the next, tearing him apart with ws that had briefly reformed from his human hands.


    Blood sttered the walls as priest after priest fell before him, their divine magic useless against his overwhelming power.


    "A-ss priests, form a barrier!" one of the higher-ranking priests yelled. The S-ss priests joined in, theirbined power rising into the air as they attempted to trap the Dark Crow inside a radiant sphere of light. For a moment, the air crackled with tension, the golden cage shimmering around him.


    The Dark Crow stood still, allowing the magic to settle around him. His red eyes glowed, a smile of amusement ying on his lips.


    Then, with a low chuckle, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.


    The barrier shattered.


    The priests stumbled back, horror dawning on their faces as they realized what they were dealing with. But it was toote. With a flick of his wrist, the Dark Crow sent tendrils of dark energy shooting out, each one piercing through a priest''s chest. They copsed in unison, their life force draining into the ck tendrils, leaving their bodies as hollow husks.


    Now only the SS-ss and SSS-ss priests remained. The Dark Crow could feel their fear, their hesitation. But these priests were not easily cowed. They knew what they were up against, and they had no choice but to fight.


    The leader of the group, an SS-ss priest named Valoran, stepped forward. His golden staff pulsed with holy energy, a blinding light emanating from its tip. "You will pay for your sins, creature of darkness!" Valoran dered, raising the staff high. "By the light of Sria, we will strike you down!"


    With a roar, Valoran mmed his staff into the ground, sending shockwaves of holy energy rippling outward. The remaining priests joined in, theirbined power creating a massive burst of divine magic that surged toward the Dark Crow, engulfing him in a blinding pir of light.


    For a moment, the sanctum was silent, the light so intense that nothing could be seen.


    Then, theughter started.


    Low and menacing, it echoed through the halls, cutting through the divine magic like a de. The light dimmed, revealing the Dark Crow standing in the same spot, untouched. His red eyes gleamed brighter than ever, his smile wide and filled with malice.


    "Is that all?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "You call yourselves priests of Sria? Pathetic."


    Before Valoran could react, the Dark Crow moved with impossible speed. He was upon the SS-ss priest in an instant, his hand wrapping around Valoran''s throat. The priest gasped, his staff falling from his grasp as the Dark Crow lifted him into the air.


    "Let me show you what true power is," the Dark Crow whispered.


    With a surge of dark energy, he squeezed. Valoran''s body convulsed, his eyes wide with terror as his life force was ripped from him. The other SS-ss priests tried to intervene,unching their own attacks, but the Dark Crow''s power was too overwhelming. He flung Valoran''s lifeless body aside and turned his attention to the others.


    The battle became a blur of dark energy and divine magic. The remaining SS-ss priests fought valiantly, their spells shing with the Dark Crow''s attacks in a dazzling disy of power. Holy light and shadow collided, the air thick with the scent of blood and burning magic.


    But one by one, they fell.


    The SSS-ss priests held out the longest. Theirbined strength was formidable, and for a moment, it seemed as though they might seed in pushing the Dark Crow back. But he was relentless, his desire for blood insatiable. His power only grew stronger as he absorbed the blood of those he killed, and soon even the SSS-ss priests began to falter.


    The final blow came swiftly. Thest SSS-ss priest raised his sword, his face a mask of determination. He charged at the Dark Crow with a shout, his de glowing with holy fire.


    The Dark Crow met him head-on.


    In one swift motion, he dodged the priest''s attack and plunged his hand into the man''s chest, ripping out his heart just as he had done with the first. The priest''s body crumpled to the ground, his sword ttering beside him.


    The Dark Crow stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving with exhration. Blood soaked the floor, the once-great Sria Sanctum now a ughterhouse.


    And he, the crow, was victorious.