As they gazed upon R'lyeh, now completely swallowed by darkness, a sharp pain struck the hearts of Cain and the other Giants of Light.
So quickly—R'lyeh had fallen entirely to the darkness.
The native inhabitants of R'lyeh, cradled in the hands of the Giants of Light, felt an even deeper anguish. Their home was gone—just like that.
Landing on a relatively large island near R'lyeh, Cain and the others gently set the civilians down and undo their transformation, returning to human form.
After all the women, children, and elderly had been transferred, Yuzare arrived at the island to comfort the displaced people.
When she saw Cain and the others return and revert from their Giant forms, her heart sank.
"Sister… I'm sorry," Cain said, lowering his head before Yuzare. "We couldn't save everyone. R'lyeh has been completely engulfed by darkness."
"What…?"
Upon hearing this, Yuzare finally lost control of her expression, her face filled with pain.
"Then that means… the people left behind will all become Dark Giants!"
The news that the remaining civilians had not been rescued spread rapidly across the island.
Among the survivors, many still had family members trapped there.
Crying and voices of despair echoed through the crowd.
With no time to grieve herself, Yuzare could only join the Guard Corps members in soothing the distraught civilians.
…
The resettlement of R'lyeh's people was handled separately by personnel dispatched by King Ord.
The Earth Guard Corps, however, had a far more pressing task.
That task was to determine how to expel the darkness that had invaded R'lyeh.
"Mr. Keshiva, is it possible to develop a device to transform or disperse the darkness?"
Before entering the meeting, Yuzare asked Keshiva urgently.
"Princess Yuzare," Keshiva replied, "transforming darkness is extremely difficult."
"Ever since Camearra became a Dark Giant, I have been researching this matter. The conclusion is clear—such a thing is absolutely impossible."
"In other words, under the current circumstances, the only option is to… eliminate the darkness."
"No!" Yuzare immediately objected. "They are our warriors. They are our people!"
"We absolutely cannot… eliminate them!"
Hearing her words, Keshiva could only sigh and shake his head before walking into the conference chamber.
After calming herself for a moment, Yuzare followed.
The meeting was held in the Central Capital.
It was convened by King Ord, the most powerful authority on the continent.
The emergence of the Dark Giants also struck King Ord as unbelievable.
According to research, Tiga—the first Giant to ever appear on Earth—had himself been a Dark Giant.
"Yuzare, you bear significant responsibility for this matter," King Ord said from the head seat, reproaching her the moment he spoke.
"Father… I do bear great responsibility," Yuzare said, lowering her head. "I will make amends for my mistake."
"It is good that you understand," Ord nodded.
"Even General An Cheng has been corrupted by the darkness and turned into a Dark Giant."
"A trusted pillar of my command—gone just like that."
The thought of An Cheng's fall filled Ord with sorrow.
A general who had served faithfully at his side for so many years had ultimately failed to escape the darkness and was consumed by it.
"Yuzare," Ord continued, changing the subject, "I have heard that you and Tiga knew each other long ago."
"Y-Yes," Yuzare replied, startled and unsure how her father had learned this. "Tiga and I did meet quite early."
"Then do you know," Ord pressed on expressionlessly, "that Tiga is a Dark Giant—the very first Dark Giant to appear on Earth?"
"…I do," Yuzare nodded. "I am aware of that."
"Then don't you think," Ord said, turning to the others in the chamber, "that the failure of the Giant of Light conversion experiment—and the sudden emergence of this darkness—might be related to Tiga, that Dark Giant?"
"Father, Tiga has already been sealed within the Dark Temple," Yuzare said urgently. "He could not possibly have done this!"
"Who says so?"
Ord turned his gaze to her.
"Father, Tiga told me so himself!"
At this moment, Cain spoke up, carefully avoiding any mention of having acknowledged Tiga as his master.
Given his father's current stance, revealing that fact would only invite disaster.
"You believe whatever he tells you?" Ord snorted coldly. "Cain, I am deeply disappointed in you."
"Father, you shouldn't say that about Cain—"
Yuzare tried to defend him, but Ord cut her off.
"That's enough."
"Keshiva—if you cannot devise a method within one month to rescue them from the darkness, then the Guard Corps will be authorized to act against R'lyeh."
With a wave of his hand, Ord issued the order.
"Your Majesty, this—" Keshiva began, but fell silent.
Let alone one month—even a year would not be enough.
Ever since Camearra became a Dark Giant, Keshiva had pursued this line of research, yet it had yielded no results.
"Father, even if Mr. Keshiva cannot find a solution, the Guard Corps still cannot deal with R'lyeh," Yuzare argued desperately.
"There are countless Dark Giants on R'lyeh now, while we have only nineteen Giants of Light!"
Though the stated reason was insufficient military strength, what Yuzare truly could not accept was raising a hand against former comrades.
"Can you still build a Light Particle Conversion Device?" Ord asked Keshiva.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Keshiva replied honestly.
"Then construct another one in the Central Capital."
"Create enough Giants of Light—and use them to purge the Dark Giants of R'lyeh!"
Ord issued the order decisively.
Keshiva remained silent, unable to refuse.
Yuzare froze, her lips pressed tightly together, at a loss for words.
"The task of eliminating the Dark Giants will be entrusted to you," Ord said, preparing to adjourn the meeting.
At that moment, Cain spoke up:
"Father, the General is still on R'lyeh!"
"Does that mean the General is to be eliminated as well?!"
Ord stared at Cain for a long moment, then shook his head.
"Cain, as the heir, you should never ask such a question."
"Father…"
"That's enough. This meeting is adjourned."
Ord left.
The room fell into silence.
This meeting had not been held in the royal hall, but privately by King Ord.
The attendees were only Cain, Yuzare, Keshiva, and the successfully transformed Giants of Light.
"What a terrible sin," Keshiva sighed softly.