"It’s just like with Abyss. What is she planning to say this time?"
Yugo growled, the memory of Abyss’s similar stunt on Wind Island flashing through his mind. Back then, the villain had used a similar display to broadcast his crimes to the world.
As the group looked up at the sky, Dogma’s voice began to echo, addressing the people living in and around Luminous Academy.
"A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Dogma... I have been dispatched by the Central Church to deliver an Oracle. I appear before you today in this form to share a matter of grave importance."
Unlike Abyss, Dogma chose to hide her true nature, presenting herself as a humble messenger of the Central Church. Clad in the guise of a virtuous nun, she began a sermon that made Yugo and the others—who knew her true character—want to retch.
"A threat looms over us all. I speak not only of the Great Hole inching toward this city. Without a shred of exaggeration, the world itself is in crisis."
Dogma’s words were calculated to stoke fear, warning the populace of an imminent catastrophe. Her speech was a masterclass in deception, weaving fragments of truth into a tapestry of lies.
Yugo and his companions watched with bitter expressions. They knew better than anyone that the woman claiming to save the world was the very one driving it toward a World Crisis. Yet, Dogma continued her performance with an air of absolute conviction.
"Through an Oracle, we have discovered those who should not exist in our world... beings known as Reincarnators. They have infiltrated Luminous Academy. God has spoken: these Foreign Objects have twisted the very fabric of fate, and it is their presence that causes these Great Holes to tear through our world."
"Liar!" Zenon bellowed at the sky, his voice thick with rage. "You’re the ones responsible for those holes!"
Of course, his voice could not reach her; she was nothing more than a projection shimmering in the air. Dogma skillfully moved to the heart of her manipulation.
"The reason this phenomenon persists is simple: the destiny of a specific individual has been warped by the presence of these Reincarnators. To correct the fate of our crumbling world, we must set that person’s destiny right as well."
Dogma paused, her expression falling into a mask of profound sorrow. Acting as if she were burdened by a choice she never wanted to make, she spoke again.
"That individual was originally destined to be swallowed by ruin and lose their life. However, due to the interference of the Reincarnators, that fate was avoided. To save the world, we must, unfortunately, carry out that person’s original sentence."
"That woman... surely she doesn't mean..."
By now, even Yugo realized where Dogma was leading. With a mournful look, she quietly announced the name of the child she intended to offer up as a sacrifice.
"That person’s name is... Fee Clay. He is but a child, yet the world will perish unless he is offered up. It is a heart-wrenching, tragic necessity... but it is a sacrifice the world requires for its survival."
"Screw you!" Yugo’s rage finally boiled over. "A 'necessary sacrifice'? You’re whipping people into a frenzy with your sick lies! You absolute fraud!"
This was Dogma’s signature move. She used her status to broadcast her fabricated truths, seizing control of the people's fear to suit her ends. She had done it to the Reincarnators, she had done it to isolate Yugo, and now she was doing it to the entire city. Unaware of Yugo's outburst, Dogma delivered the final blow.
"Fee's Execution is scheduled for noon tomorrow at Luminous Academy. Let us gather to witness the boy’s final moments of bravery and offer prayers for his journey to Heaven. Some may find this decree difficult to accept... but this is a Divine Judgment carried out by the Central Church. Any who interfere shall be branded a Rebel against the state and the Church. Choose wisely. Farewell."
With those final words, Dogma’s massive image vanished from the sky.
The group stood in a heavy silence, fueled by a mixture of fury and dread. Ryuga, maintaining his cold composure, was the first to speak.
"...The deadline is noon tomorrow," he said. "She’s baiting us to charge in. It's a blatant provocation."
"She’s using Fee as bait to lure Yugo and Ryuga out," Zenon added. "The fact that she’s given us until tomorrow means Dogma's Group needs time to finalize their own preparations as well."
It was a trap in every sense of the word. But with Fee's life hanging in the balance, walking away wasn't an option.
As Yugo stood with his fists clenched, trembling with the effort to contain his anger, Zenon stepped forward.
"Calm down for a second. Don't do anything reckless yet. You need to get yourself into top fighting condition. While you do that, I’ll slip into their ranks and see what I can find."
"...I’m sorry. I’m counting on you, Zenon," Yugo replied.
He needed information—anything that would give them an edge in the battle to reclaim Fee, their friends, and the academy. Zenon gave a firm nod, preparing for his dangerous reconnaissance mission.
"I’ll be in touch. Stay put until then. I might not be able to do much, but I’ll bring back whatever intel I can find."
With that, Zenon’s mental body faded into nothingness.
Forced into a period of agonizing waiting, Yugo stared up at the empty sky where Dogma’s face had been. His heart ached for his brother and the friends currently held in the enemy’s grasp.
"Just wait for me," he whispered. "I’m coming for you. I’ll definitely save you all!"