Alright, Sula! Here's the enhanced and expanded version of Chapter 3, com
The palace gates opened with a soft creak, revealing a grand passageway that stretched endlessly into the heart of the royal grounds. Eurieal led them forward, her steps echoing with authority. Sanato and Meharu followed in silence, surrounded by towering walls, intricate murals, and a solemn tension that clung to the air like fog.
No one spoke.
Even Eurieal, usually chatty and full of pride, walked ahead without a word. The heavy weight of war blanketed the palace. Despite its beauty—the marble floors, golden sconces, and paintings of past kings—the atmosphere was anything but peaceful. In the distance, clanging sounds of weapons filled the air. Soldiers were training relentlessly on the grounds far from the palace, sweat dripping from their brows, preparing for the worst.
Sanato glanced around, anxiety creeping in.
"C... Can I really protect this place?" he wondered, the thought echoing like a whisper in his mind.
At last, they reached a towering door. Eurieal pushed it open to reveal a massive chamber bathed in sunlight. Inside, three figures stood, waiting.
The air thickened instantly. These were no ordinary people—they radiated strength, their presence alone enough to silence a crowd.
Salina stepped forward, her voice formal but welcoming. She gestured to the first figure, a man clad in heavy armor that glinted in the light.
"This is Sir Galhaan, the Sword of the Five Knights. An A-Rank warrior."
Galhaan looked every bit the veteran—his broad frame, his deeply lined face, the scar running from his brow to cheek. He looked at them with a stone-cold expression, then gave a small nod.
Next, Salina pointed to a young man with a massive spear strapped to his back.
"This is Wilbert, the Spear of the Five Knights. B-Rank."
He looked cheerful, a playful smile tugging at his lips. His eyes sparkled with mischief, a stark contrast to Galhaan's seriousness.
"And finally," Salina continued, gesturing to the last figure, a tall woman draped in an elegant robe, her face half-hidden by a hood. "This is Taania, the Wand of the Five Knights. An A-Rank mage."
Taania said nothing, her expression unreadable, arms folded beneath her robes. She radiated mystery—and danger.
Salina then turned to the heroes.
"This is Meharu Junwoo, one of the two heroes summoned by the divine call. He is... an SS-Ranker."
Gasps filled the room.
Even Taania, who had been expressionless, blinked in surprise. A rare smile tugged at her lips. Galhaan stepped forward with newfound hope gleaming in his eyes. He placed a hand on Meharu's shoulder, his voice trembling.
"SS-Rank... A miracle. Perhaps we can defeat those damned demons."
Wilbert wiped his eyes, laughing and crying at once.
"Thank the gods... I was losing hope. But now... we finally have a chance."
Galhaan looked at the brothers, his voice softer now. "He may be a commander, but he's just a boy. He's been through much already."
Sanato stood still, his thoughts spiraling.
"They're B and A rank... yet they were ready to give up? How bad is this war? I'm just... E-Rank... What can I possibly do?"
Galhaan turned back to Salina. "And the rank of the other hero?"
All eyes turned toward Sanato, waiting for another miracle.
Salina hesitated. "He is Sanato Junwoo... an E-Ranker."
A cold silence followed.
Disappointment shadowed their faces. Galhaan's eyes narrowed. Wilbert's smile faded. Taania's voice was sharp as ice.
"E-Rank? That's a problem. He's even weaker than our soldiers. He can't fight—not even as a recruit."
"Worthless," Taania muttered.
Sanato's heart sank. Shame and helplessness welled up in his chest. He lowered his eyes, unable to meet their gazes.
"Watch your mouth," Eurieal snapped, her voice echoing through the hall. "He was chosen by the gods. He is a hero."
Taania tilted her head slightly, her words slow and cold. "Chosen or not... dead weight is still dead weight. He doesn't belong on the battlefield."
But behind her cold words, there was something else. Pity? Or perhaps fear.
Suddenly—everything changed.
A crushing pressure slammed down on the room. Sanato gasped, dropping to his knees. His limbs trembled. It felt as if a mountain had landed on his shoulders. The air shimmered gold. Smoke? Light? He didn't know. But it was powerful. Terrifying.
His instincts screamed: danger.
He felt like prey before a predator.
And then he saw him.
Meharu stood tall, unmoved. His eyes glowed with a golden light. The pressure came from him.
"You summoned us," Meharu said, his voice cold and lethal. "And now you dare to insult my brother? Don't forget who you're speaking to."
Even the mighty knights were frozen, trembling under the force of his power. Taania, shaking, barely managed a nod. The pressure disappeared as suddenly as it came.
Silence.
Everyone slowly stood back up. But none dared to speak.
Eurieal finally broke the silence, her voice quiet but respectful.
"You must be tired, heroes. Rest for now. We can talk later."
Two maids entered and guided them away.
As soon as Sanato stepped into his room, he fell onto the bed, exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally. He stared at the ceiling, his heart pounding.
E-Rank... worthless...
But somewhere deep inside him, something had begun to stir.