Chapter 137: Light and Dark (34)
The flickering flames of the sky danced in my pupils, as if the entire world was being painted in red.
A massive fireball, like a harbinger of doom, thundered down from the heavens with an earth-shattering crash, causing the whole city to tremble in the face of this unstoppable heat.
“It’s divine punishment! Those sinners have brought down divine retribution—”
“Run!”
“Oh great Goddess of Sin! Please spare us… we are innocent!”
The scorching air rolled over the streets, and the previously closed doors of the houses swung wide open. Those who hadn’t yet fled threw caution to the wind, rushing out in panic with screams. Women with terrified faces, men in a frenzy, even old men barely able to walk desperately scampering onto the street, and little children wailing as they ran—some were pulled down to the ground by frantic mothers, their mouths bleeding.
“d*mn it—”
Margaret, beside me, was overcome with rage, staring up at the sky with eyes as red as rubies. She pulled out a necklace from her chest and gripped it tightly in her hand.
In the next moment, a dazzling light burst forth from the thin veil around her, turning the world a brilliant gold.
Buzzing…
As the golden light shone, a wave of reassurance washed over me. My heart skipped a beat as I instinctively tried to stop her.
d*mn woman… still trying to control me at a time like this!?
But that thought flickered away in an instant, and I calmed down.
No, that’s…
The golden light within the shield grew more radiant.
The scorching waves crashing from outside were suffocating, singeing the tips of my hair with searing heat. The air was thick with the smell of burning. I conjured a faint Ice Mist with my hands, waving it around to drop the temperature dramatically. Then I rushed forward, daring to pull Iliush into the light barrier.
“Don’t!”
In a panic, Margaret stretched out her hand to stop me.
Frowning, I looked at her. “You…”
Boom——!!!
In that instant, a horrifying shockwave exploded from the broken bone pendant in her palm, crashing forcefully into my chest. I was knocked back two stumbling steps, almost falling flat on my face.
My head was spinning…
I shook my head vigorously.
Then, I heard Margaret’s voice, dreamy and enchanting, like an incantation.
[The Muddy Coffin of the Mother Deity…]
Buzz——
A sharp sound erupted in my ears, and the world around me slowed down.
Beyond the golden light, the civilians fleeing down the street continued to run as if frozen in time, their feet raised yet never touching the ground. Some looked back in horror, mouths agape, eyes wide. Those closer to me were lifted off the ground by the force, twisting midair, their descent agonizingly slow.
In the closest house, behind a curtain that had been partially lifted, a curious little girl was being whisked away by a pair of big hands from behind. She turned her head, her innocent eyes reluctant to leave the view outside.
In the center of the street, a blinding white light erupted from Iliush’s small body, and her skin seemed to flake away, her wide white eyes looking over through the rising black mist. Meanwhile, the Old Duke lay unmoving on the edge of the street, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around him.
In an instant.
I steadied myself.
The next moment, the scene in front of me began to shake.
Rumbling…
A thunderous noise reverberated from all directions of the city. Buildings and streets shook violently with the roar, dust flying in every corner, only to settle back down in the next moment. The shrill buzzing in my ears became sharper, like a kn*fe threatening to pierce my eardrums, and the dizziness made me want to puke.
But my body wouldn’t respond.
This was a strange sensation.
It felt like the entire world, myself included, was vibrating at an incredibly high frequency, trapped by this tremor. The shaking felt like an earthquake but wasn’t quite it… it was as if everything had sunk into a deep swamp, unable to struggle, unable to breathe, gradually sinking.
This feeling lasted but a moment.
“Marg…aret!”
As I grit my teeth and shouted her name, the gold-encased Saint rapidly lifted the dazzling bone shard high towards the sky.
Buzz buzz buzz——！！！
In an instant, the air around Margaret twisted visibly.
Her radiant form became warped in my eyes. A bizarre “energy” burst forth from her, swirling an invisible torrent that erupted from the entire street, shooting skyward.
And then, that suffocating, muddy sensation vanished.
“Ha—”
I took a deep breath.
At the same time, the enormous fireball in the sky, swirling with a mass of crimson flames, suddenly slowed its descent about two hundred meters above the city. The cataclysmic strike, which had seemed inevitable just moments ago, was abruptly resisted by some unseen force, coming to a halt.
Boom boom boom—
The thunderous sound continued to rumble in my ears.
The people on the street resumed their frantic movements.
Clearly terrified by that strange force, they howled in terror, running for their lives, trying to escape the area engulfed by the fireball.
“Ahhh—！！！”
Margaret screamed hoarsely, her golden light within the shield growing ever brighter, and I couldn’t help but raise my hand to shield my eyes.
She held her blazing pendant high, as though bearing a tremendous burden. Her almond eyes widened, arms trembling, legs shaking uncontrollably. Yet, even so, Margaret held her head high, her flushed cheeks determined and resolute.
The dizziness in my head gradually subsided.
“Hehehe…”
A sense of joy bubbled up inside me, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hahaha—!”
What is this power…
Why does it feel so familiar and warm inside…
Interesting… I’m so happy!
“Margaret, what is that necklace!?”
I shouted at her, excitement bubbling forth.
“Get out…”
But the Saint’s reply came through gritted teeth, clearly too preoccupied to care about me or anyone else.
“Leave this place… I can’t hold it… it’s too rushed… I can’t stop it… Hil… Jia… go——!”
A stream of bright red bl**d slowly flowed from her nose.
Bang——!
The bluestone pavement beneath her couldn’t withstand the pressure, cracking inch by inch around the Saint.
I ignored her words and tilted my head back.
The fireball hovering in the sky was getting restless, flames thrashing wildly in the wind, seemingly ready to break free from its hold, beginning to descend at an agonizingly slow pace.
“Nero——！！”
In just a few seconds, bl**d began to seep from Margaret’s ears and eyes.
She bent over, her slender body almost crushed by the immense force, as if engaged in a final struggle, shouting at the sky: “You d*mn lunatic! How many innocents do you want to drag into this, cough—”
bl**d mist erupted from the Saint’s mouth, staining her front with crimson.
Above, the fireball accelerated again, its speed becoming overwhelming. Flashes of flames began to rain down, and with a whoosh, a small sapling by the street was set aflame, while smoke started to rise from several rooftops.
Nero…
I narrowed my eyes.
“Margaret, just hold on a little longer.”
You’ve caused such a ruckus… old man, you better not think you can slip away easily this time.
I moved my limbs slightly, glancing over at Iliush, my feet suddenly stepping into a Moon Step.
Whoosh——
The wind roared past my ears.
In an instant, I stepped into the intense white light, standing right in front of the little girl.
Just as I expected.
The white light bursting from within Iliush was harmless… at least, it was for me.
I faced no barriers and easily grabbed her shoulder.
“Iliush, can you hear me?”
“Uh… ah…”
The response I got was nothing but meaningless moans.
The little girl was nearing her limit.
The moment I touched her shoulder, I realized this fact.
The Chaotic Power within her was already in disarray; out-of-control energy surged through her body, destroying organs, tearing skin, and swallowing her consciousness. The “soul” devoured earlier had failed to completely transform or absorb into her own power and was now bursting out. It was as if…
The “hunter” had been bitten back by its “prey.”
I couldn’t understand why it had become like this. But I knew, no matter what, I couldn’t save her.
And the little girl…
She probably wouldn’t be able to hear my words any longer.
If that’s the case…
“Lend me your power.”
