172 It’s Only Moonligh (1/2)
A faint hymn resounded in the sky outside the hospital. Heavy rain covered the world, extinguishing the flames in downtown. With the last bit of fire put out, the world fell into darkness.
Occasionally, there was a flash of lightning. It would illuminate the menacing silhouette of the Arkham Asylum. Jerome stood in the downpour, studying the asylum quietly with dark eyes.
The aether ball in his hands shone dimly. Dozens of dim light spots shone within. They represented the Royal musicians swallowed by the darkness. The spots floated, sometimes converging and fighting against the darkness. They were like candles flickering in the wind. Some of the spots had already been completely extinguished.
Jerome's brows furrowed. He held onto the leather case beside him. As an experienced commander, he did not move brashly. If he were outside, he would be able to detect changes at any given time and could provide help when needed. If he had charged in brashly and something changed, the entire group would be destroyed.
But if things did not improve in three minutes, he would use the secret royal order to open this leather case and take out what was sealed within. It was an instrument made from a saint's bones. Once it was awoken, he would have the scepter temporarily.
But everyone who used it would be corroded by its strength. Those who could not withstand it would die on the spot. If he used it once, he might fall down one level and never be able to return in his life. This price was too much to pay.
As the seconds ticked by, the darkness surged and the hymn grew even wilder. He could not wait anymore and finally made his decision, but then the aether ball in his hand changed.
In an instant, the lights, like fragile flames shivering, suddenly extinguished. All light disappeared. As if they had been devoured by beasts, their connection was completely broken. Nothing he tried could reconnect them.
Jerome froze, horror flashing past his eyes. What had just happened?
Then something pierced his eyes. It was the brilliant light shining from the aether ball. He saw a giant tidal wave of aether appear from the darkness. The wave disturbed all the other aether fluctuations and muted all other noise. An abnormally angry wave surged in the sea of aether.
In an instant, the complex changes had passed the limits of the aether ball. It went in overload and overheated. Even the raindrops that fell on the ball steamed and evaporated. Jerome's expression changed and he tossed it away.
In the air, the metallic aether ball suddenly exploded, but Jerome did not have the time to worry about the object. In the downpour of rain, he raised his head in shock and looked into the surging darkness.
”What…the f*ck is this?”
-
Above the Arkham Asylum, the crazed darkness suddenly froze. As if it was a dying snake, it writhed in pain and slowly expanded. The hymn stopped abruptly and turned into the dying cries of the huge beast.
The screams filled with despair and wildness shook the sleeping city awake. The terrified men crawled out of bed in fear. Some people opened the windows carefully and stared in the direction of the screams.
They saw the darkness twist like a living thing, struggle and expand. Finally, it exploded! It had been killed. The destruction from the inside out dissipated with the wail.
Something brewed in the darkness and broke through the various locks, rising to the sky! In its path, all darkness was forced back, and the crazed hymn disappeared. Even Satan's anger could not restrain it and was instead forced back into the abyss by it.
It was the pure moonlight!
Under everyone's gaze, the pure white moon rose from the ground to the sky. Where its light reached, the storm stopped and the black clouds covering the sky retreated as well. Even the unsettled ocean calmed down.
The moon shone. All chaos became serene in this moment. The commotion and unrest disappeared and everyone's hearts settled down. This was never seen before. There was no longer any fear or confusion. They were intoxicated by the moon and the pure gentleness of the light.
Under the moon's light, sweat rolled down Jerome's back. He struggled against the moonlight's power, but his mind was a mess.
”Whose music score is this? Just resonating with the Originator is enough to form a Scepter in the aether world…” he murmured, trying to recall this familiar power.
A name paced between his memories, but he just could not remember. This was his first time experiencing this situation. Then why was his hand shaking?!
That person, that person…Who was it?!
Clang! A cold noise sounded behind him. It was the sound of a sword pulled out of its sheath. The blade and the sheath rubbed against each other and vibrated without stop! The whistle of the sword was like a lion's roar. It sank into his mind and shook him from his thoughts.
The nightmare was finally over.
Jerome stumbled back and panted heavily. He did not dare to gaze at the moon's radiance anymore. Behind him, someone pressed down on his shoulder. He looked back and saw a thin armored knight.
The knight was enveloped in a huge armor, hiding his face. The heavy armor covered his entire body and seemed majestic yet grave. Under the moonlight, the ridges were menacing. Jerome did not dare to make eye contact.
The knight's other hand held a strange sword. This was the sword that had yanked Jerome out of his shaken thoughts. Its design was just like a large cross and looked as if it was forged by two steel bars. It was heavy and crude, but in the knight's hand, it seemed to radiate with power.
Seeing him, Jerome no longer panicked.
Thud! Under his ardent gaze, the knight wielded his sword, stepped forward in the moonlight and thrusted the blade into the stone ground.
”In the name of the knights, eradicate all sorcery and evil!” The stern and majestic voice that came from the visor was a woman's, but there was nothing gentle about it. Instead, it made one feel solemn.
Then, a heavy and regal bell rang in the distance. The enchantment that enveloped Avalon had been awoken. Shapeless power converged like a flood. Brilliant light fell from the sky!