273 Danube River of Blood (1/2)
The fog was silent. No one replied.
Naberius seemed to hear the youth’s curse and he opened his arms cheerfully. ”So you have nowhere to run now, huh? Why are you insisting on your prejudice? Why don’t we hold hands and walk toward the beautiful future together? Come, I can play a waltz and we can dance together with this beautiful melody!”
The instrument pounding like a heart in his hand gradually swelled and distorted, transforming into something like a French horn. Holding the odd instrument, he announced enthusiastically, ”Next, please enjoy the musical piece brought to you by Naberius—The Danube River of Blood!”
An eerie breeze abruptly rose in the stillness. The French horn began playing energetically. At first, the sound was delicate. There was a tinge of bloodiness in the aura that spread in all directions.
Gentle and strange, the melody sounded like the murmurs of lost souls. Then the horn suddenly jolted. It crescendoed and a melody flowed from thin air like a river. The music notes resounded as countless notes overlapped, shot out, and transformed into the graceful and gentle melody.
This music score required dozens of musicians to play in coherence. However, the power gifted by Hyakume seemed to give Naberius hundreds of hands. The hundreds of fingers on each hand played the layered tune. One could not resist the urge to walk forward and dance to the melody. However, the melody was incomparably eerie. It was like skeletons hugging and dancing together in the cemetery. It was like embracing death.
This was not the original Resonance level score. This was a dark melody modified by dark musicians. The witches and followers at the ritual would embrace each other, perform intercourse, dance with skeletons, and offer themselves to the glorious lord under this melody.
The fog had been forcefully scattered by this intensifying melody. Immediately after, a blood-red river trickled out of thin air. This was not the Blood Path—it was the Danube River that had been dyed red by skeletons, corpses, and death! Everything covered by the river was isolated by the world. This place had already been turned into a demonic abyss!
The melody ravaged the souls of all living organisms, snatching away their reason, dragging them into the dark territory. The bloody river tossed violently. Countless illusionary figures walked out, dancing to the melody.
Naberius bowed slightly and reached out a hand. A hand gloved in white lace reached out from the bloody river and rested on his hand. He stepped back and a girl dressed in a pure white veil was led out. Her figure was enchanting yet pure, like a girl attending a wedding. However, the girl was clearly a rotting skeleton. Even the wilted flower crown could not return youth to the ugly face.
With a happy and strange smile, she walked into Naberius’ arms. She held his hand and began dancing. This was the spirit hidden in this music score—the spirit of the dark music.
The overture finally ended with her appearance. The river of blood surged in all directions and flooded into the dungeon, swallowing everything in its path.
Countless skeleton girls in veils climbed out. They enthusiastically yet gently ‘welcomed’ all living things into the dance of death!
”You’re still hiding?” Naberius asked hoarsely amidst the eerie dance. ”Mr. Holmes, are you really allowing me to do whatever I want? Your kindness makes me feel guilty.” The melody suddenly intensified and crescendoed. Naberius laughed loudly and sang along with the song.
”Ah, ah, you worry so much. You’re young and beautiful, gentle and kind. You’re like a piece of gold shining in the mine. True love awakens here beside the Danube River, beside the beautiful Danube River of blood!”
Boom! The bloody river jolted, interrupting Naberius’ song. His expression changed drastically, and he turned toward the river. A crack had appeared within the water. It looked like a claw that was frantically tearing the river apart. The waves surged but were unable to heal the scratch. It was sharp as a blade with pure and solid murderous intent. It was like the furious roar of a dragon who was about to die.
The Firebird?!
Naberius froze. Who…
The youth’s hoarse voice came from the darkness, ”Thank you for the waltz, my friend.” He laughed with inexplicable cheer. ”Sadly, I already have a dance partner.”
Sharp murderous aura flooded into the darkness. The veiled girls who had climbed out of the blood river were shattered to pieces. They were all in ruins!
”The Ripper…”
-
Fresh blood flowed in the dark dungeon. Under the layers of chains, the wound-covered youth embraced the Ripper. The formless but tangible murderous intent solidified into an ax that fell upon him. His layers of shields counteracted them so he was not torn to shreds. He only suffered ghastly wounds.
The immense pain rose in waves. Now, he finally understood the pain that the Ripper suffered at every moment. The little defense equipment that he had stolen from the dark musicians was unable to protect him against the Ripper’s heavy murderous aura.
She had not activated it yet, but it already felt like thousands of knives. He would have died long ago if he did not have the lifesaving hat. The music score Holy had maintained his minimum lifeforce.