291 You Hurt My Hear (1/2)

Above the endless snowy plain, Malpas transformed into a black eagle and broke through the blizzard. He flew into the sky, angrily chewing the sun. However, the sun hung high in the air like a taunt.

Lola’s gentle voice sang amidst the endless wind and snow. ”I see three suns in the sky. I stare at them and they stare back as if they don’t wish to leave me…”

”Come out, b*tch! Come out!” Malpas roared. His feathers stood straight up and godly light shot from his eyes. It broke the hallucination but then he fell into another one.

Endless black crows poured out of thin air, brashly attacking the lone eagle. Black feathers scattered in the wind. They ate hungrily and chewed up the steel-like eagle feathers. It was Die Krähe of Wintereisse—the crow!

Crows brought the sign of death and emerged continuously. Angered, Malpas shot out his feathers, ripping through the flock of crows, shaking them away, and flying high into the sky. But no matter how he flew, he could not escape the d*mn hallucination.

Seemingly familiar scenes appeared before him; he was going in circles but the tide of crows was catching up. He was lost… It was Der Wegweiser of Wintereisse—the signpost!

Next, it was Der greise Kopf, the gray head which eroded determination; and Täuschung, the deception of countless changing illusions. Finally, amidst the hoarse singing of a seemingly-ancient musician, the power brewing in him started fading quickly. It was Der Leiermann, the hurdy-gurdy man that could force one to a lower level!

”You f*cking clown!” Malpas roared in anger. ”You maniacs playing with illusions! You dare…you dare!”

The power around him shook. With a limitless explosion of strength, he tore through the hallucinations one after another and fell into another one.

Once all twenty-four movements of Winterreise were cast, it would turn into an endless hellish loop. Last time, Lola had just done it casually and the dark musician was practically dazed. He had assimilated into the illusion and disappeared!

The Blue Moon was born on the night of the full moon. It was the peak of Lola’s strength. All knew that Illusion musicians would definitely die when forced to fight face to face. However, once the enemy fell into an illusion, he would be the one to die.

After days of detailed arranging, she and Ye Qingxuan had left an immense amount of mediums. Once illuminated by the Blue Moon, the hallucination’s power would be at its max.

The Distortion level music theory wrapped around Malpas tightly, forcing him to fly around like a headless fly, unable to escape. Because she had all the Deva’s blood she needed, Lola was able to throw away her worries and put her all in! The terrifying illusion ability inherited from ”Moon Chant” was deep in her bones. Lola was able to toy with the big demon after her detailed calculations. It was difficult to maintain for long but she could temporarily trap this godly demon in her illusion.

Between layers of shadows, Lola sneered. She guided the deathly rays of the Blue Moon, blurred the difference between hallucination and reality, and used all her power!

”Are big demons scary?” She chuckled. ”I was like that before…”

-

In the Elizabeth Tower, Naberius was at the brink of defeat. His right hand was completely hacked off by the bone saw. He was failing.

Six new wounds opened on his body instantly. He was practically cut apart. Roaring, he tore off the face on the back of his head and hurled it at the Butcher. It flew through the air and stuck onto the Butcher’s damaged armor.

Whistling, it exploded. A giant bloody vortex appeared in thin air. Like the mouth of the abyss, it closed abruptly and chewed.

Crack! Steel cracked apart and the armor shattered. A giant gaping hole opened in the Butcher’s abdomen. Hot blood poured out. This was a fatal hit but the Butcher did not care. He forced his bone saw out—boom! He pierced through Naberius’ chest. The flesh exploded and Naberius could not mend the hole.

The youth passed the Butcher. Moonlight covered his cane and he pierced into the chest. Naberius’ body shook with the explosion that followed. He fell out of his demonic state and returned to his original appearance. He fell to the ground pathetically, four limbs up.

Ye Qingxuan stepped onto his shattered chest, prodding his face with the cane. He said coldly, ”Naberius, your side lost.”

In the pool of blood, Naberius was a mess of flesh. He forced his remaining eye open and squinted at the youth, trying to see clearly. When he heard the youth’s words, he could not help but laugh.

His shattered lungs writhed and he spat out fresh blood. In comparison, his laugh was pathetic and mournful, but also mocking. ”You still…don’t understand…”

His throat was sliced. One could see his vocal chords shaking as strands of blood flew out. ”I’m just a clown to Hyakume, Mr. Holmes. Who would gamble everything on a clown? Did you forget something?”

Bone stuck out of his face but he still managed a smile, mocking both himself and Ye Qingxuan. ”The true winner has already reached the top. The Royal Musician Division that you put all your hope on…they’ve probably been massacred.”

Ye Qingxuan blanched but quickly grew furious.

Seeing his anger, Naberius laughed loudly, bloody spittle flying out. ”We already have the power in our hands… Ha! Ha! Ha!” Amidst the maniacal laughter, his heart shattered. Blood poured out, melting his body and taking his laughter into the cracks of the tiles.