303 Before the End (1/2)
”Charles…”
Charles seemed to hear a moan from hell. He turned around. Jerome’s withered face was in a puddle of blood with its mouth open. The man had withered and dried out under the erosion of the abyss’s breath. He looked like a weathered skeleton but the glow of his soul still remained in his body.
”Pick up…” He used the last of his strength to grasp Charles’s hand. Ghostly fire burned in his eyes. ”Pick it up, Charles! Pick it up! Only you…”
Only you can stop him!
”Me?” Charles froze. He looked down blankly at the spear in the pool of blood. This was the replica of St. George’s spear, a powerful ancient artifact. ”You w-want me to go?” he muttered.
Looking up at the incoming black shadow, he trembled. He wanted to say, Can you give me an easier job? I’m innocent. I’ve accomplished things for Anglo, I’ve bled for the Research Institute. I want to see Newton! Why should a researcher go onto the battlefield? I’m not even a f*cking musician! If you can do it then you go! I don’t have a girlfriend yet. I have old and young ones and a junior to take care of. I can’t go, no way. I haven’t showed off my good looks and amazing talent yet. I can’t just die here… But I’ll die if I go or don’t go. Can’t I choose a better death? But neither is a better death.
”So…I have to go?” he muttered to himself.
His body followed Jerome’s words. Perhaps it was because it was an order from a dying man, or perhaps his tone was filled with anticipation and power, or…deep down, he was attracted.
Power. Power was under his feet.
In the pool of blood, Jerome’s eyes were hopeful. Charles, do you want to be a failure for life and see people’s disappointed eyes or be a hero? Even if just for a moment…
And so Charles bent down and picked up ‘power.’ It was like holding a piece of burning iron. He yelled in pain and fell to his knees as he convulsed. Fire coursed through his body, trying to burn him to ashes. Immense power surged from the spear and engulfed his mind, shattering it.
Furious fire emerged from his broken mind, causing him to scream. Like a dying dragon, the tangible power of the dragon burst from his body. It lifted and tore apart every living thing. Jerome was swept in as well but he smiled in satisfaction.
Yes! Just like this! Charles, you can do it and you must! Jerome grinned before he disintegrated. His remaining strength converged in his blood and flowed into Charles’s cracked skin. A mortal who dared to enter the realm of a deity would be burned by the radiance. Even though this was a backup product, St. George’s spear still contained a large enough power that could scorch him.
He only needed one moment; one moment would suffice. If Charles could stop the Dark Lord, everything would be worth it, no matter how horrible the sacrifice!
Scalding blood burst from his body. Charles howled in pain. He was ruled by the power and searing light shot out from his eyes. It was as if the sun was blazing in his body. Power and the scepter, pain, and torture came together.
Roaring, Charles grasped the spear. Blurry music notes on the spear lit up with blinding light. The spear seemed to have lost its confusion and become a terrifying existence that had been suppressed forcefully. The dragon spirit sealed within roared wildly. The sky and earth shook.
Charles held the spear tightly amidst the light and pierced forward. All the aether before the spear burned away, creating a vacuum. Everything in this area was destined to die.
”Don’t you dare!” the Dark Lord bellowed from the wave of darkness.
He seemed to drag the entire abyss with him—he was unstoppable!
The power of the abyss and St. George’s spear clashed directly. Even Avalon’s enchantment could not detect the changes of aether. It was just a muddled mess.
In the turmoil, the abyss’s aura seethed, creating wild ripples. Charles stood within the burning light and screamed in pain.
”Charles?” In that moment, Ye Qingxuan was taken aback at the top of the Elizabeth Tower. There was no time to hesitate. Clenching his jaw, he pressed the crack on his chest. It resonated!
The bell rang instantly. With the sub-originator as a fulcrum, he levered Avalon’s enchantment. In the dark cellar, sixteen stone tablets began turning amidst rumbling. They changed their positions and angles, creating a new structure.
Under the great shaking, the moon in the sky turned. As if time had passed in an instant, the full moon waned and fell above Charles. Moonlight crashed down like a waterfall and encased Charles within the turbid mess.