371 Whale Fall (1/2)

Half an hour ago, the clattering of hooves sounded in the barren fields outside Auschwitz. A dark stallion walked through the field. The knight was covered in armor without an inch of skin showing. The heavy armor was created from hundreds of detailed yet hefty pieces. Rather than seeming fat and cumbersome on him, it looked like another layer of skin or a sharp skeleton outside the body. He carried a black kite shield covered in gashes and scratches. One could vaguely see the design of two keys.

This was the representative of the Sacred City.

The two overlapping keys represented the joining of heavenly and human power, expressing that the pope had indisputably high status.

A bladeless sword hung at the knight's waist. The hilt was narrow and all forty centimeters was pure black. It clanged against the leg armor as the stallion moved. The crisp sound seemed neither powerful nor fierce.

”Sir, this way,” a fawning voice said. A ragged old man carried a lantern and walked quickly beside the horse, guiding it. ”Sir, let me guide you.”

The entire way, this old guy kept talking nonsense while the knight kept silent. The old man's words were extremely dramatic. Even if he saw a crack, he would exclaim, ”Ah, watch out, sir!” When the stallion crossed the crack, he would praise, ”Sir, you are so impressive. You've worked hard!”

The knight remained silent.

In the still wilderness, the man and horse walked forward in solitude. After a long while, the knight suddenly stopped his steed. He looked down at the old man beside him. ”Mr. Caligula.”

The man halted and looked up. ”Sir, how can I help you?”

”Here will be enough.” The knight looked down at his small meter for a while before putting it away.

Knowing his place, Caligula took a few steps back. The knight grasped his sword with both hands and raised it to his eyes. With a spin, a holy chime seemed to sound in the distance. Blazing flames rushed from the sword! The dark night was suddenly illuminated by the blinding light. The blade of flame that spanned countless meters rotated slowly. When it shot up to the sky, the blazing light swallowed the knight.

Grasping the sword of light, he raised it to the sky. The blade flickered and changed its length to an unknown rhythm as if calling out to the distance. Then hundreds of thousands of whales started singing above the black clouds. It was a thunderous rumble from thousands of meters above the sky.

The dust on the earth shook and hundreds of waves rippled through the sea-like clouds. Under this majestic thunder, fire was ignited above the blackness. It was as if hundreds of meteorites were burning and about to fall.

The steel curtain of clouds was torn apart. A black shadow rode the flames and broke through the long night. It pressed down slowly and hung in the air.

There were suddenly dozens of suns. Under the blazing light, the entire world was covered in a layer of silver white iron. Above the flames, a giant object covered the entire sky. The iron dazzled, turning the entire sky metallic.

Like a group of whales, countless flying ships migrated from the endless sea and rode the wild wind into this wilderness. Using invisible technology and secret collaborations between alchemists from various countries, the Sacred City created this terrifying fleet that could soar through the skies. It was Knights Templar!

Explosive thunder rumbled in the air. Among them, countless black dots fell from the largest Holy ship like rain. These were landing capsules that did not contain any deceleration measures. They crashed toward the earth, tearing the air apart. They burned red from the friction with whistles that sounded like roars. The earth shook. Rumbles sounded continuously like the wail from dying whales.

It was the whale fall!

As the world shook, a landing capsule landed before the knight. The cabin door opened, releasing scalding steam. A burly figure walked out of the white steam. He was covered entirely in solemn armor. The bronze and dark gold on him wove into a holy emblem. He looked like the iron men who guarded the throne in the Holy Temple. His servants walked out of the cabin and helped him put on the heavy chainsaw sword and large shield.

The iron knight stood on the wilderness under the blazing light, casting a vast shadow on the earth. Before him, the guidance knight lowered onto one knee. He lowered his head with the respect of a follower to a god.

”His Excellency Bann,” he reported solemnly. ”I await your orders.”

The iron giant slowly opened his mask, revealing a coldly handsome face. He nodded slowly and looked over. ”Elder Caligula.”

”I'm here, here!” The old man came over and put on a smile. ”My lord, how can I help you?”