747 First Blood (2/2)
Pa!
A thin, miniature wooden puppet embedded with withered grass and dried flowers fell from Windsor's body as the flames in the apartment gradually died out.
Emlyn yanked Windsor's mutated head, turned around, and faced the heaving Rus Báthory. He then pressed his free right hand to his chest, and he bowed with a smile.
”Thank you for your help.”
Seeing Rus Báthory instantly turn furious and helpless, Emlyn added in great delight, ”Remember to hand over the puppet and the Beyonder characteristic to Lord Nibbs. They might be problematic.”
After saying that, black gases coagulated behind him, turning into two illusory bat wings.
With a whoosh, Emlyn flapped these wings as he turned to fly out the window and land in the dark, nearby alley.
When he landed, he quickly converged the black gases and turned to look around.
Seeing that Rus Báthory hadn't followed him, Emlyn heaved a sigh of relief as he pressed his fist to his mouth. As he coughed, he mumbled, ”I hate fire. I hate smoke!”
He was just about to leave East Borough when he felt a chill run down his back.
Emlyn's mind instantly tensed up as he held onto Windsor's mutated head, slowly turned around, and looked at the shadows in the corner.
He first saw a very tiny figure before identifying it.
The body was thin and long, akin to a wooden pole. Its eyes and mouth were curved like a crescent, and its surface was embedded with plenty of withered grass and dried flowers. It was none other than the Moon Puppet from before!
It's targeting me… What the hell is this… I'm still very far from where Lord Nibbs stays… It's really dangerous outside… Thoughts surfaced in Emlyn's mind as he felt his spine turn cold and his muscles turn tense.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he suddenly had an idea. He stared at the Moon Puppet, and he murmured in ancient Hermes, ”The Fool that doesn't belong to this era.
”The mysterious ruler above the gray fog.
”The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck…”
…
”Can't a man have some sleep in the middle of the night!?” Klein sat up as he rubbed his temples in fury.
He quickly left his bed, took four steps counterclockwise, and he entered the space above the gray fog. He then took his seat that belonged to The Fool.
It's that fellow, Emlyn White? Klein gave a glance as he curiously emanated his spirituality, touching the crimson star that represented The Moon.
He then saw a stiffened Emlyn, and he saw the thin, strange puppet looking straight at him.
The puppet was cloaked in a rich but illusory crimson moonlight. They were undulating like a tidal wave, making a connection with something high in the sky.
At this moment, the crimson moonlight was spreading silently, enveloping Emlyn White within.
There's a problem… There's something wrong with this puppet… Klein, who could see more with the gray fog's aid, didn't hesitate to summon the Sea God Scepter from the junk pile into his hand.
The blue gems on the end of the bone scepter lit up one after another, emitting a blinding luster.
…
After chanting Mr. Fool's honorific name and seeking ”His” assistance, Emlyn felt his already cold blood turn colder. It felt like it would slowly freeze into ice.
This made his body rapidly turn stiff as he watched the Moon Puppet stumble and swagger towards him.
At this moment, a silver bolt streaked down into the alley, causing all the gloom and darkness to scatter.
Pa!
The lightning bolts sizzled into a ball of lightning and landed on the Moon Puppet, drowning it in a swath of silver.
The burst of light dissipated immediately as the strange puppet was left charred black. It lost its decorations as it collapsed. As for Emlyn, his blood no longer froze as it resumed its flow.
With him quickly recovering from the stiffness, he knew that Mr. Fool was watching. He hurriedly asked softly, ”Do you need, no—what can I sacrifice to you?”
He always believed that Mr. Fool adhered to the principle of equivalent exchange. Therefore, he believed that he needed to pay a corresponding price for requesting 'His' assistance.
After a brief silence, he saw the boundless gray fog and the faint figure behind it. He then heard a lofty and magnificent voice:
”That puppet.”
”Alright.” Emlyn took two steps forward, bent down to pick up the puppet and cleared up the scene before quickly leaving East Borough.
As for Klein, he cautiously used a Paper Angel to disrupt any divination before returning to the real world.
Just as he was planning to head back to bed, he suddenly discovered the moonlight brighten outside as it seemed stained with blood.
Eh… Klein walked to the window in puzzlement. When he looked out, he saw that the crescent had turned full at some point in time; it was scarlet red like blood.
Another Blood Moon.
…
Blood Moon? Alger Wilson looked up at the sky as he steadily walked into the Lightning Cathedral ahead of him. This was the place he would be giving his report tomorrow.
And in the middle of the island, at the peak of the towering mountain, there was another cathedral named the Chasm of Storm. It was the headquarters of the Church of Storms's headquarters, the holiest of holy temples.