As the sun sets over the plains, Kazdel is once again enveloped in its night.
As the Catastrophe drew closer, the dark clouds and storms grew increasingly rampant, shrouding the entire sky.
In the inky darkness of the night, the silent steel Behemoth lay prostrate on the wasteland.
"That's Kazdel?"
"Yes, this is Sarkaz's only Mobile City at present."
A golden storm swept along the horizon, and Vera and her group successfully arrived on time.
The main color is rust, with bizarre and rugged buildings paired with towering black crystal spikes as city walls.
Looking at the colossal city before her, which was nothing short of grotesque, Vera felt a sense of unease amidst her shock.
"What's wrong, boss?"
"It's alright, let's get ready to go into town."
How could she think the city was alive?
The Behemoth's mouth was already open, welcoming everyone to enter, as they circled the designated entrance.
"Damn it! Why can't I still connect to the communication?" Closure fiddled with the drone.
"What exactly are the liaison personnel doing? And where are the backup personnel?"
"Don't panic, it might just be an unusual Catastrophe cloud affecting the communication signal."
Logos, while soothing others, wielded his Bone Pen, causing a faint ripple to spread through the air.
"... I've used magic to investigate, and there's nothing unusual in the surrounding area. What should we do?"
"The situation is urgent, let's go straight into the city."
The group moved forward in turn, and Vera was wary of those around her exchanging messages in the group.
[Vera: What do you mean there's no signal?]
[Vane: I was wondering the same thing... could Catastrophe really block biosignals?]
In Iberia, Vane, who received a plea for help, tried to log into his second account but Lucky contact with Kazdel.
The unusual Catastrophe, the disconnected internet, and other anomalies alerted Vane.
[Vera:... Never mind then, I shouldn't have brought Lucky along.]
Vera glanced to the side, Closure kept swallowing as she swung the drone. From her drifting gaze toward Lucky's location, she could probably spot the culprit.
[Vane: It's alright, it's alright, I'll set up a fiber optic cable specifically for this.]
On the eastern coast of Kazdel, ripples spread across the calm sea as Bloodline Heir Cluster, like veils, rose and connected the sky and the sea, heading towards Kazdel.
[Vane: Arriving within 3 hours as scheduled. Be careful where you are. If the Catastrophe occurs earlier, just return directly to the House of Vitality.]
[Vera: I know.]
After traversing the long passage, the darkness did not dissipate.
The city was devoid of lights and noise, prompting a sense of melancholy.
"It's too quiet."
Hedley's hand unconsciously reached for the Butcher.
"There are no patrolling agents on the city walls either." Ines's gaze swept quickly between the buildings.
"The guards aren't here either."
Vera reined in her horse and stopped it in the middle of the street.
The noise in her head grew louder and louder, giving her a feeling of being drunk.
The sound of hurried footsteps came from afar, and agents dressed in Babel Tower uniforms rushed towards them.
"It's the symbol of the Babel Tower! Reinforcements have arrived!"
Noticing the commotion Closure leaned out from the back seat.
"The communications department? We've been trying to contact you for a long time—what's going on? Why is communication completely down?"
"Minister Closure? Ah... I'm sorry!"
Upon Closure, the operators lowered their guard.
"There have indeed been some signal anomalies over the past two days, and we've already tried to repair them."
"Never mind, let's not talk about this now," Closure interrupted him.
"Catastrophe is coming. We're here to deliver energy. Is Kazdel still mobile?"
"Catastrophe!?" The operators looked horrified.
"Not yet. His Highness is currently calming the Dead Souls at the furnace. The furnace and its power system are still disconnected!"
Still in the furnace?
Closure was surprised. Her Highness had entered the furnace three days ago; was the problem still unresolved?
Observing the team members, Logos asked:
Where have the residents and patrol personnel gone? Where are the Elite Operators now?
"All the combat personnel were taken away by the Military Commission, and the remaining residents have all moved into the inner city."
"As for Captain ACE, he is maintaining order in the central area after His Highness entered the furnace."
Logos wanted to ask for more details, Closure quickly interrupted:
"Alright, alright, can't you ask later? Re-engineering the energy lines is a huge hassle, let's hurry!"
Logos hesitated, Vera turned her head away.
Is there some concern?
"There are unusual magical fluctuations within the city. This natural Catastrophe is far too abnormal. I want to investigate whether there is a connection between the two."
"Then let's divert the traffic," Vera ordered, turning around.
"Logos, go check for anomalies. You take the energy and Closure with you, and I'll go with..."
Looking at Wis'adel, who was trying hard to straighten his chest, Vera said helplessly:
"Wis'adel and I are heading to the Dead Soul Furnace to meet Theresa. Is there a problem?"
Without objection, everyone set off towards their respective goals.
"By the way, Logos, take this guy with you."
Vera handed Lucky and explained:
"In an emergency, throwing it out might have a surprising effect."
"... Then thank you for your kindness."
At the top of the furnace, two figures looked down at the slowly moving procession below.
"A boring play." Ducare's undisguised sarcasm.
"You could have crushed them at the city gate, but instead you let them walk into the trap. Is this some kind of twisted sense of humor?"
Qaisatusta did not answer, his gaze following the woman in the center of the group who was also dressed Confessarius.
"Didn't you not refuse either?"
Ducare snorted and looked at the other person.
A male Banshee, the youngest ruler of the Royal Court, and the only Royal Court to stand on the side of the Babel Tower.
Interesting.
"Go ahead and play your drama, but don't let them bother me."
"It seems you've become interested."
"It might end soon."
Ducare down and silently disappeared into the night.
He was going to meet the new Queen of the Banshee.
"Wow, it's huge!"
The closer you get to the Dead Soul Furnace, the more you can appreciate the grandeur of this structure.
"The Dead Soul Furnace... those Dead Souls are dancing with the flames inside? What's burning? Originium?"
"Perhaps you could ask them directly, although I wouldn't recommend it..."
Walking through the inner city with Wis'adel, the familiar buildings reminded Vera of Scar Market.
Perhaps because the Military Commission had taken away all the manpower, the whole city was lifeless, and even the residents' spirits were somewhat low.
Even though it was already night, the Sarkaz were not asleep; they stood silently by the window, gazing at the two intruders.
"What's wrong with these guys? They look like they're about to die."
"Perhaps he's feeling uneasy."
If Kazdel is considered as a large family, then the Twin Kings are equivalent to the Sarkaz parents.
The father and mother had a fight, and the child who had been with the father was abandoned once again. The mother, who arrived at the scene, was busy with work and ignored the child.
It's understandable to feel uneasy...
After walking through the quiet streets, the two finally saw a familiar figure at the end of the street.
"Are there some problems with your Elite Operators? Why do they have to wear sunglasses so late at night?"
Scout, dressed entirely in black, blended into the night. Wis'adel rubbed his eyes.
"Tactical goggles with night vision capabilities; ordinary operators don't have this privilege."
Scout waved and said hello.
"I understand the situation. His Highness is still trying to appease the Dead Souls, but you probably won't be able to see him."
Is it really that difficult to appease the Dead Souls?
Vera's headache worsened, and she had intended to seek help from Theresa for treatment.
"They're all ancient beings who have lived for thousands of years, who knows what they're thinking?"
"Don't worry, I'm here. Are you planning to rest, or would you like to go up for a visit?"
"Let's go take a look; after all, it's a rare opportunity."
"Of course! It's a rare opportunity to visit the Kazdel power level."
On the power level, the narrow passage was no longer sufficient for the large group to pass through, so Hedley and his party had to abandon their mounts and switch to human transport.
Most of the mercenaries seemed uninterested in Closure's boasting.
"I don't see anything special about it; it looks no different from the junk piled up at a street stall."
"How rude of you! Can't you see the beauty in the mechanical patterns?"
"I'm more concerned about how much these parts are worth."
Faced with the gazes cast upon him by Hedley and the others, the mercenary raised his hands in surrender.
Just kidding.
"This is no joke."
Closure's tone became unusually serious.
"This city is the culmination of the entire Kazdel civilization, proof that the history of Sarkaz still exists."
"The Children of Earth and Stone inscribed the blueprint on the ground, Goliath reconstructed the ruins of the old city, and the Vampire and the Banshee stole the engine parts from the other side of the wilderness."
"The Wendigos and the Carrion Eaters have sealed off the plains, and even the Fowlbeast cannot reveal the secret of a Sarkaz Mobile City rising up."
"This is a record circulating in the Royal Court; even the Vampire Demons will remember it."
The group's expressions turned to amazement, Closure put her hands on her hips with satisfaction.
"Heh heh, the engine is just ahead. I was quite shocked when I first saw it... Don't blink!"
Pull the lever on the side of the passage, and the heavy door slowly opens upwards.
The first thing you see is that huge blood-red crystal, which is more than ten meters in diameter.
Downward, neat array patterns are engraved on the ground, and beside them is not a steel engine, but the skeleton of an unknown Behemoth.
The mercenaries fell silent, Rice scratched his head.
"It certainly looks stunning, but... doesn't this engine look a bit like an altar?"
"This is the altar!" Closure exclaimed.
"Why? Why! Where did that huge engine go? And where did this altar come from?!"
"Abnormal situation?"
Hedley gave a signal, and the mercenaries immediately went on alert.
Closure observed the scale of the altar, she grew increasingly alarmed.
"Isn't it obvious? An altar of this size, with these patterns... could it be that one of our kind Sacrifice here?"
Altars, frequently used in the Sarkaz wars, are believed to have the power to unleash life force and enhance combat effectiveness.
The larger the altar, the stronger the enhancement, but the more life force it consumes.
The thought that Closure could use an altar of this scale sent chills down her spine.
"Ha, ha... Could it be that some Royal Court ruler has come to visit?"
"You have good taste, Miss Vampire Demon."
Everyone's gazes and weapons followed the sound upwards, and Hedley's pupils suddenly contracted.
Confessarius.
A large number of Confessarius surrounded the platform above the altar. A rough calculation showed that their side was already at a significant disadvantage in terms of numbers.
In the center, surrounded by the Confessarius, the blue-haired Sarkaz removed his mask, revealing a handsome face.
"My dearest Quisaxinna, it's been so long since we last met, but you don't seem happy?"
"... Salus"
Shining's expression was extremely unpleasant when faced with someone he seemed to be quite close to.
"You're here, which means that guy..."
"[That guy?] Ah~ what a rift." Salus looked sorrowful.
"That's our family, your dear brother, and your closest companion in the future."
The sound of synchronized gasps of breath, even though the mercenaries knew about Shining's family beforehand, still shocked them with these distorted words.
Snap--
Hedley patted Shining on the shoulder, stepped forward, and raised the Butcher.
"This young lady has mistaken you for someone else. There is no Quisaxinna here, only our companion... Shining."
"You have no right to speak here, you lowly ant."
Salus's face immediately darkened, then softened again.
"Ah~ Shining... If this is the new name you chose for yourself, we as your family will gladly accept it."
"And that test subject, we don't need her anymore. Do with her as you like, we can even make more..."
"Liz."
"... What?"
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Hedley, Shining shouted:
"That child's name is Liz, not some experimental subject, and you... are definitely not my family!"
"[Sarkaz profanity!] You should have said that a long time ago!"
The mercenaries advanced together, countless dark gun barrels pointed directly upwards.
If Vera gave the mercenaries hope for the future, then Liz provided them with both physical and mental healing.
The girl herself was unaware that her nightingale-like singing voice had healed the hearts of countless companions.
"These are enemies, aren't they? They're definitely enemies!"
"Hey! Hedley, when are we going to attack? My arm's getting sore from holding it up like that!"
"[Sarkaz profanity!]"
Despite the mercenaries' united hatred, Salus's gaze remained fixed on Shining alone.
"You value these outsiders more than your family?"
There was no response; the flash of the sword was the answer.
"Is that so... That's a pity, but I still won't hurt you, darling."
Salus made a gesture, and the Confessarius raised their hands in unison, their dazzling light reflecting off the altar.
At the same time, Hedley also signaled for an attack.
Looking at the numerous gun barrels, Salus remained completely unmoved.
Knowing that the Shining had returned, they were naturally prepared.
To prevent Shining from committing suicide in a desperate situation, they specially set up a unique magical barrier.
The amplification effect of the altar weakens physical mobility and can also interfere with the use of Originium Arts.
Guns, which require Originium Arts to activate, are naturally also within the scope of the impact.
Without needing to dodge or defend themselves, these mercenaries will be rendered helpless and useless under the influence of the barrier in just a dozen seconds.
If this is a normal situation...
Amidst the dazzling crimson light and incessant roar, Salus, his face blasted open and his body riddled with bloody holes, slowly fell backward.
Dozens of Butcher launched an attack simultaneously, and the dense crimson light bullets dyed the ground crimson.
In just one encounter, the number of Confessarius was reduced by half.
Those who reacted quickly enough to set up a defense, like Salus, could only hold out for a few seconds.
Why?
A question arose in the minds of the Confessarius. As sorcerers, they were undoubtedly professionals, and the spell's effect should have indeed occurred!
"As expected of the boss's weapon, it can still fight without using Originium Arts!"
The volley of fire temporarily ceased as the Sarkaz pounded on the Butcher's flesh module, the blood patterns on the gun barrels flashing incessantly.
In the blink of an eye, charging was complete again.
But--
"There's no need to attack anymore," Hedley gestured for everyone to put down their weapons.
The dilapidated walls bore the marks of high-temperature melting, and streaks of crimson blood flowed down them amidst the choking smoke.
Snap--
With each thud, the broken Confessarius fell onto the altar like dumplings in boiling water, and were absorbed by it.
"Huh? Huh!?"
The thuds of falling to the ground Closure, and the girl shook Hedley's shapely buttocks as she cried out in alarm.
"If you kill them all, how am I supposed to find out where the engine is?!"
"... If treatment is sought promptly, it might be too late."
Hedley pointed to Salus, who had fallen first; the tenacious Confessarius still had a breath left.
"Hurry! If we can't repair the engine before the Catastrophe hits, we'll all be..."
Clatter--
Clatter--
Clatter--
The words stuck in his throat, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
Clear footsteps could be heard right behind them.
"... Excuse me, could you please make way?"
Unable to comprehend, the mercenaries were horrified to find their bodies uncontrollably pushed to the sides.
The Confessarius of the White Horn walked calmly through the crowd and slowly knelt down in front of Salus.
"How embarrassing... for my family."
Amidst the spitting out of breath and coughing up blood, a cold light shone from the Confessarius's hand, and Salus's body visibly recovered.
Under that terrifying pressure, Hedley made the gesture and launched the first attack, followed by the mercenaries.
When the volley stopped again, there was no one in front of them.
Salus was nowhere to be found, and the White Horn's Confessarius stood before Shining.
Unbeatable; they're not even in the same league as those guys.
Hedley forced himself to raise his weapon again, but hesitated to pull the trigger.
When was the last time I felt this much pressure?
Hedley couldn't help but think of Vera.
The same elusive nature, the same lack of trace, a gap as hopelessly insurmountable as a chasm.
Through his daily interactions with Vera, Hedley had already begun to speculate about the mysterious Originium Arts.
Playing with time.
The enemy before them was undoubtedly an Originium Arts similar to Vera's.
"To see you again, are you speechless with joy? My blood relative..."
Qaisatusta reached out to touch Shining's face, but Shining bit his tongue to regain consciousness and retreated.
"Qaisatusta!"
The spell of silence was broken, and the mercenaries recovered from their strange state, panting heavily.
"I'm here, dear sister."
"Shut up!"
Shining attempted to draw his sword, while Qaisatusta watched with great interest.
"Are you ready to draw your sword against me?"
Shining was speechless; the previous spells had ultimately affected her.
The blood within her body constantly called for her to submit, and gradually, Shining's hand lowered.
With a smile, Qaisatusta led Shining.
"Etc!"
Kroos instinctively called out to the other person, and only when the other person looked over Closure begin to regret it.
But...
"You... you can't take her away!"
The girl mustered her courage, while Qaisatusta seemed lost in thought.
"I remember you, Lord Ducare mentioned you, the Blood Vampire who dislikes blood... Would you be interested in participating in an experiment?"
"No, thank you..."
Even though her legs were trembling, Closure still forced a smile.
"Now there's something more important—I'm here to save you!"
"Catastrophe is coming! Shining is my assistant. If we don't fix the engine, we'll all die here!"
"I know."
"Ah?"
Closure was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.
Behind him were the countless figures of his compatriots being absorbed into the altar, yet Qaisatusta's smile remained radiant.
"Catastrophe... you brought them upon yourselves!"
"In a sense, yes."
Qaisatusta readily admitted it.
"I had intended to use your blood as the first sacrifice, but since you have won, as a reward for the victors... you have the right to witness the end of this grand event."
"A grand... event?"
Closure couldn't understand how a cataclysmic Catastrophe could be considered a grand event.
"Is it that hard to understand? As Vampire, you should understand."
Qaisatusta displays the altar behind him like an artist showcasing his masterpiece.
"As long as enough souls and blood Sacrifice to open a bridge to communicate with the All Souls, and some minor modifications are made within this passage..."
"The wrath of the All Souls will incite the Sarkaz, and through the influence of the Dead Souls, the connection between the Demon Lord and the Crown will be weakened to the greatest extent."
"Sarkaz will know that the Demon King died from Catastrophe."
"And I will be crowned king, Sarkaz will have their true savior!!"
The sound was so powerful that, under the influence of Originium Arts, everyone's vision blurred.
Before a new batch of Confessarius were born, Shining's sarcasm jolted everyone awake.
"Ridiculous..."
"That legendary White-Horned Demon King, who defeated countless powerful enemies and built the immortal Kazdel under the reflections of dawn and dusk—is long dead."
"The one spouting such nonsense now is nothing but a despicable coward who lives in the shadows, a coward who is afraid of death and sacrifices countless innocent lives for his own survival!"
"Yes... yes!"
Closure an awkward smile.
"His Highness is right here. If you're afraid of dying, it's not too late to surrender now!"
Qaisatusta did not become enraged by the condemnation; instead, he maintained a confident smile.
No, no way...
Considering the length of time Theresa had been out of contact, Closure's smile became even more strained.
"Ahem! This time we have the Banshee Queen accompanying us... surely that should scare you!"
"The Banshee Queen... she is indeed a bit troublesome."
Qaisatusta nodded, and then, to Closure's delighted surprise, suddenly said:
"However, someone has already gone to entertain him."
In the dark alley, Logos picked up the blood-stained emblem from the ground.
That's the emblem of the Babel Tower, belonging to the Elite Operator's uniform.
"Want to know where he went Aifanel?"
A white figure descended from the sky, obscuring the moonlight; its pristine whiteness was contrasted by the thick stench of blood.
The ruler of the Court of Blood, the monarch of all bloodlines.
Vampire Lord Ducare.
"The Banshees... they mourn the lost travelers in the wilderness with their mournful cries, yet mercilessly plunge their bone claws into the back of these poor souls' heads."
"Banshees... they have always been the Vampire's most admired hunters. We fought side by side on the battlefield, using fear as our weapon to reap the lives of our enemies."
Ducare smiled as he watched the dangerous spells constantly gathering around the Banshee Queen.
"Excellent magic; I commend your diligence."
Where is he!?
The usually polite banshee Banshee could no longer suppress her rage, and the spell she created shattered bricks simply by its existence.
"He is an excellent warrior, and I hereby grant him the honor of becoming a bloodline."
Ducare spread his arms wide, and blood-red raindrops began to fall from the sky.
"Defeat me, and I will reward you with the prize of a victor."
[A sharp, bone-chilling whistle!]
Having roughly guessed who was facing off against the Banshee, Closure's smile had vanished.
"We... we still have reinforcements..."
Knowing that Vera and the other person were not there, Closure made a final attempt to change her mind.
"Reinforcements... ah, you mean those two lucky ones?"
Qaisatusta's tone was casual, but it enraged many mercenaries, who raised their guns in fury.
"I gave them the best viewpoints, but in return... they will all become the Demon King's sacrifices."
At the very top of the furnace, Vera stood on a platform looking down.
The Dead Souls frantically rammed against the transparent barrier, while Vera's delirium grew increasingly chaotic.
"Theresa is in here? How am I supposed to see her?"
"It's simple, just go down."
"How do I download it...?"
The Dead Souls issued a sharp warning, Vera's mind went blank for a moment before she felt a push from behind.
"You bastard!!"
Wis'adel... what is she saying?
The scene before her eyes gradually reversed, and Vera, falling into the furnace, looked at the culprit who had pushed her into it.
"Scout!!!"
With a shriek, Wis'adel raised the Butcher and fired a few shots at the unresponsive Scout before Vera leaped into the furnace.
In an instant, the Dead Souls enveloped the two figures.
Despite the excruciating pain in her head, she activated the Hex Staff. The moment the time-stopping Domain Expansion, countless spots of light rushed towards Vera.
Countless fragments flashed before Vera's eyes, finally settling on a gaunt figure, while the chanting of an unknown language echoed in her ears.
[The one who deserves the death penalty will become king.]
[For his tongue is like a spring of sweet water.]
[Even the howling ones shed their skin.]
[Because the king quenched everyone's thirst]
My wretched and venerable Lord.
[Exiled King]