The carriage might already have sunk to some unknown depth at the bottom of the lake, but the Bishop on the shore did not dare enter the water rashly. Something clearly unnatural lurked beneath its surface.
This darkness readily brought a Shadow Demon to mind. But could even a Shadow Demon at full strength exert such oppressive pressure, let alone a weakened one?
It was as though shadows had shrouded the entire sky. The light all around was fading.
Then, as if realizing something, the Bishop abruptly looked up. Shadows obscured the starlight, leaving only the Wyrd Moon, Mosslib, hanging high at the center of the sky like a dark crimson pupil in the night.
Inside the submerged carriage, Gaormos-or rather, Gaormos's "true self"-was stretching his body. Complete control, complete command of the path of shadow, and a full release of magic power as he resonated with the darkness.
At that moment, even the Evil Moon seemed capable of resonating with the darkness.
The Shadow Demon opened his eyes, their irises tinged with pale crimson. He spread his arms, and the shadows in the lake spread to either side.
Under the Evil Moon's influence, this was the time when the Otherworld and the Surface World were closest. The Shadow Demon's resonance blurred that boundary further.
Within the mental world, Mulan and Gaormos seemed to hear a cry at the same time. It came from very far away, lonely yet somewhat clamorous, like the calling of crows.
Some uncanny shadow in the Otherworld was watching them, its gaze seemingly meeting the Shadow Demon's crimson eyes.
Mulan immediately felt a fierce headache. A cacophony rang through both his and Gaormos's minds, countless crows crying out one after another. Their shrill calls seemed about to pierce his eardrums, and even the Shadow Demon's