Chapter 2260: Shard’s "Death

Chapter 2260: Chapter 2260: Shard’s "Death

"Good morning, Mr. Lovgood. By the looks of it, it’s likely an Angel-Level Relic, but we’re not sure. We suspect it’s the Angel-Level Relic [Tower of Desecration]."

Leading the Peace Church’s delegation was a Twelve Rings lady, the rain automatically avoided her head:

"Additionally, we just found the Bell Tower Keeper and the Mechanic on the way here. Don’t look at me like that, we genuinely discovered them in an alley; they were all knocked out and are currently resting in the carriage behind. It seems someone anticipated that something would happen here and moved them out beforehand."

"If that’s the case, they’re probably not cultists. Is it the ’God Summoner’ again? Or perhaps the newly rumored visitor from the New World?"

The Twelve Rings High Priest, dressed in a white priestly robe from the Church of Nature, also led the church’s first unit to the scene. Four churches in total, nearly a hundred Circle Sorcerers, were methodically preparing for an outbreak battle around the Bell Tower.

With the current level of Whisper Elements displayed here, anyone below High Ring has no right to intervene. But this is the city center of Moon Bay City, and the church has to ensure not too many citizens witness the event, as well as how to contain the Power of the Relic from spreading throughout the city in case of failure.

"Good morning, Father Giles."

The three Twelve-Ring Sorcerers from the Peace Church, Church of Creation, and Dawn Church greeted the old priest of the Church of Nature, who looked up at the tower:

"Since I joined the church, besides the incident thirty years ago, I’ve never encountered such a severe problem happening in the urban area."

"Father Giles, has ’Beast Hunter’ Mr. Kamora not arrived yet? We fear we cannot control the situation alone."

The lady from the Peace Church asked, Father Giles glanced toward the road outside the square:

"Mr. Kamora was originally with us, but upon hearing that a big figure from the Sun Church also wanted to come, he went to welcome them."

"Who could possibly be more important than the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers?"

As they spoke, the carriage procession from the Sun Church also entered the square, stopping on the outer edges. The Circle Sorcerers stepped out from the carriages one by one. Leading the procession was the ’Beast Hunter’ from the Church of Nature and two Twelve-Ring Sorcerers from the Sun Church’s local delegation, followed by an unfamiliar white-robed priest who had the appearance of a Northerner.

Lastly, an eighteen-year-old girl with brown long hair, wearing waterproof leather boots, jumped down from the carriage into the rain, her face serious as she looked up at the Bell Tower.

Iluna’s eyes narrowed slightly; she observed the black tentacle-like things entwined on the outer surface of the Bell Tower and the increasingly obvious human-shaped recess. Having dealt with the [Curse of Malice Chain Letter] with Shard back in Tobesk, she instantly guessed what it was:

"It’s the Angel-Level Relic [Body in the Wall]."

"Miss Beath."

"Miss Iluna Beath."

"The Chosen One."

"Greetings, Miss Beath."

The Twelve-Ring Sorcerers from the four churches outside the Sun Church offered their salutations. As the only Chosen One of the True God Church and someone who played a decisive role in major events over the past year, Iluna indeed deserved such courtesy.

But she merely nodded, and golden lightning flickered in her lowered right hand. As another flash of white lightning passed overhead, she raised her right hand amid booming thunder, already condensing into the ’Sunlight Gun’.

The crowd cleared a path, allowing Iluna to probe. Just as she was about to make a throwing motion, she suddenly looked up at the top of the Bell Tower and, in the silver moonlight that spread like ink on a rainy day, canceled her spellcasting and crushed the lightning in her hand:

"That’s... Oh! Quickly close your eyes! Quickly turn around!"

With rich experience, she immediately turned around and closed her eyes, while most of the slower-reacting others continued to gaze up at the sky, witnessing the blinding yet gentle moonlight that seemed to illuminate the entire city in the next instant.

At the top of the Belindel Big Bell, facing the black corpse appearing at the entrance to the viewing platform, Shard raised the sword and staff in his hands, crossing them together.

Behind him, the Ring of Fate spun, and all of his Spirit flowed through his hands into the two Angel-Level Relic weapons. Both [Night Watchman] and [Yggdrasil’s Staff] had spellcasting enhancement effects, and when the sword and staff crossed to form a cross, the dazzling holy silver moonlight erupted at the top of the Bell Tower in its most powerful form, as even Shard had never witnessed:

"Light Spell—Silvermoon!"

"Ang~"

The silver moonlight was so intense that even Emilia behind him, having closed her eyes earlier due to the warning, found it dazzling. Yet, as the moonlight brushed over her skin like a tangible substance, she felt as if she had just been battered in a mud pit and then suddenly soaked in the serene warmth of a hot spring.

She felt her entire perception being replaced by ’vision’, with the gentle moonlight standing in front of her, shielding her from danger. In that moment, Emilia’s heart made a sudden decision, knowing exactly what she wanted.

The entire rain-filled sky was dyed silver for those brief five or six seconds.

By the banks of the Taton River, Mr. Benhart, who was exchanging clues with his local kin, looked in the direction of the bell tower. Upon seeing the moonlight, he sighed; Shard had indeed stirred up trouble again.

At the Senator’s Club under the Belindel Big Bell, the Great Witch of Destiny looked out from the third-floor window, pursing her lips as she worried about the man’s situation.

In the harbor waters, the head of the woman emerging from underwater smiled as she watched the scene unfold, anticipating a more spectacular performance.

At the Moon Bay City Train Station, Tifa, who had just joined the maids sent by Miss Belindel to greet her, suddenly looked towards the city center. Then, turning to the princesses behind her who were curiously watching the city’s rain scenery with umbrellas, she said:

"Miss Luisa, Lady Angelina... look."

Following the black-haired maid’s finger, they also looked at the top of the bell tower, illuminated with a glimmer. Dorothy, left hand on her hip and right hand holding an umbrella, immediately recognized that moonlight:

"I wondered why Shard hadn’t come to meet us; turns out he’s caught up in something else."

"Sister... Dorothy, should we go over there?"

Angelina tugged at Dorothy’s sleeve and asked softly, Tifa looked at her as well. Dorothy, who was really Lecia, shook her head:

"Don’t cause him trouble. We should stick to the plan and head to Belindel Estate first. Tifa, take the two maids of Galina to the city center to check things out, but don’t get too close."

Many citizens within the city observed this bizarre celestial event. But as the rain clouds, briefly turned silver, reverted to their original color, the moonlight gradually faded like a reversal, until the last strand of moonlight at the top of the Belindel Big Bell disappeared.

"Oh!"

On the observation deck, Shard was gasping for breath, kneeling on one knee. The [Night Watchman] had fallen to the waterlogged ground and stopped glowing. Gripping the [Yggdrasil’s Staff] with both hands, he used it to support himself and barely stayed upright.

The black mist and humanoid shapes at the door of the observation deck had vanished, leaving no trace of darkness on the walls. Conversely, all visible surfaces of the observation deck now bore a layer of silver moonlight, not bright but certainly existent.

Shard appeared too exhausted to stand. Beside him, the equally drained Little Unicorn nudged him slightly, then lay feebly by his side, not even minding the sodden ground.

Emilia hurriedly supported Shard, helping him stand with difficulty:

"Did you defeat that thing?"

"Of course not, it’s... Angel-Level. I’ve temporarily repelled it; it’s now pacing around the top of the bell tower and won’t come down again anytime soon."

Shard was panting heavily, and the Ring of Fate on his back had vanished along with the moonlight. As she supported him, Emilia could feel his body trembling, and the heartbroken Elf Girl nodded. She wanted to ask if he had Holy Water or other Magic Potions, but before speaking, she noticed the astonished expression on Shard’s face.

"What..."

She couldn’t speak anymore, following Shard’s downward gaze. She saw a slender Raven Feather pierce through Shard’s heart, nearly grazing her arm.

Blood flowed from the wound, diluted by the rain. Shard opened his mouth:

"Run."

He collapsed onto the ground, splashing rainwater onto Emilia’s already soaked skirt. The Blonde Elf watched in disbelief as Shard’s life force rapidly faded.

Another bolt of lightning illuminated the tower’s summit, and amidst the thunderous roar in the high skies, he transformed into a corpse.

"Ang~"

Tears streamed from the weak little beast’s azure eyes as it struggled to nudge Shard’s fallen corpse. Realizing Shard was utterly motionless, it emitted a sorrowful cry, resting its head on Shard’s back, and closed its eyes, unmoving.

The rain dampened the Little Unicorn’s pure white fur, making it slightly luminescent, swaying gently with the wind. The scene evoked an innate sense of heartbreak and sorrow.

But Emilia couldn’t feel the desolation of this moment. She felt as though her soul had departed her body, watching from outside like a spectator, gazing at herself standing dumbfounded in the rain, witnessing the death of her hero.

At this instant, she felt she had also died.

The sound of wings flapping was exceptionally clear amid the rain.

A Black Crow, which had somehow stood on the observation deck’s round table, took flight, landing on the ground not far from Emilia. It transformed into a man with a Black Crow’s head, dressed in black formal wear and black leather shoes.