Chapter 2378: Bulb Man

Chapter 2378: Chapter 2378: Bulb Man

The figure transformed into a white light figure had just touched the door of the street-facing shop, and the door immediately melted into light as well.

The silver cat heard terrified screams from inside the shop and knew there were other people inside.

The cat leaped gracefully off the rooftop, transforming into a stream of red butterflies in mid-air, and flew through the large hole open in the doorway of the tea shop.

The light blade formed from the yellow moonlight flew directly from the butterfly, but passed through the white light figure and left a massive slash mark on the shop wall... If it weren’t for Shard’s strong control over the "Moonlight Slash," this wall might have been obliterated.

The shop’s fat owner had already fled upstairs, and as Shard returned to human form, he could see clearly what this thing was.

It was glowing all over, making it impossible to see what it looked like when it was still human. Nothing could be seen beneath the glow, and the only difference between it and a normal human was that its neck was extraordinarily long, and its slightly drooping head was extraordinarily large. The glowing head hung slightly, shining brighter than the rest of its body, almost like a gas lamp bulb hanging at the end of its neck.

Although Shard’s previous strike was entirely ineffective, it still gave up chasing the fat owner and turned to charge at Shard with open arms.

Shard stood still, and as the white light figure approached him, the "Dark Magic" activated by the "Calamity Card: Shadow of the Deep" enveloped both "people." The bizarre glowing figure was immediately swallowed by darkness and then completely vanished.

"A new monster?"

After the figure disappeared, only some small, diamond-shaped, semi-transparent crystals with a faint glimmer were left on the floor, in all sorts of colors. If they weren’t glowing, Shard might have thought they resembled a handful of colorful candies.

The glowing diamond crystals bore elemental traces and were clearly precious materials that invariably appeared whenever major events occurred.

The witches on the ship had already taken action, and when Shard stepped onto the "Radiant Messenger" with a heavy heart and entered the ship’s interior, Luviya briefly explained the situation to him:

"I used divination to briefly locate, and it can basically be confirmed that the ’Edge of Life and Death’ opened at a location northward from the city core district. Once we return to the estate, we’ll pinpoint it more accurately with Bella. We are certain to get a precise result.

Based on the information and experience accumulated during the Milestone period, we need to delve deep inside the Edge of Life and Death to first clear out the accumulated undead, before we can seal it again using rituals and other methods."

"This sealing method is also known to the church, so it shouldn’t be as chaotic as it was during the Midshire Fort period. However, the hardest part of closing the Edge of Life and Death again is needing time to prepare the ritual. What concerns me is that this time, the opening of the Edge of Life and Death wasn’t normal, and when mixed with unusual sunlight, who knows what might happen?"

Shard said worriedly, taking out the glowing colorful diamond crystals, and explained what had happened on his way there.

Luviya didn’t know what those monsters were either; she just nodded and looked at the glaring yellow sunlight outside the porthole:

"It’s still an hour and a half until darkness; let’s wait and see. Who knows what changes moonlight will bring after sunset."

At six thirty in the evening, a faint explosion sound came from the largest banquet hall inside the "Radiant Messenger," causing the whole ship to rock slightly on the calm sea surface.

But this was not an attack; with another clear, glass-breaking sound, a swirling gold and black dual-colored vortex appeared on the east side of the banquet hall.

With a sizzling sound appearing together with the vortex, Emma Sylvia, the black-haired Space Witch, emerged with a smile:

"Success! A semi-solidified portal is now open. For the next month, Bella’s estate’s basement and here will remain interconnected! Thanks to Bella’s estate having all defense and counterattack rituals disabled today, and Miss Eles and Vanessa also helped a lot! Let’s hurry up, the estate’s dinner is ready, and we can head there to eat."

The mutual connection between the estate in the city and the ship at the dock not only meant Shard could save a few steps when going out but also meant the base of the Witch Council could move at any time.

This time, the two-way half-solidified portal was successfully opened by Miss Sylvia, thanks partly to her hard work over the week and her recent advancement to the eleventh rank, and partly to the two diviners picking the most suitable time and location.

After all, luck played a big part in safely opening a portal.

The group aboard returned to Belindel Estate before dinner that day, and as for the church’s inspection results of Belindel Estate, naturally, there was no result since the Countess was no stranger to inspections being conducted here.

When the sun set and the unusual sunlight completely disappeared, the slightly glowing mist was almost instantly tinted with a layer of silver by the moonlight. The mist spread over the entire city, making this night’s Moon Bay more silent than any night in a hundred years.

After dinner, Luviya and Miss Eles stood on the second-floor terrace, watching Shard take deep breaths of the white mist in the estate’s foggy courtyard. Mia was in Tifa’s arms, the black-haired Head Maid standing behind Luviya, and the cat’s amber eyes were also watching Shard below.

Purple eyes and sea blue eyes both clearly observed the flickering glow appearing on Shard’s body as he breathed.

"Is he... absorbing the moonlight?"

The Blue Dragon Girl asked somewhat surprised, and Megan, who just approached, glanced down as well:

"It really seems so. I know Shard’s affinity with moonlight is comparable to the Saint Heir of the legendary Ancient God, but can he even absorb such an unusual glow?"

Speaking worriedly, Luviya comforted:

"When Shard was adventuring in Randall Valley, he hadn’t met you all yet. Did you forget how the earth mutation was resolved? He completely swallowed the twisted power of the earth and had a fever for half a month. Compared to that, what effect can this moonlight that easily drives ordinary people mad have on him? At most, it would make it easier for him to perceive the moon."

During the conversation, Shard stopped his "breathing" motion and transformed into a swarm of red butterflies, flying up to the terrace and reverting to human form in front of the girls. All four girls noticed that this time, the butterfly wings had an obvious bright silver streak.

"If I hadn’t been to the Gravel Golden Sea, I might not feel it as strongly. But after being forced to absorb the aggressive sunlight there, I’m quite adapted to this unusual glow."

He said while raising his right hand, a silver moonlight, entirely different from the usual sanctity and tranquility, appeared in his hand.

Megan slightly frowned:

"Taste of death."

"Nether Moon."

Shard explained simply:

"After the fusion of moonlight and death power, the glow itself carries twisted power. This feeling is very much like Nether Moon but not completely the same. This glow can be entirely utilized by me. Remember the ’Moonlight Wheel: Third Form’ I developed? It’s the trick that requires unfolding a light screen to absorb moonlight for charging, and the current environment is very suitable for me to use this Arcane Technique. Moreover, under the unusual moonlight at night, as long as I absorb the Unusual Glow, the recovery speed of my Spirit doubles at the very least."

"Even if you can absorb it, this is something dirty, and it’s best not to absorb it."

Luviya said softly but only mentioned:

"There’s been no other commotion in the city, no sign of fighting. What’s really going on... could it be that the church team has already ventured onto the Edge of Life and Death?"

"Bella hasn’t reported anything yet, but the type of monster Shard encountered has begun appearing frequently in the city."

Megan said:

"The Church of the Five Gods named them ’Bulb Man,’ a monster never seen before. Its body formed from twisted forces of fog, death, and light infecting human bodies. Not only can it dissolve contacted entities into light, but when facing deadly danger, it can escape by blowing up its glowing big head.

This creature’s head explosion power nearly matches a full strike from a Nine Rings Sorcerer without Sublimation Incantation state, and the exploding glow is the purest ’Unusual Glow.’ The good news is, while direct human contact with this glow in the past resulted in severe light pollution residue, this creature’s leftover glow isn’t strong, and the darkness produced by Relics and High Ring Sorcery can cleanse it... By the way, its nemesis is Arcane Technique like the ’Shadow Orb.’"

"What about the materials I brought back? Miss Aphrola researched them and said they are excellent substitutes for light-based rituals."

Shard asked again, but Megan slightly shook her head:

"This monster has just appeared, the church doesn’t know either."

Tonight the entire city is under curfew, but Miss Belindel still ventured out with Miss Matilda to gather information. Originally, Tifa was supposed to go too, but due to her Northern appearance, Miss Haley Aflora ended up accompanying them instead.

Aside from them, all the Grand Witches and Witch Apprentices have already gathered at the estate, including Margaret. After all, the local Peace Church Bishop personally warned Margaret not to step out tonight.

Therefore Margaret retired early, then came directly via portal opened by Miss Sylvia alongside Emilia, Angelina, and the Little Unicorn.

The evening newspaper failed to report the important city news of "glowing fog" in time, but after nightfall, police uniformed individuals running through the streets loudly announced: "An optical fog leak event is happening inside the city, all households must shut their doors and windows, do not turn on lights, absolutely do not go outside, and do not open your doors to any strangers. Mentally ill individuals affected by the optical fog are now fleeing in the city."