"Lucifer."
The voice that suddenly echoed in the empty temple sounded far too clear.
The torches lining both sides of the walls flared to life instantly, casting a warm glow across Silvanus’s calm face.
"Could you not use that tone with ? Seriously now—last ti, you suddenly ripped my heart out, and this is how you choose to speak to the next ti we et? Kid, you’re getting more and more disrespectful!"
From above, light swiftly gathered and condensed into the form of Lucifer. He didn’t possess a real body, rely a shimring red projection.
"I’m not a kid anymore," Silvanus said slowly.
"Compared to my age, you’re basically a newborn," Lucifer chuckled, then added, "So, you showing up here so suddenly—does that an you’ve found sothing out? Raphael always did have a big mouth."
Silvanus asked, "Why did you lie to last ti?"
Lucifer waved his hand carelessly. "Lie? That’s such a harsh word. I didn’t tell you everything, that’s all. Besides, how was my performance as Gabriel? Not bad, right? I’d say your talent clearly ca from !"
Silvanus frowned, openly disgusted. "Don’t talk like you’re my father."
Lucifer widened his eyes dramatically. "What, am I not? I practically raised you!"
Silvanus: "...Shaless. And if I had to call soone ’father,’ I’d rather it be Michael, not you."
Lucifer imdiately sneered. "That stiff block of wood? Really?"
Silvanus didn’t bother wasting ti on such nonsense. "Where are Michael and Gabriel?" he asked directly.
Lucifer shrugged. "When the Cosmic Tree was freed, their energies returned to the God Nation. They can’t die. Of course, everyone could die—if you lose this war."
So the key was still the sa: defeating the Outer God.
"I don’t think the Outer God will act that quickly..." Silvanus said softly.
Lucifer chuckled. "That’s right. But the invasion will still happen. This isn’t just a simple PK battle—it’s a war of endurance. I do hope that you don’t destroy yourself before the Outer God does."
At that mont, Silvanus noticed Lucifer’s body beginning to fade, becoming more and more transparent.
"What’s happening?" Silvanus frowned and asked.
"I’m tired too, my lord. Now that you’ve finally returned, it’s ti for to take a little vacation."
With that final sentence, Lucifer’s body dissolved into countless tiny red lights that drifted past Silvanus’s face before vanishing completely. The entire temple plunged into darkness.
Outside, thunder suddenly roared—deep and violent. Like an ominous sign he had co to know too well, Silvanus found himself back in his own space in the blink of an eye.
At the sa ti, the system displayed an external image: the sky was growing darker and darker, as if the events from a month ago were replaying once more.
From within the rift burst a trendous surge of energy. This ti, there was no countdown, no warning—just beams of light shooting up from the ground and being pulled into the crack. A mont later, a deafening tremor erupted, radiating pressure strong enough to shape the entire continent.
Nyx’s eyes snapped open. She stood amidst a vast mist, surrounded by other humans appearing one after another.
"President!" Nyx called softly as she quickly approached the tall figure in the distance.
The young man tilted his head to glance back, a faint smile on his face. His waist-length black hair was tied with a dark blue silk ribbon, and a fraless pair of glasses rested on his sharp, defined features, thin silver chains dangling gently from either side.
He had jet-black hair and eyes as dark as obsidian, glimring faintly in the light.
Dressed in a dark navy vest and holding a walking cane, he perfectly matched Nyx’s form of address—this man was Hers, the president of The Graceful Shadows.
Hers gave Nyx a brief nod without speaking. Soon, everyone had gathered. Including the two of them, there were only seven people in total.
Among them were Fiona from Team 1, Alice and Austin from Team 2, a freelance esper who introduced himself as Finn, and another esper from Team 1, a loyal subordinate of Drake nad Liam.
Just as the group finished assembling, the thick fog before them rapidly began to thin, and the outline of a massive cathedral slowly ca into view.
Then, as if pulled into a violent whirlwind, they were swept away—and by the ti they regained their senses, they found themselves inside the cathedral.
Nyx and Finn were dressed in simple yet stylish outfits reminiscent of old-fashioned detectives, each holding a magnifying glass. The others wore more practical attire, designed for easy movent, their eyes fixed on the scene before them.
There stood a married couple. The bride wore a magnificent wedding gown, and its wide skirt made her look petite and delicate. The groom, dressed in a white suit, held her hand. Yet their smiles looked unnaturally stiff for so reason—almost as if they were hiding fear.
At that mont, a pop-up appeared before the players:
[After a passionate romance, the Andersen couple finally entered marriage. However, they witnessed sothing strange on the day of their wedding photoshoot at the cathedral. They believe soone is trying to destroy their happiness.
You are a group of detectives and bodyguards hired by the Andersen couple to investigate the mysterious occurrences around them and protect them.]
That was all—no task list, mission objectives, or additional hints. It wasn’t hard to guess that their only goal in this dungeon was to slay the final monster.
Let’s hope this dungeon isn’t like Freedom Dove, they all thought. According to speculation, the gods wouldn’t offer them blessings this ti.
"Aaaaaah! There! She’s there! Don’t you see her?! She’s staring right at !"
The woman’s sharp, panicked scream pierced the silence, drawing everyone’s attention.
Mrs. Andersen had fallen to the ground, her beautiful gown dirtied, her face twisted in terror.
Mr. Andersen imdiately pulled her into his arms, his expression just as fearful, though he kept murmuring reassurances: "It’s okay, my love, calm down... it’s alright..."
"No! You saw her, too! You did! You—" Mrs. Andersen cried out, then buried her face helplessly in her husband’s chest. Tears stread down her cheeks as soft, broken sobs escaped her lips.
All Mr. Andersen could do was hold her tightly, turning toward the detectives with a look of desperate hope.
Nyx approached them, her face calm and professional. She looked toward the direction Mrs. Andersen had pointed—nothing was there—only the towering cathedral architecture.
She spoke softly, "Mrs. Andersen, please calm down. Can you tell exactly what you saw?"
Mrs. Andersen turned to them, her beautiful face streaked with tears. Her deep brown, wavy hair frad her trembling blue eyes as she stamred, "A girl... she was holding a black cat and staring at . I swear she was there! I saw her! You have to believe !"
User Comments
0 comments from readers