Chapter 212 “The Different Ending”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
In a short span of time, every church in the city-state was laid to ruin. This catastrophe occurred following a series of explosive “fireballs” that burst into flames from various locations across the city. In what seemed like mere seconds, all the city’s renowned landmarks disappeared from sight. A place that was once celebrated as a shining jewel on the ocean was now transformed into a desolate, ash-covered wasteland.
Vanna moved with a sense of urgency, weaving her way through the fiery intersections and trails. She was a force to be reckoned with, swiftly moving towards a burning cathedral that had just come into her view.
This magnificent structure, which had proudly stood for over a thousand years, was now in ruins. The intense heat had caused its very essence to dissolve, reminiscent of how wax melts under a flame. The nearby buildings, though still standing, were horribly distorted, glowing an ominous shade of red. Of these buildings, only their charred frameworks remained visible. The culprit behind this apocalyptic vision? An eerie, dark red orb in the sky that loomed large over the destroyed church, akin to a malevolent eye gazing intently from a terrifying void. It dripped with what looked like molten lava.
“Why am I rushing towards this disaster?” Vanna wondered inwardly. “Do I believe I can face and conquer whatever caused this? Can I somehow rewrite this horrifying chapter that has already unfolded? Or am I just attempting to showcase my faith by recklessly endangering my life?”
Even she wasn’t sure of her motives as she continued towards the cathedral. The only thing she felt certain about was an overwhelming urge to keep moving. However, her focus wavered for a moment when a powerful voice echoed in her mind, urging her to “Make your way to the bell tower located at the rear of the church.”
Taken aback, Vanna stopped dead in her tracks and quickly looked around, searching for the source of the voice. The ghost captain was nowhere to be seen. Flames roared all around her.
However, another sound reached her ears – the melodious ringing of a bell emanating from the cathedral’s ancient tower. Its sound was a stark contrast to the fiery chaos, especially given the intense blaze that had engulfed the church.
Shoving all doubts and fears aside, Vanna was compelled to follow the sound.
She stopped wondering about the intentions of the ghost captain or speculating on what might happen if she heeded his advice. Given the rapid destruction of the churches, she felt that any plan he had must be better than the current devastation she was witnessing.
Soon, she arrived at the open square in front of the cathedral.
The military units that had been posted there were completely annihilated. Amidst the overwhelming heat, all that remained were the deformed remains of spiderwalkers and steam-powered tanks. The earth was covered in heaps of ashes, eerily moving as if alive.
Enraged by the tragic loss of her fellow comrades, she engaged fiercely with her adversaries, her steadfast determination propelling her forward through the ruins. She swiftly made her way into what was left of the grand hall. Using the vivid memories she held of the place, she meticulously navigated the debris, aiming for the open courtyard that beckoned her. Amid the disarray and devastation, the bell tower proudly stood, its grandeur only slightly marred by the thick layers of soot and cascades of ash.
A sudden rush of familiarity overwhelmed her, the sight eerily reminding her of a vision from an alternate reality – another Pland, consumed by fire back in the year 1889.
The present situation felt like a grotesque mockery of history, where fabricated tales had replaced authentic events.
However, the constant tolling of the bell remained a beacon, echoing hope amidst despair.
As she neared the tower, it became evident that the entrance leading to the top was in ruins, and the internal staircase had broken down in several spots. Recognizing that climbing it the usual way was out of the question, she mustered her courage and chose to ascend the tower by scaling its exterior.
The outer surface of the tower was excruciatingly hot, feeling like molten metal against her skin. Yet, despite the burning agony, she soldiered on, until she was met with the lifeless face of a large clock. Through the cracks, Vanna could make out the bell and a massive fire blazing inside.
Without hesitating, she forcefully punched through the wall, causing significant harm to herself. Inside, she was met with an astonishing sight: a barely discernible shape made up of glowing embers, bearing a resemblance to a human, attached to a mechanical contraption by the bell, endlessly rotating the mechanism.
“Preserve… the bell tower…” It murmured in a faint, raspy tone.
Suddenly, the figure crumbled, turning into minute particles before disappearing completely. The only remnants of its existence were a burn mark on the ground and a badge symbolizing the Storm Church.
“Bishop Valentine!”
Recognition surged through Vanna as she recalled those distinctive eyes. She instinctively lunged forward, in a desperate bid to capture any remaining essence of her comrade. However, an oppressive force held her down.
At the edge of the platform stood a slender figure draped in a tattered gray cloak. Observing her, it displayed a nearly sympathetic smile, resembling a benevolent prophet.
“You’ve displayed immense courage, young one. All of you have. Your steadfast opposition has delayed this inevitable fate longer than expected. But clinging to hope now is pointless… There is no savior on the horizon, and in this closed loop of history, no backup is coming. Pland’s destiny is irrevocably set,” the mysterious being declared with a heavy tone, pointing with a bony hand towards the menacing red sun hovering ominously behind. “Accept the inescapable truth, child born from destruction… Your tenacity and revival efforts have altered nothing.”
Without paying heed to the Ender’s verbose diatribe, Vanna swiftly unsheathed the massive broadsword that lay secured on her back.
“So, choosing weapons over words now?” The Ender, clearly grasping her intent, donned a mockingly compassionate expression. “Indeed, you possess the strength to vanquish me. But such an act would ultimately prove fruitless. The chosen emissaries of the Sun are poised and ready for their master’s grand entrance. As for me? I’m but a spectator, here to etch this momentous event into my memory. But have you truly comprehended the significance of that looming sun?”
Vanna’s intense gaze drifted past the Ender’s smug countenance, settling upon the imposing red celestial body that ominously dominated the sky. It bore an uncanny resemblance to the forbidden sun wheel depicted in ancient lore — a manifestation of pure evil, its pulsating core signifying a looming rebirth.
A chilling epiphany struck her. The sense of suffocation and dread she had earlier attributed to the Ender’s presence was, in fact, emanating from that malevolent sun!
An evil of monumental proportions was awakening within that star.
The Ender, lost in introspection, mused aloud, “Our machinations were fraught with challenges. We hadn’t foreseen the interventions from external forces attempting to rectify our historical alterations. Such unforeseen disruptions drew unwanted scrutiny.” He paused, locking eyes with Vanna. “You and individuals of your ilk nearly unraveled our grand design. But, as is often stated, destiny is unpredictable.”
He inhaled deeply, feigning sadness, “Life can be unkind, dear Vanna.” Methodically, he started inching closer to her. “However, in a sense, you’re blessed. You’ve tasted the miracle of resurrection and are fated to experience rebirth, a testament to some higher power’s favor. Accept what’s preordained.”
Vanna’s resolve remained unshaken. Clenching her sword tighter, a surge of unprecedented anger consumed her. The principles of righteousness and duty that had previously guided her actions were now overshadowed by an overpowering urge to exterminate the looming threat. As she steeled herself to unleash her fury, a sudden eruption of emerald flames burst from the abyss behind the Ender, unveiling a regal being shrouded in green fire.
The Ender, completely unaware of this development, raised his arms in a grandiose gesture, proclaiming with a hint of condescension, “You see, young one, the tables have…”
His overconfidence was cut short as an overwhelming sense of terror invaded his consciousness, intensified by a gentle touch on his shoulder.
In a voice both serene and authoritative, the newly arrived being simply declared, “Get Lost.”
scram junior
nice <3
Using the ruined Pland for their benefit by activating the bell towers there that hadn’t been destroyed was a satisfying move to see.
I’m guessing that the sun, as a cooperative project between the Enders and Suntists, probably involved nurturing Nina to some degree. I think the Ender’s cursed her fate. If you notice, despite her pure and likeable personality, the only people who treated her decently were people who had a “blessing” of a higher being. I think ordinary people had an instinctive dislike for her, and if it were about her true nature rather than a curse I would expect blessed individuals to be more sensitive to it, not less. I don’t remember enough to say whether such a curse extends to bad luck as well, but it should have influenced her original uncle in more than just his emotions. He was originally a good man, or at least one that loved Nina. I even suspect the reason Duncan could take his body is that he also prayed to subspace back then to save her. That seems to be the trend of the “true survivors.” He developed an incurable chronic illness, and a combination of the pain and his attempts to medicate it slowly wore down his soul until his memories and humanity were in complete tatters, then he was finally corrupted by the Suntists. It all seems like prepwork to lower his defenses.
Let me write a little hypothetical drama: Cinderella doesn’t get her ghostly godfather. She is isolated and bullied at school and no one, without exception, recognizes her efforts. Her beloved uncle only becomes more irrate and abusive over time, but she cherishes the memories and tries her best to help him in his pain. She’s kicked out of school, her uncle seems more lucid but strange and unsettling, and even her brave and pure heart begins to break as she finds she has nowhere to belong. One day, chaos and fire appears on the streets, reminding her of that day nine years ago. It feels like something terrifying in her chest is trying to break free, and she falls into a state of panic. Her uncle approaches her. Although something resembling madness seems to reflect with the flickering flames in his eyes, he smiles at her for the first time in years and takes her hand gently, so Nina can’t help but cling to him like driftwood in a storm. He soothes her, saying he can take her somewhere safe, that even if it seems like the end of the world right now, that the sun will rise again. He takes her through dark and hidden passageways, and sometimes it even feels like the flame intentionally makes way for them. They emerge in a plaza with robed figures around a hastily constructed altar staring at them and a great ball of fire hanging in the air above. Terrified, she shrinks into her uncle’s arms, but his grin has become openly maniacal and sinister. The cultists quickly tie her to the altar. Her despair and hatred for the world reaches its peak when her uncle personally performs the ritual of ripping out her heart and offering it to the nascent sun. A part of her soul unites with it, but all that remains in it is her grief and rejection toward the world. The sun swallows everything, makes everything disappear.
That’s more or less what I picture the cultists had planned. The essence of the suntists is sacrifice, and the sacrifice they need for revival of a sun should be huge and special. It should be cheating by using a loop in time to sacrifice Pland to destroy Pland. In order for the balance to clear, they need the loop to close with the sun they’re reviving destroying both timelines. Why seal the fragment in a little girl, though? Just like how their god is used against its will and suffering, the sun fragment won’t necessarily follow the Suntists’ will of destruction without making preparations to force it. A decade has been spent on dyeing her soul. The plan went off the rails at the end, but can a ghost captain make her feel so much warmth in a short time that it would undo nine years of despair? The cultists won’t think so. They should also have means to overload her with projections of despair and amplify her negative emotions. If I’m right, although it’s a lot harder than it sounds, all it takes to end this is her refusal to cooperate. The conditions for the existence of the alternate timeline are no longer met: it and the direct impact of it on the current timeline are erased. Some big shot cultists probably suffer a massive backlash for the paradox cheque they paid with bouncing.
That’s alot of words
Are you an author?
Sorry, that wasn’t meant to be a reply.
nice <3
Just switch history to a point where no fire or invision even exist like the subspace appear to give power to anyone so why not take advantage of it.
You’re late. You are too late. Saving his household and Vana – it is a failure.
Fk off heretics