Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Mortal Realm Invasion

The stormy rain had not stopped. It even showed signs of growing worse. Wild winds drove the cold rain against the tall outer walls and stained-glass windows of the Deep Sea Grand Cathedral, like the heavy, chaotic heartbeats of the city-state.

On the square in front of the city, Steam Walkers and Steam Tanks had already assembled. Fully armed Guardians silently blocked every street.

On the bell tower at the back of the Grand Cathedral, a special brazier had been lit. Purified Whale Oil mixed with chips of Sea-Breath Wood burned fiercely in the basin. In the storm, the flame shone like a lighthouse guiding ships home. Special focusing lenses strengthened the light, so that the bright flame could be seen clearly from most of the city-state.

As the central Grand Cathedral’s brazier flared to life, similar flames appeared above cathedrals all across the city. Even in the most remote neighborhood cathedrals, there was a tall bell tower facing the Grand Cathedral from afar. At the top of each of those towers, a brazier waited in its place.

On this dark, stormy day, bell tower after bell tower lit up, forming a chain of lighthouses over Pland. When all the lights came on, clear bells and loud steam whistles rang out across the entire city-state.

Every Cathedral’s boilers fired up. Every Cathedral’s bells rang. Pland roared in the storm, as if civilization itself were standing in the darkness, resisting some invisible invading force.

This strange situation made all the residents shut their doors and windows tight. Those who knew more about the supernatural field could sense the danger of the moment from this citywide upheaval of the Cathedrals.

Deep inside the governor’s residence, Dante Wayne had just woken from unconsciousness when he heard the waves of bells and whistles outside. He also saw the many “lighthouses” near and far in the darkness. With the help of an attendant, he sat up and stared in shock at the apocalyptic scene through the glass window.

“The Grand Cathedral has activated the Mortal Realm Stabilization Barrier… Is this a Mortal Realm invasion-level disaster?!”

“We are still investigating,” an aide hurried to his bedside, his tone a bit tense. “It came very suddenly. The Grand Cathedral only said that all districts of Pland must enter a Highest-Level Lockdown. You were unconscious at the time, so Bishop Valentine used emergency authority…”

Dante did not reply. He suddenly seemed to sense something. His brows slowly relaxed.

“…Vanna is back.”

“Miss Vanna?” The attendant at his side turned with a confused look. “Miss Vanna did not return to the residence. She should…”

“I know.” Dante knew the others could not understand his sudden words, so he waved his hand. His gaze finally settled on the aide. “Is the city’s Guard Corps still under City Hall command?”

“Yes. Bishop Valentine only took direct control of the constable forces and some of the Guard Corps tasked with emergency response,” the aide said at once. “Most of the Guard Corps are still waiting for your orders.”

“Good. Aside from the First Division, put all units of the Guard Corps under the Grand Cathedral’s arrangements,” Dante said. His head still felt hazy, but his orders came fast. “Also, the whole city enters Highest-Level Martial Law. Ring all the Martial Law Bells. After the bells ring, anyone found on the streets—anyone at all—will be treated as a cultist.”

The aide was shocked by this order. “Mr. Dante, this…”

“Carry out the order.” Dante lifted his head. His one remaining eye was sharp. The skin around the ruby prosthetic eye on the other side once again seeped thin lines of blood. “We are now in a state of war.”

“…Yes!”

The aide took the order and left. Dante then broke into a harsh cough. Only after a long moment did the coughing ease a little. He spoke in a low voice to the attendant beside him: “Take me to the Grand Cathedral.”

“Mr. Dante, your body…”

“My body is not important. I have something important to tell Bishop Valentine.”

“Yes.”

…

Nina gripped Shirley’s hand and sat behind the shop window, shaking as she watched the wild wind and pouring rain outside. Thunder boomed again and again in the sky, making all the doors and windows rattle.

The scene was so frightening that even Shirley, who was usually very brave, started to tremble. She could not help muttering under her breath: “What the hell kind of weather is this…”

“Shirley, you… you can’t swear,” Nina said, face tense even though she was scared. “Uncle said you…”

“Okay, okay, I won’t swear, I won’t swear. Just don’t tell Mr. Duncan,” Shirley said quickly. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a figure on the stairs and shrank her neck on reflex. “Ah, Mr. Duncan is coming down.”

“Uncle Duncan!” Nina jumped to her feet at once and almost ran toward the figure coming down the stairs. “You… you finished your work?”

“Yes. I’m done for now, but things are not over yet,” Duncan said. He casually pressed a hand on Nina’s hair, then turned toward the counter. Morris still sat there, but his face already looked a bit better. Duncan nodded to him. “I have brought her back.”

“I just felt it. She came back,” Morris said at once. “I still don’t know how you did it, but… thank you very much for your help.”

“This is only the beginning. It’s too early to thank me now,” Duncan said as he turned his head to look out the shop window. “The plot was exposed. They have already started their move ahead of time. The intruders are attacking on the other side of the Veil… They will probably arrive very soon.”

Morris looked deeply worried. Nina looked at Duncan in confusion. “Uncle, what intruders? You mean…”

“Nina.” Duncan cut the girl off. He turned toward her, his expression more serious than she had ever seen. “Do you trust me?”

Nina almost did not hesitate. “I trust you.”

“Good. Then hold on to the belief that this storm will end safely. No matter what happens later, do not panic. No matter what I do, don’t get nervous, don’t be afraid,” Duncan said, looking into Nina’s eyes. Then he raised his hand and pointed at Alice, who was standing quietly by the stairs. “Alice can be trusted. If there is a real emergency, stay with her.”

Nina nodded in a daze. Alice spoke at once: “Please rest assured, Mr. Duncan. I will protect Miss Nina.”

“I really don’t have much faith in your fighting skills,” Duncan said, giving Alice a look. Then he sighed helplessly. “But there is no one else I can trust her to.”

Another clap of thunder exploded overhead. From somewhere out on the street came the crash of something falling down. Along with the crash came a sharp alarm from some unknown place and the urgent ringing of Cathedral bells farther away.

The lights in the antique shop flickered a few times, then went out.

The power went down.

Darkness fell over the whole street at once. It was as if the neighborhood had entered the veil of night early in the middle of the storm.

In the gloom, Shirley’s voice came from not far away: “I’ll light the oil lamp! I know where it is!”

Duncan answered with a soft sound, but suddenly, he felt Nina grab his hand.

Her hands felt a bit hot.

“Uncle…” Nina said in a tense, rapid whisper. Even her breath carried a faint heat. “I feel… a little hot…”

In the darkness, Duncan’s gaze turned serious at once.

But aside from that seriousness, he showed no extra panic.

From the very beginning, he had been ready for any sudden change in Nina’s condition.

He simply held Nina’s hand more firmly as it grew hotter and hotter. Between their fingers, in gaps that the eye could hardly catch, tiny ghostly green sparks flickered.

He heard the flap of wings. The pigeon AI flew down from upstairs in the dark and landed neatly on the counter.

Shirley lit the oil lamp. The wavering flame drove away the darkness in the shop for now, but outside on the street, the sky was already black as ink. The light and power of the Sun had been completely blocked by the storm outside the city-state.

“Nina, do you remember what I told you just now?”

In the dim light, Duncan’s voice reached Nina’s ears.

Nina nodded lightly. “Yes.”

“Don’t be afraid later. There will be some… very powerful things happening.” Duncan smiled and spoke softly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he looked farther away.

Outside the window, on the rain-soaked street, the falling sheets of water had begun to pick up an unnatural red tint. The red color was bright and flickering, like a reflection from another time and space cast upon the Mortal Realm.

But Duncan did not stare at the now-unusual rain, nor did he pay attention to the “reflections” coming through the Veil.

His gaze passed over the uneven buildings of Pland and the coast. He looked toward the Boundless Sea.

The ghostly silhouette of the Vanished slowly appeared in his pupils.

…

Heidi flinched the moment the thunder cracked.

She was curled up on a long bench in the main hall of the Grand Cathedral, both hands gripping the crystal pendant at her neck like an Amulet. She quietly recited the holy name of the God of Wisdom, Rahm, but stopped halfway through the benediction and lifted her head to look at the statue of the storm goddess.

“The Goddess is kind… she shouldn’t mind.”

She muttered under her breath, then went back to reciting Rahm’s name.

All at once, she stopped again. A strange thumping in her chest made it impossible to focus.

Heidi rose from the bench and looked around in that sudden unease.

She saw the Guardians gathered near the main doors. A small group of commoners who had not made it home in time and had come to the Cathedral for shelter sat on the benches before the statues. Several priests moved about the hall. Bishop Valentine stood before the statue with his staff, calm gaze fixed straight ahead.

Everything looked normal. So where was this feeling of dread coming from?

Without her noticing, the crystal pendant at her neck had begun to grow warm. But Heidi seemed not to care about that. She walked on instinct to a nearby window and looked out through the clear pane beside the stained glass at the scene in the square.

The young psychiatrist’s eyes went wide.

“Fire… fire!” she cried out in fear. “The rain has turned into fire!”