Chapter 95: Beyond the Holy Tower
Boom!
Gehinnom tore through the barrier enveloping Sonora and, with a howling gale, descended toward the core central tower of the Avinoleum alongside the Rover, Cartethyia, and Cantarella.
The closer they got, the more tense the trio's expressions became. The scent of blood and the lingering frequency of the Dark Tide grew increasingly heavy in the air.
When Gehinnom finally brought them down before the central tower, dried bloodstains were splattered everywhere, interwoven with viscous remnants of the Dark Tide, exuding an ominous aura. Even more horrifying were the scattered fragments of torn clothing and... some unrecognizable remains that resembled human tissue.
"..."
Cartethyia stared at the central tower before them. The originally sealed main door had been forcibly broken open from the outside.
"It seems someone arrived long before us, and... they made quite a mess."
Cantarella glanced back at the entirety of Avinoleum. The mingled scents of smoke, blood, and more filled the air... and there was no need to guess who was behind all this.
Meanwhile, the two swords in the Rover's hands responded in their own ways. Bloodpact's Pledge sensed Aeron's frequency, while the power from the Sentinels within Tyrvine resonated in harmony.
Cantarella looked at Tyrvine in the Rover's hand, a doubt forming in her heart.
If the Sword of Divinity could still receive a response from the Sentinels, it meant that Imperator, fused with the Threnodian, was still struggling against Leviathan.
However, judging from the state of Avinoleum and the Dark Tide, Leviathan's power had increased for some reason, even suppressing the Sentinels.
But now that the twisted faith within the Order had collapsed, how had It gained such power?
Unless... when Aeron led everyone in exposing the Order's true nature and redirecting faith in the divine toward the Rover, there was something from which Leviathan could profit.
As Cantarella gradually pieced her thoughts together, the hidden answer behind it all wasn't so difficult to guess.
So, she turned her gaze to Cartethyia beside her.
Even facing such a scene, not a trace of fear showed on the young girl's face.
"Miss Cantarella... is something wrong?"
Cartethyia noticed Cantarella's gaze and turned her head, somewhat curious.
"No, it's nothing."
Cantarella simply shook her head gently.
Having once fought alongside the Threnodian, she had some idea of what Leviathan intended to do.
But with a great enemy before them, unity was paramount. Revealing the truth here might only cause this "Blessed Maiden" to lose her composure.
Moreover... since Aeron had already come here, he must have his own considerations.
So, what she needed to do was ensure nothing else disturbed them.
Just then, the lingering Dark Tide aura around the central tower suddenly grew active. Viscous darkness, as if alive, seeped from the ground and walls, coalescing into distorted, ominous phantoms. Those entities consumed by the Dark Tide were surging toward the central tower.
"It seems our host isn't welcoming visitors." Cantarella tapped her parasol lightly on the ground, stepping forward gracefully to stand beside Gehinnom.
"Leave this place to me and the big guy. The 'main event' inside the tower will have to be your responsibility."
Gehinnom emitted a low draconic rumble, ethereal blue soulfire blazing fiercely as massive bone wings unfurled to form the vanguard. His actions made his stance clear.
The Rover crossed her twin swords, battle lust shining in her eyes as she prepared to charge toward the tower first.
Seeing this, the Rover hesitated no longer. Bloodpact's Pledge and Tyrvine resonated with increasingly brilliant light in her hands. Her gaze locked onto the dark entrance of the main tower, body leaning slightly forward as she prepared to dash.
"Wait!"
Cartethyia's voice rang out, carrying a note of urgency yet remaining exceptionally firm.
The Rover halted mid-step, turning to look back.
"I'm going too... Fleurdelys is inside... and he's in there as well."
"...The battle inside is no child's play. Leviathan's target is most likely you."
The Rover could sense the extraordinary nature of the conflict raging in the Holy Spire of Confluence above. Even she couldn't guarantee Cartethyia would emerge unscathed.
"But even so... this is something I must face, something I can never run from."
As she spoke these words, Cartethyia's expression was earnest, carrying undeniable resolution.
"Moreover, Aeron who's been accompanying me all this way is also there... I don't want to just sit here waiting for doom."
That's because that guy can't die!
Just as the Rover was about to voice this thought, Cantarella's voice interjected at the perfect moment, tinged with encouragement and affirmation.
"Since you can say such words, it at least proves that fellow's judgment isn't completely off. What he's desperately protecting isn't some porcelain doll that needs to hide behind others forever."
As she spoke, her slender fingers danced elegantly, precisely controlling toxic mist and jellyfish illusions to strangle phantoms attempting to bypass their defenses, her movements flowing like water.
Then, the ancient dragon's flames crashed down upon the path to the main tower, annihilating another wave of phantoms.
Seizing this opening, Cantarella turned to look at Cartethyia.
"Cartethyia, remember—you stand here now not because you're a fragment of the Blessed Maiden Fleurdelys, nor because of anyone's arrangements."
"You came here by your own choice, because you care about 'them' inside. This will of yours is more important than any title or power."
"Go show that false deity... just how far a lantern ignited by determination can burn."
Cartethyia paused briefly, then what seemed like condensed light gathered in her sapphire eyes.
"...I understand, Miss Cantarella."
As she spoke, Cartethyia nodded solemnly.
Then Cantarella also turned her gaze to the Rover, a slight smile gracing her lips.
"Rover, trusting your companion's judgment is also part of a 'monarch's' duties~"
The Rover lifted her eyes, meeting Cartethyia's gaze mid-air. For a moment, she seemed to see Aeron's typical "I'm leaving this to you" expression that he always wore when dumping troublesome matters on others.
She let out a helpless sigh, yet the corners of her lips curled into a faint arc.
Soon, she made her decision. She reversed the hilt of the Tyrvine she had been tightly gripping in her left hand and offered it to Cartethyia.
Cartethyia froze, staring in disbelief at the Sword of Divinity flowing with golden radiance before her.
"But... it chose you..."
"No, you chose it."
The Rover placed the sword into Cartethyia's hand, then continued:
"When you raise the sword, it is only then that it is given meaning."
"Now, use this to settle all the words that need to be said and the deeds that need to be done."
"..."
Thus, the platform leading to the Holy Spire of Confluence slowly descended, and Cartethyia and the Rover stepped forward.
They couldn't keep the person who had already reached this place waiting too long.
Cantarella watched them disappear before letting out a breath as if relieved of a heavy burden.
Really, that guy actually dumped all the troublesome matters onto me... I'll have to make him properly compensate me later.
But for now...
Boom!
Gehinnom landed heavily beside her, while the continuously descending dragon's breath scorched the only path leading to the main tower.
Cantarella gazed at the once again converging phantom tide ahead, her lazy expression gradually replaced by a sharp focus.
"Next, it's our 'work,' isn't it?"
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