Silent Crown

by Feng Yue

  An explosion happened amidst the cacophony of sharp and chaotic singing. The wind tunnel in the abyss was opened. One could see the darkness going wild beyond the tunnel, creating waves in the air. Thick darkness poured out and covered the moonlight, swallowing everything.

  A ferocious demonic limb flashed across the darkness. It was abruptly torn apart. Blood sprayed out like rain. Fireworks of sparks and light flashed and cast destructive power like meteorites. There was also cursed ghastly green fog and a spray of splitting rays.

  It destroyed all illusions, shields, and obstacles; sealed all exits; and made sure the prey could not escape. Then…a skeletal hand emerged from the wind tunnel. It reached out, tore the air with a deafening boom.

  No one knew which Summoning musician had risked burning his blood to use his best card and summon this mysterious existence from the aetheric world.

  The hand was so big that merely a knuckle was meters long. It shot torrential winds, thunder and lightning, fire, and frost to the youth. Explosions boomed. The scrapes of giant stones sounded continuously. Even pure iron and a fortress would be pulverized under this orangutan pressure. Powder flew, scorched dirt cracked, and a gaping hole appeared on the earth.

  Finally, the giant skeletal hand disappeared. The darkness in the fog was ravaged. There was only the sound of the dark musicians breathing heavily. They sensed the aether waves with confused eyes.

  “Is he dead?”

  “Can’t sense any breathing.”

  “No corpse or skeleton.”

  A dark musician scoffed. “Ha, that’s all he is.”

  “Yeah.” A soft sigh came from the nightmare fog. “That’s all.”

  All the dark musicians instantly felt a burst of cold air shoot from their feet to their heads. Their expressions flipped and they attacked again in their shock.

  The nightmare fog swelled and the demonic shadows overlapped. This time, they did not care about keeping their best cards secret anymore and acted as one. However, a pure white light emerged from the fog at the same time.

  It was so clear and pure. This flawless light was not moonlight nor did it come from the sun. It did not belong to this world. It was as if heaven really existed. God was sitting on his throne and radiating with this glow. Under it, all strength became submissive, all demons were purified, and all heresy surrendered.

  God lived within this light. Though the light only existed for a flash, countless dark musicians screamed. Their eyes were scorched and they had become useless trash! This light could not be looked at directly!

  “The Requiem!” someone yelled while covering his eyes. “Don’t look at the light! That’s from the Requiem!”

  “Holy!”

  The youth stood upright in the ray of light, amidst the dissipating nightmare fog. He lifted the brim of his hat and smiled. He bathed in the light. The glow was thin but isolated him from all the dirtiness of the world. It seemed to come from another world. All the power in this world was nothing to it.

  “This was personally created by the gods. It’s a priceless holy gift…”

  Countless deities seemed to sing in the light, “Holy! Holy! Holy!”

  This was Holy, the music score passed down from the School of Stone Heart, one of the sources of the School of Abstinence! The power was not expressed in elements, nor did it create or destroy. This was a pure territory created by music theory, the prototype of all scepters, and the foundation of all precincts.

  Ye Qingxuan used the resonance between his sub-originator and the Elizabeth Tower to borrow the power of Avalon’s enchantment. Using the music theory and chanting, he activated the inherited music score in his hat.

  Thus, the source crossed the nine layers of aetheric sea from the aetheric world and covered the material world with the song. It changed the rules, twisted the laws, and created a protected zone that could not be violated. No music score under the Scepter level could disturb it.

  The dark musicians’ fatal mistake was that they did not know Ye Qingxuan had moved the enchantment into his own heart! Now, the large enchantment of Avalon was his source of power. It continuously supplied him with endless aether.

  As long as he was under the Elizabeth Tower, he would have no shortage of strength. Only something as strong as the Avalonian enchantment could provide the strength required for the music score Holy.

  Ye Qingxuan could feel the terrifyingly large amount of aether being put into the music score at every second to maintain this absolute boundary. Merely acting as a fulcrum caused him to feel that his soul had been ignited. Using Jiu Xiao Huan Pei’s detailed control to guide the strength used up all his energy.

  However, now…

  “…Is it my turn?” Ye Qingxuan grinned at the dark musicians.

  The long nails in his hands clanged. The frantic melody and blaring of the horn shot out! The majestic melody resounded under Jiu Xiao Huan Pei. Using the sub-originator within him as the fulcrum, Ye Qingxuan was able to experience the aether he had transformed for the first time. He could interact with the aetheric sea and tried resonating with the world. Thus, the world replied with a boom.

  He was performing above his level!

  For the first time, the Resonance level of Night on Bald Mountain shot from his hands. Using the sub-originator as a fulcrum, Ye Qingxuan leveraged the majestic strength from the aetheric sea.

  In the next moment, the expressions of the rapidly retreating dark musicians changed. Because the ground cracked open, blazing red light spewed out. It was as if the entrance to hell had opened. All sinners were dragged toward the fire.

  The rapid melody resounded in everyone’s ears. Silver light shot out and dozens of long narrow nails trembled along with the song of punishment. The endless darkness seemed to solidify. It shook under the crashing song. Then the horn blared and black steel stakes broke through the earth, wrapping around the dark musicians.

  The stakes were like a forest. They overlapped and sealed all exits. The silver nails whistled through the air. The runes carved on the surface glowed with blazing light. The invaluable alchemy equipment had now become one-use material. They let out all their power in the blazing light.

  Piercing sounds came one after another. Everything with a demonic aura were pierced cruelly and nailed to the stake, cutting off their ties to the aether. Then wildfire poured out from the cracks in the earth.

  Firelight shot to the sky, burning it red-hot amidst the cries of pain. Hellfire burned vigorously. This was the infamous score used by the Ministry of Faith when it was still known as the Inquisition. The stakes that were rooted across the wilderness lit up every dark night. Using demons as firewood, they created inextinguishable flames that announced the coming of dawn! The judged ones paid for their sins in the fire. Otherwise, they would burn to the end of time!

  Within a snap of the finger, the unlucky souls nailed to the stakes were burned completely. Their bodies turned into flames and melted into the music score, providing Ye Qingxuan with an endless source of fire.

  The remaining dark musicians huddled together. They resonated with each other and kept trying to fight back. However, this was Ye Qingxuan’s show the moment Night on Bald Mountain became complete. They did not have the chance to turn the tides. The melody roared and pushed the score to the climax.

  Ye Qingxuan charged and commanded the fire of judgement. Firelight rolled and burned the surviving dark musicians. The fire burned away the aether they had gathered and counterattack melodies as well.

  Once a music theory from the School of Abstinence was formed, it would reject power from the other schools and suppress them. With the enchantment as a power supply, Ye Qingxuan finally experienced how it felt to have the upper hand.

  He would return to his original state once he left the Elizabeth Tower but he had to have fun here and practice with the dark musicians! He had to hurry though. He did not know how long he could maintain the temporary enchantment.

  “So scary,” Naberius murmured as he gazed a
t the youth from the shadows. “How much has he accumulated? He had just become an official musician and is already close to the Resonance level. If not for the barrier of knowledge, he could probably upgrade directly. So terrifying…”

  Listening to the youth’s thunderous melody, his ears moved as he distinguished the weaker rhythms. His hands quickly created pieces of metallic muscle.

  “Sorry, Mr. Holmes, let’s not fight face to face. I haven’t transformed this new body yet and don’t have much power…but I’m a dark musician. You won’t find it odd if I make a despicable sneak attack, right?”

  299 Unable to Help Himself

  “Sorry, Mr. Holmes, let’s not fight face-to-face,” Naberius muttered. “I haven’t transformed this new body yet and don’t have much power. But I’m a dark musician. You won’t find it odd if I make a despicable sneak attack, right?” Looking down, he studied the metallic heart in his hands. Coldness flashed past his eyes. “Since you’re not at the Resonance stage yet, let’s undergo the ‘sound of heart duel’ fairly!”

  He abruptly clenched the beating heart. There was a sharp sound and it resonated with Ye Qingxuan’s heart. This was a direct attack to the sound of heart that acted as life itself. This was the basic competition between two musicians!

  Ye Qingxuan’s melody instantly weakened. His face darkened but then became red as if his blood was boiling. The aether in his hands practically dissipated. Naberius cackled. He played his odd instrument and continuously controlled Ye Qingxuan’s new heart. It beat wildly as if it would not stop until it exploded.

  The surviving four dark musicians used this chance and screamed the dark music score from the Calixtinus Codex. They showed their true appearances, called forth the power of demons and the abyss, and surged toward the gaping youth. But in the next moment, Ye Qingxuan looked up and grinned toothily. “Tricked you!”

  Boom! The sluggish melody burst forth once again. This time, it was accompanied by the fire of Night on Bald Mountain and the thunder of Indrah’s Eye. A frantic flood swept past instantly and swallowed the four.

  Naberius’ instrument exploded too. A giant hole appeared in his face, creating a bloody mess. He looked at the shards embedded into his palm and shock flashed past his eyes. He had used this skill to break countless musicians’ sound of hearts through the years. However, this time, Ye Qingxuan destroyed the instrument he had created?!

  Before he could react, rows of stakes flew toward him with rolling flames. His figure separated and six shadows dodged the pursuit of Night on Bald Mountain. However, the youth’s figure suddenly appeared amidst the rolling flames and he pressed down—the Sigh.

  Boom! Naberius flew back and slammed into the wall; he was pierced by a silver nail. The fire within did not spew out but clamped down on him so he could not escape.

  “Capturing the sound of heart…was useless?” he asked hoarsely, staring at the youth before him. “Why?”

  “If you want to know why,” Ye Qingxuan looked down at him chest. A crystal-like heart beat between the crack. It swallowed blood and aether with a dreamy moonlight glow. “Maybe it’s because I have a stony heart.”

  Naberius froze. He coughed out black blood and forced on a self-deprecating smile. “I lost. I lost completely. But sadly, there’s no winner in this game.”

  “What does Gavin want?” Ye Qingxuan asked coldly. “That thing, the physical incarnate of the god…why is it here?”

  “Didn’t you already guess it? Mr. Holmes, why are you asking me?” Naberius looked up with difficulty. He looked at the black shadow that filled the sky. “Look, the god has descended…our existence is less significant than dust to those creatures. You’ve already failed, Mr. Holmes. The winners win all in this game, but ordinary people like us can’t get anything.” He suddenly spat out blood and pieces of his organs. Blood flowed from all openings and his body split apart.

  Ye Qingxuan froze. Naberius was destroying his last chance at surviving!

  “No need to be shocked. This choice…doesn’t deserve your furrowed brows.” Naberius looked down and said with his last strength, “Humans were born with shackles. Even someone as clever as me could not escape them, even with sixty years of struggling. Thankfully, I still have…the freedom to choose death. Mr. Holmes, if Hell exists, I’ll wait there for you. Hopefully there, we’ll be able to become…become…friends.” Naberius’ head hung and he stopped breathing.

  He was dead.

  Ye Qingxuan gaped at him. His outreached hand froze in the air. Behind him, an ear splitting thunderous boom sounded deep in Avalon’s Shadow. Harsh cracks emerged on the ground and snaked out.

  The quaking could even be felt deep inside the ocean, resulting in tsunamis. The Dark Lord could no longer resist the resistance of Avalon’s Shadow while advancing. Even if he suppressed himself to such an insignificant level, he still could not avoid the arrival of the limit.

  This was the country of King Arthur’s scepter. The clashing of their respective music theories were at the extremes. If a spring was suppressed to its limits, it would rebound. The music theories overlapped and the aftershocks from their collapse warped the material world. However, he did not stop. He continued forward to the heart of this shadowy world.

  One step, two steps…

  Ye Qingxuan’s expression changed. He could barely breathe under the pressure of the air. The damaged enchantment could no longer resist the aftershocks and was close to collapsing. Now, the enchantment was like the other half of his body. If it broke apart again, he would be forced back to his original state. He might even be fatally wounded.

  “Shaman, I hope you’re not waiting for me to go back and help you.” Ye Qingxuan clenched his jaw. His body shook and his sanity was almost robbed by the terrifying shadow behind him. However, he still could not help but worry.

  If the dark musicians were so unscrupulous, the parliament would definitely be causing a commotion too. They had controlled many places secretly all these years. With more than a century of accumulation, they had the connections and power to cause a mess in Avalon if they did not have to worry about the royal family anymore. The Shaman probably was in a dangerous situation now!

  -

  Avalon was in darkness now. The enchantment was Avalon’s most important defense. The guards were sent into action the moment it collapsed. The nine city gates slammed shut, isolating the city. The city—downtown, midtown, and uptown—were divided into sixteen sections that were completely isolated from each other and the outside world.

  The bright city filled with lights suddenly fell into darkness. Scattered firelight shone and illuminated the metal armor in the streets of downtown.

  The armed soldiers charged down the streets, obediently following commands. The Parliament’s connections in the military were finally put into action. They uprooted the Shaman’s strongholds one by one.

  This was no longer a street fight. It was complete war. All resistance was laughable before a proper army.

  The darkness of downtown was spotted with firelight. Amidst the fire, a horn was blown and the armored soldiers hoisted their spears to break down the defenses and buildings. They left a trail of rubble and dust. All resisters were pierced by the spears and tossed to the side. Snaking trails of blood formed red police lines that blinded anyone who saw.

  The violent gangs of downtown could not unite to form any sizeable resistance at the short notice. They were squashed easily and turned into carcasses littered on the ground.

  Thunderous booms sounded continuously. Those were the terrifying sounds of cannons flattening buildings. One could faintly hear pained cries before they were cut off. All that remained were the dull clanks of armor. The sound of metal echoed in the chaotic darkness. As well as the sound of dripping blood.

  Another armor plate was torn apart in a ravaged alley. A hole appeared in the chest and blood spurted out. A heart was crushed by an invisible hand.

  Ghosthand panted and roared.

  Boom! The armored soldier f
lew out and crashed into the crowd. He upended the incoming soldiers.

  Ghosthand sucked in the foul air. The rotting scent of the sea and the decayed odor of the sewer entered his lungs like fire burning at the remains. Merely breathing hurt like fire.

  His mottled white hair was dyed red by blood. His torn shirt revealed ghastly wounds. Creamy blood flowed across his invisible hand, sketching the contour of his broken limb. The hand was not fixed; it kept changing. Sometimes it was a human hand, other times it was a claw with scales on the five sharp nails—terrifying.

  “Fourth time.” He breathed heavily as his legs trembled. He truly was old now. This was only the fourth time.

  Within a short few minutes, the garrison had charged four times. No matter how many fully armed soldiers charged, they were pulverized when they reached this old man. Without exception, they were like waves crashing onto a reef.

  The mill was on the right and the steel mill’s warehouse was on the right. These two large buildings sandwiched the small alley and the narrow terrain was his biggest advantage. No matter how many charged forward, he would only have to face a few. He could deal with them easily without fearing the large masses.

  However…he could not retreat.

  He could not let anyone pass…

  Roaring, he stepped forward. Brushing past the blades, he forced himself into the soldiers’ arms. The invisible ghost hand sank into a neck. With a crisp crack, it was shattered and the soldier’s neck was broken.

  Then the soldier shook. Holes appeared on his back and a crossbow arrow pierced through his chest. Stuck in the armor, it was only a hair’s breadth away from his eyes.

  Ghosthand bent down and dodged an incoming sword. His hands closed around the blade. He turned and the blade shattered. Following his hands, it pierced through the helmet, through the skull, and wedged in the brain. Another soldier fell.

  A broadsword hacked at his shoulder, jamming into bone. Ghosthand roared. His invisible hand twisted and yanked the soldier’s head off as if there were no joints.