Chapter 126The silence in the temple was suffocating. The weight of the air felt like walls were squeezing Nero in from every side. They reached the heart of Zytherion's prison but found the stone doors before them unyielding.Lucia's hand lingered motionless above the stone surface while her fingertips vibrated with a subtle tremor. Her sharp eyes intensely examined the ancient symbols carved into the door's surface.Nero wiped sweat from his forehead while thinking they had overcome the toughest part. “But it seems we’re not done yet.”Lucia didn’t answer. She proceeded while examining the carvings with a frown. She uttered the words with quiet intensity while her voice carried the weight of comprehension.“What do you mean? We have battled throughout this temple and defeated both gods and monsters along the way.“More awaits,” Lucia stated as she kept her eyes fixed on the door. “The guardians are testing us. Our entry permission will be denied if we fail the trials.Nero’s stomac
Chapter 127Lucia felt the air crackle with electricity, the surroundings thickening as she and Nero stepped into the darkish chamber. It become like getting into the heart of a typhoon, one which they couldn’t break out.The floor under their ft trembled, and above them, the skies appeared to swirl with chaotic, untamable force.There he changed into. Zytherion. His presence was like a black hollow, sucking in all of the mild around him. His body was tall, dark, and impossibly still, as though the very fabric of the arena bent to his will. His eyes, sparkling with a fiery intensity, locked onto them.“You got here all this way, however you’re too past due,” Zytherion’s voice rumbled, shaking the partitions, vibrating through Lucia’s very bones.Lucia clenched her fists, seeking to regular her breath. She had visible many darkish matters in her lifestyles, fought beasts and gods, but not anything as compared to the sheer, oppressive strength Zytherion radiated.It become like looking
Chapter 128Lucia should barely keep her balance as she stood, feeling the crushing weight of Zytherion's electricity pressing down on her. Every breath felt like a battle, the air thick with an oppressive darkness that choked the lifestyles out of everything round her.The battle raged in the pit of her chest—her heartbeat quick and erratic—and with every pulse, her frame felt weaker, as if the very essence of her being was being drawn out.Zytherion stood in front of her, his demeanor looming like an impenetrable wall. He began toying with them, his smile merciless and twisted, as though their efforts had been nothing but a comic story."You can hold suffering," Zytherion taunted, his voice just like the rumble of thunder, ""however, it’s pointless. I will devour the whole lot. The world, your friends, your treasured powers… all of it. There’s nothing you can do to forestall me."Lucia’s palms twitched, the acquainted warmness of the Heart of Lunaria pulsing underneath her skin. It
Chapter 129Nero stood at the brink of the shattered battlefield, his coronary heart pounding, blood coursing via his veins like fireplace. Every a part of him screamed to run—to shop himself—however there was no escape. Not this time.Lucia become lying at the ground at the back of him, her breath shallow and susceptible. He could listen the consistent pulse of her coronary heart, a faint echo of existence, but it wouldn’t closing long.Zytherion had already taken a lot, She had given the entirety to stop him. Now it was Nero's turn to finish what she had started.Zytherion stood across from him, his presence so overpowering it seemed to bend the very air. The darkness surrounding him became like an ocean, swirling with malice and electricity.Every step the creature took, the floor cracked, as though the earth itself couldn’t endure to be near him. The god-like being glared at Nero with eyes as cold because the abyss."So, you watched you could prevent me?" Zytherion's voice turned
Chapter 130Lucia may want to feel her coronary heart pounding in her chest, her body trembling from the overpowering ache. Nero was slipping. His power changed into nearly gone, and he was getting ready to fall apart.The struggle towards Zytherion changed into far from over, but it became clear that their possibilities were developing slimmer by the second. She couldn't permit hhim tofall. Not like this. Not while the world itself hung by a thread.With every breath, she may want to feel the weight of the Heart of Lunaria stirring inside her, as if it were tugging her lower back. But it wasn't sufficient. She needed extra. Her frame felt fine, irresistible; it changed into disintegrating, like she changed into a shadow fading into nothing.She had no energy left to fight, no electricity left to assist him. But deep down, a small voice inside refused to permit it. She had to do that. She had to discover a manner to keep him—and each person else."Nero," she whispered, her voice sligh
Chapter 131Nero stood at Lucia’s side, his heart hammering in his chest. The electricity between them hummed, a crackling force that vibrated through the air.darkish presence loomed earlier than them, a nearly tangible pressure pressing towards their minds. Its power felt limitless, its darkness swallowing the entirety in its course. But Nero wasn’t afraid. Not anymore.Lucia’s breath came here in brief gasps as she steadied herself beside him, her expression an aggregate of determination and exhaustion.Her power had almost tired after the last attack, but he ought to feel her drawing something deeper, something even greater and primal. She wasn’t giving up.“We can do this,” she stated, her voice steady, however strained.Nero glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her exhausted face. “I recognize. We’re no longer walking far from this until it’s completed.”She nodded, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the swirling mass of darkness beforehand. “We want to interrupt via its center.
Chapter 132Lucia’s coronary heart pounded in her chest, the thrum of her pulse the only sound that appeared to matter within the quiet before the hurricane. She stood in the middle of the battlefield, eyes locked on Zytherion’s darkish, pulsing core, the source of the chaos that had twisted the arena into a nightmare.The air round her crackled with uncooked power, thick and oppressive, like a typhoon approximately to break.She may want to feel Nero’s presence at the back of her, a strong, constant anchor within the overwhelming sea of darkness.“We don’t have a great deal of time,” Nero said, his voice low and irritating; however, there has been a flicker of something in his eyes—something unstated, a fear too big for phrases.“I know,” Lucia replied, her voice consistent notwithstanding the storm raging inside her. She wasn’t prepared for what was changing, but she couldn’t let herself falter now.Not while the entirety hinged on this second. “We’ve driven Zytherion this some dist
Chapter 133Nero sat in the heart of the antique ruins, where the partitions still carried whispers of battles long misplaced. The air hung heavy with the fragrance of rain-soaked stone, wrapping the complete location in an eerie stillness. His cloak clung to his return, damp from the mist that rolled in with the fading light.He hadn't spoken to anybody in days, not on account of Lucia's light had diminished from the world.His fingers traced the carved symbols alongside the wall, ones she had once explained to him — marks of the old gods. Her voice nevertheless echoed in his head, tender and complete of wonder. It used to calm him.Now it only carved deeper into the hollow pain spreading in his chest."She should not have done it..." The words tumbled out without him meaning to. They sounded damaged, like they belonged to someone else.He pressed his forehead in opposition to the cold stone, squeezing his eyes shut. If he stayed nonetheless long enough, perhaps the ache might dull.
Chapter 151The sky above the Celestial Nexus churned, deep indigo streaked with silver mild. Nero stood in the center, the burden of the universe pressing in opposition to his chest. His frame radiated power, a force he hadn’t yet fully discovered to control. Nyxario.That name rang in his head like a bell, a steady reminder that he turned into not just Nero Orsini. He became something greater. Something divine.But is turning into divinity a blessing or a curse?He closed his eyes, letting the whispers of the gods slither throughugh his mind. They called to him, demanding obedience, urging him to sever all mortal ties. To allow the passage of Lucia.Lucia.His hands clenched into fists. He had fought through hell to attain her, defied fate itself. And now, simply while she wanted him most, he was being requested to shrink back?A presence stirred at the back of him. He didn't want to show to realize who it had become.“You’re hesitating.”The voice changed into calm, but there has b
Chapter 150The moon appeared low above the Celestial Nexus and its pale light created extended shadows on the jagged alien rocks surrounding the large glowing pool at the center. An unsettling silence filled the air while the faint wind whispered in a timeless language.Lucia positioned herself at the periphery of the glowing pool which emitted an eerie yet gentle luminescence.The Heart of Lunaria emitted a soft glow beside her while its crystalline body throbbed like a faint heartbeat. It was waiting, just like she was. A few steps from Lucia Nero watched her back with his gaze while his face remained tense. The burden of their pending decision loomed above them like an ominous storm cloud.His voice reached only a whisper as if louder words might destroy their delicate instant. “Are you sure about this?” She didn’t answer right away. The words refused to leave her throat because her soul itself seemed to be resisting speech. How could she be sure? There were too many unknowns. T
Chapter 149A blanket of stars sparkled above the ancient mountain as the night sky shimmered. Lucia and Nero observed from the cliff edge as unnatural energy surged throughout their surroundings. A dense energy filled the air while the world waited for an imminent monumental event. The celestial event was only moments away. The pressure of the air shifted around Lucia which made her heart race while her senses intensified. She whispered "Something feels wrong here" but her words disappeared into the wind's fierce roar. “Nero, do you feel that?” Nero nodded, his expression grim. “It’s him. Eldrin. He’s going to do something… something huge.” The celestial bodies above started moving while their normal brightness faded momentarily before exploding into vibrant chaotic patterns. The heavens themselves seemed to be rearranging. The earth beneath them quivered gently as though holding its breath in anticipation for a massive release.A solitary beam of light shot from the darkened sky
Chapter 148The dim light inside the cavern revealed Sophia's followers while ancient unnatural tension filled the air. Carved twisted symbols decorated the stone around the ritual site and emitted a faint pulse of dark energy.The walls of the room appeared to come alive as shadows danced in the corners beneath the flickering torchlight.At the entrance Lucia stood with fast breathing while she examined the surroundings. Her pulse thundered in her ears.She experienced the compelling force of magic all around her. The resurrection ritual was close to completion. Failing to act at this moment would result in the loss of their hard-fought goals.Asher spoke in a tense whisper that bordered on a growl when he said she had gotten too close. "We can’t let her rise again." Lucia gave a quick nod while she firmly grasped the blade in her hand. "We’ll stop it. We have to." Beside her, Sindre’s eyes glinted with determination. Sindre observed that the barriers presented an unprecedented lev
Chapter 147The old cathedral's shadows held Alessandro as his amber eyes remained fixed on candlelight streaming through broken windows. Damp stone mingled with broken promises made the air thick and oppressive. He held onto the silver cross at his neck which he had lost faith in but did not dare to remove.Kalyndria entered the room through her presence before her physical form appeared. The air trapped the mingling fragrances of lavender and death which served as her signature entrance.Her heels struck the marble floor with a sharp sound as Alessandro's jaw tightened."You came." Her voice was silk wrapped around thorns. "I didn't come for you." He watched from the window as the moon fought to shine through the dense clouds. "I came for what was promised." Kalyndria's lips curved. "And what was promised? Power? Revenge? Do you seek liberation from Lucia's controlling grip or something else?Alessandro felt his heart pounding yet he managed to conceal the reaction. He refused to
Chapter 146Valeria ran her fingers over the cracked edges of the ancient tome as it lay upon the marble altar. A dense aroma of smoldering herbs mixed with moisture from the stone filled the sanctuary's atmosphere.Moonlight seeped through the high-arched windows creating shadows on the faded murals that depicted forgotten deities. Each inhalation she made seemed burdened by the circulating whispers inside her head.They were getting louder. She closed her eyes tight to muffle the voices that were clawing at her thoughts. But the visions wouldn't stop. Her eyelids became a screen for visions of city fires and rivers stained black while she saw a shadowy figure standing at the center of it all.Eldrin. Her heart pounded against her ribs while the name reverberated through her mind. The prophecy had haunted her visions for weeks until this moment when everything began to connect.Footsteps echoed along the stone corridor. Valeria’s eyes snapped open, her pulse quickening. Valeria spu
Chapter 145The cold steel of his blade's hilt became familiar as Dante's fingers wrapped around it. The pressure he applied to his grip caused his knuckles to ache but he remained determined to maintain his composure. The looming decision tormented him with its weight.He stood at the brink of darkness before and fought to pull himself away from its pull. Today everything made him feel like the darkness was nearer than it had ever been before."Are you okay?" Lucia’s voice pierced his thoughts with a soft but sharply concerned tone.Dante didn't look up. He couldn’t. He wasn't sure if he was okay. Could he ever be?He muttered "Fine" but his voice lacked the confidence he desired. He wasn’t fine. Not at all. Every mission and threat he faced brought his internal darkness back to life.Lucia remained next to him providing a firm presence that showed her unwavering belief in him. But she didn’t know everything.The monster that once took the form of Lupero and reveled in chaos and dest
Chapter 144Tension filled the council room making the air feel dense. At the table’s head Lucia sat while her fingers nervously tapped the smooth surface beneath them. The fragile peace between the factions had always hung by a thin thread that could break suddenly.But today, something was different. Kalyndria stepped into the room through the creaking door while her focused eyes quickly scanned her surroundings.Lucia’s heart sank. Her body was alert to the truth that this meeting held more importance than usual.Kalyndria surveyed the assembled group with a voice that carried both chill and restraint. “Let’s get this over with.” Lucia gave a small nod and fought to maintain a blank expression. She couldn’t show weakness, not now. Her eyes flicked to the leaders seated around the table: The table included Elena who represented the witches’ faction alongside Morten from the vampire group and Blake who led the werewolves.The council members had all consented to join the meeting bec
Chapter 143The wind screamed through the stone fissures while the temple maintained a haunting silence within. As Lucia advanced across the temple floor her boots made a ringing noise against the ancient stone.The ancient symbols carved into the walls emitted a faint glow which made them appear alive with ancient magic.The ancient temple seemed to hold countless secrets within its shadows while centuries of history created a heavy burden that pressed upon her.Isabella Marini stepped silently next to her while she examined everything in the room. Isabella Marini also detected the magical presence in the atmosphere.This location exhibited an unusual quality which pulled visitors in with its allure yet pushed them away with its menace.The prophecy of the Blood Moon draped itself over them like a dark shadow which they could only interpret by examining the ancient past.Lucia paused briefly as her fingers traced the chilly surface of the stone wall. "I can feel it," she murmured. "T