Shrouded Seascape

As soon as Anna approached the nearest corpse, their transformation became quicker and more pronounced. In the end, the corpses on the ground transformed into the corpses of the soldiers they had seen at the factory at the time.

Some of their faces were even familiar, as they were people they had a few conversations with back then.

They were followers of the Shattered God. Anna and her group had been deceived—they were supposed to be comrades, but they had been tricked into killing each other.

"High Priestess, this is..."

Anna stood up slowly and said, "The next time we encounter enemies, don't attack them immediately. They seem to have the special ability to confound us. It seems that the so-called Blind Sisterhood isn't as useless as that pile of scrap metal had claimed."

Anna glanced at the freckled young woman, who was still vomiting, before leading the others forward. They were on high alert. The encounter just now was so bizarre that they were convinced that the next waves of enemies would consist of their comrades.

It seemed that the enemy could only change appearances and couldn't compel those under the effects of its special ability to fighting styles. The next time they encountered enemies with firearms, they'd question them first before fighting.

However, Anna was surprised to encounter no one as they made their way to their destination. It was like everything had been cleared out.

The smell of gunpowder and flames in the air was getting stronger, and it told Anna that the followers of the Shattered God were still attacking their targets. In no time, the mountain would surely erupt into flames.

However, Anna remained calm despite that possibility. She believed that the other party ought to be the ones feeling desperate at this point.

Just when Anna thought that they would reach their destination without any issues, a black and white spotted moth flew past her face. More moths appeared, and it was like the smoke coming from the forest was driving them away.

The fluorescent powder on the moths' wings scattered everywhere, making the forest appear as if it were in the middle of a blizzard. Those within the "blizzard" had to squint because visibility was decreasing rapidly.

Something's wrong with these moths! As soon as the thought crossed Anna's mind, green corrosive flames manifested around her, igniting the powder floating in the air.

The powder was reduced to ash, but their conditions didn't improve. The sky full of powder became a sky full of ashes, making everyone cough. Their eyes also stung, making it difficult for them to open their eyes.

Just then, several shadowy figures emerged from the forest. Their hands were clasped in front of their chests, and they slowly made their way toward Anna.

Anna extended her right hand, and she was given a bundle of spider silk. Anna wrapped it around her face, and the burning sensation in her throat and nose disappeared instantly.

Anna looked up and saw the faces of the shadowy figures through the semi-translucent spider silk.

They were all women, and they all looked to be around seventeen or eighteen. Despite being clad in an old nun's habits, their beauty still stood out.

"Do not be afraid, Lunasia. The Moth needs our sacrifice, and it is important—far more important than ourselves," a nun said. Then, she solemnly extended a pendant with an inverted cross toward Anna.

They spoke in a bizarre language, but Anna could surprisingly understand it.

Anna's face showed a hint of resistance, but she ultimately accepted it. As soon as the cross touched her hand, a jet-black fissure split open from the middle of the cross, and then two black and white spotted moths emerged from within it.

The moths circled around Anna several times before settling on Lunasia's eyes.

She closed her eyes, letting the moths rest beneath her eyelids.

The act of closing one's eyes would render anyone unable to perceive their surroundings, but Lunasia could sense everyone around her. Although she couldn't see, she could feel their presence.

Moreover, she was connected to everyone else's senses—they had essentially become one. Lunasia's scenery changed, and even her sense of touch was influenced, as she could feel herself getting whisked away somewhere.

Lunasia looked up and saw the Moth beyond the Mansus, the wailing Lionsmith, and the crumbling Red Moon.

Lunasia instantly understood their connection with each other as well as her very own ideals.

The Moth was weak, and it needed rest—It could not endure further torment.

Kill them? Why am I having these thoughts? Why do I have to kill myself?

Lunasia lowered her head and followed herself, advancing slowly through the darkness.

Their surroundings transformed as they continued forward. Black roses bloomed and withered around them, and the giant Wheel was starting to turn; the darkness around them had also transformed into an indescribable multitude of hues.

The copes of her own self around her multiplied rapidly, and as they merged with each other, the surrounding colors grew increasingly vibrant. At this moment, Lunasia was filled with genuine joy; it was a delight originating from not just one person but from a collective.

As soon as the delight rose to a crescendo, Lunasia opened her eyes and found herself in a small cave illuminated by torches. There were injured people everywhere on the ground.

Lunasia felt her heart shatter upon seeing the injured figures on the ground. She crouched down to tend to them alongside a freckled young woman.

"You have to hold on, Madam Amanda! The Moth has yet to accept your child!" Lunasia exclaimed with heart-wrenching anguish as she gripped the hand that had been burned until it was devoid of any skin.

Amanda moved her head. The skin all over her face had fused together, transforming into an indescribable lump of flesh. Amanda's eyes, which had been scorched white—landed on Lunasia.

"Lunasia, I-I can't go on. Live on for me. The Moth must return to the Green Door," Amanda said, and her hand went limp in Lunasia's grasp.

An indescribable grief pervaded Lunasia's chest, and the grief spread to everyone present in an instant. Soon, their synchronized sobbing echoed throughout the small cave.

They were grief-stricken and anguished, but they could not afford the luxury to wallow in it because their enemies were approaching.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed, and a violent tremor ran across the small cave. The next moment, huge rocks started falling from above, crashing onto the ground and people.

A collapse was imminent, but these people still had to get to the Silver Lake! Lunasia wasted no time and hoisted an individual who had lost their legs onto her shoulder. Then, she pressed deeper into the cave.

The explosions grew increasingly distant and were soon replaced by the sound of flowing water. Lunasia was delighted—the Silver Lake was close.

After a few minutes of walking, the space up ahead opened up as a massive underground cavern appeared before them. The entire cave was full of water, and moths of varying sizes hovered over the water's surface.

There was no mistaking it—Lunasia was staring at Silver Lake. The lake's water was so clear that she could see the eyeless fish swimming down below.

Lunasia stepped on the white pebbles and carried the injured individual toward a perfectly circular clearing in the middle of the lake.

There was a group of people sitting in the clearing—children with albinism. The children were clad in white clothes, and their hair was white. Their pupils were white as well, and even their eyelashes were white.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

A green willow branch was stuck to their heads, and like Anna, their eyes had been replaced by moths. Without exchanging any words, everyone moved in unison—moving to the rhythm of the moths' movements.