NOVEL NEXT Chapter 155: Crown
The War of the Gods ended. The Black Emperor and the Blood Emperor fell. Across the world, the crimson darkness emitting the authority of war and disorder was engulfed in pure brilliance.
The colossal statues of the Black Emperor and Blood Emperor collapsed across the Solomon Empire and Tudor Empire, declaring the demise of the Emperors for the world.
In the astral world, the pure brilliance that engulfed everything receded into obscurity, making the entire solar system plunge into darkness.
The sun disappeared with all of the fabric of reality within the astral world, leaving only the starless void. The three planets were unaffected by the aftermath of the battle of gods due to the protection of the God of Steam and Machinery. Though with the disappearance of the sun, the planets in their trajectory abruptly stopped.
Suddenly, there was a golden spark, then a fire, and then an inferno, roaring in the centre of the solar system. It rose high and high, morphing into a fluorescent orb, larger and larger, dwarfing everything.
With a thud, the eternal sun reappeared, shattering the darkness, sending out infinite light and warmth, illuminating it all in a golden ethereal glow. The collapsed reality began to heal visibly
The frozen plants in their trajectory resumed as the gravity of the sun shrouded them, making it all slowly return to normal.
The Eternal Blazing Sun emerged from the infinite brilliance of the sun, holding the crimson crown, symbolising victory for all gods.
Sasrir, the True Creator, looked at Aucuses silently before leaving the Astral World and returning to his kingdom in the forsaken land of the gods.
Herabergan, The God of Knowledge and Wisdom, closed his ominiscent book. His figure faded away from the astral world without staying for another moment.
Artisan, the God of Steam and Machinery, retrieved his scroll of civilization from Earth and returned to the floating continent.
Badhiel, the God of Combat, was near Lilith, checking in on her before turning and lightly nodding to Aucuses, his figure disappearing in the twilight.
The Night Emperor removed the black crown from his head, also nodding to the Eternal Blazing Sun, and returned to the Palace of Eternity.
Cheek, Primordial Demoness, looked on at the crimson crown held by the Eternal Blazing Sun with obvious reluctance, but she finally sighed, turning back and disappearing into the material world.
Amanises, the Evernight Goddess, exchanged glances with the Eternal Blazing Sun, fading away into the obscurity of darkness.
The astral world plunged into silence with the departure of the gods, leaving only the Eternal Blazing Sun and the Earth Mother.
Under the illumination of the sun, Aucuses appeared before Lilith, immediately embracing her. His arms were lightly quivering.
"I am sorry." He mumbled. "I am sorry."
"Oh.." Lilith got out of his embrace, her hands on his cheeks, making him look into her vibrant eyes. "It's okay. It's not your fault; don't blame yourself."
"Still.." Aucuses drawled, his arms around her tightening. "I almost lost you."
Lilith sighed. She seemed not that affected by all that happened, but her heavily quivering arms told a completely different story.
She held the arms of Aucuses. "I am fine now, silly. So put down your worries."
Aucuses took a deep breath, calming down. Then, he spoke, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I will make Salinger pay."
Lilith said, sighing. "Let's leave him aside for now. You are a mess, Aucuses. Let go and I will help you."
Aucuses looked on in love, silently. He was completely drained and his whole figure was dyed in his own blood.
At the same time, bearing the power of the brilliance formed by all the gods was completely and totally life-threatening. This was why no other gods dared to enter the centre other than Aucuses, who was the only one able to at least bear the brilliance, as he was the symbol of power. Still, it was completely excruciating for even Aucuses, leaving him completely drained. The only reason he hadn't collapsed yet was only due to his sheer will and overwhelming concern for Lilith.
Aucuses finally nodded, his eyes dimmed, and his figure withered, collapsing on Lilith.
Lilith immediately caught him and carried him back to earth, leaving the desolate astral world.
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Few hours later, Trier.
The busting city of Sun was completely deserted with no living soul in sight. The sky was marked with dark clouds with lightning flashing down on earth from time to time, rumbling the entire city.
Aucuses sat at a table outside the restaurant, reclining in his chair. He was completely recovered with the Goddess of Life herself treating him.
It was too close this time. If not for him obtaining Arrodes beforehand, everything would have been lost. His beloved.
He clenched his hand, golden blood dripping down on the ground, melting everything.
"Here." Lilith appeared before him, holding two cups of coffee, passing one. "Just the way you like it."
Aucuses put on a smile, pressing down his emotions, taking the coffee. He discreetly waved his hands, cleansing the blood on the floor.
Then, he took a sip of the coffee, letting his thoughts fly, to distract himself.
The War of the Gods may have ended, but the war on the land is still going on. His church was confronting the Abraham family, purging them, while most of his angels marched towards the Hornacis Mountains with the Church of Evernight Goddess.
"How is the situation?" Lilith asked in between sips, still not bringing up her situation.
"Fine." Aucuses said, "Abraham family is almost purged. They put up quite a resistance though, even taking out the final card: the scroll of the god."
"Wasn't that created by the Creator?" Lilith asked, surprised.
"Yes," Aucuses replied. "The creator visualised it into existence, infusing it with a shadow of the authority of god. Blaise prayed for me after they used that. And I sent down divine punishment and destroyed it with most of the Abraham Family."
He paused, "Antigonus family, though, the situation turned complex."
"Amanises still didn't slay Antigonus." Lilith asked, accurately inferring from his words.
"No." Aucuses shook his head. "She almost succeeded, but my call and the situation forced her to descend into the astral world."
He suddenly closed his eyes, brows furrowing. Immediately, he stood up from the seat and gulped down the hot coffee in one go.
"What happened?..." Lilith asked, standing up with him.
"There is a situation in Hornacis Mountain. I need to go. Amanises is already on the way." He extended his hand, shaking it in front of her, after noticing her actions. "You are not coming. It can be as dangerous as what happened a few hours ago."
"All the more reasons I should come." Lilith said, adamantly.
"Trust me on this, Lilith." Aucuses said deeply, holding her hand.
Lilith finally sighed before taking out pure black crystals from her gown and passing it to him.
"Here. Take this. These are my tears. It contains my authority as well as uses it to summon me. " She said, solemnly "Don't hesitate, Aucuses, if things get worse. I can take care of myself."
Aucuses nodded, receiving her tears. Then, he leaned in for a light kiss, his figure breaking away into light particles.
"Wait for me…"
His voice lingered in the air as the particles faded away, leaving Lilith alone in the desolate city.
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Hornacis Mountain.
The crimson brilliance seeped through the white clouds, illuminating the main peak of Hornacis Mountain.
The armies of the church of Eternal Blazing Sun and Evernight Goddess occupied the plains like an ocean, troop by troop, company by company, huddled together, marching towards the nation of night ruled by the Antigonus Family.
However, they suddenly stopped. The crimson brilliance of the moon burned away the darkness, revealing a gigantic demonic wolf perched on the top of the peak.
Its rage-filled laurel black eyes looked down on the armies.
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