ushernet Chapter 114 Atla Ceres Queen [1]
Chapter 114 Atla Ceres Queen [1]
Night had descended upon Ocryphia, and the sky was adorned with sparkling stars that glittered like scattered jewels. Such a breathtaking sky wasn't unusual in this city; Ocryphia was known for its celestial beauty.
Yet, despite the countless stars, what truly illuminated the city wasn't the heavens above. It was the vibrant streets below: glowing mana-powered cars and bikes weaving through the avenues, mana trains gliding smoothly on their tracks, and towering skyscrapers adorned with massive screens broadcasting the latest news and advertisements. The city buzzed with life, its lights spilling over every corner and painting a blend of colors across the urban landscape.
At this hour, the city's pulse was at its peak. The workday had ended, and families, couples, and groups of friends filled the streets. They strolled through bustling plazas, explored markets, and shared laughter under the neon glow of Ocryphia's endless entertainment venues.
As one of the four great capitals of Aurion, Ocryphia prided itself on catering to every taste and desire. Restaurants of every cuisine, theaters, music halls, and more ensured that both its wealthy residents and millions of annual visitors found their share of wonder.
Tonight, however, something extraordinary pierced through the mundane hum of the city.
"Hey, look up there!"
"What is that?"
"Is it... some kind of elaborate illusion?"
"It's too real to be a trick...I think."
The murmurs spread like wildfire as people craned their necks to gaze at the sky. Phones were pulled from pockets, their cameras pointed upward to capture a phenomenon unlike anything they had ever seen.
At first glance, the moon looked as resplendent as ever, its silver-gold rays brighter than usual, bathing Ocryphia in a sublime glow. It seemed even more captivating tonight, an image worthy of admiration. But that wasn't what had captured everyone's attention.
In the center of the glowing orb was something... unusual.
A crack.
At first, the idea was dismissed as impossible. Surely, it was a trick of the light or some atmospheric distortion. But the longer they stared, the clearer it became. There was no mistake—there was a fissure running across the moon's surface.
-Crack!
A sharp, echoing sound shattered the uneasy silence. It wasn't just visible now; the crack in the moon was audible, a twisting, splintering noise that sent chills down every spine. The crowd collectively froze, their gazes locked upward.
"It's growing!"
A man shouted pointing his finger before he instinctively stepped back.
Others followed suit, retreating slowly as if distance could shield them from whatever was unfolding. Fear rippled through the crowd as their skin prickled and their hearts raced.
-Crack! Crack! Crack!
The fissure spread like a living thing, expanding across the lunar surface in jagged, chaotic lines. Then, without warning, a piece of the moon broke away.
It plummeted, vanishing into the night sky.
Out of the crack in the moon, whitish-gold particles of light began to emerge. At first, they trickled out one by one, but soon they swarmed together in a mesmerizing dance, gathering and coalescing in front of the fractured lunar surface.
"W-What...?" Someone stuttered, his voice trembling as he gazed upward.
The particles of light shimmered, swirling like living beings. Slowly, they began to shape into something tangible. A hem appeared—delicate, flowing, and glowing faintly, as though woven from celestial threads.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the luminous particles continued to assemble. The ethereal gown came into full view, its elegant folds cascading downward, revealing long, slender legs. The waist took form next, followed by the graceful curve of a neck. The gathering light climbed upward, rising with a slow pace, leaving the onlookers breathless with anticipation.
Finally, the glow reached its crescendo, unveiling a face.
For a moment, there was a collective silence. Then:
"Ah..." Someone gasped, breaking the stillness when the horns appeared.
King took a step forward, carefully. "How are y—"
"Seven days, fifteen hours, thirty-two minutes, and eighteen seconds."
She cut him off.
"That is the duration of your transgression."
"..."
"You have broken the sacred oath we swore. An oath to remain ever bound—whether through physical proximity, telepathic communion, or the profound resonance of our souls. An oath to never allow the distance between us to exceed a single minute."
"Right, about this—" King scratched his cheek.
He was interrupted again—not by Queen this time, but by someone stepping out of the crowd.
"Oh my fucking God! Look at her! She's so hot—"
-Spurt!
The man didn't finish his sentence. His body exploded in an instant, blood and flesh scattering across the street.
For a second, there was silence, the crowd frozen in shock, struggling to process what had just happened.
Then came the screams.
-Pop! Spurt!
One by one, the onlookers who dared to scream or move in Queen's presence met the same fate. Their bodies burst into grotesque fragments, painting the streets of Ocryphia in pools of crimson and strewn flesh. The horror show didn't last long; silence returned as the crowd was reduced to lifeless remains.
Hundreds of bloodied corpses lay scattered, soaking the streets in gore.
"Queen," King called her.
She hadn't moved her gaze from King, not for a second. Even as the chaos unfolded, her eyes never wavered. They were fixed on him with a singular intensity.
She remained motionless, her focus on him, her expression unreadable. Around them, the city lay still—awash in blood, trembling under the presence of its Goddess.
But she didn't care about the carnage.
Her King was here. And that was all that mattered.
"K—King?"
Suddenly, Celine emerged from the building, her eyes wide with confusion.
The moment she stepped outside, the scene before her stole the breath from her lungs. The ground was painted in blood, the air heavy with the metallic stench of death. She gasped in horror, recoiling at the sight.
"Fuck! Queen—" King immediately moved to intervene. He knew what was about to happen, and there was no time to waste. Without hesitation, he stepped in front of Celine, shielding her just in time.
For a terrifying moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Queen's eyes shifted, her gaze settling on King as he stood protectively in front of Celine. Her expression remained unreadable, but the atmosphere around her changed in an instant.
King's throat went dry as he opened his mouth, the realization of what he had done hitting him like a freight train.
"Shit."