Silent Crown

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The moss froze on the stone bricks on the ground, giving off a withered color in the dark corridor, where sunlight never shone all day long.

Other than the middle part of the corridor, where people walked frequently, and the scratches formed when transporting goods, both sides of the corridor had been covered in moss, making the floor look as if it was covered with a layer of tattered carpet.

Whenever the heavy iron gate at the end of the corridor was pushed open, the tattered, yellowish-green carpet was torn to pieces.

The dim light shone from behind the door, illuminating the face of the middle-aged priest. He seemed to have aged prematurely, his mottled white hair neatly combed up behind his head. The contours of his face were sharp, his expression cold and hard. He wore a black robe and looked just like a spirit of iron.

He had white cataracts in his eyes, and his gaze was chilling.

But as a sound came from behind the door, his frowned slightly.

It seemed like singing.

Distant, hoarse moans were interwoven into faint breathing, and it seemed to have become a gentle hymn. But the hymn was so strange, it had a somewhat sticky texture, making it exceptionally unpleasant to the ear.

In the huge underground space behind the door, only the kerosene lamp hanging from the ceiling provided dim light.

Dozens of huge pools of water gave off a pungent smell. Some of the pools were turbulent, but one couldn't see what was hidden in it. Some of the pools were dry and completely empty, except for the dark red silt at the bottom of them.

And some pools had been half drained, with heavy chains dropping from the ceiling, hanging up the behemoth and supporting the seemingly boneless creature.

Like meat pulp that had been forcibly shaped together, after removing all the bones, the pure flesh relied on the pull of the chains, and a part of the tissue protruded from the deep pool.

As the flesh moved up and down, faint white clouds of air were exhaled from what seemed like its mouth and nose. As its lungs operated, they produced a turbid sound of turbulent liquid. The sound blended into the weird hymn, setting the main key of the melody.

The priest frowned but kept looking straight ahead. He made his way through the non-human creatures and walked straight to the end.

At the end of the hall, in front of the last deep pool of water, a scholar dressed in white was observing the created creature in the pool, his head low. He jotted down notes on his book without looking up and did not notice the person walking over from behind him.

It wasn't until the priest coughed twice, annoyed, that the scholar turned back, lifting his heavy glasses. After a moment of looking closely at the priest, he finally nodded in realization. "Ah, you've come, is the trial about to begin?"

"Three more hours to go." The priest responded indifferently. "I am representing the College of Cardinals to check out 'His' situation, to ensure that He can attend the trial, or at least sit in the dock alive.

"The representatives of the various countries are all waiting for the verdict. No mistakes can be afforded. "

"Ah, about that, don't worry." The scholar revealed a strange smile on his aged face. "He is very well now."

As he said so, a huge searchlight descended from the ceiling, and after a spark of electricity flashed, a dazzling light of a ghastly white color erupted. The ray of light shone straight into the pool behind the scholar, illuminating the… thing in the pool.

In the dark green viscous liquids, something was floating.

At a glance, the first thing that would attract one's attention was its bones.

It seemed as if a skeleton made of iron was heated until it melted and thrown into the water, taking on a weird appearance as it got distorted. Bones proliferated where they shouldn't have been in some places, and bones were missing in some other places.

One could only vaguely make out the distorted spine. Many of the bones had merged together, and some protruded out of the flesh from strange places, floating in the water.

Similarly, deformed muscles were attached to the bones, but as if they weren't stuck firmly enough. They floated in the water like seaweed in a tide. The organs that had undergone pathological changes grew amid the seaweed, in the cage formed by the skeleton. Some had grown out of the body, yet the creature still seemed unaware of it.

Despite having been distorted to such an extent, but at first glance, one would still feel… that it was like a person.

It was because of its head.

Compared to the distorted body, the head was so perfect. On the head was a delicate face that seemed to have been crafted by God. Blond hair floated around in the solution, like melted black gold.

The only thing unsightly was the huge iron plug wedged into the skull from the back of the head, even occupying the space where brain tissue was located. After removing everything that could be removed, a lock-like thing was filled into the skull.

It restrained the creature to the pool.

At the moment, the priest was stunned and only felt a chill spreading through him.

"You are shocked, aren't you?" The scholar smiled, satisfied. "After all, when it was sent here, it only had half a head and an incomplete skeleton. In just two days, it has grown to such an extent.

"You see, the lymphatic tissue has almost recovered, although it had grown in a disorderly manner and formed a mess, like the internal organs, at least it will have zero problems going to court."

In the cold silence, the priest subconsciously drew the holy emblem on his chest, still feeling disturbed. As if he realized that the scholar was making fun of him, his expression became darker and darker. "At the very least, shouldn't you restore a complete set of limbs for him? Also, why is he looking like a bloody ball of flesh?"

"This? Rest assured, before the trial, we will implant a layer of dermis for him to make him at least… appear more human." The scholar just shook his head slightly, and his expression became mocking. "However, I think the jury would rather see him show up like this?

"If everyone can have a clear understanding of what the so-called Son of God is, they probably will feel no more incomprehensible pity for him."

The priest wrinkled his brows, his voice solemn and cold. "Be clear about this, I am here to convey the command of the Holy See! And not discuss it with you! You just have to obey the order!"

A short silence ensued.

The scholar looked at him with an odd gaze, as if he was looking at a fool who didn't know anything.

"Shh!" The eccentric and gloomy old man raised a finger and put it to his lips. "Keep your voice low, don't disturb him."

At the moment, the priest was stunned.

Amid the deep pool, in the viscous liquid, under the messy golden hair, the face suddenly twitched. Then, the slumbering eyes abruptly opened.

One of the eye sockets was hollow, while the other side contained a bloodshot eye that suddenly looked towards the surface of the water, quietly staring into the priest's eyes.

Just being looked at made the priest felt as if he was being swallowed up by a massive fear.

The priest staggered backward, stepping on the slippery moss on the edge of the pool, and almost fell onto the ground.

Fortunately, one arm reached over and grabbed his hand.

"He woke up!" The priest pointed at the thing in the pool with horror, his expression twisted.

"No, no, it's just a neural response." The scholar gave an odd smile and released his hand. Then only did the priest feel a slippery touch on his wrist, and he finally remembered that the hand felt very soft to the touch when it grabbed him just now as if it had no bones…

The scholar acted perfectly normally. His smile was still the same, and he just pointed a finger at the pool. "In fact, after all the gray matter has been suppressed and removed, we don't even know if it still has consciousness."

The priest asked subconsciously, "Then what about the confession that the College of Cardinal wants?"

"It really is a problem." The scholar chuckled twice. "It is now immersed in its own dreams, and no outside interference can wake it up. However, I heard that you had plenty of expertise regarding interrogation in your early years. Anyway, it is still early, maybe you can try?"

"For-forget it…" The priest shook his head without pausing to think about it. However, before he left, he couldn't help but look back towards the pool. The priest's gaze flitted across His eyes and was immediately averted.

It was as if he was afraid of being burnt by a soldering iron.

"…Such a thing can no longer be considered human."

The door closed.

"Hah." The scholar looked in the direction the priest left, his smile still mocking.

But soon, sudden turbulence burst forth.

Boom! The ceiling shook, and dust particles fell from it. As if it had experienced an earthquake, a huge impact hit the city above the surface of the ground. The impact traveled deep underground and was still terrifying.

It seemed as if giants were trampling on the ground in anger. The shock waves spread, bringing thunder-like echoes.

In the deep pool, the viscous dark green liquid was also turbulent.

The eye blinked.

The movement was so small it was hard to detect.

…

The first peal of thunder sounded.

The iron-like skies shook, the wounds torn open on it, having yet to heal, and the weak light of dusk shone through, illuminating the dark sea and sky. It illuminated the steel monster sailing fast and breaking the waves.

Whines erupted from the legendary battleship, the Mountain of Nomadism. In the sharp blaring of the horns, the melody of the chapter of thunder was played again.

On the deck, Ye Qingxuan lifted his hand, echoing the power of the Net of Aether. An inexhaustible amount of aether gathered towards him, and in the horrifying waves that shook the heavens and the earth, he once again clenched the spear of thunder that had appeared out of thin air and threw it forward.

Gungnir rumbled.

Propelled by the World Tree, it whizzed toward the dark waters ahead.

The waves rolled and everything was pierced through.

Lightning rose into the sky and once again descended, exuding a violent aura. After tearing through the layers of fog, without hiding its intention, it attacked the city that had once contained all the brilliance of humanity.

Destruction descended!

And so, behind the layers of protection, large portions of the walls of the steel city were burnt red.

Massive amounts of seawater evaporated, rising into the sky and turning into rainstorms that poured down.

The Mountain of Nomadism roared and sailed forward.

Behind the sea wave that had opened up, dragon roars erupted.

Dozens of huge shadows moved forward in the torrential rain, following the Mountain of Nomadism, and sailed toward the Sacred City!

It was the Royal Fleet of the first generation, formed with golden Firebird, the legendary navy that once sailed across the seven seas.

Through the flow of aether supported by the Net of Aether, at the moment, tens of thousands of war musicians had showcase their tenacity here, supporting the materialization of the terrifying fleet. With dozens of instruments of harmonious melody acting as intermittent stations, they propelled the terrifying behemoths to… attack!

As the fleet advanced, the wild waters in the sea region ahead seemed to have been provoked. Tangible, gray mist rose from the ocean, forming illusory walls, which were erected above the sea region layer by layer, blocking all outsiders out.

Torrential rains poured, shattering when they fell on the incorporeal wall of fog, and water vapor rose.

Only the rumble of seawater remained between the heavens and the earth.

Scoured by the rain, the musicians on the deck wore heavy ponchos, like ghosts lingering on a ghost ship.

Someone stepped forward to report, "Your Royal Highness, we have arrived in the territorial waters of the Sacred City!" He raised his voice, trying to make himself heard over the loud noises. "The Sacred City had activated their sea defense measures and issued us a warning asking that we retreat by thirty nautical miles. Otherwise, they will resort to force…"

"Don't mind them." The ruler who held the thunderbolt in his hand lifted his head indifferently, staring at the city in the distance which had revealed its contours in the storm. His silver hair fluttered in the wind, like burning silver flowing in the air, giving off fiery heat. "Smash through it!"

In that instant, low, flat booms sounded from the Mountain of Nomadism one after another. Numerous rivets popped out of the armor, and as the outer armor detached, the grotesque appearance hidden underneath was revealed.

16 giant instruments of harmonious melody were launched at the same time, carving a huge hollow space out in the sea of aether. Absorbing a large amount of fluid aether, the Mountain of Nomadism entered the formation of the Royal Fleet, placing itself at the position of the flagship.

The Chapter of the Golden Victory was played!

Firebird swept across like a waterfall, and the phantom image of the giant golden dragon emerged from it. It shrouded over the entire fleet and spread its wings. Innumerable blade-like scales extended, reflecting layers of metallic gleam.

As the dragon spread its wings, the speed of the entire fleet abruptly skyrocketed, and the horrifying speed caused it to form a huge gully in the waters that it had passed. The loud noise of seawater backfilling only sounded behind them after a long time.

At the moment, the phantom image of the dragon and the fog collided, and a landslide-like quake burst forth.

The phantom shadow of the holy emblem fell apart.

The wall of fog was smashed through.

The tide that had risen vertically began to collapse, and huge gaps emerged from it. In the forlorn wails of countless strands of music theory, the dissipating aether spewed out, forming flying streams of silver light in the air.

The naval defense set up by the Sacred City was destroyed as easily as crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.

The Royal Fleet had already entered the hinterland of the territorial waters of the Sacred City!

It was at the very moment that the waters behind the fog wall were enraged. Mighty bell tolls sounded. The bell chimes seemed to have become tangible, spreading from the middle of the sea in all directions. Everywhere the substantial sound waves passed, they forcibly smoothed out all the ripples and tides.

It was as if someone was cutting off protruding wooden stumps with a sickle.

The sea region which was initially turbulent with hidden tides returned to a death-like calmness in an instant.

First, the thousands of alchemy arrays inscribed into the mud and gravel at the bottom of the sea were illuminated. When the glows lit up, only then did people realize that the entire seabed had long since been shoveled in a manner such that it was perfectly level at the moment.

It was as smooth as a mirror.

The mud deposited on it was pushed away by the shock waves. Then, an infinite nature interference spread, forcibly processing all the seawater in the sea region.

After the original nature of "fluidity" was removed, the "rock-like firmness" that replaced it made the water as hard as a rock.

In an instant, the entire fleet was bounced up into the sky by the ocean.

It looked as if all the warships leaped from the sea together in an orderly fashion, then fell back heavily on the rock-firm sea. As if they had hit the iron, matter and matter collided, leaving deep scratches, and producing countless sparks. Sharp noises sounded one after another.

The warships were stranded.

Fortunately, most of the warships materialized from Firebird. Otherwise, tragic scars would probably have appeared due to weight and gravity in an instant.

It was much simpler for the Mountain of Nomadism.

It directly switched to the fourth mode forcefully.

And so, it stopped its falling forcibly, floating about 60 centimeters above the sea. Relying on the enormous gravitational force radiated by its innumerable arrays and musical movements, it exerted pressure on the frozen sea below.

It was as if a shot put had fallen into a fishing net, and the sea surface, which was initially flat was forcefully pressed until it caved in.

"That's all? Let me add on!" someone snickered with disdain, then stomped on the deck.

Bang! The gravitational force emitted by the Mountain of Nomadism became hundreds of times stronger in an instant, reaching the maximum load it could bear in theory. It was the result Ye Qingxuan directly extracting the power of the Net of Aether and forcefully pressing it down.

The frozen sea surface shattered and caved in, directly forming a huge hole. The surface of the sea became rugged like shattered rocks and turned into ruins in an instant.

As if it was not expecting the defense position that was initially indestructible to be defeated so easily, at the moment, the counterattack finally took place.

A large pillar of iron rose from the deep sea towards the surface.

A total of 641 iron pillars were erected on the sea in an instant, their tops being several hundred meters above the sea, and each was so thick that it would take several people to join hands and form a ring around it.

But no alchemy array was inscribed above.

It seemed like pure ornaments with no ability to attack, and even the material was just an alloy with high strength coated in a layer of black gold.

The strange man-made creations stood on the shattered sea, exuding a cold and forbidding aura, or at the very least it did not seem like some artificial scenery of the Sacred City.

At least, no one had ever heard of such a pointless tourist attraction.

Soon, the Sacred City provided them with a detailed explanation.

What the pillars were, exactly.

When the auditory hallucinations that sounded like the buzzing of bees resounded in everyone's ears, their hairs standing up one by one in the static electricity, some still did not know what was happening.

But everyone could see the chaotic specks of light floating around in the air.

They were like fireflies of summer.

They drifted about in the hurricane, fluttering chaotically. They were fine and chaotic lightning, and the harm each one could do was negligible, but they were like the warning barks before an earthquake.

They were the signs of the arrival of a disaster.