Endless Debt Chapter 1612 - 112: Winds Rising (2)

"Devon?"

A familiar voice echoed from the darkness, followed by the appearance of a pale little face.

"You’re still alive!"

Upon seeing Melissa, Devon’s voice was filled with surprise. He then scanned around, pondering how to help Melissa escape from this place.

Devon instructed nervously, "Melissa, remember, when the Blood Tax officers come in to choose people, you should discreetly follow along with the crowd. Don’t worry, I’ll manage to rescue you!"

"Escape?" Melissa hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "I’m sorry, I can’t leave this place."

"What are you talking about?"

Devon thought Melissa was mad; remaining here meant a death sentence for everyone.

"I need to take care of others. They need my help."

As Melissa spoke, she retreated into the darkness. Devon stepped on his tiptoes, trying to peer into the dark prison’s interior, his blurry vision gradually clearing up, revealing an incredible scene.

The previously chaotic and crowded cell was surprisingly harmonious now. People were sitting on the ground in orderly rows, shoulder to shoulder, without any traces of conflict among them.

Regardless of gender or age, everyone wore an expression of devotion, and all eyes sincerely rested on Melissa, who stood amid them, holding an ancient book and began to preach as she turned the pages.

"We shall witness the blazing sun."

Melissa recited the words from the book. Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just barely allowing her audience to hear her words. To Devon, these seemed like ordinary words, yet they had an almost magical quality, calming everyone within the prison.

"But the burning of the sun requires fuel for kindling."

Melissa glanced at Devon with an apologetic look but continued her sermon without pause.

"Souls, just offer your precious souls, embrace self-sacrifice, and all that we imagine will become reality."

Upon hearing this, the believers raised their heads. Some understood what she meant by soul, while others, like Melissa, had no clear comprehension.

However, an absolute consensus existed in their hearts: in this hellish place, soul, like life, seemed insignificant.

Thus, for most, offering their soul wasn’t difficult.

It was like choosing between a bad option and a worse one; if escaping this bloody hell meant offering their soul or embracing the Devil, everyone would do so without hesitation, even seeing the Devil as a savior.

"We will ultimately gain redemption."

Melissa took over the priest’s role, calming the crowd with her words.

Devon powerlessly moved his gaze from the narrow window, sitting down against the cold wall. Not far away, the Blood Tax officers were beginning a new round of selections, while in the distance, the army of Bloodthirsty had gathered.

Like falling into a dreamy trance, Devon felt his chest heavy and suffocated, like drowning, unable to find a way out.

Thunderous sounds came from afar. At the edge of the Dark Iron Curtain, two Ether forces clashed and tore at each other until a huge fissure stretched across the sky.

Many Night Race noticed it. They heard the overwhelming sound of the wind after the scar appeared, as the storm caused by Fuen and others slowly crossed the Anger Sea Barrier, preparing to land on the Lands of Eternal Night.

The loud sound of horns echoed over the Royal City.

On the wilds outside the Royal City, Bologue looked at the imposing high walls, curiously asking Serey beside him, "What’s that sound?"

Serey’s expression turned grave as he replied, "That’s the sound of assembling troops, preparing for battle."

"Preparing for battle?" Bologue hesitated for a moment, questioning, "Have we been exposed?"

Currently, the only adversaries the Rebellious Royal Court could go to war with were Bologue and his group. However, since infiltrating the Lands of Eternal Night, Bologue and his companions have kept highly secretive operations, logically they shouldn’t have been discovered.

"Olivia?"

Palmer cautiously suggested from the side.

"This is a call to arms. If Olivia was exposed, just a few Pure Blood Night Race would suffice; such a large-scale mobilization is unnecessary," Serey denied, a thought emerging in his mind, "It’s Fuen and his group. Didn’t they say they were going to attract the enemy’s main force for us?"

Serey gazed towards the end of the Royal City, where the dark pure night began to split into a grim opening, frightful Ethereal Fluctuations flowing into the Lands of Eternal Night.

The group exchanged glances and decisively quickened their pace toward the Royal City.

"You told me before, even after all these years, I believe my father, the Night King, remains bound by the shackles I left him," Serey instructed Bologue as they ran, "But just like you previously told me, I’m not certain what state the Night King is in now. Even if the shackles persist, whether they can truly restrain him is unknown territory."

Recalling his father, Serey’s expression turned extremely grave.

Bologue’s mood sank with Serey’s; to him, the Night King was only known in legends, the closest contact he ever had was during the hunt for Nesanel in the Land of Secrets.

According to Nesanel, the Night King had used the power of the Ethereal Realm to break through the constraints of the Material Realm and launched an attack on him. Bologue wasn’t sure if the Night King would resort to the same tactics, using such special means to bypass the shackles and confront them in a battle within the Ethereal Realm.