[Book II Chapter 162] WISE: Myriad Calamity Crystallization
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From Astrolis’s cockpit, Wise finished communicating the situation to Aery’s twin weaponsmiths. He then waited for the inevitable.
“Did you see Yuria die with your own eyes?” Helix Karel asked.
“No, I didn’t.” Wise admitted.
“Then there’s not much we can do.” Gali shrugged.
Emerit was not amused by this response. “Can’t you delay Artimis’s next strike?” He asked.
“Theoretically yes, but…” Helix hesitated.
“One the preconditions to letting us construct an ultimate weapon, was that we abide by strict protocols.” Gali continued. “Queen Kalista has authorized its use, and firing authority is vested with Oliver Brack. Interfering is not an option we are willing to consider.”
They are worried the fallout would impact their independence and research budget, Wise understood. They’ll respect the chain of command even if the lives of millions were in jeopardy.
“Bloody politics…” Dawn muttered under her breath.
Wise glanced discreetly at his sister. Her jaw muscle was so tense he could almost feel her grinding her teeth. This was the angriest he’d ever seen her.
“Excuse me, I have another incoming call.” Emerit announced. The twins nodded and their image disappeared only to be replaced with the armored figure of a man. Samuel Horn, Arland’s ruler.
“Emerit Blaze, what the hell is going on with Oliver Brack?” Samuel began briskly before noticing Astrolis’s extra passengers. “… and why are Dawn and Wise Skyfell with you?”
“I am ferrying them to Novguard so they can reason with its governing immortal.“ Emerit replied smoothly.
Samuel frowned at this news. “Oliver has advised us to withdraw our saints and abandoned the outskirts. Not only would this leave millions defenseless… Does he genuinely intend to target the refugee population?”
“Unfortunately, he’s serious…” Wise relayed what had happened with Artemis’s first strike.
“Curse the Heavenly Dao…” Samuel raged. “Just what we needed, an Aery immortal going off the deep end…”
“My sister and I will stop him.” Wise promised. “He won’t fire again.”
Samuel spent a moment appraising him. “I will tell Oliver that the saints need to stay in place for another fifteen minutes so we may evacuate critical personnel and resources. This should buy you the time you need.”
“As for you, Emerit, stay in Novguard and monitor the situation. I need to know immediately if they fail.”
“Will do.” Emerit agreed, ending the conversation.
When they were dropped off at Novgard’s castle, a contingent of valkyries greeted them in the courtyard.
“We’re here to see Oliver.” Dawn declared.
“And we have clear orders to let no one in.” The valkyries’ leader responded.
The air chilled. “You are not stopping me.” Dawn stated matter-of-factly. With grim faces, the valkyries readied their weapon.
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Wise put his hand on his sister shoulder. “Let me handle this.”
The valkyries studied him apprehensively as he stepped forwards. “Oliver Brack murdered Yuria Raven with Astrolis. With his next shot, he will target the refugee population outside Neon.”
The valkyries looked at each other with uncertainty and fear. Wise continued. “You have been warned by Nero’s clone of the consequences. If you stand in our way, you will now be complicit in the murder of millions.”
The leader growned, capitulating and waving them past. “I wish you the best of luck.”
They found Oliver hovering over a projected map in the castle’s command center. He gazed up at them with a look of disdain.
“Useless guards…” He whispered under his breath.
“Please step away from Artemis’s firing control.” Wise requested calmly.
“Here I was worried Astra might show up.” Oliver chuckled. “But it’s only two of her brats. What was she thinking?”
“Power down the weapon.” Dawn commanded.
“You don’t have the authority to order me around,” Oliver snapped, “You arrogant little twit!”
“I am prepared to use force if I must.” Dawn warned coldly as the room’s temperature plummeted.
Oliver’s anger transformed into a bewildered amusement. “Are you actually threatening me?” A smile spreed over his lips. “Fine. Neon is drawing things out anyway. Let’s settle this with violence.”
“…But not in my Castle. Follow me.” He led up to the castle’s wall and jumped off with such force it shook the foundations. He’s stronger than Sion Gale, Wise observed as he watched the immortal land in a distant field.
They quickly caught up and faced off across the swaying blades of wheat. As Oliver stared back, the largest of grins crept on his face. “I never got the chance to ask you, Dawn… How did you enjoy your expedition to the Nolfis Underground?”
“This part, I will handle.” Sharp frozen short swords appeared in Dawn’s hands. “Don’t get in my way.”
“Alright,” Wise sighed, knowing the outcome.
Sadly, their exchange soured Oliver’s mood. “You intend to fight me alone?” He eyed Dawn with a bottomless hatred. “Even now, your ego knows no bounds… You are just a saint!”
The immortal drew his broadsword and charged. Wise backed off, watching Dawn deflect the weapon. This battle would be different from the one which had transpired in the Blood Arena. Right away, Oliver was striking with the intent to kill, holding nothing back. Dawn was barely fending off the assault, and her ice armor was gradually cracking. Without his foresight, Wise would have already felt compelled to join in. This is completely one-sided. The difference in raw strength is too great.
“I am the peak of perfection.
Yet in this wretched world,
Merit means nothing.”
Dawn’s chant echoed out among the clash of blades. Oliver didn’t bother pausing to listen. “Everything that comes out of your mouth is utter dribble. I despise you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Before aberrant adversity, I know misfortune
Which my pride will never accept.”
“So I’ll invoke it, a place which reverses fate
Where my superiority is complete.”
A chill engulfed the field as a frozen mist spread over the ground. Confronted by the supernatural phenomenon, Oliver finally ceased his offensive, backing away warily.
“Myriad Calamity Crystallization.” Dawn finished.
The mist rose up and engulfed them all. Once it thinned, they stood on a icy landscapes. Above auroras intersected the bright night stars, illuminating glittering snow flakes descending on them gently.
It’s much stronger than last time… The wheat had been erased replaced by endless white.
“It is unforgivable that a brag like you can create a separate space.” Oliver’s voice oozed with venom. “Is this what defeated Sion?”
Dawn nodded. “For months, I’ve been trying to recreate it, but the method to do so has always eluded me. It was only now, thanks to you, that I finally understood.”
“Self-loathing.” Dawn sighed. “That’s the key to Myriad Calamity Crystallization. Disgust at my own shortcoming. Hatred of my inadequacies…”
She stared up at the sky. “I truly despise myself right now.”
The falling flakes grew, turning into spikes, and then kept growing, transforming into giant glistening spears of ice. Over a hundred hovered in the air over their heads.
“Each one of these is a child you murdered, a child I failed to save.”
With a determined look, Dawn extended her arm, and the frozen lances shot forward. Oliver dodged a few before being overwhelmed, his body torn to shred.
“Enough, don’t kill him.” Wise called out.
Dawn stopped, half her spears remaining, and looked at him as if he’d gone mad.
“It’ll create problems if you do.” Wise explained. “You are not the only one with a grudge against him. House Raven will be upset if they are deprived of their justice.”
Dawn sneered. “Politics…” She reluctantly dissipated the cold surrounding them, allowing reality to return.
Oliver was a bloody mess but still conscious when they approached. Weakly, he pointed towards the heavens, “Midnight nears… When the moon is at its zenith… the Nightmare King will break through… He’ll kill them all in my place…”
