Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 594: Death is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

Chapter 594: Death is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

Alex stood at the deck of Athena, enjoying the cool ocean breeze with its salty smell as he looked about, feeding his eyes with the blue expanse that stretched as far as he could tell.

His expression was peaceful, very much so after a most rewarding night.

Even as it was made up, it didn’t change the fact that he could indulge in it as he pleased.

Recalling a bit of what he’d dreamed about, a faint smile painted his lips.

The urge to head back to bed nagged him but he chose to ignore as he knew that it would only end up working against him if he indulged too much in the dream.

Just then, he heard footsteps alerting him to the presence of Ana.

"You look sleep-deprived." Alex casually pointed out with Ana sighing.

"Ulysses and I stayed up all night talking. I’ll have you know now, one of my goals in this life is to be adopted by the Nester family after your quest is completed and the world is saved."

Alex didn’t even know how to react as he blinked in faint amusement. "I see."

"What?"

"Nothing." He quickly said, raising his hands in surrender as he knew that arguing with Ana would not end well for anyone.

Ana snorted before moving to join him at the railings.

"Something on your mind?" Alex asked with Ana replying.

"Just thinking about the others. Even though we were just getting to know each other... It was fun having everyone together."

"If it is fated, I’m sure we will meet again. For now, it’s for their good that they remain in Ra’as."

Letting out a sigh, Ana replied. "I hope so."

Alex was just about to say something, only to pause as he suddenly felt empty, almost like something or, rather, someone he was connected to was no longer there.

Noticing his expression, Ana inquired. "Is everything alright?"

"... I think so," Alex replied as he decided not to overthink things.

There was no reason to worry, right?

***

Benedict couldn’t believe what he was seeing as his divine senses picked up flames roaring wildly all over the nation of Kastarus.

Each of the explosions occurred underneath the churches, so naturally, they served as the epicenter of the disaster that followed, which claimed several hundred thousand.

He glanced at Robert and Charles, both of whom were floating with the aid of a giant floating sword.

I thought I was dastardly, but to do something so despicable. I underestimated you.

"This way, we are even." Robert calmly said. "Now instead of invading Zion, you can focus on rebuilding."

This is madness. Do you realize how many you have killed?

"Don’t act like you care. If not that you need worshippers, I doubt your racist ass would be able to accept walking around with Kastarusians."

Don’t expect to leave now that you have crossed the line.

"We never intended to do so." Charles casually remarked, prepared to fight back should Benedict make a move though it was clear to see that both he and Robert were on their last legs.

Benedict was just about to attack only to pause as he felt something else, turning his attention away from the Saints and towards the smoldering cities of Kastarus.

The flames had changed.

From yellow and red, they had all turned green.

***

"Arwen!" Nadia screamed out as she watched Arwen aggravate the flames currently burning Kastarus.

The flame plumes turned green, and with that change, the attempts of Kastarusians to deal with it turned into their undoing as they were engulfed in the conflagration.

"Arwen, stop right now!" Elena exclaimed only for Arwen to reply.

"I’m only making sure the terror within the hearts of Kastarusians lasts for a lifetime."

"Enough have been killed. Stop this madness at once!"

Arwen rolled her eyes. "You guys are so boring."

Just then, Victoria made a move, arriving next to her and grabbing her shoulder. "Enough."

Arwen first glanced at the arm and then at Victoria before proceeding to glower. "Get your hands off of me!"

Boom

Victoria didn’t even have the chance to react as green flames emerged from Arwen’s figure, sending her flying backward.

As the flames threatened to end her, Nadia quickly acted, chanting a spell in deviltongue.

Denyen.

Immediately, the flames died down with Victoria passing out, but that was merely the start of their problems.

Arwen’s petite and innocent form was gone, replaced by a burning skeleton shrouded in rags with eyes ablaze with madness.

"Death is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?" Arwen inquired as she took a step forward.

"Arwen, please, stop this now." Elena pleaded only for Arwen to reply.

"Death to all things."

And with that, DreamWorld was slowly engulfed in the flames, its fog forced back revealing millions of miniature fragments, each of which represented a person’s dream.

The flames fell like rain towards the dream fragments.

Elena reacted swiftly, conjuring a dimensional barrier that cut off where they were from the rest of DreamWorld, naturally drawing Arwen’s ire.

"Why are you standing in my way?"

As she listened, Elena felt like the flames dancing all over Arwen’s desiccated figure were drawing her in, seeking to enthrall her.

She immediately closed her eyes while conjuring a prison to hold Arwen.

Arwen snorted as her flames ripped through the prison with ease, along with the barrier that was created to protect DreamWorld.

"You will not stop me." Saying that, she intended to unleash the attack on DreamWorld again only for Nadia to cast a spell in deviltongue.

Commutatio: Xistora

At the same time, black sludge emerged from the depths of space, before quickly forming into the figure of the Devil of Sloth, Xistora.

What is the meaning of this?

Arwen tried to attack her but Xistora was quicker, ejecting her from DreamWorld with a single thought before glancing at Nadia.

What manner of madness have you brought into this world?

"I... I don’t know." Nadia replied before glancing at Elena.

"Something has happened to Arwen. I’ll go after her."

"I’ll come with you." Nadia offered only for Elena to reject her offer.

"No, you stay here. You have already started something. I’d hate to have to watch you kill another group again just to complete your trial."

There was a hint of distaste as she spoke, but Elena managed not to make it too overt as she left DreamWorld, leaving a pained Nadia, a confused Xistora, and an unconscious Victoria.