Deep Sea Embers

Vanna rushed through the burning intersections and streets like a gust of wind, plowing her way toward the burning cathedral that had finally entered her field of vision.

The thousand-year-old structure had already been destroyed, melted away like wax due to the intense heat. As for the flanking structures, they’re still standing but distorted and red-hot, with only the skeletal frame remaining. And the cause of all this? The dark red “sun” quietly suspended over the corpse of the church overhead. It’s like a terrifying eye from the abyss, peering down at its victim while oozing droplets of red magma blood.

What can you do now by rushing over? Kill the culprit? Reverse history that has overlapped? Or do you want to prove your faith by dying in vain?

Vanna didn’t know why she was having these thoughts when her legs instinctively ran at the cathedral. All she knew was that she must go, and that’s all it mattered. Well, that was until a majestic voice sounded in her head: “Go to the bell tower in the back~”

The sound came so abruptly that Vanna subconsciously came to a standstill. Looking around for the source, the lady found no signs of the ghost captain; instead, all she saw was the raging sea fire.

But then another sound broke Vanna’s brief hesitation – she’s picked up a melodious ringing that’s coming from the ancient bell tower. This shouldn’t be possible since the flames had already destroyed the church.

Abandoning all hesitation and concerns in her heart, Vanna pulled her legs and rushed towards the direction of the source.

She no longer cared about the ghost captain’s intentions, nor did she care what the consequences of following the other party’s arrangements would be – with all the churches falling in an instant, whatever scheme that captain had couldn’t possibly be worse than this reality.

Soon, she had come before the square in front of the church.

The defense forces assembled here had been completely destroyed, and in the rolling heat wave, only countless twisted and scrapped spiderwalkers and steam tanks remained. There’s nothing left but piles of ashes that’s squirming about.

Enraged by the death of her peers, she cut through the enemy with relentless determination and charged into the rubbles of the main hall. Once inside, she continued into the open courtyard by following her memories. There, she finally saw the bell tower still standing tall and in one piece but covered in soot and ash that was raining down.

This reminded her of what she saw on the other side of the curtain – the other Pland destroyed by the fire in 1889.

It’s a false history, and that falseness has now replaced the truth.

Yet, the bell continues to ring, meaning there’s still hope.

The gate to the upper floor of the bell tower had collapsed, and the internal stairs broken apart in various segments. Vanna quickly deduced going up using the normal means was impossible. So, with her arms and legs ready, she began to climb the outer walls.

The exterior seared her skin at the touch. Imagine holding onto plates of molten steel; that’s exactly how Vanna felt with each pull. Nevertheless, she’s done it and found herself staring at the mechanical clock dial that ceased functioning. Thankfully, the lady could still see the bonfire and bell inside through the cracks.

Without hesitation, Vanna punched a hole through the walls and indirectly broke several bones in the process. Even so, she was in, and to her shock and surprise, a figure… or rather, a pile of embers that’s barely able to maintain its human form was clinging to the mechanical rod next to the bell and continued to rotate the gear.

“Protect… the bell tower…” The pile of embers said hoarsely.

Then the pile completely crumbled to the ground, vaporizing into dust particles as it perished. Its only mark left in the world now was the charred blackness on the floor and an emblem symbolizing the Storm Church.

“Bishop Valentine!”

Vanna recognized the eyes just now and rushed forward, trying to save her friend and peer from disappearing. But soon, she stopped as a powerful and oppressive force came down over her shoulder.

A tall and thin figure dressed in a tattered gray robe stood quietly on the edge of the stage, watching her and smiling compassionately like some sort of savior.

“You struggled as hard as you could, child. All of you struggled as hard as you could. You even managed to drag this out for far longer than it should have. But there is no point in delaying and holding on anymore… No one will come to your rescue, and no reinforcements can come in this closed-loop historical vision. Pland is doomed to reach this ending…” The thin black shadow said slowly, raising a bony hand to point at the reddish sun behind his back. “Now, embrace this new future, child born from the ashes… Your survival and return did not change anything.”

Vanna didn’t respond to the rant; instead, she unsheathed the broadsword from her back.

“Oh, breakdown of our negotiations, I see…” The Ender saw Vanna’s actions and continued to show a sympathetic look, “Of course, you can easily kill me, but it’s pointless… The heirs of the sun are ready for the coming of their lord. And as for me, I am only a witness to this event. I will witness this moment and take back the knowledge… And you, do you see that sun?”

Vanna raised her gaze slightly and bypassed the Ender’s figure and onto the round orb of red suspended in the air. It’s the blasphemous sun wheel from the books, the embryo of corruption, a heart waiting to resurrect.

She finally realized the truth. The oppressive force from earlier didn’t come from the Ender, but rather from the dark sun behind him!

Something was waking up from within the depths of that thing!

“There have been many twists and turns in this plan, nor did we expect an outside force to repeatedly interfere with our revision of history.” The Ender slowly explained like he’s retelling a story, “It brought a lot of eyes onto us. Like you, for example. You and the others nearly perceived the truth… truly, you were so close to the truth. Alas, fate is like this.”

“Child, fate is so unreasonable sometimes…” He sighed compassionately and slowly walked forward toward Vanna. “But you are blessed. You have risen from the dead and will be born anew after death, because you have received the supreme blessing. Embrace your fate, child.”

Vanna didn’t flinch or cower and clenched the hilt of her sword. For the first time in her life, the lady was motivated by pure hatred. She didn’t care about justice or duty anymore. All she wanted to do was murder this bastard. But at the last second, before she could strike, a stream of burning flames shot out of thin air behind the Ender, and out stepped a majestic figure shrouded in green flames.

Still unaware of the third party, the Ender spread his arms and proclaimed: “Blessed child, do not resist. As you can see, times have changed…”

But then the madman froze as an unspeakable fear inexplicably burrowed into his chaotic mind when a hand tapped his shoulder.

“Get lost,” the calm voice said.