Rulet snapped, "What kind of shit is this? Show yourself, you fucker!" His eyes ignited with anger.
He rushed toward a wall, his eyes glowing a bright shade of brown. His body grew larger—veins bulging, muscles swelling—transforming into a titan.
"I'll crush this whole place to bits!" his coarse voice echoed through every corner.
Rulet braced his fist and hurled a ferocious punch at the wall.
"AAAAAAAAAHHH!" he screamed.
WHAM!
A shockwave rippled through the entire corridor.
His fist was stopped just short of the wall—a mass of black substance began to gather and take shape.
Rulet's eyes widened. He tried to pull his fist back, but he couldn't. It was caught by a hand formed from the black substance.
"Fuck you," Rulet growled. Instead of pulling back, he shoved his fist forward with all his might. But his hand didn't budge.
Soon, a dark, human-shaped mass of darkness—like a shadow came to life—stood before them, holding his fist.
"Wh-What are you?" Rulet's voice stumbled.
"I will not allow you to interfere in the ceremony," the shadow spoke, his voice cold.
Kuro and Arthur rushed at the shadow, splitting apart midway, trying a pincer attack from both sides. They charged with their fists at him.
He didn't even flinch. Kuro noticed something was off and halted.
Arthur didn't stop and tried punching the shadow with full force, but as his fist reached closer and was about to make contact —his expression turned dark as his hand passed straight through the shadow's body.
"Shit, get out of the way!" Arthur screamed.
Kuro instinctively moved sideways, barely managing to dodge it. "What is that thing?" he snapped.
Arthur immediately turned and stood straight, gritting his teeth. "What is going on here? What ceremony are you talking about?" he shouted.
Rulet reverted his body back to normal and jumped back instinctively the moment his hand was released from the shadow's grip.
"Huff... Huff..." Rulet gasped. "Release Lilia right now!" he screamed.
The shadow's face didn't show any emotion or reaction. "You all chose her to be the sacrifice," he spoke.
Everyone's expressions turned grim.
Rulet felt his chest tighten. "Please take me," he said. Everyone's eyes turned to him.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Kuro asked, staring at Rulet with heavy eyes.
Rulet didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Take me as the sacrifice," he said in a low voice. Then he slowly raised his head, locking eyes with the shadow. "Release her," he raised his voice.
"That will not be possible," the shadow spoke in a calm voice. "The ceremony is starting," he added.
Everyone immediately turned to the altars. The upper altar was glowing brighter than before. There were unison movements in the mechanism, forming a hole in the middle. Something shined there.
Rulet ran immediately, punching at the invisible wall with all his might, sending a shockwave throughout the dome.
But all his efforts were useless. Kuro and Arthur ran toward Rulet.
Suddenly, a sword fell from the hole.
SHRINK!
It pierced right through Lilia's stomach.
Rulet's heart began banging like a drum. His breath hitched as he saw the scene unfold before his eyes. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees.
TIP... TIP... TIP...
Lilia's blood dripped onto the altar below, flowing through all the carvings. Slowly, the altar began to glow—a deep, dreadful crimson.
No one said a word.
Everyone stood frozen, trapped in the suffocating weight of despair.
Soon, the altar's glow intensified, and mechanisms started to move, forming a well-like structure.
The shadow moved slowly toward the altar, passing straight through the invisible barrier.
It stopped right in front of the altar and, to everyone's surprise, bowed down.
Kuro's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What is he doing?" he asked Arthur quietly.
Before anyone could react, the ground trembled.
Everyone turned toward the altar.
A magnificent sword rose from the altar: a long golden grip with a guard that had two horn-like projections on both sides. At its center, a brilliant star-shaped core glowed in a shade of purple, lighting up the entire area.
The blade was dark and elegant, with a jagged gold line running from the guard to its tip, splitting it into two distinct sides.
As the sword fully emerged, the star at its center glowed even brighter—and a pulse of purple energy exploded outwards.
A crushing force slammed down on everyone, Kuro fell to his knees, coughing up blood, barely managing to support himself with his hands.
Arthur collapsed to his knees as well, crushed under the immense pressure, gasping for air.
Rulet coughed up a heavy amount of blood, falling face-first to the ground, "Such immense Kagaki," he said with all his might, trying to keep his head up.
But, Artoria stood there, frozen, unaffected by the otherworldly Kagaki the weapon emitted. She was lost in her own thoughts.
The shadow straightened itself.
"Behold my true form," it said, voice dripping with cold pride, "You worthless humans... you can't even stand before it." It added,
"We are... not worthless," Kuro gasped, struggling to get back on his feet. Blood
"You are a fellow God—why is a God so weak?" the shadow asked, twisting its head in confusion.
"Because I am no God!" Kuro shouted.
Artoria snapped back to reality at Kuro's shout. She quickly turned to Rulet, trying to help him up, but she was in her child form—and what could a child do? Nothing.
The shadow turned and slowly walked toward her, towering above her like a human looking down at an ant.
"You are of the Royal Blood," it said. "Do you seek my power to fulfill your greed?" it added in a devious tone.
Artoria's expression turned as dark as it could; her face paled. She was terrified beyond words, unable even to speak.
"Tell me..." The shadow's voice echoed through the dome, heavy and commanding.
"Why do you seek Eclipsera's power?"