The hymn echoed through the cathedral.
Ancient.
Beautiful.
Distorted.
Moonlight poured through stained-glass windows.
Silver light illuminated countless figures, kneeling beneath the moon.
Smiling.
Watching.
Waiting.
Rows upon rows of worshippers filled the church.
Some human.
Some deformed.
Bodies stitched together.
Limbs twisted into petals.
Necks stretched unnaturally long.
Blooming Human Carcasses.
All singing.
Praying.
Praising.
At the front of the procession a women walk before a thousand of Nightmares.
Barefoot.
Draped in white robes.
A silver veil rested upon her head.
Her beauty was divine.
Her smile was gentle.
Yet her eyes held no humanity.
Only fanatic devotion.
The Saintess raised her hands.
The congregation sang louder.
"We bloom beneath the silver light..."
"We bloom beneath the endless cries..."
The hymn shook the cathedral.
The walls trembled.
The stained glass glowed.
Then—
The Saintess stopped walking.
Silence.
The hymn faltered.
The smile disappeared from her face.
Her pupils narrowed.
As if hearing something distant.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Something impossible.
Something terrible.
The Saintess slowly raised her head.
Toward the moon above.
A realization struck her.
One of our children...
...has died.
The words never left her mouth.
Yet every worshipper heard them.
Every Blooming Human Carcass heard them.
The entire cathedral froze.
Then chaos erupted.
Cries.
Screams.
Panic.
Several worshippers collapsed.
Others clawed at their faces.
Blooming Human Carcasses shrieked.
Petal-arms thrashed wildly.
One of the Enlightened Moon's children had fallen.
One of their sacred offspring.
One of their future saviors.
Dead.
Impossible.
Unacceptable.
The cathedral descended into madness.
Then—
The Saintess laughed.
A soft laugh.
Then louder.
And louder.
Until it echoed throughout the entire cathedral.
Everyone fell silent.
The Saintess spread her arms.
Moonlight enveloped her.
Her smile returned.
Wider.
Wider.
Until it became unsettling.
"Why art mourn?"
Her voice echoed through every corner of the cathedral.
"Why art fear?"
She looked upon the congregation.
Upon her terrified flock.
Upon the crying monsters.
Upon the broken smile.
"Thou art salvation could be stopped?"
Her eyes gleamed.
"The Moon is eternal."
"The Moon is infinite."
"The Moon shall give birth to another child."
"Another."
"Another."
"AND ANOTHER!"
Her voice rose higher.
More fanatical.
More terrifying.
"Until every city sings."
"Until every nation kneels."
"Until silver light remains."
The congregation trembled.
The Saintess raised both arms toward the moon.
"And when that day comes—"
Her smile became monstrous.
"Humanity shall finally receive salvation."
The worshippers erupted.
Cheers.
Tears.
Laughter.
Madness.
The cathedral once again filled with hymns.
"Nocti, Luna."
"Retrieve the child."
───
Far away.
Along a ruined coastline.
Storm clouds gathered above raging seas.
Massive waves crashed against jagged cliffs.
At the edge of a fortress stood a man in armor.
A trident rested upon his shoulder.
Sea-blue cloak fluttering behind him.
A soldier hurried forward.
Kneeling immediately.
"Sir."
The armored man didn't turn.
"What is it?"
The soldier lowered his head.
"One of the Enlightened Moon's Corrupt child died today."
Silence.
Then—
The armored man laughed.
A deep laugh.
Filled with satisfaction.
"Good."
He finally turned.
A scar stretched across his face.
"Those cultists finally tasted their own medicine."
The soldier nodded.
"The reports confirm it."
The man looked toward the endless sea.
Toward the raging waves.
Toward something hidden beneath the ocean.
Something sleeping.
Something ancient.
His expression became reverent.
"For there is only one true GOD."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"Lady Coralina."
A fanatic smile appeared.
"Goddess of the Corrupted Ocean."
The sea roared.
As if responding.
The man's smile widened.
"And soon."
His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
Toward every city.
Every survivor.
Every living thing.
"This world shall drown beneath Her salvation."
Lightning split the sky.
───
School Grounds.
Day 3.
The field was quiet.
No hymns.
No screams.
No monsters.
Only wind.
A crude wooden cross stood beneath the gray sky.
Simple.
Rough.
Handmade.
A name was carved into it.
RAZE.
Beside it rested a sledge hammer.
Weathered.
Silent.
Waiting.
Kai stood before the grave.
Alone.
For a long time.
Kai simply stared.
Neither moving nor speaking.
Then finally—
Kai reached into his pocket.
Pulling out a metal chain.
The same chain Raze used countless times.
The same chain that saved his life.
Again.
And again.
Kai tightened his grip.
Tears formed.
"Raze."
Kai voice was quiet.
"I'll be taking this chain."
The wind blew gently.
No answer came.
Kai laughed weakly.
"If I have time..."
Kai voice cracked.
"I'll come back."
Silence.
More tears fell.
Kai wiped them away.
Failing immediately.
Then he reached into his bag.
Pulling out a small pouch.
Moon Dust.
Silver particles shimmered inside.
Beautiful.
Mysterious.
Useless.
At least as far as Kai knew.
He looked at the description once more.
Moon Dust
Description:
A fragment blessed by the moonlight.
It glows in darkness.
Kai scratched his head.
"...I still don't understand what this thing does."
No answer.
"So maybe..."
Kai opened the pouch.
"I'll just spread it around your grave."
Silver dust drifted through the air.
Like tiny stars.
Slowly settling around the cross.
Around the hammer.
Around the grave.
The ground immediately began glowing softly.
A sea of silver lights.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Kai stared.
Then laughed.
A sad laugh.
"If you were here..."
Kai wiped his eyes.
"...you'd probably call this a stupid idea."
The silence felt heavier.
"Hahaha..."
The laugh broke halfway through.
"...yeah."
His shoulders trembled.
For a moment.
Neither Kai nor the wind moved.
Then he called for a map.
A new location had been registered.
Grayish border not far away from the school.
Plaza Park.
Kai stared at it.
"A gathering point..."
"Maybe."
"Maybe there are survivors there."
Kai voice carried a fragile hope.
The first hope Kai had felt all day.
Slowly.
Kai turned away.
Then stopped.
Looking back one final time.
At the grave.
At the cross.
At the hammer.
At the glowing silver lights.
At his friend's resting place.
Kai throat tightened.
"...See you, Raze."
The wind blew softly.
The silver dust shimmered.
And for a brief moment—
It almost looked like someone was waving goodbye.
Kai smiled through his tears.
Then began walking.
Toward Plaza Park.
Toward the unknown.
Alone.
To Be Continued...