302 It Is Always Here

"Well, things can’t be delayed." One of the thirteen present saints, the greatest musician who inherited the name of 'Haydn,’ opened his eyes and spread an ancient scroll from his hand.

On the ancient scroll, there were dark strokes that made up the notes and composing mysterious movements. They suddenly turned into several scenes with the aetheric fluctuations. They changed from emptiness to the darkness of the abyss, to an indescribable existence above the water, to...a glimmer of light!

"Let there be light," said Haydn. And so there was light.

In the middle of the sky and earth, nine layers of the aetheric sea resonated. Everything sang for the birth of light. The countless light blended into the collapsing enchantment of Avalon, and completely integrated with it. The miracle was here.

"Genesis?" Ye Qingxuan looked up blankly at the light falling from the sky. This was the peak of the School of Abstinence, the origin of the universe observable from the nature of aether, the origin of all, the movement of creation and destruction—Genesis!

For a moment, Ye Qingxuan almost melted and integrated into the light. On the top of the tower, the bell thundered, singing for the creation of this world! Infinite power sprouted from the depths of the enchantment, almost crushing his tiny consciousness into pieces. Ye Qingxuan only had the time to trigger Jiu Xiao Huan Pei. He used all his effort to guide the endless mighty torrents and gather them in the sky.

"So this is how it is!" Ye Qingxuan was ecstatic. His mind had melted into the enchantment to help the enchantment absorb the light. It was as if he was experiencing the magnificent changes in Genesis by himself. It was the peak of the School of Abstinence, the origin of all music theory, the essence of the aether. Creation or destruction was just the difference of a thought!

Instantly, his understanding of the School of Abstinence’s Nature increased. His confusions about the School of Stone Heart’s music theory were also solved. The movement in his mind fell apart and reassembled. His view of the world was suddenly offset but soon recalibrated.

This feeling was unprecedented. His soul seemed to be infinitely magnified and he was drunk in the light of creation. It was like observing the world with the eyes of aether. The world became brand new.

Next, time seemed to be reversed! The dark cellar under the Elizabeth Tower had been silent for hundreds of years. The alchemy had long disintegrated and fallen into silence. Now, it was revived. On sixteen dark stone tablets, layers of notes lit up. The melody of the movement roared.

This was the control center that the alchemist made for Avalon hundreds of years ago. The alchemy technology that transcended that era created the world's largest 'tuning instrument' at that time. No 'differential machines' or 'analyzers' in the world could be more efficient than it. The 'aether ball' was only its research sub-product. Its control of movements meant nothing when compared to this tuning instrument.

Only such a behemoth could perform the accurate control that the vast enchantment of Avalon and kingdom required when running. When 'Kingdom Come' shattered hundreds of years ago, it also fell apart with the city and became legends and secrets hidden in the ancient scrolls. But under the shining light, it seemed that time had become an ancient book whose pages could be turned arbitrarily. The past, which was recorded in the aether, was drawn out to be rewritten. It was reflected in this space, returning to their glorious moment.

Thus, the tuning instrument lit up again. Countless notes flickered on the sixteen tall. Countless complex music theory flashed until, finally, the notes re-accessed the enchantment under the control of the core.

Bang! The enchantment quaked under that wisp of mysterious light. It was intensified and even took over Avalon’s Shadow. The kingdom of shadows was completely sealed and isolated from all interferences outside.

In Avalon’s Shadow, the magnificent melody and voice sang the song of creation. The enchantment and Scepter field gathered in one place and were upgraded endlessly.

The extinguished stars lit up again one by one and started running. The zodiacs released dazzling light. In the end, a ring crossed the sky like a river of stars. Endless starlight converged into the lofty sunlight and moonlight. In a moment, the oppressive scorching sun and cold moonlight descended from the sky.

The dead Scepter field was resurrected?

In that glimmer of light, a new world seemed to be created.

"Of course this is here," someone said. "It is always here."

Boom! The Dark Lord, who was about to disappear, was suddenly 'bounced ' back into the world and was almost chopped into two pieces by the sword that followed. He growled furiously and enlarged the narrowing world. The intensity of this realm was enhanced. This meant he could use all his strength!

But before Maxwell's frenzied onslaught, his actions had been constrained as if he was afraid of something exceedingly dangerous—something even more terrifying than the Sword in the Stone. Only another natural catastrophe could scare a natural catastrophe. He could perceive that there was another natural catastrophe, another one in this realm… But who was it?

This incarnation of God quickly pondered. Continually ruled out other clues, he finally located the target.

"I see..." The Dark Lord ground his teeth. His face became hideous. His angry voice spread from the aetheric world. "Hermes! Why did you betray the contract?"

"What! Watch your mouth, Hyakume. How can you just accuse people like that?" a frivolous voice responded. "I’ve followed the contract well. I never meddled in the war between man and natural catastrophe. So far, I did not say a word, nor did I touch a hair. I haven’t even been to Avalon’s Shadow for many years. Sorry, it’s not my fault!"

"Liar!" Hyakume roared.

"Well, if you insist, I did interfere a little in this, but...what can you do to me?" Hermes's tone became cold and vicious. "You are on the wrong team, Hyakume! You think I don’t know that you're secretly hooking up with that son of a b*tch East Duke to make a mess in the East?

"Three wise men, three pillars of God, four living creatures. There are so many other natural catastrophes, and I don’t care who you hook up with. However, if you dare to help him, I will definitely object!

"I advise you to stop quietly. Don’t meddle in the things between us two. Otherwise, I’ll throw away my dignity and partner with Sacred Blood."

"Someday, you'll pay for this!" Hyakume was so furious that hundreds of waves crashed in the aetheric world.

Hermes just sneered. "Take care of yourself first! I'm also curious as to who’s watching you."

The communication was cut off. But in the abyss, Hyakume’s rage did not stop, but...his incarnation had fallen into the physical realms. The connection between him and the incarnation had been severed. He could not do anything, even if the incarnation was sealed, imprisoned or even killed! It was one of his nine incarnations. It was also one-ninth of his essence. This was not only one-ninth of his strength. This was like one-ninth of his shadow.

Just as human beings had different images from nine directions, each one was vital. None was dispensable. With the loss of the one, the other eight incarnations would surely be weakened.

Over the years, it had not been easy to accumulate so much strength in order to occupy more large tributaries and create a complete River Styx. But now he had taken a hit.

For a time, dark musicians all over the world could sense the murderous intent and rage condensed in the Abyss. But there was a more disturbing question in the midst of chaos. If the other natural catastrophe was not Hermes, then...who was it?!

There was one possibility. But that possibility may even make the abyss tremble. Countless secrets were hidden deep in the darkness.

-

In Avalon’s Shadow, the Dark Lord was defeated. Cracks staggered across his body. The complex music theory in the depths of his body continued to crumble. He could barely suppress it anymore. This body made of aether and movements had reached its limit.

He roared hoarsely, took off his right eye, and angrily crushed it. In the darkness, a shadow suddenly projected and infiltrated into the Sword in the Stone. The flame suddenly dimmed from the pollution of curse.

The Dark Lord opened his hands and suddenly smashed his chest. The wound made by the Sword in the Stone cracked again. Under the tear, his whole body split into two. One pounced toward Maxwell, burning its own power to keep Maxwell in place. The other rushed to the collapsing palace!

Here was the home of the Sword in the Stone. With the incarnation’s strength, it was difficult to contend with the power accumulated by Avalon, so he would just...solve the root of the problem! Since this incarnation was on the verge of collapse, he just used another one.

As long as he found King Arthur first, converted him into a dark follower under his command, and took over his body, the advantages of Anglo would be completely undermined.

Both the Sword in the Stone and the continuously intensifying enchantment of Avalon were all things of the past and the extension of Kingdom Come to King Arthur. In Arthur’s body, these things would no longer be a threat to Hyakume. In fact...they would be useful for him!

"Stop him!" Maxwell’s face changed but he could not catch up now.

The shadow struck down. Then, in the city, eight beams of light rose in succession. The first one was Tristan. That burly knight sprang up and waved his sword, dashing toward the shadow. Storms were set off. In an instant, Hyakume’s shadow staggered and dissipated into mist. It fell through Tristan to the earth.

Tristan's body shook. Frozen in the air, he was almost engulfed by the evil intentions therein.

Geraint’s armor was like the flesh and blood of a living thing. Like a beast, it ran on its limbs, roaring and leaping from the earth, and gnashed forcefully. However, even its swift speed could not stop that swift shadow.

Following were Gareth, Lamorak, and others. They attacked at the same time. The Red Dragon’s shadow flashed and spat out blue fire. However, the dragon lost its agility and its wings were sliced off.

Traces of cracks immediately appeared on three knights. Their weakness was seized in that blow and they were deeply wounded.

"In the name of the knight, put an end to all evil intentions!" Under the armor of Galahad, Christine drew her sword and proclaimed seriously.

Swords clanged. The sound of the sword condensed into something tangible and spread to all directions. Everywhere the sound passed, aetheric connections were cut off and forcibly suppressed. But the shadow’s speed was not reduced. It stretched out a hand and suddenly pressed down.

Boom! Christine's sword fell out of her hand, her body was trembling. The face under the helmet was bright red. She vomited black blood from the backlash and was unable to move.

The breath from the abyss… This was a ubiquitous breath of abyss.

She could perceive the germination of evil intentions from the heart. It almost took the control of her mind. Murderous intent, greed, lust, and anger that she had never experienced now burst out endlessly. Even the sword of Galahad could not suppress it.

Anyone infected by that breath would reveal the evil in their nature and they would be eroded by the movement. If one did not strive to contend with that power, the evil intention would possibly be deeply implanted into the heart. It would be unable to be expelled until, one day, the victim would completely degenerate into a follower of a natural catastrophe. It was horrible.

"Right at this time..." It had to be during this situation! If she was stronger, if she had foreseen this earlier, if her father had not been seriously injured during the early years and could fight now, this would never have happened! Christine gritted her teeth and sank into a deep humiliation.

Unlike other families, the Lancelot family had been trusted by the royal family since the kingdom was found. What the family inherited was not just one but two titles.

As early as the first generation, Lancelot and Galahad were son and father, both of whom were among the Knights of the Round Table. Therefore, every generation of Lancelot's title must be inherited by Galahad after the death of his father. In other words, Galahad was Lancelot's reserve.

And in all knights that currently existed, Lancelot’s position was the most exalted. In addition to the lineage, it also required absolute integrity. One needed to have all seven virtues of knighthood to obtain the recognition of the phantom beast and become the legendary Lancelot du Lac.

Only Lancelot and Gawain had the highest moral standards. They had neither the fear of the natural catastrophe’s infectious breath nor the risk of depravity.

Unfortunately, the current Lancelot was severely wounded while protecting the royal family from an assassination in his early days. His lungs were damaged. Although there was no harm to everyday activities, he could no longer set foot on the battlefield. Otherwise, such a horrible situation would not have occured.

"This sucks." Maxwell ground his teeth under the curse, his expression gloomy.

The situation instantly grew dire. The Dark Lord’s approaching could almost break the seals on the palace gate. Once he entered, the preparations and planning of the years would all be in vain. So many people’s sacrifice and effort would mean nothing. Now the only one that could stop him was...

"Charles!"