Chapter 738: The Descent Of The Caerulumen.

Chapter 738: The Descent Of The Caerulumen.

Avril felt the world shaking and heard a mournful wail, a desperate cry of pain and sadness shouting in the fierce winds. She didn't know why, but it disturbed her and filled her heart with grief. The feeling of triumph and confidence earlier almost seemed to be a lie compared to how her heart ached now. Around her, her sister, children...everyone shed a few unwilling tears, some wiping their eyes while looking confused. Several curious Exalts attempted to attack Gilbert in the center in a rapid bombardment, their powerful spells and Integrations failing to pierce a dense barrier that formed around the array of disks. The Shattered Scion, who became their ally for some reason, struck hard to no avail, the diamond cracking off and revealing his bare fist.

Even a Grade Nine failed to break through. Avril decided it wasn't worth remaining so close and wrapped vines around Renn and Gloria, pulling them along to escape whatever was about to happen. She tried to exit down one of the hatches, but a layer of Ein formed in the open gaps, acting as new flooring. The exits were closed, so her only option was to stand by the edge. Others came to a similar idea, and soon enough, everyone crowded at the edges. The violent streams of Ein endlessly erupting around them prevented anyone from jumping off and climbing down. Avril tested it by tapping it with the bottom of her staff and frowned at the spray of sparks.

"Renn, Gloria, Auren, get behind me. She won't let anything happen to her children." Avril nudged them back. Renn enjoyed a heartfelt reunion with Renee, whom she had picked up while climbing the tower. It was a stroke of luck to have found her future daughter-in-law on the way. But she feared she had led her into a death trap with no way out. Gilbert's followers huddled near the barrier protecting Gilbert, the titan, and the disks. They chanted his name and cheered for their coming victory, just as she and the others had done a few minutes ago. The situation had reversed, or as Oscar would say, 'it's been flipped.'

"Is that you, Avril?" A familiar voice called out for her, and she recognized the pair of emerald eyes and silver hair instantly.

"Celestina? It's been a while! She wished you could have visited Convecia City at least once." Avril formed a smile and hugged her friend. Though Celestina was her husband's former crush, she didn't mind being good friends since she could tell the princess deeply cared for Oscar. Celestina stiffened with a startled look and returned the smile, patting her on the back.

"Sorry. Too many people follow my movements since I'm the current empress. And I couldn't trust that I was safe enough to visit you or him. Our blunder decades ago cost him everything, and we couldn't bear to make the same mistake twice." Celestina gave a weak smile and rubbed her temples in clear distress. "Being under that bastard's thrall didn't help me to move freely either." She glanced behind her and grinned, "Are they Renn and Gloria? They've grown up well."

"Good evening, princess. I would have preferred the manner of our meeting to be on brighter occasions, but a great pity it is that we should meet again in these dire circumstances." Gloria curtsied and lowered her head. Avril blinked and covered her gaping mouth, wondering where her daughter disappeared off to. The miscreant and mischievous Gloria somehow became so well-behaved and proper. Beside her, Renn also bowed silently. Did Maia teach them? Or Master Remulus?

"I haven't seen you two for nearly a century. What a pair of splendid Exalts you've become." Celestina tucked her silver hair behind her ear. She gazed around and asked, "Where is Oscar?"

"You know him. He's trying to save everyone in his own way. She can't help but worry for him but knows he can do it." Avril looked down, wishing she had the eyes to peer past the floors and see her beloved, presumably in the deep pit he mentioned long ago. Knowing him, he was up to something; her role was to stay alive until he arrived. Glancing up, she noticed Charles, Celestina's brother, and Gavir, the royal guard. "Where's Serena?"

"Lady Terr, my wife and I talked at length and decided she wait below and hide with the others. Most of us have families to look after." Gavir chuckled underneath his golden helmet. "We're not as daring as the Terrs. But we can't waste our time catching up. There must be something we can do." He pointed at Gilbert standing in the center.

Auren's formation did more than just heal her and the others. Avril thanked Auren silently, and the young Exalt flashed a prideful smile back, thumping his chest. She shuddered at the possibility of facing fifteen of these monsters. Nine was still daunting but perhaps bearable. Thankfully, Gilbert didn't point them out, strangely docile.

"So many have survived. Who is on your side? I shall have to note them down for later." Artera swept a chilling gaze at the crowd, a simple passing glance buckling her knees.

'Oscar. Where are you doing? I want to see you.' Avril pleaded in her heart. She felt death approaching.

.......

"So they've come. Far fewer than I had expected, thanks to the formation your follower crafted to siphon the dark tower's Ein and thanks to the efforts of the others to draw out the titan's reserve Ein." Metures said, glancing down. "They cannot act now, lest they suffer the backlash of Talo's fury. But their chance will come in the Convergence when they bask in the stolen Ein of our world. After that, they won't need to worry and massacre everyone."

"Is my wife alright?" Oscar worried for Avril.

"For now," Metures answered. The red eyes brightened and peered below. "The Convergence is starting! The time is here!"

Metures's hand stretched out, and Oscar floated in the air, not of his volition, and remained still, waiting for it to begin. Erden joined him by the side. Globs of Ein began to bubble up from the ground, falling upward. More and more surfaced and flooded the entire chamber, drowning everyone in the pure Ein. Metures clenched his hand and forced nearly all of it into Oscar and Erden. The ocean refilled and swept past the gate, presumably rushing up the pit toward the dark tower. Oscar couldn't breathe and strained his thoughts, trying to stay conscious, but the pain was beyond any he had felt.

The Pools of Ascension paled in comparison; the hand of Saul in his chest was a mere bite compared to the crushing Ein that broke his bones. It filled his lungs, forced the blood out of his veins through his orifices, and peeled his skin. His muffled screams found a sole companion in Erden's cries. Demon offered to switch, but he rejected him. He knew pain well, and he could endure it, or else it would be for naught. It would be a power given to one who couldn't bear it. No, this was his fight.

"Good. That is good. Fight, Oscar. Fight, Erden. Be the metal of the earth. Be the fires that roar in volcanoes. Our hopes rest in you."