Chapter 1 Still

The rainstorm showed no signs of abating, growing even fiercer. The chaotic wind whipped cold rain against the towering outer walls and stained-glass windows of the Deep Sea Cathedral, like the frantic, erratic heartbeat of the city-state.

In the plaza before the city-state, steam-powered walkers and tanks had assembled, fully armed guardians silently sealing off every intersection.

On the bell tower at the rear of the cathedral, a special brazier had been lit. Refined whale oil mixed with fragments of sea-breath wood burned fiercely within, the flames shining through the storm like a lighthouse guiding ships home. Amplified by special condensing lenses, the bright fire was clearly visible across most of the city-state.

As the brazier of the central cathedral ignited, similar flames appeared above churches throughout the city-state – even the most remote neighborhood church had a towering bell tower facing the central cathedral, and atop that tower was the place for the brazier.

On this stormy day of encroaching darkness, one lit bell tower after another formed a continuous chain of beacons above Pland, and as all the lights blazed, the melodious chimes and loud whistles echoed across the entire city-state.

The boilers of every church roared to life, and every bell rang. Pland howled in the rainstorm, as if civilization itself was resisting some unseen invading force in the darkness. This unusual situation made all residents tightly shut their doors and windows, while those with more knowledge of the supernatural realm sensed the imminent danger from the unusual activity across the city.

Deep within the governor's mansion, Dante Wayne, who had just awakened from unconsciousness, immediately heard the cacophony of chimes and whistles outside the window, and saw the distant and near "lighthouses" in the darkness. Supported by a servant, he rose and stared in astonishment at the apocalyptic scene outside the glass window: "The cathedral has activated the reality stabilization barrier… a reality intrusion-level disaster has occurred?!"

"We're still investigating the situation," an aide said to Dante, his tone slightly strained. "It happened suddenly. The cathedral only stated that all districts of Pland require the highest level of lockdown – you were unconscious at the time. Bishop Valentine used emergency authority…"

Dante didn't respond to the aide, but as if suddenly realizing something, his brow relaxed: "… Vanna is back."

"Miss Vanna?" The servant attending him turned his head in confusion. "Miss Vanna hasn't returned to the mansion. She should be…"

"I know," Dante said, knowing that others probably wouldn't understand his nonsensical words, so he waved his hand, his gaze finally falling on the aide. "Are the city-state guards still under the control of the city hall?"

"Yes, Bishop Valentine has only taken over the sheriff's forces and a small portion of the city-state guards responsible for emergency response," the aide immediately nodded. "Most of the city-state guards are still awaiting your orders."

"Good. Except for the First Division, put all city-state guards under the command of the cathedral," Dante said, feeling his mind still reeling, but still issuing orders quickly. "In addition, put the entire city under the highest level of martial law. Sound all the martial law sirens. After the sirens, anyone appearing on the streets… no matter who they are, treat them as cultists."

The aide was startled by the order: "Mr. Dante, this…"

"Execute the order," Dante raised his head, his only eye gleaming sharply, the ruby prosthetic once again seeping with blood. "We are now in a state of war."

"… Yes!"

The aide obeyed and left. Dante coughed violently. After a long while, his coughing subsided, and he whispered to the servant beside him, "Take me to the cathedral."

"Mr. Dante, your health…"

"My health doesn't matter. I have something important to tell Bishop Valentine."

"Yes."

……

Nina clutched Shirley's hand tightly, sitting behind the display window, watching the raging wind and torrential rain outside with trepidation. One thunderclap after another exploded in the sky, causing all the doors and windows to tremble. The terrifying scene even made Shirley, who was usually very bold, tremble slightly, and she couldn't help but curse in a low voice: "Fucking hell, what the fuck is this weather…"

"Shirley, don't… don't swear," Nina was also very scared, but she still

put on a stern face and said, "Uncle said you…"

"Okay, okay, I won't swear, I won't swear, don't tell Mr. Duncan," Shirley quickly said. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a figure appearing on the stairs, and instinctively shrank his neck. "Ah, Mr. Duncan is coming down."

"Uncle Duncan!" Nina stood up instantly, almost running towards the figure coming down the stairs. "You… you've finished your business?"

"Yes, temporarily finished, but things are not completely over," Duncan said, casually patting Nina's hair, then turning to look at the counter, where Morris was still sitting, but his face looked a little better. Duncan nodded to him, "The person has been brought back."

"I felt it just now. She's back," Morris immediately said. "Although I don't know how you did it, but… thank you very much for your help."

"This is just the beginning. It's too early to thank me," Duncan said, turning his head to look out the display window. "The conspiracy has been exposed, and they've started acting ahead of schedule. The invaders are launching an attack on the other side of the veil… I estimate they'll be here soon."

Morris looked worried, while Nina looked at Duncan in confusion: "Uncle, what invaders? What are you talking about…"

"Nina," Duncan interrupted the girl, turning his head, his expression carrying a seriousness that Nina had never seen before. "Do you believe me?"

Nina answered without hesitation: "I believe you."

"Very good, then firmly believe that this storm will end safely. Don't panic no matter what happens later, and don't be nervous or scared no matter what I do," Duncan said seriously, looking into Nina's eyes, then pointing to Alice, who was standing quietly by the stairs. "Alice can be trusted. If there really is an emergency, stay with her."

Nina nodded blankly, and Alice immediately stated: "Please rest assured, Mr. Duncan, I will protect Miss Nina."

"I'm not really that confident in your fighting ability," Duncan glanced at Alice, then sighed helplessly. "But there's no one else to entrust."

Another thunderclap exploded suddenly, and a loud crash came from the distant street, accompanied by the sharp wail of a siren from somewhere and the urgent chimes of church bells from farther away.

The electric lights in the antique shop suddenly flickered a few times, then went out.

The power went out.

Darkness instantly enveloped the entire block, as if everything had entered the night ahead of schedule in the storm.

In the dimness, Shirley's voice came from not far away: "I'll light the oil lamp! I know where the oil lamp is."

Duncan hummed in agreement, but suddenly, he felt Nina grab his hand.

The hands felt a little hot.

"Uncle…" Nina said nervously and urgently in a low voice, and soon, even the air she breathed out carried a little heat. "I feel… a little hot…"

In the darkness, Duncan's gaze suddenly became serious.

But aside from seriousness, he didn't show any extra panic.

From the beginning, he had been prepared for any unexpected situation that might occur with Nina.

He simply gently grasped Nina's increasingly hot hand, and between his palm and Nina's fingers, in the barely perceptible gaps between the fingers, there were sparks of faint green light flickering.

The sound of flapping wings came, and the pigeon Aiyi flew down from upstairs in the darkness, landing steadily on the nearby counter.

Shirley lit the oil lamp, and the flickering flame temporarily dispelled the darkness in the shop, but on the street outside, the sky was as black as ink, and all the light and power brought by the sun had been blocked outside the city-state by the storm.

"Nina, do you remember what I told you just now?"

In the darkness, Duncan's voice reached Nina's ears.

Nina nodded lightly: "Yes."

"Don't be afraid later. Some… very powerful things will happen," Duncan said with a smile, softly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he looked into the distance.

Outside the display window, on the rain-soaked street, the upside-down pouring rain had gradually been dyed with an abnormal layer of crimson. The red was bright and vibrant, as if it were a reflection projected from another time and space onto the real world.

But he didn't look at the rain that had already begun to turn abnormal, nor did he care about any "reflections" projected through the veil.

His gaze crossed the Pland's staggered buildings and coastline, and he stared in the direction of the boundless sea.

The illusory silhouette of the Vanishing Sail was gradually emerging in his pupils.

……

Heidi subconsciously shrank her neck the moment thunder rumbled.

She huddled on a long chair in the main hall of the cathedral, subconsciously clutching the crystal pendant she wore as a talisman, silently chanting the sacred name of Rahm, the god of wisdom, but stopped halfway through the prayer, looking up at the statue of the goddess of storms not far away.

"The goddess is benevolent… she shouldn't mind."

She murmured softly, then continued to chant the name of Rahm.

But suddenly, she stopped, and an unusual palpitation made it difficult for her to concentrate again.

Heidi rose from the long chair and looked around in a daze.

She saw guardians gathered near the main entrance, and a small group of civilians who had come to the church for shelter because they hadn't had time to return home were placed on the long chairs in front of the statues. Several priests were walking around in the main hall, and Bishop Valentine, holding a long staff, stood quietly in front of the statues, looking ahead with a calm gaze.

Everything was as usual, but… where did the palpitation come from?

Unconsciously, the crystal pendant around her neck seemed to be slightly hot, but Heidi seemed not to notice this. She just subconsciously came to the window not far away, looking at the situation on the plaza through the transparent pane at the edge of the stained-glass window.

The young mental physician suddenly widened her eyes.

"Fire… fire!" she exclaimed, terrified. "The rain has turned to fire!"