Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 990: Summoning

The explosions outside sent ripples across the placid lake's surface. Lunasia anxiously made her way to the circular stone clearing in the middle of the lake while carrying an injured individual on her shoulder.

Her anxiety spread to everyone present, and the albino children turned to look at her in unison.

They gathered around and cast regretful gazes at the injured individual in Lunasia's arms. As they stroked the wounded individual's face, moths descended and engulfed the individual.

When the wounded individual revealed a satisfied smile, the moths stopped moving, and a stream of information entered Lunasia's mind. The individual's memories and consciousness were divided into many pieces, and they entered everyone's minds before being reborn in everyone's thoughts.

Lunasia instantly knew everything there was to know about the wounded individual as well as the "moths," which seemed to be seeking a way home. In the blink of an eye, Lunasia obtained a lot of information.

The moths were devoid of any physical form, and they were supposed to be sealed within a certain painting depicting a forest.

Upon leaving the painting, however, they immediately existed in everyone's minds as if they were worker ants in a colony. At this moment, Lunasia had also become a "moth."

She became aware of their abilities and their grudge against the Shattered God. The enmity spanned many years, and it already existed before the IMF was founded.

When Lunasia came to her senses, the albino children looked at her. "The Red Moon's iron and flames are gnawing away at our Wood, but more frightening still is there are more. You ought to use your blade, not your heart."

They all stood up in unison, retreating toward a distant cave. "Wield your blade and block their path. We shall repeat again among the stars."

Lunasia raised her right hand and stared at the green flames scorching her forearm. When her eyes grew determined, the green flames erupted, sweeping toward the albino children before her.

Everyone present was astonished. The moths in the air tried to block the attack, but they were too late. The moths and a few albino children were reduced to ashes.

The black and white spotted moths scattered their fluorescent powder, creating a scenery straight out of a dreamscape. However, this couldn't be further from a dreamscape as they divided rapidly and swept toward Anna like a tidal wave.

However, they found nothing as soon as they arrived. Anna had melted into the ground down below. Seconds later, she emerged from a distant wall with a smile tugging at her lips.

"No!" Anna's face distorted in terror. "You can't! Lunasia would never betray the Moth!"

Time was running out, and the moths' situation grew even more precarious. Left with no other options, they decided to change their tactics.

Those under their control ceased their attacks on Anna. Then, they opened their mouths and spoke in unison along with the albino children. "Red Moon is cunning and fickle. It is better for you to make a deal with me than work with it."

Anna's quivering head emerged from the water. She swept her gaze across the moths in the air and said, "By capturing all of you, I will still get what I want, and it's safer that way as well."

Earlier, they could have worked together, but they were already fighting to the death, so Anna believed that there was no longer any room for negotiations.

"You were once connected to me. If we don't let you obtain what you need, then you'll get nothing at all. Let us go, and we can do many things for you."

Anna was quiet, pretending like she had fallen into contemplation to buy some more time.

Just then, the crowd pointed at the black diamond ring on Anna's finger.

"I can feel it. That thing is a relic of a deceased, and your feelings for him run deep. We can communicate with the dead. In exchange for letting us leave, I can summon him and let you talk to him."

Anna froze before bursting out into a peal of laughter. She laughed so hard that she felt like tears would come out of her eyes. "You have the potential to become a comedian. You actually made me laugh."

"You don't believe us?" The albino children tilted their heads in unison. "We are one with Winter, and our special ability is to communicate with the dead."

"Oh? Is that so? Summon him, then," Anna said. She removed the ring and threw it toward the clearing in the middle of the lake. "I'm the one who brought the Shattered God's people here.

"If you manage to summon him, then I will definitely make them let you go."

There's nothing else to do, anyway, so I might as well entertain them to buy time.

"I can sense your sincerity from your shadow. It's a deal," they replied at once.