SWNOVELXO Chapter 19: Silent Prayers
[THIRD PERSON POV]
As the chill night air wrapped around the survivors, Belladonna led the human captives out of one of the hidden entrances, the building fading behind them.
The humans, many of them battered and weary, gazed around with expressions of joy and relief.
Belladonna exhaled deeply, brushing dust from her tattered clothes, and muttered,
"Finally, we're out of that nightmare."
Turning to the group, she asked firmly.
"Is everyone here?"
The captives nodded in unison, murmuring their gratitude, their once fearful eyes now glimmering with hope.
A young boy stepped forward, his face streaked with dirt and tears.
He clung tightly to Belladonna's waist, his small arms trembling as he said.
"Thank you, big sister."
Belladonna managed a soft smile, a rare moment of tenderness in the midst of chaos.
She knelt and patted the boy on the head gently.
"You're safe now, all of you."
She said, her voice steady despite the weariness etched across her face.
But just as she began to feel a sliver of relief, her instincts suddenly flared like wildfire.
A violent, primal alarm surged through her, setting every nerve in her body alight.
Her eyes widened, glowing faintly as her werewolf senses screamed danger.
She bolted upright and yelled, her voice laced with urgency.
"Everyone, GET DOWN!"
Before the humans could fully react, a massive, blood-red beacon erupted from the heart of Bucharest.
The infernal light shot into the heavens, piercing the clouds and colliding with the full moon.
The celestial body dimmed for a moment, then glowed a foreboding crimson, bathing the entire city in a crimson light.
The earth trembled beneath them, the shockwave of energy rippling outward, shaking nearby buildings to their foundations.
The beacon's emergence plunged Bucharest's center into ruin.
The once-quiet streets filled with terrified screams as people scrambled for shelter, chaos unfolding like a dark symphony.
Panic gripped the city as the red glow intensified, transforming the serene night into a nightmare.
Belladonna, frozen in shock, stared at the macabre display, her golden eyes wide with fear.
"What? But I thought it was over…"
She muttered under her breath.
Her voice trailed off as something even more horrifying began to unfold.
In the distance, she could see humans convulsing, their bodies writhing unnaturally as their skin turned pale and their eyes glowed red.
A harrowing transformation overtook them as they twisted into grotesque new forms.
Vampires.
The newly turned creatures shrieked, feral and unrelenting, as they turned on their former friends and family.
Bloodcurdling cries filled the air as the vampires attacked, tearing into the panicked crowd.
Belladonna could only watch in horrified disbelief as the streets she'd just escaped became a field of death and despair.
Behind her, the humans she had saved cowered, their faces pale with terror.
The boy clutching her waist whimpered, his small voice trembling as he asked.
"W-What's happening?"
Belladonna's jaw tightened as she looked down at the child, her mind racing for answers.
"I… I don't know."
She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her sharp gaze turned back toward the catacombs, now obscured by the ominous beacon.
Dread gnawed at her as she thought of Arthur and Griselda.
"What happened down there?"
She muttered to herself, her heart pounding.
The eerie red glow of the blood moon illuminated the chaos as Belladonna saw Arthur stumbling out of the catacombs, carrying a bleeding and unconscious Griselda in his arms.
The Excalibur Destruction dangled from his mouth, gripped tightly by his teeth to keep his hands free.
His face was set in a grim expression, but his exhaustion wasn't evident.
Belladonna rushed to meet him, her sharp gaze scanning Griselda's limp form.
"What happened?!"
She demanded, her voice laced with urgency.
Arthur gently placed Griselda down on the street and wiped the sweat and blood from his forehead.
"This whole kidnapping thing was all a fucking setup!"
He said, his voice shaking with anger and disbelief.
"Griselda… she was part of their resurrection plan. They needed her blood for the ritual, and she got shot in the chest because of it. I've tried my best, but I can't stop the bleeding."
Belladonna clenched her fists, her mind racing.
Then an idea struck her.
She pulled out a Holy Scripture she had used earlier during their battle in the catacombs.
Without hesitation, she pressed it against Griselda's wound.
A radiant light glowed from the scripture, and to Arthur's relief, the bleeding finally stopped.
However, Griselda's complexion remained pale, and her body was still weak from the immense blood loss.
Arthur let out a shaky sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping.
"Thank you, Belladonna. You're a lifesaver."
He said to Belladonna, but his gratitude was short-lived as his eyes scanned the horizon.
He froze, his expression twisting into one of disbelief and horror.
"What in God's name..."
The blood-red moon loomed ominously above the city, casting everything in its crimson glow.
Screams echoed from all directions as humans turned into vampires, their bodies contorting grotesquely before they attacked those who remained untouched.
The city was in ruins, chaos consuming every corner.
Arthur's hands clenched into fists.
"Why… why the hell is this happening?"
He murmured, his voice trembling with anger and despair.
Before Belladonna could respond, a horde of feral vampires surged toward them and the human captives they had just rescued.
Arthur acted instinctively, slamming his hand into the ground to erect a glowing blue barrier around their group.
The vampires clawed and screeched at the barrier, but it held firm as Arthur summoned several Terminators to mow them down with precision gunfire.
The sound of gunfire stirred Griselda awake, coughing up blood as she slowly opened her eyes.
*Cough*
Her gaze drifted to Arthur, and her voice came out in a faint whisper.
"What… happened?"
Arthur knelt beside her, his expression softening with concern.
"Don't talk. You got shot in the heart. Just focus on saving your strength."
He said firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder to keep her still.
Griselda's gaze shifted past Arthur, and she caught sight of the blood moon.
Her eyes widened in horror, and she struggled to lift her trembling hand to place it over Arthur's.
"Arthur... forget about me... stop Absalom..."
She whispered, her voice barely audible.
Arthur shook his head fiercely.
"No. I'm not leaving you behind. I'll get you and the rest of the humans to safety first, then-"
*Cough x 2*
Griselda coughed violently, cutting him off.
She managed a weak smile, even as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"If you don't stop him now... at his weakest… he'll grow stronger... He'll destroy all of Europe..."
Arthur clenched his teeth, torn between protecting Griselda and fighting Absalom.
His fists trembled as frustration boiled inside him.
Belladonna placed a firm hand on his shoulder, her golden eyes meeting his.
"Don't worry, Arthur. I'll take them to a safe place and protect them. So go out there and end this nightmare."
She said with determination.
Arthur looked at her, his hesitation clear.
"Even if I wanted to… I'm just a High-Class human kid. What am I supposed to do against a Super-Class God?"
Griselda's trembling hand pointed weakly toward the Excalibur Destruction lying nearby.
"Take my sword... use it… stop Absalom… save... everyone…"
With those final words, her body went limp, unconscious once more.
Arthur stared at her in silence, his heart heavy.
Belladonna knelt beside him, cradling Griselda in her arms.
"She'll be fine. I promise I'll protect them all."
Arthur took a deep breath, his expression hardening into one of resolve.
"Okay. I'll take your word for it."
He said as he gently handed Griselda over to Belladonna.
"I'm gonna stop this nightmare once and for all."
Belladonna nodded, gesturing for the humans to follow her as she began leading them to safety.
"Everyone, follow me!"
A little boy turned back, his small voice ringing out.
"Go beat that monster, mister!"
Arthur smirked faintly and gave the boy a thumbs-up before turning to the Excalibur Destruction.
He reached out to grab it, and the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
"That's... oddly comfortable..."
He ignored it for now, gripping the blade tightly as he turned toward the heart of the city.
As the blood-red beacon illuminated the sky, something monstrous began to emerge from its center.
Arthur's gaze sharpened, and he spoke inwardly to Gaia.
'Let's get this shit over with. You ready, Gaia?'
Gaia's voice echoed in his mind.
(I am ready as always. But let me ask, what exactly is your plan?)
Arthur exhaled deeply, his grip on the sword tightening.
'Kill Absalom.'
(You are literally an ant with a poison needle in his eyes. How exactly do you plan to defeat him?)
Gaia pressed.
Arthur remained silent, his eyes locked on the monstrosity forming in the distance.
Gaia sighed in exasperation.
(*Sigh* We're all fucked, aren't we?)
Arthur nodded grimly, acknowledging the truth.
But his steps didn't falter as he charged toward the city center, slashing down vampires and summoning more Terminators to clear a path.
[ARTHUR'S POV]
I finally made it to the city center, panting lightly as I cut down yet another vampire lunging for my throat.
The streets were drenched in blood, and the air reeked of death and decay.
The red beacon of blood loomed overhead, bathing everything in its ominous glow.
My grip tightened on the Excalibur Destruction, its weight both surprisingly comforting and nostalgic in my hands.
"Well, this is it. Here goes nothing."
I muttered under my breath, steeling myself as I stared at the swirling energy of the blood beacon.
I adjusted my stance, holding the blade firmly as the silhouette of a figure began to emerge from the beacon's center.
It wasn't just the energy radiating off him that made my heart pound in my chest, it was the sheer malice, the suffocating weight of his presence.
Then I saw him.
'Manthar', or at least, what was left of him.
His eyes glowed an unnatural crimson, his frail body was replaced with a pale masculine one, and red veins pulsed and spread across his body as if something far greater and more terrible was wearing him as a suit.
"Hmmm…"
The voice that came from him wasn't just Manthar's.
It was deeper, more resonant, vibrating with power.
"This vessel is quite fragile, and my full strength has yet to recover. Perhaps I shall partake of these humans to regain what I have lost."
I gulped, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from him press down on me like a mountain.
My instincts screamed at me to run, but I planted my feet firmly on the ground. I secretly used Observe, hoping for a miracle.
When his stats appeared, I almost wished I hadn't looked.
XxX
Name: Absalom
Race: Nephalem [Angel/Demon Hybrid]
Level: 66,600 [Super-Class]
Health: 300,000/300,000 [Former: 3,000,000/3,000,000]
Mana: 300,000/300,000 [Former: 3,000,000/3,000,000]
Stats:
- Strength: 540,000 [Former: 3,666,000]
- Dexterity: 430,000 [Former: 3,666,000]
- Constitution: 610,000 [Former: 3,666,000]
XxX
"... okay."
I breathed, sweat trickling down my forehead.
His numbers were astronomical.
Every digit screamed, 'You are outmatched, outclassed, and out of your league.'
My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to get my shit together.
'It's fine. I can manage this. No point in backing out now.'
I spread my barrier across the city center, reinforcing it as much as I could to keep Absalom from leaving.
Then, with a wave of my hand, I summoned everything I had.
Gaster Blasters, Blades, Terminators, Xenomorphs, Yautjas, Ragnars, Elemental Spirits, Dragons, and even Death Angels emerged from nowhere, each one ready to fight to the death.
A bead of sweat rolled down my temple as I asked the question burning in my mind.
"So, you're Absalom, huh? I thought you'd be taller and wearing armor that screams edge lord."
I tightened my grip on the hilt.
The figure tilted his head, and when he spoke.
"How curious. A mere human child wields the powers of creation. Perhaps you would make a fine vessel."
He said, almost amused
I couldn't help the smirk that crept onto my lips, even as my knees felt like they might give out.
"Yeah? Well, it's even weirder that a dead god to be inside an old guy's body. I'm not judging though."
His amused expression darkened instantly.
The aura around him flared, crimson and furious, causing the very ground beneath us to tremble.
"Watch your tone, human."
He growled, his voice echoing ominously.
"I have brought entire civilizations to their knees, reduced empires to ash, and battled the Heavenly Host in my prime. I am the inevitable. I am the Blood God. I am Absalom!"
His words were punctuated by an explosion of power, a crimson aura surging around him in violent waves.
The earth cracked and shook under his sheer presence, the air heavy with the stench of blood and rage.
I stared at him, my heart racing, but I couldn't let him see the fear in my eyes.
I glanced at my updated stats from the catacombs.
XxX
Level Up!
Name: Arthur
Titles: Reincarnator, The Man Who Impersonates God, Granny's Favorite, Golden Boy of Grey Haven, Youngest Master Chef, Unstoppable Force, Master Runner, Survivor Surpreme, Living Computer, Wannabe Uncle Iroh, Casanova, King of Gambling, Undead Slayer, Monster Hunter, Alien Terminator, The Buffest Kid Ever, Vampire Hunter [New]
Age: 5
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Health: 900,000/900,000
Mana: 900,000/900,000
Level: 900 [0/900,000] [High-Class]
Stats:
- Strength: 103,457 [You can crush multiple mountains]
- Dexterity: 101,411 [You can dodge a bunch of lasers]
- Constitution: 102,023 [You can thrive underwater in a month]
- Intelligence: 91,913 [Your IQ surpasses Nikola Tesla]
- Wisdom: 90,909 [You... let's be honest, you'll never surpass Uncle Iroh]
- Charisma: 88,884 [You are the Sigma Male and the Gigachad's love child]
- Luck: 69,969 [You have a chance of getting a harem of MILFs]
Active Skills: ??? [Locked], Triple Impact, Second Wind, Observe, Telekinesis, Barrier, Berserk Mode, Flash Step, Intimidation, Bladed Weapon Creation, Summoned Creation, Meteor Strike, Quicksilver, One Minute Invincibility, Future Sight, Five Second Rule, Silence, ...
Passive Skills: Master Combatant, Master Technician, Master of Medicine, Agriculture Expert, Master Chef, Master Hunter, Weapon Master, Major Pain Resistance, Omnilingual, First Impression, Major Healing Factor, Photographic Memory, Beginner's Luck, Lucky Break, Chantless Magic, Itemless Magic, Mental Barrier, Auto-Dodge, ...
Magic Spells: Magic Circle, Fireball, Boulder, Thunderbolt, Whirlwind, Water Cannon, Freeze, Roots, Mana Bullet, Magic Missile, Mana Shield, Volcanic Eruption, Icicles, Tremor Sphere, Railgun, Wind Shuriken, Bamboo Spears, [...]
Items: Innovate Clear, ??? [Locked], Ol' Reliable, Short Sword, Round Shield, Cross Bow, Broad Spears, Magic Staffs, Whips, Twin Daggers, Battle Axe, War Hammer, Long Sword, C4, Fallout Power Armor, Various Firearms, Revolving Cannon, Monster Gauntlets, [...]
Summons: Gaster Blasters, Various Wild Animals, Various Elemental Spirits, Various Dragons, T-100 Terminators, Xenomorphs, Yautja, Ragnars, Death Angels, [...]
Currency: 2,205 Euros
XxX
My stats weren't great, but they weren't bad either.
"..."
But just in case, I whispered a silent prayer.
"Oh heavenly gambler, Kinji Hakari. Bless my current endeavor with your plot armor-esque luck. May the femboys be with you. Amen."
I muttered under my breath, gripping Excalibur Destruction so tightly my knuckles turned white.
With a deep breath, I shifted into a ready stance, Excalibur Destruction glowing faintly as if responding to my resolve.
This was it.
The moment when I either became the victor... or joined the countless corpses littering the streets.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE]
Hello readers!
I'm gonna start sending more pictures in the chapter comments.
Go back to check these images, and also let me know if I missed anything.
Thank you everyone and see you later!