Chapter 61 - 61
The tension in the temple courtyard snapped like a taut bowstring. Nick's breath hitched as the immense pressure weighing on Morrin suddenly intensified, forcing the mothman to his knees. The air around him seemed to ripple, and dark mist appeared from nowhere, curling like smoke around his slender frame.
Morrin's wings trembled violently before falling still, and his multifaceted eyes began glowing as the light within them flickered like a candle struggling against the wind. The dark mist sank into his fur and skin, seeping into his very being until his eyes turned a sickly black. A low, unnatural sound escaped his lips—part growl, part wheezing laugh—that sent shivers down the spines of those gathered.
Marthas was apparently undaunted by the changes."Sashara, the ever-burning flame, the guiding light of purity, the cleansing fire! Lend me your strength to cast away this shadow, this filth that would defile your flock!" His deep voice rang out, commanding the attention of all present.
The chant rolled through the courtyard, echoing with power. The flames in the braziers surrounding the temple flared higher, pushing back the creeping shadows with their golden light. The gathered beastmen instinctively huddled closer together, seeking comfort as the temperature rose and the spiritual weight settled heavily upon them.
Nick could do nothing but watch, clutching his wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The scene before him felt surreal—a clash between powers rivaled only by the battle between Arthur and the wyvern.
Morrin's body jolted upward with a violent snap, extending his arms wide as if pulled by invisible strings. When he spoke, his voice was no longer his own. It was layered and guttural, dripping with malice. It sounded old, older than anything Nick knew of.
"I am That Which Flutters in the Dark," the creature intoned, freely giving its name. That was bad.
The bright flames dimmed at the sound of its voice, and the courtyard grew colder. The name carried with it a tangible force that rippled through the crowd. Several beastmen collapsed to their knees, clutching at their heads as though the words themselves had injured them.
Nick felt a wave of nausea hit him like a physical blow, a strong discomfort that settled in his chest and crawled up his spine. Notifications from the system blinked into existence before his eyes, but he ignored them, locked on the unfolding confrontation.
| [Blasphemy] has nullified the effects of a mid-tier Abyssal Invocation. |