Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

The fog in the alley was even denser than by the river, carrying with it a strong fishy and briny odor. The closer they got to the Des house, the stronger the smell became, even hinting at a foul stench.

This bizarre smell suggested not only a problem with a fish scale disease but seemed also to herald even more terrifying powers from the sea...

Leading the way was the silhouette of the Matchstick Girl with her basket, followed closely by Miss Luisa, with Shard bringing up the rear. His hands radiated the Glimmer of Silvermoon, ready to confront any potential attacks at a moment's notice.

Fortunately, it was night, and night was when his combat strength was at its peak.

Finally, as they neared the house, Shard noticed faint golden Rifts appearing under his skin. They weren't clear, but they were undoubtedly there.

He furrowed his brows:

"A dream?" Read latest chapters on empire

[No, I can be certain this is reality.]

"Miss Luisa, look."

The blonde female writer turned her head and upon seeing the marks and golden glow on Shard's body, her expression first registered confusion, then turned somewhat unsightly:

"This area might be getting dragged into a dreadful place. I don't know the principle behind these 'decorations' of yours, but the situation must be very bad."

As they spoke, they already arrived at the door, with Miss Luisa insisting Shard step back so she could push it open. But Shard didn't retreat. Instead, he seized the writer's wrist and pulled her behind him:

"Miss Luisa, I certainly don't want to be carrying or dragging you out of this place."

He spoke in jest, but his expression was resolute:

"I'll take this one."

He had faced Deities twice head-on, had a lively chat with an Old God in a toy store, and only hours before, had reflected on the secrets of an Ancient God while touching its statue. In terms of psychic resistance and soul's anti-contamination strength, even two Miss Luisas couldn't match him.

In the darkness, he stared into the green eyes of the blonde girl:

"Matchstick Girl in front, me in the middle, you at the back, hold my hand. Once we enter the house, try not to open your eyes; just follow me and keep walking. I can feel it, the exit is right here..."

In fact, it was "She" whispering in his ear, able to sense the special traces inside the room thanks to possessing the Core Rune of Space-Time.

"Detective, no, Shard... be careful."

Dorothy Louisa too was gazing into Shard's eyes when she softly nodded and took the initiative to grasp Shard's wrist.

Shard turned to face the door, took a deep breath, and gently pushed; the door swung open.

The thick darkness seemed to swirl out from within, blurring the silhouette of the Matchstick Girl while making Shard's golden Light Trace even more visible. Particles of light drifted backward as he stepped forward, marking this as the most dangerous endeavor since their time at Lakeside Manor.

"But actually, it's not that dangerous. The greatest threat are the Mermen, and that 'more terrifying power' seems not to have truly arrived here."

Thinking this, he stepped inside the room, where the darkness was so thick that he could barely see beyond his hand. The briny and stench-filled air was so intense it nearly suffocated him. The cold wind chilling to the bone made Shard's scalp tingle.

[Probably in the room on the left.]

"Left."

He spoke softly, and the Matchstick Girl immediately headed left. Her figure was indistinct, but the brass-colored Enlightening Aura on her illuminated the path ahead.

Dark shadows appeared ahead, and a roaring Merman charged at them.

"I'll do it."

Almost clinging to Shard's back, Miss Luisa spoke close to his right ear, while the Matchstick Girl took a match from her basket and struck it, thrusting the lit match forward. The flame ignited the merman, causing it to retreat into the darkness with a silent scream, its phantom fading further with this attack.

Continuing forward, whispers gradually began to echo by his ears, reminding Shard inexplicably of the last lamentations of people drowning in water.

"Smile."

He said to himself, and then he heard her laughter by his left ear.

As he freed himself from the influence of the whispers, his right hand suddenly pointed forward, and a burst of silver moonlight illuminated the slightly shorter merman in front.

The Matchstick Girl pulled out another match, and the flames drove back a second merman. Its decaying face and form, completely repulsive by human standards—even though he had seen it just the night before—still made Shard very uncomfortable.

"The Matchstick Girl can use the matches only four times,"

Miss Luisa said next to Shard's right ear.

"Understood."

Suppressing the illusion that countless creatures were peeping at him, he continued to follow the near-transparent Matchstick Girl forward. On both sides, the shrill cries of mermen appeared, as if the creatures in the dark were simultaneously launching an attack from both sides.

"To the right."

His sharp intuition provided the answer without needing "her" cue.

"To the right!"

He called out loudly, and the Matchstick Girl's third match drove back the merman. Seizing the opportunity, Shard observed more details of the merman's body.

Compared to the uncontrolled mermen from the previous night, this one was entwined with more seaweed, almost completely fused with its rotting fish scales. Moreover, there was a rope tied around the feet of the merman.

He described these details to Miss Luisa, who responded in his right ear:

"I roughly know which Evil God has been attracted here, but I cannot utter Its name now. Be ready to hold your breath at any moment; we might feel as if we're being submerged in water."

"Alright."

Shard continued to follow the almost transparent Matchstick Girl forward, as the smell of seaweed drifted from behind. The Matchstick Girl vanished from in front of Shard and appeared behind Miss Luisa.

The last match lit up, and the burning Matchstick Girl lunged at the fourth merman, disappearing into the darkness with it amid the flying sparks.

Miss Luisa groaned softly; the Arcane Technique ended with the four matches and was not voluntarily terminated, which also caused her harm.

"We're close."

Shard whispered, casting the Glimmer of Silvermoon to his right. The moonlight illuminated the surroundings in their path; it was just a moment, yet Shard saw that they were surrounded by countless bodies, swollen like giants.

The bodies eerily floated in the air, as if the air around them turned to liquid.

Suddenly, the sound of splashing water rang by his ears, and as Shard breathed in, he felt as if he had inhaled a large gulp of water. He immediately held his breath, his eyes unable to open due to the water, but "her" voice still guided him forward by his left ear.

Shard tightly grasped Miss Luisa's hand and moved forward another dozen steps before suddenly stopping. The feeling of being submerged dissipated, and upon opening his eyes, he was unexpectedly facing the door of the Des Family's house. The door stood open, this was the exit, his chance to leave this uncertain realm.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Miss Luisa, we must quickly..."

But he stopped mid-sentence.