Since the war had intensified, the Loen soldiers had seen so many unscientific and unnatural phenomena that they had grown somewhat numb. Yet the sight of these mangled corpses rising up one after another still shocked them, leaving them a mix of horror and confusion. They felt they would not be spared and would eventually become living corpses.
Of course, there was a reason they could maintain their morale and not collapse despite witnessing so many unscientific and unnatural phenomena.
Right when immense fear arose in their hearts, a wave of chanting came from behind them: "They are naked, without clothing and food, uncovered in the cold.
"…
"The Night did not abandon them. It granted them its blessing." (Note 1) The holy and pitiful prayer echoed across the entire defensive line, swiftly dissipating the fear in every soldier's heart, calming their minds and bodies.
Then, some soldiers followed orders, carrying out shells engraved with intricate silver patterns, adjusting the cannons' muzzles to aim at the dark, surging tide of broken corpses.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As bursts of fire flashed, shells landed across the battlefield, exploding and releasing dense darkness.
The mangled corpses were either directly destroyed or collapsed weakly, returning to their eternal slumber.
Seeing this, the mysterious figure in a black robe and hood behind the resistance raised his arms as if to embrace the crimson moon hanging high in the sky.
At that very moment, his body suddenly became illusory, tinged with a faint red, and transformed into a hazy beam of moonlight.
This moonlight shattered instantly, turning into patches of red scales that dissipated on the spot.
"Moonlight Transfiguration"!
This was a Beyonder power inherent to a Sequence 5 "Crimson Scholar" of the "Apothecary" Pathway. For a Sequence 4 "Witch King," it had almost become instinct.
At the spot where the "Witch King" had just been, a figure rapidly outlined into existence.
It was a huge cloth doll. "It" had golden hair and bright red eyes, and wore a black Gothic dress engraved with countless mysterious patterns and entwined with sinister vines. Its skin lacked the luster a human should possess.
What He had summoned with the "Star Staff" was himself in his prime state.
Of course, what Klein had lent to this Miss Messenger was the real "Star Staff," a "Star Staff" brought from above the
— If this were not the case, it would mean Klein's Historical Void Projection summoned a projection of the "Star Staff," and then the projection of the "Star Staff" summoned Reinette Tinekerr from her peak state in the past. All the burden would fall on "The Magician" Fors, quickly draining her spirituality.
By temporarily lending the main body of the "Star Staff" to Reinette Tinekerr, this problem could be effectively avoided. The consumed spirituality would be borne entirely by this "Ancient Evil" itself.
At the same time, Reinette Tinekerr was perhaps one of the beings least afraid of the negative effects of the "Star Staff."
As a representative of the School of Moderation and as a "Puppet," a "Doll," He was fully capable of keeping any images from surfacing in his mind. Once transformed into a concealment state, the "Star Staff" would struggle to affect his Historical Void Projection.
Just now, the Reinette Tinekerr at her peak had attempted to approach covertly and directly possess and control the Rose School's "Witch King," ending the battle instantly. Yet the opponent sensed the danger ahead of time, took the initiative to use the moonlight, and escaped the "Wraith Possession."
In the crimson glow covering the earth, patches of red scales rapidly recombined in the distance, coalescing into the black-robed, hooded "Witch King" of the Rose School. He shut his eyes tightly, not daring to look directly at the "Ancient Evil" before him.
At the same time, on the other side of the battlefield, a figure rapidly outlined into existence. It was Gehrman Sparrow, wearing a black trench coat and a half-top hat. A transparent glove covered his left hand, and he raised his right hand, snapping his fingers with a pop.
Clusters of fiery red flames then rose in various places on the battlefield, as if heralding a grand performance.
Just as the "Witch King" finished his recombination, he reached out his left hand and ripped open the clothes over his chest and abdomen. At this moment, Reinette Tinekerr's bright red eyes had already reflected his figure.
If nothing unexpected happened, the Rose School's "Witch King" would turn into a rabbit or a goat in the next second, "losing" most of his characteristics and Beyonder powers. However, his body only emitted a faint light without any change.
His chest and abdomen were exposed, revealing a slender brownish-yellow wooden doll embedded there.
This wooden doll seemed to have grown from inside the "Witch King," connected to his internal organs. Its eyes and mouth were shaped like crescent moons. Its surface was planted with dried flowers and withered grass, exuding an indescribable eeriness in the moonlight.
Suddenly, this wooden doll was dyed a bright red, as if soaked in blood.
It then visibly softened, turning into a pool of mud that led to the "Witch King's" internal organs.
From this mud, an arm stretched out.