Chapter 66 - Diana
The ghosts had come. Their mothers.
Every person who had lost a mother, abandoned or forgotten—now saw them, twisted and hateful, whispering their deepest fears. You were never wanted. You were never loved. You are alone.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbz3M819rE
The little girl stood in the center of it all, her eyes gleaming with something ancient and terrible. Her eyes glimmering in the dim light, and her lips curled into the smallest of smiles.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoenbKWN1b
The Joker staggered back, watching in awe and terror. "Ohhh," he breathed, his painted grin wavering. "Now that...that is beautiful."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqavu9oavGc
The circus fell into chaos. Screams, sobs, the rustle of fabric as people tried to flee only to find themselves trapped in the torment of their own minds. The air crackled with raw power, thick and suffocating.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPKEPUhQNc
The little girl tilted her head, watching the scene unfold like a child marveling at fireflies in the dark. Her mother had taught her pain. Now, she would teach the world.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4QxEKCoDo
And Omeen—Omeen belongs to her, just as her father had always wanted.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6at5JqGvu
But first...first, she would play. And the world would scream.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAqXzJr8MK
The legacy of the Whisperer, the broken realm of Omeen, and the tortured soul of a little girl converged in this moment of chaos and terror.
The Circus Joker, his painted grin now a mask of both awe and terror, staggered back from the chaos unfolding before him. The little girl stood at the center of it all, her haunting blue eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light as she unleashed her power upon the terrified crowd.
As screams and sobs filled the air, the Joker's mind raced. He had sought to control this child, to break her and mold her into his perfect act. But now, faced with the raw, ancient power emanating from her small frame, he realized he had unleashed something far beyond his comprehension.
In that moment of realization, a name bubbled up from the depths of his twisted psyche. It was a name that seemed to embody both the ethereal beauty and the terrifying darkness of this otherworldly child.
"Diana," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the chaos. Then, louder, with a hint of his showman's bravado returning, he called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, behold Diana, the Daughter of the Whisperer!"
The name hung in the air, a christening amidst the mayhem. Diana, named for the goddess of the moon, whose phases hovered above the girl's head like a cosmic crown. Diana, a name that spoke of both light and shadow, of hunting and protection.
The little girl - Diana - turned her gaze to the Joker, her lips curling into the smallest of smiles as she accepted this new identity. In that moment, it seemed as though the very fabric of reality shifted, acknowledging the power of names and the birth of something both wondrous and terrible.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3MrLlSY2c
The Joker, his earlier bravado now tinged with a newfound respect and fear, watched as Diana embraced her new name and the chaos she had wrought. He knew then that he had not just found an act for his circus - he had become witness to the awakening of a force that would reshape the world.
-In the Shrine of the Hidden Springs Temple, Domino-
The inner sanctum of the temple was bathed in flickering candlelight, casting long shadows across the faces of the assembled elders. The High Priest, his weathered face etched with lines of worry, stood at the center of the gathering.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VzywKEOP0
"My brethren," he began, his voice echoing in the cavernous chamber, "the threat from the Monis Household can no longer be ignored. Their influence spreads like a poison through our lands, corrupting all it touches. We must act now, or risk losing everything we hold sacred."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY4ODtiM1F
A murmur of agreement rippled through the assembled clergy. An elder with a shock of white hair stepped forward, his eyes blazing with righteous fury. "What do you propose, High Priest? We cannot sit idly by while these heathens threaten our very existence."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDrhfzXxgL
The High Priest's gaze swept across the room, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. "We must declare war," he said, his words falling like hammer blows in the hushed chamber. "It is a drastic step, but one we must take to preserve our faith and our people."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyTMTe1ljF
A younger priest, his face pale with apprehension, spoke up. "But how can we hope to stand against the might of the Romanian Empire? Their resources far outstrip our own."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9uzLxA7sR
"We have faith on our side," declared another elder, her voice ringing with conviction. "And we have allies. We must rally the faithful, call upon every resource at our disposal. This will be a holy war, a crusade to cleanse our lands of the Monis taint."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms9hGqOmDu
The High Priest nodded gravely. "Indeed. We must move swiftly and decisively. Send word to our allies in neighboring kingdoms. Mobilize our templars and holy warriors. We will strike at the heart of the Monis influence in Romania, crippling their operations before they can fully prepare."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYdxmyQBPM
As the elders continued to discuss strategy, the air in the sanctum grew heavy with the weight of their decision. The coming conflict would test their faith, their resolve, and the very foundations of their beliefs. But they were determined to meet the challenge head-on, whatever the cost.
-In Cesare's Throne Room, Romania-
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFwH62pRe5
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dLtYEU8bq
The vast chamber was shrouded in shadows, the only light coming from a few strategically placed braziers that cast an eerie, flickering glow. Emperor Cesare lounged on his obsidian throne, his eyes glinting with malevolent interest as a cloaked figure prostrated itself before him.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kfcqw20uw
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iJaoaZ4ER
"Speak," Cesare commanded, his voice a low, menacing purr that seemed to reverberate through the very stones of the palace.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5an9SIvKbY
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyO0or6m5O
The spy's words tumbled out in a rush, detailing the plans of the Shrine of the Hidden Springs Temple. As the report concluded, a slow, cruel smile spread across Cesare's face, transforming his handsome features into something truly terrifying.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s2pBq6xWy
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv9YIYnEZu
He turned to his sister, Rudbeckia, who stood beside the throne like a statue carved from midnight. Her celestial gown seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, constellations swirling across its surface in hypnotic patterns.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2isZNoWVdc
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSHb6kH6ej
"Did you hear that, dear sister?" Cesare's voice dripped with dark amusement. "These fools think they can challenge us. They dare to declare war on the Monis Household."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ570K58Aoxp
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG4L8ZRfXg
Rudbeckia's lips curled into a matching smirk, her eyes gleaming with a cold light that rivaled the stars themselves. "How delightfully naive of them," she purred. "They have no concept of the forces they're dealing with."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBhnuBmbxy
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqfLiWDoVh
Cesare rose from his throne, his movements liquid and predatory. He began to pace, the shadows seeming to cling to him like a living cloak. "We'll let them think they have the advantage, for now. Let them gather their pitiful forces, rally their so-called allies. And when they're at their most confident, their most vulnerable..."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEP93Ap0ZD
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58Y9sm6ZUz
He paused, turning to face Rudbeckia, his eyes blazing with an infernal light. "We'll crush them. Not just their armies, not just their temple. We'll obliterate their very faith, leave them broken and hopeless, begging for the mercy of the gods they once served."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA0mRyiwsJ
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqBzeXu77w
Rudbeckia glided forward, her gown leaving trails of stardust in her wake. She placed a hand on her brother's arm, her touch as cold as the void between worlds. "And what of their artifacts? The power they claim to wield?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoJpUVevIi
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jsy3LRMpA
Cesare's grin widened, revealing teeth that seemed unnaturally sharp in the dim light. "We'll take it all. Every relic, every scrap of so-called holy power. We'll bend it to our will, use it to fuel our own ascension. When we're done, the name Monis will be spoken with reverence and terror throughout all the known world."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4uchCkU6j
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5zcAbNES4
The siblings shared a look of malicious anticipation, their minds already racing with schemes to outmaneuver and destroy their unsuspecting foes. In the shadows of the throne room, ancient powers stirred, awakened by the dark ambitions of the Monis Household. The coming conflict would reshape the very fabric of reality, and woe to those who stood in their way.
-Night; Roxana's Room in Fortress of Ossa-
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRPQDdOhAs
The scent of dried herbs and parchment hung in the air of Roxana's chamber, a stark contrast to the cold, metallic feel of the fortress. A low fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls lined with ancient tomes and maps.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmClV24wc1
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3sN0NnCVG
Roxana, her bright orange hair pulled back in a practical braid, rose slowly from her crouched position. Her zircon blue eyes had been focused on the depths of a cluttered drawer, sorting through forgotten trinkets and faded letters. As she straightened, a sharp intake of breath escaped her lips.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWMpVpr2El
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8czbZeeKiP
Leaning against the window, arms crossed and face a thunderous mask of displeasure, was Helios. His pale blond hair seemed almost silver in the dim light, and his ruby red eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down Roxana's spine. It was a face she hadn't seen in nearly twenty years, yet every feature was etched into her memory like a scar.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCZNVfgRBf
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI4BvkWah5
Roxana's heart hammered against her ribs. She hadn't sensed his presence, hadn't heard him enter. It was unlike him to be so… silent, so menacing. A wave of apprehension washed over her, mixed with a deep-seated longing she thought she'd long buried.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jK9pF7jI6
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZODxZrfCXN
Helios pushed himself upright, his movements slow and deliberate, each step radiating contained fury. The distance between them seemed to shrink with every stride, the room suddenly claustrophobic. Roxana took a hesitant step back, her hand instinctively flying to her throat.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZit5fUIhmD
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRrmxPpIAW
He continued to advance, his gaze never leaving hers, those ruby red eyes boring into her soul. Roxana's breath hitched in her throat. She knew that look. It was the look he reserved for traitors, for enemies of the realm. She began to take small, shuffling steps backward, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfUG1tbwTV
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuntc8LQKji
"Helios," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67zOQhdrMv
He didn't answer, didn't break his stride. His silence was more terrifying than any shout, more damning than any accusation.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtapbvwOt6
Roxana took another step back, her heel bumping against the heavy oak door.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4QXNxEOIg
He stopped just a few feet away, his towering frame casting her in shadow. The firelight flickered across his face, highlighting the harsh lines of his jaw, the tight set of his lips. His ruby red eyes were pools of molten anger, reflecting the turmoil within.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUrAMEBmlE
"You're a real piece of shit, Roxana," Helios spat, his voice low and venomous. "I may have lost my memories, but yours were all intact. You remember every detail of how you screwed me over, don't you? You're a master manipulator, always playing the victim. But I'm not buying it this time."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLyIoCAAhi
Roxana's eyes flashed with defiance. "You can go to hell, Helios. I don't owe you anything."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkksRO4ay5K
Helios's face twisted in anger. "You owe me everything, Roxana. You owe me the truth about our daughter, about what you've been doing behind my back."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTyzSTRESN
Roxana turned the door handle, stepping out into the corridor. "I don't have to listen to this," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tXVw0B5Xi
Helios followed her into the corridor, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. "You're going to listen, Roxana. You're going to hear every word I have to say. You're a coward, always running away from the truth."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5apTmrJKs
Roxana spun around, her eyes blazing with fury. "You're one to talk, Helios. You're the one who abandoned us, who left us to rot. Don't come back now, pretending to be the hero."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YKVGtSwKJ
Helios's face darkened. "I didn't abandon you, Roxana. You pushed me away. And now, you're paying the price."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33nYgw1wCb
Roxana laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think you're the price I'm paying? You're nothing but a relic of the past, Helios. A reminder of all the mistakes I've made."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWIm61Yn6q
Helios's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that. You're not as free as you think you are, Roxana. You're still tied to me, whether you like it or not."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9ofZS549g
Roxana's smile was a razor's edge. "I'll never be tied to you again, Helios. You can rot in hell for all I care."
As Roxana and Helios continued their heated exchange in the corridor, their raised voices echoed off the stone walls, drawing the attention of nearby Azones.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuaGNAPUh6
"You think you can just waltz back in here and start making demands?" Roxana hissed, her zircon eyes flashing dangerously. "You've got some nerve, Helios."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTsPDgut87
Helios stepped closer, his voice a low growl. "I've got nerve? That's rich coming from you, Roxana. You're the one playing games with our daughter's life."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5k6ntLyUw
An audible gasp rippled through the gathering crowd of Azones.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ340BZlVACb
Roxana's laugh was bitter and sharp. "Oh, now you care about our daughter? Where was that concern when you disappeared for fifteen years?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ETVMO5qv
"I lost my memories, you heartless witch," Helios snarled. "But what's your excuse for the choices you've made?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ466WTMyE
"My choices?" Roxana's voice rose, echoing off the stone walls. "My choices kept this kingdom standing while you were off playing amnesiac!"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjSE8ATLKk
Helios's ruby eyes blazed with fury. "And now you're willing to sacrifice everything we built, everything we fought for, for what? Some misguided attempt at protection?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM48xUVsIG
The Azones exchanged uneasy glances, torn between their duty to intervene and their fascination with the unfolding drama. Whispers began to circulate among them.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBa1DiMQFo
"Isn't that the niece of our leader?" one guard murmured.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbkdb3faY7
Another nodded, "Yes, and that man... he looks just like the King of Domino."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV4RAQEr1I
"No, you fool," a third hissed. "That's his twin brother, Princess Roxana's husband."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOeWgssBU0
"You have no idea what I've been through to protect our daughter," Roxana spat, her zircon eyes flashing with anger.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJzSWMLNnL
Helios stepped closer, his voice a low growl. "Protect her? By selling her out to our enemies? You're pathetic, Roxana."
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoOmLPzxur
"At least I was here!" Roxana shouted, her fists clenched at her sides. "Where were you when we needed you most?"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZx9xyBkxW
Their bitter exchange was suddenly interrupted by a commanding voice that cut through the tension like a knife.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjX9qNuHnW
"Enough!"
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMVJtNw4Tc
The crowd of Azones parted to reveal a stern-faced woman, her uniform adorned with the insignia of leadership. Roxana's aunt, the Leader of the Azones, strode forward, her eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCyvTlBgwf
"What is the meaning of this disturbance?" she demanded, her gaze shifting between Roxana and Helios.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfE6cuADFW
Before either could respond, the Leader turned to her guards. "Seize him," she ordered, pointing at Helios.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzuU7frDE8
As the Azones moved to apprehend Helios, his ruby eyes began to glow with an otherworldly light. A dark aura surrounded him, pulsing with malevolent energy.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm16MOppiu1
Suddenly, tendrils of black magic erupted from his body, lashing out at the approaching guards. The Azones were thrown back, their bodies crumpling to the ground as the dark energy overwhelmed them.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFQHV7eJe4
Roxana and her aunt watched in horror as Helios's power grew, engulfing the corridor in shadows. With a final burst of energy, he knocked out the remaining Azones, leaving only Roxana and her aunt standing amidst the unconscious bodies of the guards.
91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Uv3qL5vp4
Helios turned his gaze to Roxana, his eyes now burning with an infernal light. "This isn't over," he growled, before disappearing in a swirl of dark mist, leaving behind a scene of chaos and destruction.
To be Continued...
ns18.222.116.64da2
然後按「加至主畫面」