Chapter 19 – The Sky Island’s Secrets and the Looming Darkness

Elowen’s party pushes deeper into the silent ruins, following the steady stride of the Sky Golem. Broken pillars and toppled arches scatter across the forgotten city, yet the path leads them inevitably toward the heart.

And there it stands.

A colossal structure looms above them, so massive it seems to scrape the heavens. Its jagged silhouette pierces the skyline like a monument of eternity.

“…It’s like a nexus,” Elowen whispers, awe in her voice.

I tilt my head, my eyes narrowing at the carved symbols etched into the walls. “No… more like the Egyptians’ pyramids. But… different. Almost alive.”

The golem’s massive hand beckons us forward, and we obey, stepping through towering bronze doors into the palace interior.

Inside, the air is heavy—thick with the scent of incense long burned out. The ceiling shimmers with thousands of tiny, starlight-like motes, glowing faintly as though the night sky itself has been imprisoned here. At the center lies a raised stage, circular and marked with ancient inscriptions.

But what unsettles us most is not the beauty of the place… but the sound.

A low murmur, almost a chant, fills the air.

Prayers.

Our eyes lock on the lone figure kneeling before the altar. Dressed in immaculate white robes, his posture is rigid, his head bowed. His lips move with endless devotion.

The golem halts, raising its hand, signaling us to stop.

“Look at that…” Seraphina mutters, tightening her grip on her spear.

Elowen swallows, her tail curling behind her. “A man? After all this time?”

Kline is silent. His brow furrows, his hands clenched tight as if expecting this.

“What the hell is going on here…?” I whisper.

As though hearing my words, the man stops. Slowly—almost unnaturally—he rises to his feet. Then he turns.

And smiles.

“Greetings… welcome, travelers. You stand in Argentum, city of Alchemists.”

His voice is soft. Calm. Too calm.

We exchange wary glances as he continues.

“Airships… technology from the outside. Remarkable. Tell me, who are you?”

Elowen steps forward and bows politely. “I am Elowen Stoneforge, a blacksmith.”

The man chuckles faintly. “A blacksmith… It has been centuries since I heard that word spoken here.”

Seraphina’s eyes narrow. “I am Seraphina, warrior of the Vipernox.”

His gaze flicks over her, his smile unfaltering. “Ah. A naga warrior. Strong blood, strong heart.”

I force a grin, scratching the back of my neck. “Name’s Orion. Just an adventurer passing by.”

“An adventurer…?” The man tilts his head, as if amused by the understatement.

Kline finally steps forward, his voice low but steady. “Kline Elixerium. Disciple of Master Iris Aletheia. She… claimed she was born of this land.”

The man’s eyes glimmer strangely. “Iris Aletheia… yes. Daughter of our mayor. A precious child of Argentum.”

My stomach drops. He knows her.

Kline swallows hard. “…And you are?”

The man spreads his arms, robes flowing like waves of white flame. “Me? I am Zosimos. High Priest of this city.”

The name slams into the silence like a hammer.

Kline steps forward, voice shaking. “That… that’s impossible. If you are truly Zosimos, then you should have been dead for centuries!”

The priest only tilts his head, that unsettling smile still carved across his face. “Is that so…? Then perhaps it has been centuries.”

Kline grits his teeth. “What happened here? What really happened to Argentum?”

Zosimos lowers his gaze. His hands fold as if in prayer again. His voice grows darker.

“They prayed. Day after day… night after night… they prayed.”

His shoulders tremble, and his lips peel back in something that is not a smile anymore.

“They prayed until nothing was left. They prayed until hunger consumed them. They prayed until we consumed each other.”

The air cracks. His body jerks unnaturally. Bones snap, skin tears, robes shred into shadow. Four monstrous arms burst forth as his form twists, mutates, and expands into something grotesque.

A giant. A demon.

I stumble back, my voice breaking. “Th-that’s—Pazuzu!”

Seraphina bares her fangs. “What the hell is that thing?!”

I grip my weapon tighter, shouting over the trembling ground. “A demon of the ancient world! I read about it—it devours souls!”

“Well then—RUN!” Elowen yells, her hammer already sparking with forging magic.

“I second that!” Seraphina snaps, grabbing her spear.

But Kline doesn’t move. His eyes are locked on the monster, filled with dawning horror. “…So this… this is what haunted my master in her sleep… a curse born of greed…”

“Dumbass!!” I roar, diving at him as Pazuzu’s claw comes crashing down. My flight suit ignites, thrusters firing, and I yank Kline away just in time.

“You’ll get yourself killed!!”

Kline grabs my arm desperately. “We can’t just run! This thing—this is the clue! The truth of Argentum!!”

Below, the Sky Golems stand motionless. Silent. Watching. Almost as if… waiting.

I grit my teeth, my pulse pounding. “Fine! Then we fight!!”

“Elowen!!” I shout. “I’m going to take that bastard down!!”

She whirls, eyes blazing. “Are you insane?! That thing could eat us whole!!”

Seraphina spins her spear and smirks fiercely. “Good. Then let’s see if it can swallow a naga warrior first!”

And just like that, the battle begins.

I shoot upward, firing bursts from my rifle, peppering the demon’s hide. Its flesh burns, wounds sparking with black ichor.

Seraphina leaps, her spear glowing, slashing into its torso—but the wounds seal almost instantly, flesh knitting back together.

“Damn it regenerates!!” she hisses.

Meanwhile, Elowen slams her hammer into the ground, forging glowing sigils mid-air. Metal takes form in front of her eyes—a massive construct, a towering golem to rival Pazuzu.

She roars. “Move it!! My iron’s not patient!!”

I dive again, spraying fire to distract the demon’s gaze, while Seraphina hacks at its arms to slow it down. The creature bellows, shaking the city, but still we hold the line.

Above, Kline gathers himself, his body glowing, reshaping into a pulsing orb of light.

“Randy!!” he shouts down to me. “Keep it busy! I’m charging something—it’ll end this!!”

I grin, heart hammering as I fly back into the storm.
“Fine! But if we die, I’m haunting you!!”

The Battle for Argentum Begins

In the palace—within Luna’s chamber—silence presses down like a suffocating blanket. Luna sits on the edge of her bed, her fingers digging into the sheets. Her chest feels tight, her breath shallow. A storm of unease swirls in her heart.

“Why… why am I feeling this way…?” Luna whispers, clutching her chest.

Suddenly, a soft glow fills the room. Sphaera, the spirit that shares her soul, emerges in a flicker of starlight. Her eyes glimmer with urgency as she steps closer.

“Let me handle this…” Sphaera says, her voice both calm and commanding.

Before Luna can question her, Sphaera presses a glowing hand against Luna’s forehead. A rush of energy surges through her. Luna gasps as visions explode before her eyes.

“Found them…” Sphaera whispers, her voice echoing within Luna’s mind. “They’re at the heart of the Sky Island…”

The air trembles. In the center of the chamber, a shimmering projection unfurls—an image linked directly to Randy’s sight.

The girls gasp. Through Randy’s eyes, they see chaos—scorched skies, collapsing ruins, and a massive silhouette tearing through the battlefield.

“…What is that…?” Luna breathes.

Elysia steps forward, her expression darkening. “That’s no ordinary beast. That’s Pazuzu… the demon we studied in history. A nightmare given form. And Randy… Randy is fighting it!”

The words slam into Luna like a spear. Her heart plummets, her throat tightens. The moment her eyes lock on Randy’s battered figure, standing defiant against a towering monstrosity, the walls of her chest seem to shatter.

“Randy!!!” she screams, her voice breaking with desperation. Tears threaten to fall, but she forces them back.

Sphaera’s voice steadies her, like an anchor in a storm. “Wait… look closely. They’re not falling back. They’re holding their ground.”

The projection sharpens. Randy soars through the air, wings of light flaring at his back. His guns thunder, tearing chunks out of the demon’s flesh. Beside him, Seraphina’s eyes blaze in a warrior’s trance, her bladed spear carving precise arcs that force the beast back step by step. Elowen, hammer in hand, shouts instructions with a commander’s precision—directing their strikes, guiding the flow of battle like an unshakable pillar.

Meanwhile, far below in the City of Argentum, reality is painted in fire and steel. Explosions shake the streets, the air torn apart by constant gunfire. Shadows of flying beasts crash into buildings as defenders rally, shouting over the chaos. The metallic tang of blood mixes with smoke.

High above, Randy’s figure cuts across the sky like a meteor, his body bruised yet unyielding. His bullets find their mark, staggering the beast. Seraphina twists midair, her spear’s blade glowing crimson as it sinks deep into demonic flesh. Elowen’s voice echoes like thunder, her strikes smashing through the monster’s defenses at just the right moments.

Every blow lands with earth-shattering impact. Every movement screams desperation and determination.

And watching all of this—Luna’s heart trembles between terror and awe.

“…Please…” she whispers, clutching the image with her trembling hands. “Randy… don’t you dare fall…”

**In Argentum – Central Nexus**

The battlefield is shaking—stone pillars splinter, black smoke coils upward, and the demon’s roar echoes like a thunderclap in a tomb.

I squeeze the trigger and unleash a volley of machine gun fire. The demon doesn’t flinch—if anything, its fury only deepens. Its glowing eyes lock on me with a madness that makes my blood run cold.

Perfect. Come at me, you bastard.

“**Pāṣāṇa-abhighāta!**”

Seraphina’s voice rings out, divine yet sharp, as she slams her spear into the ground. The earth itself trembles—chunks of stone tear free and launch forward like meteors, hammering the demon’s chest. Dust bursts outward, cloaking us in a gray veil.

The creature staggers, roaring so loud it feels like the air is splitting.

“Elowen!” I hear her voice cut through the chaos. “Hey, Kline! How much more time do you need?!”

Kline doesn’t answer—probably too deep in whatever alchemy ritual he’s brewing. Typical.

Above, Randy dives through the smoke, his body weaving effortlessly between claw swipes. He fires a burst at the demon’s eyes, tracer rounds sizzling through the dust like fireworks. Then—without hesitation—he pulls up, his rifle shifting into something heavier, deadlier.

A 50-caliber machine gun.

“Seraphina! Out of the way!” he shouts.

Seraphina springs backward, her tail whipping dust aside as she retreats. Randy’s gun bellows thunder. Every shell slams into the demon’s skull, each impact shaking the ground, the recoil rattling the very air. A curtain of smoke and sparks cloaks the monster.

But Randy stiffens. His sensors flare red.

“Tch—too close!” He rockets upward, boosters firing, and from behind him—sleek metallic devices detach, spreading out like wings.

Funnels. His drones.

They float silently for a heartbeat, then unleash a storm of automatic fire, surrounding the demon in a deadly rain. The visibility is nearly zero—smoke, dust, and flashes of gunfire light up the haze.

“RrrrRRAAARRRHHHH!!” The demon’s voice booms, shaking my ribs. It’s still moving. Still alive.

“Elowen, status?!” I bark, reloading.

“I’m working on it!” Elowen snaps, sweat shining on her forehead. She slams her hammer against the ground and four golems rise from the broken earth, hulking guardians at her side. Their eyes burn faintly blue.

“Not enough… If I could just—modify that sky golem…” Her voice trails, determination sparking.

She dashes toward a towering inert construct, climbing its massive frame with hammer and tools in hand. Sparks fly as she works, runes glowing with each strike.

Then—its eyes flicker. The golem shudders, its massive hands curling into fists.

Elowen grins like a mad engineer. “All right, big guy… Beat the living hell out of that thing!!”

The sky golem surges forward, its steps cracking the stone floor. With a roar of gears and earth-shaking momentum, it charges straight into the demon—fist-first.

The impact detonates like a bomb.

The demon crashes onto the stone floor with a thunderous slam, its massive frame shaking the chamber. Black ichor splatters across the ground, sizzling as it eats into the tiles.

I grit my teeth, finger squeezing the last shot from my rifle. *Click.* Empty.

“Tch—out of ammo already?! Dammit…” I sling it back and whip out my repeating crossbow, loading it in one smooth motion. My arm burns from the recoil, but I fire anyway, bolt after bolt slamming into the beast.

“Take this, you ugly bastard!” I yell. The quarrels pepper its hide until it looks like a giant pincushion. “Kline!! This thing is gonna be a porcupine when I’m done with it!!”

Seraphina, her tail coiling and uncoiling like a serpent, slashes down with her bladed spear. Sparks burst as steel grinds against the demon’s thick, armor-like flesh. Her voice hisses with frustration.

“Hey!!! This thing just won’t die! Does it even *have* a limit?!”

Elowen, hammer raised high, slams another bone-crushing strike against the beast’s shoulder, cracking the floor beneath her stance. She throws a glance at Kline, her voice sharp.

“Kline!! Whatever you’re brewing in that brain of yours, *hurry it up!!!*”

But Kline… he doesn’t move.

He’s standing with his eyes closed, his breathing eerily calm—as if in a dream.

Suddenly, his lips part. A chant escapes him, words flowing like a river of ancient tongues.

“Aṣṭaṁ gatim… ilaḥū… jiǔ zhǐ dì… Kālātītaṁ al-ājāl sarvathā… āśāyām ātmānam al-bāb al-rabbānī… fǎn huán…”

The air vibrates. Symbols of light spiral around him, weaving like clockwork gears in midair. A sudden *whump* echoes as a radiant barrier slams down around the demon, locking it in a cage of blinding runes.

The demon thrashes and roars, shadows spilling from its body like smoke.

Kline raises his hand, his voice thundering with divine resonance.

“Pavitraṁ al-nafs tatathahharu huán zhēn xīn!!!”

The chamber erupts in light. A blinding beam engulfs the demon, so radiant that I hiss and cover my eyes with my arm. Even Seraphina and Elowen shield their faces from the sheer intensity.

When the brilliance fades, the monster’s flesh is peeling away—layer by layer, disintegrating into glowing motes. And beneath it… emerges a man. His broken body is frail, but his eyes are calm, freed.

“Haah…” He breathes out, a weary smile tugging at his lips.

“Finally… someone has ended my suffering… my curse…”

Kline steps forward, solemn. His voice is soft, almost like a prayer.

“May you rest.”

The figure—Zosimos—gazes at us one last time as his body scatters like dust in the wind. His voice lingers even as his form vanishes.

“Farewell… and thank you… fellow alchemist… and the hunter…”

The chamber grows silent.

“…Hunter?” I blink, lowering my crossbow. “Did he mean Kline?”

But I shake my head, shrugging it off. My lungs are still heaving, adrenaline still surging. For now, the only thing that matters—

is that we survived.

Kline walks slowly toward the center, where Zosimos once sat in silence. His steps echo like whispers in the hollow air. Everyone watches him, unsure of what he intends.

From his pocket, he pulls out a small bottle. The glass shimmers faintly, catching the dim light of the floating orb above. His fingers tremble slightly as he unstoppers it.

Elowen frowns, tilting her head. “Hey… what are you doing, Kline?”

Kline doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he tips the bottle and lets a small amount of pale, glittering dust scatter onto the stone floor. The moment it touches, a faint glow spreads outward like ripples on water.

His voice lowers, almost breaking.

“This… is my master’s remains. May you rest in peace… Master Iris.”

The dust flares softly, rising into the air. Then—like a dream solidifying before their eyes—an image forms.

A woman in a flowing blue dress stands before them. A wide, round hat shades her face, but her long black hair, braided neatly, falls over her shoulder. She lifts her head slowly, revealing gentle eyes and a warm, knowing smile.

Kline’s breath hitches. “…Master…”

She bows gracefully to them all, her figure flickering like moonlight on water. Then, just as suddenly, she fades—vanishing with one last smile toward Kline.

But the glow doesn’t end there. The orb hovering near them hums, shifting until it too transforms into a faint, ghostly image. The same serene smile appears, this time directed at all of them.

“…Thank you…” a gentle voice echoes, the same voice that had been calling to them all along.

For a heartbeat, the entire place changes. What was once heavy and lifeless suddenly feels brighter, calmer. The still air becomes warm. It’s no longer an ominous, abandoned island—no, something more.

I exhale, whispering, “…It’s not an island at all. It’s a graveyard.”

Seraphina, her eyes softening, corrects gently. “No… more like a memorial.”

Elowen crosses her arms and smiles faintly. “Yeah. Much more serene now… Right, Kline?”

She smacks his back lightly, snapping him from his daze. Kline blinks, then slowly breaks into his usual grin. “Yeah! Right!!”

But in his excitement, his hand accidentally brushes against her chest.

His eyes widen. “Ooo… soft—”

*SMASH!*

A hammer comes down instantly, sending him flying across the memorial with a loud crash.

“IDIOT!!!” Elowen roars, her face crimson.

The peaceful air cracks with laughter as Seraphina hides a smile, and even I can’t hold back a snort.

To continued