Chapter 230 - The Ashen Isle ( Part 2)

The ground was shaking again.

And this time, Jennie couldn’t confuse it with an earthquake.

Something was happening under them. And this something was huge and ancient. It slept for a millennium and now decided to wake up.

Jennie clenched Excalibur harder. The golden blade hummed softly in her hands. Its light penetrated the growing darkness among the ancient ruins. It painted the broken stones with the shades of amber and gold and forced shadows to retreat.

Rudy stepped forward, her golden eyes scrutinizing the ground. "It comes from underneath us."

Nine tails of Snow raised behind her. Each one was charged with divine energy. Crimson eyes of the dragon narrowed and her ears flattened against her skull.

"Yes."

The voice of the creature sounded low – it was almost a growl. And it rumbled in the air like thunder in the distance.

"And whatever it is..."

Another quake was shaking the island. The ground groaned and dead trees swayed like they were caught in the nonexistent wind.

"...it’s waking up."

Suddenly, a crack opened beneath the feet of Jennie.

"Move!"

Jennie grabbed the hand of Rudy and pulled her backward. The ground collapsed and revealed another chasm where several ancient stones were falling into darkness. The dust exploded in the air. It was thick and suffocating and shone with pieces of shattered obsidian.

Immediately, Jennie raised her Excalibur. The golden light spread all over the ruins, illuminating the new chasm.

Underneath the collapsed ground there was no soil. It was stone. Ancient stone.

A staircase.

Rudy looked down into the darkness. Her voice was just a soft whisper. "There’s something underneath this island."

Snow started walking to the open chasm. His claws clicked on the stone. "I told you."

Jennie looked at the stairs. They were descending to the darkness and were very old and worn by centuries of use. The strangest thing was that there wasn’t too much dust covering the steps.

Jennie frowned. Someone used the stairs recently.

She looked at Rudy. "We’re going down."

Rudy nodded. Her hand moved to the dagger at her hip.

Snow sighed. "Of course, we are."

Jennie glanced at the dragon. "You don’t have to follow us."

Snow immediately jumped into the opening. His voice echoed from below. "I never said that I won’t follow you."

Rudy laughed. "He’s predictable."

Snow’s voice resounded up from the darkness. "I heard that."

Jennie shook her head. And then followed.

The three descended into the darkness.

The deeper they were going, the colder the air became. The sounds of the surface were slowly disappearing – there was no wind, no birds, and no waves. Just their footsteps.

Step. Step. Step.

The walls around them were covered in ancient signs. Some of them were damaged by time – their lines were blurred and broken. Others were almost intact and still had sharp marks as if they were carved yesterday.

Jennie touched one of them with her fingers. And her mind flashed immediately.

White hall. Seven swords standing in a circle. A man standing before them. Silver-white hair. Golden eyes. Voice.

"Choose."

Jennie immediately withdrew her hand. She panted hard, her heart beating fiercely against her ribs.

Rudy stopped. "Jennie?"

Jennie stared at the wall. "I’m fine."

"You saw something."

Jennie remained silent.

Rudy understood. She didn’t push.

Instead, she started looking at the way forward. The staircase ended soon.

They entered the enormous underground chamber.

Jennie stopped.

For some moments, she couldn’t say a word.

The chamber was enormous. Far larger than something that could exist underneath the Ashen Isle. Ancient pillars were reaching up to the ceiling which was hidden in the darkness. The surface of the pillars was carved with signs glowing with the ethereal light. Stone statues were standing between them – seven statues of different figures.

And every statue had a sign carved on its chest.

Rudy walked forward slowly. Her voice was full of awe. "The Legendary Divine Marks..."

Jennie looked at the statues. One statue possessed the symbol of Valor. Another one represented Tidal Heart. Another one was a symbol of Flame. And another one – Sky. And another one – Mind.

The sixth statue had the symbol which Jennie recognized immediately. It was the Sovereign Mark.

Lilia.

The seventh statue was different. Its chest was empty.

Rudy stared at it. "There should be seven of them."

Jennie’s face darkened. "The final one..."

She looked at Rudy.

"...is yours."

Rudy touched her chest. The Legendary Divine Mark was glowing faintly under her clothes, pulsing with the warm golden light.

"So this place knew about us."

"No."

Jennie looked around the chamber.

"Someone who built this place knew."

A low vibration ran through the floor. The chamber was still quiet, but Jennie could feel something. Some kind of presence. Not close. But not far.

Observing. Waiting.

Jennie turned.

Behind the seven statues there was another structure. Seven enormous pedestals were creating the perfect circle. Every pedestal was shaped like a sword.

But every single pedestal was empty.

Jennie gasped. "Seven..."

Rudy approached the nearest pedestal. "Divine Swords."

Jennie walked to the pedestals.

Her five swords were floating behind her. Excalibur. Leviathan. Tempest. Eclipse. Gram.

Every sword reacted in a different way. Excalibur’s golden light became even brighter and illuminated the chamber with the warm radiance. Leviathan was producing the faint blue mist that was swirling around the pedestal. Tempest crackled with the silver lightning. Eclipse was spreading the black shadows on the floor. And Gram burned with crimson flames.

Seven pedestals started responding. But only five of them.

Jennie looked at her swords. "These are not ordinary pedestals."

She approached the nearest pedestal. The ancient writing was covering the surface.

Rudy read it. "The Seven Divine Swords..."

She continued reading. "...were not forged just to be weapons."

Jennie frowned. "What were they for?"

Rudy wiped some dust away. "Guardians."

Jennie looked at her. "Guardians of what?"

Rudy shook her head. "The rest is damaged."

Jennie looked at the other pedestals. Some arrangement was bothering her. The swords weren’t placed randomly. They were placed around the seven Legendary Divine Marks.

Seven marks. Seven swords. One system.

Jennie realized it. "The Divine Marks and Divine Swords were connected from the very beginning."

Snow looked at the statues. "That explains the demons."

Jennie nodded. "The ritual isn’t something that they invented."

She looked at the ancient chamber.

"They’re repeating something."

Rudy’s face darkened. "But why?"

Jennie didn’t respond.

The girl approached the center of the chamber where there was a circular platform with a massive stone tablet at its center.

Jennie reached it. The tablet was covered with ancient words. Rudy recognized some languages, others she couldn’t identify.

But there was one line written in the same ancient language she saw above.

Rudy read it carefully. "When the King returns..."

She stopped.

Jennie looked at her. "Go on."

Rudy’s voice grew softer. "...the seven blades shall awaken."

Silence.

The words resounded in the chamber.

Jennie’s face became hard. "The King."

Rudy looked at her. "Leonis."

Jennie shook her head. "Not."

Her voice was resolute.

"I refuse."

Rudy remained silent.

Jennie looked at the inscription again. "When the King returns."

Her fingers clenched the handle of Excalibur.

"So everything has been predetermined already?"

She looked at the seven pedestals.

"Leonis comes. The Divine Swords awaken. The Legendary Marks reunite. And the world takes the destiny laid out for us?"

Her golden eyes cooled.

Jennie walked away from the tablet.

"I refuse."

Rudy smiled. "As I expected."

Jennie looked at her. "I am not the continuation of Leonis."

The chamber remained silent.

Then Rudy noticed something.

"Wait."

She walked towards the twelfth pedestal. Jennie followed.

Rudy crouched near it. There was something unusual about the stone. The surface of the pedestal was covered with a thin layer of dust but not in the middle part.

Too fresh.

Rudy ran her fingers over the stone. "It was touched recently."

Jennie’s eyes narrowed. "When?"

Rudy looked at the thin layer of the magic residue. "Recently."

Snow came. He sniffed the pedestal. Immediately his expression changed.

"Demonic energy."

Jennie instantly became alert. "Are you sure?"

Snow nodded. "There was someone here."

Jennie’s eyes moved around the chamber. The ancient ruins didn’t seem the same anymore. They weren’t discovering something long-forgotten. It seemed that something was prepared for them.

She looked at the seven pedestals again. Five of them were shining. One of them was activated recently.

And the inscription predicted her arrival.

Everything was matching too perfectly.

"They knew."

Rudy looked at her. "Knew what?"

That we would come here."

Jennie’s voice became cold.

"They knew we would need a route to the Demon Continent. They knew we would use Ashen Isle. They knew we would investigate these ruins."

Her eyes looked at the darkness beyond the statues.

"They’ve been waiting."

Snow growled. "Then let’s go."

A voice answered from the darkness.

"That would be difficult."

Jennie’s body instantly tensed.

The five Divine Swords arose behind her. Rudy drew her dagger. Snow lowered himself down, spreading his nine tails wide.

The chamber remained silent.

Then footsteps were heard. Slow. Calm. Unhurried.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Black clothes. Long black hair. Crimson eyes. Quiet presence that was even more terrifying than the overwhelming power of Draven.

Jennie’s golden eyes narrowed. She recognized him.

"Azrael."

The Second Demon General stopped several meters away from them. He looked at Jennie. At Rudy. At Snow.

At last, his eyes fell on the five Divine Swords.

He said nothing. He just observed them.

Jennie raised Excalibur. "Where is Lilia?"

Azrael’s expression didn’t change. "You have arrived earlier than expected."

Jennie’s grip became tighter. "Answer me."

Azrael tilted his head a little. "The Queen is alive."

Jennie’s eyes sharpened. "Where?"

Azrael remained silent.

Jennie took a step forward. "Where is Lilia?"

Azrael looked towards the ancient statues. "You have arrived exactly as predicted."

Jennie’s expression changed. "What?"

The dimensional route."

Azrael’s eyes returned to her.

"The damaged magical infrastructure of Seraiya. The decision to use Ashen Isle. The discovery of these ruins."

"All of it."

He stopped.

"We knew."

Rudy’s face grew serious. "You have planned this."

Azrael didn’t answer.

That was answer enough.

Jennie’s aura exploded.

Golden energy burst from her body. The five Divine Swords immediately synchronized, merging their powers into a corona of the light filling the chamber.

"You knew we would come."

Azrael nodded. "Yes."

"You knew we would discover this place."

"Yes."

"You knew I would bring my swords."

Azrael’s crimson eyes moved on the five blades. "The incomplete crown."

Jennie’s expression became harder. "What did you call them?"

"The incomplete crown."

Azrael slowly raised one hand.

"The five blades that have chosen you."

His gaze moved on the empty pedestals.

"But five are not seven."

Jennie disappeared.

The ground exploded under her feet. She appeared right in front of Azrael.

Excalibur came down.

Azrael moved. The blade crashed into the stone.

BOOM!

The chamber shuddered. The cracks were spreading on the ancient stone.

Azrael was already behind her.

Jennie spun. Gram appeared in her hand. Crimson slash tore the air.

Azrael tilted his body. The attack missed him on centimeters.

Jennie continued attacking with Tempest. Lightning exploded in the chamber.

Azrael moved between the attacks as if he already knew where they would hit.

Rudy attacked from the side. Her dagger flew to his neck.

Azrael leaned back. The blade flew above his head.

Snow attacked. His claws ripped through the stone floor.

Azrael jumped. For the first time he moved faster than all three could follow.

He landed several meters away.

Jennie stared. Azrael didn’t attack. He only evaded.

"You..."

Jennie’s golden eyes narrowed.

"...aren’t fighting."

Azrael looked at her. "No."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t need to."

Jennie’s expression darkened. She raised all five swords. Their powers exploded simultaneously.

Golden light. Oceanic energy. Lightning. Shadows. Crimson flames.

The whole chamber trembled.

Azrael watched. Not being afraid. Being interested.

"Five."

He whispered.

"Five blades synchronized with one soul."

Jennie rushed.

Azrael disappeared. The attack crashed into the air.

Jennie turned. Nobody.

Rudy looked around. "Where did he go?"

Snow’s ears twitched. "Up!"

Azrael appeared on a pillar. He looked at Jennie.

"Your swords have accepted you."

Jennie stared.

"But your crown is incomplete."

"Stop calling them that."

Azrael’s crimson eyes narrowed a little. "Why?"

"Because they aren’t a crown."

Jennie raised Excalibur.

"They are my swords."

For the first time Azrael’s expression changed. A faint smile.

"Interesting."

He stepped back into the shadows.

Without wasting any time, Jennie shouted out loud. "Stop!"

Azrael stopped moving.

"Tell me about Lilia," Jennie said loudly.

Azrael turned around. "The Queen is alive."

"Is she injured?"

Silence filled the room.

"Answer me!" Jennie ordered.

Her crimson eyes pierced those of Azrael.

"No," the latter said.

"Lilia is alive," Jennie repeated.

Azrael nodded. "And she is waiting for us."

"And where?" Jennie stepped forward.

"To the Demon Continent."

As Azrael turned around to disappear, shadows started consuming his figure.

"KingHeart."

Jennie blinked rapidly.

Azrael said those words.

"We have prepared everything for you."

Then he disappeared without a sound.

Silence.

Jennie didn’t move. She was looking at five hanging lights of the Divine Swords which were slowly going off.

Rudy stepped closer.

"Jennie..."

There was no response.

She was staring at the place where Azrael disappeared.

Then, Jennie looked at the statues, seven Legendary Divine Marks, the seven empty pedestals, the newly opened one and the inscription.

When the King will return, the twelve blades will awaken.

Then, Jennie looked towards the stairs leading up. Her face hardened.

Ashen Isle wasn’t an abandoned island. It wasn’t just a way to the Demon Continent.

It was waiting for them. The ruins were waiting. The inscription was waiting. Azrael was waiting.

And the demons knew exactly where Jennie would go.

Her fingers tightened around the broken golden hairpin she was holding in her hand.

Lilia’s hairpin. Lilia’s promise. Lilia’s life.

Jennie closed her eyes.

"They wanted us to come here," she said.

"Yes," Rudy slowly nodded.

Jennie opened her eyes and golden light was burning in them.

"All this journey..."

She looked towards the dark passage.

"...was a trap."

Snow’s face darkened.

"And we walked right into it," Snow said.

For the first time after leaving Seraiya, Jennie felt something that was colder than fear.

A realization that the enemy wasn’t waiting at the end of the journey. They watched from the very beginning.

And somewhere beyond the ocean... Lilia was waiting for them.

Jennie held Excalibur tightly and spoke with a quiet but resolute voice.

"Then let’s set the trap."

The five Divine Swords started to shine brightly. Their lights merged and created a pillar of bright light which lit the whole room.

And somewhere deep below Ashen Isle, another mechanism started working.