BXBX NOVEL Chapter 134: Crimson Moon
What is this thing?
Enzo, Freya, and Fraspens all felt the weight of an unseen gaze upon them, sending shivers down their spines. Their consciousness dulled, and the very blood coursing through their veins began to stagnate.
"Delicious... death... the taste of life..."
As the Crimson Moon descended, Enzo even heard the disquieting voices of those twisted faces.
Their utterances were a chaotic murmur, yet they hinted at a fragmentation of Enzo\'s awareness—not by choice, as in the Realm of Illusions with the devil moth, but rather a forceful tearing apart, not merely into two halves, but brutally shredded.
It cannot continue like this!
Enzo clenched his teeth, reluctantly falling back to the ground.
He glanced behind him. Under the immense pressure of the Crimson Moon, Freya had already succumbed to unconsciousness, her breath faint, while Fraspens was lost to the shadows of fate.
At that moment, Chloe rose to his feet.
His face had transformed entirely, now a shade of deep purple adorned with crimson markings, and a sharp horn protruded from his brow.
This was no longer the visage of a human!
Indeed, it resembled none of the more common races.
Within Chloe lay an enigmatic secret yet to be unveiled.
However, Enzo had no time for inquiry.
Even the desire to escort Freya to safety had become a distant dream.
Chloe approached Enzo with an awkward gait, seemingly unaccustomed to his new physique. Upon reaching Enzo, he scrutinized him intently and spoke, "I sense the familiar scent of someone from you. Ah... it seems akin to Rexfit. Are you his prey? No, that fool perished long ago! So, become a part of me."
"Dream on!"
Enzo inhaled deeply.
The mere mention of Rexfit sent a chill down his spine.
Consequently, he resolved to unleash his most potent abilities.
Behind Enzo, the Ring of the World totem materialized, its black lines and the flames igniting along their edges exuding an air of mysterious nobility.
This extraordinary totem instantly captivated Chloe\'s attention.
He muttered in confusion, "A peculiar totem, remarkably powerful, concealing even more terrifying secrets."
As he spoke, Chloe reached out towards Enzo.
Yet, in the next instant, the Ring of the World seemed to connect with an unseen realm. An immense force surged into it, causing the black lines to come alive, swirling and morphing into intricate patterns before solidifying into the shape of flames.
Boom...
The Ring of the World unleashed a fireball.
Though only the size of a palm, it was imbued with astonishing power.
The fireball soared into the air, striking the transparent barrier and the suspended Crimson Moon directly.
With a deafening roar—
A massive crimson mushroom cloud erupted into the night sky.
This was followed by the sound of shattering glass from the barrier and the anguished screams of faces upon the Crimson Moon.
Chloe\'s expression shifted dramatically.
"Damn it!"
He cursed, his violet-hued visage distorting and wavering between his own countenance and that of a purple face, forcing Chloe to divert energy to stabilize his burgeoning mental domain.
At that moment, Enzo swiftly scooped up Freya.
With his black wings flapping furiously, he ascended into the sky, and just before their departure, Enzo casually flung out a tendril to pull the prostrate Fraspens up, whisking him away from the Golden Lion Tribe.
Yet, neither Enzo nor Chloe noticed that as the fireball collided with the Crimson Moon, a glimmer of golden light instantaneously entered the totem of the Ring of the World.
…
Golden Lion Tribe.
Once the mental domain stabilized and everything returned to normal, Chloe discovered Enzo had departed. He felt no anger, but rather displayed an unusual calmness.
His face returned to its original aged appearance.
However it bore permanent red markings.
Chloe waved his arms, manipulating his psychic power to transport stones to construct a simple, symmetrical altar, and then crafted intricate patterns upon it, chanting softly: "Great life born of the wells of evil and chaos, Chloe offers here delectable blood and soul. Please bestow upon me curses and calamities, allowing Freya, the betrayer, to suffer eternal torment..."
As he spoke, several still-sleeping members of the Golden Lion Tribe were seized by Chloe and thrown onto the altar.
The tribesmen were awakened, filled with astonishment.
Upon seeing Chloe, they contemplated offering a greeting, only to be met with the terrifying realization that their bodies were disintegrating, as if being devoured by some unseen force.
Even in death, they could not comprehend the reason behind their demise.
With their passing, the Crimson Moon reemerged, only to vanish once more.
Chloe\'s crimson markings deepened, and he appeared even older; yet, he remained unfazed, laughing to himself as he mused, "Enzo, you will return. The curse of the Blood Moon will hasten Freya\'s aging with each passing moment, plunging her consciousness into its depths, where she will endure relentless torment. If you wish for Freya to survive, you must appeal to me, for by then, you shall have no chance of escape!"
Chloe burst into laughter.
In the next instant, black blood spewed from his mouth.
Yet, he remained indifferent, accepting this as a necessary sacrifice for greater power.
…
On the other side.
Beneath the silent night sky, Enzo cradled Freya, while vines tethered to Fraspens propelled him swiftly towards the Crimson Star Tribe. However, burdened by their presence, Enzo\'s pace significantly slowed.
Additionally, he bore wounds of his own.
The assault initiated by the Ring of the World totem had nearly exhausted Enzo\'s entire strength, depleting a substantial portion of the energy accumulated by the Ring of the World Ritual.
Yet, its formidable power had not gone unnoticed.
It had not only shattered Chloe\'s mental domain but also thwarted the descent of the Crimson Moon.
Still, an unsettling disquiet lingered within Enzo\'s heart.
The enigmatic Crimson Moon, Chloe\'s transformations, and the mention of Rexfit...Each revelation deepened the enigma, enveloping the entire world in a shroud of mystery.
What path lay ahead of him?
At that moment, Enzo\'s thoughts were in turmoil.
Moreover, by all reason, having taken Freya and departed, he expected Chloe to pursue them; for Chloe, flight should be no challenge at all.
But Chloe was not present.
There must be some underlying reason for this.
This equally troubled Enzo.
Regardless, Freya was ultimately saved, which brought Enzo a sigh of relief.
Before long, Enzo arrived at the Crimson Star Tribe.
He landed outside his residence and, finding Fraspens still alive, infused several threads of life energy to sustain Fraspens\' existence, while summoning a few patrolling guards to carry Fraspens away to rest. He then cradled Freya and made his way to his dwelling.
As he stepped into the courtyard, Enzo spotted Amy.
It seemed Amy had been waiting for quite some time.
Upon seeing Enzo return, holding a golden-haired woman, Amy\'s expression remained unchanged, yet her concern was evident as she inquired, "Lord Enzo, what has happened to her?"
Enzo replied, "She appears to be in a state of unconsciousness."
Gently placing Freya on the bed, Enzo attuned himself to her condition, confirming that she had merely exhausted herself to the point of fainting, and thus he similarly infused her with threads of life energy.
By the next day, Freya should awaken.
Having completed this, Enzo felt a weight lift from his heart as he turned to see Amy approaching him, offering a cup of water.
He accepted it and drank deeply.
Following this, the two shared an unspoken understanding, walking together to the courtyard\'s edge.
The moonlight was lovely.
Amy brought over a chair for Enzo, while she gracefully settled onto his lap, her body pressed closely against him, as if seeking solace.
This made Enzo acutely aware that something was amiss.
He asked, "Amy, what is troubling you?"
Amy lifted her gaze slightly, looking affectionately at Enzo, but hesitated before speaking.
Enzo pressed further, "Is it because of Freya?"
"Freya?" Amy queried, curiosity evident. "Is she the golden-haired woman you brought back, Lord Enzo?"
Amy then shook her head, declaring, "It is not because of her."
"Then what is it?"
In the courtyard outside the bamboo building, Enzo embraced Amy, who submissively rested her head against his chest, her fluffy fox tail draping across his thigh.
Amy inquired, "Lord Enzo, should there come a day when I vanish, I implore you not to search for me."
Enzo\'s complexion shifted dramatically as he asked, "Amy, what do you mean by that?"
Amy replied, "Lord Enzo, during this period, especially with the Ring of the World Ritual enveloping the jungle, you have enhanced my supernatural abilities through the Ritual, and I have glimpsed many visions. These visions seem to be fragments from the future, and within them, I see you."
"One particular vision depicts you on a blood-soaked plain, a knife embedded in your body."
At this, Amy trembled.
Fear coursed through her.
Enzo was her everything. The thought of such a scene becoming reality rendered her unable to fathom how she could possibly endure it.
Fortunately, she had found a solution.
She continued, "In those prophetic visions, I am taken away by others. They claim I am of the Snow Fox Royal Clan and must return to the Snow Fox Territory to awaken my bloodline. They regard me with respect, so if indeed someone were to come for me, Lord Enzo, would you not intervene?"