Stray - Chapter 258

    Deep in the border forest between Alban and Garland, next to the Ash Mountains.

      Under the blur of the night, the strange tree shadows are like ghosts in legends, and they will move in the next second. Grey-red moss engulfs the fallen stones, and sticky rattan snakes dangle ominously from the branches, swaying ominously in the night wind.

    The air was filled with a strange smell of water, which smelled like wet stones in a riverbed.

    Under the shade of dense foliage, when it reaches the ground, there is hardly much moonlight left. One or more pairs of green-reflecting eyes flashed across the darkness, and a modest body rustled through the bushes—several animals, for some reason, were escaping quickly.

    In the opposite direction of the creatures fleeing, there is a clearing with sparse trees.

    At this moment, there is a dim light shining through, but the light is extremely cold, and it has nothing to do with “hope” and “safety”.

    “The fifteenth time.” She whispered without a smile, “I’m going to rub this lawn bald.”

    “Your mind is restless. You are distracted, aren’t you? The lines of the circle never lie.” Della Laineen responded unceremoniously. “Even if you dig all the way to the skin of the World Pillar, I will not allow a magic circle of this quality to take effect under my nose.”

    The Queen of Alban looked around and made sure that her long-winded knight was not present, she decisively made a face at the abyss sage.

    “…Okay, the sixteenth time.” The bottom of the boot rubbed the painted pattern, and An sighed. She scooped up the shimmering silver liquid in the bucket with a strange silver spoon and repainted it.

    “Ramon, your drawing is crooked – take a half step back to the position of the tree behind you.” The white behemoth floated above the sky, flicking its tail, while using blue His eyes glanced at the people below who were trying to draw a complex circle.

    And the huge circle that is gradually taking shape.

    One by one, complex and beautiful, like the dizzying embroidery on a lady’s dress.

    In the middle of the big formation, there is a set of smaller and more delicate arrays.

    Different from the complex circles around, the small circles are made of metal. The smooth and uniform metal filaments are wrapped around the magic stone full of runes, and the beauty is close to the work of art. In this way, they overlap each other to form a more complex three-dimensional structure, which looks like a gorgeous altar with hollowed out at first glance.

    The skull of the devil was placed securely on it, and the surface was filled with large and small runes with black lines. If you only look at the silver metal altar and the pale skull, the scene has a twisted and cold beauty.

    The aura belonging to the abyss magic wanders around the altar, so strong that it makes people uncomfortable.

    Jesse can roughly calculate the approximate effect of the “altar”. If you just want to summon the Demon King’s consciousness here, the outer circle doesn’t need to be drawn so big at all.

    If Oliver Ramon hadn’t explicitly rejected Della Lane’s proposal, Jesse would have been convinced that Mr. Ramon was going to imprison the Demon King’s consciousness, and then took the opportunity to kill the body of the World Pillar.

    So far…

    Jessie licked her lips and licked the hair around her mouth. Decided to look at his most powerful family—

    Adrian seemed determined not to ask anything, he just drew the circle quietly. Even if Jesse tried to look at it with his eyes to find fault, he couldn’t pick out anything wrong.

    Forget it, the **** on the surface thought seriously. This terrible formation had taken them four days and four nights, and now it was about to be completed. No matter what Ramon’s idea is, he will soon see the results.

    The moment the magic circle was completed, the chill and chilling atmosphere instantly swept away.

    As an exhausted human being, Ann dropped the spoon and sat down against the tree. Bagelmore flew over to Ann, ripped a pouch from her **** pack, and picked up nuts for himself.

    The huge magic circle glowed with a soft orange-red light, illuminating the nearby large twisted and terrifying forest from bottom to top. The scene looked like an upside-down twilight.

     Spectacular and ominous.

    Oliver walked over to Ann, took out a fruit from the pile of luggage, and nibbled slowly. He was still wearing the black armor without the cape—the armor was obviously well mended, just clean. No previous battle marks left half a scratch on it.

    The sword of rest was inserted into the white ukulele, carried on the back by their captain.

    “The array is complete.” An chewed on the jerky, raised his eyebrows at Oliver.

    “I know.” Oliver finished eating the fruit, and the gray mist swept over, and the fruit core dissipated directly into the air.

    “Don’t be too assertive, Captain. If you’re nervous, we all understand.” Ann grinned weakly, “…After all, no one knows what will happen in a while.”

    At this point, the consciousness of the pillar of the world is very likely to appear. But no one knows whether it will be the “Ulysses” who have no feelings, or the “Nimo” they once knew.

    It’s not that she never thought to ask the details of Oliver’s plan, but every time she sees him carefully pondering the great formation that can theoretically imprison his lover, she can’t ask. Oliver never hesitated to ask for help, and since he didn’t, the Tumbleweed members tacitly kept silent about it.

    The curious Jesse tried to ask. Oliver was just stunned, he didn’t seem to have any intention of concealing it, but he seemed a little embarrassed.

    Unfortunately, before he could speak, the beast unnaturally backed away – Adrian sighed, grabbed the fluffy tail, and dragged Jesse out of the room.

    Oliver didn’t say anything. There must be a reason for him not to say anything. Naturally, they could question him and ask him to reveal all his plans. But in this tormenting moment, a little trust might make their head feel better.

    It is estimated that Adrian Cross thinks the same.

    The answer they were waiting for is coming soon.

    “Remember the Carapan of the Mooney?” Ann tried to suppress the tension in her voice and asked casually.

    Different from the last time with Nemo, Oliver did not hold the communication crystal. At the moment Oliver Ramon looks calm and reliable, and his worries and tensions are hidden deep in his eyes. Kean was still keenly aware of them and decided to change the subject.

    “Remember, the people who survived the expedition with Dad were in the reconnaissance team last time.” Oliver nodded and turned his eyes to the direction of the altar.

    “A few days ago, Mr. Wild Dog gave me some wind. That old guy from Calapan is actively promoting the next expedition.” Ann took a sip of the wine in the jug and wiped his mouth. “Really impatient.”

    “Alban weaponized a large number of bones and jade, and Willard’s situation is estimated to be similar.” Oliver twitched his lips, “In order to ensure energy consumption other than weapons, this is not too urgent.”

    The pair of green eyes kept looking at the skull of the Demon King not far away.

    “I read before that the so-called ‘Eighteenth Generation’ Demon King Ulysses was killed, but only sixty-five years after the ‘Seventeenth Generation’ was killed …And in the early texts, the difference between two generations of demon kings can be hundreds of years, or even thousands of years. The interval between expeditions is getting shorter all the time.”

    “It’s only less than thirty years later, and the pillar of the world is not easy.” An Gan smiled, “Oliver, if you need me to find a way to delay the expedition—”

    “No need, this is just right.” Oliver sighed a long, serious tone.

    He stood up, glanced at the position of the moon, then pulled the sword of rest from the ukulele and held it tightly in his left hand.

    Oliver is undoubtedly right-handed, and Ann’s eyebrows are raised higher.

    “It’s time, Ann.”

    their leader said softly.

    “I…it’s time to fulfill my promise.”

    The moon travels to the right position, and the radiance of the magic circle is flourishing.

    Deralainen sat on a branch of the tree closest to the magic circle and tapped the head of the grey parrot hiding among the leaves not far away.

    The abyss sage’s eager eyes went back and forth between Oliver and the skull, and the whole face was full of curiosity.

    Jessie fell to the ground and glanced at the huge skull. He hesitated for a few seconds whether to hold up the protective cover, but finally gave up angrily. The white beast wrapped its tail around the ankle of Adrian Cross, who was standing beside him, ready to withdraw if something went wrong.

    Ann was still leaning against the tree, watching Oliver Ramon advancing towards the center of the circle.

    The pale skeleton helmet and the white ukulele were both carried on his back, and under the orange light, there was a strange sense of harmony.

    Oliver unreservedly released his power after entering the circle.

    The originally clear night sky was suddenly covered with clouds, and the power of the magic circle swept up a gust of wind. Several people were like standing in the calm eye of a tornado, and the forest behind them was swaying in the gust of wind, being blown up and down.

    The excessive concentration of power began to make the air sticky and hot. They kept twisting, and even the scenery behind the air began to vibrate together. The air current, wrapped in gravel, fine sand and grass blades, slowly rose and rushed towards the sky.

    Accompanied by the orange-red light of the magic circle, some invisible flame seemed to be lit in the forest. The earth rumbled, as if it were about to split in the next second.

    An was a little dazed for a moment. Less than a year ago, the young man in front of him could still be beaten to the ground by himself.

    But now he is walking towards the skeleton of the Demon King, and the breath released is so powerful that it is unimaginable and comprehensible.

    It’s just that there is not much pressure, if Jesse Dillon’s power is like a tsunami falling from the head. Oliver’s power is closer to a warm and calm ocean.

    She hadn’t figured out whether she should be more fearful or start to calm down, Oliver stopped before the devil’s skull.

    He was only four or five steps away from it.

    The brilliance of the circle began to become dazzling. In the middle of the huge circle, the altar built by the metal circle is as dazzling as the sun.

    “It’s now,” cried Della Lainene, “throwing up what belongs to ‘Nimo Wright’!”

    “Collette doesn’t have much personal property.” The grey parrot beside Della Lane muttered, shrugging her neck. “Things that belong to him completely… If it is the clothes and equipment, they basically fell to the bottom of the abyss last time.”

    “Didn’t the devil give Mr. Ramon a gold pendant? The devil has worn it for so long, the residual mana on it should be enough.”

    Dara Lane hummed softly.

    “Although as a trigger item, it will be destroyed, I think Mr. Ramon should understand it. After all, this is the information that is about to be received over there. What is he doing? There is only one chance!”

    Oliver in front of the altar did not place the gold pendant on the altar burning with black flames.

    He took out an ordinary book from his pocket, which looked ordinary and outdated, with magical fluctuations that were so weak that they were almost negligible.

    Although theoretically it can be used…

    Dara Lane squinted.

    This distance, as a superior demon, he can see clearly. It was not some ancient mystery book, nor was it some rare and precious item. A simple and crude fairy tale with a cheesy name that looks old and shabby.

    “The Melody of Love”, he hadn’t heard of this thing, 80% of it was made by someone in a small place.

    Will the Pillars of the World really not take this as a provocation?

    But the fairy tale has been swallowed by the dim flames burning on the skull and turned into fine ashes.

    The metal circle on which the altar was built began to rotate frantically, and then melted into a hot metal-like liquid, infiltrating the skull of the demon king floating in the air, leaving only a faint orange-red halo in the end.

    Oliver stared at the hollow eye sockets of the skull in front of him. Only a little bit of the fairy tale’s leftover remains, falling at a very slow speed beside the pale skeleton.

    Will you understand, Nemo?

    Because of this extremely ordinary book, they officially set foot on the battlefield for the first time.

    That was the first time he confessed to the Demon King.

    […do you believe me? ] That’s what Nemo asked him before the little war ended.

    [Sure. 】

    【Then attack me with your greatest strength. 】 His Demon King demanded that.

    Oliver could feel a bit of wet fluid running across his cheeks, and although the dark clouds above his head were twisted uneasily, he was pretty sure it wasn’t rain.

    “Do you believe me?” he whispered, wiping his face and throwing the question back. “Sorry, I… you died holding that pendant, Nemo, I can’t.”

    They cherish it very much, but it has an air of concealment and regret after all.

    Oliver took another deep breath, licking his lips and raising his voice.

    “I know your true form, the Pillar of the world that sleeps beneath the earth. I know your only name, Nemo Wright. I have the imprint of your breath, and have given it to me superior.”

    The radiance surrounding the skull became brighter, the dark clouds over the magic circle rolled violently, and the sky seemed to be torn apart.

    “I call here.”

    Oliver’s articulation is clear. The action of drawing the runes on the tip of the sword is extremely smooth, without a single pause.

    A blurry black shadow emerged from the huge skull, slowly changing shape.

    “As one who knows the truth of the world, I call here.”

    Oliver repeated.

    He stared at the dark shadows surging over his skull, his heart constricted, his lungs twisted together by invisible hands, and the intense pain nearly suffocated him.

    Whether Ulysses or Nemo. For different purposes, they will choose the same appearance for consciousness.

    Half-length black hair was tied behind her head and tied into a short ponytail with a little messy tail. The skin is pale, the facial features are just right, and the silver-gray eyes are like a white moon hanging in the night sky.

    It was a very familiar face.

      .

    The “Nimo Wright” in front of him smiled faintly, with a familiar gentleness in his eyes.

    Oliver choked.

    Calmly calculated countless possibilities, although he knew rationally that this might be “Ulysses” in disguise, he was almost defeated by the nostalgic figure in front of him. Before Oliver could react consciously, his feet took half a step forward without authorization, his arms were about to move, eager for a hug.

    Oliver forced himself to stop, straightened his back, and kept his expression calm.

    He could not allow himself to make hasty judgments – today he sits on one side of the chessboard, while his opponents have lived for billions of years, possessing terrifying knowledge and wisdom.

    “Nimo Wright. I believe you can perceive that now I have the ability to fight you.”

    Oliver’s voice is clear and bright, loud enough to ensure that his companions not far away can hear it clearly.

    “To keep my promise to you, and to protect my cherished companions and loved ones, I stand here now. But I do not desire war.”

    He raised the sword of rest in his left hand, and the magic power around him gathered smoothly.

    “…I would like to trade with you if possible.”

    The author has something to say:

    Meet me! !

    ————

    The scene looks like this:

    Nemo: (*/ω＼*)

    Oliver: (tragic)

    Nemo: (*/ω＼*)/