The torrential rain continued to linger, and even intensified, as the frantic wind whipped against the towering façade and stained-glass doors and windows of the cathedral in the depths, as if it were the dense and chaotic heartbeat of the city-state.

In the square in front of the city-state, steam walkers and steam tanks have been assembled, and heavily armed defenders are silently blocking all intersections.

On the bell tower at the back of the cathedral, a special brazier was lit, in which purified whale fat mixed with fragments of sea polyps burned brightly, and the flames were lit in the storm like a lighthouse guiding the ship home, reinforced by special condensers, and this bright flame was clearly visible even in most of the city-state.

As the brazier of the central cathedral was lit, similar flames appeared over churches throughout the city-state—even in the most remote neighborhood churches, there was a towering bell tower opposite the central cathedral, and at the top of that tower was the place where the brazier was placed.

On this stormy day when darkness fell, one bell tower after another formed a series of lighthouses over Purand, and when all the lights were on, the melodious sound of bells and loud whistles spread throughout the city-state.

The boilers of every church were turned on, the bells of every church were ringing, and Plant roared in the storm, as if civilization itself was fending off some invisible invading force in the dark, an unusual circumstance that made all the inhabitants close their doors and windows, and those with more knowledge of the otherworldly realm sensed the current danger from the movement of churches throughout the city.

In the depths of the Archon's Mansion, Dantwayne, who had just woken up from a coma, heard the bells and whistles outside the window for the first time, and saw the "lighthouses" near and far in the darkness...... A disaster of the level of a real invasion has occurred?! ”

"We're still investigating the situation," an auxiliary officer said in a slightly nervous tone as he came to Dante's bedside, "the situation is sudden, the cathedral side only says that all of the city of Puland needs the highest level of lockdown - you were in a coma, and Bishop Valentine used emergency clearance......"

Dante didn't respond to the auxiliary officer's words, but as if he suddenly noticed something, his brows furrowed: "...... Vanna is back. ”

"Miss Vanna?" The attendant who was taking care of him turned his head in confusion when he heard this, "Miss Vanna didn't return to the mansion, she should ......"

"I know," Dent knew that the others should not understand the meaning of his brainless words, so he waved his hand, and then his eyes fell on the auxiliary officer, "Is the city-state guard still under the transfer of the city hall?" ”

"Yes, Bishop Valentine has only taken over the sheriff's forces and a small part of the city-state guards in charge of emergency response," the auxiliary officer nodded immediately, "most of the city-state guards are still waiting for your orders. ”

"Okay, with the exception of the 1st Division, let all the city-state guards obey the cathedral arrangement," Dante felt his mind still groggy, but still quickly ordered, "Also, the whole city enters the highest level of martial law, and all martial law bells are sounded, and after the bell rings, anyone who appears on the street ...... Whoever it is, it will be dealt with as a cultist. ”

The auxiliary officer was immediately taken aback by this order: "Mr. Dante, this ......"

"Carry out the order," Dante looked up, his only remaining eye sharp, and once again a trail of blood oozing from the ruby prosthetic eye, "it's a state of war." ”

“…… Be! ”

The auxiliary officer took the order to leave, and Dante coughed violently, and it took a long time for his cough to subside slightly, and he whispered to the attendant beside him, "Take me to the cathedral." ”

"Mr. Dante, your body ......"

"It doesn't matter to my body, I have something important to tell Bishop Valentine."

"Yes."

……

Nina held Shirley's hand tightly, sat behind the window and watched in horror at the scene of the wind and rain pouring outside, one thunder after another exploded in the sky, making all the doors and windows tremble uncontrollably, this terrible scene even made Shirley, who has always been very bold, couldn't help but tremble faintly, and couldn't help but curse in a low voice: "I'm X, what the hell is this TMD weather......"

"Shirley, can't ...... Can't swear," Nina was also scared, but still

Ran straightened his face and said, "Uncle said you ......"

"Okay, okay, I won't swear, I won't scold, don't tell Mr. Duncan," Shirley hurriedly said quickly, and then, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed the figure appearing on the stairs, and subconsciously shrank his neck, "Ah, Mr. Duncan is down." ”

"Uncle Duncan!" Nina stood up and ran almost quickly towards the figure who was coming down the stairs, "You...... Are you done? ”

"Well, it's done for now, but it's not quite over yet," Duncan said, casually pressing Nina's hair, then turning his head to look at the counter, where Morris was still sitting, but his face looked a little better, and Duncan nodded to him, "The man has been brought back." ”

"I just felt it, she's back," said Morris at once, "though I don't know how you did it, but ...... Thank you very much for your help. ”

"This is just the beginning, it's too early to say thank you," Duncan said, turning his head to look out the window, "the conspiracy has been revealed, they have already started to move ahead of time, and the intruders are attacking on the other side of the curtain...... It is estimated that it will come soon. ”

Morris looked worried, and Nina looked at Duncan in confusion: "Uncle, what intruder?" What you say......"

"Nina," Duncan interrupted the girl directly, he turned his head, and his expression was serious and serious like Nina had never seen before, "Do you believe me?" ”

Nina barely hesitated: "I believe." ”

"Very good, then you firmly believe that this storm will end safely, no matter what happens, don't panic, no matter what I do, don't be nervous, don't be afraid," Duncan looked into Nina's eyes and said seriously, then raised his hand and pointed at Alice, who was standing quietly by the stairs, "Alice can be trusted, if there is a real emergency, you can stay with her." ”

Nina nodded blankly, and Alice immediately said, "Please rest assured, Mr. Duncan, I will protect Miss Nina." ”

"I'm really not very confident about your combat effectiveness," Duncan glanced at Alice, then sighed helplessly, "but there is no one else to entrust." ”

Another thunderclap burst suddenly, and the distant street was marked by the loud sound of something collapsing, accompanied by the shrill sound of alarm bells coming from nowhere, and the rapid chimes of church bells in the distance.

The electric light in the antique shop suddenly flickered a few times and then went out.

The power was cut off.

Darkness instantly enveloped the entire neighborhood, and everything seemed to advance into night in the midst of a storm.

In the dimness, Shirley's voice came from not far away: "I'm going to light the oil lamp!" I know where the oil lamps are. ”

Duncan snorted, but suddenly, he felt Nina grab his hand.

The hands looked a little hot.

"Uncle......" Nina whispered nervously and hurriedly, and soon, even the air she breathed was a little burning, "I think...... It's a bit hot......"

In the darkness, Duncan's gaze suddenly became serious.

But apart from seriousness, he didn't panic unsuperbly.

From the very beginning, he was prepared for the unexpected that might happen to Nina.

He just gently grasped Nina's increasingly hot hand, and between his palm and Nina's fingers, between his fingers, a little bit of dark green sparks jumped.

The sound of flapping wings was heard, and the pigeon Ai flew downstairs in the darkness and landed safely on the counter next to it.

Shirley lit the oil lamp, the flickering flame temporarily dispelling the darkness in the shop, but outside in the streets, the sky was as black as ink, and the light and power of the sun had been blocked from the city-state by the storm.

"Nina, do you remember what I told you just now?"

In the darkness, Duncan's voice reached Nina's ears.

Nina nodded slightly, "Hmm." ”

"Don't be afraid, something will happen...... Very awesome thing. Duncan smiled and whispered.

Out of the corner of his eye, he looked farther away.

Outside the shop window, on the street in the pouring rain, the overhanging rainwater has gradually been dyed with an abnormal layer of red, that

The red color jumps brightly, as if it is a reflection projected from another time and space to the real world.

But he didn't look at the rain that had begun to be abnormal, nor did he care about the "reflection" projected through the curtain.

His gaze went beyond the buildings and shores of Purland, and he looked in the direction of the boundless sea.

The illusory silhouette of the Lost Country was gradually emerging in his pupils.

……

Heidi subconsciously shrank her neck the moment the thunder sounded.

She nestled in the pews of the main hall of the cathedral, her hands subconsciously grasping the crystal pendant as an amulet, silently chanting the holy name of Rahem, the god of wisdom, but stopped halfway through the prayer and looked up at the icon of the goddess of storms not far away.

"The Goddess is loving...... I don't think so. ”

She muttered softly, then continued to chant the name of Rahhem.

But suddenly, she stopped, and a strange palpitation made it difficult for her to concentrate.

Heidi got up from the bench and looked around in inexplicable palpitations.

She saw the guards gathered near the main entrance, a small group of civilians who had come to the church to seek refuge because they had not had time to return to their homes were placed on the pews in front of the icon, several priests were walking around the main hall, and Bishop Valentine, with a staff in hand, standing quietly in front of the icon, his eyes fixed on the front of the icon.

It's business as usual, but ...... Where do palpitations come from?

Unconsciously, the crystal pendant around her neck seemed to be slightly hot, but Heidi didn't seem to care about this, she just subconsciously came to the window not far away, and looked at the situation in the square through the transparent pane on the edge of the stained glass window.

The young psychiatrist's eyes widened suddenly.

"Fire ...... Fire! She exclaimed, frightened, "The rain has turned to fire!" ”