System's POV

Chapter 275 Moonlight Cradle [Part 2]

??"If the Moon Maiden wishes to escape her fate, she needs to make an important choice—either shed her mortal body and possess the body of another living, or merge with an object to hide from her pursuers until they return to the heavens."

That was what was written on the tablet in the second pyramid, which Uncle Boo had shared with Thirteen.

Thirteen nodded because this was indeed the exact translation from the Golden Tablet of the second pyramid.

Basically, the two Pyramids served as batteries that allowed the special symbols inside of it to calculate when the moon, Chandrea, would have a perfect lunar eclipse.

But they had one more function, and that was to create a gate that would open somewhere in the Arcadia Archipelago, allowing creatures to escape the one-sided massacre that was about to be unleashed on them.

This gate was called the Gate of the Moonlight.

"The Unicorn and the Beholder were too full of themselves, thinking that even if the people of Artem were to come, they would be able to protect Callie without fail," Uncle Boo said in a bitter tone. "But Callie said that the two of them should just escape when the people of Artem appeared.

"When they told her that she should come with them and escape through the Gate of the Moonlight, Callie only shook her head and said that she was unable to pass through it. Naturally, the Beholder and Unicorn refused to enter the gate, knowing that if they did, Callie would be left behind to face the people of Artem alone.

"Since escape was not an option, the three decided to make preparations in order to fight against the people of Artem. Of course, they also planned their escape routes just in case they proved to be too powerful for them to fight."

Uncle Boo drank from his water flask before continuing his tale.

"When the time of the Lunar Eclipse arrived, over a hundred moon beams descended from Artem and landed on the island. From these moon beams, human-like creatures with gray wings appeared.

Some of them started killing the monsters on the islands, while the rest started to search for something or someone. As if they had some artifact that allowed them to pinpoint Callie's location, they didn't hesitate to fly in their direction.

"These beings were all Rank 4 Sovereigns, and there were over a hundred of them on the island. While some started to kill monsters, the majority flew toward Callie's direction. Knowing that the time to fight had come, the Unicorn and the Beholder unleashed their strongest attacks and went for the kill.

"Callie fought them bravely as well. At first, they thought that they had a high chance of winning since they were able to hold their ground. But they became uncertain again when the beings from Artem used some kind of artifact that made Callie scream in pain, making her collapse on the ground.

"Just as the beings from Artem were about to capture her, the Unicorn teleported to her side and transformed into his demi-human form.

"He then carried her like a princess and made short-distance teleportations in order to escape their pursuers. While they ran away, the Beholder was busy killing and turning their enemies into stone.

"After some time, the Lunar Eclipse ended, and the people of Artem were forced to return to the heavens. They were only allowed to stay for an hour at most in this world. After successfully surviving the ordeal, the three celebrated and congratulated each other for a job well done."

A bitter smile appeared on Uncle Boo's face as he continued the story.

"Perhaps, blinded by overconfidence, the three thought that they would also be able to fend off the next invasion during the next eclipse. But that was a mistake.

"During those ten years, the Beholder and the Unicorn managed to become Rank 6 Sovereigns.

"Both of them thought that since they managed to beat their enemies when they were a rank weaker, they would easily trample them now that they had managed to make a breakthrough.

"But this confidence disappeared the next time the Eclipse happened. Over a hundred Rank 6 Sovereigns appeared, and this time, they came prepared. The Unicorn was the first one they neutralized.

"They created a field that made teleportation impossible. Once that problem was dealt with, they encircled their three targets and crippled them. Just as the people of Artem were about to kill the Beholder and the Unicorn, Callie begged for their lives to be spared.

"She promised to go with them without any resistance as long as her two friends were spared. The people of Artem agreed and took Callie with them to the heavens. After failing to protect the person whom they treasured, the two monsters fell into depression.

"The Unicorn was even planning to leave the Island in order to move on with its life. However, something caught its eye while it nursed its injuries in the first Pyramid. The mechanism of the pyramid was still working, and even calculated when the next Lunar Eclipse would happen.

"It thought that since the purpose of the Pyramid had been completed, it should have stopped working. But it didn't. After this discovery, it informed the Beholder what had happened, so the two decided to wait until the next Lunar Eclipse.

"Both of them desperately hoped that a miracle would happen and that the girl whom they both loved would return to them. However, something unexpected happened a few months before the next Lunar Eclipse arrived. Can you guess what happened back then, Zion?"

Thirteen didn't even need to think and said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Wanderers appeared," Thirteen replied.

"You're right." Uncle Boo nodded. "Wanderers appeared. And when the day of the Lunar Eclipse came, one of the girls who had appeared on the island started to glow faintly right after sunset.

"Then a few hours later, the Gate of the Moonlight appeared, and once again, the People of Artem returned. The two Monsters couldn't help but gasp in shock when they saw a familiar figure among the people of Artem. She was none other than Callie, the girl whom the invaders had taken away a decade ago.

"While the Wanderers were all desperately trying to cross the Gate of the Moonlight, the people of Artem started to hunt them down. Of course, the majority of the Wanderers managed to pass through the gate, but many still died in the process.

"As for the girl who was glowing, she was taken by the people of Artem, and they did something that made the Beholder and the Unicorn start to rampage out of anger. Callie's body transformed into blood and was poured over the girl whom they had just captured.

"The girl's features changed, and after a minute, she transformed into Callie. This newly transformed girl then looked at the Beholder and the Unicorn and cried bitterly. She said, 'I miss the two of you. Thank you for waiting for me, and goodbye.'"

Uncle Boo wiped the tears that slid down the side of his face before continuing his story.

"Every decade since then, the Lunar Eclipse would take place, and every time, the Beholder and the Unicorn did everything in their power to save Callie. But despite the fact that they had become stronger than ever before, they were still unable to save her.

"But this time is different. The Pyramids have said that this will be the final Lunar Eclipse and the last time that the People of Artem will descend on this world. This means that this is also the last time the Beholder and the Unicorn can try and save the person whom they have been trying to save for the past several decades."

Uncle Boo then shifted his gaze at Zion, with tears streaming down his face.

"You have defeated a Majin Prince, right?" Uncle Boo said as he placed his hands on Thirteen's shoulders. "You have done the impossible, right? Please, help us. Create a miracle. I'll do anything. I'll give you everything. Just please, save Callie.

"I don't know what the Unicorn plans to do, but I'm sure he is also thinking of ways to save her. But unlike me, he is willing to use any method in his arsenal, even if it's something that Callie would look down upon. He has changed a lot, and we no longer meet eye to eye.

"The only thing he told me a few months ago is that he will find the Moon Princess first. As to what he will do to her, I have no idea. But he threatened me that if I got in his way, he would treat me as an enemy as well. He insisted that his way is the only way that can bring Callie back again."

Thirteen could guess what the Unicorn was planning, and he now understood why it had ordered the girls of the first Island to serve him. It was probably hoping that one of the girls, who was currently with him, would be the Moon Princess candidate, saving him the trouble of looking for her.

Suddenly, Thirteen's face went pale after realizing something very important.

Since the Unicorn had taken the initiative to get the girls from the first island, then what was stopping him from getting the girls on the other islands as well?

As if waiting for that moment, a screech spread in the surroundings making Thirteen look at the sky.

There, he saw Poca, who was flying toward him with an unsteady flight path.

Vassago, who was near, flew toward Poca and allowed the injured Pocopoco to land on his back.

A feeling of dread rushed over the ten-year-old's chest as Poca confirmed his greatest fear.

"The Unicorn appeared on the second island," Poca stated. "It took Shasha and the other girls with it."

After forcing those words from her mouth, Poca fainted, making Vassago's feathers stand up with his anger.

The outward expression of his anger, revealed the level of the same emotion that the ten-year-old was feeling right now.