The Harvester

Chapter 422: Lunisolar Blaze

Chapter 422: Lunisolar Blaze

When Rakna woke up, he was lying down on something soft. He snapped his eyes open and found himself staring at a carved moonstone ceiling. He groaned and sat up, instantly getting used to his current form as a Nine-Tailed Werewolf and the abundant supply of lunar energy in the air.

"So, physically, I'm the exact same as when I came here the first time," he muttered to himself. "But my skills, soul, and magic have carried over. Good to know. With my current strength, I could easily subdue Ramsa if we fought again."

With that said, he looked around the room he was in. Based on the materials and the large bed he was on, which looked more like a big pile of blankets and feathers rather than an actual mattress, he could tell he was still inside the capital of the Lunar Kingdom. 

The carvings in the walls were also too 'edifying' to be a random house, so he was either inside the Shrine that previously sealed the Moon God or some other sacred structure.

"Though… what the hell is she doing?" Rakna deadpanned at the woman sleeping on a chair next to his bed at a fair distance. The long black hair, the slightly pointed ears, and the red orbs he knew hid under her eyelids; this was indeed Lilith.

"…hey, Yamul," the werewolf raised his voice and the demoness breathed quietly, still asleep. With a roll of his eyes, he stood up, flexing his limbs and tails. He approached her and placed two fingers in front of her face before snapping them.

"Yah--!" The sound, accompanied by a small burst of mana, instantly woke her up. She yelped in fear and fell off her seat, though quickly recovered herself by performing a cartwheel. 

The beautiful woman hastily looked up when she noticed a shadow being cast over her and pursed her lips as the tall werewolf gazed down at her with its daunting purple eyes.

"Good dreams?" The Sentinel asked with a raised eyebrow and she blushed a little.

"That's… ahem," she cleared her throat and straightened herself. "I'm sorry. I must have been a bit too tired," she continued more calmly. "I was watching over you at the request of the Moon God."

'Watching over me? Did I faint at the end of the First Act?' Rakna frowned and she stiffened. "Putting aside the reason why he would order a demoness and why you even listened, how long have I been unconscious?"

"…four days."

"And I suppose a few things happened in the meantime?" The werewolf scoffed and walked toward the door, with her stepping in line behind him.

"That's correct…" She nodded with an unreadable expression.

"Is Ramsa alive at least? I hit her with quite a vicious anti-divine spell, after all."

"The Sun God is alive, yes. The Moon God stabilized her after you fell unconscious," she said. "When the seal over the Shrine was lifted, he flashed away and returned with both of you unconscious. He also used his powers to repair the half of the moon that had been destroyed by your battle."

"I see." Rakna wasn't that surprised. For a Heavenly God, rebuilding a moon was a simple feat, not to mention it was his Domain. And it was good to know that his 'mother' was still alive. It might just have been a scenario setting, but killing her would have left a bad taste in his mouth.

As he thought that, he walked out of the building and ended on a main street of the city, which had seen better days for sure. The earthquakes and energy upshots caused by him battling Ramsa had caused some significant damage.

Though… "What is that thing?" Rakna asked, looking up at the gigantic form looming over the city like an endlessly tall mountain. It had a spiky carapace, almost like a turtle, with a curved shape that fitted its body, and a lion head with fur colored like his scales; light shades of brown. 

It also had a pair of massive black wings, four pairs of forward-facing horns, and four legs of which two had extremely large claws. It had two tails that initially separated at the base but then joined as one at the tip. Bone-like spikes were inlaid in the inner part of said tail and if contracted would certainly be as threatening as any beast's jaw.

"That… is the Tarasque," Lilith said with a sigh. "He's our hidden card, created by our God long ago, even before he fell to corruption and became a Demon God."

"Riveting. But what I would like to know is why it's here."

"Mino," she answered succinctly. "He's our King's butler. Apparently, he had been sent here in case the Sun-Dwellers caused any issues, such as indirectly damaging the Shrine or stopping us from lifting the seal. He summoned Tarasque to protect the city from the chaos of your battle."

"…" Rakna squinted his eyes at the creature. '…it's strong. And it has a similar aura to Fiora. A beast born from celestial concepts but not divine itself. Well, as long as it's not hostile…'

"Ah, the big bad wolf's awake?" A male voice sounded from his left and a demon wearing a mage's robe approached them with a lazy stride. "Remember me?" He waved his hand. "Norio, lightning mage and formation expert, at your service."

"Yes, I remember," the werewolf responded and inspected his surroundings, observing the Moon-Dwellers as they worked on several construction sites, both with magic and manually. They would respectfully bow to him whenever they crossed him. The thing though, is that there were demons helping with the repairs too. 

"I suppose this is a good time to ask…" Rakna uttered. "What happened in the last four days? Why are you not clawing at each other's throats anymore?"

Norio sweatdropped. "You almost sound disappointed… you're not worried?"

"No," the werewolf retorted blankly. "I don't really care about what either of your races do."

"…right."

"It's because of two things," Lilith decided to explain. "We achieved what we came here to do and have no desire to do anything else, especially with the Moon God being capable of decimating us if he wanted to."

Rakna scowled. "That hardly explains anything," he uttered. "My 'father' has talked to you, hasn't he? Did he give you an ultimatum? Why are you not returning to Earth now that your precious God you did all of this for is returning?"

"…" Norio and Lilith both fell silent at that and lowered their heads.

"What is that reaction—"

"Rakna." The werewolf was interrupted by someone calling him.

He widened his eyes and turned around, standing face to face with an absurdly beautiful man with silver eyes and hair, who had sneaked up behind him without triggering his senses.

'No, it's not that I couldn't sense him... Heavenly God or not, my sense-stat is reaching numbers even the highest-level Hosts might not have. But… he's the Moon God standing in his Domain, in the middle of the capital of the kingdom that worships him and looped by even more moons. He is Lunar Energy given form, so of course he would be able to blend in with the ambient one…'

"You look startled," the Moon God smiled. "I used to do this a lot when you were younger. You hated it quite a lot now that I think about it."

Rakna's eye twitched. "Then don't do it."

"Haha, I will try," he joked good-naturedly.

"Lord Soma," Lilith greeted with a cold but polite bow and Norio huffed, merely nodding.

"Ah, Marquess. Thank you for watching over my son."

"It was no trouble, sir."

Rakna stared at them. "Mind explaining what's going on? Why are the demons not going on an unholy crusade against you? Aren't you supposed to be a selfish bastard who refused to help the Earth God in a time of need?"

Soma's mouth curled upward in amusement. "It seems you've adopted quite the language."

"…"

"Haha, no need to look at me like that," Soma shook his head and his smile turned a bit sad. "There is not much to explain. I merely revealed the truth to them."

"The truth?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Ramsa and I created you after the Earth God fell to corruption. So, I have never told you why I refused to help him or even why I decided to use the Law of Equivalence to kill both of us."

"…"

"Simply said, I did not help because it was already too late."

"Too late?" Rakna frowned. "Yamul told me he sought you out before he started losing his sanity."

"Yes, but what I mean by 'too late' is not the unfortunate corruption that befell Bhumi," Soma said, as he put a name on the former Earth God. "It's what caused the Earth to die in the first place. You heard the story, right? Why do you think the Earth became unable to sustain its inhabitants?"

"Wasn't it because of a lack of resources?"

"No," the Moon God denied. "Bhumi was the Earth God; think about it. He was more than capable of making the planet flourish for eternity as long as he remained alive. Yet, it slowly and gradually became inhabitable. Exactly like this," he pointed upward with his index finger.

"What?" Rakna followed where he was pointing and blinked at the sight that had been hidden by the Tarasque a few minutes earlier. 

Last he came to this Simulation, the Earth had looked rather normal. Yes, the continents had been arid, almost gray and fuscous, and the oceans drained by half their capacity, but it had still looked like a planet similar to the one he was born in, beyond even just the name.

But now… it was all crimson. The water; the land; and the very atmosphere; everything appeared as if swallowed by red fog.

"We've lost contact ever since it became like that," Lilith said with clenched fists. "I… I don't know what happened… We just… wanted our God to return... We wanted to save him in return…"

Rakna glanced at the demoness as she muttered to herself with a torn expression.

"Bhumi did not become a Demon God by himself," Soma stated solemnly. "Something much darker, eviler, and stronger had been sucking everything out of the planet. I refused to help because my intervention would have only endangered my people or accelerated the process. Whatever it was that had been eating the planet from the inside out was atrociously fierce. My focus was not to help but survive."

"…"

"Eventually, Bhumi made a hard choice; he exploited the exploiter. With his intellect and talent, he found a way to siphon the corrupting energy into himself and make it his. It cost him his mind, but with it, he found the power to demonize humans and save them. Incidentally, his actions had also slowed down whatever the abomination at the source of the problem was doing."

"'Abomination', huh?" Rakna repeated, his eyes flashing golden as crosses split his pupils. He gazed at the Earth with them and hummed. "Something demonic… no, more intense and primal."

"So, you can tell. Your senses have become sharper," Soma praised. "Yes, you're right. I didn't know what it was back then and it was the least of my worries. Thankfully, Bhumi had become the hero in more ways than one. By absorbing and feeding on the 'miasma', he became its lynchpin. Over time, the person I knew gradually died and he ultimately turned against us."

The Moon God looked up again. "The reason? I can't be sure. Maybe the demonic corruption gave him the urge to take revenge. Or perhaps he had been partially manipulated by the 'abomination' to procure another meal to feast on."

"But you know the rest," he closed his eyes. "We waged a war. And you were created to fight with us; the Sentinel that protects the Moon. Truth be told, the initial plan behind your creation was to make a counter for whatever force was corrupting the Earth."

Rakna raised an eyebrow.

"The idea was to make something with power so pure and dominant that it would be the nemesis of our enemy," Soma explained. "I believe we succeeded. But for one reason or another, something went wrong or required variables; but we didn't have the time. So, I relied on my last resort."

"The Law of Equivalence," the werewolf said and he nodded.

"As I said, Bhumi had become a lynchpin. In a way, you could consider him an Avatar, possessed by an unknown entity. So… I cast the Law to essentially kill us both, putting a lid on it."

"So, what? Did I mess it all up?" Rakna snorted and tilted his head toward the demons. "I allowed them to revive you. Is the 'thing' going to wake up and wreak havoc?"

Soma smiled thinly. "You don't have to feel guilty. I never intended to remain dead eternally. What my final gambit gave us is time. There was always the risk of the 'abomination' becoming free from the pseudo-seal anyway."

"Uh, uh. And what did that time give us, you genius?" The werewolf deadpanned. "It woke up and now it's probably going to lash out as soon as it recovers from its 'nap'. During that time, you were basically dead, so you couldn't possibly have prepared anything. And based on how Ramsa reacted to my attempt to release you, assuming she knew the plan, she didn't manage a solution either."

The Moon God made a melancholic expression. "You misunderstand Ramsa."

Rakna blinked. "How so?"

"She was scared," he sighed. "Not only because of the risks it entailed, but also for you."

"What?"

"You asked what time gave us," Soma veered back into the initial topic. "First, it's them," he waved at Lilith and Norio. "Before, Bhumi had been at the helm of an army of demons. But now… they're on our side."

The werewolf looked at the duo and Lilith stood straighter, exuding the cold and determined aura she had displayed when he first clashed with her.

"This current situation is our fault, but… the goal still has not changed," she declared. "We swore to grant our God the salvation he deserves, and that is what we will do. Whether it is rescuing him from corruption or putting an end to his suffering… we will do it."

Rakna silently looked at her and she gazed back without fear.

"Our King; I don't know if something happened to him, but I know he would agree with me. All the other Legions that had been sent to the other moons have already given their vote as well. If there is a new war, we will help you in it."

"…is that so?" The werewolf smirked. "I knew it was a good idea to spare you."

She grinned back. "Of course."

Soma smiled at them. "What great comradery already," he chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah. And what's the second thing time has given us?" Rakna snapped back.

"That's the wrong question," the Moon God smiled mischievously.

"Then what's the right question?"

"What has time given you?"

Rakna blinked in confusion before realization dawned upon him. "Wait, you mean…"

"Yes, you are the solution. Although I never accounted for the betrayal inflicted upon you, I put my full trust in your potential. I knew you would get stronger and so did Ramsa. She loves you like her own child, you know? She must have been devastated when she was told that you died. And when she saw you alive, trying to get me back, she must have feared you dying 'again'."

"…"

"Regardless, you surpassed my expectations. Defeating her was a great feat alone, but ever since you woke up… I can sense it. You've become even stronger," Soma smiled. "I'm proud of you."

Rakna didn't react to the praise. Some part of him felt warm, having used Clairvoyance to make the life of the 'Sentinel' his own. But at the same time, the fact that this was 'fake' weighed on his mind too much for him to appreciate it.

"Give me your hand and release your soul power," Soma abruptly requested.

The werewolf furrowed his eyebrows but complied nonetheless. He extended his arm and released his purple flames, the embers dancing along his fur. The Moon God smiled at the flame and reached for it, holding his palm parallel to Rakna's.

"This is my gift to you," he said and the Soul Flames began to be infused with a silver-white color starting from the outermost parts. "The power that was supposed to be yours to begin with."

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Philosopher's Ardent Soul is being stimulated!

Solar Energy & Lunar Energy are being imbued into your soul power at a rapid rate!

Soma, The Moon God, is awakening your Path further!

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Rakna gawked as the purple flames became wholly white and silver, erupting into a stronger form and shrouding his entire arm. Its light was absurdly pure and bright, but not blinding. The heat it produced was considerable, but it somehow felt like a refreshing breeze.

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The Ten-Tailed's Mystic Stars are influencing your Path!

The Philosopher's Ardent Soul is influencing your Path!

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You have learned a new Path Skill, Lunisolar Blaze of Absolution!

You have learned a new Path Skill; Sun Shine of The Ten Suns!

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Lunisolar Blaze of Absolution

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The Sun and Moon are two sides of the same coin and to a werewolf, that coin is their life's gambit at power. But to a Ten-Tailed, whose every existence pushes the limits of all things, it would be a disgrace to only bet on one side.

Moon Reflects Sun.

It is only natural for a Ten-Tailed Werewolf who wields Stars to control even the Sun.

By igniting the Obsidian Star's Flames with Solar and Lunar Energy and borrowing its power to act as a transmutative container, the user can wield the Lunisolar Flames edifying the cycles of Day and Night, Light and Dark, Future and Past, Hope and Fear, Life and Death, Truth and Lie…

The Sun and Moon form the pair of celestial forms orbiting the most living creatures in the entirety of Existence. They have witnessed and granted life more than any God has ever dreamed of doing. 

They burn naught and all at once and often whisper the Truth from the ashes.

The Lunisolar Blaze shall burn even greater on those who go against the Innate Order and erase the offenders with ultimate absolution.

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Cost: Soul Power

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Sun Shine of the Ten Suns

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This skill grants absolute control over Solar Energy according to its cycle, with midday being the greatest and midnight the weakest. Just like Lunar Energy, it can be used as raw energy, but the passive effects it offers are different.

The sun shines for all, rising proudly as the flag of a new dawn. When under the sun at different times of the day, all forms of regeneration will be enhanced. Whether it be injuries, Mana, Soul, Ki, Intent, Psyche, etcetera. The effects can be accumulated up to a tenth level depending on the number of suns present.

Cooldown: None. Sub Skills: [Solar Ascendant, Solar Howl, Solar Drop.]

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"Now, you're ready," Soma said as Rakna was still processing the 'gift'. "All that is left is to immolate all that stands in your way... you are the answer."