But when he confirmed the owner of this voice, the memories long sealed yet resurgent in an instant stripped Crimson Moon of any and all thoughts of resistance. That feeble sentiment, which he thought he had long since forgotten, once again took hold of his divine consciousness, threatening to let that eerie blood moon flare up and swiftly escape these locked coordinates of the Astral Realm.
However, the very next moment, a slender white finger silently appeared amidst the vast, profound starry sky. Even set against the backdrop of the entire universe's Abyss of Stars, this delicate finger seemed inconsequential, yet at this moment, it dimmed the brilliance of the vast Sea of Stars.
The world stood still.
The very next instant, the slender white finger gently pointed.
There was no Magic Power running amok, no energy erupting, nor any grand momentum.
After the gesture, the white finger disappeared as if it had never graced this world.
And within the Astral Realm, time began to flow once more.
Golden Elf... Black Tower...
She said, just the power of one finger?
The divine consciousness of the Crimson Red Moon resumed its operation, reconnecting the previously halted thoughts.
But then, the fluctuations and ripples of that divine consciousness became forever fixed.
Fixed on the last term that surfaced within it, a term that caused both Crimson Moon and the gods of the First Era to tremble.
"Divine Extinguishing Finger."
Thus, this Astral Realm coordinate was obliterated.
「...」
「In the Main Material Plane, Sacred City Camelot.」
No, more accurately, this place was once known by the name "Camelot," but at this very moment, it had transformed into a ruin amidst a river of burning lava.
The gentle gloom of night was fading away, revealing the figure of Shiayar clad in a long black robe with red clouds.
He cocked his head slightly, listening to the information conveyed from the Astral Realm.
After a long while, Shiayar clapped. "Master is indeed Master. You're as reliable as ever, whether a thousand years ago or a thousand years later."
"The barriers between the Astral Realm and other Sub-dimensions are weak, so I could act within certain limits... Matters of the Main Material Plane, however, are different."
"In my perception, the King of the Imaginary Zone is nothing like a coward such as Crimson Moon."
The indifferent message transmitted down from the Astral Realm.
"It's okay. A thousand-years-younger version of Master managing to knock Crimson Moon out of the Astral Realm was already beyond my expectations. I thought you'd still be huddled up in some dimensional rift at this time."
"As for what comes next, Master, you need not worry. That is something only I should deal with."
"Huddled up, young Master..."
The cold voice from above the Astral Realm paused for a moment.
Shiayar sensed a lofty gaze descending from the Astral Realm, taking a deep look at him before slowly receding.
HUFF—
Realizing that the gaze from the Astral Realm had vanished, Shiayar finally let out a long breath.
Indeed, whether a thousand years ago or a thousand years later, teasing one's own Master remains both a dangerous and exhilarating affair.
Dark shadows beside him wove together, forming a girl wreathed in the faint essence of night. Although her deep and silent appearance remained unchanged, Shiayar could sense that the Eternal Night Curtain and shadows enveloping Augutina had dimmed substantially.
Isadella wielded the Sacred Sword and was entrenched upon the Throne, possessing the dual advantages of being the "King of the Imaginary Zone" and having her domain's home field superiority. Holding her back, while simultaneously using the secret Authority of Eternal Night to shield Shiayar from a Nuclear Explosion, meant it was impossible for Augutina to avoid paying a price.
"The power stored in the 'Hourglass of Time' is almost depleted, and the fall of Crimson Moon has also triggered a brief loss of control over my own Divinity," Augutina spoke softly, the dark shadows slowly fading to reveal her Red Gold eyes, albeit now somewhat dim. "To avoid losing control and turning against you, I must return to Millennium Castle and enter eternal slumber."
She made no effort to conceal her weakened state, on the brink of exhaustion, before Shiayar.
"Yeah, go get some rest."
"Thank you for your trouble, Augutina. I'll be sure to bring you plenty of business when I get back."
He watched as the colors of the night dissolved, ascending toward the distant sky.