Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2754

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Asterion regarded the citizens of Bastion with a benevolent smile and fell silent. His bold proclamation had caused a great shock among the people, who were only now learning about the existence of another Supreme. As they discussed the stunning news excitedly, he lingered for a moment and then looked up.

Up there, above the Mirror Lake... the chains of the Ivory Island rattled as it began to descend.

The people noticed that the celestial island was moving soon. Their excited voices fell silent, and they watched breathlessly as it glided down from the sky.

Eventually, the flying Citadel landed on the water and plunged into it, raising a wave as it became no different from a mundane island. The Ivory Tower now stood between Asterion and the Castle, as if shielding one from the other... or perhaps welcoming him to the Human Domain.

That was how the people saw it, at least, since Changing Star had never brought her heavenly court down to the ground before. Asterion remained standing on the turbulent surface of the lake with a calm expression, observing the Tower of Hope curiously. Then, his gaze traveled to the shore of the island, where a woman of sublime and holy radiance was standing at the edge of the water, her silver hair moving faintly in the wind.

Nephis and Asterion regarded each other silently for a while.

Then, she willed the water to support her weight and stepped off the emerald grass, walking across the lake to meet him. The people held their breaths, watching their goddess and the golden-eyed Supreme meet.

Nephis stopped a few meters away from Asterion, regarding him coldly.

He studied her for a few moments, as well, then glanced briefly at her shadow.

Then, he cast an amused gaze at her reflection on the surface of the lake. Finally, Asterion looked up and smiled warmly.

"My dear Nephis. How well you have grown up."

She did not answer, continuing to watch him with an expressionless face.

He chuckled.

"It warms my heart to see that even if my friends are gone, their daughter is alive and well. You took up the torch that had fallen from their cold hands and raised the banner of Immortal Flame high... higher than ever before, shining a radiant light to guide humanity through the darkness. They say that humanity will not be extinguished as long as Immortal Flame still burns, after all."

His golden eyes suddenly glinted with amusement.

"As long as the last daughter of Immortal Flame still stands unbroken."

The people on the walls of the Castle and on the shores of the lake exploded with cheers.

For Sunny and Nephis, though, that last remark carried quite a sinister undertone. Nephis lowered her chin a little.

She was most likely searching for a way out of the appalling situation they had found themselves in — and discovering none. Sunny knew because he could not find a solution, either.

Asterion had them exactly where he wanted them. He had no hope of defeating them in battle, so he took the population of Bastion hostage to prevent them from attacking him — just like he had taken the lives of people infected by the knowledge of his name hostage to stop them from preventing its propagation.

Not only could they not engage Asterion in battle despite finally confronting him face-to-face, but they could not even stop him from announcing his name to the entirety of Bastion.

Modern Bastion was an enormous city. By the end of the day, every human living here would be exposed to Asterion's name — and it would not stop there. Merchants would carry it to other cities in the East, while ships would bring it to the Stormsea — from there, it would enter the basin of the River of Tears and travel north to Ravenheart.