Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 1189

Being close to the window, Jenkins and Alexia were able to get outside the wax museum quickly. Just as an apocalyptic boom echoed through the streets, they joined the panicked crowds, all heads tilting up towards the sky. Against the overcast northern expanse, two fireballs streaked upward at a steep seventy-degree angle, trailing blazing tails.

This was an age of exceptionally advanced steam technology, one where the power of steam had far surpassed what Jenkins remembered from his own world. In his home world, the advent of electricity had brought the Steam Age to an abrupt halt. But here, the development of steam power had never faltered, charging down its own singular path of progress.

Inventions that Jenkins would have once considered impossible, such as ultra-high-power steam furnaces, experimental portable steam rifles, and even steam-powered, water-cooled heavy machine guns, were now a reality. Consequently, thanks to this artful dedication to steam engineering, the destructive power of some weapons far exceeded that of any steam-propelled armaments from Jenkins's own world.

Startled by the tremendous boom of the cannons, the citizens all lifted their heads in unison. The brilliant fireballs were witnessed by the vast majority of Ruen's residents and visitors alike.

Everyone would have to admit that the sight was breathtaking in its own terrible way. Above the old city district hung a sky thick with clouds, while the snow-dusted city below shimmered with the characteristic brassy glow of the Steam Age. For a fleeting moment, the fireballs hung suspended in the air, like twin suns against the somber noon sky. Then, in the next instant, they began their descent.

Even though Jenkins had braced himself, he was still jolted by the heart-stopping concussion and the sight of a mushrooming cloud rising from the city center. The ground trembled violently, shaking the accumulated snow from the eaves. A clump landed squarely on his cat's head, earning a piercing shriek from the startled animal.

Many people on the street stumbled and fell in terror. Even at this distance from the blast's epicenter, the sheer force of the explosion sent cracks spiderwebbing across countless panes of cheap glass. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI[F]ire.net

Jenkins had instinctively turned to shield Alexia, pulling her into his arms. The petite woman simply laughed with delight, unconcerned whether the meowing cat was merely playing for sympathy or was genuinely terrified.

The casualties from the ensuing chaos alone were enough to make this one of the biggest news stories of the year in the material world. The only event that could rival it was the city-wide poisoning incident in Nolan. The difference, however, was that the attack on Ruen was real, whereas the supposed poisoning incident had merely been a cover-up for something else entirely.

The shells had landed in the direction of Parliament Square, right in the city center—exactly where Dolores and Julia were. And while the commotion had started even before the cannons roared, suggesting the attack wasn't a complete surprise, the situation remained perilous.

There was no time to wonder how steam cannons had been brought into the city. Jenkins grabbed Alexia's hand and broke into a run, heading straight for the square.

The closer they got to the point of impact, the more scenes of chaos and tragedy unfolded before them. The blast had triggered widespread panic and a minor earthquake, transforming the joyous holiday into a day of suffering for the city's inhabitants. The sight of stampeding crowds and the occasional collapsed old building had utterly erased the festive cheer of the Ice and Snow Festival.

By the time Jenkins and Alexia rounded the corner onto Queen Mary Avenue, just one street away from the Parliament building, the road was eerily deserted.

The snow continued to fall, flakes swirling down into the rubble of what were once buildings. The second cannonball had struck the middle of the avenue, reducing half the street to a smoldering ruin. And amidst this devastation stood a man, broadsword in hand, watching them approach.

The wind whipped at his long robes, and his sharp gaze seemed intense enough to set fire to everything it touched:

"This area is off-limits. If you don't want any trouble, turn around and leave now."

His hoarse voice trailed off as he gestured with his right hand for them to leave. Jenkins said nothing and took a step forward, only to be stopped by Alexia.

Her slender hand closed into a loose fist, and a silver-blue light began to swirl around her. Countless rays of brilliance streamed from her body, coalescing into a torrent of shimmering energy that shot forward like a serpent made of silver needles.

The swordsman flicked his wrist, shifting his grip from a casual carry to a ready stance. Bending his knees and lowering his center of gravity, he gripped the broadsword with both hands and, with a sharp cry, unleashed a powerful slash.

Dozens of sharp, grey sword-images erupted from the ground, flying to meet the torrent of silver-blue light head-on. The resulting collision of energy shattered the ruins even further. Through the swirling dust and snow, Jenkins vaulted into the air. A black doppelgänger materialized behind him. With a cackle of maniacal laughter and a strange, rapid ticking sound, it blurred into a black streak, hurtling toward the swordsman as he recovered from his attack.

"It's no use! No one gets past me!"

He gripped his broadsword and swung it at the approaching [Twin Demons]. The shadow detonated prematurely, blasting black flames in every direction. From behind the wall of fire, Jenkins emerged, a pristine white longsword in his hand.

Broadsword met slender blade. In a single, fluid motion, the white sword sliced diagonally through both the heavy weapon and the man who wielded it. Withdrawing the sword, Jenkins turned away just in time to avoid the spray of black blood.

"Strange. A level-five Enchanter, and one with all his ability slots filled, no less. Which faction has the resources to throw around an asset like that?"

Behind him, the body fell apart into two halves. Blood stained the snow crimson against the stark white sky. Alexia emerged from the lingering dust of the explosion, a glowing blue cube hovering in her hands as dense runes flickered rapidly within her eyes.

"My divination is being jammed," she said, her voice taut. "I can't get any precise information. He was a mercenary, hired for a considerable sum, but I can't see which organization paid him... Dolores and Julia are safe for the moment, but we need to hurry."

"Alright," Jenkins replied, his tone hardening. "Let's go see who's so daring."

Jenkins turned back to the corpse. He pointed a finger, and a gout of flame shot forth, engulfing the body. The firelight cast a crimson glow on his face as he looked up toward the distant spire of the Parliament building. Faintly, carried on the wind, he could hear the sounds of gunfire and shouting.

"We should disguise ourselves," Jenkins said in a low voice. "There's no need to reveal what kind of supporters Dolores has on her side just yet."

As he spoke, both he and the cat on his shoulder seemed to dissolve for a moment, their forms twisting into a pixelated blur. A hundred different visages flickered in the span of a heartbeat, the virtual blocks of color warping the very light around them.