C106 Disaster Is Everywhere

The Silvermoon Empire boasted seven cities and nearly a hundred towns and villages, where strange occurrences were frequent.

In the northern mountains of Wethtalos City, a sixth-level archdemon known as the Wraith Ape, imprisoned for a century, mysteriously broke free. Once unleashed, it wreaked havoc, poisoning living beings and preying on children. With combat prowess rivaling that of a Lunar Spirit, the Wraith Ape's strength surged dramatically upon its escape. It left a trail of destruction in its wake, with adults brutally slain and children devoured, leaving the families of Wethtalos City overwhelmed and struggling to respond.

In the heart of Sillserine City, an ancient well, dry for centuries, suddenly gushed forth with bubbling azure waters. Overnight, these waters claimed the lives of dozens of cultivators. By the time the city's families realized something was amiss, the tainted water had already flowed beyond the city limits, transforming into a malicious goast that continued its malevolent deeds.

Rumors swirled around the Keep of Erhokadi City, where a crescent-shaped pendant, its origins shrouded in mystery, had been venerated and sealed away for nearly a hundred years, forbidden to be touched. Then, one fateful night, the sky's moonlight cascaded like a waterfall, infusing the pendant with power. The pendant, now like a bloodthirsty crescent moon, unleashed a rampage throughout Erhokadi. Even the mayor, grievously wounded, failed to contain it, and the pendant vanished without a trace.

On the outskirts of Asenalenor City, the dense forest with its ancient trees, some thousands of years old, seemed to awaken with a newfound sentience, ambushing unsuspecting travelers.

Lellon City housed the Empire's largest prison, detaining infamous enemies since the Empire's inception. Inexplicably, the prison doors flung open, and the guards were found dead by dawn. Notorious inmates, like those from the Colddeath Cult who practiced their dark arts on the living, scattered in their escape, vowing to infiltrate the City of Silvermoon and assassinate the Empress.

In a brief span, numerous villages and towns experienced a surge of bizarre incidents, adding to the growing unrest within the Silvermoon Empire.

Across the seven cities of the Silvermoon Empire, war raged, and death was rampant.

The frigid nights stretched on endlessly, as if dawn would never come.

The Empire's temperature plummeted, mirroring the increasingly icy hearts of the cultivators from the major families.

The Empress had commanded the five great families and the guards of the seven cities, along with all the Empire's cultivators, to emerge from their seclusion and hunt down the strange and malevolent creatures that had emerged.

Her Majesty had penned desperate pleas for aid to the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, seeking assistance.

Anxiety gripped everyone within the Empire as they recognized the looming catastrophe.

Each day brought the death of more cultivators; smaller families were wiped out entirely.

The Silvermoon Empire faced its most dire peril since its inception.

In such times, even those of Veil Breaking, Subtlety, and Lunar Spirit statuses were overwhelmed, unable to attend to anything beyond their survival, let alone the trial-takers within the forbidden area.

Some, concerned, attempted to penetrate the forbidden area to investigate, only to be repelled by an unseen barrier.

Then, astonishing news arrived from the Empress.

The entire Moonfall Sanctuary had been sealed by an ancient and massive formation, presenting grave dangers to anyone from the outside attempting entry.

The Empress stated unequivocally that not even those of Spirit Walk or Solar Spirit could breach the seal.

Regarding the means of egress for those within the sanctuary, only two exits were known: one leading to the Silvermoon Empire, the other to the Crimson Sun Empire. The conditions for exiting remained unclear, with the Empress continuing her search through ancient texts for clues.

The reasons behind the sudden sealing of Moonfall Sanctuary and the existence of the colossal formation were topics the Empress approached with great caution, providing no definitive answers.

Amidst this uncertainty, the mighty of the Silvermoon Empire and their families were shrouded in gloom.

They were torn between pursuing the newly arisen fiends and defending against unexpected assailants breaching their homes.

Chaos engulfed the Empire.

The Crimson Sun Empire, a long-standing adversary of Silvermoon, refrained from seizing this moment of vulnerability, seemingly harboring their own concerns, and thus remained inactive.

The entrance to the forbidden area bordered the Silvermoon Empire. The seasoned general who once defended the city, along with the numerous guards, had vanished without a trace. A snow-white Wraith Ape, towering dozens of feet tall with a stature akin to a small mountain, bore a ferocious countenance as it hoisted a deep red stone pillar, relentlessly hammering the massive arched gateway.

This Wraith Ape, having broken free from its confines, had eyes swirling with a ghostly presence, suggesting mastery over the manipulation of spirits. Yet, as the stone pillar struck the archway, the resulting undulations of spiritual energy and the explosive radiance that erupted caused the stars to fade and the moon's glow to withdraw.

"Boom!" Each thunderous blow caused the earth to quake. The Wraith Ape, veins bulging with exertion, howled and shrieked in a frenzy, yet the archway remained immovable.

Eventually, ancient and enigmatic runes, reminiscent of a "Solid" talisman lost to the ages, began to emerge on the door. When the Wraith Ape's relentless assault proved futile, a green stream with apparent spiritual wisdom attempted to stealthily infiltrate the sanctuary through the bottom of the ravine.

This stream originated from the ancient well within Sillserine, bubbling forth with verdant waters. Reaching the ravine's depths and reversing its course to ascend, the stream was suddenly permeated by an ancient breath capable of vanquishing gods, causing it to lose control and plummet from the sky.

Subsequently, the stream meekly flowed beside the Wraith Ape and, after undergoing a transformation, materialized into an azure-robed lad. His body shimmered like transparent amber, and his delicate features were sculpted with precision, radiating an ethereal beauty. His eyes were a stark white, devoid of any darkness.

Gazing across at the Moonfall Sanctuary, his face was etched with longing. It seemed as though both he and the Wraith Ape had origins within the sanctuary, a place harboring remnants of their past and treasures they yearned for.

Whether it was the Wraith Ape or himself, they had both finally broken free and were eager to return to the Moonfall Sanctuary. Yet, the presence of the grand array stood before them, barring their entry as they stood at the threshold, unable to step through.

Creatures like them, otherworldly spirits, would converge here after unleashing their fury upon the Silvermoon Empire, each attempting to break through and return to the Moonfall Sanctuary. The one who succeeded first might gain an advantage within the forbidden area.

Regarding the entrance that bordered the Crimson Sun Empire, it was expected to be unchanged. If they couldn't break through from this side, attempting the other would yield the same outcome.

"I hope the Moonfiend within can muster some strength and obliterate the lingering sword's will," the azure-robed lad said, his voice steady as he ceased his futile efforts. "As long as that sword's will remains, the array will stand eternal."

He spoke to the Wraith Ape, knowing it understood him. Yet, comprehension did not deter the Wraith Ape from its relentless assaults on the archway. Imprisoned resentment now had an outlet, and the Wraith Ape was determined to release it fully.

With a mighty howl, it continued its barrage...