All around us, the self-devouring black walls of Dark Will had already pressed in to the outer edge of the ring-shaped city. We stood between the thirteen great pillars, and I held a golden balloon in my hand.
The gently swaying golden light radiated a soft power; the adverse effects on Rachel Lan and Sylvia Blue had completely vanished.
"It's about to begin."
I spoke, and the three members of The Dark Banquet nodded. Everyone watched the golden balloon in my hand as I let go of the string, and the balloon slowly floated upward.
Gradually, the air currents carried it hundreds of meters above us, like a miniature sun, radiating an intense and dazzling light.
I swallowed. Rachel Lan and Sylvia Blue stood on either side of me, holding my arms. I glanced left and right, comforted, and a wave of warmth rose in my heart.
The balloon began to grow larger, cracks appearing on its surface. As the light burst forth, the black walls around us gradually dissipated.
"Look, Ethan."
Rachel Lan spoke, and I stared in astonishment at the ground. The pitch-black earth beneath our feet had turned brown, sprouting green shoots. I noticed green vines emerging from the surfaces of the great pillars, each bearing clusters of unknown white flower buds.
The ground beneath our feet turned green, grass sprouting and stretching infinitely in all directions. The black walls faded in the light, breaking into black fragments that vanished in the white glow. I felt a surge of heat from above.
The sky, once like a black curtain, split open. Points of light shone through the cracks, and a gentle breeze blew. The world was undergoing incredible changes. I noticed that Rachel Lan's body beside me was emitting a soft, bright white glow—a new power, echoing the beauty of this soon-to-burst dream.
Immense vitality spread all around us. Rachel Lan lifted her head in contentment. The black rifts in the sky shattered and fell like fragments, bit by bit, until a clear blue sky appeared overhead.
The world continued to change. The darkness was being driven away, and the bright, verdant world kept expanding in all directions.
A crisp cracking sound echoed from the sky. With a bang, shards of light scattered, and a wave of intense white light swept across the world. We all closed our eyes.
The moment I opened my eyes, I looked around—we were all inside the shop. The sounds of people on the street drifted in. I checked the time; it was just past noon. Sylvia Blue and Rachel Lan were still asleep, lying on the table, but both had smiles on their lips, as if they were having a pleasant dream. I glanced at Heavenly Soul, who sat at the counter, smiling.
"We're finally back."
"Thank you, Heavenly Soul."
He shook his head, brought over a bottle of liquor, and after we had a few hearty drinks, I stepped out through the open shop door. Outside, everything was as lively as ever, and the scene in this dark land was as dull as always. I tilted my head to glance at the two sleeping behind me. Only those behind me gave me the strength to keep walking through this darkness.
"Boss Chang, it's already this late—why are you just opening up? Closing early tonight?"
A regular customer passing by asked. I shook my head, then replied.