BXBX NOVEL Chapter 299 - Tribulation
As Lady Death waited for a dead soul to take the bait, she gave a casual glance at Black Impermanence, who had yet to leave.
His expression showed he had something else to report.
"Speak freely," Lady Death told him.
"Yes, Lady Death!" Black Impermanence complied and began to report, "As per your orders, I\'ve sent my subordinates to investigate the edges of the realm a year ago. A short while ago, I\'ve finally received word back from them."
The Netherworld Realm was a world of the dead, a phantom world with nothing truly tangible as if everything is illusory and a figment of one\'s imagination.
It was supposed to be a world without borders, growing ceaselessly alongside its growing population of dead souls that descend from the world of the living.
However, the Death Goddess detected changes in the realm and immediately tasked the Black Guards to investigate.
"As you suspected, something major has happened at the edge of the realm. The Netherworld Realm is losing its spirituality and becoming more corporal. As this happens, the corporal pieces of land branch off from the realm and descend on the material world."
"Why is this happening?" Lady Death inquired with a slight frown.
However, Black Impermanence shook his head, "I\'m not sure. It might have something to do with what\'s been happening to the material world on Earth. Something is guiding the myriad worlds and realms to converge."
"…"
After hearing Black Impermanence\'s words, the Death Goddess fell silent for a moment before she resumed speaking.
"The three realms of Samsara shared a connection but had always been kept separate, never in contact like three worlds in parallel. If the walls that kept them separate disappears… I\'m afraid there will be a major upheaval."
A major upheaval of cataclysmic changes.
The Netherworld Realm was like a spiritual prison that kept a vast number of dead souls in captivity. Even the Death Goddess cannot calculate how many dead souls there are.
However…
"If such a vast number of dead souls descend on Earth, there will be nothing to stop them from wreaking havoc and turning the material world into a literal living hell," she added.
Earth had the Dark Emperor, but not even the Dark Emperor could stop so many dead souls. He could cover one part of the sky with his hands, but not its entirety.
"Earth has experienced its ups and downs, but nothing of this scale… A lot of people will undoubtedly die if the convergence isn\'t stopped. Lady Death, maybe you can…"
Black Impermanence figured if it was the Death Goddess, maybe she could do something about it. However, the Death Goddess shook her head when he tried to request her help.
"The force that guides the convergence of the myriad worlds and realms is much bigger than you and me. Even the realm of gods won\'t be spared from this chaos. My powers are not enough to stop it," Lady Death said.
They can only pray and hope for the best.
Black Impermanence quickly felt a headache when he thought about how much more work would be added on his shoulders if a large number of lost souls appeared after the dead souls descended and killed everyone.
\'Please, anything but that!\' Black Impermanence prayed.
…
…
…
While the Netherworld Realm had their own sets of worries, Albion and Princess Floria finalized their agreement.
If Albion could restore order to the elf tribe and free the elf king from Empress Una\'s charm, she would agree to follow him alongside her fellow Spirit Chefs.
At first, Princess Floria thought she was envious of the wolf-girl getting patted by Albion.
However, that was her mistake. She was not interested in the Dark Lord. She was interested in the wolf-girl.
That cute little fluffy thing… She also wanted to pat it.
While hiding her thoughts, Princess Floria remained cordial to Albion as they waited for more dishes to be brought out.
However, before that could happen, an abrupt booming noise was heard before the entire restaurant suddenly shook—No, the entire tribe shook!
Rumble…!
People lost their balance, and various things dropped on the floor with shattering sounds before everyone was alarmed by the sudden commotion.
"What the heck was that? An earthquake?"
"Felt like one, but what about that loud noise just now?"
The elves on the lower floor of the building quickly broke into discussions as they picked themselves up when another elf suddenly cried and drew all their attention.
"Everyone, take a look outside! Our World Tree is on fire!"
"What?! How can that be—What the hell! It\'s burning!" a male elf doubted until he saw the fire and smoke with his own eyes from the balcony.
One by one, the elves all rushed outside before they confirmed the truth with their own eyes. But even though it was the truth, they were in disbelief.
The World Tree was a True Immortal-level existence. How could it burn so easily?
Boom!
The World Tree seemed to have been struck again.
The elves felt like their whole world shook along with their belief before the fire spread and burning branches fell from the World Tree.
On the top floor, Princess Floria immediately slammed the table and shot to her feet abruptly with a grim look after her attendants reported what they witnessed outside.
"Who has such audacity to our World Tree?!" Princess Floria roared angrily.
In that instance, her gentle aura turned into a whirling tempest, full of malice and killing intent, startling Fenriri greatly.
At the same time, Albion retrieved his glowing gaze from the World Tree\'s direction before he shook his head with a sigh.
"It\'s not a someone, but a something." He stated.
He likes to solve problems one at a time, but before he can solve the first problem, another one pops up abruptly.
"Not someone, but something?" Princess Floria muttered before her gaze quickly turned sharp and requested urgently, "If you understand what\'s happening, can you please share your discovery, Lord Albion?"
Albion nodded.
"A rift has appeared in the skies above the World Tree. And from this rift, bolts of tribulation lightning are descending to strike it."
"T-Tribulation Lightning?!" Princess Floria immediately shrieked with alarm and confusion.