Night Journey

Chapter 100 Behind the Curtain
The blazing sun, it's the blazing sun again.

Since Cirian arrived in Hel City, he had heard others mention the so-called rumors and the blazing sun more than once, but none of them had given a more detailed explanation; it was as vague as a dream.

Until now.

"Cough...cough..."

Tania coughed twice, her throat filled with ashes and sparks.

"You also saw that scarlet sun, how magnificent, how scorching."

Tania's story brought back long-forgotten memories of that night in White Cliff Town.

The crimson sun rose fiercely, mercilessly crushing the torches and beacons, and leveling everything to the ground.

"That being is not one of the Twelve Evils, and there is no trace of him in the past."

Tania's expression contorted, and Ciri adjusted the IV drip rate accordingly, alleviating her pain to some extent.

“I don’t know who he is, but some say that… another miraculous creation has risen in the Sea of ​​Origin.”

The crimson sun that destroyed White Cliff Town came from a newly born evil being, and what's chilling is that the civilized world seems unaware of its birth.

At first, I thought that the scarlet sun was the 'scorching sun' that was rumored to be.

Tania confessed everything: "My mother was also very interested in this mysterious evil creature, which is why I, as a witness, was fortunate enough to survive in White Cliff Town."

She abruptly changed the subject, only saying half of her sentence, "But later on..."

Cillian continued, “You think ‘the blazing sun’ refers to me—the so-called holy blood of the torchbearer that I possess.”

Tania laughed hoarsely.

"Yes, it attracted the gaze of a mysterious evil, was chased by the dead bird, and was protected by Nunn for so long..."

Tania suddenly clenched her teeth, her whole body trembling violently.

"Your blood, the blood of the Holy Torchbearer, it is too terrifying, it cannot be removed, it cannot be diluted, and as long as there is a breath left, it will never be extinguished!"

In the end, Tania almost screamed as immense pain descended upon her.

Cillian tensed up and began inspecting the densely packed IV bags.

He had calculated many times that Tania would rather suffer a slow, agonizing death than be suddenly struck by such a tremendous shock.

Could it be that even under the protection of the Lighthouse, the power of chaos still descended, sealing all the secrets from her mouth?

Cillian gripped the Boiling Sword alertly, but nothing unusual happened; all that was heard was Tania's exhausted panting.

After a long while, Tania finally recovered her strength and murmured.

What kind of state are you in?

Cillian asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Tania seemed even more confused than him. "This is the power inherent in your blood... and you know nothing about it?"

Cillian reacted quickly and immediately realized what Tania was referring to.

Over thousands of years, as clans multiplied, significant differentiation and mutations gradually emerged between different bloodlines.

For example, Anya, due to a mutation in her bloodline, possesses the ability to sense the purity of other people's bloodlines and even track them.

The suffering Tania is experiencing at this moment may stem from the "abnormality" of the Holy Blood of the Torchbearer.

"Ha ha……"

Tania found it amusing. "Once your blood gets into someone else's wound, it will cause a persistent burning pain that can never be completely removed, no matter how much you clean the wound or even purify the blood."

She has endured it all along, and still does now.

"I don't know whether to say you're lucky or unlucky, Tania."

Cillian's tone carried a hint of smugness, "So far, you are the only one who has survived my sword."

Having been a Torchbearer for so long, Cillian had no idea that the reason for the Bloodstained Aberration was simple: all his enemies were dead, and he simply couldn't wait for the Phantom Pain to strike.

Cillian continued, "Whether I am 'The Blazing Sun' or not, I want to know what you're trying to do?"

Tania sneered and remained silent.

Cillian was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "This will be a storm that will affect several city-states, so it's normal that you know nothing about it."

Tania was, in the end, just a nobody.

She was unaware of the origins of the Holy Blood of the Torchbearer, nor of the Deathbird or the beings behind it.

Cillian's desire to uncover the full picture of the puzzle through her was a bit too hasty... He should focus on what's right in front of him.

"Tanya, say something more."

Cillian adjusted the IV drip rate, and Tania immediately noticed that her body temperature had risen again, and the burning pain had returned.

"for example……"

After a moment's thought, Cillian asked, "Who is the leader of the Claws?"

Tania took a deep breath, trying to suppress the pain.

"Stop insisting, Tania."

I destroyed your vertical farms and killed countless wicked offspring, all under your supervision. Even if you manage to leave alive and return to your clutches, what awaits you then?

Cillian said in a high-pitched voice, "Oh, Tania, you must have endured the enemy's torture, you're amazing, here's your promotion."

Halfway through his sentence, Cillian couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Do you think such a thing is possible?"

Tania's face contorted, and a low, labored breathing came from her throat.

"Or rather, you hate me so much that you'd rather die than tell me anything...that would be great too."

Cillian leaned forward, rubbed her dry face, and teased her.

"Then let's hold on a little longer and give it a try."

After that, everything went back to the beginning.

Cillian was doing nothing, humming some tune, while Tania endured the pain until she couldn't help but scream.

The sound was shrill and desperate, but Cillian didn't find it noisy at all. He looked quite pleased with himself, and even a little expectant, wanting to see Tania in an even more wretched state.

About fifteen minutes later, Tania fully understood that Cillian was not a person who could be viewed with common sense, and he had no so-called empathy or kindness.

The only difference between Cirion and the evils of Chaos is that he is a torchbearer.

Tania realized in despair that all she could do now was reveal more information in exchange for a quick, painless death.

Otherwise, given Cillian's personality, he would definitely live for a very long time... long enough that just imagining it would make me want to commit suicide.

"I don't know, I really don't know."

Tania burst into tears, crying miserably. "The leader is very good at hiding his true face. He never shows his true face, and even his voice is distorted."

"So when will he summon you, and where does he usually summon you?"

“It’s too late. After all this has happened, he must be convinced that I’m dead. All the places and contacts related to me will be replaced.”

Cillian's tone turned serious. "So, you're completely worthless?"

"No...no, I know other things too."

Tania said nervously, “Our usual meeting place is home to other lurking Chaos cultists, and even more threatening evil offspring.”

"Oh, right, I know which organizations in Hel City have Claws behind them... I..."

"enough!"

Cillian slammed his fist on the table, cutting off Tania's incoherent rambling.

"This is my last chance. I want to know who the pawn is hiding in the city of Hull."

"A hidden... pawn..."

Tania looked bewildered, then made up her mind, "The Claws have infiltrated the City Guard to some extent, but how could I possibly know the list of these key pawns?"

Cillian appeared serious, but inwardly he sighed helplessly.

Ultimately, Tania was merely a high-ranking member of the Claws, far from being a core member. Even with her, it was still impossible to completely eradicate the Claws.

"Then do you know which evil being possesses the ability to erase all traces of itself?"

Cillian asked again, "Silently, without a trace."

"That's impossible. Everything that exists leaves a trace."

Tania racked her brains, hoping for a peaceful death to come as soon as possible, and shouted, "Unless... unless everyone forgets him."

Cillian caught the key words.

"forget?"

"Yes, I once learned of such a being by chance, and it possessed similar abilities."

Cillian countered, "Another evil creature?"

“Evil? No, how could that be? It’s the power of the giants.” Tania’s voice grew softer as she spoke. “A power that was among the six giants, but was gradually declining and was about to disappear completely.”

Cillian questioned, "I don't recall any similar power existing among the six Titans."

Tania suddenly asked, "Who are the six giants?"

Cillian answered instinctively.

"The Compassionate Mother, the Arm that Holds Up the Sky, the Weaver of Fate, the Mirage Dragon, the Hanging Sparrow... and... and..."

Cillian tensed up and looked at Tania in disbelief.

He had read the records about the six giants repeatedly, even though the descriptions in the books were not detailed enough.

So why did it take me so long to realize that, as far as I knew, there were only five of the six giant gods, and the sixth had never truly appeared?

"You've realized it too, haven't you? People sing the praises of the six giants, but no one realizes that the names they roared out were only five."

Tania laughed hoarsely.

"The sixth giant shrouded himself in a veil of oblivion. Only those who cross the veil will belatedly realize his existence, and this is the very power of his destiny."

"The Lord of the Destiny of Return to Silence, the Giant God, the Sleeping Lord."

The moment Cillian heard the name of the giant god, the Sleeping Lord, he vaguely sensed that something had disappeared.

It was a cognitive distortion that enveloped the entire world, like a dream of the soul, separating the Sleeping Lord from the cognition of most life forms, including Cillian.

Through Tania's explanation, Cillian broke free from the veil.

They glimpsed the sleeping master.

(End of this chapter)