Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 163

The light of my life.

The flame of my body.

My sin.

My soul.

*    *    *

It had been almost a month since Vile became obsessed with this research.

During that time, he poured everything he had into it without drawing or writing about his beloved Alice, or even taking brief moments to rest.

Even for his transcendent intellect that surpassed centuries, treading into unexplored territory was not easy.

Nevertheless, the fact that he bore fruit clearly proved just how exceptional Vile was.

“Put aside such trivial words.”

Then what about that thing you made all this time?

Wasn’t it your life’s masterpiece?

“No… that was just the beginning. Only now, finally, is the real thing starting.”

One of Vile’s three greatest Beast masterpieces.

The ‘Snatching Jubjub Bird’ with a body of only bones without a single piece of flesh.

However, after gaining great enlightenment from Red Hood, Vile sacrificed the Jubjub Bird without hesitation.

Not only that, but he literally ground up all the humans he had gathered until now as well.

All for the sake of beginning his true self.

What appeared before his eyes now was an enormous skeletal Jubjub Bird that stood 10 meters tall even when sitting, something that could only be described as tremendous.

Though it had grown several times larger than its original size, it hadn’t particularly become stronger.

That size was simply necessary for his purpose.

And all sorts of machinery were packed inside the body that had nothing but bones.

One of them looked like a large glass jar, filled with humans that had been finely ground into a thick porridge-like substance.

What a magnificent sight.

To think you used up all those humans.

“It was a necessary sacrifice. Humans can be gathered again. They’re abundant anyway.”

You went through quite some trouble to gather that many though.

Fighting over territory with other witches, and doing groundwork over a long time to avoid being discovered by the Hunting Order.

“What matters is purpose and utility. The process may be arduous, but it has value.”

I see, so you have no regrets or hesitation?

“That’s right. It’s too late for such trivial sentiments. This is something I should have done much sooner.”

If you do this, the consequences will be unpredictable.

Even you might not be safe.

You’ve already failed several times.

And that humiliation…

“There was only one reason I kept failing. I simply lacked sincerity. And now… I’m more sincere than ever before.”

“Lord Vile.”

Slave No. 3 approached and spoke.

“All preparations are complete.”

“Good… Then shall we begin?”

The place Vile arrived at was directly beneath the enlarged Jubjub Bird.

There were two transparent glass tubes several times larger than a person, packed full with dozens, hundreds of human brains.

At the end of that device reminiscent of Pinocchio’s design was a hose with a long, thick needle attached.

Vile took that needle and inserted it into his temple without hesitation.

Ah, cold, hot, and above all, electrifying.

Enhancement of the brain.

Expansion of thought.

The easiest and surest way to surpass limits is to take from others.

The brain is God’s most precious and greatest invention, yet these ignorant fools waste it on useless things.

Therefore, my putting it to better use is both an offering and sacrifice to God.

“Enough. Now is the time to focus.”

Alright.

Good luck.

“…Master.”

Slave No. 5 said.

“What? I told you I need to concentrate, didn’t I?”

“Who exactly are you talking to?”

“If you interrupt me with such stupid words one more time, I’ll dispose of you.”

“…My apologies.”

Though Slave No. 5 had no face, they retreated while giving off a puzzled atmosphere.

Vile focused again on the task at hand.

He drew up the power of his curse to link with the brains in the tubes.

As brain connected to brain, they exchanged increasingly strong electrical stimulation and transformed into one massive entity.

“Hah…!!”

When Vile spread his palms toward the Jubjub Bird, red energy burst forth.

The sight resembled how Red Hood had transformed Vile’s bio-terminal into Humpty Dumpty.

The curses that entered the Jubjub Bird’s body covered the circuits and made the machinery move.

“Screech…”

A faint cry emerged from the maw that had no vocal cords.

Red flames rose from the empty eye sockets carved in the skull.

It was preparing to fly.

And the destination?

“Ngh… Graaah!!!”

Vile calculated the most complex formula of his life.

As the overly difficult calculations caused dozens, hundreds of brains to overheat, the glass tubes bubbled.

Vile’s mind and soul screamed.

A struggle to reach the realm of gods.

The old Vile would never have attempted something so reckless, but now was different.

He had a reason why he must do this.

A passageway connecting to the moon formed in the ceiling, similar to when he had invaded Snow White’s domain.

The moon appeared before his eyes, several times larger than what could be seen from this earth.

But… it’s not enough.

This much isn’t enough!

“Arghhh!”

A new door appeared inside the spatial gateway.

The pouring moonlight became something violent, close to torture, pressing down on everything here.

The brain-filled glass tubes began to crack with sharp sounds.

“Gik, gigik…”

Slave No. 5, who had been watching from the side, collapsed blackened and crushed as if trampled by a burning giant.

“Not yet… Not yet!!!”

Even as he felt his soul burning away from the massive curse light covering the moon, Vile opened another spatial door.

“…!?!”

Three shortcuts connected to the moon.

His lips were too fused shut from screaming to scream anymore.

However, the Jubjub Bird spread its wings to fulfill its mission without needing orders.

“Screeeeech!!”

The Jubjub Bird spread its wings of only bone and raised its body.

Its large, strong body was to withstand the moon’s pressure.

But even though he had prepared meticulously, cracks began forming in the Jubjub Bird’s body.

Could he fail like this?

“Nngh!?!?”

Blood vessels burst in Vile’s eyes and all the brain-filled glass tubes shattered at once.

The brains in the tubes melted into disgusting lumps while emitting curses and electricity.

And… the Jubjub Bird flew.

Toward that moon.

After watching it pass through the first gate, then the second, and finally the third, Vile closed the doors again.

“Huff…”

Vile collapsed to his knees.

His body was burning black.

Blood and fluid poured out from every gap and his vision was blurry.

Even his soul was severely damaged from receiving too much moonlight.

Still, Vile stood up.

Though his limbs trembled violently, he somehow managed to stand and take the elevator in the corner to go up.

Even the gravity he felt while ascending was unbearably heavy and painful.

But he absolutely had to see.

Upon reaching the surface, Vile looked up at the sky.

The sunlight was particularly warm today.

It stung his ruined skin too much.

Could it be a failure?

No, it must succeed.

Why?

Because that’s what I believe.

*    *    *

The Jubjub Bird’s body crumbled more and more as it flew toward the moon.

Even a body powerful enough to reach behemoth status was helpless before the blue curse light emitting from the entire planet that was the moon.

But that was enough.

As the human mass inside the Jubjub Bird’s body bubbled and boiled, the machinery spat fire and accelerated even faster.

The flames blazing from its eye sockets grew fiercer as it flew toward the moon leaving a trail like a comet.

And… Boom.

The invisible wall between earth and moon.

A safety device made by Creator Noah when he placed all his power in the moon to prevent it from affecting the earth.

Though the Jubjub Bird became a mere lump of meat in the empty space of the cosmos, it achieved its purpose of piercing a hole in that wall.

A hole was made in the dam God created to block the flood of calamity.

And through that small hole, true moonlight began descending to earth.

*    *    *

The cultists gathered in an empty lot on the outskirts looked up at the sky.

Blue moonlight poured down upon the preaching cult leader and the followers who made prayers of their resentment, resignation, and anger.

“Ohhh… Ohhhh!!!”

The cult leader spread his arms and screamed in ecstasy.

“The time has finally come. Behold, that moonlight! Our patience shall be rewarded! Winter comes. Winter that will lead us to the new world comes!!”

He shed tears and mucus while foaming at the mouth and even wetting his pants.

But no one frowned in disgust.

Because everyone’s minds were being corrupted by that moonlight.

Dozens, hundreds of cultists drew knives and stabbed their own throats simultaneously.

Though the cold blades pierced their necks, not one bled.

They simply melted away like snowflakes.

And in their place, new Snow Whites were born.

The one who had been the cult leader became a higher-ranking entity slightly larger than the others, but no one remained to care about hierarchy.

Because all were Snow White now.

“Yes… Everything will become me now.”

*    *    *

A massive earthquake struck Tramina, where Little Mermaid resided in the deep sea.

But all the Deep Sea Folk remained perfectly still in their places.

All of this was predetermined.

The same would be true for the promised victory to come.

The seafloor rose up, lifting the metropolis Tramina.

The sea parted as waves surged and waterspouts formed.

Amidst all that chaos, Little Mermaid’s domain emerged standing tall on land.

“…Finally.”

Little Mermaid rose from her throne.

Even in that earthquake, the throne made of trophies reaching to the ceiling stood firm.

But Rusalka turned her back and kicked the throne without hesitation.

All manner of treasures that had been piled up – the armor of brave warriors, hats of wise sages, guns of skilled hunters, bones of beautiful behemoths – spilled uselessly to the floor.

Those were mere relics of the old era now.

“Let us begin a new conquest.”

*    *    *

Princess Bari danced spinning round and round above the flower garden.

Her black clothes fluttered and spread wide like flower petals.

She was not the only flower dancing in the eerie blue moonlight.

All the flowers in the Western Garden danced swaying.

Even the countless gravestones surrounding that garden began to shake.

Soon hands shot up from the ground before the gravestones, followed by heads and shoulders.

As the dead crawled out from their graves, formless ghosts appeared above and blessed them.

Death is no longer needed in this world.

Let us wander eternally.

Let us wander.

“N-no…”

One of the dead crawled to the flower garden and spoke to Bari.

“Please… kill me…”

“Let me go…”

“It hurts…”

Led by him, countless dead followed begging for rest once more.

But Bari smiled brightly at them.

“It’s alright. You’ll accept it someday. I’ll wait whether it takes 100 years or 500 years.”

All humans born in this world are precious.

Precious, and precious, and so very precious.

Therefore, no one needs to die.

“Everyone will live eternally together with me.”

*    *    *

Moonlight pours in through the window.

Though I cannot see, I can tell.

This must be moonlight.

I want to open my eyes to check, but my body is too heavy.

How long have I been asleep?

Someone seems to be speaking beside me… are they calling my name?

My name… what was my name?

…Noah?

“Eugene.”

Hearing that name, I opened my eyes at once.

Blue eyes were looking at me.

I think I finally understand why the moon is blue.

It was to not forget.

Those blue eyes of that child.