It’s Not Night - Chapter 172.2

Just then, Hailey arrived and answered Andra’s murmur as she frowned. It was the first time such noises had emanated from the sky island. Suddenly, with another loud boom, the island seemed to shake.

Instinctively, Andra realized that the dragon must be up there, and Dustin as well. Shortly after, a series of explosions could be heard. Boom, bam!The sky darkened, and soon, a pungent smell filled the air as black ash began to drift down. People exchanged worried glances.

“It’s a volcano! The volcano is erupting!”

Bon touched the falling black ash and suddenly shouted. A volcano, up there? Why now? Hezel had been peaceful for so long. Amidst the confusion, only Andra stood with a pale face, staring fixedly at the sky.

The situation was like….

When Hezel had perished in the past.

‘But why so suddenly?’

What on earth was happening? Andra gazed intently at the sky island, which no one had been able to get up to. She wanted to go up immediately, but with the dragon missing, sadly, no one knew how. Anxiously biting her lower lip, Andra was impatient.

Then, a name flashed through her mind.

Nera!

It must have been Nera who put Dustin through a trial, just as she had done with Andra. And now, with Dustin missing, something must have triggered this event. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that such chaos erupted in peaceful Hezel.

‘Dustin, what have you done?’

Andra was not about to stand idly by and just stare at the sky here. If Dustin was involved, she felt she shared the responsibility. She rushed toward her destination without anyone able to stop her.

She headed to the temple where she had first met Nera after arriving in Hezel.

After reaching the temple, Andra pushed open the massive doors at the end of the corridor and entered. Inside, just like the day she arrived, she saw the fountain in the center of the room. Clear water was still flowing from it, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance. Yet, the sight of the fountain suddenly filled her with fear. She remembered how she had fallen in and did not wake up for a fortnight.

‘I fell in here…’

The fountain, while seemingly shallow, had made her fell and lose consciousness. The rippling water stirred a strange fear within her. Unknowingly, Andra broke out in a cold sweat as she stared down into it.

She couldn’t be sure even now. Frankly, it was almost reckless to just come here. But in the current situation, this fountain seemed the only link. But what if it wasn’t? What if she fell in again and never woke up? At that moment, a faint earthquake began. Thump, thump! Soon, the whole of Hezel was shaking.

Andra glanced outside to see it was darkened by the volcanic ash and swallowed dryly.

‘This is truly the final test.’

She remembered Nera’s words about it being the last test….

Andra clenched her eyes shut. With determination, she leaned towards the fountain.

Splash!

Like before, the fountain pulled her in deeply. Andra was submerged.

* * *The god of death watched Anat quietly. The face of her sister, shrouded in darkness, was hardly visible, so it was impossible to know what she was thinking. Therefore, it was uncertain whether she would grant Anat’s request. But Anat did not rush or show anxiety. She merely waited for her sister’s decision.

“Foolish Anat. My sister.”

Finally, the god of death spoke.

“I will grant your request.”

“Thank you.”

“But know that our mother will hear of this too.”

“I understand.”

As Anat nodded, the god of death did not add more. Instead, she tore open the void, pulling deep darkness from it. Thick, clinging darkness surged toward Anat’s feet.

“This will only last for a moment, remember that.”

The god of death gestured to the darkness to create a path. As it parted, a figure appeared at the end, a man submerged in darkness, unconscious—Dean.

Drawn as if enchanted, Anat walked into the darkness, knelt down, and hugged him.

“My beloved Dean.”

I am here.