Falling into the Abyss

Chapter 67: Atonement: Pales (XVI)

Right after Ethan and the priest jumped out from the rooms window, the doors of many rooms suddenly burst open. Before a human figure could be seen, dense laser beams were shot from each room at the Earth Unions army downstairs. However, the Earth Unions army also seemed to have come prepared. They immediately found cover and began to fight back. Tanisiel escorted Ethan through the barrage of gunfire, bending down and rushing towards the edge of the stairs. Ethan saw that the patch of blood on Tanisiels shoulder was getting redder. His whole heart felt like it was being fried on a stove, but the priest didnt seem to feel any pain.

Why did the Earth Unions army come? Are they here to catch the people from the Ophiuchus Alliance or us? Ethan whispered uneasily.

I had a local horned person go report that the Ophiuchus Alliance might be scheming on this planet. I had deduced that they wouldnt let us leave easily, so I left some room to maneuver, Tanisiel said in a slightly hasty tone, The front door has been blocked by the Earth Unions army, so lets find a way out from the back.

Ethan nodded and ran down the stairs behind the priest who was charging ahead. All around them, chaos filled their ears. There were grunts for which it was undecipherable whether they were out of anger and pain, accompanied by the hiss of lasers burning through brick, stones, soil, and even human bodies. At the end of the steps, a corridor ran through the building, which looked like an exit. However, as soon as they arrived downstairs, the door at the end of the corridor was kicked open, and many soldiers from the Earth Unions army poured in. They were all surprised to see Tanisiel, the Eve.

Tanisiel suddenly opened the eye on his forehead and said in a calm voice, The Ophiuchus spy youre looking for is in there.

The soldiers looked at them strangely before running past them and rushing to the hotel.

Ethan never knew that Tanisiels mental strength could affect more than a dozen people at the same time. However, when he looked carefully, he found that Tanisiel, who was still walking fast, now appeared a little blue. His lips were tightly pursed, and his hand was pressing hard on his injured shoulder as if he was trying to endure the pain. Ethan panicked and said, We have to go to the hospital! You need to stop the bleeding!

Its out of the way, Tanisiel asserted simply, Its not safe here. Lets get out of here before we talk about that.

They soon merged into the crowds from the bustling market. The stalls were crowded together in a disorderly way. In the narrow aisles, many people were buying vegetables, going shopping, and transporting goods. In the middle of the market, there were a bunch of laughing young horned people who were drilling through peoples overlapping legs. Tanisiel and Ethan mingled among them, moving slowly along with the crowd. Tanisiels injury occasionally attracted a few strange or alert lines of sight, but fortunately, it didnt cause any disturbances. Most people merely minded their own business and wouldnt notice whether people or pigs were passing by.

They ducked into a narrow alley that only allowed two people to walk side by side. Tanisiel leaned against the wall, and his beautiful features finally twisted into a pained expression. Ethan was at a loss. He wanted to see his injured shoulder, but he shrunk back when he touched the priest. Ethans heart ached so much. He clasped onto Tanisiels hand and asked gently, How far is it?

If you go through this alley, you will see a stone bridge. I hid my aircraft under the bridge. Tanisiel took a deep breath and stood up straight again. Lets go.

Ethan nodded and helped Tanisiel stagger through the dark alley. However, when they reached the center of the tunnel, Tanisiels ten thousand function sphere suddenly began to flash a lavender light. It was suspended in front of him with a sense of urgency as if urging him to stop. In the beginning, the priest waved his hand impatiently as though trying to ignore the urgent call. However, the ten thousand function sphere seemed to rebel suddenly, blocking him again and again.

Tanisiel was at wits end, so he could only order, Accept the call.

The ten thousand function sphere let out a stream of light, forming the image of someone in mid-air. He was also an Eve. He appeared a little taller than Tanisiel and seemed to be a little older. He had a handsome face, long dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, pointed ears, and a third eye similar to Tanisiel. He was also dressed in snow-white priest robes but with purple ribbons at the neckline and cuffs, which Tanisiel did not have.

The so-called Head Priest Eve looked at him with an almost severe gaze, before his eyes moved to Ethan. Ethan felt creeped out, as though even his soul was seen through.

Tanisiel, where the hell are you now? The Head Priest asked.

Tanisiel lowered his eyelids, pausing before he replied, Pales.

I couldnt believe the information I just got from the Earth Union. You are too brave!

The heavy censure reminded Ethan of his father But it was clear that this man cared more about Tanisiel than his father cared about him.

At last, Tanisiel looked up, a respectful but firm look in his eyes. I have something I need to do.

Whatever you have to do, stop now! The Head Priest looked at Ethan with cold eyes lacking in emotion, but he still said to Tanisiel, Youve trespassed too much this time. If you lose another God of Orders egg, our entire temple wouldnt be able to atone for it. Give this man to the Earth Union and come back at once!

Tanisiel said, Im going to take him back to Eve.

The Head Priests expression suddenly changed. Before, one would describe it as icy cold anger, but now, it was mixed with astonishment. What did you say?! Are you crazy? Hes a nonhuman. Are you bringing him to Eve to destroy our relationship with the Earth Union?

He is no longer a nonhuman. They think he is dead.

They may have thought so before, but after whatever you two just did, its obvious that you exposed him. The Earth Union asked us about your whereabouts not long ago!

Then tell them Im dead!

You! The Head Priest suddenly closed his eyes, as if to stabilize his mood. After a while, he opened his eyes again and had regained his original calmness or coldness. Tanisiel, are you trying to force me to expel you?

Tanisiels eyes widened slightly. He probably did not expect that the other party would threaten him with expulsion.

Ethan then took a step forward and added cautiously, Tanisiel Or, you can go by yourself.

Tanisiel pushed him away without looking back. Dont make trouble. He continued to talk to the head priest with purple ribbons, You should know why I insist on this! You agreed!

Yes, but I didnt expect you to be so paranoid and crazy! Even the royal family cant ignore your nonsense anymore. How can I protect you? The Head Priest rubbed his temples with his hand in an almost disappointed manner. Youll hand Ethan Eldridge over right now, or you wont have to come back. He paused, then added, This is an order from the temple. You better consider it properly.

With that, the communication was cut off.

Tanisiel looked at the dark void in front of him and did not speak for a long time.

Ethan looked at him anxiously, not knowing what to say. However, the priest quickly looked back at him and said, Lets go.

They continued forward and finally left the long tunnel. There was a narrow embankment outside the tunnel, a dry shallow river, and a stone bridge that hadnt been repaired for many years. There was really an aircraft in stealth mode under it. It looked like it was probably one of the Ophiuchus Alliances vehicles that he had borrowed from the horned peoples tribe.

Although Tanisiels face was pale because of excessive blood loss and his footsteps were weak, there was a firmness in every step he took. Ethan looked at his back, and a bout of sourness instantly grew in his throat.

For a monster like him, that had nowhere he belonged, was this proud and beautiful priest willing to be banished?

Sure enough, no one in the world treated him as well as Tanisiel. What merits did Ethan actually have to deserve such affection being bestowed upon him?

Tanisiel opened the cockpit of the aircraft and sat in it with great effort. When he looked back, he found Ethan standing a few steps away from him, looking at him in a daze.

Whats the matter with you? Come on in! Tanisiels reproachful voice faltered due to a lack of strength.

Ethan suddenly smiled at him, eyes slightly curved. He was obviously tired, but his eyes carried some hints of childishness. He took a step back, then suddenly turned around and ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could.

Ethan!!! You come back to me! Tanisiels angry voice came from behind him, but Ethan knew that the priest was exhausted. He had lost a lot of blood and wasted a lot of mental strength, so he couldnt catch up with him now.

As long as he ran away, the priest could safely return to Eve.

It did not matter whether he was cowardly or selfish. He could not be the reason for Tanisiels exile. He could tell that there was a massive void in the priests heart, full of dark chaos that he could neither touch nor see. Without the shackles of the temple, the priest would be lost entirely to the endless darkness.

He was just like himself. If not for the priest being his ray of light in the dark, Ethan didnt know whether he would have become a murderous monster, engulfed by the darkness surging in his heart.

He really wanted to escape from this nightmare and leave with the priest. He wanted to bathe in the beautiful violet light of Eve, to travel across the Milky Way galaxy to the Cantilever Galaxy, and to see the enormous black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

However, he didnt want Tanisiel to become lost like he was.

And for this reason, he raised his hands and rushed towards the Earth Unions army.

Im Ethan Eldridge, a nonhuman from the Earth Unions Forbidden City.

The author has something to say:

Comrades, Ethans last name hasnt been changed. Its all because Im even more literate in the middle of the night. My brain is not clear, and my hands are shaking_(:)_

T/N: Thank you Ko-fi supporter for your kofi! An extra chapter will be published soon.