Chapter 39: The scenery outside is so interesting

The Bone Palace had been within the Western Shattered Front for three days.

Sylvia curled up in the soft bedcovers.

A half-empty Cake Box sat beside her.

Outside, the sky was an eerie dark red.

Through the Crystal Window, the massive scars on the earth were visible.

Those were the marks left behind from the last Human-Demon War.

Each crack silently told the story of the brutal battles from those days.

“Your Highness, you haven’t left your room in three days.”

The head maid spoke cautiously from outside the door.

Her voice carried concern.

“Hm.” Sylvia mumbled in response, continuing to nibble on the honey biscuits in her hand.

Her strategy was simple: eat well, sleep, then eat again after waking.

As long as she stayed in her room, no one would stare.

This perfect plan lasted exactly ten minutes.

The door was kicked open. “Sis! Why are you still sleeping?” Avira rushed in. Her blood-red eyes blazed with excitement.

“The view outside is so interesting!”

Sylvia pulled the covers over her head. “I don’t want to see the view.”

“The twisted spatial rifts are glowing!” Avira sat on the bed’s edge, her voice growing more excited.

“And there are Wraiths floating everywhere—it’s really fascinating!”

Sylvia’s voice weakened further:

“That sounds terrifying.”

She cursed inwardly: Sister, do you have some strange definition of ‘interesting’?

“Terrifying? Those little things scatter as soon as you touch them.”

Avira patted the covers.

“Come on, let’s go have some fun.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m afraid of heights.” Sylvia made up an excuse on the spot.

Avira paused, then her eyes lit up even brighter:

“Then we’ll land!”

Sylvia suddenly threw off the covers and sat up.

Her silver-white hair was disheveled.

Her blood-red eyes filled with terror.

“We’ll land and have a picnic!”

Avira clapped her hands excitedly.

“Picnic on the ground, so you won’t be afraid of heights!”

Sylvia opened her mouth to stop her:

“Sis, listen to me…”

But Avira had already dashed out of the room, shouting down the corridor:

“Everyone, prepare to land! We’re having a picnic!”

Sylvia fell back into the covers in despair. This was bad—Avira’s idea of a picnic would never be normal.

With her kind of logic, she would definitely pick some terrifying place.

Sure enough, half an hour later, the Bone Palace began to slowly descend.

Sylvia looked down through the window. She nearly fainted from fright.

Below was a wasteland. Broken stone pillars and shattered walls lay everywhere.

An eerie purple mist hung in the air. Glowing cracks scarred the ground.

The most terrifying thing was—Translucent Wraiths floated all around the ruins.

Some were missing arms, others legs, some had their heads tilted sideways.

All emitted low, mournful howls that sent chills down one’s spine.

“Where is this?”

Sylvia trembled as she asked the head maid. “Your Highness, this is the Twisted Ruins.” The head maid was nervous too.

“The deadliest battleground from the last Human-Demon War.”

Sylvia wanted to cry. What was Avira’s standard for choosing a picnic spot? The scarier, the better?

The Bone Palace landed steadily on a relatively flat patch in the center of the ruins.

Its massive skeletal frame cast ominous shadows on the ground.

The attendants sprang into action. They unloaded all kinds of picnic supplies from the palace.

Luxurious Persian Carpets, exquisite tableware, steaming hot food.

In the midst of this grim and terrifying wasteland, these lavish items seemed especially out of place.

Like placing fresh flowers in a grave—it was hauntingly surreal.

“Sis, come look!”

Avira’s voice called from outside.

“The view is amazing!”

Sylvia dawdled as she stepped out of the room. A chill swept over her.

The Wraiths in the ruins had been disturbed by the arrival of the Bone Palace.

They were emerging from every corner.

Their piercing screams echoed as they flew chaotically through the air.

“So lively!” Avira excitedly pointed at the Wraiths.

“Way more interesting than those lifeless nobles in the palace!”

Sylvia looked at her sister, thinking her logic was truly unique.

Lively?

This was practically courting death!

“Come on, come on, let’s start the picnic!”

Avira dragged her toward the lavish carpet. It was covered with various dishes.

The Blood Broth still steamed. Roasted meats gave off an enticing aroma. Delicate pastries were arranged in beautiful shapes.

If one ignored the surroundings, this would truly be a perfect picnic. But the howling of the Wraiths was unbearably loud.

Sylvia sat down on a cushion. She lifted a bowl of Blood Broth.

Just as she took a sip, a Wraith floated past her. Its twisted face let out a piercing scream. She almost choked.

“Sis, can these Wraiths be quiet?” she whispered.

“Wraiths without screams wouldn’t be Wraiths.”

Avira munched on her roasted meat without a care.

“You’ll get used to it.”

Sylvia wanted to say she didn’t want to get used to it. But the words caught in her throat. There was no use arguing.

At that moment, a louder commotion came from afar.

The ground trembled slightly, and stones rolled down from the ruins. The scattered Wraiths suddenly gathered together.

They formed several massive Wraith Colossi. Each one as large as a house. Composed of hundreds of Wraiths.

Countless pained faces twisted and writhed within.

They let out deafening roars. Charging toward the picnic spot.

“Wow! The big ones are here!”

Avira jumped up excitedly. “Sis, look! Dessert after the meal!”

Sylvia watched the horrifying Wraith Colossi. The small cake in her hand dropped to the ground.

Dessert? This was deadly!

Avira’s hand already reached for the sword at her waist. Her eyes burned with a desire to fight.

“Let me clear out these pesky things!”

But before her hand could touch the hilt, Ophelia spoke.

“Sit down.” The queen’s voice was frighteningly calm.

Avira immediately sat back down obediently.

Ophelia set down her teacup.

She glanced coolly at the charging Wraith Colossi.

That single look—an invisible force radiated from her.

The pressure of the “Night’s Authority,” pure power of law.

The temperature in the air dropped sharply; even the light dimmed.

The Wraith Colossi at the front instantly halted.

Their huge bodies began to tremble violently.

They screamed in terror.

That sound was even more piercing than their previous howls.

Filled with despair.

Then, one by one, they began to disintegrate.

The Wraiths composing the Colossi were torn apart by the invisible force.

Turning into the purest Soul Fragments that drifted through the air.

The fragments flickered for a few seconds then vanished completely.

The entire process took less than ten seconds.

The once majestic Wraith Colossi had all disappeared.

The ruins fell silent once more.

Even the smaller Wraiths cowered, hiding away.

No longer daring to make a sound.

The entire wasteland was engulfed in deathly stillness.

Only the wind whispered among the broken pillars.

“The noisy ones have been cleared,” Ophelia said as she picked up her teacup again.

“Continue your meal, Sylvia.”

Sylvia stared blankly at her mother.

Those Wraith Colossi—any one of them could cause a disaster if released outside.

Yet her mother killed them with just a look.

Without even raising a hand.

Is this what False God Rank power looks like?

Terrifying.

“Sis, why aren’t you eating?”

Avira urged.

Sylvia silently picked up a small cake.

And stuffed it in her mouth.

Forget it. In this family, her only job was to eat well and sleep well.

The rest was handled by her mother and sister.

“The scenery here is indeed nice.”

Ophelia commented rarely.

“Though it is a bit noisy.”

Avira nodded vigorously:

“See? I told you this place is perfect for a picnic!”

Sylvia looked around at the ruins and the occasional drifting Wraiths.

She thought her mother and sister’s sense of aesthetics was truly something else.