Suddenly, a powerful force lifted the wood off Erin. She opened her eyes in surprise and saw Diego Montoro, his entire body engulfed in flames, alongside Raphael, who had lost an eye and had Mark's scrotum stuffed into his eye socket. The burlap sack on Raphael's head was completely charred, revealing his true face: a scarred man with half a lip missing. Flames raged around them, yet they continued to struggle to lift the wood pinning Erin down.
Diego Montoro's eyes sparkled with madness and determination; the burning flames made him look like a demon from hell. Each of his movements was filled with power and pain, as if he were trying to push all this disaster back into the darkness. Raphael appeared even weaker, his face etched with agony and exhaustion, his body trembling from intense pain.
"Quick... Erin, get up..." Diego Montoro's voice was hoarse and urgent, filled with desperation and resolve. His arms were charred from the flames, but he did not stop moving, striving to clear away more wood.
Erin felt a wave of astonishment and fear; she could not comprehend why these two madmen were trying to save her. Her body was incredibly weak from prolonged pressure and heat, yet she fought to stay awake, attempting to cooperate with their efforts.
Raphael's gaze was filled with helplessness and sorrow as he knelt beside her, looking at Erin with a sense of futility. The sight of Mark's scrotum stuffed into his eye socket made Erin feel nauseous. Flames burned around them, smoke and heat closing in on her, making her feel suffocated.
"Why... why are you..." Erin's voice trembled with pain and fear; she could not understand what was happening.
"It’s not... over yet..." Raphael whispered, his voice heavy with pain and despair. His eyes were fixed on Erin as if conveying some unspeakable truth. "You... must... go..."
Diego Montoro pulled Erin up; flames had severely burned his face, making him look particularly filthy and terrifying. His charred skin and twisted features made him resemble a demon from hell. He clutched Erin desperately, his voice hoarse and filled with despair from the pain.
"Hurry! The King... is waiting for you!" Diego Montoro shouted frantically, his eyes gleaming with madness as if he were no longer a mere mortal but a messenger of some mysterious ritual. He pointed ahead, urging Erin to look.
In front of them lay Carmen, trapped beneath the wood, her entire body consumed by flames except for one hand raised high holding the Stillborn, as if performing some sacred offering. The wooden Crown atop the Stillborn glowed brightly in the fire, emanating an eerie yet divine light. Carmen wore a sickly smile on her face, as if welcoming some supreme arrival.
Erin followed Diego Montoro's gesture with her gaze, filled with endless fear and despair. She could not comprehend the madness and absurdity of it all; the scene before her felt like an endless nightmare that plunged her into profound hopelessness and confusion.
Standing nearby was Isabella; her poetry class had been killed by flames or falling debris, leaving her alone to sing fervently. Her voice was filled with devotion and fervor as if welcoming some divine ritual. Flames danced around her while madness sparkled in her eyes, seemingly oblivious to the death and destruction surrounding her.
"This... this is all madness..." Erin whispered, her voice filled with fear and helplessness. Her hands trembled, her mind overwhelmed with countless questions and dread. She didn't know if she could escape this nightmare, feeling her limbs gradually growing numb, her consciousness beginning to blur.
"Go! Hurry!" Diego Montoro shouted again, gripping Erin tightly as if using the last of his strength. His eyes were filled with pain and madness, but also an undeniable despair. "You must see the King..."
For reasons unknown to her, it felt as though she was compelled by some mysterious force, and she found herself moving toward the crumbling path ahead. With each step, Erin was engulfed in intense pain; the physical injuries and inner despair intertwined, nearly overwhelming her. Yet she knew she had to push forward, no matter how difficult or painful it was.
As she drew closer, the sound of Cicada Song echoed more frantically in her ears, causing her head to throb painfully. Her heart was filled with fear and confusion, but a powerful force urged her onward.
Erin realized her handgun was missing; it must have been lost when she fell from the second floor moments ago. Anxiety and helplessness flooded her mind, but regardless, she knew that the Stillborn had to die completely; otherwise, none of this would end. Her gaze fixed on the flames and smoke ahead, a flicker of determination ignited within her.
"I must ensure He dies completely..." Erin told herself internally, her voice laced with resolve and despair. Her steps grew heavier; each one felt like stepping into an endless abyss, yet she understood that stopping was not an option—no matter how difficult or painful it became, she had to keep moving.
The path continued to crumble around her as the buildings emitted violent cracking sounds under the onslaught of flames. Erin felt her body weakening from the heat and smoke, but that mysterious force still propelled her forward. Her breathing quickened, heart racing faster, yet her gaze remained steadfast, locked onto the increasingly blurred road ahead.
As she approached closer, the sound of Cicada Song grew louder, almost threatening to shatter her will. The noise echoed relentlessly in her mind as if mocking her powerlessness and despair.
Erin struggled to reach the Stillborn, feeling her limbs gradually losing strength, but a fire of determination still burned within her. The sight before her filled her with intense revulsion and fear. Carmen's body lay buried beneath wood and flames, only a hand holding the Stillborn protruding from the wreckage; flames flickered ominously on the wooden Crown above it.
At that moment, Isabella suddenly knelt on the ground, a look of fervent devotion and fanaticism on her face as she whispered, "The prophecy... has been fully realized... our mission... is complete. Do you see it?"
Erin stared at Isabella in bewilderment, filled with countless questions and anger. She could not comprehend these people's madness and blind faith, but she knew this all had to end. Her gaze shifted to the Stillborn in Carmen's hand—the baby adorned with a wooden Crown—looking so strange and evil.
She reached out and grasped the Stillborn tightly, squeezing down hard. Her fingers sank deep into its skin, feeling a chilling coldness radiate from it. The wooden Crown wobbled and fell to the ground with a sharp clatter. Erin's heart surged with determination and fury; she knew this moment would decide everything.
"This all... must come to an end..." Erin whispered, her voice filled with pain and resolve. Her fingers tightened around the Stillborn, as if she intended to crush it completely. Determination and courage flickered in her eyes; no matter what happened, she could not allow this evil existence to continue.
Isabella remained kneeling on the ground, softly murmuring those mad words, her eyes filled with fervor and devotion. But Erin no longer paid her any mind; all her focus was on the Stillborn. She felt a powerful force surging within her, granting her the strength to see this through.
"No... this cannot go on any longer..." Erin told herself, the power in her hands growing stronger. Her heart was overwhelmed with countless emotions—anger, sorrow, despair intertwined, making it almost hard to breathe. Yet she knew that this moment would determine everything; she had to ensure that this evil presence was eradicated once and for all.
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