Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 278 Funeral
Xius sat on the ground, breathing heavily. He looked at Monica, whose breathing was steady, then looked at the starry sky above his head, and couldn't help but reveal a tired smile.

The banshees surrounded Monica and hurriedly carried her aside to take care of her.

The furnace was in a state just now that was like a powder keg about to explode. If Hughes didn't light it, it would do it on its own.

Just a little bit.

If the will of the machine soul really penetrates reality, then it is hard to say what will happen to Zeus. Perhaps it will be cognitive interference and pollution will come again, or perhaps the machine soul will fully awaken and become the next out-of-control god.

Fortunately, I caught up.

The Crusaders were recalled from their respective residences and gathered together to maintain order. It was night time and most of the workers had just finished work. They had been told that the lighting ceremony would be held tomorrow, but were surprised to find that it was held today.

After learning that Castel had returned to reality, most people looked incredulous. They stood there in a daze for a long time before realizing what had happened.

The banshees surrounded Monica in three layers. With Caster's return, their memories were no longer blank and they remembered everything.

Monica, the tiny enchantress, everyone's favorite little girl, had endured so much alone.

It had always been the banshees who protected her, but now she could save everyone.

Looking at Monica covered in blood, the banshees remembered their previous doubts and precautions, and now they were left with only heartache.

They rarely spoke, but just stood quietly beside Monica, silent and determined.

People came out of the cathedral and various fortifications. They put their guns aside, went outside to breathe the sea breeze and look up at the starry sky.

The tide rolled in slowly, and the waves broke on the rocks. Just like thousands of years before, they finally returned to reality.

Many people cried with joy, and that night many people sat outside the house and quietly looked at the starry sky all night.

Xius also put aside his busy work for the time being. After settling Monica, he left some sentries at key posts and dismissed the rest.

This is what they fought for with their lives.

After calling Alexi and instructing him on the key matters, Hughes stood alone on the top of the church, feeling the tranquility of the night and taking a deep breath of the warm sea breeze.

Although we experienced various twists and turns and encountered unimaginable troubles, we finally managed to survive.

Neither Poseidon nor the Pirate Court could destroy Caster.

At the most desperate moment, Zeus even thought about letting this body sink with the island. The irresistible enemy, the continuous failure of the operation, and the hope that was lost bit by bit...
To be honest, the people were more united than Castelbicius had imagined. Despite facing many difficulties, they never gave up hope and believed in him almost blindly.

From the very beginning, Zeus has been constantly accumulating credibility. Castel is a very small territory with a small number of subjects. He originally had more choices, but Zeus still insisted on fulfilling his promise even in the most difficult times.

It is precisely for this reason that no matter what the situation is, the people have never abandoned him.

Every time Castel called for conscription, he received the greatest cooperation. In the end, he had almost stuffed most of the labor force into the Crusaders, and people still carried out his orders.

Zeus himself didn't notice that his mentality had quietly changed. Lord Zeus was once just a body. It had a higher status and greater value, but Zeus gave up this body only out of heartache.

Today, the word Castel has a different meaning in his mind.

This was the territory he had single-handedly planned, and the home the people of Castel had built together. When Hughes first traveled through this world, he simply wanted to spread the glory of industry. Now, he seemed to have a sense of belonging. Below, tiny flames lit up. Those were the fire-chasing moths. Dressed in red robes, they emerged from the church, lit piles of bonfires, and gathered around them to commemorate their fallen companions.

In this war with the deep sea, they lost many companions, and even the chief was sacrificed.

Many Fire Moths joined the Crusaders as political commissars. Amidst the waves of monster attacks, they served as the backbone, leading the Crusaders to hold the front lines.

Countless times the soldiers fell into despair, but these political commissars did not. Even in the most difficult times, they remained as steadfast as ever, comforting the soldiers who were in fear and despair.

They are brave, determined, strong, knowledgeable, and unwavering, but in this world they are cultists, and it is a luxury for them to live in peace.

If Zeus had not given them shelter, they would have died in the pursuit of the flames, like moths chasing fire.

Now, at least they can bury their companions.

Beside the bonfire, many people were digging in the ground with shovels by the light of the fire. This was the last step of the ceremony of bidding farewell to the dead, burial.

Gaia placed the shovel on the ground and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

She was digging a grave for her best friend.

Unlike other graves, there is no body in this grave. Chloe died in the explosion and her body has long been gone.

Gaia simply placed a bouquet of flowers in the grave.

She had just picked it. Castel had already turned into a battlefield, with bullets and monsters plowing the land over and over again. Gaia had been searching for a long time before she found this.

The flowers were stained with dirt and blood, and now they will sleep in the grave with her thoughts.

The girl carefully placed the bouquet of flowers on the grave, hesitated for a moment, took out a letter from her pocket and put it in the grave.

She closed her eyes and stood in front of the grave for a while before filling the soil back in. Looking at the newly leveled ground, she bit her lip and turned away.

The fire moths do not erect tombstones. They are always hunted by the candlelight. Even if their graves are discovered, their bodies will be dug out. Therefore, their resting places are often inconspicuous, and no one knows what kind of souls are buried underneath.

Not only the fire moths, but the people on the island are saying goodbye to their departing companions in various ways.

The night was exceptionally quiet, and the silent Castel seemed to have gained more power.

If only Nora were here, she was a burialist and might know better how to bid farewell to the dead, Hughes thought suddenly.

She will come back, and as for Count Basil who detained her and the refugees, Hughes will personally settle the score with him.

The airship in the sky was like a blue whale roaming in the air. Its huge body blocked the moonlight and cast a shadow on the ground. It blew the whistle, which was a horn to mourn the dead and also a long cry to awaken the steel giant Castel.

Everyone raised their heads and looked at the giant beast in the night sky.

Hughes' hands clenched the rooftop railing.

Blood Harbor, Tis, the North, the Empire, the Church, prepare to face the most powerful Caster.

(End of this chapter)