166: ally

Chapter 164 Ally

The contents of the letter left Arthur unsettled for a long time.

If this family truly had a connection with that otherworldly being...

Then the power of the Evil God had probably already corrupted this house.

He took a deep breath, calmed his chaotic emotions, and left everything he was carrying outside.

Then, he turned to the Pixie and asked, “Can you dance?”

His abrupt question left the Pixie a bit confused.

“What? I… I can dance, but it’s not the kind of dance you humans do.”

“Then hide in my clothes and don’t come out casually, understood?”

The Pixie immediately burrowed into Arthur’s collar.

After everything was arranged, Arthur pushed open the door and entered the room on the left.

This was a music and dance room, with light, thin curtains hanging over the windows.

The moonlight from outside penetrated the curtains and spilled into the room.

On the stained-glass ceiling, handsome men, women, and children were depicted, singing loudly and playing musical instruments.

Silver moonlight poured onto the dance floor in the center.

Many people stood there, clad in yellow robes and wearing pale masks.

Each person held a different dance pose.

The moonlight cast a hazy glow around them, creating a strangely sacred feeling.

As Arthur entered the room, the door automatically closed.

He walked to the other end of the room, where a lavishly dressed figure sat on a luxurious chair.

Unlike the others, her yellow robe was inlaid with jewels and gold, and her pale mask was adorned with constellation-like diamonds.

Arthur knelt on one knee before this person, extended his hand, and invited her to dance.

The person placed the ruby scepter she held in her arms aside and gently placed her hand in Arthur’s palm.

It was a skeletal hand, with remnants of tendons and dried flesh.

Each knuckle was adorned with gold and jewel rings.

Just as she and Arthur rose.

The harpsichord in the northwest corner suddenly began to play on its own, and the floor-standing harp near the fireplace resonated in response.

As the dance music began, the people on the dance floor started to sway.

Although Arthur’s swordsmanship was terrible, his dancing skills were absolutely master-level.

But the music of this dance was quite strange, as if it didn't belong to this world at all.

It was both jarring and unpleasant, and completely lacked any discernible rhythm.

Arthur could only barely keep up with his dance partner’s steps.

He was certain this was the most bizarre dance he had ever performed.

The people on the dance floor twisted in strange postures.

From their hands, it could be determined that these people were also skeletons.

But this did not affect their dance at all.

On the contrary, their movements were fluid and natural, their postures agile and nimble, comparable to professional dancers.

As the dance music grew sharper, the ceiling disappeared.

A brilliant starry sky slowly began to appear.

The stars were so dazzling.

Starlight, moonlight, and the swirling yellow robes intertwined.

The dance music grew sharper, and the dancers’ twisting bodies became more frantic.

In the starry sky, a twisted, swirling nebula gradually appeared, engulfing all the stars, devouring all the light.

Strange is the night where black stars rise;

And strange moons circle through the skies;

But stranger still is

Lost Carcosa.

The song of the Hyades is unheard;

The King's tattered robes flutter in the wind;

The song silently fades in

Dim Carcosa.

The jarring dance music suddenly became clear and understandable.

Arthur’s steps halted, and he looked up at the black hole-like nebula.

In the middle of that nebula was a bright light, illuminating his entire body.

My soul can no longer sing;

My song no longer flows like tears;

Only dryness and silence remain in

Lost Carcosa.

Everything paused: time, space, and all else.

The next second, Arthur snapped out of his trance.

The dance music had ended, and all the dancers had returned to their original positions. Everything that had just happened was like a fleeting dream.

However, his dance partner, kneeling on one knee before him, proved that the bizarre experience had truly occurred.

She knelt on the ground, presenting a pale mask adorned with golden patterns in her hands.

Arthur reached out and took the mask, saying, “I don’t need this. I only need the scepter.”

With that, he threw the mask on the ground and stomped on it, shattering it.

A grating crunch immediately sounded, and all the dancers simultaneously looked at him.

Arthur ignored them and strode towards the location of the scepter.

The moment he picked up the scepter, screams erupted one after another.

Wisps of black smoke rushed to the dome, then vanished without a trace.

“Three left,” Arthur thought to himself. “Deal with three more skulls, and the basement can be opened.”

As he exited the room, Xiao Lingdang flew out from his embrace.

Her face was pale, as if she had just experienced a terrible nightmare.

“Queen above, that music made me want to throw up! How did you… how did you endure it?”

“I don’t know.” Arthur shook his head. “Perhaps by dancing, one can understand that music.”

“I need…”

Before the Pixie could finish speaking, she fell from mid-air.

Fortunately, Arthur was quick and caught her in time.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Xiao Lingdang shook her head. “I just need to rest a bit.”

“I had no choice. If I hadn't brought you in, those armors would have attacked you.

“Moreover, everyone must participate in this ball.”

“Don’t worry,” Xiao Lingdang said. “As long as we find the princess, anything is fine.”

Arthur nodded, placed the Pixie in his pocket, and headed downstairs to the first floor.

He exchanged the scepter he had obtained for the sword above the fireplace.

This way, he would not suffer a curse.

Next, he went up to the second floor, gathered all his belongings, including the exchanged knight's longsword, and proceeded to the third floor.

The center of the third floor was a balcony, with a set of pitch-black armor standing by the wall.

This armor was covered in cobwebs and dust, but Arthur knew that as soon as he approached it, it would come to life, just like the armors on the second floor.

“Great Knight,” Arthur held the sword before him. “I have retrieved your sword. As per our agreement, you must protect me.”

The black armor moved, clanking as it walked towards Arthur.

Its steps gradually quickened, eventually turning into a sprint.

It snatched the knight's sword and swung it out!

A shriek rang out, and Arthur turned to look behind him.

He saw a large spider, split in half, twitching on the ground.

On the rooftop's ornamental tree, many bodies were trapped in cobwebs, and several giant spiders were crawling out from behind them.

The black armor charged forward, and with little effort, it cut down all the giant spiders.

Then, it walked up to Arthur, knelt on one knee, pledging its loyalty.

Thus, Arthur found his first ally in the haunted house.

He raised his hand, signaling the armored knight to rise, and commanded, “Go push down that tree.”

The knight complied.

After the tree was pushed down, Arthur easily found the hidden door.

He pushed open the door, revealing a staircase covered in cobwebs.

“It’s time to end all of this,” Arthur said.