Journey to Become the Zenith

The Oath Beneath the Eternal Moon [Part 2]

”If I accept...”

”I shall acknowledge every one of those wishes.”

”And only then...”

”Our contract shall be formed.”

She looked directly into Eddy’s golden eyes.

”Do you understand?”

Eddy silently repeated her words inside his mind.

Speak... what I wish from her...

After a brief pause...

He nodded.

”I understand.”

Tsukiyomi studied him for another moment before giving a graceful nod of approval.

”Very well.”

”Make the contract, boy.”

Eddy immediately frowned.

”Fine.”

”I’ll make the contract.”

”But stop calling me ’boy.’”

”My name is Eddy...”

”Eddy Regius.”

Tsukiyomi’s smile deepened.

”Umu.”

”Very well then...”

”Eddy Regius.”

”You may begin.”

Watching her stand with perfect composure while speaking in such a commanding tone...

Eddy couldn’t help thinking—

She really sounds like a queen ordering me around...

He almost smiled.

Almost.

But the trembling firewall reminded him there was no time for unnecessary thoughts.

He slowly inhaled.

Then exhaled.

Calming both his racing heart and exhausted body.

At last...

He spoke.

”Tsukiyomi...”

”I, Eddy Regius...”

”...wish to form a contract with you.”

His voice echoed throughout the silent ruins.

”Become my sword...”

”My shield...”

”My partner...”

”And my friend.”

He met her crimson gaze without hesitation.

”In return...”

”I shall give you my mana...”

”My sword...”

”And my trust.”

”These are the terms of our contract.”

”Will you accept?”

For the first time since appearing...

Tsukiyomi’s playful smile softened into something warm.

She gracefully bowed her head.

”Eddy Regius...”

”I...”

”...the Eternal Moon...”

”...accept the terms of your contract.”

”I shall stand beside thee...”

”As thy sword...”

”Thy shield...”

”Thy partner...”

”And thy friend.”

”In return...”

”Thou shalt grant me thy mana...”

”Thy sword...”

”And thy never-ending trust.”

She slowly raised her head.

”As long as you never betray me...”

”I, in return...”

”...shall never betray you.”

”Thus...”

”Our contract shall be forged.”

Her ruby eyes sparkled gently.

”Now...”

”Let us seal the contract.”

She stepped closer.

Closer still.

Tsukiyomi took a slow step forward until there was no distance left between us. Her warm breath brushed against my face as her crimson eyes locked onto mine, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.

Before I could speak, she gently cupped my cheek.

Then she kissed me.

Her lips were impossibly soft, lingering just long enough to steal every coherent thought from my mind. The kiss was slow, tender, yet carried a quiet hunger that made my heart pound against my chest.

She was kissing him, not only that she even inserted her tongue. Flipping her tongue, licking her teeth, pressing her lips down upon mine

She drew me into the moment with effortless confidence, as if nothing else in the world existed but the two of us.

Time blurred.

Only after what felt like an eternity did she finally pull away, our faces remained only inches apart.

A thin breath escaped her lips as she looked into my eyes.

Her eyes searched mine, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

I could only stare at her, completely speechless, my mind still struggling to believe what had just happened.

The moment the kiss ended...

The contract was complete.

Tsukiyomi looked up at him with a mischievous smile.

”Ara~ Ara~”

”Kukuku...”

”Was that your first time?”

A faint blush appeared across her otherwise composed face.

”Do not worry...”

”It was mine as well.”

For an instant...

Even Victor watching the memory could sense Eddy’s complete bewilderment.

Eddy immediately took a hurried step backward.

”W-Why did you do that?!”

He almost shouted the question.

Tsukiyomi merely shrugged her shoulders as though nothing unusual had happened.

”It was necessary to seal the contract.”

She tilted her head slightly.

”Wait for a moment.”

”You’ll feel it...”

”...right about now.”

As soon as she finished speaking...

A burning sensation suddenly spread across Eddy’s chest.

”Hngh...”

The pain lasted only an instant.

Reflexively, he looked down.

There...

Upon his chest...

A radiant silver full moon had appeared.

Its gentle glow pulsed once before fading into his skin.

Tsukiyomi smiled with quiet satisfaction.

”That...”

”...is the seal of our contract.”

”It is proof...”

”That you are contracted to an Ethereal.”

”...Contracted to me.”

She slowly turned toward the crumbling barrier.

”Now then...”

”With that settled...”

”I’ll borrow a little of your mana...”

”...to finish off these small fries.”

The instant she said those words...

Eddy felt something gently flow out of his body.

It wasn’t painful.

Instead...

It felt remarkably similar to casting a spell.

Tsukiyomi closed her eyes for a brief moment.

A delighted smile blossomed across her face.

”Ara~ Ara~”

”Kukuku...”

”How wonderful this mana is.”

”I haven’t experienced anyone else’s...”

”But I’m quite certain...”

”This must be high-quality mana.”

She slowly opened her crimson eyes.

Their playful warmth vanished.

In its place remained only serene confidence.

”Now then...”

”How about I put you little kiddies out of your misery.”

At that exact moment...

The firewall shattered.

With deafening roars, the horde of monsters surged toward them from every direction.

Their numbers seemed to have doubled since before.

The earth trembled beneath countless charging footsteps.

Yet Tsukiyomi never moved from where she stood.

She calmly faced the approaching tide.

Then...

She simply raised her right hand.

With effortless elegance...

She swept it horizontally through the air.

As though her hand itself were a sword.

The next instant...

Every monster charging toward them was cleanly sliced in half.

Silence followed.

Then...

Something began falling from the darkening sky.

It wasn’t rain.

It was blood.

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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