52. The Awakening of Kalima
The engine room resembled a spaceship’s engine room.
The central core was a massive rotating plasma reactor, with Altima particles rotating within a vertical ring structure to generate energy.
Its form was like an octuple helix coil combining DNA and galaxy.
Anti-gravity systems capable of levitating all of Malta were installed in volt-type propulsion tubes on the side walls, and three volt riders were docked on navigation module platforms.
“Bolt riders… they’re still alive…”
Suri was moved to tears with joy.
“Wh-wh-what is that?”
Maru stepped backward in fear.
Giant blood-red tentacles covered the entire engine room.
“It’s Kalima.”
Eridan looked with sharp eyes.
“Kalima seemed to follow the great wizard’s commands during the Great Battle of Marblem… now… has it evolved on its own?”
Marblem couldn’t tell right now.
“…Hey, Marblem… stop pretending to agonize. Are you kidding? We’re in a hurry, aren’t we? Malta is on the verge of destruction… save your agonizing for nighttime chicken with friends… ugh… what are you doing on the brink of destruction? But chicken… I’m going crazy wanting chicken. Don’t you guys smell chicken? Wow, my sanity is paralyzed…”
Maru grumbled.
Suddenly, the Hypogeum shook violently.
The engine room also trembled.
Soon blue flashes began erupting throughout the engine room.
Kalima’s tentacles were moving like bio-cables fused with Malta’s mechanical circuits, exploding.
“…Kalima’s tentacle-type nerve cells are connected to the engine room’s mechanical devices… Kalima’s consciousness core is invading the engine’s control interface… Kalima has completely taken over the Hypogeum.”
Eridan spoke heavily.
“…Guys, let’s not worry too much… we have Eridan, don’t we? Maru and I can be mailers who can send objects, memories, and images… but Kalima is beyond our abilities… But Eridan is different, he’s Kalima’s brother. They share an α(ω – ω₀)² frequency resonance only between them… that’s why possession magic is possible.”
Marblem made a bombshell statement.
“No way… a secret of birth…”
The three children looked shocked.
Then, ancient spells that the six tribal great wizards had begun chanting could be heard as small echoes.
Suri took off Tempes and held it in his hand, while Marblem placed his hand on his forehead.
“Maximize Ψ · δ. We’re about to become the transmission body itself.”
Marblem shouted like a battle cry.
Lightning exploded from both their foreheads.
B = ∫(Ψ * δ) dt + α(ω – ω₀)² + β|E|²
The possession magic formula floated in the air.
From the Hypogeum’s floor to ceiling, lightning that split the sky appeared as if it had teleported.
Suri and Marblem no longer existed separately.
They were one body, one memory, one lightning.
They were the mailer.
They burst into Emperor Nova’s Altima room.
The six tribal great wizards were chanting ancient spells.
Suri and Marblem began broadcasting the six magic tribes’ wizards’ magical ritual as video.
Then the sound and appearance of the great wizards’ ancient spells appeared in the Hypogeum engine room.
It was a hyperspace jump.
Instantly, Eridan threw his body toward the central core’s massive rotating plasma reactor.
He disappeared into the octuple helix coil that combined DNA and galaxy.
Then Kalima’s yellow eyes split open, revealing black pupils.
“My brother… it was the lightning shield that sealed you. Devour the lightning shield.”
Red, blue, and yellow lightning sparked from Eridan’s body as he emerged again.
His golden hair rose as if piercing the sky, and his dragon wings spread ruthlessly as if tearing space.
Baby lightning and Thunderbirds hidden in every corner of Eridan’s wings filled his back, shoulders, and wing tips, completely enveloping his body.
“Kalima. Seize your freedom.”
Eridan went straight deep into Kalima’s mind.
B = ∫(Ψ * δ) dt + α(ω – ω₀)² + β|E|²
“Naetun Kalima Belesat… Morusha Biretan…”
Kalima awakened and roared wildly.
The engine room’s high ceiling shattered to pieces from that cry.
Whipping its long tail wrapped with spark-shooting tentacles, it burst through the broken ceiling and soared into the sky.
All of Malta shook as if twisting.
The ground swelled up, then split open with a crack, gaping like a maw.
Stones and earth flew in all directions, and flames shot up through the cracks.
Kalima charged fiercely toward the lightning shield.
The flame-like scales on its back burst powerfully, scattering into the air.
The higher it flew, the more gigantic its body became.
The tentacles connected to the engine room were severed all at once.
Megalithic temples throughout Malta also crumbled like shedding shells.
Their true form was revealed.
Glowing transmission devices, dimensional communication antennas.
All the megalithic temples had finished aiming toward the sky.
They were preparing to synchronize with Sirius Malta.
The 72-year lightning that had been stationary in the high sky beyond the lightning shield also began to stir.
The lightning shield also trembled, sensing the threat.
Kalima, wrapped in rage like armor, rammed the lightning shield as if punishing it.
Cracks appeared in the lightning shield.
Kalima burst through those cracks and soared upward unobstructed.
Kalima rose higher than the lightning shield and looked down at its prey.
It opened its massive mouth.
With a single inhalation, it brutally devoured the lightning shield.
[To be continued…]
** Starting November 2023, The Korea Daily is excited to publish the fantasy novel series “Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years” on our website. This new captivating series follows a trio of young adventurers on their quest to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Inca. In an exciting development, Netflix is currently adapting the novel’s storyline into a film.
The ‘Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years’ is the latest novel authored by Jeeyoon Ha, who created the “Pangaea series.” Ha’s debut novel, “The Pangaea: Finding Xibalba,” was selected by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2022 as part of their initiative to support the global export of fantasy literature.
Readers can eagerly anticipate the online publication of two installments each month, with new chapters appearing bi-weekly, offering a regular escape into this magical realm. *Mark Oh translated the Korean novel into English.
