Edwin Lunar Chapter 23: Awakening of Orion

Read chapter 23 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

Silver light covered the skies of Noroel. The battlefield froze. Burning debris drifted silently through the clouds while thousands of students stared upward in complete disbelief. Even the gigantic war construct paused midattack, its glowing red eyes locked onto Edwin. The ring on his hand no longer looked ordinary. Ancient silver markings spread across its surface like living fire while streams of energy moved around Edwin's body. Carl floated nearby on his damaged Skyblade, completely speechless. "…Okay." Pause. "…That is definitely not normal." Iris stared at the glowing symbols around Edwin carefully. Her voice lowered slightly. "The Eternal Flame is reacting to him." Lucien's expression remained serious, but even he looked shaken now. Below them, the academy towers glowed brighter as if the energy beneath Noroel itself had awakened. Then the construct spoke again. "…Flame Heir confirmed…" The mechanical voice echoed across the skies. Headmaster Humming stood silently above the battlefield, silver energy surrounding him like a storm. For a moment— His eyes met Edwin's. And Edwin suddenly understood something terrifying. The Headmaster already knew. The construct attacked again. Hundreds of hidden weapons activated across its giant body while red targeting lasers spread through the skies toward the academy center. Students screamed below. Professor Raith shouted immediately across the combat channels. "All defense units intercept!" Academy guards launched upward together while aerial cannons fired streams of blue Flame energy into the construct's armor. Explosions erupted across the battlefield. But the machine kept advancing. Carl looked toward Edwin desperately. "Please tell me glowing dramatically comes with a plan." Edwin stared at the burning ring. "I… don't know what this is." The whispers inside his mind had changed now. Not whispers anymore. Memories. Voices. Wingard Lunar's voice echoed faintly within the silver light. "The Flame does not obey strength alone." Edwin froze. "…Dad?" For one brief second— He saw him. A memory standing within the light itself. Wingard Lunar wearing ancient silver combat armor, his blue eyes calm and steady. "Protect them," the memory said quietly. Then the vision vanished. The construct charged its core weapon directly toward the academy tower. Lucien reacted instantly. "Edwin!" Something inside Edwin moved instinctively. The silver energy around him surged outward suddenly. A giant translucent barrier formed across the skies above the academy. The construct fired. A massive red beam slammed directly into the barrier— And stopped. Shockwaves exploded across the clouds. Students below stared upward in complete silence. Carl's jaw dropped. "…HE CAN DO THAT NOW?!" Edwin himself looked shocked. The barrier trembled violently under the attack while pain shot through his arm. The ring glowed brighter. Too bright. Iris's expression changed immediately. "The energy output is unstable!" Cracks began forming across the silver barrier. The construct increased power. Red lightning spread through the skies while the academy beneath them shook violently. Headmaster Humming moved instantly. Silver Flame energy erupted around him as he launched directly toward the construct like a comet. The battle above Noroel exploded. Humming struck the machine with terrifying force, sending shockwaves through the clouds while academy defenses joined the attack from every direction. But the construct adapted rapidly. "…Marshal threat escalating…" Its giant mechanical wings unfolded completely. Then hidden reactors activated beneath its armor. Iris looked horrified. "That's impossible." "What now?!" Carl yelled. "That machine is connected to the Eternal Flame network." Silence hit Orion Team instantly. If the construct absorbed power directly from the Flame beneath Noroel— It could destroy the academy completely. Lucien tightened his grip on his weapon. "There has to be a core." "There is," Iris answered quickly. "