Eternal Night

In the afternoon sun of Heian-kyo, the light bathed the earth as people moved through the streets as they always did. The fine weather had drawn many Kizoku from their homes to stroll along the avenues, while farmers continued to toil in the fields, still some time away from their evening rest.

Inside the Onmyoryo, Seimei and Yura were together in the Astronomical Pavilion. Yura was currently briefing Seimei on the affairs of the Onmyoryo, and Seimei listened with great focus. Recently, Yura had been attempting to reacquaint Seimei with the organization's business so he could soon return to his position as Senior Secretary, helping her shoulder the burden while reclaiming his title as a Great Onmyoji.

It had to be said that as a genius, Seimei possessed an extraordinary capacity for learning. In a short span of time, he had already mastered much of the relevant knowledge. He was gradually taking over the tasks that should have been his responsibility, a development that Yura found immensely satisfying.

"As expected of you, Seimei. You've nearly mastered all the administrative paperwork..." Yura said joyfully, watching Seimei as he wrote. Seimei responded with a smile.

"It is all thanks to your diligent teaching, Yura..."

"Hahaha~ Well, that's true... If we keep this up, it won't be long before you can—" Yura was about to say more when a sudden wave of panicked shouting erupted from outside.

"This! What is happening!"

"The sky! The sky! The sky is actually..."

"Quickly, notify the Senior Secretary!"

Interrupted by the chaos outside, Yura's brow furrowed. She and Seimei exchanged a look before rising together. They hurried to the sliding doors and pulled them open. From the height of the Five-Story Pagoda at the Astronomical Pavilion, they looked out at the world, only to be instantly frozen in shock by the sight before them.

From the distant horizon, a vast expanse of darkness swept inward with terrifying speed, devouring the light. In an instant, the entire sky above them was completely shrouded by this dark mantle. Day had turned into night in the blink of an eye.

Stars scattered across the blackened firmament. The sun, which had been hanging high in the sky, had vanished, replaced by a massive, crimson Blood Moon. Below, the people were consumed by terror at this sudden, unnatural phenomenon. They fell to their knees where they stood, praying fervently to the gods.

"This... what is going on? Day... has turned into night... Have the gods been provoked to wrath?" Yura murmured in shock. Beside her, Seimei regained his composure.

"Regardless of the cause, we must immediately dispatch the Onmyoji to secure the city! We must prevent any chaos from breaking out!"

"Right... Yes, I'll go at once..."

Yura ran out of the Onmyoryo to organize the Onmyoji. Left alone in the Astronomical Pavilion, Seimei looked up at the exaggeratedly large Blood Moon in the sky.

Beneath its glow, he felt as though he were being completely seen through. This Blood Moon felt like a giant, singular eye.

...

The encroachment of darkness continued. Following Heian-kyo, Mount Oe, Mount Nanakaku, Arakawa, and many other regions were rapidly swallowed by the dark canopy. Amidst the astonishment of the various Yokai Lords, the entire Japanese archipelago was covered in darkness within moments. However... the situation in Japan was but a small fraction of the global upheaval.

At this moment, the entire Earth was like a canvas upon which ink had been overturned. The dark canopy spread frantically, shrouding skies, mountains, and oceans. Gradually, the blue of the Earth disappeared, replaced by total blackness.

Beneath this False Canopy of pitch black, every living soul on Earth was enveloped.

On the lands of the Central Plains, the chaotic wars continued. The armies slaughtering one another were struck with dread by the sudden descent of night; they ceased their killing to beg the heavens for mercy. The lords of various warlord factions desperately sought their respective national preceptors to perform divinations. Even within the hidden Immortal Palace Grottos and cultivation sects, there was utter confusion. Anyone with profound cultivation could feel a heavy sense of surveillance emanating from that vivid Blood Moon.

In Europe and West Asia, the early morning instantly transformed into night. Farmers who had just woken up fled in terror toward the castles of their lords. The lords, while praying to God, hurriedly barred their gates. Vikings on their longships cast their plundered treasures into the sea to appease the gods. In Constantinople, the Roman Emperor dispatched the city guards to maintain order. Within the Hagia Sophia, priests gathered in repentance. Pilgrims in the desert prostrated themselves toward their holy land, while demon hunters who had just finished a night's work stared at the massive Blood Moon as if facing a great enemy.

In the Americas, though it was already night, the sudden appearance of the giant Blood Moon still threw the people into a panic. High priests donned their ceremonial regalia in the middle of the night, shouting loudly from atop jungle pyramids. With a wave of a hand, a human sacrifice was carried up the stairs to the top of the pyramid, where the priest already gripped a blade tightly.

...

In outer space, Moon Feather Princess floated silently. Before Her eyes, the Earth had completely lost its original color, turning into a sphere of absolute black.

Just moments ago, She had expanded Her power across the entire world. The False Canopy She created now covered every inch of the Earth.

Now, the Earth had no day, only night. The crimson Blood Moon shone upon every corner of the planet. No life, no object, could escape its gaze.

"What? You're saying that thing created a False Canopy that covers the entire world?"

Inside the ship, Eirin spoke in shock after receiving a transmission from the space station.

"Yes... it's truly astonishing. That being actually possesses the power to affect the entire world... Though I don't know what Her purpose is, I thought it necessary to inform you first," Kanako said seriously from the space station. Since the moon rabbits were currently unable to work, she had to be the one to contact Eirin and Miketsu. Fortunately, Miketsu had previously taught her how to use the communicator.

"Creating a canopy that covers the entire world... Hah, it seems that being's methods are more direct than we imagined... Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto..." Eirin said with a bitter smile. On the other end of the communicator, Miketsu, who was flying alone, answered slowly.

"Yes. After all, She is a Celestial Enemy from the Primeval Era. She wouldn't be much if She didn't have some tricks. It seems She will find Kaguya and the others much sooner than we anticipated..."

As Miketsu spoke, she had a general idea of why Moon Feather Princess had gone to such lengths to create the False Canopy.

She was searching for Kaguya and the others! With the canopy covering the Earth, Her perception now spanned the entire globe. No matter where Kaguya and the others hid, She would be able to spot them at a glance!

And that was indeed the truth. The Blood Moon hanging over this global eternal night was Moon Feather Princess's eye. Through this 'eye,' Moon Feather Princess monitored every living thing on the ground to find Her targets!