1. Tunnels of Lightening and the Cantata of the Fate
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.
‘bzzz… bzzz…’
Suri came to his senses from the abyss of prognosis with a startling zapping sound. A harsh, creepy noise seemed to attack him, piercing the air around him. As soon as the sound reached the body, it flashed, leaving a fragment of lightning and bouncing off. It was like a bolt out of the blue.
“Oh, my God. I feel like I’m being microwaved.”
He twisted and turned as if he were a squid on a hot grill. Surprisingly, there were no injuries. He had expected burns or scars from the electricity that had been discharged onto him. Instead, his face was simply smudged with soot and his hair stood on end, slightly singed.
“Goodness”
Suri muttered in disbelief. His surroundings had become an electrifying spectacle – the world around him flickered with flashes of lightning. Large bolts shaped like snakes and smaller ones darted about randomly, striking everywhere without warning.
“Is this…lightning? Was I struck by it? But where am I?” It was then that Suri realized he was standing in a deep cave. In the cave, all that existed were the bright flashes of big and small lightning bolts, along with the constant crackling noise they made.”
“Lightning inside a cave…how strange. Could Thor be here? Ha! Maybe now’s my chance to meet him.”
At that moment, bursts of lightning sparked around him like fireworks at a carnival. They came in different colors – bright red, deep blue, and vivid yellow.
“Sirius lightning. Dad said its secrets are still unknown. But.. It sure is so beautiful.”
Suddenly, he felt an urge to touch the lightning bolt. As he reached out his hand, it seemed to pull him in. He found himself wrapped in a swirling tornado of electric energy.
“This is amazing! I’m on my way to discovering a new civilization!”
As he spun within the lightning tornado, he noticed its source – the point where the light was coming from. Channeling his playful side, Suri twirled his legs like a mermaid’s tail and surged upwards with great energy. From above, Sirius lightning rained down like cosmic blessings.
“Let’s do this! Yay!”
With a cheer as loud as thunder itself, Suri reached the top where static echoed around him like an orchestra playing.
“Why does this remind me of Carmina Burana? It’s so grand… It’s calling me, Now… Let’s head towards this new civilization.”
Suri flew into the Cantata of Destiny, and out of nowhere, a universe appeared. Countless stars twinkled brilliantly turning it into an ethereal garden bathed in sparkling light.
“It’s breathtaking… It could make even the darkest days shine.”
Suddenly, the universe was enveloped in a blanket of pitch black, leaving nothing within the grasp of sight.
“No need for fear…just keep moving forward.”
Suri instilled courage into himself. Suddenly another burst lit up space — Sirius lightning crackling with fervor transformed thousands of universal points into dazzling fireworks. Suri was sucked into the crescendo of the mirage. Inside the striking Sirius lightning, there was a tunnel filled with intense heat. This tunnel vibrated, moving like it was part of a dance.
Suri ran without hesitation. This was no short sprint though; it stretched for at least eight kilometers flanked by long walls awash with red paint on either side which were adorned with hieroglyphics that were unfamiliar even to him.
“…Indus script? Linear A? Cretan hieroglyphics? Proto-Sinaitic? Byblos script or Pythian disk perhaps?”
Suri paused briefly before continuing.
“Could these be Cypriot-Minoan or Tehuantepec symbols? Zapotec writings or Mixtec symbols maybe? Voynich Manuscript inscriptions and Rongorongo glyphs are also known undeciphered scripts from our planet but these seem different… These belong somewhere else entirely.”
Suri found himself entranced by the emergence of a new enigma. This was the sacred treasure of the fresh civilization that he yearned to uncover. With narrowed eyes and unwavering resolve, he pressed on, vowing not to overlook a single detail.
Before long, Suri emerged from the tunnel’s end, finding himself standing before an imposing megalithic temple. Constructed from hundreds of varied-sized megaliths stacked atop one another, the temple towered about three stories high. Some stones weighed in excess of 50 tons and were placed with such precision that barely a sheet of paper could slip through their gaps.
“I’ve never come across such a civilization. Most ancient structures on Earth took pyramid forms. Because it’s the most stable design for tall edifices. But this… this is far from typical. Who could have built this temple?”
Suri walked through the main entrance of the temple. The floor of the temple was painted with the image of a snake. He couldn’t help but shudder at its lifelike representation.
“…I feel like the snake is going to attack at any moment. I’m really nervous.”
Treading lightly as if afraid to rouse the painted serpent beneath his feet, Suri surveyed his surroundings carefully. Each room within the temple was circular rather than square.
“This isn’t some silly dream. Someone brought me here for a reason… They have something to tell me.”
Suri made for the exit of the temple where tall megalithic pillars stood guard like sentinels. Snake figures seeming to have magically ascended them.
[To be continued …]
