31. Emperor Nova’s Secret and Marblem’s Resolve
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.
“The Emperor Nova is trying to destroy the Memory of the Star. If he erases all memories of the Memory of the Star, no one will know the secret of his birth. But the Memory of the Star is elusive. So, Nova instigated endless battles, hoping to capture the Memory of the Star whenever it appeared in those wars, but he never succeeded. It would appear like smoke and vanish just as quickly… In truth, the Memory of the Star was simply living out its destiny.”
Marblem spoke with a tone of concern.
“He’s just like Hitler, isn’t he? Hitler was a war maniac too.”
Suri couldn’t fathom Emperor Nova’s actions.
“But why is he so intent on stopping the lightning that occurs every 72 years? Isn’t he trying to prevent it from leaving the prophesied location? And he even set up a barrier?”
Suri fumed with anger.
“You already know, don’t you? Malta is Altima 39… Moloch infiltrated the Dragon Library to find a book, remember? The book Moloch sought was *The Memory of the Star*. That book was the definitive proof that could dethrone Emperor Nova… In the end, he didn’t find it and was assassinated by Nova instead. The sword, the Memory of the Star, records everything it directly witnesses into the book *The Memory of the Star*… And I think Altima 39 isn’t trying to return to the planet Sirius but is aiming for the Cosmic Planet. That’s where the ancestors of the universe reside. Sansuna intends to reveal Emperor Nova’s secret. After the Sirius tribe was discovered in the Green Canyon, they tried to reach the Cosmic Planet but crash-landed on Earth instead… And because Altima 39 couldn’t receive the energy from Sirius for so long, it lost power. There’s a limited time when it can receive that energy… Earth isn’t a perfect sphere; it’s slightly bulged at the equator. Due to the gravitational effects of the sun and moon, Earth, which rotates on its axis, wobbles ever so slightly. This is called precession. The positions of stars or the moon change by just one degree every 72 years when they rise or set. All the megalithic temples were built to face the planet Sirius… Because their positions change by one degree every 72 years, the locations of the megalithic temples also shift slightly every 72 years. Due to these cosmic laws, even the great Emperor Nova can’t completely control the lightning. However, Nova cannot invade Earth. It’s because of a contract with the Oracle. He sold Altima’s access rights to the Oracle… Don’t worry… Emperor Nova still has the tragic prophecy of Cassandra hanging over him. We don’t know what that tragedy is yet, but… hahaha… Suri… don’t worry. We’ll manage just fine.”
Marblem was as clear-headed as ever.
“Wow… Suri… I feel like the two of us are going to become the strongest in the universe! I have a good feeling about this, a really good one. Hahaha.”
He couldn’t stop laughing.
“Oh, I miss my mom. I need to stay strong… We’re each living out our own histories…”
Marblem uttered words full of meaning.
“Even if we’re living in different places, family members can live their own histories well because they help each other. That’s why Emperor Nova is… even more shocking. Not only did he have such a secret about his birth, but he also had a demonic nature… That shouldn’t have happened. He’s like the most heinous dictator in human history, Hitler. Trying to unify the empire under a single bloodline… Why can’t people accept each other’s differences? Exiling magical tribes to ascend the throne… instigating endless wars… sending those who oppose him to the Cosmic Cliff…”
Suri couldn’t believe that Nova’s cosmic fame was a precarious sandcastle that could collapse at any moment. He felt no sympathy for the tragic childhood of Emperor Nova. To hide his secret, he chose the path of becoming a demon.
“Now then, since we’ve moved the Great Battle of Marblem a million years into the past, they won’t be able to escape from that land of a million years ago for a while… Unless someone helps them, they’ll never get out. They’re trapped in the hell of time… I feel great…”
Marblem was brimming with confidence.
“We’ve handled the Great Battle of Marblem, but it’s not over. We need to transport the lightning that comes every 72 years to Malta. And we have to break through Emperor Nova’s barrier. But this barrier isn’t easy. He’ll do anything to stop us. If his birth secret is exposed… he’ll not only lose his imperial throne but also be banished to the Cosmic Cliff… If he’s exiled there, he’ll be praying for death instead… Let’s make that happen. Just the two of us.”
Marblem’s voice rang out powerfully.
“Marblem, is there any chance you can possess Emperor Nova?”
Suri looked at Marblem with hope.
“Impossible… It’s not that I haven’t considered it. Once someone becomes the Emperor of the Universe, imperial citizens can neither possess nor kill him… But you can kill him. Because you’re not an imperial citizen. You can do it, Suri!”
Marblem’s voice was full of vigor.
“Me?… No way? Really?…”
Suri suddenly felt a surge of pride.
“Alright, after moving the Great Battle of Marblem, Sansuna has started to move. Malta is revving up. They’re preparing to receive the lightning. Let’s charge toward the lightning.”
Marblem took deep breaths like a runner about to start a race.
“But how… how do we move the lightning?… Lightning… the moment we touch it, we’ll be incinerated without a trace. No, wait, we’re already strong electricity, so if we collide… we’ll end up burning too… If only Professor Sabi were here at a time like this… Oh no… where are the others? I must be crazy right now. Losing track of them. This is insane, absolutely insane.”
Suri was in a frenzy.
“Don’t worry… Sabi has the Lightning Flower, remember? I’ll transmit our location to the Lightning Flower.”
Marblem whispered, soothing Suri.
“Can you hear me? Do you hear?
My heart traveling through the maze of time across the universe
Lightning Flower, Alice… let our friends know the moment I’m in
Can you hear me? Do you hear?
My heart traveling through the maze of space across the universe
Lightning Flower, Alice… let our friends know the dimension I’m in
Our brilliant adventure
A prank that momentarily separated us
Lightning Flower, Alice… let our friends know where my heart is”
Marblem’s song left the prophesied location of a million years ago and soared into the universe, becoming the genie in a magic lamp.
Marblem’s song set out across the cosmos toward Malta on the planet Sirius. Along the journey, it passed through mysterious constellations.
[To be continued…]
