"It's over, brother!"
Kazama Ruri was also nearing his limit, but his high concentration of dragon blood allowed him to barely hold on.
It's over. Yes, suddenly, Gen Chisei felt a sense of relief, as if the heavy burden he'd carried all this time could finally be set down.
"Brother, aren't you going to use that thing?"
Kazama Ruri quietly looked at him, his gaze landing on the bottle of Ancient Dragon Embryo Blood. With a faint smile, he said, "Don't tell me you feel indebted to me, so you're unwilling to use it?"
If Gen Chisei used the Ancient Dragon Embryo Blood, his injuries would heal quickly, and he'd gain even greater strength. At that point, who would win was anyone's guess.
"There's no need."
Gen Chisei's eyes were vacant, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He said bitterly, "Even if I use it, so what? Should I become a monster in my final moments? Dying like that would be too disgraceful. I'd rather keep my current appearance. At least I still look cool."
"Brother, you're always so naive."
Hearing this, Kazama Ruri chuckled softly. "What's wrong with being a monster? What's wrong with not being human? People like us haven't been normal for a long time anyway."
"For all these years, you've lived in hell."
Gen Chisei spoke wistfully, "But I have no regrets. As Amaterasu, my duty is to slay those of our clan who fall into the path of darkness. Ruri, this is our fate, the curse etched into the bloodline of Yamata no Orochi."
"Yes, but it's all about to end."
Kazama Ruri approached with his blade, step by step.
But when he was only a dozen meters away, he suddenly froze.
Light descended from above, illuminating the crude equipment at the bottom of the Well of Bones. It transformed into a dazzling stage, glittering with colorful lights.
On this radiant stage, a figure seemed to dance gracefully, accompanied by the faint melody of Swan Lake that echoed from an unknown source.
The dancer wore a fitted tailcoat, paired with a crisp suit and a vibrant, bright purple shirt. A white silk bow tie completed the look, along with black-and-white brogue shoes.
Under the glow of the LED lights, he appeared elegant and striking, a paragon of charm. Every step matched the rhythm flawlessly, his movements confident and exuberant.
The mournful and despairing melody had been transformed into something joyous and triumphant.
The figure danced lightly, stepping through the pool of blood, moving gracefully and joyfully. It approached Gen Chisei and Kazama Ruri, bowing to them like an actor at the end of a performance.
The music suddenly stopped, and the person slowly lifted their head. On their familiar face was a warm and friendly smile.
"What a pity."
Herzog smiled and said, "Such a wonderful performance, but only the two of you will get to see the ending."
"No, it's you? You're still alive?!"
Kazama Ruri screamed in fear, as if seeing a ghost.
Gen Chisei looked at the person dancing gracefully. Upon seeing their face, his pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints!
It was Herzog!
"Surprised, aren't you?"
Herzog seemed delighted, his expression full of joy. He spread his arms wide and cheered, "I love seeing the surprised look on your faces. It amuses me."
"So, that person was fake!"
Gen Chisei's mind suddenly clicked. No wonder he hadn't seen Eri and Adam. The Herzog by the Well of Bones was a fake!
"Of course it was fake. How else would you have been able to relax and clear my last obstacle for me?"
Herzog shook his head, a bright smile on his face. He had never been so happy, as if his soul were soaring. He kept talking, "Isn't it confusing? It's fine. I don't mind spending a few minutes explaining it to you. After all, success no one knows about is too lonely."
"Are you bragging to us?" Gen Chisei clutched his chest where he had been wounded, glaring at him.
"Bragging? No, no, no. I'm just telling you about the great history!" Herzog shook his head, "Every being who sits on a throne is lonely. That's the side effect of power. But I need someone to share this joy with."
Kazama Ruri silently stepped back, standing next to Gen Chisei, holding his red long sword in front of him, as if protecting him.
But Herzog didn't mind the small gesture. He continued, "Actually, you two aren't the only ones who inherited royal blood. When I used Uesugi Koeru's genes, I created three embryos in total: Gen Chisei is π, Gen Chime's is ω, and your sister Erii is ξ."
"Erii."
Gen Chisei said hoarsely.
At this moment, he finally understood why he always felt a special connection to Erii. It turned out that they were actually close relatives, sharing similar bloodlines.
"Of course, you're artificially created. Otherwise, how could there be so many S-Rank Hybrids in the world?"
Herzog said with a smile, clapping his hands. "Please bear with me for a few more minutes. Don't rush to die. Soon, you will have the great honor of witnessing the world's greatest evolution. The road to the pinnacle will be completed today. The path from humans to dragons is finally within my reach."
As he spoke, two figures emerged again from the dark shadows at the bottom of the lake.
A girl in a priestess outfit, with a delicate and petite body, long wine-red hair reaching down to her waist, and a face that was flawless like that of a fairy.
Her skin was pale and crystal clear, perfect like a fairy tale character. But now, she seemed like a puppet, her eyes hollow and lifeless as she walked stiffly forward.
The other was a young man with blond hair, wearing black glasses, his expression wooden and stiff.
"Erii, Adam."
Gen Chisei's eyes turned cold, and he made a decision in his heart. He viciously drove the syringe filled with ancient dragon blood into his own artery. "Herzog, I will never let you have your way!"
However, his movement stopped mid-air. No matter what, his hand holding the syringe could not move, as if frozen in place.
"Heh, Chisei, have you forgotten?" Herzog said mockingly, looking at Gen Chisei, who was hiding behind Kazama Ruri. "It was I who gave you the ancient dragon blood, though it was meant as a precaution to make you and Gen Chime annihilate each other. But I didn't expect you would keep it for so long, just to deal with me."
"You forgot, there's still me!"
As Kazama Ruri spoke, he suddenly sprang into action. The crimson blade cut through the air in a blazing arc, accompanied by a sharp gust of wind, aimed directly at Herzog's throat!
Clang!
The blade moved as fast as lightning, like a streak of light.
However, no matter how fast the sword is, it can never be faster than the gaze. Kazama Ruri's sword stopped, just half a finger's distance from Herzog's neck, unable to move any further.
"You're still so naive." Herzog raised a finger and gently pushed the crimson blade away from his neck, a mocking cold smile curling on his lips. "As long as 'Adam' is here, even a S-Rank hybrid can't hurt me, understand?"
At that moment, Gen Chisei and Kazama Ruri finally noticed that the blonde boy's pale golden eyes held a power that was impossible to ignore.
"I will make you watch with your own eyes as I evolve from human to dragon!"
Herzog laughed maniacally, as if he had fully discarded his disguise, revealing the deeply repressed greed within.
Now, it's time to personally pluck the ripe fruit of victory!
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