Chapter 324: Fate and Cruelty

Chapter 324: Fate and Cruelty

"Arrogance born of ignorance. Among the half-breeds, you may be considered strong, but before true power, you are not even worth an ant. The so-called half-breeds are merely servants who begged for power from the Dragon Race long ago."

The boy spoke calmly, his eyes devoid of emotion, "It's true that humans have grown stronger, with flourishing technology, and advancements in incantations and alchemy. But that doesn't mean you can kill a Monarch. A Monarch can only be slain by another Monarch, without exception."

His body underwent a terrifying transformation, his young frame covered in dark green scales, his soft skin hardening to be tougher than steel. White, eerie bone spurs protruded from his joints, his hands transforming into the Dragon Race's signature claws, and a pair of broad membrane wings unfurled on his back. He looked like a saint enduring suffering, or perhaps a demon descending.

Anju gazed solemnly at the boy, addressing the students who had been roused from their oppression by his appearance.

"You all should return to safety. The area around Norton Hall is secure. Members of the Enforcement Bureau and professors are on their way. The battlefield belongs to them."

Among the group formed by the Lionheart Club and the Student Council, Lancelot stepped forward, his tone resolute.

"Headmaster, we'll stand with you against the enemy!"

"Staying here is not standing against the enemy, it's courting death."

Anju's face, like a withered tree, cracked a smile, "I'm glad you said that, but knowing when to retreat is the key to a better life. You are still young, lacking in experience and strength."

"But if we run away at this moment, can Cassel Academy still claim to be the academy that fosters dragon slayers?"

"Perhaps there will be no more dragon slayers in the future."

Anju sighed, the newborn chick seemed fearless, and even though they were intimidated by the Dragon King, they quickly regained their composure. Or perhaps the boy's appearance had given these children unnecessary confidence?

Before the students could understand the headmaster's words, they heard the old man, who had dedicated his life to dragon slaying, raise his voice, his words deafening.

"Very well, those who wish to stay, stay. I'll cover for you!"

"I can't let the students waste years of militarized management, training with various firearms and blades, studying dragon history, Dragon Script, incantations, alchemy, and genetic lineages, only to tell them that what they've learned is useless. Forget this knowledge and re-enter society, starting a new life?"

"Let these creatures, long overdue for oblivion, see what modern humans are capable of!"

"But remember, your safety is paramount. These creatures are not worth your lives!"

"In fact, many universities do this, Headmaster."

Su Xi, also in the crowd, laughed, "At least Cassel is interesting enough."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Deathstalkers and humanoid dragons, momentarily subdued by Anju, pounced again. The shadows, accompanied by mournful wails, rushed forward, but the trembling students at the front suddenly displayed unparalleled bravery!

Each of them transformed into blurry shadows, slicing through the howling wind with astonishing speed. They brandished their alchemical blades or chanted ancient dragon incantations, and as the crisp sword lights illuminated, various incantations with different effects erupted! The battlefield descended into chaos, with incantations of the four elements—earth, water, wind, and fire—and those that defied categorization all unleashed at once. Even the Heroic Spirit Army, with their superior bloodlines and physical strength, struggled to defend against the onslaught, and a few weak dragon-type Deathstalkers suffered casualties.

Anju's 'Time Zero' domain encompassed all the students!

In theory, this should have been an immense burden for him, but the legendary dragon slayer nonchalantly raised his folded blade. His golden eyes, like molten lava, shone brightly, and his heart beat fiercely, instantly refining his already exceptional bloodline to a purer state. Power, like rich wine, coursed through his limbs.

Blood Burst!

Once, twice, thrice!

His aging body rejuvenated, and he unleashed and burned without hesitation. His body mysteriously vanished from its original spot, unseen by any of the students within the Time Zero domain.

Time Zero was a terrifying incantation that created a field around the user, slowing down everything within it while allowing the user to move at a normal speed. To outsiders, the user's speed appeared to be multiplied by several, or even dozens of times.

The most remarkable aspect of this incantation was that the user was the center of the field, eliminating the concept of boundaries. The more powerful the user's bloodline and physical attributes, the greater the incantation's potency.

Anju had once been an obscure figure within the Secret Party. After the Summer of Mourning incident, he fell into a coma for a year. Upon awakening, he swiftly rose to become the leader of the Secret Party, even defeating the Shadow Emperor, Kusanagi Etsu, whose bloodline far surpassed his own. This was all thanks to this cheating incantation.

The world seemed to slow down before Ange's eyes, even the sound of the wind flowing became sluggish. Menek Cassel's inherited sword was a powerful alchemical weapon, capable of piercing the body of a First Generation species. While it might not be as effective against dragon-type creatures, it could potentially kill a human-shaped opponent of vastly different size if it struck a vital spot!

Ignoring the stealthy approach, the boy's clear eyes held a mocking gaze, as if witnessing a gentle breeze attempting to extinguish the sun. His gaze remained unwavering, or perhaps it appeared to change at an imperceptibly slow pace due to Zero's time manipulation.

In the blink of an eye, the gleaming blade appeared before Ange, just as his body vanished.

Ding!

The boy didn't move a single finger, and his eyes still carried an air of superiority and mockery. However, the folding knife's surprise attack had failed!

Amid the clanging of metal, a Japanese sword with a blade as clear as water blocked the folding knife. Its blade bore the pattern of lightning, named "Inazuma."

The wielder was the "Vice-Captain" from the army, wearing a mask resembling those worn by ancient Egyptian kings during their burials. He should have had a strong presence, but due to the Dragon King drawing everyone's attention, he became as silent as a ghost. Yet, just as Ange launched his attack, this inconspicuous ghost blocked the folding knife and "Time Zero."

His incantation was also "Time Zero"!

Ange scrutinized the mask on the blocker's face. Knowledge comes with age, and even without being particularly proficient in alchemy, living with the alchemical master Flamel had given him the ability to recognize the mask as a high-end alchemical tool.

"Connect" and "Transmit"!

Connect to the spirit of an existence and transmit their power. Wearing the mask makes one a spokesperson for that existence, allowing the original body to transmit their spirit and power, turning the wearer into their "avatar."

Without giving him time to think, the Vice-Captain had already begun his counterattack. He spun vigorously, creating a circle of light with his blade, which moved like a silver swallow, fast enough to make one's mouth water.

In the span of an instant, the two users of Time Zero had clashed a thousand times. Amid countless clashing sounds, the sword beams were thick and viscous like water. If either side stopped, they would be instantly torn to pieces. Ange and the Vice-Captain were like dancers on a branch atop a cliff, neither giving an inch.

At the same time, the students realized that the Deathstalkers' speeds were also increasing. The other side had also activated Time Zero, with similar speed multipliers. In this situation, they had no chance against the advanced Deathstalkers and the human-shaped dragons!

"A boring fight," the boy said disdainfully, stepping over the two dazzling shadows of clashing swords. His movements didn't slow down; instead, they carried an air of elegance. The Time Zero field seemed to be ineffective against him!

The domain of the Kings, like a knife cutting through butter, sliced through the Time Zero field. A deep-sea-like pressure made Ange's movements sluggish, and the claws of a demon reached for his throat.

Suddenly, a deep blue flame appeared out of thin air, its scorching breath pushing back the boy's offensive. At the same time, the students, who were about to be overwhelmed, felt their bodies become lighter, as if the wind and airflow hindering them had vanished along with Time Zero. Their speed increased once more, and they narrowly avoided the claws and teeth of the Deathstalkers and human-shaped dragons, managing to hold on.

The boy took a few steps back, and for the first time, his eyes showed a hint of disturbance. "Norton's follower, and Odin's... offspring? How is this possible? How did he break through the First Generation species' restrictions to bear offspring?"

A spatial disturbance appeared at the school gate, and three figures slowly materialized from the void. Murasame and Dick's light cleaved through the night, and so did the light from their cell phones.

Chu Zihan and Caesar made their entrances with their alchemical weapons, maintaining a distance from each other. Their expressions were different; Chu Zihan was filled with killing intent, like an enraged gorilla, as if all his emotions had been ignited. Caesar, on the other hand, was expressionless, devoid of his former vigor and ambition. It was as if his bones and pride had been extracted, leaving him hollow and lifeless, like a man waking from a dream.

Their expressions were so rich that they could have starred in a melodrama, making it clear that something extraordinary had occurred. Imaginations ran wild, but the last scene of Fingal, blushing and twisting his body to press his lips against the screen, detracted from the seriousness of their entrance.

"It's Chu Zihan!"

"And Caesar!"

"And Fingal!"

Fingal, holding his phone, opened his eyes and lost his composure. "Hey, hey, hey! That's not fair! Why does my name change when it's my turn?"

"Pfft!"

The students, who were about to be overwhelmed, didn't have time to spit. They quickly resumed their fight, using alchemical swords to slash at the Deathstalkers' terrifyingly hard bodies.

The correct version of Chapter 169 is as follows:

The gap between them and their opponents was immense, and even with an additional layer of buffs, they could only barely hold the line by dodging and weaving.

"So, this is the battlefield suited for us?"

Before they could marvel at how Lu Ke had instantly transported them from the Serpent Clan's shrine in Japan's Tokyo to Cassel Academy in Chicago, America, Chu Zihan immediately entered combat mode upon assessing the battlefield.

His gaze swept across the battlefield, observing the situation. When he noticed two figures darting through the air, his eyes suddenly froze, and his breathing quickened. He recognized the Alchemical Long Sword that sprayed rain with every swing—Murasame. He had an identical one in his hand!

The memories of every rainy day came flooding back, as clear as if they were happening right before his eyes: Siran Middle School, the overpass, the torrential rain, the dandelion, the Maybach, the dark shadow, Odin... Everything culminated in the image of a man holding Murasame and charging towards the God Seat.

"Hey, God! Open Sesame!"

The man's last words still echoed in his ears. Chu Zihan clenched his trembling hand, gripping Murasame, and charged towards Ange and the other combatant.

...

A fierce whirlwind surrounded Caesar, lifting his body into the air. A massive tornado rose, and within the wind, the voice of the Wind Demon sounded, as the messenger transformed into a blood-red Grim Reaper, restricting and attacking the enemy.

Caesar, the initiator of the Incantation, stood silently before the Dragon King.

"As Odin's offspring, my father and I have a temporary alliance."

The boy furrowed his brows and looked at him, raising his palm to reveal an unhealed bloodstain. "But this doesn't mean I can't harm you. Step aside and leave this place."

Caesar remained silent, staring at the boy with his reddish-gold eyes as if the boy's words had nothing to do with him.

The boy sighed, seemingly regretful, and looked at Caesar with pity. "You're neither human nor dragon, nor even a half-breed. The creature closest to you is a human from ancient times, sacrificed to the Dragon Race for copulation to steal their power. But you still don't belong to their kind."

"The first generation couldn't give birth to offspring, but Odin managed it. However, it's not an easy feat to replicate. In this world, you have no peers, and you never will. Neither side will accept you. Do you think helping humans will give you a chance to rejoin them? No, your bloodline has destined you to be an outcast from the very beginning."

Caesar pressed his lips together, suddenly recalling his mother's words from his childhood. She had caressed Caesar's head with tenderness and let out a heavy sigh.

"My Caesar is such a kind child... But the world is so cruel. What good is your kindness alone?"

Yes, the world was indeed cruel.

He had always thought he had a useless father, but suddenly, that man transformed into the Dragon King Odin, seemingly a friend of Chu Zihan, with some sort of grudge.

He, who had once been an exceptional dragon slayer tasked with killing dragons, had now become the target that needed to be slain. He had always considered himself unique, but when he truly became the most extraordinary, a newfound fear gripped him.

After this battle, he would have to face his former friends in various roles. How would he find his place in this world? Would they accept an outcast like him? If they did, to what extent? Would they restrict his movements, imprison him, or subject him to experimentation?

The storm surrounding Caesar intensified, and after a moment of silence, he exhaled slowly, coldly gazing down at the boy.

"I'm not Odin's offspring. My mother was an ordinary woman, and she was everything that made up my life. She's gone now. The physical source doesn't matter; whether it was Gattuso or Odin, Caesar will always be Caesar."

"Why deceive yourself?"

The boy shook his head. "I didn't want to kill you, but Odin might go mad. However, it's better this way. If he breaks the blood oath, he'll suffer backlash and lose some of his power, which is beneficial to me."

He looked up at the sky, where a deep black night sky was imprinted. His tone became ethereal, "When I was born, it was raining in heaven and on earth. After a while, I grew tired of watching it."

His lips began to close, and he started chanting intricate ancient incantations, accompanied by the rising intensity of Dragon Language. The elements in the air began to riot, and dark clouds enveloped the entire Chicago suburb.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end