Volume 3, Chapter 105 – Xiao’s Thoughts

Having unleashed the three divine power shackles and activated the eighth tier puppet for support, Xue Tian’ao believed himself to be practically invincible. Even the globally recognized, most powerful and terrifying demon king tier existence, ‘Red Spider Lily’, could not possibly defeat him in this state!

Before today, Xue Tian’ao had been deeply convinced of this. He thought that against an eighth tier human powerhouse, even one at the peak, he would surely emerge victorious.

However, his confidence was shattered piece by piece during the battle with Xiao. Those powerful skills he had once taken pride in were all rendered useless and easily dismantled by the Duke of Blackrose. The high-tier items exchanged from the System were destroyed by his opponent the moment he pulled them from his spatial ring, before he could even use them.

He didn’t even have the chance to chant the incantations for the powerful magic he had learned. Throughout the entire fight, he had been doing nothing but taking hits and spitting blood. He hadn’t even been able to finish a full sentence, let alone chant magic spells.

Being a punching bag was not Xue Tian’ao’s style. Having been suppressed the entire time, he had sacrificed the divine artifact Axe of Helhais several minutes ago to unleash his most aggressive skill, ‘Judgment of Salvation’.

Under Xue Tian’ao’s expectant gaze, the dazzling golden energy transformed into a soul-stirring golden holy sword. However, just as he intended to unleash the holy sword’s divine power, he was instantly enveloped and swallowed by Xiao’s endless black mist. The holysSword didn’t even get to manifest its power before he unconsciously lost it within that overwhelming shroud of darkness.

In the end, this skill, which Xue Tian’ao could only use a few times at the cost of sacrificing a divine artifact, was terminated halfway through just like his previous ultimate moves.

‘Dammit! Why does that bastard interrupt my skills every single time?!’ Xue Tian’ao roared frantically in his heart.

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As if sensing Xue Tian’ao’s internal confusion, Xiao flashed in front of him and cast a cold, disdainful glance at the ridiculous blonde man. “Did you really think anyone would just let you ‘load your progress bar’ in peace?”

Lady Yumo might have the patience, but he certainly did not. He had no interest in voluntarily taking a ‘protagonist’s’ ultimate move. Ultimate moves were, of course, meant to be interrupted.

With a look of contempt, Xiao dodged Xue Tian’ao’s slash and a blast of golden energy, then landed a punch squarely on the Chosen Son’s face. The strike sent blood spraying from his nose and a dozen teeth flying through the air.

Having been heavily wounded once more, Xue Tian’ao no longer possessed any semblance of imperial dignity. He crashed miserably into the ruins, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Pfft…” Blood gushed from Xue Tian’ao’s mouth. At this moment, he lacked all his previous high spirits and confidence. Fear and unease coiled around him like black snakes emerging from the abyss, squeezing him so hard with an indescribable pressure that he could briefly barely breathe.

As he struggled to crawl up from the ground, he caught a glimpse of the other two battlefields out of the corner of his eye. Though he was loath to admit it, he realized that he could not defeat the Duke of Blackrose with his own strength alone. He could only place his hopes on the two eighth tier puppets; after all, they were existences modified by the System!

Perhaps they could create a miracle?

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At that thought, a flicker of hope ignited in his heart. However, when the situation of the other two battlefields came into view, the fire of hope that had just sparked within the Chosen Son was instantly and ruthlessly extinguished.

‘No, how… how can this be…’

Under Xue Tian’ao’s despairing gaze, a violent wind pressure erupted around Li Yu. Backed by an emerald light, tens of thousands of sharp wind blades carried an aura capable of severing all things, instantly shattering the eighth tier puppet’s protective barrier and slicing it into hundreds of fragments.

The situation for the other puppet was no better. The high-speed flying alchemical puppet was suddenly bitten by the wolf-shaped Abyssal Demon. Raging red Shadow Essence coated the giant wolf’s teeth, allowing it to bite straight through the puppet’s steel body. As its energy core was crushed by Snow Devourer, the puppet met its final fate of being scrapped. The dense silver magic power around it dissipated instantly as it turned into junk metal, slumped in Snow Devourer’s mouth.

“Damn… damn it…” Xue Tian’ao cursed through gritted teeth. How could this happen? To think that the two eighth tier puppets he had worked so hard to acquire were blown up by demon king tiers without accomplishing a single thing! Had he known, he would have exchanged them for something else!

The feelings of despair and regret intensified in Xue Tian’ao’s heart. However, he clearly had no energy to waste on regret now because Xiao’s attack was rapidly expanding in his vision.

“Boom!”

Accompanied by a world-shaking explosion, countless summoned beasts constructed from black mist tore through Xue Tian’ao’s protective divine power and began to savagely bite his body, forcing the Chosen Son to let out one pathetic scream after another.

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And that wasn’t all. Just as Xue Tian’ao swung his sword to shatter those twenty hideous summoned beasts, Xiao’s magic circle was already complete. A pitch-black magic cannon struck instantly, shattering Xue Tian’ao’s newly reconstructed barrier without surprise. The beam, carrying the power of death, pierced through his abdomen and caused him to cough up more blood. This time, the blood was mixed with numerous fragments of internal organs.

“Damn it… damn it… damn it…” Struggling to crawl up while gasping for air, Xue Tian’ao stared fixedly at Xiao in mid-air with eyes full of venomous resentment.

Hatred and confusion continuously bred within him. Glancing at the demon king tier existences with overwhelming auras closing in from his left and right, the Chosen Son couldn’t help but ask, “Why…”

The blonde man’s words were full of interrogation, his eyes stabbing at Xiao like swords. “Why? You are clearly human, so why would you join forces with Abyssal Demons? And… and why do you repeatedly try to kill me? I am the Chosen Son! An existence who can bring peace and tranquility to this world! If I die… this world will fall into chaos and will eventually be destroyed by the Abyssal Demons! When that time comes, your entire Blackrose Family will not escape destruction either! Your actions are foolish… Why… why do such a stupid thing? You are betraying your fellow humans…”

Gasping for breath, Xue Tian’ao questioned Xiao incessantly, seemingly activating the so-called ‘protagonist’s’ signature talk-no-jutsu skill. However, Xiao remained indifferent to his words and even allowed a mocking smile to surface.

‘Why? Was there even a need to ask? Because I want to protect the person most important to me.’

Recalling that melodious voice full of maternal love, Xiao remained silent but answered Xue Tian’ao’s question in his heart without hesitation. He was utterly disdainful of Xue Tian’ao’s self-righteous ideas.

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The members of the Blackrose Family had practically grown up within the Deepwinter Forest. To them, Lady Yumo and the young demon king tier masters in the center of the forest were their true companions. As for humans? Whenever they thought of the human factions that had persecuted them or their ancestors, the members of the Blackrose Family could never muster a friendly face.

It was Lady Yumo who saved their lives. It was Lady Yumo who taught them knowledge. It was Lady Yumo who gave them care.

Compared to the dog-eat-dog human society, Xiao believed that most members of the Blackrose Family would choose Lady Yumo even if it meant betraying their so-called human kin. Besides, that lady and the demon king tier Abyssal Demons were not as cruel as the Ashurmos Church depicted them to be. Xiao was certain that Lady Yumo would not destroy this world. Rather, in his view, if Lady Yumo and the Abyssal Demon swarm she controlled were utilized properly, they might bring lasting peace to this world, even if such peace existed under the shadow of terrifying deterrence.

As for the Chosen Son? Even if he could eliminate the Abyssal Demons, Xiao didn’t believe such a fellow could bring any so-called ‘peace’ to the world.

Ignoring Xue Tian’ao’s rambling, Xiao heartlessly raised his demonic spear. Under Xue Tian’ao’s horrified gaze, he thrust the spear into the man’s mouth and cut off his tongue, forcibly terminating the Chosen Son’s talk-no-jutsu. At the same time, Li Mo’s claws and Li Yu’s blade-wings approached Xue Tian’ao’s back, carrying an aura of absolute destruction and desperate killing intent.

‘What world peace? I don’t care about that at all. I only hope that Lady Yumo can stay by our side forever…’

‘So, just die already.’