Chapter 314: Disguise

Chapter 314: Disguise

Xina looked at Bran, at this hard-to-understand young man before him, and actually did not know how to begin. What did he need? Many things in the mortal world held no more attraction for a being of pure Mana, even if that Mana contained very human-like emotions.

Knowledge, and perhaps power ? But how could such things be easily shared? He was already strong enough; Xina could hardly do anything about him.

He was different from the other newcomers Xina had encountered before. Xina could not even feel the changes in his emotions. Thinking about it, of course, this young man before him was just an empty shell, an illusion made of Mana. All his joys, angers, sorrows, and happiness were just a magnificent and brilliant performance. He used Mana to carve out a lifelike person, laughing and acting vigorously in front of others. Who could know what lay hidden behind the Mana?

After the young man returned, that uncomfortable feeling descended once more. The place became hazy again, making Xina not want to linger here any longer.

So, Xina decided to get straight to the point. “I have lived alone in this world for too long. This world holds few secrets from me. I can help you understand this world anew, let you know its vastness ahead of time.”

Bran did not reply immediately. Instead, he stared at the sea for a while. Then, a few small stones fell into his hand. He tossed them up and down a few times before throwing them one by one towards the sea, each one landing farther out than the last.

Bran did not believe that the Monster before him could just laugh and let go of their enmity; offering kindness must mean there was some scheme. Just like why he still stood here—he wanted to use this chance to learn more about this Monster. Not being able to capture it this time was Bran’s greatest regret. Especially after Xina took out those Fruits, this regret reached its peak.

He seemed to have left cleanly, but he had left behind an almost imperceptible net here. Through faint traces of Mana, he secretly watched everything at all times.

Such things were second nature to Bran. By altering a few insignificant grains of sand and bits of gravel, he could make the environment more responsive to him. No one would suspect that what looked like a natural environment had already been infused with part of Bran’s will, becoming an extension of himself.

Xina seemed to unintentionally reveal some information, even hinting at its origins. But Bran believed this was a trap, a seemingly honest self-introduction meant to make those around him lower their guard.

Because he knew that Xina also wanted to devour him, only it had not yet figured out the method.

Since force could not take it, it began with gentleness and goodwill, step by step becoming your friend, good friend, confidant. Then, when you were at your wits’ end and turned to it for refuge, you would be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den. Those Fruits Xina brought out—what happened to their original owners? Perhaps those people fell into Xina’s grasp step by step just like that.

“You are right, we are Monsters in each other’s eyes.” Bran said slowly, to Xina’s surprise. “We are already different, so do not hold out hope for that.

I believe these unintentionally revealed feelings, these frustrations accumulated over countless years, are your true words. You never expected to gain things like trust from me. We are merely prey in each other’s eyes.

For both you and me, this World has always held too many secrets. The secrets you speak of, in my view, are mostly shady, underhanded things. If those secrets were truly so important, why would you tell them to a real Monster like the one before you? If those secrets were truly so important, why would your power stop at this level?

I, who seeks Mana, how could I waste my energy on these shady, underhanded things? Let the Ancestral Dragon scheme whatever it wants. Let those Amphibians, or all sorts of other things, come if they wish. I am right here.

Your secrets will not have the slightest effect on the greater situation, nor will they bring any change to this World. I believe you have never truly understood this World. You have never known its vastness. You are merely a crawling insect, afraid to set foot on the shore.

You have drifted in the ocean for countless years, yet you never grasped the ocean’s secrets, never obtained its power. You are merely an insignificant, dispensable, lowly being within it.

I thought you could propose a trade that interested me. For example, how many Fruits do you still have? What price is needed to exchange for them? In return, I could tell you the World’s true hidden secrets. Guide you gradually to see the vastness you have never witnessed before.”

Bran sniffed. “Mana is indeed very delicious. Facing you, I always feel some impulse. Our trade has just been completed, hasn’t it?

I hate scheming, especially the scheming of strangers who come uninvited. I do not entangle myself with you only because I do not want to waste too much time on you. For me, that would be more cost than gain, not because I truly have no way to deal with you.

Your accumulation of Mana is too vast, too vast for me to swallow in one gulp. Perhaps that is the only gift time has given you, but it is not the capital that allows you to set conditions before me.”

A few more stones landed in Bran’s hand and were thrown far out into the sea. “About your way of doing things, I now understand a little too. It’s probably bullying the weak and fearing the strong. So I should always leave you with a deep impression, a name that will make you fear forever—Wizard Bran.

You might still be looking for my weaknesses, still searching for a way to deal with me, but I have already found the method to deal with you.”

The whirlpool on the sea surface reappeared, beginning to spin and expand. Bran laughed towards the whirlpool. “I should thank you. Thank you for reminding me—I am the real Monster. A Monster should not have too many human emotions, like Reverence or fear.”

As he spoke, Bran suddenly leaped high and threw himself into the huge whirlpool. His whole body was crushed and scattered by the whirlpool, turning into a trace of ink-black color that mixed into the whirlpool, mixed into Xina’s body.

Xina was horrified and at a loss. The whirlpool suddenly stopped in its rapid spinning. Under the clash of currents, a splash of ink-black water flew out, transforming into the figure of a young man.

“You have no qualification to set conditions with me, nor the capital to guide me in understanding the World. We are the true Predators, a newly emerged existence meant to devour you, the old and decayed. This is the true will of the World and Mana. If I went against this will, accepted your misleading guidance, I would be seeking my own death.”

Xina looked at that ink-black line continuously growing and spreading within its body, almost wanting to cry but having no tears. It wanted to utter a threatening line, but it did not dare. This time it was truly afraid, afraid of this real Monster before it.

The moment Bran’s body was shattered, it sensed the true power hidden behind it, power enough to devour it. It could not let this power continuously seep and grow inside its body. So, it painfully abandoned the part of its body that had become corrupted, and without looking back, plunged into the deep sea.