Chapter 385: Interlude, After the Thunder God Comes the Progenitor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 385: Interlude, After the Thunder God Comes the Progenitor
There were several reasons why Shei disguised herself as a man.
First, to safely land in Tantalus in this timeline. Unsure of the exact trigger to get there, she had to be arrested by the Military State. But simply disarming and letting herself be captured by the State would be foolish. So she chose a method that would summon someone with authority.
That someone was Sunderspear Patraxion. A knight of the old kingdom and the Northern Commander of the Military State, a man who revered duels. Shei provoked Patraxion by defeating the State's soldiers one by one, and he promptly rushed over to duel her.
That was all it took. Patraxion loved to duel, but he had no interest in taking lives or property. If she fought him for a while and then hinted at wanting to fight strong opponents in Tantalus, he would laugh heartily and personally throw her in. However, he had a daughter around Shei's age, which would have complicated the process had she not been disguised as a man. Older men always have a soft spot for girls who remind them of their daughters.
And the second reason, which was perhaps more fundamental, was that Shei simply found it more convenient to be a man.
This was a world where chosen prophets and saintesses openly existed. If Shei, a Regressor, acted like she knew the future, she would naturally be mistaken for a Saintess. Perhaps it wasn't a misunderstanding, but the title of Saintess was not a very useful one for Shei, who needed to uncover all sorts of secrets. To avoid being tracked or raising suspicion, Shei often changed her appearance and attire.
That was what Agartha’s Mask was for.
A treasure obtained from the southern untamed lands, where countless tribes were scattered in every direction. Wearing it allowed her to change her appearance without much effort. And so, Shei frequently changed her identity.
But Agartha’s Mask was not omnipotent. It only implanted an impression, making others believe... but in the end, it was a matter of perception and faith. When the truth was so clearly revealed, as it was now, the mask was useless.
She had been found out by the worst possible person at the worst possible time. Shei clutched her torn collar and opened her mouth.
“No. This is…”
“It is fine, Shei. You need not make excuses.”
But surprisingly, it was Tyrkanzyaka who dismissed it so casually. Tyrkanzyaka tilted her parasol further and let out a small sigh.
“So that is why your blood tasted so good. There were a few other suspicious things, but this clears up most of them.”
“Huh? Uh? Are you okay with this?”
“It is bewildering, but what difference does it make? A man loving another man makes no sense. A woman disguised as a man is far more plausible.”
“That’s a real misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding? If loving a man is the misunderstanding, then do you prefer women? Perhaps your friendliness toward me, the Princess, or the Thunderarch was…?”
“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant!”
Despite her frantic excuses, Shei felt a wave of relief. Tyrkanzyaka remained composed, as if this little incident was nothing. It was hard to imagine the emotionally steady Tyrkanzyaka changing her attitude over something like this.
Hilde spoke up.
“You lack sensitivity! We live in an age where men can be with men, and women with women! If anything, cross-dressing is stranger!”
“...? But they cannot have children that way, can they?”
“You shouldn’t get hung up on such trivial things! Love isn’t just for making babies, you know?”
“That is also true. Even for vampires, the emotion of love… Hmm, but I do not think now is the time for such a discussion.”
Tyrkanzyaka cut herself off and chided Hilde with an annoyed look.
“How amusing that you think I would move according to your will. Did you truly believe a single word from you would make me change my mind so easily?”
“Oh my~. This is a bit unexpected~.”
“Would the sea of blood churn so lightly? I stopped being a fool who is swayed by cunning words over a thousand years ago.”
Vampires are inherently stoic, but a human who has lived for a thousand years is more than stoic; they are tempered. It is not a matter of dulled senses, but of accumulated experience.
“I know it well. The arrogance of those who try to create the future they have seen. The unpleasantness that arises when they try to realize it. Hilde, you may be disappointed, but I do not feel that unpleasantness from Shei…”
Tyrkanzyaka paused, choosing her words carefully.
“Is that so? There were definitely times she acted like she knew everything, weren't there?”
“...I will not deny it. There were times I wanted to strike her. But I never felt a disgusting arrogance from her.”
Hilde pressed on.
“Really? Even though she cle~early knows the future and has treasures of the Sky God? Chun-aeng and Rene's Pocket. Who else but the Sanctum would have those?”
“Is she not trying to defy the future? In Shei, I sense that will more strongly than any prophet’s arrogance. What she has done before me and what she will do is more important than what she is, is it not?”
Relief washed over Shei, starting from her fingertips. Everything she had built up until now had not been in vain. Shei had made an effort, and Tyrkanzyaka trusted her.
It was only natural. At the end of the world, Shei had rushed about, embracing both light and darkness. Especially after saving the Doctor Sage and working with her, she had even interacted with and helped the vampires she had once considered only enemies. A bond forged at that time would surely be enough…
...But wait, when exactly was this bond formed? Just as Shei was trying to recall, Tyrkanzyaka spoke with a benevolent smile.
“So, tell me just one thing. If you do, I will continue to stand with you.”
But no matter how benevolent she seemed, she was the Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka. The great enemy of the Sanctum, the Queen of Shadow. She had lived that way for a thousand years, and a short time with Shei and Hughes would not change her fundamental nature.
As she had said, the sea is calm. The sea of blood is not swayed by a momentary squall. Her essence would not change just because she had spent a few days with Shei.
“Shei. When I lead my bloody crusade against the Sanctum, help me, and bring me the head of the Saintess.”
As Shei froze at the gruesome proposal, Tyrkanzyaka pretended not to notice and continued smoothly.
“I am not asking you to do it all. I do not wish to burden you so. But just one. One is enough. Do you have the will to do it?”
Shei realized it instinctively. This was a test—no, a chance. A final chance to lie and say she was on her side.
Nodding here wouldn't mean she had to attack the Saintess immediately. How long would it be before the Saintess and Tyrkanzyaka faced each other directly? It might not even happen before the King of Sins appeared.
There was a way out of her current predicament. All she had to do was nod, or perhaps side with the vampires for this timeline only.
But… Shei’s mouth moved on its own.
“I can’t.”
The corners of Tyrkanzyaka’s mouth slowly hardened like dried blood, but it couldn't be helped.
She could escape this situation with a lie. But the Sanctum had helped her many times. Having received their help and grown attached, Shei had no intention of excluding them from the future she was trying to reach.
“I’m going to stop the apocalypse. The Sanctum and the Saintesses are my greatest allies. It will be difficult without their help, and I don’t want to try.”
Honesty is not always a virtue. A sweet lie might have led to a better outcome.
But Shei had to be honest. She wasn't skilled enough to show a different face to everyone in every timeline while still remaining herself.
And Tyrkanzyaka knew this when she asked.
It was just as Hilde had designed. She must have known from the beginning. That given their personalities, there was an inevitable… point of conflict.
“Is that so…”
Tyrkanzyaka sighed softly. With that small breath, she severed the last shred of their bond.
It was not without regret, but it was something she had done countless times over her thousand years. Not with resolution, but with mere familiarity.
Snap. The emotion was gone. Tyrkanzyaka faced Shei with calm eyes.
“This is where it ends. It was quite enjoyable.”
She turned to leave, as if shaking off her feelings. Shei called out desperately.
“Wait. Hold on. If the apocalypse comes, all of this will be over!”
“Is that not also a prophecy? As long as you lack the will to forsake prophecy, it will bind you and repeat itself. I offer this as my sincere advice.”
“No, it’s real! The King of Sins will kill everyone! You, me, even Hughes! You’re okay with that—!”
In that instant, Tyrkanzyaka glared at Shei, and a pitch-black energy cascaded down like a waterfall. Shei raised her arms to shield her face.
It wasn't particularly threatening, but the message of rejection was clear. Tyrkanzyaka warned the motionless Shei in a low voice.
“Do not speak of Hughes. A moment ago, you abandoned him with your choice.”
“What are you talking about? I never abandoned him! He’s not even a vampire.”
“No. You may not know it, but you most certainly did.”
“What do you mean?!”
Shei did not know that Hughes was the King of Humans. It was an open secret by now, but Tyrkanzyaka had no intention of telling her.
Having fought the Sanctum directly, Tyrkanzyaka believed in the existence of prophecies. But she did not believe their content. The prophecy itself might be true, but there was no guarantee that those who delivered it spoke only the truth.
She had trusted Shei the person because of her consistent actions. Shei's words existed only as words, not necessarily as truth. Tyrkanzyaka had embarked on this journey making a clear distinction between the two.
And during their travels, Tyrkanzyaka had learned something new.
The King of Sins that Shei was trying to stop might, in fact, be the King of Humans. And Hughes was likely that king.
Long ago, the Five Sovereigns were said to have killed the King of Humans and divided his power. If that legend was true, then perhaps the 'King of Sins' was a slanderous fabrication, or maybe the Sanctum simply feared the king's return.
If Shei was even slightly involved with the Sanctum, then for Hughes's sake, distancing herself from Shei was the only way, like it or not. If Shei were to try to kill Hughes beforehand, Tyrkanzyaka would have no way to save him short of turning him into a vampire. Fueled by her hatred for the Sanctum and her desire to protect someone precious, Tyrkanzyaka spoke with the same sarcasm she would use against a prophet.
“Why don’t you find out with that precious foresight of yours?”
“It’s not foresight…! Hmph. I’ll just talk to him myself! Where is Hughes?”
Perhaps he could solve this dilemma. Perhaps he could mediate with that easy smile of his. Just as Shei spoke his name with a sliver of hope...
Tyrkanzyaka swung her parasol fiercely. Like black ink swallowing the world, a powerful darkness surged along its trajectory. This time, the attack was clearly meant to harm. Shei had no choice but to counter, swinging Chun-aeng. Having swallowed lightning, Chun-aeng tore through the darkness with a clap of thunder.
Tyr's voice cut through the scattering darkness and the echoing thunder.
“If you truly intend to abandon us and follow the Sanctum.”
“That’s not my intention—!”
A pale white hand reached for Shei as she retorted. It was Tyrkanzyaka’s hand, far faster than Shei had anticipated.
After regaining her heart, she could no longer extend her Bloodcraft outside her body. Instead, she had gained monstrous physical strength, as if she had converted all that power into Qi. Getting caught in her grip would be dangerous. Sensing this instinctively, Shei reflexively reached out with her other hand.
Jizan. The sword of no recoil. The relic of the Grand Master, which the unworthy cannot wield. She lightly parried the approaching hand with Jizan. Just that simple act sent a heavy thudding sensation up her arm.
Above the crouched Shei, two crimson eyes glowed red in the darkness. The Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka, was looking down at her.
With clear hostility.
“I will carve into your very body the meaning of becoming my enemy.”
She had faced her once before. Although she had been under Finlay’s control at the time, her power had been sickeningly immense. The dark knights she commanded were practically infinite, forcing a war of attrition with near-limitless resources, and even if one reached her main body, there was no real way to harm her.
Back then, she had been manipulated by a low-level vampire, and she had been easily brought back to her senses thanks to Hughes coming up with the idea of an electric shock… But what about now, with her will intact? And what if her own body was now just as dangerous?
But still.
“…Bring it on!”
Chun-aeng, Jizan, the Thunder God—they were all meant for facing great enemies. Shei swung Jizan in an arc, knocking Tyrkanzyaka’s arm away. No matter how strong she was, she could not resist the earth itself. As Tyrkanzyaka was thrown back, Shei shouted in frustration.
“Stop being so stubborn! I need you! You, the Sanctum, Azzy, and Hughes! If we don’t work together, no one will survive what’s coming!”
“One has only two hands. To grasp something new, one must first let go of what is already held. That is the way of the world.”
“To hell with the way of the world! If I don’t force everyone together, it’s the end!”
“Then let us call it my selfish heart. I am a jealous woman and do not wish to share.”
Though she said it to mock Shei, the image that flashed through Tyrkanzyaka’s mind was of Hughes chatting casually with Shei. He never showed it openly, but she knew instinctively that he was always concerned about Shei. Until now, she had believed them both to be men, but now that Shei was revealed to be a woman…
“Let us have an ugly lover’s quarrel.”
With a bit of genuine feeling, Tyrkanzyaka stomped her foot down, hard.
There is a technique called Tremor Step. The moment the foot lands, Qi is driven into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. Without exceptional control, one’s foot would simply sink into the ground, or the sole would burst from the Qi.
However, Tyrkanzyaka succeeded in an extraordinary way.
Unable to withstand the immense impact, the sole of her foot exploded for an instant. It was, quite literally, for an instant. Wielding absolute dominion over all blood, Tyrkanzyaka’s original blood returned to its place as if nothing had happened.
But that fleeting moment was enough.
Enough to spread the shock throughout the entire Lightning Tower.
Even for the Lightning Tower, which could effortlessly channel away lightning, the Progenitor’s blood energy was too powerful. Kugugung. The Lightning Tower, upon which the sea of blood had descended, began to tilt.