The Thinking Reeds and a Demonic Transformation

Blood…

Blood everywhere…

Vivid crimson blood… devoid of any black, human blood.

Hands, feet, heads so disfigured their features were beyond recognition… The bodies of ‘humans’ lay dismembered, scattered haphazardly across the interior of the house.

Returning home, they were met with a scene of utter carnage, a sight too gruesome to bear.

“Aier, close your eyes, don’t look!!”

“Sister…”

“Ah… ah… Hmph…”

Their eyes wide with horror, hands clamped over their mouths, the three girls who had arrived together froze at the doorway, rooted to the spot.

“Oh~ you’re back, are you? Sooner than I expected.”

—It was the woman’s voice.

Standing amidst this horrific tableau was a woman clad in tight black armor, clutching a long, jet-black spear.

Her posture was upright, her aura formidable; she was, apart from a slightly disappointing bust, virtually flawless. Yet, a full-face helmet obscured her features, frustrating any attempt to discern her true appearance and leaving one to sigh in regret.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned, facing them directly and without reservation, a terrifying wave of killing intent washing over them.

However, one person’s attention was drawn to the spear.

More precisely, to its tip.

Impaled there was half of a ‘human’ arm.

It seemed to proclaim the identity of the ‘true culprit’ behind this horrific tragedy.

‘…’

Their bodies trembled, tears streaming uncontrollably down their cheeks.

Their worst premonitions had materialized into reality.

Despair and sorrow enveloped their hearts.

“You…”

“Really… how many times have I told you?”

The woman swung her spear, flicking the ‘arm’ into a corner, then strode towards the three girls, her voice utterly devoid of concern:

“When you encounter ‘humans,’ you need to report it to your superiors immediately and bring them to the institute. Honestly, I shouldn’t have to come all the way here just to clean up.”

“Why…?”

“Why what? My work is done, I’m going back. I’m a very busy person, I don’t have time to chat with you here.”

“Why can you do such a thing with such utter lack of mercy!”

Collapsing helplessly to her knees, the silver-haired girl let out a cry of anguish:

“They merely wanted… merely wanted to live…”

The ‘humans’ who had departed with laughter and hopes for the future had returned as dismembered corpses, their limbs torn asunder.

‘It’s impossible… impossible to comprehend…’

“Don’t you… don’t any of you have a shred of ‘humanity’ left?!”

“…Huh? You think this is my fault?”

The woman gestured to her head, and even through the helmet, the silver-haired girl could sense her bewilderment.

“Don’t misunderstand, Miss Liu Yu. Ultimately, you were the ones who failed to follow regulations first.”

The woman crouched down, gripping the silver-haired girl’s chin, forcing her tear-filled eyes to meet those crimson, inhuman ones.

“‘Humans’ who have fallen from the ‘mythos’ must be immediately brought in for ‘registration.’ Isn’t that an ironclad rule that every ‘demon’ residing ‘here’ should engrave upon their hearts?”

‘…’

Liu Yu closed her eyes.

“Heh, yet you took it upon yourself to hide them in your home. Oh my, when did you become so bold? And these ‘humans’ must have escaped during the chaos, right? If they were to undergo Bloodkin Transformation here…”

“…Send them to their deaths, then?”

The girl abruptly cut off the woman’s words.

“Those who manage to emerge alive from there are few and far between, often none at all. Taking them back…”

“Isn’t that just sending them to their deaths!”

The woman fell silent for a moment, then let out a scoffing laugh:

“Hahahahaha—”

“…Still so naive, so full of ‘saintly’ compassion, Miss Liu Yu. It was indeed my mistake to expect any growth from you, wasn’t it?”

“Since you’re unwilling to face it, allow me to tell you once more.”

“—In this world, in this era, there is no place for ‘ordinary people.’ They have no right to ‘live’ freely. They either become ‘demons’ or perish from ‘Bloodkin Transformation.’ There are only these two paths, no other way.”

“Do you understand?!”

“No, I don’t!”

A louder roar was her answer.

The silver-haired girl clenched her fists, lifting her head, her gaze holding something the woman couldn’t decipher.

The woman paused, startled, but quickly recovered, a smile returning to her face. “Actually, there’s a saying I’m quite fond of. Would you like to hear it?”

Ignoring the silver-haired girl’s resentful stare, the woman continued:

“—Humans are thinking reeds.”

“They are fragile, weak, and powerless. As the ‘mythos’ continuously shatters, they ‘fall’ into this world in an endless stream. Isn’t that just like reeds? Cut one batch down, and another will grow back after a while.”

“So, do you understand? No one cares about the countless ‘humans,’ who are like cockroaches.”

“But fortunately, they still serve a purpose as ‘nutrients,’ which allows them to cling to life in this world for a short time.”

“During this time, no matter how much they pray, no matter how they call upon their gods, it will be useless.”

“After all, livestock… have no gods.”

****

‘Hatred… endless hatred…’

‘Not just Chongyun’s, but Liu Yu’s as well.’

‘The two streams of hatred converged.’

‘Unleashing an unimaginable ’emotion.”

The ‘deity’ rejoiced as if discovering a treasure.

[Indeed, this is what I desire.]

[You are truly different from ‘ordinary humans’ after all!]

[This long-lost ’emotion’ is precisely what I need!]

If Chongyun had previously not understood why the Unnamed God, hidden within the gem, had suddenly spoken, he now grasped the reason through this ’emotion.’

‘Emptiness… no purpose… no trace… utterly devoid… nothing at all…’

‘Hence its craving for everything, its yearning for ‘change.”

‘Intense ‘hatred’ was precisely what had drawn it forth.’

‘However, this was still not enough.’

‘To activate [Fictional Mythos], this level was far from sufficient.’

Under the deity’s guidance, he called out to the Bloodkin walking ahead.

“Titan!”

Then, amidst Titan’s bewildered expression, Chongyun extended his hand:

“Hand over the ‘Divine Blood’ in your possession.”

“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? Didn’t I just say… Er… er… What did you do?”

‘I can’t move… I can’t move at all…’

‘My body and mind felt separated; no matter how I willed them, they wouldn’t budge.’

“What… did… you… do?”

It wasn’t until a crimson light drifted from him that Titan regained the ability to move.

“Thank you.”

Without answering Titan’s question, Chongyun took the Divine Blood, offering a soft thank you. Then, under Titan’s astonished gaze, he swallowed it in one gulp.

“Ugh… Hah… AAAAAAAH—”

As if enduring immense agony, Chongyun bowed his head, clutching his chest tightly, while veins suddenly bulged across his exposed skin.

‘Ultimately… it’s just… a human body…’

[Demonic Machine authentication initiated]

[…………]

[…………]

[Demonic Machine: Fafnir login approved]

Darkness surged, and the metallic dragon-human once again stood tall upon the earth.