The True Ancestor’s Reckoning

“Hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph… Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!”

With a single spinning kick, the True Ancestor, inhabiting Godia Scarlett’s body, effortlessly sent both the colossal dragon and Iqiyah Scarlett flying.

Like a bowling ball, Iqiyah Scarlett crashed hard into the crowd of spectating bloodkin behind her, knocking down a swath of onlookers. As she fell, the giant dragon simultaneously dissolved into a shower of light particles, scattering backward.

“Gah-gah-gah-gah, I finally get to savor the taste of this amplification!”

Iqiyah Scarlett struggled to look at the True Ancestor, only to see his already bloated body had swelled to an even more monstrous size. He was so immense that even the Crimson Blood Dragon paled in comparison.

Concurrently, the heads and limbs within his abdomen, previously concealed, now brazenly expanded, flaunting thick necks and brawny arms that writhed like colossal pythons.

“Though I still don’t understand which deity this power truly originates from… I must confess…”

The True Ancestor tilted his head back, his face a mask of intoxicated bliss.

“The first time I witnessed this amplification… I got hard.”

Ugh…

In that instant, Iqiyah Scarlett felt an overwhelming urge to punch the old pervert occupying her father’s body into oblivion. She only regretted her lack of magical power.

“Godia! You’re going too far!”

Witnessing this, even the previously nonchalant bloodkin could no longer stand by idly.

The first to rush forward was the middle-aged man, who immediately positioned himself in front of Iqiyah Scarlett, shielding her firmly behind him.

“Can you at least maintain some princely decorum? She is your daughter, after all!”

“Exactly!” Seeing someone step forward, the other bloodkin were not to be outdone, quickly gathering closer.

“We still have to live our lives, you know! It’s not easy for anyone! Let’s all take a step back!”

However, despite their good intentions, they were unaware that the individual who appeared to be Godia Scarlett was no longer him at all.

“You rebellious traitors…”

As he gazed at the bloodkin surrounding Iqiyah Scarlett, an alarming crimson light suddenly erupted from the True Ancestor’s eyes.

“A pack of petty, scheming wretches… abandoning the bonds of kinship for a paltry bit of profit…”

“Nothing more than refuse, fouler and baser than even the Scarletts themselves…”

Extending his hands, two black blades materialized from the void, settling into the True Ancestor’s grasp.

“It’s fortunate you’re all here today… I shall settle accounts with you now!”

With one in front and one behind, the True Ancestor raised his black swords. Their inky blades devoured all light, reflecting not even a single speck of color.

Meanwhile, Seraphina Scarlett, standing nearby, wore a blank expression. Her long black hair billowed around her as her body slowly ascended into the air, swaying like seaweed submerged in water.

“…”

Murmuring disordered, incomprehensible words, Seraphina Scarlett chanted amplification after amplification in a voice no one could discern.

Simultaneously, golden magic circles descended from above, crashing down upon Godia Scarlett’s body as if plummeting from the sky.

Unlike Seraphina Scarlett’s previous amplifications, these magic circles were not purely golden. A black ring encircled their periphery, tightly containing the golden light and preventing any leakage.

“This… this power…” At that moment, an elder bloodkin recognized the energy. “Could it be the True Ancestor!?”

“Hmph, hmph… So you finally recognize it?”

In an instant, Godia Scarlett’s power visibly multiplied, surging wildly and fiercely.

“Too bad! It’s too late!”

Wielding the black blades, a pair of dark, feathered wings erupted from behind the True Ancestor, blotting out the sky.

In a flash, complete darkness enveloped the bloodkin.

“No! It’s the True Ancestor! Everyone, retreat—”

Before the words could fully escape, the speaker suddenly swayed and was swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

Witnessing their kin vanish into the shadows, the bloodkin immediately devolved into chaos, screaming and swarming in an attempt to flee the room.

Thus, amidst the darkness and pandemonium, the True Ancestor’s massacre began.

Countless footsteps scrambled in disarray, and countless screams abruptly ceased.

One after another, the bloodkin disappeared into the darkness. Though most of them possessed formidable power, they remained as insignificant as ripples in a pond before the True Ancestor’s encroaching shadows and Seraphina Scarlett’s bolstering magic.

“Tsk…!”

Iqiyah Scarlett had barely managed to scramble to her feet before she was knocked down again by the fleeing bloodkin.

Ironically, the very bloodkin who had initially stood before her, intending to protect her, now became her greatest obstacle to escape.

Splayed on the ground, Iqiyah Scarlett looked back, realizing the darkness was now frighteningly close.

‘This is bad!’

Just as Iqiyah Scarlett was about to be swallowed by the void, a hand suddenly seized her, pulling her back from the precipice of death.

“Se-Seraphina Scarlett!?”

“No, it’s not Seraphina Scarlett.”

Gripping Iqiyah Scarlett, Levian instantly teleported. In a blink, she bypassed the throngs of people and reached a safe zone.

“Le-Levian… Boo hoo…”

Perhaps it was escaping the battlefield, or perhaps the surging crowd, but the previously resolute Iqiyah Scarlett’s eyes instantly welled with tears. Collapsing to the ground, she clutched Levian’s skirt, sobbing softly.

“Seraphina Scarlett… Seraphina Scarlett, she…”

“Oh, calm down, calm down.”

Unlike Iqiyah Scarlett’s distress, Levian remained remarkably composed.

Likely seizing the opportunity to have Iqiyah Scarlett all to herself, Levian gently lifted her, pressing her head firmly against her chest.

“In my opinion… Seraphina Scarlett hasn’t lost yet.”

“Not lost?” Iqiyah Scarlett looked up, frowning as she complained, “Levian, are you being foolish? Seraphina Scarlett has clearly been possessed by the True Ancestor…”

“No.”

Levian pointed towards a faint, glowing red in the distant room.

“Have you forgotten?”

“That was… the hope you personally handed to Lady Seraphina Scarlett.”

****

Within the white space.

“You’ve lost, Cardo.”

Having merged with Seraphina Scarlett, Seraphina Scarlett (the True Ancestor) slowly straightened her body, swaying like a marionette.

“Ultimately, I killed Seraphina Scarlett’s consciousness and took over her body…”

“I can see outside.”

The True Ancestor surveyed the pristine white surroundings. “With Seraphina Scarlett’s amplification, I am unstoppable, unrivaled.”

“Victory leans toward me!”

“Now… I can take a good look at what you truly are.”

Controlling Seraphina Scarlett’s body, the True Ancestor shuffled like a zombie, dragging her form to Cardo’s side.

“Sniff, sniff…”

Seizing Cardo’s hands and lifting her white arms high, Seraphina Scarlett’s nose brushed against the misty surroundings.

“Hmm… strange. Godia Scarlett was right; there truly is an aura of an Outer God here.”

“So, may I infer… that you are merely a proxy set here by some Outer God?”

“A proxy?”

Cardo looked at the face buried beneath the arms, letting out a cold laugh.

“Indeed, True Ancestor, you truly cannot become a god.”

“You haven’t even touched the threshold of godhood, nor do you comprehend the essence of a divine aura… You are destined never to become an entity like your master.”

“Tch…” The True Ancestor spun her head, twisting her features into a fierce expression, and pressed her face—almost identical to Cardo’s—close to Cardo’s nose. “Just watch… once I’ve propagated enough [Fragments], I shall ascend to the ranks of my great master.”

“Oh, really?” Cardo’s smile remained unwavering. “Do you truly believe… the Goddess of Life would be so benevolent?”

“Silence!”

With a sharp slap, the True Ancestor struck fiercely at Cardo’s delicate face.

“I will not allow you to slander her!”

To her surprise, however, her palm passed directly through Cardo’s face, striking only empty air.

“A god… cannot be desecrated, cannot be touched.”

As the True Ancestor’s expression shifted to one of shock, Cardo’s body slowly drew nearer.

Extending her hand, Cardo’s arm shimmered with a golden sheen, then simply passed through the True Ancestor’s body.

“Wha-what are you doing!?” Seeing her body pierced, the True Ancestor hastily recoiled. “Don’t touch me!”

“Oh?” Noticing her panicked reaction, Cardo smiled playfully. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you just pressing yourself against me, quite intimately? Why are you resisting now?”

“Tsk… I don’t know what you’re planning…” The True Ancestor retreated step by step, with Cardo relentlessly pursuing.

She fled, Cardo pursued, and she had no wings to escape.

“But this looks ominous!”

“Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous. I merely wish to retrieve something from this body.”

Fumbling across Seraphina Scarlett’s body, Cardo finally ceased her searching hands at the chest, a smile gracing her lips.

“Haha, found it!”

Pulling out a red necklace, Cardo’s face lit up with delight.

“The [Blood Essence Necklace]. With this, I can reclaim Seraphina Scarlett from your grasp.”

“Haha, wishful thinking!”

Confronted with an item that could potentially turn the tables, the True Ancestor simply laughed maniacally.

“What good will obtaining it do? I have already reverted Seraphina Scarlett’s soul back to that of a human. For her soul, [Essence Blood] will be ineffective!”

“Hmph… I told you, you can’t become a god, can you?”

Holding the chain of the [Blood Essence Necklace], Cardo swung it, forming a shimmering disc.

“To become a god, it’s best to have a vivid imagination~”

Raising the [Blood Essence Necklace] high, Cardo stood tall, a confident smile playing on her lips.

“Now, allow me to give you a small divine shock~❤”