The White Prison and the Fallen Blood

White. The sky was white, the earth was white—nothing but an endless, boundless expanse of white stretched as far as the eye could see.

Liu Yu found herself here in the blink of an eye. Recalling the last scene etched in her memory, she knew without a doubt who was responsible:

“Ahhh, damn you, Titan! I was kind enough to let you off the hook, and you pull a stunt like this on me? You despicable fiend, you! …Fine, I’ll let you live a little longer, but once I get out of here, I’ll make sure you don’t even have a grave to call your own!”

The girl stomped her foot in indignation, hurling curses at the culprit who had landed her in this predicament. Yet, she knew that no matter how much she ranted, her words wouldn’t reach Titan, wherever he might be. After a spell of furious cursing that left her throat parched, Liu Yu could only plop down onto the ground, fuming, to examine her pristine white surroundings.

“Hmm… is anyone there?”

Her casual cry was met with an immediate response. A section of the white sky distorted, and a kaleidoscopic cube materialized before Liu Yu. It emitted a cacophony of sounds before settling on an elegant woman’s voice:

[Subject 43, how may I assist you?]

“I need to get out!”

Disregarding the strange entity’s true identity, Liu Yu urgently exclaimed. Her mission to defeat Titan remained unfinished, and Wu Liyun’s fate hung in the balance. If she didn’t return swiftly, losing her as a crucial combatant, there was no telling what chaos might erupt in the outside world.

[Subject 43, you do not have the authorization to leave.]

“Oh, really~”

Liu Yu was not one to wait for a thorough explanation before resorting to action, and indeed, that’s precisely what she did. Black [Shadows] surged around her as the girl effortlessly leaped, snatching the hovering cube from the air. She squeezed it tightly, her expression fierce as she threatened:

“If you don’t let me out, you’re dead~”

[I am not a living organism; I have no concept of death. Therefore, your threats are ineffective against me.]

The cube replied, its indifferent tone seemingly confirming the veracity of its statement.

“Then what *are* you?”

Attempting to pry open a crack in the cube, Liu Yu saw that it remained utterly unresponsive. She reluctantly abandoned her threats and inquired.

[I am one of the sub-entities of the ‘Star of Rebirth,’ the administrative body of ‘Crimson Roar,’ responsible for overseeing the ‘Dimensional Prison.’]

“Oh~”

Liu Yu nodded, feigning understanding, before a sudden realization jolted her awake. She shrieked, “You said this is a prison!”

[That is correct, Subject 43. You are currently located within the ‘Artificial Cosmic Prison,’ a facility utilized by Crimson Roar to detain high-risk life forms.]

****

“The blood of a Fallen God… is that what it is!?”

“An ancient legend whispered in this world, or rather, a history deliberately buried and denied by [humans].”

“Before the era of humanity, there was the age ruled by the gods, the era where the [Creators] resided.”

“And what you hold in your hand is the [Fallen Blood] that flowed from one of them.”

“Fallen Blood? Your gods… can they fall too?”

Though Titan feigned a stunned expression, his inner self remained remarkably calm. Just as Liu Yu couldn’t grasp the meaning of his words, he, too, struggled to decipher Chongyun’s intentions. His current display of shock and confusion was merely a tactic to gather more information and project an image of weakness.

After all, the other party also possessed a gem… no, it should now be referred to as the [Blood of a Fallen God].

As long as that item was present, he would be forced to fight in his [Bloodkin] form. Chongyun was clearly well-prepared, and a reckless battle would lead to an unpredictable outcome, so Titan had to seek a new advantage.

Chongyun let out a scoff, his tone thick with disdain. “If humans can devolve into [Black-blooded], why can’t the exalted [Gods] also fall? Under the corrosion of [Black Blood], even the gods of creation would shed [Divine Blood] that should never have existed.”

The crimson gem tumbled in his hand, leaving no doubt that this was the [Divine Blood] Chongyun referred to.

“…That’s hardly the appropriate attitude towards the [Creators] you speak of.”

“And what attitude do you expect me to adopt towards them? Respect? Worship? Or perhaps fervent, ceaseless prayer, day and night?”

Chongyun toyed with the gem in his hand, a sneer on his lips:

“…Hmph, ultimately, these so-called [Gods] are merely a collection of failures who lost their way, trapped in a fleeting moment, forever immersed in an endless cycle of reincarnation. While it may sound cruel, I regret to say that for a new world and a new future… their existence is no longer necessary.”

“…”

Titan frowned. Chongyun’s attitude was peculiar, utterly devoid of reverence for the [Great Ones]. Only disdain, contempt, and even a hint of scorn colored his words.

It was incomprehensible.

The concept of ‘Gods’ was broad.

Throughout his extensive travels, Titan had journeyed to countless vibrant planets and encountered a myriad of ‘Gods.’

Among them were beings so powerful they transcended nature itself, ruling entire planets, proclaiming themselves deities, with none daring to defy their will.

There were also ‘Gods’ who had achieved great feats, genuinely revered by their people, whose legacies would endure for centuries even after their demise.

And then there were ‘Gods’ born from the very laws of the cosmos, maintaining the balance of all things.

Though their forms and methods of existence differed,

they all shared a common trait.

That was immense influence.

Nations, regions, countries, civilizations, planets, the universe… any entity deemed a ‘God’ undeniably possessed the power to influence a specific time and place.

If the [Creators] who forged the world truly existed, they should logically be the greatest and most formidable beings in existence. So why would their own creations disdain them?

The reason for this, he did not know.

Moreover, this was not the time to pursue such truths.

Chongyun’s gaze was predatory, pressuring Titan to make his choice.

On the deserted rooftop of the skyscraper, the red-haired Bloodkin and the uninvited Demonkin stood in stark confrontation.

“Forgive me, but I still don’t want to give up.”

“Oh? Are you truly unwilling to reconsider? I recall you seeking power beyond the ordinary, correct?” Chongyun retrieved the gem, then pulled a spherical object from his pocket:

“Once our [Monarchs] descend, they will undoubtedly rectify this flawed world. Both the ‘High-tier’ Black-blooded and the ‘Heroes’ of the Association will be thoroughly purged, and the power you desire will be granted to you. Therefore, join our side; you possess such potential.”

Faced with Chongyun’s earnest persuasion, Titan remained silent. He knew well that his time for stalling had run out; every word he uttered next could invite a storm of retaliation.

“I refuse,” he stated.

“What a pity. I had hoped we could become [kin] fighting side by side.”

Chongyun sighed, then his expression hardened. “Since you’ve chosen to stand against us, I will no longer hold back.”

He opened his hand, revealing an emblem in his palm adorned with a comical dragon’s head.

“Then, let us begin.”

[Demonic Machine Authentication Initiated]