The Scales of Resistance and a Sudden Ambush

“And so, Lord Titan, we bid farewell.”

A deafening roar echoed in his ears, followed by a surging, irresistible force.

“A guttural groan tore from Titan’s throat. Even with the formidable physique of a Bloodkin, this immense power was far too overwhelming. In mere breaths, he would be utterly crushed.

‘At this critical juncture, he had no choice but to stake everything on one desperate gamble.’

A deep blue radiance surged from Titan’s wrist, enveloping his entire form in the span of a single breath.

“What is this?” The familiar light coalesced into an intense sense of foreboding in Chongyun’s heart. To prevent any unforeseen complications, he tightened his crushing grip and, with his free hand, unleashed a devastating punch at Titan.

A sickening crunch. The next instant, a crimson spray erupted.

‘I missed…’

Chongyun clamped a hand over his severed arm. From the smooth, clean cut, droplets of blood, flecked with tiny black points, welled forth and splattered conspicuously onto the ground. He cast a sharp glance at Titan, who, having narrowly escaped death, had already put a significant distance between them.

–A cerulean aura swirled around Titan, like a constellation orbiting a central star. This was the very force that had severed Chongyun’s arm, the [Unknown] entity that had breached Fafnir’s formidable defenses.

“Is this an Armament?” Chongyun questioned, a flicker of recognition in his gaze. The blue radiance emanating from Titan evoked memories of the standard-issue hunter weapons he had encountered—the Armaments. Yet, the notion was impossible.

Through Fafnir’s inherent abilities, he had long since deciphered the very composition of Armaments. Thus, no human-made Armament should have been capable of harming him, much less severing his arm.

“You guess…” Titan managed to rasp, leaning heavily against a shattered pillar. Though he had momentarily eluded Chongyun’s grasp, it was a far cry from true safety. The virulent poison, [Burning Heart Syndrome], had already infiltrated his very core, relentlessly incinerating him from within. Without a means to counteract its effects, this path would inevitably lead to his demise.

“Truth be told, I’ve always harbored a curiosity. Why did Armaments—weapons that seemingly held no place in human history—abruptly manifest in this era?” Chongyun continued, his gaze piercing. “Initially, I assumed they were merely new trinkets fashioned by those so-called Heroes, but the power you wield has utterly altered my perspective.”

Even as he spoke, a new arm began to sprout from Chongyun’s severed stump. Such potent regenerative capabilities were merely a fundamental trait of the Black-blooded, and Fafnir, of course, was no exception.

“Possessing properties akin to Armaments, yet far surpassing their inherent limitations—you truly harbor a multitude of secrets, Lord Titan, a being of the [Unknown]!”

[Unnamed energy u58 analysis complete. Scales of Resistance generated. Initiate upload?]

“Upload.”

[Uploading…]

[…Upload complete]

Fafnir possessed the formidable ability to analyze and comprehend any phenomenon, then manifest corresponding [Scales of Resistance]. By imbuing himself with the appropriate [Scales of Resistance], he could achieve immunity to all damage of a similar nature. Seizing the opportune moment of their exchange, Fafnir had swiftly analyzed the unique damage inflicted by Titan. This implied one crucial fact: Titan was now utterly incapable of harming him.

With steps heavier than before, the demonic dragon commenced its renewed hunt.

“…This is none of your concern.” Titan’s terse reply did little to mask the underlying weakness in his voice. Confronted by the steadily advancing behemoth, he stumbled into a frantic retreat, continuously directing the blue light to barrage Chongyun as he fought and withdrew.

“It’s useless. Fafnir has already comprehended the very nature of your power.” Chongyun moved with astonishing speed, surging through the encirclement, heedless of the blue light that struck him. The enigmatic attack that had once severed his arm could now barely graze him—such was the absolute defense afforded by the [Scales of Resistance].

With a resounding “Boom!” Fafnir shattered the broken pillar blocking his path, the sheer force of the blow causing the entire building to tremble violently. Seizing the opportunity afforded by the falling debris and the resulting thick cloud of smoke and dust, Titan vanished, his form utterly obscured.

“Cease your futile resistance, Lord Titan. I have no desire to end your life at this moment. Simply surrender the [Divine Blood], and I shall ensure your wounds are healed.” This was no idle promise. If his suspicions were correct, the secrets Titan possessed were truly astounding, capable of reshaping the very fabric of the world. He would not resort to killing Titan unless all other options were exhausted.

Alas, his earnest counsel met with not a single reply, only the clatter of falling debris and the fleeting glimpse of a furtive figure slipping away into the ruins.

“Is power truly so paramount to you?” Chongyun sighed, a sound heavy with resignation. While the relative importance of life and power was a matter of individual perspective, Titan’s profound reverence for the [Divine Blood] had reached a degree Chongyun simply could not fathom. ‘Does he still hope to turn the tide?’

Chongyun shook his head, then, with a seemingly effortless leap, landed directly in front of the stumbling figure. His colossal form not only eclipsed the outside sunlight but also effectively barred Titan’s path of escape.

Their eyes met, a tense standoff in the narrow confines. Titan, caught, whirled to flee, only for Chongyun to effortlessly snatch him up. The ease with which he did so was akin to plucking a mere chick from the ground.

“Come with me, Lord Titan.” The battle had reached its definitive conclusion; victory was secured.

‘At last, the objective is fulfilled,’ Chongyun mused, a wave of profound relief washing over him.

The next step was simply to devise a means of breaching the defenses established by The Supervisory Bureau, and then this mission would be complete. Alone, he could certainly arrive and depart at will; no external forces could hope to impede him. However, extracting the uncooperative Lord Titan would require a modicum of cleverness. ‘Hmm… it appears a direct breakthrough is the only option.’

His investigations over the past while revealed that most of Dongchuan’s Hunters had been redeployed for joint operations elsewhere. The current Supervisory Bureau, therefore, could not possibly possess any “humans” capable of harming Fafnir. Though he felt a twinge of regret towards Roza, it seemed a significant disturbance would be unavoidable for their departure.

Through several overlapping layers of space, Chongyun clearly discerned the humans constructing their defenses. He murmured to himself: “How truly pathetic. In this era ravaged by the Black-blooded, the feeble resistance of humanity will only hasten their destined annihilation. Unless, that is, they manage to embark upon the [Evolution Path]…”

Knowing escape was futile, Titan seemed to shed his burden, engaging in a desultory conversation: “…But aren’t there still the Heroes? From what I understand, the power they wield is more than sufficient to guarantee humanity’s stability.”

To have preserved a fragile humanity through an age overrun by the Black-blooded, those Heroes must undoubtedly possess power beyond imagination. It was even conceivable that they could contend with the High-level Species Chongyun had only encountered once.

“Hmph… To pin your hopes on those Demons who know only destruction, never creation?” Titan’s words elicited a derisive scoff from Chongyun. His otherwise impassive dragon head now displayed a distinctly anthropomorphic sneer. “That is, without question, the most laughable jest I’ve heard in recent memory. Humanity’s future ought to be forged by humanity itself, not dictated by the lackeys of those Crows.”

He continued, his voice laced with venom, “Ultimately, this very world, steeped in chaos, was meticulously crafted by those self-proclaimed Heroes. To rely on them? The already shattered [Outside World] stands as a stark testament to such folly!”

Titan remained noncommittal, his mind churning with the implications of Chongyun’s words. In the eyes of Chongyun’s faction, the existence of “Heroes” appeared even more egregious than the Black-blooded, subtly insinuated as the very fount of all evil, the genesis of every calamity. Yet, from a human standpoint, the undeniable truth remained: “Heroes” safeguarded humanity. They championed the embers of civilization, ushering peace back into the world. They were, in every sense of the word, true Heroes. Had he been forced to choose between these two factions before, he would undoubtedly have sided with the Heroes. But now…

“Hm?” What was that? High on the ceiling, a dark silhouette abruptly invaded his peripheral vision. Focusing his gaze, he saw a girl, inverted, defying gravity as she sprinted across the ceiling without emitting a single sound.

“This is…?” As if sensing she had been detected, the girl abruptly accelerated, covering the distance to hover directly above them in a mere breath. Her familiar features prompted Titan to involuntarily murmur: “Vanguard…?”

It was the identical face of a renowned Hero, one of the very individuals they had just been discussing. For whom had she come? Chongyun? Or the clandestine forces he represented? There was no time left for a warning. Vanguard, rising onto the balls of her feet, clutched a grotesque demonic sword in her right hand. With a lethal surge of killing intent, she plunged it directly downwards. This was an ambush, utterly without warning.

“Look out!”