[488] Fourth Progenitor
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Golden noble phantasms shot forth from the rippling Gate of Babylon, piercing the air.
Kojou Akatsuki was like a sitting duck, riddled with countless weapons in the blink of an eye.
Yet even so, he clung to life. As a progenitor, he bore the "Curse of the Gods"—an immortality that ensured he'd never die.
Even if torn to pieces, he'd eventually revive. He was undying.
"Come forth—Fourth Familiar: Natra-Cinereus!"
Kojou coughed up blood, struggling to summon his last remaining familiar.
In a daze, a silver-armored beast materialized behind him, followed by an overwhelming fog that enveloped everything around.
The Natra-Cinereus was an amplified version of a vampire's mistification ability. Within its range, living beings and structures alike could be reduced to mist, losing their original form and substance.
August smirked at the sight. In the next instant, a torrent of terrifying magic descended.
Above, a rift tore through the sky, and a colossal gate loomed overhead.
Darkness fell, dispelling the fog. Kojou Akatsuki, Yuma Tokoyogi, and Mimori Akatsuki—previously vanished in the mist—reappeared amidst the ruins of the research lab.
Roar!
Fenrir seized the moment, lunging forward and biting off the upper half of the Silver Mist Shell.
With that, all five of Kojou's familiars were slain, dealing him the heaviest blow he'd ever endured.
Spurt!
A shadow blade forged from the Dragon's Shadow streaked through the air, dismembering Kojou in swift, brutal strikes.
"Argh!!!"
His arms, legs, and even his torso were cleaved in two, yet Kojou still lived. But as a former ordinary high schooler, he'd never experienced such torment.
His agonized screams shattered Mimori's heart. She wanted to rush to her son's aid, but she couldn't get near.
"Kojou Akatsuki, do you understand now? You're too weak. Because of your weakness, your mother stands there, watching you wail in agony, her heart breaking, powerless to help. Because of your weakness, you can't protect anyone."
By now, Crimson Queen had restrained Yuma Tokoyogi and Mimori Akatsuki. From the corner of his eye, Kojou could see it all.
Rage! Hatred! Murderous intent!
A torrent of negative energy and the power of sin began rising from Kojou's body.
August grinned. Anger—Kojou was consumed by it. As the embodiment of wrath, August could unilaterally declare Kojou's end.
Spurt!
August drew a sword radiating holy light—a poison to dark beings like vampires.
With a thrust, it pierced Kojou's chest, once again sparing his heart.
Kojou glared at August, his eyes brimming with resentment. Blood filled his throat, choking his words, leaving him coughing up crimson.
After a while, August's fury subsided. As for Kojou, he still lived.
The divine curse meant that, barring specific counters, he'd recover even from being hacked to pieces.
Whoosh!
At that moment, a graceful figure appeared.
"Hm? Where am I? August? Red Dragon Emperor? Fenrir?"
Esdeath, with her ice-blue hair and navy-style uniform, surveyed her surroundings in confusion.
"Esdeath, this is my gift to you. Take this card and crush it over him."
"Hm? What incredible vitality. What is he? Still alive after being torn apart—how fascinating."
Esdeath eyed the dismembered yet surviving Kojou with keen interest.
Beyond her love for war and combat, Esdeath reveled in torturing and tormenting the guilty. An unkillable subject like this was perfection.
"Alright, business first."
"Fine."
Without further delay, Esdeath crushed the Deprivation Card over Kojou's broken form.
Whoosh!
A white light enveloped Kojou.
From his body, phantom beasts were ripped free, one by one. Droplets of blood followed, each wreathed in an unknown black mist.
Finally, the mist-shrouded blood merged into Esdeath's body, followed by the beastly phantoms rushing into her.
Boom!
A surge of immense magic erupted as Esdeath's power skyrocketed.
Upper-tier initial stage, mid-tier, late-tier. Demon king-tier initial stage, mid-tier, late-tier.
In mere breaths, Esdeath ascended to a late demon king-tier powerhouse.
When she opened her eyes, their icy blue had turned scarlet, and two fangs gleamed in her mouth. She'd become a vampire—the new Fourth Progenitor.
This had been August's plan from the start: to make Esdeath the new Fourth Progenitor.
To August, the Fourth Progenitor's power was lackluster—tasteless to wield, yet a pity to discard.
But for Esdeath, it was a catalyst to leap into true strength. The mightiest vampire paired with a sadistic queen—a fitting match, in a way.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host, on completing the hidden task—Protagonist's Demise: Kill this world's child of destiny, Kojou Akatsuki. Rewards: Super Gacha Draw 1, Advance Gacha Draw 1, Normal Gacha Draw 1.]
Kojou Akatsuki was dead. Stripped of the Fourth Progenitor's power, his immortality, and the divine curse.
Reduced to a mere human, dismembered and riddled with fatal wounds, survival was impossible.
"August, let me bite you."
Esdeath turned to August, her scarlet eyes alight with longing and excitement.
August knew his blood's allure to vampires. Beatrice had nearly lost her mind for a single drop—Esdeath, newly ascended and weakened from five slain familiars, craved it even more.
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