Chapter 58: The Fourth Primogenitor...

Shichen had completely focused his attention on Nagisa Akatsuki by now.

From her, he sensed an extraordinary aura and a startling surge of magical energy.

It was the Fourth Primogenitor's consciousness!

She had abruptly awakened!

As if confirming Shichen's guess, Nagisa abruptly sat up again. Then she opened her eyes, and a gaze brimming with force fell upon him.

Her pupils had changed color, from their original red to gold—cold and imposing.

"You are…?" She looked at Shichen, tilting her head, her tone filled with puzzlement.

"Nagisa!" Kojou Akatsuki exclaimed in surprise and moved to approach.

"Don't come over!" Shichen shouted.

"Huh?" Kojou froze in place.

Ignoring him, Shichen called out to Yaze, "Yaze, get Kojou out of here."

"Got it." Yaze Motoki complied, stepping behind Kojou and grabbing him to drag him away.

"Yaze? What are you—?"

"Sorry. I'm just following the teacher's orders."

"Shichen-sensei, what are you doing?!"

"Kojou, don't ask anything. I'll save your sister."

"Huh?" Kojou's head swarmed with questions.

"Asagi, you leave as well. It's dangerous in here."

"Understood." Aiba Asagi promptly followed them out, even closing the door behind her.

Only Shichen and Nagisa—no, the Fourth Primogenitor—remained in the hospital room.

"You're the Fourth Primogenitor, aren't you?" Pulling a chair over, Shichen sat down, looking relaxed.

"Indeed." The Fourth Primogenitor nodded calmly.

"I knew it."

The Fourth Primogenitor—an artificially cursed soul created by three Primogenitors plus the "Deva." Her existence was meant to combat a certain "sinful god," but after devouring that god (with whom she was friends), she plunged into despair and turned her wrath on the "Deva" who had created her.

Naturally, she failed; the consequence was being torn into twelve fragments and sealed until she was unearthed not long ago by Kojou's father, Gajou Akatsuki.

Called the world's strongest vampire, and with her original soul intact, this was not that later version of the Fourth Primogenitor who could be easily bullied by anyone.

But Shichen wasn't afraid of her.

Setting aside his immunity to all of a True Ancestor's attacks, right now the so-called "Original" was still just a soul. Although her magic power was immense, she only had a single Familiar, and Nagisa's body couldn't support much. Her available methods were extremely limited.

"You…who are you? Why do you have an aura so like mine? You're not one of them." The Fourth Primogenitor frowned slightly, studying Shichen in puzzlement.

At this moment, Shichen actually found the Fourth Primogenitor rather cute—her using Nagisa's sweet, innocent face, trying to act stern while tilting her head was a strong contrast.

"Haha… me?" Shichen smiled. "I am the Fifth Primogenitor."

"The Fifth Primogenitor? Impossible!" The Fourth Primogenitor found it hard to believe. "Did they create another?"

"No." Shichen shook his head. "They didn't create me—I became this on my own."

"On your own? That can't be!" the Fourth Primogenitor declared.

A True Ancestor isn't just any powerful vampire; they were once humans cursed with true immortality. Most ordinary vampires aren't truly immortal—if the controlling organ of their magic (the head) or the heart that governs blood circulation suffers grave injury, they can die.

But a True Ancestor can revive no matter if their head is destroyed or their heart is run through, existing in eternal time as a solitary being.

There were only four of them, herself included; it was impossible for a new one to emerge, unless someone forcibly replaced an original by devouring them.

And yet the Fourth Primogenitor clearly perceived in him an aura akin to hers—unaging and undying. That was why, despite her aloofness, she was speaking calmly: She sensed in him the same rare existence, thus feeling some sense of kinship.

"Facts are right before you, so what's impossible?" Shichen chuckled, spreading his arms to refute her.

"… …" That left her momentarily speechless.

"Anyway," Shichen continued, "let's talk about your situation now."

"My situation?"

"You're occupying this little girl's body—she's my student's sister. I hope you can leave her. Otherwise, you'll cause her far too much harm."

"Your student? You're really a teacher?" The Fourth Primogenitor looked him over, perplexed.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"You— a True Ancestor, an existence unsurpassed in this era, and you're just an ordinary teacher…"

"What's wrong with being a teacher? Educating and guiding others is remarkable. Besides, this is a semi-peaceful age. True Ancestors won't be met with such universal fear, and my identity isn't widely known either."

"A semi-peaceful age… I see…" The Fourth Primogenitor's expression turned pensive.

"So," Shichen resumed, "what's your decision?"

"Apologies, but I can't leave." The Fourth Primogenitor shook her head. "My current self is only a soul. If I depart from this girl's body, I can't go on existing."

"Ah, so you do still want to live."

"Yes… I've awakened already, so I want to finish the unfinished business from before." A stern resolve shone in the Fourth Primogenitor's eyes.

"Unfinished business? Seeking vengeance on the Deva?"

"Indeed."

"Is that really necessary? So much time has passed."

"That's my only purpose left."

"I see… Then I'm afraid I have to apologize." Shichen sighed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Compared to your cause, my student's sister's health matters more," Shichen answered frankly.

"So you plan to kill me?" The Fourth Primogenitor understood at once.

"Yes." Shichen nodded, calmly regarding her. "The Deva doesn't concern me; you're just a stranger. I'd rather ensure this girl can live a healthy life."

"Is that so? You think you're capable of killing me?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than the Fourth Primogenitor's gaze ignited with a surge of magic. Suddenly, the temperature in the ward began plummeting, cold air rolling in waves.

From beneath the Fourth Primogenitor, ice formed. The bed froze in an instant, ice crawling outward, a chill enveloping Shichen.

The Fourth Primogenitor was decisive. The moment she sensed hostility, she attacked him first.

But it was useless.

The freezing aura wrapping toward Shichen was instantly dispelled, as though it met its natural enemy, erased in a flash.

"What?!" The Fourth Primogenitor was stunned.

"Thank you for striking first. Otherwise, I'd feel rather guilty," Shichen said, rising slowly, a faint smile on his lips.

"What did you do?" The Fourth Primogenitor tried another wave of freezing aura, only to have it vanish again as soon as it neared him.

"I told you, I'm the Fifth Primogenitor, transcending all the others!" Shichen beamed confidently, exuding a bold air.

"Impossible! That cannot be!"

"Yet you see it with your own eyes." As he spoke, Shichen reached out and touched the bed.

At once, all the ice on it shattered, disappearing to reveal the bed's original white cover.

"How can this be?" The Fourth Primogenitor still refused to believe.

What kind of power was this? Nullifying magic? A perfect counter to her?

"Alrescha-Glacies—"

"Don't do that. You'd destroy half this research institute."

Before the Fourth Primogenitor could summon her Familiar, Shichen interrupted. He laid a hand on her shoulder; startled, she realized that she couldn't summon anything—her magic wouldn't respond at all!

"You…!" At that moment, genuine fear flickered in the Fourth Primogenitor's eyes.

"Don't worry. If I do happen to run into the Deva, I'll settle them on your behalf," Shichen consoled her. "In return, your magic and your Familiars belong to me."

"No! You can't kill me—what about this little girl? Don't you care about her?"

The Fourth Primogenitor wasn't sure if Shichen could indeed kill her, but she dared not gamble.

"Hah." Shichen let out a cold laugh. "Thanks for trying to use Nagisa-chan as a threat. Now there's really no need for me to show mercy."

A golden glow blossomed from his chest, and a radiant, holy shard emerged and shot straight into her chest.

"This is…?!"

The Fourth Primogenitor's face showed alarm. She sensed something that suffocated her, but had no time to react before her consciousness snapped. Her body fell back onto the bed, limp.

Instantly, the room's chill dissipated; in mere seconds, the temperature returned to normal, with the air-conditioning still gently blowing.

The Fourth Primogenitor was gone—what remained was Nagisa Akatsuki, peacefully asleep in bed, curled up with a tranquil expression.

Shichen stretched out his hand. Gold light shone on her chest, and that shard floated back out, flying into him once more.

Then, the magic energy within him began to soar!

~~~

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