Chapter: 68. Beastliness and Humanity
Choice is the key to the evolution and continuation of life.
Just like the fish in the sea, choosing to step onto land to complete their evolution.
Survival of the fittest, natural selection.
This is the law of survival in the natural world.
It is also one of the foundational theories of human “origins”—
“Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.”
“Evade the attack from below.”
“Dodge the attack from behind.”☆
The azure lightning driven by the Azure Dragon was avoided by a preemptive retreat by Sō.
The flames of punishment symbolizing the “divine” repeatedly failed to capture this “beast” that had emerged from the natural selection process.
“Launch an attack from the side.”☆
“Attack from the weakness behind.”
Sō followed his inner instinct.
He aimed for the right shoulder of the Azure Dragon, and from a third-person perspective, he had never lost sight of the Azure Dragon.
“Naive—!” The Azure Dragon discerned the direction of Sō’s attack based on his trajectory.
He crossed the fantasy spirit weapon in his hands in front of his chest.
The blade shimmering with lightning carried overwhelming energy.
No matter what kind of creature, as long as it was carbon-based, it could not touch it with its own flesh.
This is the barrier between “gods” and “carbon-based life forms.”
No matter what kind of beings, they all fell before the “Divine Flame.”
Unless—
【Rewind】
Sō’s golden eyes flashed with a brilliant light.
His right hand tightened around a silver blade that, in a realistic sense, did not exist, but remained within the “realm of cognition.”
The “nonexistent” silver blade collided with the thunderous blade in the Azure Dragon’s hand, sparking a barrage of flames.
“—What!?” the Azure Dragon exclaimed.
As the student council president of the Ark Academy, the Azure Dragon naturally recognized that the silver blade, which only existed in cognition, was a common weapon issued to every special student in the academy.
It was a weapon entirely made of metal.
If it touched his thunderous blade, even though it had poor conductivity, the immense energy contained in the lightning would scorch it.
“What are you looking at!? Student Council President—” Sō smirked, revealing his sharp fangs.
【Rewind】
His other empty hand gripped another silver blade that existed only within “cognition.”
“Tsk.”
Sō’s dual-wielding caught the Azure Dragon off guard, causing him to suffer a setback for the first time in their clash.
The silver blade sliced through the air beneath him, splitting his tie in two.
Shredded fabric fluttered down.
Taking this opportunity, Sō suddenly distanced himself from the Azure Dragon.
“Tsukimi Sō, what do you mean by this?” The Azure Dragon looked toward Sō’s retreated figure with annoyance.
Just moments ago, Sō’s unexpected dual-wielding sneak attack could have struck directly at the Azure Dragon’s chest or head.
Though the Azure Dragon was not severely injured by such a physical attack, Sō’s sparing move that cleanly severed his tie felt like a complete provocation to him.
In response to the Azure Dragon’s questioning, Sō showed little emotion, merely gazing silently at him.
His golden eyes were filled with “**,” as if he were a beast poised for a hunt, preparing for the next chase.
Yet the blades he held in his hands added a touch of “humanity” to him.
Just like the human who ignited the first flame when night fell, allowing humanity to become advanced beings capable of wielding fire.
“**” and “humanity.”
Both were present in Sō at this moment.
“I… am no longer a beast…” Sō’s voice was soft, yet it clearly reached the Azure Dragon’s ears.
Moreover, compared to his earlier arrogant tone, he had now reverted to that honest and earnest demeanor.
Sō slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again.
The ** in his eyes had disappeared, returning to that of an ordinary youth.
These pale yellow eyes had always reflected the image of a black-haired girl.
This was the “humanity” bestowed upon him by that girl.
—————–
The distance from Noah’s Pavilion to the earlier ambush site was not short.
But for someone with Maki’s level of supernatural ability.
As long as she drove the power of the storm with full force, she could arrive in just a few minutes.
Provided that—
No one obstructed her.
A silver blade pierced through the air, blocking Maki’s forward path.
The sharp blade sliced through the hard ground like tofu.
“Tsukimi Yako, why are you doing this—”
As Maki turned, she swung her arm, sending a blade of wind shooting towards Yako, who hovered in mid-air.
But the latter transformed her silver wings into a crossed shield to block it.
Seizing the opportunity, Maki attempted to merge into the shadow beneath her feet.
In that instant, as a red light flashed in her eyes, a white cross formed beneath her.
The dazzling light illuminated the pitch-black shadow.
Maki lost her target for infiltration and could only rely on her extraordinary physical abilities to leap back from the blazing white cross before her.
“Useless, Maki, all your abilities and combat style are within my grasp.”
Yako’s voice came from the sky.
At that moment, she had already lost her silver wings, replaced by wings of light composed of countless white crosses.
“Is that the reason you once approached me?” Maki raised an eyebrow and retorted.
She tried to sense the presence of supernatural abilities from the floating Yako in front of her and thereby create a new power for herself.
But it failed.
Even as Yako hovered in the air with an otherworldly divine presence.
There were no signs of any supernatural abilities on her.
“That’s just part of the reason.” Yako replied flatly.
“Pointless, I would never use my abilities in front of you.” She seemed to see through Maki’s strategy.
“What I am using is neither a supernatural ability nor a contract beast’s power, but—”
“—Extraordinary items?” Maki instantly understood the content Yako was trying to express.
“Exactly, you really are a genius in combat, Maki.” Yako nodded.
Having been by Maki’s side and helping her train, Yako naturally knew how formidable her abilities were.
At the same time, the ability to use multiple powers.
It was truly beyond the supernatural knowledge she had learned in the past.
In order to one day have the strength to face Maki as an opponent, Yako had long made ample preparations.
Since both supernatural abilities and contract beast powers could be replicated.
Then changing her source of power to a third type—
Extraordinary items.
That way, she could avoid the greatest advantage Maki possessed.
“Remember when you approached me and Tsukimi-kun on Nanase Island—”
“That was the Young Master’s order.”
“And who do you serve now—”
“….” Yako did not respond.
The white crosses vanished at a visibly rapid speed.
In their place were wings formed of countless ice blocks.
“Maki, hand that thing over, it’s from someone not to be trifled with—”
