Wasteland Echoer.

Chapter 685 The Sacrificial "Dance"

Dragons, as the first absolutely intelligent beings created by the Creator, not only possess power so strong that it is almost impossible to break, but also have a robust physique and an elegant figure that conforms to the aesthetics of the gods.

Of course, as one of the incarnations of the Creator in a certain sense, humans also possess aesthetics similar to those of the Creator. In Wright's view, the dragons transformed by "Eternal Light" were almost identical to the phantoms he saw in the dream arranged by Anna.

When Yan Jun taught him the "Crimson Dragon Roar", the pattern formed by the raging flames behind him was the legendary dragon!

“Dragons!” Dark murmured. Even though he was spending his days with Adaloni, a dragon with absolute dragon blood who had once been a “Solid Ruler,” when he actually saw the legendary dragons, the human blood in his body, especially the dark magical power within him, reminded him of the intense heat and despair when the “Artificial Heavenly Punishment Fire” and the “Fertile Silence” descended.

The Genneans and Crusaders both believed in the power of thermite on the battlefield. Even the "Devotion Group," which had suffered heavy losses, and Nebrius, the former sole ruler of the city, must have been thrilled by the intense flames emanating from the dragon's body.

Soon, as "Eternal Light" chanted the ancient language of the Flame Empire in the deep voice of a beast, his body continued to expand slightly, and his strong and powerful wings began to reflect the "auspicious cloud" pattern that belonged exclusively to the Khitan royal family.

A layer of delicate yet blazing flames, like gas burning in the night sky, appeared in the very center of "Eternal Light's" head, displaying a blend of azure and dusky yellow light, and began to spread rapidly along the delicate scales to every inch of its body.

In just three to five seconds, it had completely soaked into his flesh and blood.

"A Spirit Dragon Emerges from the Ice!"

"The fog rises between light and darkness!"

"Walking alone, the end remains uncertain!"

Hoshino Shota's unique voice began to converge from all directions of the "magnificent building" toward "Eternal Light," transforming into strands of golden, unknown totems that enveloped "Eternal Light's" unusually robust, yet beginning-mutated body.

This is the skill "Evolutionary Sound Binding Mark" exclusive to the [Singer] class. It can bind any powerful creature to a limited space for a short time through the [Singer]'s unique performance or recitation of poems. Whether it is to bless or destroy, it is all determined by the user's will.

However, when Hoshino Shota slowly walked out of the "Hall of Truth" and recited this haiku in the style of the Japanese province of Khitan for the second time, Wright sensed something amiss.

“Hoshino Shota’s voice has matured a lot. This ‘poem’ is mixed with a heavy sense of desolation, and a hint of a barely perceptible warning.” Wright leaned close to Dark’s ear and whispered.

"Why?" Dark asked, clearly not understanding Wright's meaning.

"The lyrics of this 'poem' are extremely similar to what Hoshino Shota sang when I first met him in Novayask. However, for some reason, he replaced 'confusion' with 'mist.' The former implies uncertainty, while the latter... specifically refers to this blood-red mist before us." Wright stretched out his right arm, which was already shrouded in the blood mist and "oozing" bloodstains, and pointed it into the air, waving it back and forth a few times.

Immediately following, a tune unique to the style of Japan emerged from the small door of the "Room of Truth" across the way, exuding a sinister aura that inspired disgust and fear. Even more astonishingly, the hands of the [Singer] Hoshino Shota, clad in mechanical half-finger gloves, were completely empty; there were no musical instruments, nor any fluctuations of magical energy.

The music that seemed to be surrounding the "magnificent building" and exerting a mysterious influence on the dragon's body of "Eternal Light" was a "voice" that was transmitted from the depths of Hoshino Shota's soul to the spiritual realm of everyone present.

“Dark, Light…” Hoshino Shota paused his playing, his arms still in the posture of “holding” the instrument, his eyes gleaming with the darkness unique to the Lord of the Night, and in a deep, youthful voice, he looked up and said:

"I cannot follow you to Khitanris, even though fresh milk and honey flow in the soil there, and the people there are happily enjoying peace and tranquility. It is a pure land that has not been corrupted by the 'heartless people'."

“These past few days, Lord Kazama Reiji has taught me many things. Although… Khitanris is the birthplace of my ancestors, my so-called homeland, I have never lived there for a single day. It was the Crusaders who gave me birth, nurtured me, and provided me with the opportunity to display my talents. In other words, I am just a pure Crusader.”

"Do you truly trust the 'Dark Night Investigation Team'? Or rather, do you truly believe everything Nebrius said? Don't forget, Nebrius in his 'Hades Form' has no feelings for you. From the very beginning of the anomaly, he wanted to kill you to gain supreme power." Dark's face showed a hint of disdain. He quietly pressed the button on the "Imitation-Mad Bear" pistol in Wright's hand, looking directly into Hoshino Shota's eyes, eyes powerful enough to weaken the mental strength of any normal human, and said:
"If Vasily hadn't been so arrogant about the 'Gnady Line,' and if Shaneva had been more tolerant of internal dissent, the situation in Crusad, while not impregnable, could at least have been saved. But these foolish rulers of Crusad, because of their stupidity, arrogance, greed, fear, and evil, have pushed a vast federation into the abyss, and now it's up to you, capable and ambitious losers, to save it—isn't that ironic?"

"Irony or salvation, at least Nabusk is the last stronghold of Crusad. Yesterday, the 'information room' of the 'magnificent building' received a telegram from the abandoned suburbs of Choigler: Choigler has fallen. Commander Kuka held out until the very last moment, choosing to die for his country just minutes before the 'heartless virus' eroded his brain." Hoshino Shota recounted this military intelligence with apparent calmness, but his hands resumed their previous strumming motion.

In an instant, the familiar, deep and melancholic melody once again spread throughout the "magnificent building" that was now shrouded in blood-red mist. The "Eternal Light" in front of him, after experiencing a brief period of comfortable and pleasurable energy supply, was now groaning in pain, its entire body trembling uncontrollably in rhythm with the music.

Countless fresh scales began to fall off like plaster on a wall, oozing a viscous liquid that was a mixture of pure black and crimson, resembling petroleum and asphalt.

Strands of dark, net-like material burst forth from his body like plants, spreading continuously, seemingly threatening to completely devour his enormous form.

"On February 14th, 558th year of the New Era, Ato's 'New Chaos Group' crossed the old eastern district of the Extreme Cold Special Zone, which had been occupied by extreme cold for many years. They attacked Kasdagrad on the north bank of the Ice River. After 'having a hearty meal' and 'replenishing their collaborators,' they plundered Icefield City and Hoptov. Finally, at 4 PM on February 16th, they appeared in Far Eastern City on the edge of the Nebsk Plain." Hoshino Shota recited the latest classified military intelligence given to him yesterday by Kazama Reiji and Atlanca, word by word:
"At 11 PM on February 16th, the former leader of the 'Chaos Group' led over 15000 'Heartless Men' to attack the 'Machine Factory' in southeastern Nebusk. The Nebusk 'First Legion Guard' fought desperately and barely managed to repel them. This morning at 9 AM, the 'completely monstrous' Ato attacked the city again in the 'Residential Area'. We had no choice but to release a dense fog and activate 'The End of Ashes'."

"We... cannot use heavy weapons against our own city and its residents, not even artillery to bombard the 'residential area,' let alone aerial bombs or even 'Thermite's End. Currently, at least 30000 residents have already been taken hostage by the 'Chaos Group.' Atlanca is not Vasily, and the 'Provisional Cooperative Council' is not the Crusad Federation Council. We will never allow the 'Fireworks of the Past' incident to repeat itself, because we deeply love this city, and we love the Crusad land that nurtured us even more."

"Are you also preparing to sacrifice yourself, Hoshino Shota?" Dark sensed the calm, resigned air about Hoshino Shota in his words. In Mayan City, in Icefall City, including the "Bitter Ruins" and the "Crimson Illusion Ruins"... Dark had seen enough warriors leave their last words in this tone, their eyes now remarkably similar to Hoshino Shota's, rushing headlong into the "Heartless Wave" to detonate the "Ending Core" and the explosives.

In this wasteland, the gods have long since vanished, leaving only death and the stench of blood. The Creator's sacred words will soon be forgotten, and human civilization may be plunged into another cycle of destruction. But there will always be those who refuse to give up, adding a touch of beauty, justice, selflessness, and wisdom that runs deep into the soul to this ugly, evil, greedy, and foolish race.

“Everyone who stands on the side of humanity, whether they are superhuman or simply human, has long been prepared to sacrifice themselves. As long as it has meaning, I will do it. Crusad may not be destroyed, but human civilization needs the song of courage to be sung,” Hoshino Shota replied.

Perhaps momentarily subdued by his imposing presence, or perhaps surprised by Hoshino Shota's statement, Dark and Wright stood frozen in place, their lips moving and their Adam's apples bobbing, but ultimately no words came out.

They simply stared blankly as Hoshino Shota walked up to "Eternal Light," whose skin was cracked and festering. He continued to recite haiku poems belonging to the Eastern Province of Khitanris, while his right hand surged with all the demonic power within him, injecting almost all of the flames he had obtained from the "Heart of Truth" into "Eternal Light's" dragon body.