Chapter 156: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (20)

༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (20) ༻

The wooden floor shattered, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

The thrust into my shoulder weighed on my body, and after throwing down Senior Neris with all my strength, I found myself stumbling backward.

Gripping the dagger lodged in my shoulder, I forcefully yanked it out and cast it away. Blood streamed out of the open wound as a groan escaped through my clenched teeth.

The anesthetic proved more potent than I had anticipated, spreading swiftly throughout my body.

My vision grew increasingly blurry, and although I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, my body also felt weaker and unresponsive.

Drawing ragged breaths, I picked up the hatchet that had fallen to the ground.

I had to end this quickly since Senior Neris probably wasn’t in any better state than I was.

However, to my surprise, she erupted in cheerful laughter.

“Ahahahaha! Pfft, hah, puh-hahaha!”

A chill coursed down my spine.

Even though she was still struggling to get up, the fact that she could laugh meant that she had regained her senses.

Moon Reversal’ was a technique designed to incapacitate the opponent by shocking every muscle in their body with incredible force. Typically, it was impossible for them to get back up on their feet afterwards.

However, she had managed to stagger back up on her feet.

Her emerald eyes gleamed with amusement, and although she coughed up blood, it was only a minuscule amount.

“I wonder how long it’s been... since I’ve been hit like this? Ahhh... my head is spinning! It’s quite refreshing, junior.”

I let out a hollow laugh. The fact that she had gotten up was proof that my technique hadn’t been fully effective.

But how?

I stood bewildered as Senior Neris pulled out another dagger with a faint smile.

I finally realized where those daggers were coming from.

“...A spatial pouch? And you have it sewn onto your uniform?”

My voice, tinged with disbelief, was met with a peculiar smile.

Even crafting one out of a separate container was so expensive that it was beyond the means of most nobles. Yet, she had one discreetly fashioned into the small pocket of her uniform. Even with a rough estimate, it would have cost an astronomical amount.

It was proof of the Imperial Family’s extravagant wealth.

Senior Neris spoke again, her voice nonchalant.

“I still have over a hundred daggers left, junior. Now, shall we start in earnest?”

Curses swirled in my head.

Despite my strangely heavy body and increasingly blurry vision, I managed to rise, forcing my body upright. The moment I tightened my grip on the hatchet, Senior Neris charged.

Her dagger traced a dark line as it descended.

I raised the hatchet to parry, but astonishingly, it soon slipped from my grasp as it was swatted away.

I stared in disbelief.

While I stood dumbstruck, Senior Neris raised her leg and launched a powerful kick, shooting me through the air.

Struck squarely in the solar plexus, the pain was so intense that my consciousness momentarily blacked out.

“Hah...hah... heugh...”

Before I knew it, I had crashed into her work desk.

It seemed as if all his life force had converged into those eyes, and in the dim light, they shone like blue flames.

He was a born ruler, and his dignity drove my body to bow my head instinctively.

“...Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

The emperor. I didn’t know how, but I knew the identity of the old man.

“How are the battlefronts faring recently?”

“As you are aware, the situation isn’t good. But please rest assured. They will never breach the Great Wall, our final bastion, as long as I draw breath.”

“As long as you’re alive, you say...”

I fell silent. I couldn’t promise more than that.

The world teetered on the edge of ruin.

All six other Masters had perished, and Omeros’ army, led by Delphirem, had besieged the Great Wall for days on end.

Everyone had their limits, and I was no exception to that natural law.

“Huhu... How laughable. Is this how several hundred years of imperial history will come to an end? No, that’s not it. The end of human history is not far off either.”

I wanted to offer some words of comfort, even just conventionally, but couldn’t bring myself to do so.

False hope was more unbearable than death.

The old man’s gaze returned to me.

“Ian Percus... Humanity’s last Master, and my loyal subject.”

His voice cracked as he spoke, signaling his imminent end. The ebbing traces of life reflected on his withered body.

The sorrow in my eyes deepened as I sensed his fading vitality.

“I will pass down to you the authority over the Dragonblood Script.”

“Your Imperial Majesty, the Dragonblood Script is a privilege of the emperor. It should be passed on to the next emperor...”

“There’s no point anymore.”

Although I had replied hastily, my words scattered upon hearing the emperor’s single statement.

That was simply the reality.

The once-glorious Empire and its throne, the symbol of its zenith, had lost all significance.

The old man continued calmly.

“...Instead, I have one last request for you.”

I raised my head and met his gaze.

His intensely blazing blue eyes instantly overwhelmed me into silence.

The ruler of the throne, bearing centuries of imperial history, issued his final command.

“Ian Percus.”

I bowed hastily, showing the utmost respect a subject could offer to his sovereign.

The old man had to remain an emperor until his dying moment. At the very least, it held true for the kneeling man.

Along with those fiercely burning eyes, a voice that would forever be etched into my heart resonated in my ears.

“...Save the world.”

With that single short, succinct phrase, the blurry boundaries collapsed, and my consciousness returned to reality.