Don't confiscate my identity as a human race

The dark sky was gradually illuminated by the light of sunrise, as the battle approached its end amidst the ruins at the center of Brilda.

The once prosperous city-state had undergone successive catastrophes, with the two-kilometer radius of the central district reduced to rubble and ruins. Even outside the Holy Astore Barrier area, twisted streets warped by the aftershocks could still be seen everywhere.

Smoke and dust continued to permeate the air.

But as Hesintos was thoroughly defeated by Loren, the entire world seemed to finally welcome a brief moment of peace.

Lanci stood on the ruins outside the barrier, looking down at the wreckage underfoot.

His black hair was blown by the morning wind, like a triumphant flag fluttering in the air.

"We won."

He removed his silver-white mask and took off the hood of the pope's white robe, revealing the deep gray collar.

Though his entire body was weighed down by the fatigue of mana exhaustion, Lanci's face was filled with a kind of relieved calm.

If it were only his own life, he wouldn't have much to fear.

But this time he carried the lives of all his companions, as well as the future of the South Continent.

"Tolyado, could you let me go to the center of the battlefield?"

Lanci took a deep breath, gazing beyond the ruins in front of him, focusing on the distant silhouettes of Loren and Hesintos at the horizon.

"No problem."

Not far away, Tolyado also responded, opening a passageway for Lanci.

Lanci crossed the arc of silver fire, approaching the center of the battlefield where Loren's focus lay.

Even though he had thoroughly defeated his opponent, Loren would not relax his vigilance.

But due to his battle style, Loren would also not desecrate a corpse.

At this moment, Hesintos had already lost all signs of life, coughing up blackened blood, with his organs shattered; it seemed he would soon die.

"..."

Lanci walked up to Hesintos.

Before Hesintos died, only he and Loren could approach Hesintos with absolute safety.

"Heh heh heh... You won."

Despite knowing that speaking would accelerate his demise, Hesintos coughed up a large mouthful of boiling blood, still laughing arrogantly like a victor.

As the loser, he accepted all mockery and humiliation.

Especially someone who had seen his memories, who should know how to thoroughly ridicule him.

"Did you kill Violet?"

Lanci came here just to ask Hesintos this final question.

After he saw the unbalanced devourer and inferred everything that happened on the night of the national celebration, there was only one point without an answer: how Hesintos dealt with Violet, whom he ambushed, causing Violet to become dead without evidence in the eyes of the other warm gods.

Having experienced the Blood Moon Bad World, Lanci knew well how strong werewolves' vitality could be.

Even as a Fifth-order werewolf prince in the Lichtenstein Castle era, he did not die immediately despite losing his heart, but was instead sealed by Lankros, hidden beneath the cliff.

As for Seventh-order and above transcendent wolf clans, it goes without saying; once night falls, their regeneration has almost reached the level of the Blood Clan.

"When you saw me, what were you thinking?"

Hesintos did not plan to answer Lanci's question, his pupils gazing towards the dim sky.

He spoke murmuringly, saying whatever he wanted, since he was about to die and nothing mattered to him anymore.

He was just curious about the look in Landry's eyes now when he looked at him.

"..."

Lanci did not speak.

His compassionate gaze was clear, like a deep pond reflecting the boundless sky, yet also mirrored a profound helplessness.

In Hesintos's Gentle Town illusion, even a blissful dream hid a red sky and inescapable anxiety, enlightening Lanci on why Hesintos had become this way.

He couldn't say he understood Hesintos, but having gone through Lankros's life, he could somewhat empathize with Hesintos's pain.

"Are you trying to save me?"

Hesintos's breath weakened a bit more, his clouded deep blue eyes moving away from Lanci.

If it were twenty years ago.

The Cerryti Empire had such capable strong individuals, perhaps everything could have changed.

Yong Hesintos had imagined many times who might come to save him.

But it was all a delusion.

"I can't save you, Hesintos."

Lanci confessed.

Without a trace of perfunctory or hesitation.

On the ruins, after a moment, neither of them spoke again.

"No one can save me."

Hesintos was indifferent to the response as cold snowflakes fell on his blood-soaked cheeks.

It didn't matter anymore, regardless of how the other answered.

Whether recognizing reality was good or refusing to admit it, being too idealistic.

Even if one could truly travel through time back to twenty years ago to change Blood Cleansing Day, making everything in the illusion come true, yet that him, is it still the real him?

He was destined to be unsaveable, hence he could only ruin everything.

"But I'll exert my utmost to prevent the tragedies you endured from recurring in others."

Lanci sat beside Hesintos, at this moment his voice was also filled with fatigue but spoke with utmost sincerity.

This was the final answer Lanci learned throughout the journey, not letting any experience go to waste.

What drove Lankros forward was not revenge, but to prevent the tragedy within himself from happening anew to others.

This was why Lankros could learn to let go, relieve his burdens, and gradually become fulfilled.