The Gentleman at the End

In the depths of the highly chaotic subspace, where crimson thunder light occasionally flashes,

The duel beyond the Silver Circle Level never ceases,

Even though the chaotic space might completely tear apart their physical bodies, it doesn't affect their every attack in the slightest,

Whether it is the regenerative property of blood or the indelible nature of death, both support them in completing the ultimate duel here.

After modern special training, the highly unified will of the dead and the battle-hardened Blood-colored Knight Order have clashed head-on countless times,

After witnessing the Silver Circle deceased stronger than himself,

And experiencing the fall of the Blood Lord and the destruction of the manor,

Emperor Pulaid is no longer as arrogant as before. The Emperor's Blood Plague within him has been suppressed over thousands of years of exile, allowing him to engage in self-reflection and to delve deeper into the 'Deep Crimson'.

He has become stronger than the Great Emperor of the old times, strong enough to receive authority from the Blood Lord, capable of once again challenging that deceased.

Therefore, the Emperor's might and strength overwhelm Yi Chen, gradually controlling the situation with the "Emperor's Heart"… Even though both he and Yi Chen have been struck nearly the same number of times, the Emperor's attacks are more effective, and the scales of victory have already tipped.

At this moment.

Buzz!

A resonance from the depths of the blood caused the sword in the Emperor's hand to suddenly halt, not descending,

The unwavering, determined twin eyes suddenly trembled, the unshakable Emperor's Heart actually wavered, his thoughts no longer on the duel before him.

The blood-soaked Yi Chen didn't seize the opportunity to counterattack, instead quietly waiting for the Emperor to return to normal.

The Emperor's majestic voice directly penetrated Yi Chen's consciousness.

"Your 'friend' is threatening my Monarch! Our duel shall pause temporarily. Once I have dealt with the matters outside, I will return to complete the ultimate duel with you."

The Emperor is not adept at space, but the blood sword in his hand can cleave space.

With a single strike! Even the depths of subspace are bleeding profusely,

Finally tearing open a blood-soaked rift, but unable to perform effective space targeting, this rift will lead to a random location in the Old World.

Buzz~

At a certain corner of the Arc Sea, a massive flood of blood surged wildly,

The Emperor who leaped out of the sea grew a pair of blood wings spanning a hundred meters across on his back, rushing rapidly toward the Skin Factory, the speed so fast that the wings tore through space again.

The cities he flew over along the way were drenched in blood rain, and the Patients, feeling the Emperor's aura, knelt one after another.

…

[Pain Monastery]

The Prison Director was in an excellent mood, not only had the white Reaper imprisoned in the [Endless Prison] regained sanity, but by a stroke of luck, his consciousness had fused with the prison, making it entirely possible for him to remain at the Monastery as the 'Prison Director'.

Moreover, he had unexpectedly recruited Yi Chen, a young and promising true talent,

Once this is done, the entire Monastery might be restored to its former glory, perhaps even surpassing it and directly becoming the strongest Source Epidemic Area in the Old World.

The Prison Director has also come to a good conclusion,

He has great faith in Yi Chen's strength and is certain that this time Yi Chen and 'Princess' together can successfully capture Art, this serious criminal.

By then, the Prison Director can take the opportunity to promote Yi Chen, 'raise his salary', and further solidify his position in the Monastery.

However, the Prison Director's good mood didn't last long; just as he was about to check on Balon's state in the Endless Prison, he received another notification from the Sick Focus Center.

And this time the notice was not brought by a courier monk, but directly by a staff member of the Sick Focus Center, whose entire body was silver-white and lacked facial features, bearing the command personally,

In his hands was a stone scroll of pure black hue, continuously flowing with epidemic liquid.

This stone scroll corresponds to the highest level (First Level) wanted order, with very few criminals able to be wanted on this level, looking back through the past, there have been only four individuals.

The white Reaper is one of them,

An ominous feeling spread in the Prison Director's heart,

Taking the stone scroll, the name on it made his face instantly grow dark,

≮Top Wanted Order≯

Wanted Person: Art Kramer

Reason: Destroying the Plague Master [Blood Monarch Dracula]'s ultimate physical form, erasing the possibility of his resurrection, successfully seizing "Qualification". According to Sick Focus's estimation, if Art Kramer becomes the new Plague Master, the malignant tumor threat will spread across the Old World, all Rules will be disrupted by the infinitely proliferated substance.

Art's existence poses a serious threat to the foundation of the Old World. The Pain Monastery will spare no effort to capture him, reclaim the Rules, and imprison him in the lower tier, even if it means eliminating him directly if necessary.

"Even with the Emperor's guard, why was this jester given the opportunity to come into contact with the Blood Lord's remains? Who meddled in this stage, providing Art with such a chance?"

The Prison Director could no longer sit still, preparing to take action personally.

…

In the depths of subspace.

Yi Chen was left here alone, his state extremely poor, even the concept of death had been wounded by the Emperor. The blood flowing from his body represented the loss of the concept, further spurting out due to the current intense spatial disturbance.

His state makes it difficult to return to the surface of the World; exerting too much force may further lose the death concept, rendering him truly dead.

At this moment,

Splat~ An oily Abyss Black Worm landed on Yi Chen's shoulder, followed by a pitch-black arm suddenly extending from a spatial tear, grabbing Yi Chen and pulling him back.

Buzz!

Down a soft, slimy passage without a hint of spatial transit discomfort,

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the top of the Tectonic Mountain Range.

The person who brought Yi Chen back was William, who is now squatting with a smile at his side.

"Yi Chen, your strength is beyond imagination; I never expected you to drag the Emperor to this degree… Yet~ Due to the Emperor's departure, the Blood People's miscalculation, Art found an opportunity.

Look… The Stairway has appeared, the Ultimate Ascension has begun.

I believe you've already felt the brewing malice that is about to erupt in this world."

Although Yi Chen was in a poor state, he followed William's gaze, seeing the vaguely emerging Blood Stairway at the top of the Mysterious Skin Factory.

William continued:

"Art is about to become the ultimate evil of the Old World!

Once he becomes a Plague Master, an 'organization' entirely opposing the Cancer Palace will rise from the ground, spreading across the world with smiling fan clubs evolving due to Art's ascension, the whole human world will be covered with sores, you wouldn't want that to happen, right?

I know you're very tired, I know the Emperor left you with blood wounds hard to heal, I know you currently have no way to stop it.

So, I have prepared for Mr. Yi!

While you went to the Monastery seeking deeper levels of death, I also went to the Original Tomb to receive special training from the Death Plague Knights, raising my death level and waiting for Yi Chen, your return.

Come back, Yi Chen~ Leave the rest of the 'purging evil' entirely to me! I will be your 'slaughter knife' and deal with the mess here."

Having said that, William directly removed his entire upper garment, exposing the vacant 'Second Body' position on his back, kneeling on one knee with his back facing Yi Chen.

"Cough cough~" Still coughing up blood, Yi Chen softly asked, "William… What is your ultimate purpose?"

William, in a gentle and soothing tone, opened up,

"Sigh… Since I accepted the malignant story's condensed vessel, I have been constantly studying that book, even in sleep my brain chatter incessantly.

With Little Grape's return, I saw truth through the cracks between words, I haven't wanted to stay here for even one second since then, in this small, limited Plague World.

Unfortunately, I have one last performance left unfinished here, for this performance, I have set a large game, expending a lot of effort! Once finished, I shall have more qualifications to pursue true knowledge on the other side.

Please, Yi Chen, you must trust me~ After I complete the performance, I will leave this World! Please handle matters related to the Old World for me, Mr. Yi, for you are me, and I am you.

I will wait for you in the new World, then no matter what you wish, everything will be possible… So please assist me in completing the "Ultimate Performance".