Chapter 385: Interlude – The Progenitor After the Thunder God

There were several reasons why Shei had disguised herself as a man.

The first reason was to ensure she safely fell into Tantalus in this regression.

She didn’t know the exact trigger for reaching Tantalus, so she needed to be captured by the Military State.

However, surrendering her weapons and letting herself be captured without resistance would have been foolish.

Instead, she chose to provoke a high-ranking authority figure who had the power to send her there.

That person was the Sunderspear, Patraxion—a knight of the Kingdom and the Northern Commander of the Military State, a man who revered duels.

Shei deliberately took down Military State soldiers one by one, provoking Patraxion into a duel.

That was all it took.

Patraxion loved duels, but he had no interest in taking lives or seizing property.

If she fought him properly and hinted at wanting to fight strong opponents in Tantalus, he would laugh heartily and personally throw her in.

However, he had a daughter around Shei’s age.

If she hadn’t disguised herself as a man, the process would have been much more complicated—after all, older men were always softer toward girls who could be their daughters.

The second reason was even more fundamental—Shei simply found it more comfortable to dress as a man.

This was a world where chosen prophets and Saintesses openly existed.

If a regressor like Shei acted as though she knew the future, it was only natural for people to suspect her of being a Saintess.

Perhaps it wasn’t even a misunderstanding.

But for Shei, who had to dig up countless secrets, the mistaken status of a Saintess was more trouble than it was worth.

To avoid pursuit, to avoid unwanted attention, Shei frequently changed her appearance and clothing.

That was what the Agartha’s Mask was for.

A treasure from the untamed lands of the south, where countless tribes were scattered in all directions.

By wearing it, she could alter people’s perceptions of her appearance without effort.

Shei frequently changed her identity using that mask.

However, Agartha’s Mask was not omnipotent.

It only implanted an image into others’ minds, making them believe in it—but it was still a matter of perception and belief.

If something was undeniably revealed, like now, it was useless.

She had been exposed at the worst possible time, in front of the worst possible person.

Shei clutched at her torn collar, trying to speak.

“No, this is—”

“It is fine, Shei. You do not need to make excuses.”

To her surprise, the one who dismissed the matter first was Tyrkanzyaka.

Tyrkanzyaka lowered her parasol slightly and let out a small sigh.

“So that is why your blood tasted so good. There were a few other suspicious points as well, but this explains most of them.”

“W-wait. You’re okay with this?”

“It is rather surprising, but what difference does it make? A man liking another man makes no sense. A woman disguising herself as a man is far more reasonable.”

“T-That’s not what’s happening here!”

“A misunderstanding then? If liking men is a misunderstanding, then do you prefer women instead? Was that why you were so friendly with me, the Princess, and the Thunderarch…?”

“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant!”

Shei desperately tried to explain herself, but inwardly felt relieved.

Tyrkanzyaka wasn’t making a big deal out of it.

Her demeanor was still composed as if this was just a minor incident.

Since she was someone who rarely had extreme emotional swings, it was unlikely she would suddenly change her attitude over this.

Hilde spoke up.

“Wow, your emotional sensitivity is really lacking! These days, men and men, women and women—it’s all possible! In fact, crossdressing makes more sense now!”

“…? But would that not prevent them from having children?”

“You shouldn’t be fixated on such trivial things! Love isn’t just about having kids!”

“Hmmm… That is true I suppose. Even vampires experience feelings of affection… but this is not the time for such discussions.”

Halfway through her response, Tyrkanzyaka cut herself off, looking slightly annoyed at Hilde’s tangent.

“If you thought I could be shaken so easily, then you underestimated me. Did you think that just because you said something, my attitude would suddenly change?”

“Oh my~ That is a bit unexpected.”

“If the Blood Sea were so easily swayed, it would not deserve to exist. I stopped making foolish, impulsive decisions a thousand years ago.”

Vampires were inherently dull to emotions, but for a being who had lived for a thousand years, their emotions were more than just dull—they were completely desensitized.

It wasn’t merely an issue of emotional capacity, but of experience and perspective.

“I know all too well the arrogance of those who shape their own futures. The unpleasantness that arises when they try to force their foresight upon the world. Hilde, you may find it disappointing, but Shei… does not give me that same feeling.”

Tyrkanzyaka hesitated briefly before continuing.

“That’s not true! There were times when she acted as if she knew everything.”

“…I will not deny it. There were moments where I wanted to punch her, yet I did not feel that obscene arrogance from her.”

As Tyrkanzyaka made an effort to recall better memories, Hilde pressed further.

“Are you sure? She already knows the future and has relics of the Sky God! Chun-aeng, Rene’s Pocket—who else but the Sanctum would have those?”

“If anything, she fights against fate. What I sense from Shei is not the arrogance of a Prophet, but the will to defy.”

Relief spread from Shei’s fingertips.

Everything she had built hadn’t been in vain.

She had worked so hard to gain her trust, and it was paying off.

Of course, it would.

At the end of the world, Shei had run back and forth between light and darkness.

She had saved the Doctor Sage, fought alongside her, and even built relationships with vampires—beings she had once considered enemies.

With that kind of bond, it made sense that…

…Wait.

When exactly had this bond formed?

As Shei pondered, Tyrkanzyaka smiled gently.

“So, answer me this one thing. If you do, I shall continue to stand by your side.”

No matter how kind she seemed, she was still Tyrkanzyaka, the Progenitor of Vampires.

The Sanctum’s sworn enemy.

The Queen of Shadows.

She had lived that way for a thousand years, and spending time with Shei or Hughes wouldn’t change her nature.

As she had said—the Blood Sea does not waver.

“I will march in a bloody crusade against the Sanctum. When the time comes, help me behead the Saintess.”

Shei froze.

The sheer coldness of the offer made her pause.

Tyrkanzyaka spoke gently as if she hadn’t just demanded something so horrific.

“I will not force you to take responsibility for everything. I do not want to burden you. But… just one… One will be enough. Do you have the resolve?”

Shei immediately understood—this was a test.

Or perhaps a final chance.

Tyrkanzyaka was giving her an opportunity to lie—to say she was on her side.

Nothing would happen right away.

The next time the Saintess and Tyrkanzyaka crossed paths could take ages.

Maybe not even until the rise of the King of Sin.

For now, she could just nod and escape this situation.

But…

Shei’s lips moved on their own.

“I can’t.”

Tyrkanzyaka’s expression slowly hardened like drying blood.

But Shei couldn’t lie.

She had received help from the Sanctum many times.

And she wasn’t willing to erase them from the future she sought.

“I will stop the coming apocalypse. The Sanctum and the Saintesses are my greatest allies. It will be difficult without their help, and frankly, I don’t want to do it without them either.”

Honesty wasn’t necessarily a virtue. A sweet lie might have led to a better outcome.

But Shei couldn’t lie.

She wasn’t skilled enough to present a different face in every regression while still maintaining her sense of self.

Tyrkanzyaka knew this as well.

This was exactly how Hilde had planned it.

She must have known from the start that the two of them were fundamentally at odds.

“…Is that so….”

Tyrkanzyaka let out a quiet sigh.

With a single breath, she severed any lingering attachment.

There was some regret, but she had done this countless times over the past thousand years.

There was no hesitation, just habit.

With a snap, she cut off all emotion.

Tyrkanzyaka gazed at Shei with her usual calm expression.

“It seems this is where it ends. I quite enjoyed our time together.”

She turned her back as if shaking off any lingering attachment.

Shei, desperate, called out.

“Wait! Just hold on! If the apocalypse comes, it will be the end of everything!”

“That, too, is merely a prophecy. As long as you refuse to abandon the prophecy, it will bind you and repeat indefinitely. Take heed of my advice.”

“No, I’m telling the truth! The King of Sin will kill everything! You, me, even Hughes! Is that really okay…!”

It happened in an instant.

Tyrkanzyaka glared at Shei. At the same time, a torrent of darkness poured down like a waterfall.

Shei instinctively raised her arms to shield her face.

It wasn’t exactly hostile, but the rejection was crystal clear.

Standing there, Tyrkanzyaka spoke in a low, warning tone.

“Do not speak his name. You have already abandoned Hu by your own choice.”

“What are you talking about? I never abandoned him! It’s not like he’s a vampire!”

“No. You would not know… but then again, that just makes it clear that you have abandoned him.”

“What the hell do you mean?!”

Shei didn’t know that Hughes was the King of Humans.

It was already an open secret, but Tyrkanzyaka had no intention of telling her.

Tyrkanzyaka had directly fought against the Sanctum, so she believed in the power of prophecy—but she did not trust its interpretations.

The prophecy itself might be true, but the people delivering it might not necessarily be truthful.

She had only ever trusted Shei herself, based on her consistent actions—but Shei’s words were just words.

Tyrkanzyaka had always made a clear distinction between the two.

And throughout their journey, Tyrkanzyaka had come to suspect something new.

The King of Sin that Shei was so desperate to stop…

Might actually be the King of Humans.

And if so, since it was very likely that Hughes was the King of Humans, he might also be the King of Sin.

Long ago, the Five Sovereigns supposedly killed the King of Humans and divided his power.

If that legend was true, then maybe the King of Sin wasn’t really a harbinger of doom—maybe the Sanctum simply feared the King’s return.

If Shei was even remotely connected to the Sanctum, then staying away from Hughes was the best way to protect him.

And if Shei planned to kill Hughes preemptively, then Tyrkanzyaka would have no way to save him—unless she turned him into a vampire.

Fueled by both her hatred for the Sanctum and her need to protect someone precious, Tyrkanzyaka mocked Shei the way she would an oracle.

“Just use your great foresight to figure it out.”

“I told you it’s not foresight! Ugh! Fine, I’ll just ask him myself! Where’s Hughes?!”

Maybe he could fix this.

Maybe he, with that ever-present smile, could mediate everything.

As Shei spoke his name with hope, Tyrkanzyaka swung her parasol with brutal force.

The darkness surged forward, blotting out the world like a wave of ink.

This time, it was clearly an attack.

Shei had no choice but to counter with Chun-aeng.

The thunder-infused blade cleaved through the darkness, lightning roaring in its wake.

Through the shattered void and echoes of thunder, Tyrkanzyaka’s voice reached her.

“If you truly abandon us for the Sanctum—“

“I never said—!”

Before Shei could finish, a pale hand reached out.

Tyrkanzyaka’s hand.

It was faster than Shei anticipated.

Since regaining her heart, she could no longer extend her blood magic outward.

Instead, she had converted all that power into pure physical might.

If she grabbed Shei, it would be over.

Instinctively, Shei reached for something.

Jizan.

The immovable sword.

The relic of the Grand Master, a blade unworthy hands could not wield.

She used it to deflect the approaching hand.

That was all it took—a single parry—but the impact rippled through her arm.

Shei ducked low, and above her, Tyrkanzyaka’s crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

It was filled with unmistakable hostility.

“I will engrave upon your body what it means to be my enemy.”

They had fought before.

Back then, Tyrkanzyaka had been controlled by Finlay and her Dark Knights were endless—an army that forced a battle of attrition.

Even reaching her was impossible, and even if someone did, there was no way to harm her.

That time, she had only been stopped because Hughes thought of using electricity to paralyze her.

But now—she was in full control of herself.

And if her real power was as terrifying as her controlled state had been…

Even so—

“Try me!”

Shei swung Chun-aeng, clashing against Tyrkanzyaka’s arm.

No matter how strong she was, she could not defy the earth, the sky, and thunder itself.

The impact sent Tyrkanzyaka skidding backward.

Fueled by frustration, Shei shouted.

“Stop being so stubborn! We need you! You, the Sanctum, Azzy, Hughes—if we don’t work together, no one survives!”

“We only have two hands—to grasp something new, one must release what they are holding. Such is the law of the world.”

“The hell it is! The world doesn’t follow some neat, perfect rule! If we don’t gather everything together, then it’s all over!”

“Then consider this my selfish desire. I am too possessive to share with others.”

Though spoken mockingly, at that moment, an image flashed in Tyrkanzyaka’s mind—

Images of Hughes always watching Shei.

He never showed it outright, but Tyrkanzyaka had noticed.

And now, knowing that Shei was a woman all along…

“Then let us have a pathetic love triangle.”

For the first time, she put genuine force into her steps.

There was a technique called Tremor Step.

By stomping down, one could channel force through the ground, spreading impact everywhere.

Without control, it would shatter one’s own foot—but Tyrkanzyaka found a way around that.

The shockwave blew her foot apart, but she instantly regenerated with her absolute command over blood.

Even for just a moment, it was enough.

The shockwave spread through the entire Lightning Tower.

Even a structure built to withstand lightning could not handle the sheer force of the Progenitor’s Bloodcraft.

– Rumble

The tower trembled as the entire structure tilted.