The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 802: The Steadfast One

He knew it was a waste. He had come to the conclusion based on her body temperature, heartbeat, and energy condition: Six Rime wouldn’t live.

Even so, Azure Dragon would delay her death and restore her injured heart as much as possible. Then, perhaps, the resurrection pill she had taken in advance would work.

Even if it didn’t, Equivalent Exchange would bring her back for sure.

Vermilion Bird was sent on a secret mission. Once she was back, she would be willing to save Six Rime. And once her Equivalent Exchange reached level 8, she should be able to do that without falling unconscious for a year.

Six Rime stared at Azure Dragon weakly and calmly. “I’m sorry...Elder...for disappointing you...”

Azure Dragon laid Six Rime on the ground gingerly. Gaze determined, he said seriously, “Stay strong, Six Rime. Don’t die. This is an order.”

Six Rime didn’t say anything. She blinked slightly with a pale face. Wearing a special ring, her right hand slowly balled into a fist. She would follow the order and live as long as possible, fighting to the last moment of her life.

When Azure Dragon rose to his feet, Gao Yang had just brought Ke Yo back and hidden the unconscious girl somewhere safe.

When Gao Yang turned to Azure Dragon, there was only blazing hatred in his eyes. He hadn’t activated Psychic Armor.

“Before I kill you, Azure Dragon, I have a question for you,” Gao Yang said icily.

“Ask.” Azure Dragon seemed unfazed.

Gao Yang took a step forward. “The night of the New Year’s Day, why did you make the punch? Do you know how great a sin you’ve committed?”

“I know.” Azure Dragon didn’t even flinch. “I’m a soldier. I follow orders and hold fast to my belief.”

“Belief?” Gao Yang frowned.

“Yes, belief,” Azure Dragon repeated in a booming voice.

“Haha, hahaha...” Gao Yang broke out laughing suddenly like he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

After more than ten seconds, he growled at Azure Dragon abruptly, “Belief my ass! You’re a stupid lap dog! An imbecile! A buffoon! Fucking son of a bitch!!”

Azure Dragon was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected the leader of the Nine Scions to suddenly spit out a litany of curses in such a crude way.

“Yan Liang’s a pride monster! You should’ve seen it!” Gao Yang continued to yell. “Qilin and he never intended to open the Gates! Qilin’s been lying to you, me, and everyone from the start!”

“Fight for humans? For survival? All fucking bullshit!”

“When I disagreed with his decision, he tried to kill me!”

“When Vermilion Bird found out that he didn’t want to open the Gates, he put her in a vegetative state! She would’ve been eaten by a monster had Raven Shark not saved her! You didn’t know, did you?!”

“Humans going after each other! Awakeners at each other’s throat! It’s all because of your master! And you, his foolish lapdog, have the audacity to talk about belief?!”

“Tell me, Azure Dragon! What belief are you holding onto?”

Azure Dragon’s gaze remained unwavering and determined. A few seconds later, he calmly said, “Even if everything you said is true, I trust Qilin. Everything he does, he does it for humanity.”

“He’s been slaughtering humans!” Gao Yang exclaimed. “Have you not suspected for a second that the man you trust is a lunatic? Have you not doubted for a second if what you’re doing is wrong?!”

Azure Dragon shook his head with a smile. “I’ve never had a doubt. Not even for a second.”

Gao Yang looked at him in disbelief. His gaze was no longer furious. Even his hatred dimmed, replaced by a deep pity. “You’re pathetic, Azure Dragon. You’re the most pathetic person I’ve ever met.”

Azure Dragon shook his head slowly.

“It takes great courage to hold onto a belief and to question it, Gao Yang. Time will tell us who’s right and who’s wrong. There’s no difference between us.”

“Well, there is a difference.” Azure Dragon smiled. “The steadfast ones are strong, while those who question are tormented.”

Gao Yang didn’t agree with Azure Dragon at all, but he didn’t want to waste any more breath preaching to a stone in a waste pit.

“Cut the crap. Let’s finish this.”

“Works for me.” Azure Dragon took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Gao Yang activated Psychic Armor again to ensure absolute rationality. To secure a victory, he must not let himself be swayed by other emotions.

Now, his only enemy was Azure Dragon. Gao Yang needn’t pay attention to anything else.

Azure Dragon must have hurt himself by pushing himself past the limit earlier. He was in a much poorer state.

However, Gao Yang wasn’t doing any better. Azure Dragon was basically immune to Fire now, and Gao Yang stood no chance in a purely physical fight with Azure Dragon.

That left Nine Frost’s level 7 Weak Point.

Before borrowing the Talent from Nine Frost, Gao Yang had confirmed that Nine Frost had never had a fight to the death with Azure Dragon. And Nine Frost had had Weak Point for more than a decade. It was unlikely for Azure Dragon to have fought the former owner of Weak Point, either.

Gao Yang could use Weak Point for 20 seconds.

That was enough. After all, Azure Dragon would become immune to Weak Point if the fight was dragged on for too long.

They would decide this in fifteen seconds.

[Access granted.]

[You have accumulated 1394 Luck points...]

—Increase my Strength and Agility to the limit before putting points in my Constitution and Endurance.

[Executing.]

[Constitution: 1809 Endurance: 1811]

[Strength: 2000 Agility: 2000]

[Willpower: 2003 Charisma: 2302]

[Luck: 2020]

—Activate Willful Power.

[Constitution: 500 Endurance: 500]

[Strength: 5362 Agility: 5363]

[Willpower: 100 Charisma: 100]

[Luck: 2020]

—Activate level 7 Weak Point

The energy conversion happened in an instant. The adjustments to his stats brought about a change in his presence. Powerful energy rippled out of him. Then a faint golden barrier enveloped his body.

Azure Dragon started. Gao Yang had gotten stronger yet weaker at the same time. It was a strange change.

Azure Dragon didn’t know what Gao Yang was up to. He tapped into all his power and stayed a hundred percent focused.

Before, Gao Yang always left the stats he had no use for at 1 when using Willful Power, but that was because he was confident in not letting the enemy even touch him once while Willful Power was in effect.

Fighting Azure Dragon was different. Even with Willful Power, Gao Yang wouldn’t overwhelm Azure Dragon completely. Thus, he left his Constitution and Endurance at an appropriate level, or he would be a glass cannon shattering at a tap from Azure Dragon.

A Constitution and Endurance of 500 would be fragile when facing Azure Dragon’s punch, but Gao Yang had the energy shield of Absolute Defense protecting him. It would last for...about ten or so seconds.

Even if it wouldn’t be enough, Gao Yang couldn’t increase his Constitution and Endurance further. He had to make sure his Strength and Agility were over 5000, or he would stand no chance of defeating Azure Dragon.

The two most powerful physical fighters in the world of awakeners at this moment in time faced each other amid the ruin in the pit under the desert. One was the most powerful physical fighter in actuality, while the other was one temporarily.

The victor would be decided in a moment.

Thud. Thud.

Under the cold gray moonlight, the two figures vanished at the same time, leaving stomp-cracked ground and ripples of energy in their wakes.