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Last Embryo Volume 4 Epilogue Part 4

「I believe the results speak for themselves. As you can see, the man who claimed to have been 『Uroboros’s』 leader escaped, and my Avatar looks like that. That is all I have to say.」

Crimson-eyed Homura said while pointing at his clothing, which was all in tatters. But judging from his behavior and the power that was still leaking out of him, it was clear that Homura’s body did not sustain any kind of lasting damage. That was great an all, but when he glared at Homura’s appearance, he could not hide his discomfort and so he clicked his tongue again.

「An Avatar, huh? I would have never thought that Homura would ever qualify to being the Avatar of such a piece of shit like you. . . so out with it, while my mood is still relatively good: what the fuck is going on here, Demon Lord Azi-Dahaka?」

Still with the B.D.A strapped onto his right wrist, Izayoi took a step forward with an angry expression. He decided to prioritize resolving Parashurama’s crisis first, but thinking about it now, the shit show that played out here should have a much higher priority on his immediate to-do list. And now, as a result of his actions, Homura, whom Izayoi just called Azi-Dahaka sat on the hut’s bed in a rude manner and gave Izayoi a condescending look while snickering through his teeth.

「Whatever do you mean, Sakamaki Izayoi? Nothing is 「going on here」 as you have put it. Saigo Homura was my Avatar from the very beginning, and that is a fact that even you should be able to understand if only you chose to use your head more instead of your fists. As it happens, this particular Avatar has always been the most suitable for the purpose of replacing me one day.」

『Absolute Evil』. . . . the one who has the potential to destroy the world and humanity using the power of Star Particle Bodies. The investigation they carried out revealed that the world as they knew it would be destroyed by the rampage of the one who has obtained the power of the Star Particle Bodies, or to put it in other words, Third Perpetual Motion Machine. However, this was the conclusion that Izayoi arrived after his talk with Orpheus, which was only a few hours ago. Moreover, it would seem that his conclusion was slightly off the mark.

「Fuck, now I have done it for real this time. So the rampage of the individual with the Star Particle Bodies power was one of the 『Absolute Evils』, not the one who destroys the world with them. That was the last trigger that had to be pulled. The 『Absolute Evil』 was not one of the parties involved, but a perpetrator!」

「That is correct. Human civilization. Human evolution. From the moment that they have become obsessed with nothing but their own survival, it was inevitable that the lives of humans and the paths they have taken will be the ones drowning in darkness and despair. And those who are born and raised surrounded by all the grief and lamentation that comes with it have the potential to become the blessed children of the 『Absolute Evil』.」

You should be able to understand if only you chose to use your head more. . .

To put it extremely simply, there are only three reasons why humanity would end up destroying itself, as well as one prerequisite, which is that in order for that future to happen, the perpetrator has to be 「someone who would not seek a reward from mankind at the end of the battle」. In other words, powerful individuals do not apply to it, because they fail to fulfill that criterium. The three possibilities are as follows:

1) Unintentional self-destruction

2) The existence of humans willing to dedicate their everything in order to see humanity’s ruin

3) The existence of someone ready to take revenge upon humanity for causing its ruin

「Therefore, the blessed child who destroys the world is also going to be the one who will have the right to take revenge on all of humanity.」

In that sense, Saigo Homura was the closest to becoming a perpetrator, because at the same time he is also a victim in all of this. In the end, the ideals of this immature boy proved to be too weak when faced in opposition to the 「Original Sin of Humanity」.」

Unable to take just how happy Azi-Dahaka seemed to be because of all of this, Izayoi glared at him with eyes filled with hatred.

「. . . . . Tell me, Demon Lord. Are you doing this just so that you could ridicule the path to humanity’s salvation that Homura has taken?」

「No way. I do admit that by choosing him I am having fun from the bottom of my heart, but I would never dare to ridicule that path that my Avatar has chosen for himself. If this means anything at all to you, then I do apologize for any misunderstandings that my imprecise wording might have caused, my hero.」

Azi-Dahaka erased his smile and placed his hands in his pockets, but hie eyes were still shining with an evil glint due to his inability to hide his enjoyment at this current situation.

「My hero. My original intention was to manifest only after Saigo Homura would have fallen into the darkest pits of despair and resolved himself to destroy humanity. Therefore, when the two of you resolved yourselves to saving the life of that Black Albino girl instead of choosing to sacrifice her, my soul was supposed to disappear from within Saigo Homura completely.」

「Hmm? So what, you want to tell me that an irregularity has occurred? Is that it?」

The demon Lord nodded at Izayoi with his suspicious eyes still smiling.

「Yes. And with the competition of this ceremony, mankind’s future has been completely set on the course leading to salvation. The only thing left to take care of now is to see the 2nd War for the Sun’s Authority to its conclusion. . . but I guess there are still those who cannot accept such an outcome, hm?」

In response, an ominous wind went past the two of them. The unpleasant Demon Lord raised his eyes towards the heavens and declared after a brief silence:

「『The Winds of Decadence』 have begun to blow.」

「『Winds of Decadence』? You mean the strongest God Slayer?」

「The very same. The Primordial monster whom you humans have dubbed 『The Winds of Decadence』. A faceless Demon Lord who is about to manifest in this world by using a body given to him by its new vessel. Something that should never be possible. A future that was not meant to exist, but has now become an Amender of History.」

A future that was not supposed to have happened is about to become reality, is what he essentially said. Azi-Dahaka, whose three shadowy heads were biting the air with anger clasped his hand into a fist and raised it against the wind.

「My hero. There are two reasons for why I have decided to shame my pride as a Demon Lord by helping this inexperienced boy. One was, od course, to swiftly deal with this boorish Demon Lord. And the other one. . . is to make sure that the souls of all the heroes who challenged and defeated 『The Absolute Evil』 will be able to reach the future.」

Every battle with a Demon Lord has a meaning behind it, and all the sacrifices made to defeat them were well worth it. And in order to prove it, It is not possible to end the continuous history of humankind in the middle of the road it has embarked on. However, when Izayoi, one of the parties involved, was praised as a hero, he only shook his head with an unpleasant grimace on his face.

「. . . . . . . Hmm, that is a very interesting story that you are saying, but currently I am busy with uncovering the mystery of Atlantis. Can it not wait until I am done with it?」

「What a foolish question. You have already noticed what the Lost Continent of Atlantis and the 「Star Cauldron」 have in common, have you not? Then, if you know the cauldron that sleeps in the depths of the Greek Mediterranean, the answer should be pretty easy to guess.」

He spoke in riddles and then cackled as if he just said a brilliant joke. The body might belong to Homura, but he definitely spoke like a true Great Demon Lord.

「Sakamaki Izayoi. My hero who defeated 『The Absolute Evil』. You still have a responsibility to fulfill. Deceive the darkness, evade the clutches of evil. . . and reach the future faster than the light of the stars. That is your duty.」

「. . . . . . . . . . . !!!」

Saying that, he pointed at the shackle at Izayoi’s right wrist. The Speed of Light Motion that imbues the human body with pseudo-Star Particle Bodies. The last secret technique brought into the world by the power of Demon Lord Azi Dahaka’s soul.

「Sakamaki Izayoi. Uncover the secrets of this continent before 『The Winds of Decadence』 will blow. You, no one else. With your unbiased sight, I believe you will be able to do it.」

「Huh? Wait, you bastard. . . !!!」

But before he could get anything else out of him, Homura collapsed to the ground, unconscious, and he no longer had an intimidating evil aura around him. Looks like Azi-Dahaka decided that he was done here, and returned the control over his Avatar’s body to Homura himself.

「Fuck! If you wanted to say something to me, jus go and fucking say it! I still had things I wanted to ask about, goddamn it!!!」

He had a mountain of complaints he wanted to bury the three-headed dragon under. But no, he just selfishly said what he had to say, refused to elaborate and left, the fucking asshole!

Izayoi gritted his teeth and gazed at the stars. But now, at least he has more reasons to fight for. He has proof that The 2nd War for the Sun’s Authority is not unrelated to the future of mankind. With that, more pieces slowly fell into their rightful places. The fought of doing that bastard Demon Lord’s bidding irritated him to no end, but if he wants him to dance to his tune, then fine, Izayoi can dance, for the time being at least. But until the right time comes for that, all that he can do is to continue to gaze into the endless abyss of the starry sky above and the darkness of fate that lied there.