I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 188 The Gears of Fate (Part 2)
"!"

Upon hearing this familiar number, which always evokes a pang of heartache whenever it is recalled, even Serbia paused in surprise.

The air blade slash that was originally intended to be unleashed also suddenly stopped.

A pair of beautiful, vertical pupils were fixed on Mephisto, and his tone was cold and filled with murderous intent:
"You're lying! I saw you order someone to shoot her when I was fleeing the lab!"

"No, no, she used the 'Mirage of the Sea' technique to dodge that shot. You know, Subject 1875..."

"Whoosh!"

However, before Mephisto could finish speaking, the next second, accompanied by a whistling gust of air, a blood-stained ear fell to the ground with a thud.

"Clap!"

"!"

The excruciating pain from having his ear forcibly severed by the terrifying air blade instantly swept through Mephisto's entire body. However, feeling the damned half-dragon experimental subject in front of him making a finger-flicking gesture and completing this attack with almost monstrous control, he dared not utter a single cry, for fear of provoking the other party's displeasure and causing the other party to choose to kill him directly in a fit of rage.

Therefore, even though he was in so much pain that he was about to lose control of his bladder, Mephisto clenched his teeth tightly and did not make a sound from beginning to end.

"To reiterate, she has a name. She's not that damned test subject, nor is she the so-called 1875. She's Celestine!"

“Celestine Voidmirror!”

It was as if the name being recited was not that of a girl with a tragic fate, but rather that of this being who represents all that is beautiful in this world.

Even though his chest was almost filled with the flames of revenge, and he was about to completely transform into a terrifying monster that would tear everything in the world apart.

When Serbia mentioned this name, his tone still softened uncontrollably.

Uncontrollably, images surfaced in her mind of the time when she was reduced to an experimental subject, enduring the pain of flesh being torn apart every day, having fallen into true hell. She recalled that person who had the same experience as her, and whose pain was even greater due to their unique technique.

But he always smiled at her and often gave her encouragement and support. Day after day, he used his fragile magic to draw lifelike butterflies for her and depict many beautiful scenes of her regaining her freedom, helping her to give up the idea of ​​suicide.

At the same time, she became the ray of hope that tore through the darkness in her heart, the girl with hair as blue as the ocean.

Even though a full twelve years have passed, and even though Serbia has been deliberately avoiding everything about the other side.

But when she mentioned that name again, she felt an indescribable bitterness that began to spread uncontrollably in her chest, and the phantom pain in her heart made Serbia want to cry.

We made a promise to escape hell together, grow up together, and use our own strength to save our suffering companions.

But why, Celestine?

Why did you leave that hope to me when we faced that light of the future?
Clearly, compared to a monster like me, you have endured far more suffering, yet you still manage to become a beacon of light for others. You deserve a future even more.

After all, if it were you, if you were the one who left the lab alive back then.

You'll definitely do better than me, won't you?
Serbia muttered to herself, but quickly put the bitterness behind her. Instead, she expressionlessly pointed her right hand, which had somehow transformed into a dragon claw, at Mephisto, who was clutching his severed ear, clenching his teeth to endure the excruciating pain, his heart filled with resentment, yet he could only stare at her with fear.

Looking at the other person's miserable appearance, looking at Mephisto Prandtl, who used to be high and mighty, able to decide the life and death of her and her companions with a single word, but now so useless that he didn't even dare to express his emotions, could only be like an ant, desperately using his barren brain, even knowing that death was coming, he still tried to deceive her with lies so that she would spare his life.

After enduring twelve long years, Serbia has finally tasted the sweet and joyful fruit of 'revenge' today.

At this moment, the corners of his lips began to slowly turn upwards, which then intensified and eventually became somewhat ferocious.

She couldn't wait to replicate the hellish flesh-peeling experiments she had endured on this beast!
"Wait, I'm not lying to you, everything I'm saying is true! 18... Celestine isn't dead, she's really still alive!"

Mephisto instantly realized from Serbia's increasingly dangerous gaze that the other man seemed intent on killing him. Without further ado, he recounted the true events that had transpired after Serbia's escape, attempting to alter his fate through a combination of truth and falsehood.

"When Celestine used the 'Mirage of the Sea' technique to block the passage and help you escape, although I was angry at the time, I did order the soldiers to shoot her, intending to kill her and take back you, this precious experimental subject."

"But when I was about to have her body disposed of, I discovered that she had used a spell on herself to mimic parts of her body, thus successfully avoiding fatal injuries and surviving."

"And this made me realize that her techniques seem to be more than just able to create illusions of having no combat power, but have greater potential for growth, and can even achieve the annihilation of real objects."

"And it seems to be not limited to itself, but can cover a wide area, so I later had the researchers bring her back to the laboratory to try to push her to a whole new level and break the illusionary myth of the Slevin family through the effects of her spell!"

Seeing Serbia stop gathering magic power after hearing the truth he had given him, and stare at him with a look of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes, although the killing intent in his eyes still made him tremble, he was no longer as crazy as before.

Mephisto realized that his honest information had successfully gained the other party's trust, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

However, it is known that Celestine himself had indeed died in subsequent experiments, and that his body had been thrown into the dissolution pool by himself, making it impossible for him to have survived.

The only evidence that could prove the other party had ever lived in this world—the two containers that held the other party's surgical circuitry—was lost during the escape and has now most likely rotted away and returned to nature.

Having no real evidence to deceive the other party, the only way to survive was to fabricate a more convincing lie.

Mephisto, his mind racing, spoke slowly and deliberately to Serbia, half-jokingly:

"So after I saved her, I conducted a lot of research on her ability to cast spells. However, due to the excessive intensity of the tests, her mental strength could not withstand it, which caused her to faint several times during the experiments and even almost die suddenly."

"But after I explained the special nature of this test subject to the previous emperor, the emperor sent Lord Cambert, who was then the captain of the empire's top medical unit, to assist me in completing the experiment on 'The Mirage of the Sea' and successfully brought Celestine back to life."

"Unfortunately, just as I was about to finish my research on the mirage, William Perus led the Royal Secret Service and, with the cooperation of Prime Minister Wolf, launched a coup and successfully seized the throne."

"You should know what happened after that. My laboratory project was halted by His Majesty the Emperor, and all the test subjects were forcibly released. I myself went from being the supreme and taboo head of the empire's modification experiments to becoming a rat that everyone hates overnight."

“Celestin was also released in that amnesty, but I naturally could not accept this outcome. So before she was released, I secretly sent my confidants to take her away and imprison her, intending to continue the research under pressure, so that I could use the research results to obtain the possibility of returning to the upper echelons.”

"But what I didn't expect was that, in order to gain further support and prestige, William Perus even sent an inspection team to try to eliminate all the researchers who participated in the taboo experiments."

"Fortunately, thanks to the former emperor's favor, I was able to move around the palace frequently in the past, and through these exchanges, I made friends with many ministers who were serving in the capital, Eleno. By secretly giving them many rare potions, I have maintained a fairly good relationship with them all this time. As a result, I was fortunate enough to hear the news before the arrest operation officially began."

"After paying a price, I managed to escape the Empire before the surveillance forces arrived. In the years that followed, I lived under a false identity and became a village doctor in Gooseberry Village."

"After my downfall, my confidants were also purged and all of them died. Fortunately, before they were purged, they successfully sent Celestine into a hibernation facility that I had prepared in advance, which could operate continuously for twenty years under the influence of the magic stone." "I plan to go to the Empire as a tourist after the world has forgotten me and try to continue my research."

"Unfortunately, the war between the Allied Forces and the Empire broke out before I could implement this plan. Under such dangerous circumstances, if I went there as a clergyman of the Kingdom of Loran, I would probably be killed by the Empire as a spy. So, even though I had no choice, I had to put the research aside for the time being."

"Therefore, I really don't have the time, nor is there any need, to kill that test subject. Celestine is really still alive, and doing very well; you just haven't seen her yet!"

"...Now that things have come to this, do you still want to try to deceive me with lies, Mephisto!"

However, Serbia sneered at Mephisto's confident assertion, and without a word, flicked his finger to unleash a blade of energy that slashed directly at the opponent's left arm.

"Hey!"

"what!"

As the severed arm fell and slammed to the ground, the sound of bones cracking rang out along with Mephisto's agonizing scream.

Under such intense pain, Mephisto even began to lose control of his bladder, with large amounts of cloudy urine flowing from his crotch, instantly soaking his trousers.

An aged face now appeared particularly ferocious, and his eyes stared at Serbia ahead with resentment and incomprehension.

It seemed they didn't understand how the Serbian could remain indifferent after learning that the other was still alive, given the seemingly unbreakable bond between Serbia and the test subject, whose explanation was already flawless.

Instead, he intensified his torment of himself, the only one among those who provided information about Celestine's whereabouts.
Serbia naturally wouldn't answer this question.

In fact, she already believed about 80% of what Mephisto said.

After all, based on her understanding of Celestine, it was indeed possible for her spells to achieve such a level. And after discovering the potential for Celestine's spells to grow, given Mephisto's lust for power, he would definitely try every means to enhance the strength of Celestine's spells through modification experiments.

They ascend the throne of power, which countless people covet, through that disgusting trampling of life.

Therefore, it is possible that what the other party said about Celestine being alive is indeed true.

But what Serbia didn't believe was that the other side really knew Celestin's exact location.

The words were almost blatantly telling you that if you killed me, you would never find the true whereabouts of the person who was so important to you.

It was so real and fake that Serbia couldn't help but laugh.

After all, if things were really as the other party said, given their cruel nature, they would never have made such a move that was almost like begging for mercy.

Instead, they will most likely use this matter to blackmail me, in an attempt to gain the upper hand!

However, the other party did not show this state, so it is highly likely that the other party was unaware of it. Rather, it was a lie that was temporarily fabricated after the other party was affected by the fear of death caused by the killing intent released by me, and after the other party had worked on their brain!

And try to deceive yourself with this!

Unfortunately, Mephisto Dragon, you made a fatal mistake.

That is, they still see me as the same as before, a weak person who doesn't understand people's hearts at all, who always shows their emotions on their face, and who can be easily manipulated!
I survived alone for twelve years, experiencing all the joys and sorrows of life, and enduring the hell of the past alone. Through this ordeal, I grew into a truly strong person.

It's different.

I will never again cry because of the pain transmitted to my brain as my flesh heals and then tears back, nor will I give up on myself or even be so weak as to have suicidal thoughts because I cannot bear the darkness of hell.

I will never again let myself and my followers fall into a trap by blindly believing what others say.

I will not change my goals due to any unexpected factors!
From beginning to end, I had only one purpose in setting foot on this land.

There can only be one.

That is:
For that, which I waited for a full twelve years.

For what sustained me through years of hellish existence.

For those who once held high hopes, yet now watch in utter despair as their loved ones fall before them.

That feeling was a mixture of hatred, anger, despair, and madness.

It transformed me from a half-dragon into a true monster.

An obsession called revenge!
Therefore, Mephisto Dragon, no matter how eloquent you are, you will never be able to impress me.

Because of you today.

Death is certain!!!

"Hahaha!"

Under Mephisto's venomous and desperate gaze, Serbia, who seemed to be a madman with a maniacal grin, suddenly took a step forward and rushed forward. Her thin yet inexplicably enormous black shadow tore everything around her apart with the burst of magic.

The kerosene lamps on the lamp cabinet dimmed and went out one by one under the magical gust of wind, as if even the gods guarding this place had to retreat under the frenzied killing intent of Serbia.

Immediately, amidst the crimson glow of the sharp dragon claws, in Mephisto's utterly desperate gaze, and in the majestic yet benevolent gaze of Orihius, the great golden god who wielded the scales and the sword of order, symbolizing justice and judgment.

The crimson dragon claw pierced through the villain's chest in an instant, lifting him into the air and tightly gripping a heart that was both incredibly crimson and utterly dark.

Then, under Serbia's unwavering grip, it shattered completely.

In Mephisto's gradually dimming eyes, it transformed into countless filthy pieces of flesh and blood, staining the statue's feet red.

"puff!"

……

(End of this chapter)