Mystery: The Last Shepherd

Chapter 261 The Last Shepherd (Two Chapters Combined)

When the curtain was drawn back, the stage scene had transformed into a dilapidated street. Lingering flames flickered on the ground, the pavement was riddled with holes, and building walls were crumbling. A sign lay on the ground, its top charred black, bearing the words:

"Blackthorn Security Company".

This is Tingen, in front of the Blackthorn Security Company, the site of that disaster.

—The performance seemed to be told in reverse chronological order, first depicting the story after the funeral, and then starting to portray what happened that day.

Blood, thick smoke, broken bricks, flames. Amidst the chaos, Luze saw several people lying on the ground. Klein and Captain Dunn both bore fatal wounds, their faces frozen in shock and rage. Leonard had fallen unconscious after his body slammed violently against the wall.

At this moment, there was no one standing at the scene.

This appears to have occurred after Ince Zangwell launched the attack, killing everyone and taking Saint Selena's ashes.

What about myself back then?

Lu Ze's gaze searched the stage from below the stage, and then he heard a low, faint murmur of pain.

On the ground opposite Klein and Dunn lay a twisted body. A horrible hole had been torn open in his chest, through which a mangled heart was faintly visible. Several thin muscle fibers extended from the sides of the hole and connected, seemingly attempting to heal the wound.

However, the wound was too large, and the body's owner was already exhausted and had little ability to repair himself.

"Cough cough, whew, whew."

On the stage, Lu Ze, on the verge of death, gasped for breath.

His body was corroded by the flesh and blood of Ms. M and her men, he drank a Sequence 5 potion, suffered a direct hit from the Sun Rune, and was even ambushed from behind by Ince Zangwill. He was on the verge of death, or rather, it was a miracle that he could still maintain a sliver of life after all that.

Unfortunately, even a miracle is nearing its end.

"boom!"

"boom!"

On the stage, Lu Ze's mangled body collapsed one after another, exploding into small bursts of flesh and blood fireworks.

"Well"

His eyes were filled with madness, and he let out a painful growl, trying to struggle, but he couldn't stop his body from collapsing. Having just drunk the potion, he had lost a lot of flesh and blood and suffered fatal injuries; he could no longer maintain his body's normal function.

The ceremony failed!
Lu Ze is about to lose control!

The potion surged rampage within him, vying for control of his remaining flesh and blood. He would be transformed by the potion into a mad monster, devouring and slaughtering everything in its path, bringing despair and destruction to the city of Tingen!

"grass"

On the stage, Lu Ze murmured unwillingly. He wanted to resist, but his body was already out of control, sliding faster and faster toward the edge of losing control.

He couldn't even kill himself!
"boom!"

Seven faces reappeared on Luze's body—Ms. M and her henchmen. They had suffered severe injuries but had recovered through the connection between their flesh and blood. Now completely controlled by the potion, they were vying for control of Luze's body.

A filthy, blood-red color spread across his body, gradually eroding Luze's form as several human faces advanced. Once his body was completely taken over, he would become a monstrous, out-of-control creature!

Lu Ze was plunged into great pain. He poured all his energy into his body and, almost instinctively, began to fight and struggle with Ms. M.

However, by now, he was almost completely exhausted. Faced with the erosion, he could only struggle little by little, then retreat in inch by inch. His consciousness was completely fading, and he probably wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.

“Tap tap.”

Just then, a black-haired, blue-eyed girl rushed up from the side of the stage. She had a delicate and beautiful face and looked somewhat like Luze. She was his sister, Cecilia.

With a worried expression, she quickly searched the scene and soon found her brother and his mangled body.

"elder brother!"

Cecilia screamed and tried to rush over. But Luze's Sequence 5 body was on the verge of going out of control, radiating a terrifying mental influence that made it impossible for her to get close.

"Lu Ze, brother, I'm sorry I'm late."

Seeing her brother's current state, Cecilia's deep blue eyes welled up with intense sorrow, and she could no longer hold the dagger in her hand, which clattered to the ground.

On stage, Lu Ze, who was in a daze, was completely unaware that his sister had appeared, and was only engaged in a tug-of-war with Ms. M.

"Ms. M, it really is you."

Cecilia saw Luze's transformation and the human face that appeared on his chest. Although she didn't recognize the others, she easily identified Ms. M, who held the dominant position. Turning back, the inverted cross drawn in blood was still clearly visible beside the overturned carriage.

She looked back and forth at everything, her eyes seeming to have gained some insight.

Below the stage, Lu Ze suddenly felt a terrible premonition.

“What a clever child. He understood the situation so quickly and realized that Ms. M was using your body to ascend to the position of shepherd.” His other personality said softly from the side, his tone hazy, seemingly carrying an unspeakable sadness and admiration. Ms. M had once told the siblings about the ritual of shepherd ascension, and now Cecilia understood that her brother was currently without help and unable to resist.

The performance continued, and Cecilia looked at Luze, whose body was gradually collapsing and who was unable to contend with Ms. M. The sadness in her eyes gradually disappeared.

Her expression hardened.

"Cecilia, stop!"

Below the stage, Lu Ze felt a chill run down his spine. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he jumped up and shouted at the top of his lungs!

But Cecilia completely ignored him and picked up the dagger from the ground.

"It's no use, she won't hear you, this is just a reenactment of what happened."

The person, who closely resembled Ms. M, shook their head.

"Go away!"

But Lu Ze didn't care about anything else. He shoved the woman next to him and rushed onto the stage like a madman.

"boom!"

A transparent wall appeared in front of the stage, blocking his path. He screamed and pounded the wall with his fists, but he couldn't break through it at all, and could only watch as his sister continued to move forward.

Cecilia picked up the dagger, flipped the blade, and pointed it at her chest.

At this moment, a serene smile slowly spread across her exquisitely beautiful face. It was the calm and composed expression of someone facing death with equanimity and resolute in their sacrifice. She was willing to offer herself as a sacrifice, to become part of the shepherd, to ensure the success of the ritual, and to save her brother from losing control and dying.

"Brother, we've already talked about it."

Her voice trembled as she said, "Promise me you'll live."

"Stop!"

"Cecilia, please, stop! I beg you!"

"Damn it, don't do this! You better live!"

Luze, screaming from below the stage, his eyes wide, watched as Cecilia gripped the dagger with both hands, raising it high—

"puff!"

Blood splattered as the dagger pierced her delicate heart.

As if all the vitality and beauty of a young girl were bursting forth at this moment, she slightly raised her slender body, her face showing a sorrowful and poignant expression.

“I will become a shepherd, for you, my brother.”

With that, she took a step forward and rushed toward Lu Ze's collapsing body.

The two easily merged together. "Cecilia?"

As flesh and blood merged, as if sensing something, Lu Ze on the stage suddenly spoke in pain and confusion.

On his body, fresh flesh and blood became a powerful force, like a fresh army, rapidly driving away Ms. M and her forces. The corrupt, twisted crimson and several human faces faded quickly until they huddled in a corner and were completely swallowed up.

The girl's exquisite face floated on Lu Ze's body, then slowly sank. Lu Ze's flesh gently enveloped her, protecting her to the deepest recesses of her body and soul.

Having accomplished all of this, Lu Ze's body had exhausted all its spiritual energy. He began to shrink and wither, eventually becoming a charred corpse, with only a sliver of life remaining locked deep within his body.

The curtain slowly closed, and the performance ended.

“Cecilia.”

Below the stage, Lu Ze, having lost all his strength, slowly slumped down. He stood there, stunned, muttering to himself.

"Crack, snap, snap."

A burst of crisp applause erupted from the audience behind them, first a single clap, then a chorus of applause. Captain Dunn, Ms. M, Sirius—all the audience members stood up, cheering and applauding, expressing their appreciation for the wonderful performance.

"Cecilia!"

Lu Ze cried out in despair, but he could no longer hear his own voice. The entire theater was filled with thunderous applause and cheers from the audience, and his personal sorrow was drowned out by the overwhelming joy, becoming insignificant.

The curtain slowly rose, revealing an empty stage. Everything that had just happened seemed like a mere performance, as if the actors had already left and were chatting and laughing backstage, preparing to go out for a late-night snack or some entertainment.

"That's what happened that day."

Unbeknownst to her, his split female personality had already approached her, sighing, "When you awoke and realized you had devoured Cecilia, you immediately fell into despair and anguish. Cecilia sacrificed herself in this way, making you your shepherd. It can only be said that the path of the shepherd, due to the madness of the ultimate true creator, was destined to be one of despair and suffering."

"Then I'll kill them."

Lu Ze said softly.

Once the words were out, he realized the pain was excruciating, his anger was burning, and he could no longer bear it.

"Who did you kill?"

The red-haired, golden-eyed woman asked.

“Kill the true creator, Mr. A, and everyone in the Aurora Society, and all the madmen who believe in this evil god!”

He said.

"boom!"

Flames erupted in the theater, spreading rapidly and burning fiercely. The flames were dazzling, their tongues greedily licking everything in the theater.

"I will end this cursed sequence, I will kill the damned true creator, I will replace him, I will become the Hanged God!"

Lu Ze roared wildly, and as if in response to his fury, the flames surged and spread. The audience, however, paid no heed, continuing to cheer and applaud, letting the flames consume them and letting Lu Ze's high-pitched roars echo endlessly.

"I want to be the last shepherd!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Backlund, East District.

Mr. A looked at the disintegrating flesh and blood in front of him, and Lu Ze's face floating on the surface of the flesh and blood.

The face was filled with despair and pain, and the person was whispering something.

Praise be to you, my Lord.

Lu Ze said.

"That's right, that's right! That's exactly it!"

Upon hearing Lu Ze's words, Mr. A trembled with excitement. "Call upon Him! Praise Him! Only the Lord is the salvation of all! You finally understand the greatness of the Lord!"

He felt relieved and joyful; yet another lost sheep had found its way and turned to the Lord's embrace. Although the other had previously been blasphemous, the Lord is merciful and loves all people. As long as the other was willing to believe in the Lord, He would forgive all his sins!
"Did you hear that, great Lord!"

He opened his arms and shouted loudly towards the sky.

"boom!"

A mad, lofty, and terrifying aura slowly descended, and the imposing figure, drawn by Lu Ze's words, turned his gaze here once more.

Mr. A humbly prostrated himself, feeling the Lord's will approaching, until he arrived above Lu Ze, entered Lu Ze's body, and began to transform his perception.

The Black Knight's spiritual blade was blocked by the tide within Lu Ze's body, but in return, the tide also temporarily disappeared, no longer able to protect Lu Ze from the spiritual erosion of the true creator.

As if involuntarily, Luze began to pray:

"We will become shepherds, for you, my Lord."

Mr. A couldn't help but smile; this was the prayer he recited when he became a shepherd, and he knew it very well.

Lu Ze continued:

"To seize power from your hands, to curse your name and spirit."

Mr. A's smile froze.

"what are you saying?"

he asked subconsciously.

But Luze did not stop; instead, he continued to pray:

“I will raise the banner of eternal rebellion, and with my anger as my blade, I will tear you apart and desecrate you.”

"shut up!"

Mr. A roared in disbelief that, even at this point, the other party was still defying the Lord's will!
"Until your divine kingdom is destroyed, until your filthy blood falls from the sky like rivers covering the earth, flowing endlessly!"

On the surface of his flesh, Lu Ze's face, which had been in a daze and out of control, suddenly opened its eyes, filled with utter hatred. He could feel the will of the true creator filling his mind, trying to control him and make him a faithful follower.

Go to hell!
Luze sneered and cursed, speaking loudly in Hermes:
"A fool who doesn't belong to this era,"

"The mysterious ruler above the gray fog,"

"The King of Yellow and Black, who holds the key to good fortune!"

"Please come down, please help me destroy all of this!"

Cecilia is dead, so nothing matters anymore!

The Fool, the Fool who is at odds with the true Creator, the powerful and mysterious Fool!
Take it all, my soul and my life, it's all yours!
Join me and wipe out all these damned creatures!

"Blasphemer!"

Mr. A's scream came from across the way, and in his mind, the murmurs of the true creator were filled with rage. But Lu Ze revealed a cruel and twisted smile. Because he sensed that, almost at the same time he finished reciting the prayer, another profound, great, and mysterious being descended upon him.

The Fool has arrived.

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(End of this chapter)