Endless Debt

Chapter 1289: Chapter 88: Dance of Demons

"I miss this place, it’s been a while since I last came here."

Entering the Undying Club, the Astronaut glanced around; it wasn’t his first time here. To the Astronaut, the Undying Club hadn’t changed much; he could still see the familiar past within it.

"A long, long time ago, this wasn’t a club for drunkards to waste their time, but a gladiatorial arena filled with blood and honor."

The Astronaut stood reminiscing, speaking with a sense of nostalgia, "Everyone who set foot here would be watched by the Eyes of Eternal Fury and would gain an Undying Body in this arena of blood."

"They would engage in frenzied duels, killing, dying, resurrecting, fighting again; honing their skills repeatedly in the harsh death, pleasing my blood-related kin through the art of war."

"The Land of Unceasing."

The Astronaut softly called out the former name of the Undying Club, and instantly, a subtle power rose and echoed within the room. In the silence, a multitude of complex sounds emerged, like sleeping souls whispering in their dreams.

"In the cycle of death, the Land of Unceasing would select the greatest warrior, the sole champion. He would lead others to initiate a new round of war, until he fell dead in some battle."

The Astronaut narrated the history of the Land of Unceasing, with a tone mocking Sai Zong.

"You would bring the champion’s corpse and weapons back to this place; his body would be buried in the honorable Bone Storage Room, and his weapons would become a collection for the Eyes of Eternal Fury."

There was a pause in the conversation, and the Astronaut lamented, "Sadly, it’s all over; the Land of Unceasing has become a thing of the past; so-called honor turned to dust, leaving only a bunch of hopeless drunkards."

The Astronaut noticed the cabinet near the bar and couldn’t help but sneer, "Even the collection has changed from weapons to wine glasses?"

"Did you just come here to mock me?"

Sai Zong said coldly, "Then you’ve mocked enough; you should leave now. This place doesn’t welcome bloody creatures like you."

"Bloody creature?"

The Astronaut laughed louder, "Sai Zong, how come I just discovered you’re so humorous? The first champion of the Eyes of Eternal Fury, the only undying champion, is mocking my bloody nature?"

His laughter was deafening, like thunder, causing the entire Undying Club to tremble violently, wine glasses clinked, issuing crisp sounds, bottles in the cabinet toppled out, shattering into pieces on the floor.

The Astronaut laughed for a while before gradually stopping. He said, "Take me to see Samuel."

Sai Zong said, "He’s already sleeping."

The Astronaut suddenly stepped towards Sai Zong, then grabbed Sai Zong by the throat. Sai Zong didn’t resist; he just stared fiercely at the golden mask, at his own face and eyes reflected in its surface.

"Then I’ll rephrase."

The Astronaut exerted a little force, a strong sense of suffocation overwhelmed Sai Zong’s mind, "Step aside and let him come to me."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Sai Zong refused with a tough stance, instantly releasing a violent aura.

Just like what was seen outside the Undying Club before, Sai Zong’s blood seemed to ignite, his red blood rolled in his veins like a raging fire, bringing an unbearable burning pain.

Golden light pierced the skin, cutting it like a knife, exposing the dense network of blood vessels, tiny vessels also burned with weak flames, flashing mysterious golden light like countless leaping webs.

"Alright, alright, calm down. Sai Zong, you don’t want to be controlled by anger, do you?" The Astronaut said, stepping back.

"I won’t lose control," Sai Zong tried hard to suppress his anger, "If your trick is only this, then you’d better leave."

"Sigh..."

The Astronaut sighed. He maneuvered his bulky body, struggling to squeeze behind the narrow bar, where he fixed a drink himself, inserting a straw and a lemon slice into the glass.

"Shall we be honest?"

The Astronaut lifted the golden mask, revealing writhing darkness, and inserted the straw into the darkness, the sound of sipping emerged.

"A new round of conflict is coming, alliances are being redefined. I, Belphegor, and Asmodeus have joined forces, while the others have sided with Beelzebub."

The Astronaut put down the glass, questioning, "What about you, Sai Zong, which side will you take?"

"Neither side." Sai Zong answered forcefully.

"Oh dear, Sai Zong, you’re not a child anymore; let’s be mature, okay?" The Astronaut said helplessly, "Do you really think you can keep yourself out of it?"

The Astronaut’s voice became stern.

"Do you think he can stay out of it?"

Sai Zong fell silent, some truths he understood, yet he was unwilling to accept.

"How ironic, this place used to be a hall of honor aspired by countless warriors, the origin of all wars, but now it is occupied by cowards, becoming a laughable refuge, avoiding the fate you ought to face."

Faced with the Astronaut’s mockery, Sai Zong clenched his fists, yet when it came to rebutting, he couldn’t utter a single word.

Sai Zong was a warrior, only skilled with a sword, and moreover, the Astronaut was stating facts, indisputable ones.

"You should understand the Devil’s essence. Ultimately, we are merely the spokesmen of power. When Samuel cannot fulfill his duty, why not step down? Release your duty and enjoy absolute peace... that is, complete death."