Netori: Reborn as the Human Aphrodisiac

All previous rulers assembled in the forge. From Gaiseric's father, Odoacer di Uriah, going back to the first Blood-Smelting King, the Blood Dynasts who preceded him but ruled an incomparably larger empire, all the way to the founder of that illustrious empire.

In his time, humanity obtained the qualifications to meet the Superior Beings on equal footing. The Blood Aristocracy formed around him, ending the widespread belief that the dragon race's rule would last for an eternity. The dragons themselves dared not challenge him, starting the divide between the Purple Dawn and the Holy Continent that carried on to this day.

He was the strongest warrior in human history, Fylkir Hadubrangr, the Great Blood Emperor.

A series of interconnected blood rays linked one monarch to the next, going from Hadubrangr all the way down to Gaiseric. But here, the situation took a turn that the late king hadn't seen coming.

Hadubrangr stepped forward, walking down a bridge of blood stones as he closed in on Mithras. The last ruler of the empire, nicknamed the Sinner, joined his ancestor, and as the two went down the Blood Stone Bridge, they stopped by Odoacer, adding him to their group.

That group now surrounded Mithras, led by Hadubrangr who directly faced the dragon youth while the Sinner and Odoacer flanked him from left and right.

"Child, you are one of the finest specimens I've had the chance to meet—more than qualified to become the heir of the Blood Aristocracy. The genetic compatibility is also perfect. Yet the blood of dragon kings already flows through your veins, making you dangerously close to Perfection.

Perfection is a Transgression, for only the Lord is perfect. Should you one day achieve the Perfect State, you will be cursed by the Weaver just like the Naifems.

No. It will be even worse. The closer you stand to Perfection, the more relentless the Weaver becomes in ruining you. Just like it did…with the Blood Aristocracy.

Knowing that, are you willing to inherit my mantle…and awaken the Great Smelting Hammer?" Hadubrangr asked, yet Mithras couldn't look him in the eyes or register the words...because someone else had captured his attention: the previous king, Odoacer.

Unlike Hadubrangr and the Sinner, Odoacer didn't look Mithras in the eyes...yet it was on him that the Human Aphrodisiac focused--so much so that he grabbed Odoacer by the shoulders, forcing the previous king to look him in the eyes.

Hadubrangr and the Sinner didn't intervene, almost as if they'd seen this coming.

"Roughing up a stranger on first meeting? How unsightly. Mithras, as a man of honest birth and proper upbringing, you should know better," Odoacer gave a stern reprimand, his words causing Mithras to reel back in shock. And for the second time of the day, through words and eye contact, Mithras got the feeling...that he'd known a stranger for a lifetime.

"W-who...are you?" Mithras asked in a weak and trembling voice. And here, Odoacer's blurry figure softened, his lips curling into a warm and gentle smile as he looked at Mithras.

In that instant, watching Odoacer and Mithras side by side, Gaiseric finally realized why he was so sympathetic to Mithras. It wasn't about facial features. Yet there was something in their eyes...that made them feel so similar. Truly disturbing.

"Child...you've suffered," Odoacer whispered after a moment of silence and patted Mithras on the head--breaking into scarlet particles the moment next.

Odoacer's voice boomed in Mithras' mind, superposing with another person, and the youth went livid, falling onto his knees.

"Child, what is your answer?" But the Great Blood Emperor couldn't care less for Mithras' mental state, getting back to business.

---

Meanwhile, the matriarchs' battle reached a climactic point. A spatial rift opened at the center of Vel'Asha's isolated space, right at the Queen Mother's back. Akamana's hands emerged from the rift, surrounded by claws of concentrated darkness that aimed at the Queen Mother's heart.

But the moment Akamana's claws connected with Vel'Asha's back, the Queen Mother turned into an adamantine shield--tongues of fire coiling up the metal as two new Vel'Asha formed at Akamana's left and right.

[Astral Pulse: Fragmented Dream]

The two Queen Mothers pressed their indexes on Akamana's temples, and to the Grand Priestess' shock, her Palace of Indulge shrank and narrowed--becoming a chained pillar of darkness.

Akamana stood amidst the pillar, suppressed by the chains, and unable to move.

"Naifems fall into two categories: the Shooting Stars, and the Caged Birds. Just like me, your big brother belonged to the former. But you, Mana, are the latter--making your understanding of our race's innate abilities rather limited.

So, I suppose it's not surprising you're not aware...that after mastering the structure of their Palace, a Naifem can suppress any domain-type ability that forms inside of theirs." Vel'Asha's voice boomed from within the shield, and the moment next, she returned to her original form, the Wheel of Fortune having settled on the Calamity most appropriate to deal with Akamana.

"Farewell, Grand Priestess," Vel'Asha said in a sorrowful tone, joining her hands in an arcane sign. Akamana's face too showed a similar sorrow.

Only four people ever called her "Mana." And of those four...only two were still alive in the proper sense.

But now, she had to break one to meet her obligations to another. Maybe in this scenario...defeat would be the preferred outcome? When Akamana's thoughts reached this point, the murky fog of destiny surrounded her, trapping her in the Wheel of Fortune.

[Third Calamity: Endless Reincarnation]

The birthright of the Queen of Monsters, the Wheel of Fortune was a unique saint-class talent that enabled its wielder to trap those who met the conditions in a Calamity.

It was classified as a Maxim, meaning that so long as the target met the conditions of activation, they couldn't resist the Calamity.

Elektra was this generation's Monster Queen--destined to rule over myriad beasts and wed the next ruler of the Holy Continent. No one else should be able to use the Wheel of Fortune. But as a wielder of the Astral Pulse, Vel'Asha could borrow any saint-class talent of her choosing...but could only use one at a time.

Over time, the Wheel of Fortune just became her preferred choice. Fate worked wonders like that.

Akamana vanished in the murky gray, entering a world of nonstop reincarnations. And Vel'Asha started counting with her fingers, heaving a sigh of relief after she passed the third.

'That should be it. The Third Calamity is extremely difficult to cast. But unlike the First and Second Calamity, it works on males and females alike--trapping the target in a rapid cycle of reincarnation where they will experience myriad lifetimes in an instant--going from the peak of happiness to the extremes of grief from one moment to the next.

Unless they can go through 3,000 incarnations without once feeling sorrow or happiness...they cannot escape. But the Calamity can adapt to the individual, creating the lives most likely to affect them.

So for Sages, who in one way or another are trying to escape pain and suffering, the Third Calamity is always a disastrous blow. At best, they will go insane. At worst...they will be trapped inside forever. And who can blame them?

Grand Priestess...it's over!' While assisting Cassandra and co. with Mithras' condition, Elektra made a silent assessment.

Vel'Asha, however, had mixed feelings.

Akamana had impeccable battle instincts. So why did she use her Palace of Indulgence in such a casual way? Even entering her territory without enough safeguards.

More importantly...that person had yet to make a move.

Those who knew the real Akamana were also aware that in the shadows, a dreadful entity created by none other than herself protected her at all times. Only stepping in when Akamana faced real danger: the First Zealot, Belphegor di Angra.

If Belphegor didn't draw his hammer, Akamana was still in control. But once he intervened...it meant she'd lost grasp of the situation and could lose her life at any moment.

Yet Belphegor stayed silent. Why? The answer came the moment next.

Vel'Asha's Palace of Indulgence shattered, broken by a black hole that formed in the middle. Akamana emerged from the dark vortex, passing her hand through her hair.

"How? How did you get out...and so fast? Mana, have you forsaken your emotions and desires?"

"Vel, as you said, I'm a Caged Bird. In Naifem terms, that means good potential but factual trash. And so it's obvious that to reach the level I have, I had to make sacrifices. A lot...actually. But it was all worth it...because I got to rip out my old man's heart with my bare hands, and it felt amazing.

Can you imagine what type of man can put such hatred and drive for martial might in a woman's heart? I will tell you what type. The type who pushed his wife to suicide because he was forced to marry her. Then ambushed and forced his eldest son to death because he was afraid of his powers.

He didn't bother to hurt his girl...because she was too weak, incompetent, and irrelevant to become a threat. But he made sure his son suffered...for having had the nerve to make him scared.

The moment before he croaked, my brother asked the Lord...to give his mom justice...then immolated himself on a great pyre. Not even himself. His mom. But the Lord could do nothing. That pissed me off. So I decided to do the Lord's work for him...while praising his name, of course.

The day I buried my family, I reached the bottom of grief. And the very instant I ripped out my father's heart, I'd attained the peak of happiness. Nothing else can compare! For each morning I see their smiles, and each night I see their tears, telling me to not be like them. Telling me to be better! To be strong and free!

So how could I get attached to your world of fiction? When the voices of my kin are still screaming in my ears...demanding that I be the greatest?

It's not that I can't feel. There is just nothing to be excited about. And thanks to you...I've just had 3,000 lifetimes to perfect my understanding of my Palace. My sincere thanks," Akamana went off, then bent in a battle stance, her knee crashing into the Queen Mother's skull the moment next.

Vel'Asha had a choice to make: use Flame Impermanence to dodge and retreat. Or deflect and counter. Both put her in a delicate position, but only one offered a chance to flip the script.

The Queen Mother wouldn't have to pick her poison, because the moment Akamana made her move, a pillar of blood flames soared towards the sky.

A figure flew out of the blood fames, wielding a colossal golden hammer decorated with a red, lion-headed serpent, and smashing into the Grand Priestess.

The moment they collided, Akamana could feel all her physical attributes dropping at an alarming speed. As if her body refused to show its true power before that person.

If not Mithras, who else?

"Hello, Queen Mother. We meet at last. I'd say the pleasure's all mine, but I do hope the feeling's mutual."

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