Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 245: Scarlet City (1)

"I've existed for hundreds of years in all that time I've yet to stumble across a soul that has suffered as much as him."

Several questions crowded Rose's mind when observing Itsuki Masahiro. She wondered why did Homura have so much faith in him? Is it because of Itsuki's strength, ruthlessness, or unpredictability?

In that regard, Itsuki wasn't much different from Ryota. Ryota is powerful. He's even stronger now than when he first joined. Upon merging with Seiryuu, Ryota obtained the title of sage, just like multiple people in the Fujiwara Clan.

Unlike Ryota, Itsuki wasn't a sage, yet Homura treated him differently. Why? What is so different about Itsuki that Homura feels confident in leaving everything to him even if her resurrection is prevented?

"Orochi." Rose walked across the Fumiko halls and found Itsuki lounging on a bench outside his room. He watched the Hero Association self-destruct through one of Aisha's crystal balls.

"What do you want?" Itsuki didn't bother to turn. Unlike Homura, he wasn't fond of Rose. He found her blind loyalty to Homura pathetic and didn't see the point in acknowledging someone without their ambitions.

"Was this necessary?" Rose asked, holding out a crystal ball. Within the crystal ball, riots were seen erupting throughout Vermillion City. Protesters holding signs were screaming outside the Hero Association building. Radicals claiming to embody the will of Renji Tachibana were murdering heroes and reigning in civilians.

"All you've done is make things more difficult for us. Now that you've exposed Michael for his lies he's bound to avoid the public eye. Finding him will be difficult and at this rate, the sovereign won't kill him in time."

Itsuki frowned when he noticed a glint in the corner of his eye. He wiped his eyes, expecting the shit stain to disappear, but she didn't. Itsuki sighed. He didn't move from his position or look Rose's way. Why would a dragon, the king of all beasts, acknowledge a pitiful snake of all things?

"You have a strange way of interpreting things." Itsuki yawned. He placed his fist on his cheek and watched Ren maneuver through the crystal ball.

"What do you mean?" Rose raised her voice.

"You deem incidents as unnecessary just because you can't see the full picture. Even now you blame me for your lack of cognitive intelligence in being unable to understand a situation that was intentionally designed to be chaotic."

"Then you have the audacity to stand here before me and demand answers for a plan that is much larger than you." Itsuki's bloodlust slashed through the room like a tornado made of knives.

Rose shrieked and slithered back, barely avoiding an attack intended to kill her. She looked at the gash on the ground. She didn't see an end to the hole it made. She then looked at Itsuki, who hadn't moved from his position at all.

"Your head is still raised far too high," Itsuki growled.

Rose quickly fell to her knees and looked straight into the hole. She pictured her head falling off and rolling into it. Was this going to be her final moment?

"Don't ever forget that you're expendable. You aren't a necessary piece in our plan. I can replace you at the drop of a hat. The only reason why Homura has kept you around for so long is that you take on an appearance she likes."

"I u-understand..." Rose felt her entire existence be stomped on.

"Good." Itsuki sounded satisfied. He didn't like repeating himself twice.

"However, since you're curious, I'll indulge in your question. The universe has a natural order to things. Chaos is a necessary component in finding balance. What I've done is create the gameboard for Renji to play on. All the pieces are there, but he chooses to play is entirely up to him. If he's smart, he'll see the benefits in taking advantage of this situation. He'll grow and overcome the evil I've sent his way. Michael is no longer a key player in our grand game once my nephew realizes that the whole world will belong to him."