Tachibana Masamune stood in the monitoring room, his face pale. On the screen before him, Ian and the Gold Dragon King were traversing the Shaoqi Yabashi headquarters building. All defenses were useless against them. Even the powerful Inuyama He had fallen in a single encounter.
Herzog, who was controlling Tachibana Masamune, also began to feel uneasy. The power of these two uninvited guests made him think of the perfect being he longed to become.
"Combat personnel, move out immediately!" Tachibana Masamune ordered. "Use every available weapon, and stop them at all costs!"
Immediately, a large number of hybrids and ordinary security personnel in combat gear rushed towards Ian and the Gold Dragon King from all directions.
They were armed with every weapon they could grab, from Japanese long swords to Gatling rocket launchers—everything usable was brought. Some even dragged two mortars out of the storage room.
The Gold Dragon King cast a disdainful look at the insects before him, his expression cold. He then lightly grabbed the empty space with his right hand, as if clutching the air.
He then pulled sharply, and the entire building shook violently. The charging hybrids and security staff instantly lost their balance and fell to the ground.
One of the old-style mortars immediately exploded, and screams echoed from the surroundings.
Ian paid no attention to these insects. He casually brushed off his clothes and continued to stride forward.
In the monitoring room, cold sweat dripped down Tachibana Masamune's cheeks. He stared at the two monsters on the screen. They didn't even chant or use Word of Power, yet they displayed power far exceeding that of an Emperor-level hybrid.
"These two are definitely Dragonkind, at least a Subspecies," Herzog guessed.
Tachibana Masamune then pressed a red button. "Release all experimental subjects!"
Following a series of glaring red alarms, the doors of the special quarantine area on the middle floor of the mansion slowly opened, and a large amount of water surged out.
Then, numerous serpent-like Death Servants wriggled out from the gaps. They twisted their deformed, patched bodies, emitting an unbearable shrieking sound.
These serpent-like Death Servants were the result of years of secret experiments conducted by Shaoqi Yabashi.
"Lure them up!" Tachibana Masamune commanded his subordinates, entering the safe room as he did so. The heavy metal security door slowly closed.
The Gold Dragon King and Ian saw these serpent-like Death Servants in the hall on the floor below. Their upper bodies were human-shaped, but their lower bodies were twisted snake tails. Their skin was blue-gray, and their eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty golden light.
They surged out from the surrounding entrances, rolling and squirming as they advanced, their bodies entwined.
Looking at the disgusting Death Servants, the Gold Dragon King's eyes shot out a golden beam of light. A colossal Dragon phantom, so immense it blotted out the sky, seemed to emerge behind him in the void. Endless Dragon might spread outwards. The air instantly froze, all sound vanished, as if the surrounding environment was fading.
"Scram!"
A single simple word, yet it contained an undeniable, supreme majesty. All the serpent-like Death Servants instantly halted. Their bodies trembled, and the golden light in their eyes dimmed. Some weaker Death Servants died on the spot, while the rest quickly made way, carrying the corpses of their fallen comrades.
A few Death Servants that couldn't scramble away in time still blocked the path. The Gold Dragon King raised his hand and waved; these pathetic creations instantly exploded, turning into ash that slowly dispersed into the air.
Inside the safe room, Tachibana Masamune watched the surveillance feed, his expression turning to despair. He then noticed that the direction Ian and the Gold Dragon King were heading seemed to be towards his hiding spot, and a sudden chill ran down his spine.
'They know I'm here!'
Herzog, in control from the back, quickly made a decision. The identity of Tachibana Masamune could no longer be maintained, but he could still be used before his death. He would arrange for him to "die bravely" in full view of the public, and before dying, he would announce that he had secretly cultivated an heir.
Then, he could seamlessly arrange one of his 'brothers' to become the new head of Shaoqi Yabashi. By changing identities, he could continue to control Shaoqi Yabashi, and the plan could proceed.
As for the identities of the two invaders, he would investigate them once this period passed.
Ian and the Gold Dragon King stepped into the hall, where they saw Tachibana Masamune kneeling in the center, appearing calm and ready to face death. Behind him stood some core members of Shaoqi Yabashi, all looking grief-stricken, their eyes filled with fury towards Ian and the Gold Dragon King.
The lighting in the hall was deliberately dimmed by Tachibana Masamune, and a few flickering candles were placed around him. This was the tragic atmosphere he deliberately created.
Tachibana Masamune slowly raised his head, a false smile on his face, his eyes flashing with feigned "fearlessness": "Presumably, the two of you are here for me today. I don't know what misunderstanding there may be between us, but you may kill or torture me as you see fit." His voice didn't tremble at all. "However, please spare these innocent people. And Erii... she is still just a child. I hope the two of you will not harm her."
These words caused the people behind him to weep bitterly and uncontrollably. Several young members even charged forward, glaring at Ian: "We are willing to die for the Patriarch!"
With the clear sound of swords being drawn, the group pointed their blades at Ian and the Gold Dragon King.
"Stand down, all of you!" Tachibana Masamune stood up, stopping the crowd with a tragic expression. He held a refined katana in his hand, slowly walked forward, bowed slightly, and presented the sword to Ian with both hands.
"Please take my life in exchange for their safety." He lowered his head, posing as a martyr. Anyone who didn't know him would certainly be fooled.
Just looking at the group behind him who wished to tear Ian and the Gold Dragon King apart proved how powerful Herzog's acting ability was.
Ian looked at the clown before him and couldn't help but sigh, 'He's so nice; he treats people to a show even on his deathbed.'
"Hahaha!"
Ian suddenly began to clap, the sound grating in the solemn atmosphere. "Your acting is excellent! In the future, I won't watch any Hollywood blockbuster that doesn't feature you."
He suddenly stopped clapping, his tone turning ice-cold: "Wouldn't you agree, Herzog!"
The last four words exploded in Tachibana Masamune's ear, and the atmosphere instantly solidified.
Tachibana Masamune's pupils contracted in shock, but he immediately composed himself. He still pretended to be calm, asking in confusion: "What is the gentleman saying? I don't understand. Who is Herzog? Sounds like a foreign name."
Ian couldn't be bothered to talk to the puppet any longer. He simply grabbed Tachibana Masamune by the neck and lifted him up.
Tachibana Masamune's feet dangled in the air, his face instantly became congested with blood, and he frantically beat at Ian's wrist with both hands.
Then, a clear light flashed in Ian's eyes as he began to locate Herzog.
"Patriarch!" Seeing this, the Shaoqi Yabashi members behind him could no longer restrain themselves. They all drew their swords and rushed forward.
"Ants." The Gold Dragon King snorted, and his Dragon might erupted.
A storm burst forth from his body, instantly sweeping through the entire hall. The charging crowd was immediately pressed to the floor, unable to move, like ants pinned under a human hand. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their throats let out unbearable gasps.
At the same time, intense headaches struck. Blood gushed from some people's ears and noses simultaneously, while others rolled their eyes back and foamed at the mouth. A few even had their pupils dilate, their lives uncertain.
A few with high bloodlines seemed to witness some indescribable, terrifying scene and suffered immediate mental collapse, bursting into insane laughter and strange shrieks.
Ian ignored the wails of the ants. He suddenly turned his head, locking his gaze onto a camera in the corner of the wall not far away. He revealed a chilling smile: "I see you."
In the monitoring room, Herzog instantly sprang up, shivering the moment he saw Ian looking directly into the camera. He felt an icy chill and immediately wanted to get up and relocate. Before he could react, the space before him suddenly warped, and the figures of Ian and the Gold Dragon King appeared in front of him.
"How is that possible!" Herzog instinctively retreated a few steps, about to turn and run, but found his body frozen in place, unable to move.
He tried to beg for mercy, but found himself unable to make any sound. His face was then overcome by terror.
Simultaneously, the other few avatars controlled by Herzog vanished into thin air, only to reappear a moment later in front of Ian, likewise immobilized.
Herzog felt true fear and despair.
(Herzog and his avatars have all been captured. So, how shall we proceed with this delightful torment?)