Endless Debt Chapter 1155 - 17: The Man of Eternal Wrath

The initial encounter between Bologue and Sai Zong was, to put it mildly, a dreadful experience, an absolute nightmare. From Bologue's perspective, the Undying Club was merely a sanctuary for the utterly deranged, and Sai Zong stood out as the most unhinged individual within its walls.

It was an unavoidable, bizarre situation to be suddenly accosted by Sai Zong, who was bizarrely clad as a dog. To make matters worse, Sai Zong then adopted a canine posture and proceeded to relieve himself.

In Bologue's estimation, if one were to rank the Undead based on their psychological distortions, Sai Zong would undoubtedly be the most warped, the most incomprehensible of them all.

However, this very individual, through a jumbled sequence of events, seemed to have liberated himself from the limitations imposed by the Fantasy Species. He inadvertently offered Bologue a cryptic clue before inexplicably disappearing. From the Undead's unique perception of time, he wasn't lost, merely taking a brief excursion.

Regardless, following this peculiar event, Bologue found himself consumed by an insatiable curiosity towards Sai Zong, yearning to decipher the thoughts of this outwardly foolish, yet seemingly profound, individual.

As for Sai Zong's return, Bologue was prepared to bide his time for a decade.

Precisely when Bologue was on the verge of forgetting these peculiar occurrences, around the time of the Blight Desolation crisis, Sai Zong made an unexpected reappearance. It's rumored that Serey was the first to spot him. Shortly thereafter, Sai Zong vanished within the confines of a stairwell. In the ensuing months, Sai Zong was sighted sporadically, but no one acknowledged it, assuming he was simply immersed in his eccentric role-playing.

Indeed, after years of embodying a dog, Sai Zong had adopted a new persona—that of a cat. His movements became elusive and enigmatic, mirroring feline behavior. Most remained silent, with the exception of Wei'Er.

"You scoundrel, you actually dared to lick my fur!"

One day, Wei'Er’s indignant shouts echoed as he pursued Sai Zong, driving him deep into the stairwell.

Bologue was never present whenever Sai Zong made an appearance. Upon hearing these accounts, Bologue expressed profound admiration for Sai Zong's commitment; after all, if one is to portray a cat, all its habits must be meticulously imitated.

Preposterous, eccentric, insane—these were common descriptors for Sai Zong. Yet, at certain moments, Bologue perceived a disquieting mystery about him.

This was particularly true when Sai Zong concluded his performance and reverted to his 'human' form.

"Sai Zong?"

Bologue addressed the figure seated on the corridor floor, his back turned, calling out Sai Zong's name. Hearing Bologue's voice, Sai Zong placed his hands on the floor, slowly turning his head.

Encased in a bulky plush cat costume, Sai Zong resembled someone finishing a shift at an amusement park, a stark contrast to the corridor's subtly elegant ambiance.

Just as Bologue prepared to elaborate, Sai Zong initiated his movement.

First, Sai Zong utilized the strength in his hands to support his upper body, leaning back slightly. Then, his feet subtly slid forward, tucking behind his hips, knees bent to cushion any potential fall. With the aid of his arms and a delicate adjustment of his feet, he gradually brought himself to an upright seated position, lifting his head.

Bologue felt an instinctive tension, a premonition of what was about to unfold.

Gripping the whimsical plush cat head, Sai Zong applied a gentle force and detached it. He rotated his shoulders and neck, then fully lifted his head, his gaze meeting Bologue's.

It was the first time Bologue had ever observed Sai Zong with such unhindered clarity.

Sai Zong's face presented a stark divergence from his absurd external appearance.

That countenance bore a familiar resonance; Bologue himself had once possessed this very aura, and he had witnessed it countless times on the faces of others.

Sai Zong's visage radiated the profound weariness of accumulated years and the deep anguish of battle-scarred suffering. His skin was rough and parched, lacking any luster or suppleness, crisscrossed with dark yellow scars.

Although he didn't appear excessively aged, his eyes had long since surrendered their clarity and vitality, now clouded with a pale gray hue, overwhelmed by the memory of a world consumed by devastation and ruin. Deep furrows etched themselves between his brows, nearly merging, his expression utterly impassive.

His nose bore the heavy imprint of conflict, appearing somewhat crooked, while sparse stubble dotted his chin, resembling twisted, dead twigs. His lips were chapped and pale, slightly parted, each exhale seeming to require immense effort.

"Bo...Bologue."

Sai Zong spoke, but his voice suggested a prolonged period of disuse. His words emerged haltingly and unclearly, as if discussing an unfamiliar subject. His speech pattern was erratic, with some syllables elongating, others pronounced incorrectly. At times his rhythm was rapid, at others painstakingly slow, demanding repeated attention.

"Bologue Lazarus."

At length, Sai Zong enunciated Bologue's name with fluency, as though his vocal functions had been fully restored.

Nevertheless, Sai Zong's expression remained somber and vacant. He turned to the side, raised a hand, and beckoned Bologue.

"Follow me."

Clutching the plush head, Sai Zong proceeded toward the corridor's distant end. Bologue, momentarily frozen, felt a tempest of thoughts surge through his mind.

For a moment, Bologue is paralyzed, unsure of his next move. Sai Zong has not only spoken but is now leading him somewhere.

During their discussions, Serey and Bologue had often voiced suspicions about the Undying Club. They had theorized that Sai Zong might be the most ancient member, possibly even present at the Club's inception.

Bologue's breathing quickens, his eyes blinking rapidly to quell an overwhelming curiosity as he strides forward, following closely behind Sai Zong.

What once seemed an untouchable and impossibly distant end to the corridor now feels different as Sai Zong advances. He seems to possess an undeniable authority, somehow stabilizing the endlessly stretching space around him. As they move, Bologue clearly perceives the distance between them mysteriously shrinking.

"During my absence, I encountered numerous devils," Sai Zong murmurs, his words striking Bologue like a heavy hammer, nearly shattering his thoughts.

"Each of them resembled a bloodthirsty wolf pack, poised for conflict. Coupled with the intensifying Ether concentration and the encroaching overlap between the Ethereal and Material Realms, a catastrophe looms large."

Sai Zong halts his forward momentum, no longer progressing towards the corridor's end. Bologue stops behind him. As they approach the perceived termination, Bologue discerns the unmistakable sound of reverberating snores echoing down the corridor.

The sound grows successively clearer and more profound, as if a colossal being sleeps at the corridor's far end, its snores like rolling thunder, each inhalation and exhalation stirring a howling tempest.

"Sai Zong..." Bologue's voice trails off, his mouth feeling unusually dry. A multitude of conjectures floods Bologue's mind. In his perception, Sai Zong's previously bizarre figure is now entirely consumed by an aura of grotesqueness and sheer madness.

"Are you a devil?" Bologue finally asks.

"Yes," Sai Zong replies, turning around. He confirms with a nod, then shakes his head. "But not entirely."

He continues, "To put it in terms you can grasp... you might consider me his sole debtor, his chosen instrument."

Bologue's pupils constrict, his muscles tensing involuntarily. The narrow, straight corridor transforms in Bologue's eyes into a one-way arena for a desperate battle. Given the inherent advantages of the Devil's Territory and the Ancients, Bologue doubts his ability to triumph over Sai Zong, especially in his current unarmed state.

"Do not be alarmed, Bologue," Sai Zong reassures him. "Had I harbored any hostility towards you, you would have already ceased to exist in this very stairwell."

"What is it you desire?" Bologue inquires.

"To collaborate," Sai Zong states.

"I intend to impart certain nearly forgotten secrets to you, and in return, you will assist me in eliminating these lurking threats."

"What makes you so certain of my capability to aid you?" Bologue questions.

"Because I understand you profoundly. I have witnessed your every moment of indulgence. Furthermore... our objectives are aligned."

Abruptly, Sai Zong advances towards Bologue. Bologue attempts to retreat, but his feet feel anchored to the floor, as if fused by iron, rendering him immobile.

"Bologue Lazarus, a frail individual consumed by a degree of narcissistic self-regard, fancies himself the savior, the Chosen One destined to uphold world order, incidentally dispatching those troublesome devils."

Sai Zong stands extremely close to Bologue, close enough for Bologue to clearly observe the orange-red glow emanating from his eyes. This fiery luminescence reminds Bologue of infernos raging on a battlefield, radiating destruction and desolation.

"I stand opposed to the devils."

"Indeed. To a certain extent, I too am opposed to the devils."

"But you are the chosen one. Will not your master seek to destroy you?"

"You must comprehend, Bologue, the chosen ones are manifestations of demonic will on earth, mere pawns in their conflict. Therefore..."

"So the devil who stands behind you shares this sentiment?" Bologue finds the notion almost comical. "Is this opposition to other devils merely a strategy to emerge as the sole victor, the King of Demons?"

Sai Zong shakes his head, his expression unreadable. "Observe your surroundings, Bologue. This is his domain. What do you surmise he truly desires?"

Bologue freezes, struggling to decipher Sai Zong's words. Upon deeper reflection, a possibility emerges, one that astonishes him immensely.

"Peace?"

Sai Zong confirms with a solemn nod, his expression grave.

"No... how could that possibly be?" Bologue voices his disbelief.

"Devils possess individual consciousness, Bologue. Not all of them are content to be mere thralls to power," Sai Zong explains softly. "Much like ourselves within the Undying Club, the passage of ages has eroded our worldly desires. Now, all we yearn for is eternal tranquility."

Bologue lowers his gaze, posing a critical question: "Who is he?"

Sai Zong remains silent for a beat, then slowly turns his head, his gaze directed towards the corridor's distant end.

"Once, he was known as the Eyes of Eternal Fury. His true name is..."