Endless Debt Chapter 1158 - 18: Original Sin Armament_3

Then there's Sai Zong, the so-called Chosen One of the Eyes of Eternal Fury. Reflecting on his past absurd actions, Bologue struggled to connect that image with such a grim title.

The motivations of Devils are truly difficult to fathom sometimes.

"I'm a bit perplexed," Bologue murmured to himself, his brow furrowed. "Sai Zong just approached me, revealing the truth about the Undying Club and the Devil he serves..."

"Normally, I would eliminate you and reclaim the Original Sin Armament, but you are a member, a friend. I cannot do that." Sai Zong's voice was chillingly cold, betraying no hint of camaraderie.

"Eliminate me?" Bologue's confusion deepened. "With the power of the Eyes of Eternal Fury, shouldn't you be encouraging me to spill more blood?"

In a flash, Bologue had considered Sai Zong's potential response. He had anticipated Sai Zong urging him to wield the weapon for endless slaughter, a grim eternity of sacrifices befitting the Undead's long lifespan. Yet, it now appeared Sai Zong intended to halt such actions.

Peace.

The word echoed in Bologue's mind, intertwining with past thoughts of Protections and Curses. Those granted protection often bore the crushing weight of curses, enduring lives steeped in unimaginable agony.

Bologue once believed such curses only befell the protected. That notion was shattered by reality, by Ewen's words to Asmodeus and the scattered notes left behind by Ewen.

It seemed the longing for the opposite wasn't confined to the protected; Devils, too, harbored similar desires.

Those consumed by wrath could never find peace, and thus, they yearned for it.

"Continue, Sai Zong," Bologue urged, listening with rapt attention.

"Just as the Undead grow weary of endless existence, so too do Devils tire of this eternal Hell," Sai Zong stated, deliberately omitting earlier details, a reluctance to delve into them evident. "For centuries, I fought alongside the Eyes of Eternal Fury. Then, one day, he inexplicably grew calm and confessed his longing for peace."

"Our relationship transcends master and servant; we are akin to friends. After all, I am his sole, true Debtor and the Chosen One."

Sai Zong elaborated, "To grant his wish and achieve true tranquility, he bestowed the majority of his strength upon me. I then created this domain for his slumber."

"I can't comprehend it. Can Devils truly grow weary of such things?" Bologue mused, still bewildered.

Sai Zong regarded Bologue with a profound gaze, seemingly contemplating further words before deciding against it. "You will grasp it one day."

"Continuing from where we left off, after the Eyes of Eternal Fury entered his slumber, my paramount concern became ensuring he would not be disturbed. This led to the Undying Club becoming isolated from the world, yet even that proved insufficient..."

Sai Zong paused, and Bologue inferred the reason. "Those Original Sin Armaments – as long as these weapons continue to thirst for blood, unending sacrifices would be offered to the Eyes of Eternal Fury, denying him the peace he craved."

"Precisely. Thus, I dedicated a significant period to recovering these Original Sin Armaments. At one point, I even considered it a prerequisite for membership. Only an Undead who recovered an Original Sin Armament was deemed worthy to join. Naturally, to ensure these secrets remained buried, within the Undying Club, all memories pertaining to the Original Sin Armament were erased."

"When I joined, there was no such stipulation."

"That is because the Undying Club currently serves as mere a waypoint for you," Sai Zong explained. "You have not truly retired, and moreover, the majority of the Original Sin Armaments have already been successfully recovered."

"Yet, a few remain unaccounted for, such as my Vengeful Saw Axe." Bologue began to suspect if procuring this weapon in the first place had been orchestrated by the Decision Room for some hidden agenda.

"Reluctantly, but... does this imply that ceasing the weapon's use in acts of slaughter could greatly pacify your master and facilitate his slumber?" Bologue analyzed. "This could render a Devil powerless. If you require it, I can relinquish the Vengeful Saw Axe."

Bologue held no attachment to mere tools.

To his surprise, Sai Zong shook his head at the offer.

"A new conflict looms, Bologue. With the ever-increasing concentration of Ether, this may herald the final war, a cataclysm destined to consume all."

Sai Zong spoke with gravity. "I have no ambition to become the King of Demons. My sole objective is to safeguard the peace that resides here."

"But you cannot remain detached from it," Bologue pointed out.

"Indeed, it is a sorrowful irony," Sai Zong's tone shifted, adopting a resonance that seemed to belong to the Devil himself. "This is our destiny, the fate of the timid."

Sai Zong redirected the conversation. "I require you to undertake a task for me."

"What is it?"

"I can feel more Original Sin Armaments emerging into the world. My hope is that you will assist me in retrieving them, thereby preventing the Eyes of Eternal Fury from being roused from their slumber."

"Why don’t you undertake this task yourself?" Bologue inquired. "Your own power should be far greater than mine, and you possess a deeper understanding of this world and the machinations of the Devils."

"It is not possible for me to do so," Sai Zong’s laughter took on an intensely sorrowful tone. "They are all observing me, waiting for the opportune moment to expel me, and such an action would undoubtedly ignite a conflict, hastening the awakening of the Eyes of Eternal Fury."

"So, you too have returned, evading the confrontation," Bologue remarked.

Sai Zong stated, "I am prepared to offer you sufficient compensation."

"What price are you willing to offer?"

"That will depend entirely on your desires,"