I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 628: Beyond Imitation

Amidst the raging flames, the emperor glanced behind the armory’s wall. The bright orange and demonic green coating the scenery of devastation, the burning sections of his palace, and the stench of charred soil, melted metal, and sulfur struck him. Yet, he ignored his discomfort, focusing on the puppet.

His breath grew ragged as he saw his tense legs, clenched fist and beak tower amidst the ravages. Immediately, despair crept into the radiant hope that had fueled him, threatening to devour it.

"We only manage to take his right arm after all this," he muttered, his legs buckling.

He had really believed that Adam’s clever plan and relentless assault would work. No, he wanted to believe it would, but... the reality was as obvious as the nose in the middle of the face.

"An uncountable sea of guardians, thousands of artefacts, seventy spiritual ascension realm experts of the highest order, plus me, one of the realm’s only dao ancestors. Yet, we only managed to kill his host after he cursed us."

The memories tore through his mind, forcing his lips to twist in distress. Even after being sealed for fifty thousand years, the puppet’s battle instincts had barely waned. And now, Adam’s rudeness and accusations took another meaning.

"I’m such a fool." His eyes dimmed as locks of dishevelled hair cascaded down his regretful features. "I should have thrown my pride to the gutter and begged for help, focused and freeing my children instead of basking in my past grandeur."

His lips quivered, tears trailing down the mighty void emperor, the realm long forgotten and unsung hero’s cheeks. "My children, my legacy, I ruined everything."

However, Adam didn’t share his grim mindset. Catching his breath and healing his wounds underground, his eyes burned with mana. ’No wings or right arm. I lost the golem but limited his speed in exchange. Is it doable?’

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. Between the memories of Selene, the Beast Emperor, and Prometheus, without mentioning the arcanists’ spells, he had seen the pinnacle of magic in direct combat. If he could absorb a portion of their strengths, he might... No, he would defeat the puppet.

CRACK

The earth’s dampness receded as he pondered. Lights filtered through the extending cracks, forcing him to snap his gaze up and pale at the sight.

’He feels my location through my bones!’

He cursed as the puppet’s ashen arm and his wrathful shriek pierced through the ground.

"Not even ashes will remain of you!"

Icy sweat rolled down his spine, contrasting the blazing fingers closing on him.

Faced with imminent death and without time to think, his mind instinctively locked on an ability that had once awakened his curiosity.

As the fingers engulfed his vision in demonic flames, dark gas-like wisps wafted from his body. And a split second before they seared his face, he collapsed onto the damp earth, vanishing into its shadows.

’Shit!’ He huffed, the sensations of becoming formless creeping him out. ’How could Anya enjoy this?!’

Despite the discomfort, he glided along the walls, landing on the burning ground. His shadowy body emerged and condensed the next second.

The puppet retrieved its arm, shrieking in frustration. "You’ll run out of tricks sooner than later."

Drawn by the noise, the emperor snapped his head up. Horrified, he saw the puppet lunge with vengeful abandon, ready to tear Adam to pieces.

"Leave!" His voice cracked as he stumbled to his feet, his trembling hand gripping the wall’s edge. "Come at me, you despicable creature! I killed your previous host and sealed you in an obscure tomb for fifty thousand years. I’m your target, not him!"

No matter what, Adam couldn’t die, not after the unwavering defiance and talent he had shown him. He was more than a rude brat—a genius he already regarded as the worthiest successor and a shining hope against future demonic invasions. If his sinner’s life could preserve his, he’d die without regret, knowing his last decision was a meaningful one.

Yet, the puppet didn’t even glance at him despite his earnest screams and closed in on Adam.

However, instead of despairing, he frowned, confused. Why did Adam swing his sword upward before the puppet entered his range?

The ground rumbled next. No, he could feel the entire floating island quake with Adam’s roar.

"Earth’s fury!"

The memory of the Beast Emperor’s spell came to life as the ground split open between him and the charging puppet. From its depth, the orange glow of magma and the sharp sheen of condensing minerals hissed as a broadsword shot to the sky, as if contesting its supremacy.

More than an imitation, he bypassed the necessity of natural forces by condensing the magma that erupted from the molten minerals in a scalding rain. Gravity compressed the edges so hard that their sharpness rivalled an enchanted blade.

Alarmed, the puppet threw himself to the side, rolling as he felt the horrible sharpness graze his back. Then, he shot to his feet, his eyes wide at Adam’s absurd versatility. Ice, light, solar, gravity, shadow, and now earth, metal and magma—just how many affinities did he possess?

Meanwhile, Adam clicked his tongue, purple and golden lightning arcs crackling around his arms as he swung them.

They crashed on the ground with thunderous cracklings before they condensed into dozens of lightning knights. Shadows weaved dark breastplates, gauntlets, and helmets that let through a threatening purple light as blinding spears vibrated in their grips.

Like Vivian’s, his eyes narrowed, and his voice boomed. "Five surround me. The rest, keep him busy!"

Lightning crackled with the knights’ movements as they blurred toward the puppet, their blades whistling in deadly arcs.

The puppet reacted faster. He opened his beak, his shriek propelling a tsunami of demonic flames threatening to engulf everything.

The knights charged on its path, the first few vaporising into drifting smoke before the others blasted themselves to protect their conjurors.

A lightning storm formed and battled the flames, yet it slowly darkened, unable to endure their hellish heat. But they had served their purpose.

Adam’s fist closed on a multicolored sphere. Space distorted around its shaking surface as Marina’s crazy smile and eager voice echoed in his mind.

’Let’s create a mana technique even the bastard magus would cower before with water as the base, of course!’

Just like that, they had perfected an abomination merging destruction with destruction and a little more destruction, just to be sure. Forget about his grand, explosive style. This one focused on a single thing: silent and total annihilation.

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