Reborn as an Extra Chapter 568: The Curse of Eternal Suffering. Part-7.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Rio observed that the enormous dragon heads were fixating on his blade, attempting to probe the formidable sword intent emanating from it.
'Could they be mistaking me for King Allen since I wield his sword and possess a sword intent equally potent as his?'
In truth, Rio had long harbored his own bewilderment about this.
Whenever his mastery of sword intent advanced, his feelings began to diminish, yet this phenomenon didn't occur among other practitioners of 'sword intent'.
Qi Meng, who served as Rio's disciple, had never experienced a loss of emotions due to 'sword intent', and the legends surrounding King Allen made no mention of him ever becoming devoid of feeling.
Indeed, accounts described him as merciful and deeply benevolent, indicating that his 'sword intent' hadn't eroded his emotions in the slightest.
'Given that every individual's legendary skill carries distinct soul vibrations and a unique aura, it ought to be straightforward to recognize that my sword intent differs entirely from King Allen's...'
Rio puzzled over why the dragon heads were confusing him with another, but unwilling to deceive, he had laid out the facts plainly.
The multitude of heads began conversing in succession.
Some displayed bewilderment, others exchanged stunned glances, while a few appeared terrified and attempted to retreat.
The massive shadow dragon head appeared lost in contemplation.
'This marks the initial occasion when someone has depicted my true nature with such precision... the 'laws' governing the 'world' hold no sway over me except when I permit them...'
'Ultimately, this realm has branded me as an 'anomaly'...'
To be precise, labeling Rio as human would be inaccurate; he merely inhabited a human form. A more fitting description would cast Rio as a flaw, a fundamental mistake woven into the fabric of this world.
His persistence stemmed from the world's inability to process or eliminate him.
Rio's eyes bulged in utter astonishment as the shadow dragon king's telepathic message echoed in his mind.
For the first time, another being had pinpointed exactly what Rio truly represented and unveiled his authentic essence.
Rio had never voiced these revelations aloud to anyone, fearing that doing so would sever yet another chain binding him to his human side.
Raika had sought precisely that outcome.
He repeatedly urged Rio to embrace a non-human identity, pressing him to admit he was something beyond humanity.
Yet Rio resisted, insisting verbally that he was merely a regular human.
The motive behind this was straightforward: Rio required constant reaffirmation of his human essence. Accepting otherwise would shatter those restraints.
His 'Path', presently guiding him toward serenity and joy, would veer into an entirely unforeseen direction!
The core reason for his being would transform, a reality Rio fully grasped.
Rio's affection for Lia, his persistent affirmation of humanity, and his relentless efforts for a tranquil, fulfilling existence formed the last barriers anchoring him to his mortal core.
Releasing them could mean losing his sense of self forever.
"Did King Allen understand the nature of an 'Anomaly'? Given his extraordinary strength and prowess, it'd be strange if he hadn't..."
Rio sidestepped the shadow dragon king's assertion and shifted the conversation.
The dragon's statements left Rio perplexed.
"Entity? What exactly do you imply? Do you suggest there's a being within the sea of miasma capable of wielding its might?"
"That's inconceivable! The sea of miasma looms as such a colossal force, spanning almost a tenth of the universe already!"
"Who could possibly harness power on that scale?"
Deep down, Rio suspected the truth but resisted facing it, though the colossal dragon head validated his suspicions.
The shadow dragon king continued, revealing how miasma had warped his being, stripped away his reason, and systematically fractured the psyches of every shadow dragon.
Dozens of shadow dragons had been compelled to fuse into his form, their souls then mandated to blend into a singular, chaotic whole.
The agony from those souls clashing relentlessly proved excruciating beyond endurance.
Regrettably for the shadow dragons, their bodies possessed such resilience that, despite the violent soul collisions within, death eluded them.
Miasma denied them release; it perpetuated their torment through ceaseless experiments and agonies.
It embodied a truly nightmarish malediction of perpetual anguish!
Far from allowing destruction of body or soul, miasma forbade any respite in their torment.
Their very being had devolved into an unending horror.
Similar to how certain flora generate offspring via self-reproduction, miasma had bound them together, compelling the ceaseless birth of new shadow dragons from within!
These shadow dragon offspring would then pursue monstrous souls, only to perish from overconsumption.
Subsequent shadow dragon young would haul the corpses back to the central tree form, where the souls got devoured, amplifying the turmoil inside.
This cycle dragged on without end, a relentless spiral of torment and despair.
The horror overwhelmed the shadow dragon king to the point where he severed all awareness, enshrining his last untainted soul shard in the profoundest recesses of his mind.
With sheer resolve, he awaited King Allen's arrival to safeguard those precious remnants.
He endured in hope of eventual rescue from King Allen.
Yet with King Allen's eternal departure, the curse solidified into genuine endless torment, devoid of any hope for deliverance.