Unholy Player Chapter 486 A Different Kind of Madness

"Can you tell me why you killed all those people?"

Henry was simply searching for a logical explanation. He desperately needed a single justification to cling to—something that could provide a sense of security for himself and the rest of humanity amidst the chaotic brutality of Adyr's recent path.

Adyr had anticipated this inquiry.

The circumstances mirrored the time he had decimated the Cannibal’s territory, leaving dozens dead. Back then, the Player Headquarters had assigned a specialist to evaluate his mental state, scrutinizing his every word and gesture to confirm he wasn’t merely a mindless slaughterer.

During that evaluation, he had framed the massacre as a grim necessity for survival within a ruthless environment.

He had performed the role of a remorseful soul, expressing profound regret for the loss of life and claiming to understand the sanctity of human existence. Ultimately, the psychiatrist Conrad had classified him not as a threat, but as an asset—a lethal instrument that could be aimed at the right targets.

This time, however, he felt no urge to maintain the facade of a hero. There was no longer a need to deceive anyone.

Opening his eyes, he lifted his palm.

A small, crimson cube manifested above his hand, its surface shimmering with a faint glow as if liquid light were circulating just beneath the exterior.

"To charge this thing with blood."

As Henry stared at the unsettling artifact, Adyr elaborated. "This is the relic Sevrak utilized to transform his Black Dragon into a Blood Dragon. I stumbled upon it by chance, and I intend to claim its power for myself."

The realization finally dawned on Henry.

While the truth was savage and difficult to stomach, having an answer brought a grim sort of relief. He exhaled a long breath, feeling some of the rigidity leave his frame.

Having witnessed the footage of the Blood Dragon’s devastating power, Henry knew that a single strike from such a creature could reshape the terrain itself.

If Adyr could attain comparable strength, the sacrifice of those lives might be viewed as a necessary exchange—provided one discarded morality and viewed the situation through the cold, calculated lens of wartime survival.

Adyr wasn't finished yet.

The cube dissolved from his hand. Shifting from his reclined position, he extended his arm, palm facing the ground.

In an instant, a corpse appeared, hitting the floor with a heavy thud that resonated through the quiet room.

"This?" Henry gaped at the lifeless form at their feet. It took only a second for recognition to set in.

The body was marred by dark stains spreading across the flesh, showing obvious signs of exsanguination. Nevertheless, the silver hair and porcelain skin made it clear that the deceased was a Lunari—one of the very races currently residing in their halls as allies and guests.

"You killed a Lunari?"

With the Lunari sovereign presently within their city gates, utilizing their vital resources to advance his Cultivation, Adyr’s casual display of a Lunari corpse was nothing short of insanity.

Henry’s mind raced, stumbling over the catastrophic diplomatic fallout this could trigger.

Then, Adyr escalated the madness further. "In truth, I slaughtered five Lunari and harvested their blood to fuel the cube."

He proceeded to recount the entire sequence of events to Henry, presenting the facts bluntly without any attempt to sugarcoat the horror.

He confessed that the five victims were actually Lunari ancestors who had long suffered under a bloodline curse. He admitted to manipulating Zephan and the Lunari people, offering them a false hope that was nothing more than a lethal deception.

As the story unfolded, Henry’s expression underwent a series of shifts.

Initial shock caused the muscles around his jaw to tighten.

This was followed by a sharp, defensive wariness that etched deep lines into his face.

Finally, he was left with a heavy, somber acceptance of the man Adyr had become. He was an entity that defied simple labels of good or evil.

"Were you always like this, or did you actually change? I can't tell." Henry’s voice was thick with gravity as he studied the face before him. It felt as though he were looking at a stranger wearing Adyr’s skin as a disguise.

"Does it matter?" Adyr let out a short, hollow laugh.

He had begun to ponder his own identity lately.

He often reflected on his former self, hoping to keep his transformations subtle enough that he wouldn't lose his core essence as his body and mind were reshaped by constant evolution. "Hand these corpses over to the scientists. Even in death, their bodies likely contain valuable data regarding the blood path. We might find a way to bolster the strength of our own troops. In the days to come, we need every advantage we can get."

Adyr spoke as he rose to his feet, his movements still hampered by a lingering, bone-deep weariness.

He manifested all five corpses, arranging them in a neat row on the floor before turning toward the exit.

"Where are you going?" Henry asked, glancing between the dead ancestors and Adyr’s departing back, his tone a mix of worry and bewilderment.

It was obvious from Adyr’s exhausted gaze and stiff gait that he required recovery. Yet, he seemed to have no intention of resting.

Gripping the doorknob, Adyr paused to answer. "I want to spend some time with my family. Before I start my evolution to Rank 4."

With that, he exited the room, leaving Henry alone with the five silent Lunari ancestors.

"This area is currently the busiest hub in the city, where merchants from various races gather to trade."

Vesha indicated a sprawling plaza bathed in sunlight. Her vibrant, smiling demeanor perfectly complemented the energetic atmosphere.

Marielle, Niva, and Vivienne followed closely behind, their eyes wide with fascination and a touch of culture shock as they absorbed the cacophony of sounds and the kaleidoscope of colors.

They had previously observed the trade square from the upper levels of the Headquarters, where it appeared as nothing more than a cluster of tiny specks.

Now, standing in the heart of the throng, enveloped by the roar of the crowd and a thousand different conversations, they felt incredibly small.

The market was a massive open-air expanse filled with endless rows of shops and stalls. Humans moved through the aisles, hauling crates and supplies.

Intermingled with the humans were various humanoid species, flowing through the plaza like a variegated river of life.

They spotted individuals with aquatic blue skin and visible gills.

Anthropomorphic, furry canines walked upright, engaged in casual chatter. Towering over the rest were green-skinned ogres, nearly three meters in height and intimidating to behold. There were even beings made of living stone, their rocky joints grinding as they moved, leaving the women to marvel at how such bodies could function without crumbling.

The Earth Shelter Cities had never hosted a marketplace of this scale, making the entire scene feel like a surreal and strangely captivating new world.