The Curtain Falls

Memories of the villagers flashed through Ye Yang's mind, scene after scene.

Village Chief: ("You three little brats, stealing my chickens again? I was counting on them to lay eggs!")

Auntie: ("You three boys stole the Village Chief's chickens again?")

Uncle: ("If you don't have anything to eat, come to Uncle's house. I can still feed the three of you.")

After Ye Yang made it big and returned to the village: ("Old man, these are the chickens I owe you!")

(The Village Chief looked at the cartful of chicken cages. There were at least a hundred chickens, and he was so happy he could not close his mouth.)

("I knew you'd accomplish great things, kid. Which bandit den did you rob? Their bandit chief even raised chickens?")

("I bought them, you know. What era is this? Fighting and killing are already outdated.")

("Hahaha, just don't go committing crimes.")

("Don't worry, these chickens came from perfectly legitimate sources.")

("Uncle, you've been a blacksmith in the village your whole life. Want to come to the city with me? I've reserved a house for each of you.")

("No, no. After living in the village for so long, I can't bear to leave.")

Auntie: ("Exactly. Old folks like us are doing quite well living here.")

"Quite well..."

Ye Yang slowly rose to his feet. In his perception, the Pope was still alive.

Meanwhile, beneath the cave—

"Fab! Fab! Hurry and inject me with the potion!"

Fab hurriedly said, "No, the potion hasn't been fully perfected yet!"

But the Pope could not hear what he was saying. He could only see Fab's mouth moving wildly.

"What are you saying? I can't hear you!"

"Move! I'll do it myself!"

With that, he shoved Fab aside, took the potion directly from the incubator, and injected it into his body.

A reaction came almost instantly as agonizing pain swept through him.

"AAAAARGH!!!"

"This is all... for... the evolution of living beings!!"

"Roar—!!"

"Pshht!"

The Pope's body simply could not withstand the immense energy. Blood burst directly from his pores.

His entire body was covered in blood.

"Evo... lution..."

Fab looked at the fallen Pope, his face filled with panic as he inched forward.

"P-Pope? Pope?"

Fab slowly approached the Pope, reached out to check beneath his nose, and found that he was no longer breathing.

"D-Dead?"

As he spoke, Fab seemed to think of something. He immediately pulled out a knife and sliced into the Pope's chest, revealing a blood-red crystal where his heart had been.

"S-Success?!"

"Haha... Hahaha..."

"As expected, a stronger mage's body is far superior to those pieces of trash!"

"The crystallization of evolution... what a captivating appearance~"

With that, he swallowed the bloodstained red crystal.

A powerful energy instantly swept through Fab's entire body. His body rapidly expanded, and sharp claws grew from his limbs.

His skin gradually turned black, developing a layer of metallic-looking hide.

A humanoid Monster appeared in this place.

(Reference: Monsterized Garou)

"This is the power of the new generation!!"

Boom!

The laboratory doors were blown apart as Ye Yang slowly walked inside.

"Where's your Pope?"

Fab watched Ye Yang with great interest. Now that he had obtained power, he was desperate to test his own strength. Seeing Ye Yang's somewhat disheveled state, he subconsciously assumed that Ye Yang was only a little stronger than the Pope.

Fab then kicked the experimental table toward him, sending it hurtling at Ye Yang.

Ye Yang casually raised his leg and kicked. A blade of air shot forth, slicing the experimental table in half and embedding the pieces into the walls on either side of him.

With the experimental table no longer blocking his view, Ye Yang saw the Pope, already dead and then further mutilated.

Ye Yang looked at the half-human, half-monster figure before him and assumed some test subject had escaped to seek revenge, killing the Pope when he found him.

Ye Yang then prepared to leave. Just as he turned around, Fab called out to him.

"You're just leaving like that?"

"The enemy has already been dealt with. You can go home in peace now."

Fab could not help laughing when he heard Ye Yang's words. "Hahahaha, but isn't there still me? A mage from the Guild of Light."

With that, Fab explosively pushed off with his right foot. His body tore through the air, scattering the surrounding objects as he threw a punch at Ye Yang.

Ye Yang's expression did not change in the slightest. His arm was covered in Armament Haki as he threw out a punch.

Bang!

Bzzzz—

BOOM—!!

The powerful shockwave instantly destroyed the interior of the cave. Huge rocks fell from the ceiling, and the entire cave collapsed.

Outside the cave, a streak of golden light emerged from the rubble and slowly condensed into Ye Yang.

"What the hell was that thing?"

"The power it unleashed was even quite a bit stronger than Laxus's."

Boom!

A black figure leaped from the rubble and landed several meters in front of Ye Yang.

Ye Yang calmly asked, "Who are you?!"

Fab rubbed his chin and pondered. "How should I introduce myself?"

"Oh, right. That Composite Monster was my masterpiece. What do you think? Isn't it beautiful~"

Bang! Ye Yang flashed in golden light and kicked Fab directly in the body.

Fab spat out a mouthful of green blood and crashed straight into the rubble.

Moments later, Fab burst out of the rubble.

"Damn human! I was the one who gave those guys the power to become gods!!"

Ye Yang watched Fab charge toward him without taking him seriously at all.

A flash of golden light, and he appeared beneath Fab. With a fierce kick, he sent Fab flying into the sky.

Ye Yang gathered golden light at his fingertips.

"A piece of trash with nothing but power and no combat experience whatsoever."

"Disappear, scum."

Cero!

WOOOM—!!!

The clouds in the sky were blown apart, and the evening glow streamed through the opening, spilling over the mountains and bathing the entire range.

Makarov and the others had just reached the foot of the mountain when they saw a golden beam shoot straight into the clouds.

"Quick, over there!"

When everyone arrived, they saw rows of empty graves standing in the valley, while Ye Yang used his hand to carve names onto them one by one.

San Mao and Er Gou slowly walked to Ye Yang's side.

"Boss."

"Boss."

Ye Yang did not answer. After carving the final character, he slowly stood up and placed Uncle's gravestone beside Auntie's.

He then walked to the middle and knelt straight down. San Mao and Er Gou hurriedly knelt as well.

When the two saw the names engraved on the gravestones, they could no longer hold back their tears.

Ye Yang quickly stopped them. "No crying. They would want us to live well."

"Y-Yes, Boss!"

The two struggled to hold back their tears, but in the end, they could not stop them from falling.

Makarov stepped in front of Ye Yang and gave the empty graves a deep bow.

"This old man will take good care of them for you!"