The Human Emperor Wasn't Dead?

You clenched your fists at the sight.

You stared hard at that figure.

Wrath, hatred, countless dark emotions churned inside you.

You wanted to charge.

You wanted to tear that thing limb from limb.

But you couldn't.

Your instincts were clearer than your anger.

If you charged now, you would die.

"Don't be so hasty."

As if it could see through your thoughts, the figure spoke without looking back.

"I told you, I didn't come here to kill anyone today."

"At least, not any of you."

It kept walking.

This time, no one tried to stop it.

It entered the Stone Chamber.

You rushed in after it.

Inside the Stone Chamber, the dark-gold cocoon still hovered in midair.

But the black markings on it had slipped completely out of control.

They writhed wildly, like countless dying venomous snakes.

"You..."

The Divine Silkworm War King's divine sense finally spoke.

"Envy! It's you!"

The figure—the Bizarre Emperor known as Envy—stopped before the cocoon.

He looked it up and down, the sea of blood in his vertical pupils slowly churning.

"Divine Silkworm. It's been a while."

"You certainly made me look for a long time."

Envy's tone remained gentle, as though he were catching up with an old friend after years apart.

"Though I suppose 'look' isn't quite the word."

He gave a soft laugh.

"Because I knew you were here from the very beginning."

The air in the Stone Chamber froze.

"What... did you say?"

The Divine Silkworm War King's voice trembled as it never had before.

"I said..."

Envy spoke one word at a time, a trace of cold mockery finally entering his voice.

"From the very beginning—from the moment you decided to draw the Source of the Weird into your body—"

"Everything went according to my plan."

The revelation struck