Eva, did you find a way out?
Ash thought while blocking another punch from Kane, the collision between Crimson Heavenly Lightning and blood-red energy sending violent currents tearing through the surrounding ocean.
For a brief moment, Eva didn’t answer.
That silence alone was enough to make Ash’s heart sink slightly.
Don’t tell me that I am stuck here with no way out.
{.....You are.}
Ash’s body twisted as a claw passed inches from his neck before he retaliated with a punch of his own, forcing Kane, the Vampire Prince, to block.
Is there not even a single possibility?
{I searched for every viable route I could find, analyzed every available option, and simulated countless outcomes using the information currently available to me, but I could not find a single realistic scenario in which you successfully escape. No matter how many times I repeated the calculations, the result remained the same.}
Ash’s expression remained neutral on the outside, but inwardly his mood became considerably heavier.
Although I knew the situation was hopeless, hearing you say it makes it feel worse.
{The problem isn’t the hundreds of thousands of enemies surrounding us. The real problem is the four Celestials.}
Ash narrowly blocked another strike before being forced backward through the deep waters.
I know that already, tell me something that I don’t know.
{....}
{The combined Will Power of four Celestial Rank beings is suppressing the surrounding space. As long as that suppression remains active, you can’t use Transcendent Step to escape.}
Ash clicked his tongue internally.
That part he had already figured out.
Otherwise he would have left a long time ago.
At that moment, Kane appeared before him again and drove his fist toward Ash’s chest.
Ash met the attack head-on.
-BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!
The surrounding ocean trembled violently as crimson lightning and blood-red energy exploded between them.
{And unfortunately, the situation is about to become even worse.}
His gaze briefly shifted toward the distance where countless Ocean Species were gathering together under the direction of Kai, Perseus, and Sera.
What are they doing over there...?
{According to the analysis, they are creating a barrier.}
This time, Eva’s voice carried an unusual level of seriousness.
{Right now, despite being surrounded, there is still technically open space beyond this battlefield. You could have escaped if you somehow managed to leave the region covered by the combined Will Power of the Celestials.}
As if something like that would be easy with this bloody bastard stopping me from leaving the region...
Eva continued, completely ignoring Ash’s rambling.
{But once that barrier is completed, this entire region will become an isolated prison designed specifically to prevent anything from entering or leaving. At least, that outcome possesses the highest probability after analyzing the enormous amount of energy being gathered, especially when nearly everyone present is participating in fueling it.}
Ash remained silent while exchanging another series of blows with Kane, the Vampire Prince.
{I ran the calculations repeatedly because I assumed I had overlooked something. I checked every ability you possess, every available strategy, and every route of escape I could think of.}
A claw tore across Ash’s shoulder while a fist covered in Crimson Heavenly Lightning slammed toward Kane’s face.
The battle continued without slowing down.
{But the result never changed.}
For the first time since the fight began, Ash felt genuine pressure settle in his chest.
How bad is it?
{Bad enough that once the barrier is completed, your chances of escaping become effectively nonexistent. At that point, you won’t simply be surrounded anymore. You will be trapped.}
Ash chuckled upon hearing her words.
{...}
And how much time will it take for the barrier to be completed?
{I can’t determine that.}
Ash remained silent for a brief moment as he processed the answer before a faint smile appeared on his face.
It’s okay. You did well. Rest for now and leave the rest to me.
{Ash...}
The hesitation in Eva’s voice was impossible to miss, and for once it did not sound like she was overthinking things or making calculations. It sounded like genuine concern.
{You are currently surrounded by four Celestial Rank beings, and after everything that happened here, there is a very high chance that more are already on their way. The Universal System has practically announced your existence to the entire world, and the barrier around this region is still being constructed. I know better than anyone what you are capable of, but even I cannot see a clear way out of this situation right now, so what exactly are you planning to do?}
Ash’s smile did not disappear after hearing her words. If anything, it grew slightly wider.
The concern in Eva’s voice was understandable. After all, the current situation looked terrible no matter how one examined it. He was surrounded by powerful enemies, his identity had been exposed, the Universal System had confirmed him as the Absolute Anomaly, and even escape seemed increasingly difficult with every passing second.
Yet despite all of that, Ash remained completely calm.
Did you forget who I am? I am the Absolute Anomaly, the Forsaken One, the Limit Breaker, the Perfect Existence, a Paragon. But above all, I am Ash Burn. My choices change the future, and my actions destroy it. If a path does not exist, then I will force reality itself to create one.
His gaze slowly swept across the countless figures surrounding him from every direction, yet not a trace of hesitation could be found within his eyes.
After all, if there is one thing my life has taught me, it is that the impossible only remains impossible until I decide to get involved.
Without wasting another moment, Ash abruptly changed direction in the middle of the battle.
Instead of continuing to focus entirely on the Vampire Prince, his figure shot through the ocean toward the location where Kai, Sera, and Perseus were overseeing the formation of the sealing barrier, while countless Ocean Species were ready to poured their energy into the massive formation that was about to be completed.
Since there was no immediate way to escape, then preventing the completion of the barrier became the next best option.
Crimson Heavenly Lightning erupted around his body as he accelerated forward at full speed, tearing through the ocean and leaving behind a trail of violent currents and crimson sparks.
Naturally, The Vampire Prince was never going to allow that.
The moment Ash changed his target, the vast amount of greenish blood drifting throughout the surrounding ocean suddenly began to move.
Ash eyes narrowed as countless streams of blood rapidly gathered together directly along his path before condensing into a humanoid shape.
A moment later, Kane stepped out from the blood itself.
The distance between them disappeared instantly.
Ash didn’t even have enough time to alter his trajectory before a clawed hand was already reaching toward him.
Crimson lightning exploded around his fist.
Blood-red energy surged around Kane’s arm.
The two attacks collided head-on.
-BOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
The surrounding ocean violently exploded outward as enormous shockwaves spread through the depths, tearing apart currents and forcing countless nearby Ocean Species to burst apart.
Ash’s advance came to an immediate stop.
"Tch, can you stop interfering with me?"
Ash asked in a slightly annoyed tone as he dropped his fighting stance and floated there normally, showing no intention of attacking for the moment despite the fierce battle that had been raging between them only seconds ago.
Kane, the Vampire Prince, who was breathing heavily, stared at him with bloodshot eyes while the blood-red energy surrounding his body fluctuated irregularly, making it obvious that his condition was far from calm.
"Are you finally going to give up now...?"
Kane asked in a raspy voice while keeping his gaze locked firmly on Ash.
"Give up? Me? You wish."
Ash snorted before shaking his head..
"I stopped because I realized that there is no need for us to even fight in the first place. You see, I am atleast 99% sure that my blood is making your instincts run amok. I can tell just by looking at your condition. You are losing control to your bloodlust, and it’s only because of your superior Will Power that you’re still fine right now, but honestly, how long will that last?"
As he spoke, Ash casually looked Kane up and down as though examining him, and the more he looked, the more confident he became in his conclusion.
The scent of his blood had clearly affected the Vampire Prince far more than he was willing to admit.
Kane’s expression visibly stiffened.
He didn’t answer.
But he didn’t deny it either.
The silence itself was already enough of an answer.
After all, the scent of Ash’s blood had been affecting him from the very beginning. Every injury Ash received released more of that intoxicating scent into the surrounding ocean, and with every passing minute, suppressing his instincts was becoming increasingly difficult.
Naturally, Ash had noticed all of that.
"Therefore, I have a proposal. Why not join hands with me? Help me escape, and in return, I will allow you to drink my blood as much as you want to drink."
The smile on his face widened slightly as he continued speaking.
"And not only that, if you help me leave this place, I will even actively follow you afterward. You won’t have to chase me around the world, search for me, or worry about me disappearing somewhere. I will willingly go with you."
Silence.
A deep, somber silence filled the surrounding ocean.
The countless Ocean Species stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward the Vampire Prince, even the three remaining Celestial rank beings responsible for constructing the barrier subconsciously paused for a moment and looked toward Kane.
***