Chương 137: A World Without Differences

Year 777 Xia stood face-to-face with a swordsman with long black hair and cold, piercing blue eyes. The young man was gravely wounded. Blood streamed down his face, and several wounds ran across his body, yet he continued to grip his sword with both hands. Xia slowly advanced toward him. Silas spat out a mouthful of blood and raised his sword.

"I…I, Silas Prinz, will kill you to avenge my brother's death". He gritted his teeth.

"I will avenge him". He lunged forward. The blade came down toward Xia's neck with surprising speed. She ducked just in time. The sword passed over her head. At the same instant, Xia counterattacked. Her fist pierced through Silas's chest. His flesh gave way under the impact, and her arm tore straight through his torso, passing completely through him. Silas's eyes widened. A large amount of blood surged up his throat and spilled from his mouth, splattering across Xia's face. She did not even blink.

Her expression remained completely impassive. Then she slowly moved her hand inside his chest. Silas trembled. Xia grabbed something. And pulled. With a violent motion, she tore his heart from his body. Silas fell to his knees. An intense cold immediately spread through him. His vision began to blur. The world around him seemed to grow farther and farther away. He lowered his gaze. He saw Xia standing before him. She was still holding his heart in her hand. It was beating weakly. One final sign of life.

Xia watched it for a few moments. Then she closed her hand. The heart exploded between her fingers.

"Go keep your brother company". The light slowly faded from Silas's eyes. His body collapsed to the ground. He exhaled his final breath. A slow clap echoed behind her. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Xia turned around. Mason was there. Standing a few meters away from her, with an amused smile on his face.

"Xia…how long has it been?" He brought a hand to his chin.

"Several centuries, I imagine". Xia stared at him without expression.

"Mason. What do you want?" Mason studied her carefully.

"You've been making quite a name for yourself lately". He took a few steps toward her.

"You've become part of many horror stories told in taverns, you know? The Woman of the Woods. The Ghost of the Mountains. The Tall Woman Monster". He chuckled.

"I didn't think you were the type to enjoy attracting attention". Xia did not respond. Mason lowered his gaze toward Silas's corpse. The smile on his face became more subdued.

"You've killed two Prinz". He looked back at her.

"It's not wise to go against a clan of that stature. What are you planning?" Xia remained impassive.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I'm a vampire, just like you?" Xia slowly shook her head.

"The Clan Prinz is made up of incredibly powerful humans". Mason remained silent.

"They possess powers that seem almost divine. This was only a boy, and yet he managed to give me trouble". She lowered her gaze toward the corpse.

"His brother, on the other hand, nearly killed me". Xia looked back at Mason.

"Their power is not normal". She paused briefly.

"They're only human. Why are they so strong?" Mason smiled.

"I have no idea". He shrugged.

"But why does it interest you so much?" Xia remained silent. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she raised her gaze and looked Mason directly in the eyes.

"Because there's something I've been thinking about for centuries". Mason stopped smiling. Xia continued.

"Why are there so many different races in this world?" Her tone was calm, almost contemplative.

"What purpose does all this diversity serve?" Mason continued listening without interrupting her.

"Diversity creates differences". Xia took a step forward.

"And differences create conflict". Another step.

"Conflicts lead to death. The strong suppress the weak. The weak fear the strong". Her voice grew colder.

"And when the strong are feared enough, the collective turns against them and exterminates them". For an instant, her gaze darkened.

"That's what happened to vampires. It's an endless cycle". Xia slightly clenched her hand.

"Violence creates more violence". Mason tilted his head.

"Yes…and?" Xia looked at him.

"So wouldn't it be better if there were only one race?" Mason slightly furrowed his brow.

"Only one race?"

"The strongest". The answer came without hesitation.

"The most powerful. The race at the top of the food chain. If there were only one race, a pure and perfect race, violence would decrease. There would be no more genocides between different races. Fewer conflicts. Fewer wars". She paused briefly.

"It would be a better world". Mason continued to watch her. Then he smiled faintly.

"And you want to create that world?" Xia held his gaze. Her eyes were determined.

"I want to try". Present Xia brought a hand to her head. The pain was still intense. Her temples throbbed, and a lingering sense of confusion weighed heavily on her mind. However, the memories Mason had transferred to her were finally beginning to fall into place. Scattered fragments of her life were starting to come together. Events from distant periods of time were connecting to one another. The images no longer appeared as isolated episodes and were beginning to form a coherent timeline.

Xia closed her eyes for a few moments.

"All of this…" Her voice was quieter than usual.

"It's too much". Mason watched her.

"It must be particularly overwhelming to remember all those things. Still, I only transferred the memories concerning the period when I was with you". Xia opened her eyes again.

"I can't know what you did in my absence". A smile appeared on Mason's face.

"Perhaps during those centuries, you committed even worse atrocities". Xia lowered her gaze.

"I'm a vampire…" She spoke the words almost to herself. Then she raised her eyes again.

"The Legendary Swords…" Her expression changed.

"What are they really for?" Mason did not answer.

"I killed that newborn…" Xia paused for a moment. Her face remained impassive.

"Are the Legendary Swords really meant to bring my son back to life? Did I have another child during those centuries I can't remember, or…" She slowly curled her fingers into a fist.

"What do I really want to accomplish with those swords?" A thought crossed her mind.

"Recreate the vampires?" She looked at Mason.

"Is that the wish I want to fulfill?" Mason smiled.

"And what do I know?" He moved slightly closer.

"You should know yourself better than anyone". Then his smile widened.

"Meanwhile, I'll enjoy this inexperienced, amnesiac version of Xia". He looked at her with an almost nostalgic expression.

"Just like the first time I met you". Xia stared at him coldly.

"You were foolish to transfer those memories to me". Mason's smile faded slightly. Xia's eyes, however, hardened. They became more determined.

"If the version of me who possessed those memories was so determined to obtain the Legendary Swords…" She paused.

"If she was willing to devote centuries of her life to accomplishing that goal…" Xia clenched her fists.

"There must be a good reason". Mason said nothing. Xia continued staring at him.

"And I will find out". Her voice was calm. But there was no hesitation left in it.

"I will help that version of myself accomplish her goal". A moment of silence.

"At any cost".