DD Black White [238-239] (Patreon)

Chapter 238: Annihilation

A purple-black thunderball hung in the sky like a pitch-black sun, radiating an aura of utter destruction that chilled the soul.

Occasionally, bolts of lightning would arc outward, easily tearing tiny cracks into the surrounding space.

Looking down at her husband, who lay dying before her, and then up at the thunder sun brimming with destructive power overhead, the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, Xiao Bai, could not help but reveal a look of despair in her eyes.

She then glanced wistfully in the direction Bai Xiuxiu had fled, a fleeting sense of relief passing through her gaze.

She was thankful—thankful that today, she had let Bai Xiuxiu go, instead of capturing her as she usually would.

Finally, she looked at the few surviving members of her clan around her, knowing in her heart that today, disaster would likely wipe out the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan.

As for the Sea God—at such a critical moment, she had already called upon the Sea God's avatar, but the Sea God Tang San, far away in the Divine Realm, had still shown no response. That fact alone said it all.

The avatar of the Sea God had been summoned; as the true Sea God, it was impossible for him not to sense it.

Yet now, the sea giant formed by the Sea God's divine power stood motionless, its divinity gradually dissipating. This was proof that the Sea God was not paying attention to them.

Either the Sea God was preoccupied with other matters and unable to intervene, or he had abandoned the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan.

Xiao Bai did not know which was the case, but either way, her clan was doomed to face this calamity.

"Dying beneath this power is your honor. Be destroyed—Thunderfall!" As the Demon Empress's crazed voice echoed across the heavens, she swung her arm down decisively.

In an instant, the colossal thunder sun plummeted toward the Demon Shark Sea at supersonic speed, crashing onto the ocean's surface.

Thunder and lightning raged everywhere; countless tons of seawater were instantly vaporized under the intense heat, transforming into rolling, white steam.

The terrifying explosion triggered a massive tsunami. Waves hundreds of meters tall surged outward in all directions, overwhelming everything in their path.

The butterfly effect of this tsunami was so great that even coastal cities of the Sun-Moon Empire and Haiyuan City, thousands of kilometers away, were struck by minor tidal waves.

In Haiyuan City, Lu Jingming stood quietly atop the Sea Cliff Villa, gazing into the churning sea.

His expression was silent as he watched the never-ending waves.

As the Sixth Throne of the World Serpent, he was fully aware whenever a new member joined the World Serpent.

Though surprised that Möbius had found the Demon Empress and succeeded in inviting her to join, he also understood the Demon Empress's vindictive nature. Having gained power, she would seek revenge on her old enemies at the first opportunity.

And her closest, most vulnerable target was undoubtedly the Sea God's mount—the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan.

In the original work, after being swept into the Divine Realm by chaotic space-time, the Demon Empress had emerged and wiped out the Great White Sharks. Her urge for revenge was clear.

Now, as a member of the World Serpent, information could be shared.

The Demon Empress learned at once that Sea God Tang San was currently unavailable, and naturally wouldn't let this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip by. She struck directly at the Great White Shark clan's territory.

Of course, Lu Jingming himself was indifferent to all this.

He had no dealings with the Great White Sharks, and the Demon Empress's revenge was understandable. Even their extermination didn't matter to him.

After all, unless you've suffered another's pain, don't tell them how to act.

He wouldn't stop the Demon Empress's revenge; so long as she didn't betray the World Serpent and followed orders, he wouldn't interfere.

Just like when Tang San destroyed the Spirit Hall and slaughtered the Man-faced Demon Spider clan, it was all for revenge. Who could say what was right or wrong?

Ultimately, the world isn't simply black or white. Most things exist in the gray between.

Often, it's only differing perspectives that make things appear so different.

As the saying goes, "where you sit determines how you think." Your standpoint decides your viewpoint.

So, Lu Jingming did not find it wrong that Möbius chose the Demon Empress.

After all, she was indeed a most suitable candidate.

After ten thousand years, even under the suppression of the world's laws, she managed to become a level-100 true god without a god position. That alone proved her talent.

Moreover, the Demon Empress's extermination of the Great White Sharks dealt a heavy blow to the Sea God's worship.

As the Sea God's mount, the Great White Sharks being exterminated would surely shake his foundation in the oceans.

Upon reflection, Lu Jingming had no deep grudge against Tang San; they'd never even met.

He didn't look down on Tang San's character—he himself was no saint.

The real reason he'd always regarded Tang San warily and opposed him was simple: it was a matter of stance, a clash of paths.

Tang San wanted to control Douluo Continent and then the Divine Realm, trying to plan everything within his grasp.

Lu Jingming was no different; to ensure his own safety, he would never give up the initiative to others. He had to maintain control.

Thus, he and Tang San were destined never to coexist peacefully.

Even having never met, Lu Jingming was certain—they were incompatible. Only one of them could prevail.

Naturally, he didn't want to be the loser. He had to strike at Tang San from every angle, until he was utterly defeated.

This was the so-called enmity of the path—not about right or wrong, but inevitable conflict in the pursuit of their respective roads.

This is the struggle for the Dao. The Great Dao is unique; only one can reach the summit.

He wanted to rise from the Douluo Continent, but Tang San and the Divine Realm were obstacles in his way.

And when it came to obstacles, Lu Jingming never showed mercy.

…

Back in the Demon Shark Sea, all signs of the once-thriving clan were gone. Now, only the charred corpses of the Great White Sharks remained.

As the king, Xiao Bai had been at the very center of the attack and took the brunt of it—so much so that not even her corpse remained.

The once majestic Sea God Temple at the ocean's depths had been leveled in the brutal battle.

In the center of the vast sea, a gigantic abyss now gaped, at least several thousand meters deep.

The Demon Soul Great White Shark clan was annihilated, and even the Demon Empress herself was severely injured.

She did not linger long in these dead waters, but dragged her wounded body away from the lifeless Demon Shark Sea.

No one knew how much time passed before a silver-white streak, like an arrow, shot straight into the Demon Shark Sea—the returning princess, Bai Xiuxiu.

When she saw the devastated sea strewn with the corpses of her kin, she stood frozen, as if time itself had stopped.

"Daddy, Mommy!" Her panicked, terrified cry echoed across the surface.

She began to swim madly in all directions, desperate to find her parents—even the enormous, dangerous abyss could not deter her.

But fate showed her no mercy.

In the end, it was only through the unique bond of blood that she sensed and found a faintly glowing shark pearl hidden among coral.

Through this special connection, Bai Xiuxiu instantly understood: this was her mother's—the Great White Shark King Xiao Bai's—shark pearl.

To the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, the shark pearl was as vital as a human Title Douluo's soul core, containing the king's lifetime cultivation.

The moment Bai Xiuxiu found it, the pearl flared with light, and a broken message rushed into her mind.

"Xiu Xiu, leave… she came for revenge… Deep Sea Demon Whale!" The message was fragmented, but enough for Bai Xiuxiu to understand everything.

She sobbed, overwhelmed by grief, knowing her parents and all her kin were gone—she alone was left of her clan.

She also learned that the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had returned for revenge, and her mother's dying wish was for her to stay away from the sea—otherwise, she'd meet certain death if she encountered the Demon Whale King.

Now, Bai Xiuxiu was completely lost, with no idea where to go.

Without her family's protection, without her clan's support, she was just a Demon Soul Great White Shark of less than 100,000 years' cultivation—even a mutant, but with little fighting power.

How could she possibly survive in this brutal sea?

Her heart was full of vengeance, longing to avenge her parents and people, but she had no idea where to start.

With her current strength, how could she possibly avenge herself against the terrifying Deep Sea Demon Whale King?

Just as Bai Xiuxiu was sinking into despair and confusion, a red mark suddenly appeared on her body. Instantly, an influx of information entered her mind.

Holy Grail War, Chosen Master, Master, Servant, Sea God's position!

A torrent of strange and complex information flooded her mind. Coupled with the grief of losing her family and clan, Bai Xiuxiu felt the world spinning and promptly fainted.

Even though she was unconscious, as she had been chosen by the Holy Grail to become a Master, the Holy Grail War proceeded methodically.

Since she did not resist, the Holy Grail automatically considered her willing to participate, and directly began the summoning ritual.

Chapter 239: Skirk

As the planet's negative energy was drawn out by the World Tree-turned-leylines, a massive red magic circle slowly formed beneath Bai Xiuxiu, radiating a mysterious, eerie glow. The summoning ritual had officially begun.

Coincidentally, since the Demon Shark Sea had just experienced a cataclysmic massacre, negative energy here was overwhelmingly active.

Thus, far more negative energy than usual was drawn by the leylines for the summoning.

It was foreseeable—regardless of whom Bai Xiuxiu drew, her Servant's strength would be formidable, enough to rank among the best.

After all, Servants were drawn from Lu Jingming's memory bank. Their abilities varied; some were weak, some had no fighting power at all.

But the amount of negative energy gathered determined their initial strength.

Moreover, Servants could grow stronger by absorbing more negative energy.

Bai Xiuxiu's luck was extraordinary. Just chosen as Master, her summoning location happened to be the Demon Shark Sea, surrounded by the corpses of her entire clan.

As a result, the massive red summoning circle drew in more negative energy than usual and began rolling the gacha from the memory bank.

With a dazzling flash of gold, Bai Xiuxiu drew a legendary gold card!

Though she was still unconscious and unaware of all this, the label of lucky draw queen was now firmly stuck to her.

As the golden light faded, a graceful figure slowly emerged from the summoning circle.

She gazed at the unconscious Bai Xiuxiu, expressionless, and said softly, "So this is my Master? A little shark? She's pretty cute!"

…

When Bai Xiuxiu finally awoke, night had fallen, blanketing the world in tranquility.

She found herself no longer in the dead, despairing Demon Shark Sea, but floating beside a reef.

On the reef, a figure sat quietly, gazing up at the vast night sky, as if admiring its unique beauty.

"You're awake. Do you need me to explain your current situation?"

A calm yet beautiful voice drifted over, so pleasing that even the most famed singers among the Sea Princess clan paled in comparison.

"N-no need," Bai Xiuxiu replied, her voice low and tinged with sorrow.

The Holy Grail had already implanted all necessary information in her mind.

She knew what had happened: she had inexplicably been chosen as a Master, drawn into the Holy Grail War, and had successfully summoned a Servant—the woman before her.

Thinking of this, Bai Xiuxiu forced herself to suppress her grief and began to carefully observe her Servant.

After all, this might be her only hope for revenge in this life.

According to the Holy Grail's information, Servants all possessed great power, especially the top-tier ones, who could rival demigods—even more powerful than her mother had ever been.

Still, she was filled with doubts—could this Servant help her kill the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and avenge her parents and people?

The woman before her had violet vertical pupils, deep and mysterious as abyssal whirlpools, as if she could see into one's soul.

Her pale lavender hair hung to her knees, soft and slightly curled at the ends, tinged faintly blue on the inner side—like dreamlike starlight in the night.

A crystal butterfly earring adorned her left ear, sparkling under the night sky like a sprite about to take flight.

She wore a white and black dress, elegantly tailored for combat.

Strangely, her limbs were a deep blue, as if formed of condensed energy rather than flesh, enhancing her otherworldly aura.

Beautiful, noble, proud, aloof… these words flashed through Bai Xiuxiu's mind, each perfectly describing the girl's unique temperament.

"My name is Skirk. I am your Servant. Until the Holy Grail War ends, I will fight for you."

Skirk's voice was calm and steady. She knew she was not the original, merely a summoned memory body. According to the Holy Grail, her true self might be a character from a fantasy world, not a real being.

But that did not stop her from participating in the War. If she and her Master won, she could descend into this world as her true self—becoming real.

After all, both Master and Servant stood to gain immensely from victory: one could become Sea God, the other become real.

This was why they would fight side by side.

"Can you help me get revenge?" Bai Xiuxiu's heart was full of hatred—she cared little for the Holy Grail War.

"Only by becoming strong yourself can you bend fate to your will," Skirk replied coolly.

She could help Bai Xiuxiu get revenge, but that would go against her beliefs.

"I can help you become stronger, teach you martial skills. Once you are strong enough, you can avenge them with your own hands."

Seeing Bai Xiuxiu's eyes dim at her indirect refusal, Skirk felt a ripple of sympathy.

In Bai Xiuxiu, she saw her own past—the same loss of clan, the same loneliness. Their similar tragedies stirred her compassion, so she pointed out another path.

"But I haven't even reached 100,000 years' cultivation—I can't even take human form. When will I ever have a chance for revenge?"

Bai Xiuxiu's face grew even gloomier. She was never good at fighting, and soul beasts grew much more slowly than others. Compared to the Deep Sea Demon Whale clan, her progress was like a snail's pace.

As time passed, her hopes for revenge would only grow dimmer.

"This pearl contains vast energy and is perfectly suited to you. Refine it, and you'll naturally break through 100,000 years and take human form."

As she spoke, Skirk gently summoned Xiao Bai's shark pearl into her hand.

After her summoning, she had received basic information about this world, including soul beast data.

As Xiao Bai's daughter, Bai Xiuxiu was blood-bound to the pearl. Refining it would be easy and its effects greater than any rare herb.

"But… it's the only thing my mother left!" Bai Xiuxiu's voice choked. Her family and home were gone—this pearl was her only link to the past.

"In such desperate circumstances, your mother's intent in leaving it should be clear to you."

Skirk's face remained calm, but her tone softened.

She had seen the carnage at the Demon Shark Sea and understood how hard it was for Xiao Bai to leave the pearl in her final moments.

Clearly, even as she died, Xiao Bai was thinking of her weak daughter.

She knew, with no clan or protection, Bai Xiuxiu would struggle to survive. So she left the pearl, to give her strength.

Bai Xiuxiu understood her mother's intentions—the pearl contained a message, urging her to refine it for her own safety.

"I understand."

Bai Xiuxiu was not weak-willed. Though reluctant and heartbroken, she swallowed the pearl and immediately began refining it.

Because it came from her mother, the process was effortless.

Xiao Bai's tens of thousands of years' soul power flowed into her.

Bathed in a soft blue light, her silver-white shark body slowly changed and disappeared.

In its place was a petite, delicate girl.

The girl had sky-blue hair cascading over her shoulders, her face pure and beautiful, with the promise of future loveliness.

At the moment she broke through 100,000 years, Bai Xiuxiu chose to transform, knowing soul beast advancement was too slow.

If she wanted revenge quickly, she had to become human, even if that meant losing the power of a 100,000-year soul beast.

But with Skirk at her side, she wasn't worried about safety.

And to learn Skirk's skills, she needed to be human.

"Good. The Holy Grail War hasn't officially begun. You still have plenty of time to grow stronger. I will train you diligently."

PS: Damn my waifu Skirk. Unfortunately, my budget only allowed me to pull her C0!