Chapter 197
Ethan’s fists clenched at his sides, his emotions swirling in a tempest of rage and confusion. "You talk about humanity as if it’s some fragile thing to be preserved," he spat, his voice quivering with emotion. "But what about the humanity you’ve torn away from those you’ve turned? What about the families they’ve left behind, the lives they’ve destroyed?"
Roth regarded Ethan with a mixture of understanding and something akin to pity. "You see, Ethan, humanity is indeed fragile, but it’s also resilient. It’s not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something easily stripped away." He paused, the red glow of his sword casting eerie shadows across the dimly lit street. "The choice to preserve or forsake humanity lies not with me, but with those who bear the burden of my gift."
Ethan’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but he found himself listening, drawn in by Roth’s words despite himself. "And what choice did you give them?" he demanded, his voice raw with emotion.
Roth’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of regret crossing his features. "I gave them the choice to embrace their new nature or to fight against it," he explained. "But ultimately, the decision was theirs to make. Just as it is yours now."
Ethan’s gaze faltered, his anger warring with a newfound sense of uncertainty. "What choice do I have?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Roth reached out a hand, the ball of blood hovering above his palm pulsing with an otherworldly light. "The choice to embrace your anger, your strength, your humanity," he said softly. "Or to let it consume you."
For a moment, Ethan hesitated, the weight of Roth’s words pressing down upon him like a physical force. Then, with a steely resolve, he nodded so Roth pulled close with his teeth extending slightly as he bit into Ethan’s neck.
The transformation took place immediately as Ethan completed his transformation with red eyes, Roth meanwhile had a big smile on his face as he said "It seems you are quite fortunate" He said as he pointed to Ethan’s body.
Ethan looked down at his body to see how a part of him was still covered in red crystal yet it didn’t feel foreign anymore, it felt more like a part of him. Raising his hand, a small red crystal appeared in his hand, but he soon fell to the ground with a dark vein in his eyes as he began looking around.
Roth, seeing that, stretched out his hand holding the ball of blood. Ethan had no hesitation as he reached out and grasped the ball of blood swallowing it, feeling its power surge through him like a tidal wave.
Roth seeing him enjoying his new state and power said "This will be your new life from now on" Ethan looked at Roth before stating "I choose to fight," he declared, his voice echoing with a newfound strength.