Still floating high in the sky, Zeke put his hands on his knees, completely exhausted. Feeling the immediate drawbacks of the pill. Blood began pouring from his eyes like a running faucet. Amongst the bustling stars, Zeke's vision was so badly impaired that he imagined a green flicker.
Eventually, Blue flew by his side in the sky. Successfully dousing the flame that scorched its wing. Blue showed visible concern for his partner's well-being.
" No need to worry about me. I'm just glad to see you again."
Zeke gave a haggard smile, petting Blue on its back. Suddenly, without warning, an intense burning sensation squeezed the back of Zeke's neck.
" Likewise!"
Lord Samus chuckled. Slow to react, Blue turned around, trying to pry Zeke free, but was met with a golden palm that sent it shooting off into the distance.
"Blue!"
Zeke's hoarse voice barely made a peep under Lord Samus' vice grip as he responded.
" To think that you had such a caring side, who would've known. But don't fret, I can gladly reunite both master and pet!"
After finishing his sentence, he rapidly descended like a comet from 13,000 meters, towards the ground while still manhandling Zeke. Rag dolling him to the point where he could only struggle in vain, succumbing to a whirlwind of darkness. Enjoying himself to the fullest, Lord Samus began to count,
" Countdown, until impact! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...."
BOOM!
Nothing but the sound of destruction could be heard. Obliterating a portion of some unsuspecting mountain before reaching the count of zero. Once the overwhelming amount of dust and crumbling debris had settled.
All that remained were irreversible scars left upon the earth from their confrontation, leaving just a loveless father and son. One man stood in triumph while the other lay burnt, broken, bloody, and battered beyond recognition.
" Oh, I must've miscalculated in more ways than one. I could've sworn that we would've landed near the corpse of your little pal. Tsk, what can you do? Well, at least you two will have a chance to join back together in the afterlife!"
Lord Samus cackled loudly, venting his frustration from the unforeseen events that transpired against him.
Before intercepting Zeke, flying at a blazing speed that surpassed the fastest mythical beast, thanks to his divine artificial wings. He had the opportunity to check the video recorded on his teal orb, searching for some signs of clarity. Lord Samus eventually discovered their ploy and the actual time that elapsed while he was under Kang-Min's illusion.
PExperiencing a level of outrage and embarrassment that had been long forgotten, during his longstanding reign.
PHe cursed Zeke's name while promising to make him suffer once he grabbed hold of him. However, true to form, Zeke had surpassed his expectations once they met again, by displaying the might of a Stage 5 Grandmaster.
Lord Samus narrowly escaped his seamless sword combination by using a technique that allowed him to switch places with any marked object. Slipping the teal orb above Zeke, in the process of spiraling downward. He managed to swap positions with said item. Needless to say, the orb and the surrounding area were reduced to smithereens.
Now Lord Samus was back in his rightful place, atop of the food chain. Looking down at a son that he always viewed as nothing more than a sacrificial piece on his ever-revolving chessboard. While Zeke could only softly wheeze, scarcely drawing any breath. Satisfied by the torture he inflicted, Lord Samus looked to put a nail in the coffin of their game of cat and mouse.
Preparing to search his soul for those who could prove an equal or greater threat of exposing the orthodox path skeletons, killing Zeke afterwards.
" Admittedly, so I underestimated you yet again despite being aware of your meticulous nature, but your best efforts amount to nothing at the end of it all. A pawn's life will inevitably suffer a pawn's death. Now, with the curtain about to close on this annoying affair, I permit you to speak your final words."
Lord Samus spoke in a domineering tone as the cluster of stars and full moon cast a reflection of light on these two, entrenched in darkness. On death's door, Zeke managed to utter his last message to his father,
" Heh, even if I have to crawl my way up from the depths of hell! I will make you and any dirty bastard alike regret the day you ever crossed me! So, be sure to remember the tainted seeds you sowed, until we meet again..."
"Hmph, there's no need to concern myself with a dead man's feeble delusion."
Lord Samus smirked, reaching out for Zeke's soul. Yet, before his hand could phase through his crumpled chest, Zeke dissolved into a puddle of red. Bewildered, Lord Samus stood quiet, overcome with a silent rage. Trying to make heads or tails of how he was made to look a fool, once again.
Meanwhile, inside the Blood Sanctum, Zeke remained at the center, sitting cross-legged. Coughing up a severe amount of blood, after experiencing a backlash of torment that his blood clone suffered in his stead. Almost passing out from the shock and pain, he quickly regained his composure. Motivated by being on the final step of his life-or-death plan.
Zeke had only become fully aware of the tracking seal placed upon him after having Kang-Min check for any irregularities. When ensnaring his father in an illusion. Putting two and two together, it wasn't difficult to figure out that Lord Samus was the culprit. Being informed by Kang-Min before he returned to his humble abode, through the scroll, that this particular seal could only be completely removed by the original user or an immortal.
The existence of immortals had long been considered a fairy tale to the common folk and lower-stage cultivators. However, the most notable clans and sects had at least one known Ancestor who transcended to Stage6. This mortal realm was unable to contain their heightened powers, so the world itself would force newly anointed immortals to ascend to a higher realm.
With no feasible option to remove the tracking seal, Zeke came up with the idea of turning Lord Samus perceived advantage in this matter into a disadvantage. Creating a specialized blood clone, he carefully transferred all the seal's properties onto it instead. Temporarily removing the tracking seal from himself as long as his blood clone existed.
The clone would then act as a decoy once Lord Samus inevitably awakened. While Zeke could finish concentrating on implementing a volatile technique that he self-invented, inside the Blood Sanctum.
Presently, Zeke was now ready to take the leap of faith, after hours of painstakingly engraving intricate symbols of formulas onto his body and soul. Becoming inspired to develop this new ritualistic technique in his youth, when longing to return to his home world before he transmigrated.
However, after many decades of intensive research, experiments, and tests. He eventually buried his hope and dreams. Realizing this ritual, he named Self-Return, would most likely result in his death rather than a blessed reunion.
' I can't believe I'm forced to resort to using a technique that will more likely than not guarantee my demise. Tsk, no matter, I'd rather take this slim chance, rather than live like a little mouse in hiding.'
Zeke thought, mustering the resolve to take action. Able to avoid the detrimental side effects of Devil's Miracle. By sacrificing his blood clone, Zeke could never use his other half again because it was beyond repair now. Not regretting his decisions, He popped the pill as his body almost crumbled from the unnatural progression of rising to a Stage 5 Grandmaster for a second time.
Even though Zeke gained a level of strength he could never imagine, his body felt like a living corpse. Ignoring his condition, he pierced his two fingers into his own heart, activating self-return.