"Damn you! No wonder my right arm has been burning with pain ever since I left this shabby place. It was all your doing!"
The fake Albedo glared at the real one, his eyes full of murderous intent. Eula frowned at this. You break into someone's place, get contaminated by a dangerous alchemical reagent, and now you're acting like the victim?
"Hmph, sir, I think you need a lesson on the law in Mondstadt's confinement room. Legally speaking, this is entirely your own fault."
"I came here today to replace this so-called 'successful one.' If any of you try to stop me, I won't mind adding a few more to the body count."
The fake Albedo's mental state was clearly deteriorating. His bloodshot eyes and the black energy surging from his body made him look every bit the villain.
Seeing things take a turn, Paimon shrank into a corner of the base. This kind of fighting was best left to Su Bai and the others. She'd stay out of the way.
"I thought you'd only use the residual power from Durin's heart for alchemical experiments. I never expected you to perform alchemical modifications on your own body. I don't recall my notes containing that kind of knowledge."
Albedo's expression darkened. As an alchemist, he despised human body modification through alchemy. In his view, it was like a martial artist straying onto a corrupt path.
"Heh, I'm not stupid. I wouldn't just blindly use alchemy of unknown origin on myself. I simply absorbed some of Durin's power."
"Painful, sure. But if it means killing you, it's nothing."
The fake Albedo waved his hand, and a dark sword, reeking of curses, appeared in his grip. Su Bai raised an eyebrow. That weapon gave him an uneasy feeling.
Hu Tao felt the same. The sword's presence felt even more unsettling than the strange energies from Wuwang Hill.
"Albedo, is that reagent really that potent? Could you maybe give him the antidote first so we can talk?"
"My goal was to draw him here. Now that I've succeeded, I have no intention of harming him further. The moment he stepped into the base, the antidote in the air had already neutralized the reagent's effects."
Albedo locked eyes with the fake Albedo. Su Bai's suggestion was reasonable, but this guy clearly wasn't in a talking mood. Maybe some force was needed to calm him down.
"I've never been fond of violence. But today, I'll show you how an alchemist fights."
"You all should step aside. I'd like to have a proper 'conversation' with my 'brother.'"
Albedo calmly pulled out several alchemical vials. Seeing his confidence, Su Bai and the others stepped back, though they kept their weapons ready in case Albedo needed help.
"Since you're asking for death, don't blame me! Hahahaha!"
"Heh. You claim you want to replace me, yet you can't even control your emotions? As an alchemist, the most basic rule is not to let negative emotions dominate you."
"Save your lectures! I could have had everything you have!"
The fake Albedo roared. His hatred for Albedo had reached its peak. He could have had friends, a cute little sister, and even a fulfilling life. But because he was a defective copy, all of that was taken from him. It was completely unfair!
"Even Dvalin, the Dragon of the East, couldn't control Durin's power. What makes you think you can? Have you forgotten the most basic judgment of an alchemist?"
"Shut up, you fool! Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't! I'm a greater alchemist than you! I've found the greatest alchemy in this world!"
Watching the increasingly draconic fake Albedo still manage to curse him coherently, Albedo found it quite amusing. This strange alchemy didn't resemble anything he knew. It seemed more ancient. Though the transformation was taking a long time, hopefully the power it brought would be impressive.
The fake Albedo gritted his teeth. The overwhelming power inside him made him feel like he was about to burst. But to get revenge on this bastard, he endured and struggled to adapt to the power.
The one silver lining was that since entering Albedo's base, the voice urging him to destroy the world had fallen silent. Damn it—was he truly inferior to this man?
"Is this some kind of Darkin? It looks just like Aatrox's transformation!"
"If so, does that make Albedo the Aspect of War? No, I need to stop thinking like this, or I'll never take Albedo seriously again."
Lumine shook her head, trying to clear those strange thoughts. If she kept it up, she might blurt out something like "I am the end of the world!" during the fight.
"Why were you created perfect? Why did you get to meet so many kind people? Why do you have so many people who care about you? Why? I was created too, so why was I the one abandoned?"
"You don't understand my pain at all!"
The fake Albedo roared as his transformation finally completed. Black wings sprouted from his back, dark dragon scales gleamed across his body, clawed hands gripped a black sword, and his significantly taller frame made him look imposing.
Albedo had to look up to observe the man who had nearly sprayed him with saliva. Now with smaller dragon-like teeth, how would he eat? With his hands turned into claws, how would he use the bathroom?
A flood of questions filled Albedo's mind. As if spotting a fascinating specimen, he licked his lips. His alchemist's instincts made his eyes gleam with excitement. He had to admit—he was genuinely thrilled.