Facing Lacy's attack, Director Meow didn't even stand up.
She remained in a crouched position, merely lifting her eyelids slightly. A flash of impatience crossed her mismatched eyes, as if she were shooing away a noisy insect.
"Fine, I'm done playing with you."
The moment the claws struck the light shield, Director Meow's left eye lit up. She raised a paw and tapped the light shield gently. An invisible shockwave erupted, slamming directly into Lacy's chest.
Lacy let out a shrill scream. His once unstoppable momentum ceased instantly, and his massive frame was sent flying backward again. Before he could hit the ground, the black cat blurred and appeared in front of him, striking down with another paw.
This strike carried even greater force.
The blue-black flesh was instantly torn apart, and thick black blood gushed out. Lacy's entire body convulsed violently, his limbs stiffening like a puppet's. He could clearly feel the intertwined Chaos energy within him rapidly collapsing, forcibly torn and purified by the golden psychic energy seeping from Director Meow's claws.
At this moment, every inch of his flesh felt as if it were being scorched by fire and frozen by ice. The two extremes of agony intertwined, making him wish for death.
"No, I can't die... I am the Scion of Destruction revealed by the prophecy. The prophecy said I would destroy everything..."
Lacy's voice was raspy and broken. The madness in his eyes was gradually replaced by despair. He exhausted his last bit of strength trying to reach out and grab Director Meow, but he lacked the strength to move even a finger. The tattered bone wings on his back began to snap inch by inch, the patterns on the surface fading rapidly and turning into fine debris that scattered in the wind.
Director Meow's mismatched eyes remained emotionless. Her claws applied a bit more pressure, sinking deeper and directly seizing Lacy's heart. The heart was still pulsing weakly, its vessel-like patterns writhing frantically, yet it could no longer emit a shred of energy. The moment the heart touched the golden psychic energy on Director Meow's claws, it began to dissolve rapidly, turning into wisps of black smoke as it was thoroughly purified.
The moment the heart was extracted, Lacy's body jerked and then went still. His frame began to shrink rapidly; the three-meter-tall deformed body gradually returned to its original human appearance.
Director Meow dropped back to the ground and let out a helpless sigh. "Unfortunately, that prophecy was real—but the World Destroyer isn't you."
Lacy slumped on the ground, black blood pouring from the wound in his chest as his life force drained away. Hearing Director Meow's words, he stared wide-eyed with confusion. Using his remaining strength, he roared, "I found the ring of our ancestor, Krug! I slaughtered my entire clan! According to the prophecy, I am the sole descendant of the Laenian family. How could it not be me?"
Director Meow extended a paw and pointed at Lacy's right hand. "Did you really find Krug's ring? Why don't you take another look?"
Lacy trembled and instinctively lifted his right hand. The sapphire ring originally worn on his index finger now rippled with an eerie wave. The sapphire embedded in the ring instantly turned dull and lifeless, and the Laenian family crest vanished along with it. Looking at it now, it was just an ordinary ring.
Lacy took the ring off with trembling hands, cradling it. With his final breath, he whispered, "How... how could this be..."
Lacy died. With his death, the sacrificial array on the plaza lost its energy support and eventually vanished completely. Director Meow gave a light flick of her paw, and the ring in Lacy's hand flew directly into her grasp.
"Stupid little thing. He didn't even know until the end that he was always someone else's pawn." As she spoke, Director Meow applied a bit of pressure with her paw, crushing the ring into dust.
By now, Byrne and Marco had approached. They looked at Lacy's cold corpse and then at Director Meow, who sat nearby licking her paw.
Marco spoke first. "As expected of the Director. It seems the crisis of the prophecy is resolved."
Director Meow lowered her paw and replied, "No. This little fellow wasn't the World Destroyer. He was merely a pawn used by someone else."
Hearing this, Marco's brow furrowed. "Director, do you mean someone deliberately guided Lacy into believing he was the Scion of Destruction? But who would have such capability? Even a Messenger of Lies from the Thousand Sons might not be able to pull that off."
Byrne thought for a moment and guessed the answer. "If I'm not mistaken, the person who did this is likely the true World Destroyer."
Director Meow turned to Byrne with an appreciative look. "Not bad. You're quite sharp, little one."
Marco asked in confusion, "The true World Destroyer? But all other members of the Valen family were killed by Lacy. According to the prophecy, there's no one left."
Director Meow shook her head. "No. Lacy isn't actually the only descendant of the Laenian line. Just this morning, I received intelligence from Aleph City. Over fifty years ago, the previous head of the Valen family had an illegitimate child who went missing. Now it seems this true World Destroyer is likely the descendant of that illegitimate child."
Hearing this, Byrne rested his chin on his hand. "So that's how it is..."
Then, Director Meow changed the subject. "Byrne, I know there is a very special energy within you. It belongs neither to Chaos nor to psychic power. What is it?"
Director Meow's abrupt words made Byrne freeze. His heart sank; the golden light cluster had always been his trump card. He didn't expect her to call it out directly today.
Byrne hesitated before explaining, "Director, I'm not sure of the origin of this energy either. It has been there since I was very young. Aside from knowing that it can suppress Chaos, I don't know much else."
Director Meow stared at Byrne for several seconds before shifting her gaze to Marco. As if reading her intent, Marco nodded seriously.
Receiving Marco's confirmation, Director Meow smiled. "Fine. If you don't know, forget it. As long as it doesn't harm the Empire and isn't used by Chaos, I won't interfere. But you must remember at all times that you are a member of the Heretic Inquisition."
Byrne breathed a silent sigh of relief and nodded quickly. "I understand, Director."
Afterward, Director Meow turned her head, her mismatched eyes looking into the distance. "Alright. The matter of Lobo City is temporarily settled. Leave the remaining Chaos corruption here to the Fifth Action Group. We're heading back to Blackstone City. I have more important things to tell you."
Byrne pushed his thoughts aside and followed Marco and Director Meow toward the southern side of the plaza. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the abandoned plaza and dispelling the gloom that had long hung over it. But everyone present knew in their hearts that a larger storm was quietly brewing in the shadows.