“This… how is this possible?! Master Shadow clearly removed the Black Dragon Scale from your body. How can you still be alive?”
“…”
“You’ve survived multiple fatal blows… could it be that you’ve miraculously revived? Even Elizabeth didn’t anticipate this.”
“Do you recall the last time Constantine reconstructed his body? He implanted the most unique Black Dragon Scale into himself. It was meant not only to contain his rampages but also to make him a puppet under Master Shadow’s control.”
“In other words, that Black Dragon Scale replaced the protective Heart Scale, becoming a part of your body. Even if you’ve managed to cling to life, you can’t escape Master Shadow’s control…”

Elizabeth knelt on the back of the pelican-scaled bird, her injured shoulder trembling as blood seeped through her wound. She panted lightly, her gaze fixed on Constantine below, noting the massive warhammer in his grasp.

“That’s… Adam’s Hammer? How do you have Adam’s Hammer?”

Constantine raised his head, his crimson dragon eyes meeting Elizabeth’s with an icy glare.
“If you think Master Shadow’s plans are foolproof, you’re gravely mistaken. After I lost control at St. Heath’s Academy, Leon and I realized this was all part of Shadow’s scheme.”
“…”
“That’s why I entrusted Hefei to Leon’s care. As we predicted, Shadow targeted me shortly afterward.”
“I used a… special method to keep myself alive and endured until now.”
“Shadow stripped me of my Black Dragon Scale, attempting to destroy everything I was, but I had already planned for this during our last encounter.”
“…”
“At the very least, I’m no longer under his control.”

Constantine gripped the warhammer tightly and continued,
“It was a simple matter of turning the tables… with a bit of luck.”

He referred to the ancient magic Heartfire, which Leon had obtained from Claudia.
“As long as the user retains even a shred of will to fight, they won’t fall.”

Before stepping into his sanctum, Constantine had activated Heartfire, preventing Shadow from delivering a fatal blow and holding on until Rebecca and the others rescued him.
“And as for ‘luck,’ it came from when I defeated Adam in the Lunar Forest and extracted his Heart Scale for safekeeping.”