Chapter 1101 An Exceptional King

Luna shook her head, refusing to abandon the one family member who cared about her. With a brave front and despite her shaking legs, she took a step forward and attempted to remove the mask. "Let me use my skill…"

"I don"t want you to ever use it!" shouted Dorian as he swung his spear, creating a storming gale that pushed his sister back. Marshal was still heading his way, more empowered than ever. "Just trust me and run!"

After a few moments of hesitation, Luna saw her father and brother clash. Just a few exchanges made her realize that her brother did not dodge because he was acting as her shield, making her burden if she stayed.

In the end, she decided to run as fast as she could. Since her father had never let her grow stronger, her stats were below average. The only skill she had was the one to make her life a living h.e.l.l, making her wonder why she awakened it.

Luna could not think about the origin of her troubles as her lungs burned for air, and all she thought about was running far away. In her mind, she realized that as long as she didn"t exist in this place, no one would be hurt. The irony was that both her death and life became a burden on those caring about her.

In the far distance, the G.o.ddess hunting her down fought against the beautiful woman from earlier, who turned out to be a demon. Others helped her, while the red Waiga from earlier held back her uncle and an enormous lion.

With each step, Luna felt as though her bones were shattering. However, she forgot about pain and fear, and instead chose to focus on running. She abandoned her brother and fled from her father, deep into the forest.

***

Dorian saw that his sister was gone, and he could finally focus on fighting. If not for his awakening of the Karmic Resonance, allowing him to reflect the harm his father did to him, he would have been bleeding on the ground with broken bones.

His new ability, gained from Alexie experiencing a change of his own, deterred his father from striking him with lethal attacks. After all, the moment his father kills him, he would die as well.

"Even if my attacks hurt me too, then I can always mend broken bones," said Marshal with a grin as he demonstrated how his arm healed in an instant. "This is the favor of a G.o.ddess, and it changed me anew!"

"How can you not understand that she helped you in order to kill Luna?" asked Dorian while gritting his teeth, his own body starting to show signs of weakness. He realized, through repeated usage, that his karmic resonance made him mentally tired. "She expects you to kill Luna."

"If my love rejects me, it"s better if she dies," said Marshal as he clenched his fist before his eyes, rotating it with zeal. "This strength is unlike anything I have ever felt before, Dorian! Abandon these silly attachments and join the divine side!"

"I just began to pity the curse that inflicted your mind, but you might just be… a terrible dad, in so many ways," said Dorian with a sigh. "You abandoned your twisted love once you tasted power. But I guess… the G.o.ds are always to blame."

"Don"t be a blasphemer, Dorian!"

"Let us end this, father," said Dorian as he narrowed his eyes and gripped his spear tightly. "I"m tired."

Marshal stared at his son for a few seconds, before he grinned. Then, he began walking toward Dorian with the spatial sword in hand, now laced with divine energy. "You fail to understand what your powers yet you use them. In order to reflect the damage, great amounts of spiritual energy are consumed from your soul."

"Spiritual energy?" muttered Dorian, his eyes turning cloudy as he staggered. "What is that?"

Although Dorian did not suspect his father, he wasn"t known to be a liar. Furthermore, he could tell that something was wrong with him. His father walked with a smirk until he reached him, and Dorian collapsed to the ground. Then, his father walked past him and went toward the forest.

"Even as a kid, you never knew your limits."

Dorian collapsed to the ground, his face buried in the dirt. It took his entire strength to turn his head toward his departing father. "What did you do to me?" he tried to shout, but it came out as a whisper.

"I did nothing," said Marshal as he glared at the forest. "You did this to yourself. Every time you transferred your wounds to me, your spiritual energy was consumed. You tired yourself because you do not even understand your own powers. There is nothing for free in this world."

Dorian did not understand, but he was begging his body to move. His father was going farther away, following his sister. If he did not move now, his sister would die. That would strengthen the G.o.ddess, who would kill them all.

"Please, move!" Dorian tried to shout, but his throat no longer obeyed him, just like the rest of his body. As his mind descended into an endless fog, he could no longer retain consciousness. "Please… move…"

Splash.

Dorian saw a foot land on the black soil beside him, jolting his mind awake. Then, golden light descended over his body, clearing away the fog. His body moved, letting him raise his head to see the familiar but unfamiliar face.

"You look like a mess, Dorian," said the man with golden eyes, whose hair had grown long and had a beard now. If Dorian did not recognize the golden eyes, he would have never known this man was, as others called him, Seika. "Have you given up on this fight?"

"As long as this body can move, never," replied Dorian with confusion as he stared at his demeanor. Something changed about this man, but Dorian could not tell what it is. "Alexie… have you grown older?"

"Time is subjective, dear friend," said Seika with a wise smile as he looked into the distance. "And as we chat now, time is being consumed. Your sister is about to be captured, although she has a strong ally."

"A strong ally?" muttered Dorian as he rose from the ground, and realized that Alexie has become taller. Dorian used to be taller than him, but Alexie was now just as tall. "Who is he?"

"That is a long story," said Seika with a smile. "I have friends I need to protect, too. Go and follow your sister, Dorian."

Dorian nodded, and Seika took a step forward. Before his foot touched the ground, he disappeared without a trace. Instead of wasting any more time, Dorian rushed toward the forest. His father was nowhere to be found, but he could tell where he was.

His heart was racing, fearing that it was too late. As he ran between the trees, he spotted something in the distance. He reached a clearing when he saw his father pinning his sister to the ground, but was frozen in place.

"You…" muttered Marshal as he stared at the newcomer, rage slowly filling his face. His hand was pinning Luna on the ground, while the creature stood in front of them with an apathetic expression.

Dorian tried hard to recognize this creature, but he could not. It seemed to be a mixed race between a bull and a human. His eyes were as black as night, not a single white in them. The creature held a club filled with spikes, which he slowly raised.

"You know me, Marshal Stormblade," said the creature with no change in his expression. "I came here to take revenge from both you and your brother."

"You did not kill my daughter, so I will spare you, Ramiel Pureheart," said Marshal as he controlled his anger. "Leave now and I will not give a d.a.m.n about your existence. Otherwise…"

Bang!

Marshal disappeared as something flew past Dorian, who was unable to see it with his eyes. In his place was Luna, freed, and the swung club of the creature which did not even let his father finish his words.

Boom!

Dorian turned as he heard the explosion, seeing his father crashing into a tree with his face dented inward. Blood spilled from his face as he fell to the ground, screaming in agony. His divine energy tried to heal him, but it was a slow process with agonizing pain involved.

"What the heck happened to you, half-demon?!" roared Marshal with rage as his azure eyes glared at the creature. Dorian snapped out of his daze, realizing that his sister might be in danger. When he turned, however, he saw the creature helping her stand.

"I have returned, Miss Luna," said Ramiel with a soft smile, melting the frosty expression he had. "In order to protect you from this sick man, I became a demon."

"…I never wanted you… to…" croaked Luna as she choked on tears while staring at him. Then, she reached forward and touched his face gently. "I liked your old skin, Ramiel."

"That stone skin was sealing my demonic blood," said Ramiel as he held her hand and wiped her tears with the other. His club fell to the ground as the two seemed to forget the world. "After I met my king, I no longer need to feel the wrath. He shall carry it for me, as I fight for his sake."

"Your king?" muttered a confused Luna.

"An exceptional king that shall free us all," answered Ramiel as Dorian could envision this king entering the battlefield right this instant. "He shall walk unhindered and stand against the G.o.ds. Behind him will be an army of demons who have entrusted him with their wrath. Then, he will fight for every last suffering soul."