I rode my flying bike with Velvet riding behind me. We were alone, but many of my underlings were watching from a distance.
"Are you going to kill the baby, my lord?" Velvet asked after being silent all along.
It took a while before I could answer her. "To be honest, I don't know. It's too painful if your best friend's child will become your nemesis in the future."
"But, in the end, you could pull me to your side." The dragon lady continued.
"I know."
At that time, Velvet was still a stranger to me. I'm ready to kill her if it's necessary. But this is different.
I'm not sure I can think of Ritor's child as a stranger, no matter what.
Maybe killing that baby now would be better before the complications arise.
After a few moments of silence again, I finally found what we were looking for. From a distance, I saw the minotaur and his wife looking up to see me, then running.
Of course, that means nothing. I can easily dive my bike to that little family and stop before them.
"It's useless, Ritor," I said to him. "You should know you and your family will not be able to run away from me."
The minotaur looked at Ethan Jr. in his arms, then answered. "What will you do to my son, my lord?"
I was silent and just looked at my general.
A bitter chuckle slipped from Ritor's mouth. "Why? Why do you look so doubtful? I've never seen you like this."
I jumped off the bike. "Come home, Ritor. I need you."
"You can't guarantee my son's safety. Not from you, not from the other residents." The minotaur shook his head. "Sorry, but all I can think about right now is my family, my lord."
Lana started to sob but tried to keep looking at me.
I closed my eyes, trying to suppress the mixed feeling inside me. "Then, I have to use force to bring you back."
Ritor handed his baby to Lana and rubbed his wife's face with the back of his finger. "Don't worry, Lord Vorn is in a fragile state. He won't be able to beat me. I will win, and we will be able to escape."
Lana nodded.
Then, I looked at my wife. "Please, don't meddle with this."
She wiped away her tears that were also falling, then nodded and walked away.
"Ritor, you are one of my most loyal servants. Since a long time ago, you have always carried out my orders, even though I'm sure many things go against your principle." I started walking to the minotaur.
He also walked up to me. "But this time, I can't, my lord. You're the one who set me up with Lana. Without you, we wouldn't be able to be together."
My lips form a grin. "Yeah, it's all my fault."
Suddenly the horned creature ran to me. I immediately raised my hand and blocked his punch. I'm a little pushed back. Even though my body was in a weak state, I didn't expect him to be able to do something like that.
"You've gotten stronger, Ritor." I chuckled. "I am proud of you."
I jumped and kicked him, but he also managed to block me.
Next, we exchanged blows with each other. No one managed to make an impact on each other's bodies. We can both block or avoid each other.
Damn. My power and speed have really decreased drastically. Even my own subordinates can keep up with me.
Ritor caught my body and threw it as hard as he could. My back hit a big tree causing a big dent.
Shit. An attack like that alone was enough to cause me pain.
"Please, my lord." Ritor's voice began to shake. "I don't want to hurt you more than this."
While he was coming at me, I hid my fist, which was emitting thick black smoke. I've gathered my energy there.
Ritor did manage to block my punch, but the resulting force sent him flying a few yards back. He hurriedly got up, but I was already running to him.
That minotaur was only half standing when I slammed my knee against him.
He fell again, and I held him by the horn and beat him in the face mercilessly.
"You are one of my most loyal subordinates, Ritor! How many times must I tell you!?" I kept hitting the general's face with my fists. He started bleeding. "This is the first time you've disobeyed me! I can't accept it, Ritor! You should have served me to death!"
He can't fight anymore or chooses not to fight me. I do not know. What was clear, his head was full of bruises and blood.
And at the umpteenth attack, I stopped, realizing that the horned creature had passed out. My ears also heard sobs from two directions.
Both Velvet and Lana were crying.
I stood up, looked at Ritor for a moment, and approached Lana. The brown-haired woman shook her head and backed away, then fell to her knees. The baby woke up and cried aloud.
"Please, my lord." That woman begged with more and more tears. "We didn't mean to betray you. We were just confused and scared…."
I snatched the baby from her mother's arms, triggering her cry even louder. Lana begged, trying to reach her son, but I held him high.
With a single grip, this little creature's head will burst.
But I kissed his forehead instead.
The baby's crying suddenly stopped, and I rocked his body gently.Meanwhile, the baby's mother could only stare at me with her mouth open, speechless.
"Your husband has served his punishment." I flashed a faint smile. "After this, I will prepare everything for you. You will hide in a remote and safe place so that my followers do not discriminate against the Ethan Jr."
Lana was crying again and prostrated herself at my feet.
"You don't have to do this." Velvet, also crying, helped the woman to get up. "It's over now."
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