Chapter 80: “...”
Vraelyn blinked, although it was nothing less than a prickle. The intent alone was loud enough.
"If you dare speak about your death again, I will slap you again. Also, who are you fooling here? I’m sure if it’s you, you could suppress the curse with your will alone and survive at least a hundred years."
Emperal’s eyes glowed intensely. "Speak, what’s the matter?"
"I-I...I thought you must have already gone with that woman. And I...gave in to the curse," Vraelyn spoke, causing veins to pop on Emperal’s forehead.
Before Vraelyn could attempt to speak, a strong, veiny arm gripped her slender neck and yanked it harshly.
"Mmm!?"
Without warning, Emperal’s lips crashed onto hers. A familiar current ran through Vraelyn’s body as she melted in his arms.
Unlike Soleine, there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in Emperal. His hands traveled all over Vraelyn’s body with the possessiveness of a hungry beast.
"Ahn~ Slow down, I’m not going anywhere."
Vraelyn cooed in Emperal’s ears, making blood rush down his thighs. His brows twitched. "You are just asking for it."
Smooch~
Both of their tongues battled for dominance, unlike Soleine, Vraelyn wasn’t shy. Her hawk-like claws gripped Emperal’s hair as she kissed him.
"I...missed this feeling."
Emperal muttered as he tasted the divine liquid of Vraelyn Storm. It is as sweet as it could be with the remnants of—? Emperal raised his brows, gripping her hair tightly, separated her from his face.
"Lyn, did you drink when I was gone?"
"Yesss~! My old heart couldn’t bear the emptiness you left."
Vraelyn smiled cheekily. Hearing this, Emperal sighed. His dark eyes looked at her face...properly.
And he immediately saw the effects. No, there weren’t some physical things that happened to mortals.
He saw deeper; he saw the restlessness in her eyes. The kind of desperate restlessness that made the woman tremble every second.
And even now, he could feel the slight tremor in her hands.
"Lyn"
Emperal spoke, he...didn’t realize her obsession with him ran so deep that she was almost on the verge of self-harm and worse, suicide.
"Eml~"
Vraelyn’s eyes softened when she saw his eyes; she understood him. More than anyone in the world, she knew his insides, his confidence, his insecurities, his strength...everything.
And it wasn’t hard to tell how guilty he was feeling right now, without a single word being spoken.
"I...won’t apologize, since both of us have suffered. But, I will try to make up with you as much as possible."
"I would be more surprised if you said otherwise," Vraelyn chuckled, bringing a smile to his face. But then, he remembered something.
Spank!!
"Ahn~! What was that for you, bastard?" Vraelyn’s brows twitched as she felt a tight slap on her rear. It even jiggled for a few seconds. Hearing her words, Emperal smirked.
"What? Do I need a reason to spank you now?"
"Hmph, arrogant."
"That...I am"
Emperal chuckled after a few seconds of playful banter.
"Vraelyn, I need to tell you something."
After a few seconds, Emperal’s face turned serious, surprising Vraelyn.
"What is it?"
"I have...found a new way to cultivate, independent of the Spirit Root."
Emperal exhaled, the moment his words echoed. Vraelyn stood there, stunned.
She almost stumbled. "W-What did you just say?"
Emperal nodded and raised his hand, and under Vraelyn’s surprised eyes, milky white energy began to gather in his palm.
"This..."
Vraelyn was speechless when she saw this, her crimson eyes widening by the second.
"Soul Energy!"
She muttered, just in time for the energy to transform into a small, sharp dagger.
Emperal smirked and, without hesitation, slashed at the woman. Vraelyn merely raised a finger.
Ssscik!!
The blade struck her finger and dissolved into small particles. Vraelyn nodded when she saw this.
"This is indeed the real deal, just where...did you learn to cultivate this? Heck, where are you even getting it from?"
Vraelyn couldn’t help but ask. Hearing her question, Emperal shook his head.
"I will tell you soon, and besides, it’s not just that."
Emperal’s aura shifted as the temperature spiked, the skin around his arms and neck tightening, slowly transforming into thick red magma scales.
The air around him shifted as the Verth began concentrating on his soles, with a single will. He leaped back, which was at least three miles in a single jump.
"You’d better be prepared, Lyn."
Emperal smirked, of course, he was just joking. There was no way in hell he was defeating the monster standing in front of him.
Just because she was crying and speaking softly, one shouldn’t forget who she was and what she represented.
Immense Verth started gathering in his soles as the ground below began melting. Yes, even the Ashefield stones, known for their incredible toughness and durability...started to melt.
"Sol’vethrak"
Emperal muttered, a burst of intense heat burst from his soles. Taking a step forward, he...vanished.
Vraelyn’s eyes widened in surprise. Just a moment ago, she was watching him fire up. And in the next, a fist was already between her brows.
BOOOMMM!!!!!!
Emperal punched her face with all his might, so much so that even the surrounding trees and water...were evaporated in a single wave.
Kraeth’sol was truly...the best offensive move one could have.
Emperal smirked, and unsurprisingly, not even a strand of her hair was affected. His fist had indeed struck her forehead...but that’s it.
She didn’t even need the Draconic scales to block his fist. Just her normal skin was enough to hold it.
Vraelyn stared at Emperal, she opened her mouth...and closed it. It happened a few more times.
"Did you...get the Inheritance?"
She finally asked as Emperal lay on the ground, sweat drenching his entire body. Vraelyn looked at him. Her expression was strangely...conflicted.
Emperal looked at her, for a brief moment, he hesitated. But then, he shook his head.
"It’s pointless hiding it from her."
He thought inwardly. "Yes, I did."
"...No wonder. Your aura and blood, they have both changed and been...replaced."
Vraelyn muttered, earning a confused gaze from Emperal.
"How did you know my blood had changed?"
"Hm? What do you mean by, ’how?’ I sniff your blood and sweat almost daily...? I would, of course, know what it is like."
"..."
