Chapter 89: Chapter 83: Trauma
From the cliff, the group of worried elders watched as the demonic weapon zip-lined toward the storm at an incredible speed. Although all of them saw it happen, only two people understood the meaning behind it. Well, them and Zeke.
He could sense Yeomra entering the storm. He could feel how the storm was devouring it, bit by bit, through the bond that they shared. He could also feel how Yeomra didn’t resist at all. He could feel how their bond was being destroyed alongside it. Then, it happened. Their bond was gone as was Yeomra.
The storm had completely devoured Yeomra, and its appetite had been satiated. The adults on the cliff saw that the storm started shrinking once again. It slowed down until they were able to see the circle formed by the nine Lotus Hells with Zeke sitting in their center. His body started levitating, and the Lotus Hells collided just beneath him. There was a blinding light, and suddenly, everyone felt a suppressive force. Everyone except for Tang Mi-Yeon and the Poison King.
Surprised by the sudden situation, they looked down only to see a huge lotus blooming beneath Zeke’s levitating body. The lotus was black in color with 108 petals. There was a gradient of red, purple, and gold on every petal.
The Mountain Crushing Demon Monarch said, "This can’t be happening. Only His Liege and Master should be able to do this."
The old man said, "You brat, it seems that I didn’t teach you well."
The Mountain Crushing Demon Monarch looked confused. The Heavenly Demon said, "It is not his fault. Every Heavenly Demon has the ability to suppress all other practitioners of demonic techniques once they become Peak Demons and their Hell Lotuses completely evolve into Lotus Hells. They have this ability because the Nine Lotus Hells Technique is the root of all demonic techniques that exist. But Ryeong’s technique has been modified, no, it has been upgraded. All of the Heavenly Demons before him condensed nine-petaled Hell Lotuses. Their power multiplies when they evolve into full-fledged Lotus Hells. But due to the upgrade, Ryeong manifested twelve-petaled Hell Lotuses which made them much stronger than ordinary Lotus Hells. And they seem to have fused into one during his breakthrough which then enhanced their power and the suppressive effect that they have on demonic practitioners even more."
The old man said, "That makes sense. It would certainly explain why he is able to suppress even us."
The Demon Monarchs stared at Zeke in horror as they understood the weight behind the old man’s words. Zeke was suppressing the Heavenly Demons as well. As they were observing Zeke, the situation changed once again. Zeke’s body stopped levitating as he descended onto the lotus. The petals of the lotus started closing, enclosing Zeke’s body within. The natural energy started rushing towards the lotus bud.
Inside the lotus bud, Zeke was in a dark place. Both physically and mentally. Yeomra’s sacrifice had triggered trauma that he still hadn’t dealt with. Memories started surfacing in his mind.
Their mother’s last words to them, "Boys, you take care of each other. Mommy and Daddy love you. Always remember that."
The soldier who showed up at their doorstep with a trunk, "I regret to inform you that General Alexi Ivanovich has fallen in the line of duty."
The night they found out about her death, "The body of an 18-year-old girl was found just outside Lumine City. The body has been identified as Kara Reed Ivanovich, stepsister of the War God Castiel Ashbourne. This seems to be a retaliatory response to the massacre that he recently led against the Garden of the Fair Folk."
The letter that Cass left when he had left to kill the butterfly bastards, "Zeke, I’m going to end those fuckers. In case I don’t make it back, look after Victoria, Selene, and Helios. You make sure they know how much I loved them. And find a girlfriend. I don’t want my brother to die single. I love you, brother. I’ll see you on the other side."
These were the most excruciating losses. Countless friends had died on the frontline. But he had another chance. He was supposed to save them. All of them. But he wasn’t able to. A loved one had sacrificed themselves once again. He wasn’t able to save them once again. He had been just as helpless as before. As these dark thoughts were swirling inside his mind, the sound of Zein and Zia’s laughter echoed. He vividly remembered how he felt when he held them, when they grasped his fingers with their tiny hands.
He said, "Enough is enough. I will not let anyone touch what I hold dear. Not anymore. No matter the cost."
As he acknowledged this, something clicked. His resentment took physical form inside his mind realm in the shape of a dark cloud, which then rushed towards the illusionary horns of his Visualization. The horns solidified. His WILL had achieved EX Grade. His body then started transforming as his Demonic Spirit took form.
Back on the cliff, everybody felt the air shift. They could feel the natural energy rushing towards the lotus bud at such speeds that it materialized. Dark clouds started gathering above them.
Tang Mi-Yeon said, "What is happening? Why do I have such an ominous feeling?"
The Poison King said, "It’s not only you. Everyone here is probably feeling the same. But I do not know why. All I can say is that it is definitely related to your son."
They waited for three hours, but there was no change. So, they decided to leave. The old man stayed behind in case there was an emergency. Time started passing, and about three months passed.
The old man was on the cliff, enjoying alcohol, when he sensed movement. The lotus bud, which had contained its aura, released it. He once again felt the suppression that he had before, except this time, it was countless times stronger. And there was something wrong with the aura. It was not something a low Peak Demon should be able to emit. It was more like a person at the peak of the Peak Demon realm. And it was still rising.
