Chapter 348 - 346:Erased
"Lord.. lord absolute..." the abyss walker stuttered.
"Sulvan... my son... I can feel them... my son.." the broken sobs of the woman from the bed drew the attention of the stunned abyss walker.
"Go ahead." I stepped aside.
He rushed passed me in a blur of speed as he collapsed into the embrace of the woman on the bed.
"Mother... mother... hic... mother...."
"My son.... It’s real... my son... it’s real..." both mother and son broke down into loud sobs as they clung onto each other, unwilling to let go.
I just watched the moment.
At least. Even if only for now. Before I drag this guy off to some other dangerous location. Let him have his moment.
Woosh..
He suddenly stood with enough force to part the air.
Did a complete 180-turn. Then bowed.
"Ehh?" The entire sequence of events confused me to no end. But before I could ask...
"Lord absolute... I have no abyss stones. I have no Nexite ores. I have nothing of value to offer for the monumental favor you have done for me. All I have is this life of mine. And someone of your standing, my life is worthless."
"Yet it is the only thing I can offer. Please. My lord, absolute. Accept my unwavering devotion. I shall live and die by your command. This I swear by the heart of the abyss itself."
A heavy presence fell upon the entire place the moment he finished his words.
I could feel a foreign presence lock something within him.
"Hmm?" My curiosity was piqued. But before I could inquire further....
"Don’t..." I commanded the winds to move before I even realized it.
Why? The woman had stumbled off the bed. Intent on imitating her son’s actions.
"My lord..."
"Don’t... just... don’t." I didn’t know why. But, I wouldn’t. No. I couldn’t accept any bow from this woman.
I willed the winds to place her back onto the bed. Slowly, the energy drained from her body as her eyelids got heavy and she fell asleep once more.
"Haaa... that was close." I chuckled under my breath, before turning my focus on the abyss walker that hadn’t even reacted when his mother stumbled from the bed.
"You... why didn’t you act?"
"My life is no longer mine, I live and die by your commands."
"I never asked for such an oath of servitude, you bastard."
"Forgive me, my lord."
.....
.....
"... Haa. Forget it. We’ve got other things to settle. If you have anything else to complete. Get it over with and meet me outside."
I had already gotten my fair share of sappiness today, so, done with my instructions, I vanished from the spot.
....
The abyss walker stared at the spot Dante had been for a few moments.
"He.. he’s a good man. My son... you found a good master." The drowsy voice of his mother snapped him from him trance.
"Mother..."
"Haaa.. go. Don’t let me hold you up from your adventures. Hahaha.. my son. You can finally experience life the way you should have. The life I failed to give you after birthing you with mediocre talents." The woman sighed in self deprecation.
"Mother..."
"Don’t worry. My child. I’ll be fine. I just got another lease on life. I will like to sleep without the threat of never waking up again." She smiled comfortingly.
"..."
"..."
"I’ll be back soon. Mother. Wait for me.."
"Hehehehe... alright, my son. Go. Let the dreary skies of the abyss resound with tales of your exploits."
He smiled back. Stood up. Turned around. And walked out. He didn’t stop. Not once. Afraid that he’ll be unable to keep walking, so.. he walked. Towards a future he himself would’ve never guessed.
Some would later call him "The Precursor."
Others called him "The Harbinger."
But perhaps his most cherished and proud title. One he held near and dear, would be the title his friends called him.
"Dante’s underpaid assistant."
.......
It didn’t take long for the sounds of approaching footsteps to reach my ears.
"Are you done?"
"Yes. Lord absolute."
"Alright then. Lead the way."
"Pardon."
"The Kraxis Family. You know where they live?"
"I.. I do, but, what has that got to do with.."
"You don’t need to know. Now. Move."
He went quiet after seeing the look in my eyes.
Enough time with me already made it clear what would come next if he continued annoying me.
His hand reached for his cheek as he finally walked ahead, leading the way.
.....
.....
The Kraxis family manor sprawled across the heart of a vast estate, its towering black stone walls enclosing elegant courtyards, pristine gardens, and rows of luxurious residences reserved for the family’s direct lineage. At its centre stood the main manor itself, an imposing structure of dark stone and soaring spires whose commanding presence spoke of generations of wealth, authority, and noble prestige.
At the gates of the vast estate. Two guards stood at attention. Their hawk like gaze scanning everyone with sheer impunity and scorn.
"Hmmm?" One of the guards hummed. Intrigued.
"What is it." His companion asked.
"Doesn’t it look like those two are approaching us?"
"Hmm? You’re mistaken. Who would dare approach the family manor at such a delicate time? You heard the news didn’t you?"
"I did.. young master marek. I heard it was an outsider that did it."
"These damn outsiders. All because they can come and leave the abyss at their leisure. They start feeling like they own the whole damn place." The second guard grit his teeth.
"Heh. It can’t be helped. It doesn’t matter where you are. The law of the jungle will always prevail. The strong rule. The weak bow."
The first guard laughed it off, finally focusing on his duty, only to come face to face with the smiling face of a white haired handsome young man.
"Well said. For that, I’ll do you one favor. Run. And I won’t kill you."
....
....
As we approached the the location the so called Kraxis family was supposed to be. A sprawling estate of black stone walls and luxurious building slowly came into my view.
"Well damn.. these guys sure know how to live." I chuckled.
"Hurry it up. You’re walking like an old lady."
"Yes. Lord absolute." The abyss walker picked up the pace as we got closer to the two guards stationed at the gates..
".... The law of the jungle will always prevail. The strong rule. The weak bow."
The final bits of a conversation coming to an end drifted to my ears and I couldn’t help the mad grin that appeared on my face. I took a step and manifested right before the guard that had spoken.
"Well said. For that, I’ll do you one favor. Run. And I won’t kill you."
"INTRUDER!!!!!!"
BANG!!!
I slapped out and reduced the ungrateful fucker into a blood mist that splashed all over his partner.
"Now. You...."
"AHHHHHHHHHHH...."
BANG!!
SPLAT!!
"Noisy."
I shook my head. The ungrateful little bastards.
I raised my head.
"Nice gate. Don’t mind if I do." My fingers slowly curled into a fist, and then...
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
The city shook as I let loose a quaking fist that crumbled half of the buildings within the estate.
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Multiple auras exploded from within the estate as multiple figures burst into the skies.
"Hahahahahaha.... Motherfuckers! GET DOWN HERE!!"
With a single thought. The atmosphere responded.
The air around them. The energy holding them up. It all vanished. As they all plummeted towards the earth.
They tried to adjust themselves, providing a more dignified landing, but....
BAM!! BAM!! BAM!!!
A simple tap on the earth and it turned hard as steel yet as slippery as an oil slicked slope.
They face planted unceremoniously.
"Pfft.... Hahahahahahahahahahhaha!!!! Yes!! Just like that! Dare to stand above me? That’s what you get." I laughed out loud as I spread my wings, taking to the air with one majestic flap.
I came to a stop above the entire estate as I looked down like a god from above.
"Who! Who are you? And what are you doing in my Kraxis manor?" A man called out to me after trying to salvage any last vestiges of dignity that he could.
"Me? I’m not anyone your should be concerned with." I smiled disarmingly.
"Why are you attacking our family? What have we done to annoy a senior like yourself."
"Hmm?" Seems like fear had sent these guys into hysteria.
"Hey! You! Do I look that old?" I called out to my new assistant.
"Not at all my lord, absolute. You look like the pinnacle of youth." Hearing his honest words, I nodded in appreciation.
"Oyy! Old bastard. Next time. Clean you eyes properly before making a statement." Annoyed at the old fucker, I slapped out..
BANG!!!
The man burst into bits on the spot. Not so much capable of mounting any ounce of resistance.
The eyes of everyone within the estate shrank in pure horror as their hearts shook.
"Dear... dear fellow warrior. Please. Calm your anger. Whatever it is we’ve done to upset you. I’m sure we can make amends."
And elderly man with wrinkled and falling off hair, stepped forward.
"Old raisin. Don’t tell me what to do. And as for making amends. I’m afraid that’s impossible." I shook my head, palm facing the sky.
"Why!!!??? Senior! I’m sure we can talk about it!!" The man seemed to have already felt the lethal crises ahead.
"Why?? Your filthy spawn dared to hurt my assistant and laugh. For that crime alone. Your family has been judged guilty. The penalty.."
Reaching here, I brought my palm down as my verdict rang through the whole city..
".... Extinction."
The clouds split as the phantom image of a heaven covering palm fell. The world shuddered beneath the descending palm as all sand city felt the pressure.
"Noooooo!!!!! EVERYONE!!! ATTACKKK!!!!" The shout tore out the throat of the old man as each and every single warrior within the Kraxis mansion let go of all their attacks.
The world lit up as lightning of varying shades blasted into the sky...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!
Buildings collapsed.
The city shook even more violently as the attacks collided in the sky..
But before anyone could dare breathe in relief.
WOOOOOSHHHH!!!
The dust cleared as the phantom palm continued it descent unabated...
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!-" the desperate cries of the manor dwellers was cut short as the palm finally touched down and then...
THHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
All of sand city and beyond shook from the impact.
The earth split apart.
The manor collapsed into the rift birthed beneath it, every structure reduced to rubble in a single overwhelming instant.
A violent shockwave swept across the district, flattening everything unfortunate enough to stand nearby.
Dust swallowed the sky while jagged fissures tore through the land like fresh scars.
When the dust finally settled, the Kraxis family estate no longer existed. And neither did the Kraxis family.
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A/N: And another one bites the dust at the hands of the murder hobo. Haa.. anyways..
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Thanks for reading...