Chapter 74: The Meaning Of Aetheldawn
"How Dare You?!!"
"If you make one move, I will make sure your granddaughter, and daughter-in-law upstairs won’t see the next Sunrise." Asher cut him off, moving his gaze to the old man continued:
"What?" The old man was stunned. The sheer audacity of a young man holding an entire lineage hostage within their own heavily fortified estate broke his mind.
"You seem like a smart man, you should know that you can’t defeat me." Asher said, as Caleb collapsed on the ground, unconscious. The absolute suppression of an SSS-Rank aura wasn’t just a physical weight; it was an override of the lower-ranked Awakened’s life force.
"What did you do to me?!"
The family head stammered, and fell on the ground, paralyzed. The residual energy from Sword Sovereign had completely severed his brain’s connection to his motor functions, turning a proud SS-Rank noble into a helpless statue.
"What did you do to my Son?!!" The old man yelled in shock, rushing to his son.
"He will be paralyzed, same with everyone in this estate, including, your maids, workers, and even your granddaughter and daughter-in-law..." He turned, walking towards the door. Asher delivered the verdict not with anger, but with the mechanical, unfeeling precision of a system notification.
"Hey!! I won’t let you leave them in this state!!"
Asher paused, his tone deadly cold: "Not killing the Warsaw family is already me showing mercy... As for your family, in one month, they will be cured. This is my judgement."
With that, he vanished from sight.
’This? I can’t even detect his presence... Did he teleport away? But... How did the Starfire family have such a monster?’ He thought, staring at his crippled grandson, then at his paralyzed son, he stood in the silent hall, dumbfounded. The foundational power realms of their society had just been shattered before his very eyes by a supposed ’trash’ heir.
’Wait, I have two grandsons.’
____
[PRIVATE CLUB.]
"Come on girls! Let’s have the night of our lives!!" Joshua yelled, pouring his wine on a half-naked girl, a huge smile on his face. The VIP room was a sanctuary of hedonism, insulated by wealth and the false security of his family name.
"Young Master Joshua is so powerful, and generous!!" The lady said with a smile, opening her mouth wide.
"Hahahaha! I am now tied to the Starfire family! From now onwards, I will keep rising to the very top! Hahaha, enjoy yourselves!" He yelled, holding the arm of another girl, and pulled her into his chest, kissing her forcibly. Blinded by the illusion of his new political alliances, he failed to realize the shadows in the room were actively shifting around him.
"Mmm... Slow down, Young Master..."
She paused, tasting blood. Her eyes snapped open, seeing Joshua vomiting blood; they all lowered their gaze to his abdomen, seeing a deep wound which went through his core, they screamed out in terror.
"AHHHHHH!!!"
Asher stared at the women, who rushed out of the club room, screaming all the way out. He stood in absolute stealth, an invisible reaper dealing out consequence. Following right behind them were two bodyguards.
"Young master!!"
They rushed to Joshua, and checked his pulse: "He’s not in danger, but his core, it’s shattered." He said in disbelief. The surgical strike had expertly bypassed his vitals to permanently erase his energy center, ensuring he would live the rest of his life as a powerless mortal.
Asher walked towards the door, and walked out of the hallway. The two targets had been taken care of, now, he needs to return home.
___
[Aetheldawn Villa.]
Asher stepped onto the grounds of his newly established estate. He had chosen the name ’Aetheldawn’ purposefully—a symbol of rebirth, marking the dawn of a new dynasty rising again from the ashes of his past suffering. However, the majestic tranquility of his new domain was currently being violently disrupted from within.
"I am hungry!! Where is the chef?!!"
Kelly screamed, standing at the center of the sitting room in her nightgown, her arms crossed, her face filled with rage.
"Hey, calm down would you!! Asher will be back soon!" Juliana snapped at her, getting to her feet, her arms crossed on her chest. Juliana’s fiery nature clashed instantly with the chaotic unpredictability of her co-wife.
"What?!! I said I am hungry, I want to eat!!" Kelly yelled back.
"And I said you should wait a little longer!! Can’t you understand what I am saying?!!" Juliana yelled back.
The maids stood some distance away, nervously staring at the two madams arguing. They had come to understand Kelly was ill, but this was the first time seeing her so angry. Normally, she just sat or stood still, lost in thought, but when she gets hungry, she seems like someone else entirely. The mental fragility she carried made her completely immune to reason or social decorum when her basic needs flared up.
The worst part, none of them dare to move, or even get close to the kitchen, the Boss repeatedly warned them not to enter the kitchen, so they could only stand still and watch. Asher’s strict, mysterious rules regarding their food supply held more authority than the shouting match currently shaking the villa.
Sara on the other hand sat on the couch, reading her book, not even bothered with the two. Moreover, she couldn’t hear them. Her absolute silence was a stark, almost comical contrast to the echoing screams of the other women.
The maids watched as Sara raised her head from her book, stared at the two arguing before her, then lowered her gaze back to her book; they blinked, stunned speechless.
’What sort of family is this?’
"Huh? What’s happening here?"
Everyone jumped in shock, turning their heads to the door as Asher appeared right in the sitting room. He had bypassed the perimeter wards entirely, arriving like a ghost.
"Did the Boss?"
They were all dumbfounded. His movement speed defied all logic.
Feeling the sudden change in the air, Sara raised her head from her book, her eyes widened for a moment, not believing her eyes.
Asher turned towards Sara, and gave her a small smile, before he could do anything, a shadow appeared before him.
".....?!"
He slowly turned his head to see Kelly standing before him, her face so dark he was stunned. The terrifying aura he used to paralyze an entire noble estate meant absolutely nothing to a starving Kelly.
"I am hungry!!!!" She screamed at him, while Juliana facepalmed.
"Oh boy."
"....?!!!"
Asher was speechless. The great SSS-Rank Sovereign, who had just crippled a bloodline without batting an eye, was completely defenseless against the domestic chaos of his own home.