Chapter 248: Not that he Expected!
Kaelith simply nodded at Liora before glancing at Maelona, who bowed her head respectfully and rose gracefully from her seat. Her movements were elegant, yet there was a subtle ignorance!
Kaelith then sat down, his expression resolute, “Although I was tempted by your offer, this is my tribe,” he said firmly. “I cannot just abandon them when they need me.”
Liora and Kaelene exchanged looks, their lips twitching in barely concealed frustration. They had practically laid out everything Kaelith had ever desired on a silver platter, and yet he remained steadfast…
Maelona glanced at Liora, her mind racing as she pieced together the underlying dynamics of the situation. ‘I see…’ she thought, a new understanding dawning on her.
Suddenly,
“WWWOOOOOOOO!!!”
The howling sound echoed through the space, drawing everyone’s attention back to the arena. All eyes turned to see a black-haired wolf, its eyes burning with deadly intent, staring directly at Aether.
“BOY!! I WILL KILL YOU!!” the wolf bellowed, its voice filled with primal rage.
Kaelith, a frown marring his brow, asked, “I cannot participate, can I?”
Liora giggled softly before replying, “You cannot enter.” She then turned her gaze to Maelona and added with a playful tone, “My husband is pretty angry now~”
Maelona’s eyes shifted to Aria, and she remarked, “You haven’t seen what he is capable of… Your husband’s level is 35 or something, right?”
“Hmm?” Liora frowned, glancing at Aether, who appeared nonchalant as he casually loosened his sleeve, seemingly unconcerned by the looming threat.
Aether’s thoughts were calm and measured, ‘I suppose I controlled my output perfectly enough,’ he mused, his gaze fixed on the wolf that had appeared before him in the blink of an eye, jaws wide open and ready to strike.
Chuckk
The sound of clenching jaws echoed ominously as everyone held their breath, the tension palpable.
The wolf’s grin was feral, but…
“Hello,” he greeted, his tone almost mocking.
With one hand, Aether pressed down on the wolf’s nose, his body upside down as if he had rotated at the last possible moment to evade the attack.
The wolf’s eyes widened in shock, its predatory instincts taking over as it prepared to toss Aether aside. But before it could act,
“Bang!”
BOOM!!”
The wolf was blasted away, the close-range explosion leaving its face marred with fire wounds. It shook its head violently, trying to extinguish the flames.
“Hmmm…” Aether nodded with satisfaction, his eyes briefly meeting Aria’s prideful gaze. He then glanced at Liora…. who wore a smug smirk.
“I-It’s her husband, right?” Aether wondered, puzzled by Liora’s reaction despite her husband’s apparent disadvantage.
“Hahahaa…” The wolf’s laughter was haughty and filled with disdain, “I haven’t even taken this seriously, boy! You are just a small ant to me!!”
“… Neither am I,” Aether shrugged nonchalantly.
The wolf’s irritation grew, and it summoned its Arcane Card. The card shimmered with a silver hue and three stars, indicating a level between 30 and 45 with mid-level aptitude.
“I see… Now I understand,” Aether murmured, the pieces falling into place.
Levels 30 to 45 seemed weak?
Aether, at level 21, felt Wolf’s strength was understated because of his Silver Aptitude. He now understood why his mother-in-law had sent him into this challenge.
Aether, who could compete with Rainbow Aptitude… knew this should be snort for him!
He glanced at Maelona, who smiled knowingly as if she had anticipated his realization. ‘Looks like I have a dangerous mother-in-law,’ he thought wryly.
The card dispersed, and the wolf’s teeth gleamed with a metallic sheen, now covered with unbreakable elements. The clashing sound of metal echoed, sending shivers through the audience.
“Look at my fangs… They are covered with elements that can pierce through anything… ahaha… If you are scared, bow before me!!!!” the wolf taunted.
“Is he trying to show off?” Aether wondered, shaking his head. With a swift stomp, he propelled himself toward the wolf. Though the wolf reacted, trying to retaliate, Aether was quicker.
He caught the wolf’s fang with his bare hands and,
BOOM!
Aether slammed the wolf into the ground… Not just once, but several times, each impact resonating like thunder.
BOOM!
“I will kill–”
BOOM!
“You suffer–”
BOOM!
“I w—”
BOOM!
The Darkfang tribe watched with growing unease, growling at Aether. Kaelith observed the scene, then looked at his daughter and nodded with satisfaction. “Looks like my daughter found a good one.”
Aria simply nodded, her expression unreadable. Kaelith didn’t take her silence to heart; he understood the complexities of their relationship and knew better than to hold it against her.
Liora glanced at her son, Kaelen, her eyes narrowing with curiosity and concern as she watched how her husband was being mercilessly beaten by a mere human. “Tell me again about Aether,” she demanded, her tone sharp and unforgiving.
Kaelen swallowed nervously, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, “He’s always pissing off Emperor Alaric without hesitation, never caring to show him the respect he’s due,” Kaelen began, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.
Liora’s frown deepened, her mind racing as she began to piece together the puzzle. ‘Emperor… ah,’ she thought, connecting the dots with growing alarm.
Kaelen continued, his expression grave and filled with dread, “And there’s more…. Empress Marisandra has specifically ordered him not to bow to anyone except her.”
Liora’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. “That insane woman…” she muttered under her breath, her gaze snapping back to Aether, who was relentlessly pummeling her husband with a ferocity that left no doubt about his power.
The wolf’s unbreakable fangs started to break like a toy!
Kaelen’s voice trembled even more as he added, “He has defeated twenty or so people in fistfights without using any arcane energy and… h-he almost cornered me that day.” he hesitated at the end.
Liora’s expression shifted from shock to a wicked grin as she watched Aether treating her husband like a mere plaything. She turned to her son, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light, “Do you love me?”
“Huh?” Kaelen stammered, taken aback by the sudden and seemingly unrelated question.
“Do you love me or not?” Liora’s voice was firm and unyielding, her gaze piercing his body!!
“O-Of course, I love my mother!” Kaelen forced out, his voice quivering as sweat dripped down his temples.
Liora smiled gently, a sight that sent a shiver down Kaelen’s spine, ‘W-What’s this woman up to now?’ he screamed inwardly, his heart pounding in his chest.
Seeing the outcome already decided, Liora stood up, her voice ringing out loud and clear. “I declare our tribe’s withdrawal from the duel!”
The crowd erupted into murmurs of confusion and disbelief. Rather than face the humiliation of being defeated by a human, Liora had chosen to withdraw, a move that might seem cowardly but was a strategic decision to preserve her dignity and control.
Maelona watched with a satisfied smile, while Aria beamed with pride!
Aether halted his assault, stepping back and surveying the scene with a calm, steady gaze. The wolf slowly reverted to his human form, his body battered and broken…. He too broken!
Liora appeared beside her husband, gently helping him to his feet with surprising tenderness, “I-I am sorry, Liora,” he said, his face a mask of defeat and shame.
Liora shook her head, her expression unreadable. “There is no need to apologize. It’s my fault the plan went wrong,” she said softly.
Her husband managed a weak smile, regaining a shred of confidence. He turned to Aether, his eyes blazing with anger and humiliation. “Boy!! Next time I will—”
Aether controlled his laugh when he saw the man’s toothless mouth… that almost looked like an old age man’s mouth!
But then,
His words were cut off abruptly. His eyes widened in shock and pain as he looked down to see Liora’s hand piercing through his chest, her fingers wrapped around his heart. His life faded away in an instant, and he crumpled to the ground like a broken doll.
Liora looked down at his lifeless body with a mix of disdain and pity, “I told you not to act arrogantly. It pisses me off every time you do!” She crushed his heart in her hand, the sickening crunch echoing through the stunned silence, before tossing it away with a look of utter disgust.
“….”
The entire audience fell into a stunned silence, unable to comprehend the brutal scene that had just unfolded before them.
Liora turned her fierce gaze to Aether, who stood with a flabbergasted expression, unable to process what he had just witnessed. “Haha… You have a cute expression there, boy!” she commented, wiping the blood from her hand with an air of casual indifference.
“H-huh?” Aether snapped back to reality, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Liora. “Isn’t… Well, Wasn’t he… your husband?”
Liora just smiled serenely, her demeanour calm and untroubled, “My ex-husband, Husband!” she replied nonchalantly.
“Oh…” Aether nodded not sure why he was even nodding but then he blinked a few times before realizing what she said!
[+100 AP]
!~Ding~!
[Mission: Seduce Liora Darkfang]
“…”
“YOU BITCH!!” Aria screamed furiously.
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