Chapter 193: Useless 4

"What happened?''

In the training ground of the headquarters, several people have assembled. They sat on the ground and looked unbothered. Rather than that, they seemed to be pretty bored.

Eri's tranquil voice full of aloofness lingered in the room and all eyes fell on Timo. Timo ran his hand through his hair and approached them. His eyes swept across the small group.

Disregarding Eri's question, he asked, "Where's Maria?"

"Can you stop being a love-obsessed fool?" Eri couldn't be bothered.

She'd rather be at home than here. Now that the hidden families were taken care of, Min told them to be here and wait. Out of the 5 captains, only 3 remained. It wasn't a big blow but they still lost their force, especially with Kil and Leo gone.

"She's at home probably," Zayn spoke up.

He glanced at Timo and sighed. It was a good thing Zayn didn't go to the hidden families himself. His puppet has been killed but it was at least as strong as him. Zayn couldn't help but lament about this joy being alive. As long as he was alive he could help Min unlike Leo, that traitor.

"Where are you going?" Eri's cold voice stopped Timo.

There was annoyance mixed in it too that Eri didn't bother to hide. If that jerk could go and see his crush, then Eri also wanted to be with her family. However, disobeying Min's orders had terrible consequences, especially for Eri. She knew Timo might get away with it and that was why it made her only angrier.

"To Maria."

"No. Sit down, Timo. Don't make me angry," Eri could freeze the whole room at this rate. The few soldiers accompanying them silently begged for Timo to do what Eri said. Timo stared at Eri without moving. The staredown was so intense, the soldiers wanted to faint from it.

Zayn also couldn't stand it, "Please, Timo."

Timo's dead eyes shifted to Zayn before yawning, "Fine."

Timo plumped down next to them. Maybe it was better not to see Maria, after all, she was still mad at him. Showing up uninvited would only make things worse between them. Eri rubbed her temples. At least Timo complied. If he didn't, she would've used force.

The soldiers gulped. The atmosphere between the captains was also rigid and tense. It was only Leo who brightened things a lot with his happy-go-lucky attitude or Kil with his constant shouts for fights but both were gone now and the soldiers still couldn't believe it. Nothing could ease the tension anymore.

"By the way," Eri started. There was something she wanted to get off her chest, "Have you seen the assistant? I've seen him scurry around for a while before disappearing. Isn't he kind of suspicious?"

Timo looked at his fingers, seemingly recalling something.

"Trze. I agree. Something's off about him, but he does a good job and Min seems to approve of him."

"He helped me," Zayn raised his argument. If it wasn't for the assistant, Zayn would be dead, "But he's somehow peculiar."

Zayn couldn't deny it, especially his power but Zayn promised not to mention it. After all, no one, not even Min knew that the assistant had powers.

"Was that so?" Eri was lost in thoughts, "And? The daughter of the K family?"

"Min has set the stage, we should keep ourselves out of it tho. We stay here until everything is over."

"So there's nothing for us to do?" Zayn wanted to be of more help for Min.

"No, we've lost two captains. We should try to fill these places," Timo looked around until Eri sneered, "Don't be ridiculous. No one could match these two in terms of powers. oO you think strong people fall from heaven? None of the exorcists have what it takes."

Eri's words were blunt but true. Right now no one could fill the empty spaces Kil and Leo left behind.

***

In the Mortal World after Yano received Maria's message. In the base.

"I'm against it!" Skyla paced up and down, her ferocious red hair swinging left and right with her actions, "We can't deal with the ghosts here and you want to leave?"

Mil sat on the chair behind Skyla and helplessly shrugged his shoulder as Yano glanced at him and was too exhausted while Holn brimmed with energy fueled by the drama.

"Skyla, the situation's bad. We gotta stop the Ghost King personally or else this won't have an en-"

"You just want to let your bloody romance bloom in these goddamn ravaging times!" Skyla hit the nail on the head.

Although Yano did mean what he said but Maria's message made it sound like Lia was in trouble. And letting Lia endure harm, Yano promised it'd never happen. He'd do anything to not let it happen.

"It's not the only reason-"

"But you didn't deny it!"

Yano right now was basically a punching bag for Skyla to scold and let her anger out. This went on for at least an hour before Mil pulled Skyla by the waist into his lap. Skyla immediately flushed red and turned her head away, "D-Don't think I'll give in like this."

"Let Yano go. Can't you see the tail that's lowering because you're denying him his only purpose?'' at Mil's words everyone stared at Yano's behind to the point Yano had to cover it.

"There are more important things than to be lovely dovey."

"He's not just that-"

"Fine! Fine! He can do what he wants alright! Just side with him! Lu, Holn, let's go, we've got business to take care of!" Skyla stomped away with Lu and Holn following her.

"You owe me," Mil sighed, "I can't recover from her anger. It burns~"

"Thanks," Yano said sincerely, "I'll pay you back."

"Hurry," Mil saw Yano off and sighed. The situation was really bad. Both in the Immortal and Mortal World.

***

Lia was still in a state of frenzy. The deaths of everyone still hasn't settled in and she kept denying it. She didn't want to admit it was true. Because if she did, she and everything else around her would shatter. Right now, she was in a bubble, the tiniest pressure and it'd break and Lia would fall down the deepest depths for hell can reach her.

So, she subconsciously sat in the middle of the bubble refusing to move. Her mind was shut off and all she could do was to cling onto the dead bodies of the corpses. While Min humoured himself for a bit more to watch how desperate she has become.

Seeing corpses even of those he was once close with didn't matter to him. It was natural to have people die. Immortals shouldn't be immortal. Those with sins should perish. And in Min's eyes everyone was a sinner, everyone apart from him deserved to be wiped off.

A world, no two worlds, with only ghosts was akin to a paradise. Ghosts had no conscience and those who had would then immediately be purged. Thus there would be no injustice, no betrayal and no greed in a world full of ghosts, no one would suffer.

And Min? Min was the Ghost King who would oversee them. He was God. Although his goal wasn't to become a god. His goal was to change this crooked world and twisted human nature. He only had the right to judge what was right and was wrong. He alone could decide over justice and lies. Because he was just. He was superior.

Min felt bliss. Lia felt despair. Two old people clashed with each other, destroying the other bit by bit and would continue to tear at each other until nothing was left. Intense emotions led to downfall and prompted others to rise.

Inside, Lia blamed herself. Exasperated, she pinned all the fault on herself, after all, everyone once again died because of her decisions, everyone who trusted her was dead again. How could she continue to live with this knowledge?

How could the scars these events left behind be mended? Now, nothing mattered to Lia. All she wanted was to leave here and never see Me again. She didn't care if he wanted to destroy the world. He could do what he wanted!

Screw him and everyone else! Lia only wanted her revenge, only wanted to be happy and carefree! Was that too much to ask? Was that too much to fulfil?

In the end, the answer was yes and Lia knew her fate once again belonged to the abyss.

Fine. If it was, then so be it. At least, she wanted to give everyone a proper burial so they could rest in peace and be reassured. That was right. Lia would make one last deal with Min. Attempted to.

As Lia raised her head, no sadness was left. It was only a hateful thunder trapped in her eyes, seeking to destroy Min. Lia stood up and stumbled, having difficulties to stand straight. Yet Lia was too unstable and fell forward, holding herself over a corpse, her hand gripping its collar.

The shiny golden glint caught Min's eyes and he stood up from his chair. Lia narrowed her eyes as she saw him approaching.

"No!" was the only thing Lia could once again say as she tried to swat Min's hand away which took a hold of her.

"You have something that doesn't belong to you," Min's long finger removed the golden, thin ring from Lia. Struggling to stop him, Lia was slapped by Min who remained unfazed. Min wielded the ring before he slipped it in his pocket.

Lia's last hope was shattered. The Immortal King's ring, the ring Yano gave her was her only way to use her power and now Min took it away rendering her completely useless.

"You had enough time to mourn," Min stood up and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her with him to the front away from the corpses, "The preparations are almost done, so I can't waste my time with you."

In front of Min's throne, Min let Lia go. A second later, agonised screams appeared. Lia was huffing and panting, begging for the pain to stop, begging for Min to show mercy but he didn't.

He continued to rib out her limbs one by one, "You can't run away," then waited until she healed again, "But I've always been generous. Before throwing you back, you should at least get to know why, right? The reason why I want to destroy the worlds."