Chapter 198: Immortal King's Reign 5

A few years have passed. While the three families in the Mortal World were angry at Lin's decision, they couldn't refute it, so they had to accept it.

Lin's son, Theo, was now old enough to begin his path as the Ghost King, while his younger sister remained at home with their parents Lin and Yana. Theo's first mission was in the Mortal World.

He knew due to the departure of the three families from the council, they didn't support Theo nor acknowledged his existence. So once in the Mortal World, Theo was on his own and couldn't count on the three families' help.

Only his group of exorcists with his best friend, Max, were his support. As the future and first Ghost King, this mission should not pose any threats to Theo. He had to overcome this and prove his strength.

"Theo to the right," Max shouted as a whole mob of ghosts followed them, ready to suck them dry. Theo has seen ghosts before but these were particularly bloodthirsty and hungry. Theo held up his hand and a whisk of green life force purged the ghosts.

"Max hold them off on this site!"

Theo pointed to his right while he ran to the left and circled around the ghosts. Luckily, they were able to draw out the ghost from the city where the mortals were, but ravaging wars were still going on, so the corpses of the mortals spread everywhere.

Right now, Theo and Max were separated from their group and both were alone, luring the ghosts further into the fields. The high, yellow grass reached to their knees and in his rush, Theo, several times, tripped over the corpses letting the ghosts catch up. Theo cursed, he had to prove himself as the future Ghost King.

He knew the men of the three families were watching him but in the first place, Theo also never wanted to become the Ghost King. He didn't want this fate!

Bathing in self-pity, Theo missed the ghosts opening their mouths.

"Theo!" Max pushed Theo to the side and was bitten by the ghosts.

"NO!" Theo quickly sprang to his feet and let out a massive wave akin to a tsunami of green smoke that completely devoured the ghosts.

"Are you alright?" Theo ran to Max and carried him on his back to the medical stations. Theo hated how helpless he was. He also hated the role he was put in.

Several years later, Theo became the Ghost King and formed a new council and because of his father's negligence, Theo needed to regain the trust of the public. Max became Elder K. The K family from then on became the personal trusted attendant of the Ghost King, just as the A family was to the Immortal King.

Together with the K family, the other families have been established: L, M, P, C, G and H. The seven families together with the 5 families left of the Immortal King's era took over the Immortal World and Mortal Wolrd.

Yet a sudden onset of ghosts washed over the Immortal World and killed many immortals. The outcries of the public demanded an explanation: They were angry at the Immortal King and Ghost King.

Inside the palace chamber, Lin and Nick watched out of the windows.

"Theo's doing the best he can," Nick started.

"It's not enough," Lin sighed. He looked to be in a better condition but the truth was that he was now weak and almost powerless to help.

"We gotta figure out the cause and-" Nick started but Lin stopped him, "There's no need. I already know it. The heavens are angry and sent this calamity. I should've done my duties and followed the fate of the Immortal King but instead," Lin sighed, "Instead I've pursued my happiness and a way to break out of the curse. Also, I created another king without their permission. There's only one way to end this."

"Lin…" Nick could see the shaking eyes of Lin, he could feel what Lin wanted to do.

Was it because they've been together for so many years?

"Here," Lin gave Nick a thin ring, golden ring, engraved with the letter L&Y, "I've said there shouldn't be an Immortal King but… if in the future you find someone worthy enough unlike me, heh, give them the ring. A portion of my power's in there. This ring will signal my successor."

"Lin, don't," a pained expression appeared on Nick's face. Nick gave the ring back but Lin shook his head, "I'm sorry, I've burdened you all, especially you Nick, with my selfish wish."

Lin's weak hand rested on Nick's shoulder, "I hope you can forgive me, so please carry out this one last wish of mine, okay?"

Nick's hands trembled, "There must be other ways, you can't-"

"Yana and I already decided. Please take care of my children."

Out of all people, Nick would've never thought that the day would come when the strong and mighty Lin he's always admired, would fall.

On the same night, standing in front of an abyss, Lin and Yana decided to pay for their sins. For their love that should have never existed, for the existence of their children, for going against heavens. To save the world from heavens' wrath they sacrificed themselves to hopefully continue being together for an eternity in the afterlife.

Their professed love for each other was the only thing that lingered as Nick watched them leave the world. He buried them in the abyss and engraved two tombstones for them. And so the reign of the Immortal King came to an end.

Offset by his parents' death, in his pain and grief, Theo decided not to make a family, instead, he searched for a successor unrelated to him. His blood that caused so much suffering should never be continued. In the small alleys of the city near the capital, Theo found a small boy.

"Where's your family?" Theo crouched down to meet the beautifully clear eyes of the boy.

His blonde strands of hair were dirty and fell all over his face, "They abandoned me."

Theo smiled, "Then we have something in common."

Theo stretched his hand out, "How about coming with me? I can't give you the family you might desire but I can give you both worlds."

The boy's eyes sparkled at Theo's words and took his hand. Inside the palace, the boy was too fascinated and scared. It was normal.

"You really went and got someone?" Max's eyes quickly sized up the young boy before rubbing his head, "I'm Max, what's your name?"

"I don't know," the pitiful eyes of the young boy stabbed both males in their hearts.

"Hmm, how about lil Theo?" Max grinned.

"Shut up," Theo rolled his eyes, "Let's take a bath first, then we can do everything slowly."

The young boy nodded.

He felt that Theo was very good to him and he took a liking to Max. However, it wasn't even 5 years later when the young boy's, Mani's, real family came to leech off of him.

Hearing that Mani would become the new Ghost King and that he has already received powers, they became even greedier.

For years they started to groom and manipulate Mani, to even instigate Mani to kill Theo. Kill Theo and make his real blood family be the one at the top.

Of course, Mani didn't want that nor could kill his benefactor so they forced Mani to give them powers.

"What's wrong, Mani? You look pale? Have you been training a lot again?" Theo laughed and rubbed Mani's head.

"Yea, a bit," Mani smiled but hid his trembling hands under his blanket.

He's used too much power to give his family power that he fainted. The attendants found him and immediately brought Mani to his room and informed Theo.

Theo instantly rushed over but seeing Mani having no problems, Theo was relieved.

"D-Dad?" Mani has long started calling Theo his father but at this point, Mani was just disgusted with himself.

"Yes?'' a gentle smile spread on Theo's face. Even though Mani wasn't his real son, Theo adored him like one and promised to never make the mistakes his father did.

"My…. The other…erm, yknow, family…" Mani rang for words but Theo immediately understood.

Theo softened his gaze and said, ''Although I don't approve of them if you still regard them as your family I can't help it. Whatever makes you happy, I'll respect it."

Mani bit his lips and nodded his head. He truly felt disgusted with himself. He loved Theo more than anything. Mani knew if he told the truth, Theo would help him, but the horrible words and the strings that his family brought Mani up with, Mani couldn't escape.

He couldn't beg Theo for help, "They want to come for dinner…"

No, Mani didn't want to say it, he wanted to stop. The words just came pouring out on their own.

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes…"

No! This wasn't what Mani wanted! It wasn't! NO! NO! NO! Why couldn't he stop? Why couldn't he-

"Alright, I'll prepare for it, you can tell them about it."

Mani nodded but then panicked, "Dad!"

"Yes?" Theo patted Mani's head.

Mani wanted to say, he wanted to tell Theo but only tears and a heartfelt, "I love you," came out.

"I love you too."

Several hours later, Theo laid dead in front of Mani. No amount of horror and pain could describe what Mani went through.

"You've done a good job, my boy," the revolting feeling of his real mother touching him, calling him her child even though she abandoned him, made him want to gag and tear everyone down.

But in the end, Mani was responsible for everything. It was his fault and his burden to take. Hatred. Disgust. Anger. All sorts of negative feelings came welling up in Mani.

His family tried to erase the E family but luckily the younger sister of Theo managed to escape.

Family E was completely erased, and Mani's family took over the council and became Family Z.

The council noticed the abnormality but no one could stop the tyranny the Z family started. The public mourned the death of the first Ghost King Theo but no one was in more pain than Mani.

Once again, the cursed fate of the Immortal King took over and it was, by far, not over. It only began.