"If you understand, tell me what you would prefer. Me playing with you the entire day, or you watching me skin those old fools?" Eldarion asked, licking his lips as his hands trembled in impatience.
Annoyed at being ignored by his contemptible descendant, Selene floated forward, his tall stature emitting soft wisps of heat. As he moved, his long hair fluttered in the narrow corridor. Gradually, a bright, natural light commanding reverence and fear encased him, and his eyes burned like two suns. "So, I don't exist?" he questioned, his regal voice reverberating like a mandate.
Feeling the air crack under the scalding pressure, Eldarion gazed at the ghost he had dismissed earlier in a stupor.
"Who are you?" He asked, his excited trembling shifting to dread as he felt his mana being dwarfed by a burning colossus.
"Your great-grandpa," the ghostly elf smirked before gazing at his hand with a gentle smile. In it rested Anorvalë, a treasure he went to great lengths to develop and craft in the past. "What did they do to you?" he muttered, his heart throbbing in sadness.
Simultaneously, Eldarion gazed at his empty right hand in disbelief. He hadn't seen or felt the man move at all. However, he rapidly recovered his bearings using his decades of manipulation and false pretences to his advantage.
"I don't know who you are, sir. But this is the Lorienwyn Duchy's ancestral house. I'm Eldarion, the current family head," he declared, lowering his head in respect after his formal introduction. "May I have the honour of knowing who you truly are?" He added, choosing to ignore the earlier derogatory words despite his dislike for them.
Amused by the smart-acting brat, Selene raised a brow, saying, "I'm still your great-grandpa." Then, he sent a surge of scorching mana into Anorvalë, vaporising its intricate floral patterns in puffs of smoke.
"What are you doing?!" Screamed Eldarion, his eyes bulging. This was their ancestral artefact! A tier six epic item allowing its wielder to weave potent natural spells effortlessly. Yet, this unknown powerhouse that crawled out of nowhere was ruining it before his eyes!
"Stop!" He added, his forehead glistening with sweat and his heart pounding against his chest in panic.
However, the elf did not heed his words, preferring to ask a question instead of listening. "Who dared to mess with my weapon, downgrading it into a garbage epic blade?!" Selene shouted as he burned any residue of the atrocious modifications his descendants had made, revealing the weapon's authentic form.
Elegant Elven carvings covered the long blade's center as its razor-sharp edges glinted with a veil of potent energy. In contrast to its previous appearance, the sober metallic guard and leather-covered pommel bore no decoration.
The weapon voraciously absorbed its creator's mana until it turned milky white, reflecting the seven colors on its body.
"Now you are back to normal, old friend. I hope the one who defiled you so much is still alive!" He said, his threatening eyes glinting as he swung Anorvalë to confirm its perfect restoration. After all, he tailored the legendary weapon for his use; it was never intended to boost natural spells but solar ones!
Then, he refocused on Eldarion. Truthfully, this descendant embodied everything he hated. Thus, he wouldn't waste breath exchanging words with him.
A blur flashed before the hateful man's eyes before he felt a burning hand clutch his throat.
"Don't resist. I want to keep your body as intact as possible," Selene said, suffocating the shocked Eldarion. Not only would this method preserve the body's critical organs, but it also prevented the fool from casting spells.
The elders' eyes brightened upon seeing the menace dealt with so smoothly. Despite their strong facade, they grieved their daughters' and sons' deaths on the first floor. "Justice has been served," muttered the aunt, a tear rolling down her trembling lips as she clutched her robes.
Meanwhile, Elysia's hand covered her eyes as she silently wept. Even if he made her suffer, Eldarion was her only brother. Looking at his reddening face and hands trying to pry Selene's vice-like grip open in despair pained her. Memories of their shared childhood flashed through her mind, compelling her to wonder if he could change if given enough time. Unfortunately, she knew it was too late.
Fifteen seconds later, Eldarion's hands dropped powerlessly along his body. Steam rose from his mouth, showing part of his blood evaporated, making the process much quicker.
Then, the ghostly elf handed the body to Lily, emotionlessly saying, "Hydrate and keep his body fresh until tomorrow."
With a nod, the short girl seated on his shoulders encased the body in a wooden coffin filled with flowers before making it disappear into her palm.
After securing his body, Selene floated onwards, gesturing for the others to follow him out. Under Lily's guidance, they left the underground complex and stepped on the first floor corridor five minutes later.
"I'll guide you to the throne room," said the granduncle worriedly. Hope couldn't help but burn in his heart since Eldarion chased them like a mad hound. Maybe, just maybe, he hadn't bothered to kill everyone, or perhaps some had survived.
With rapid steps, he entered the grand room. However, his expectations came crashing on him like a joke. His legs buckled as he fell to his knees while tears streamed down his cheeks at the sad spectacle.
Not only were the family members dead, but most had their skin peeled away, revealing bloodied muscles beneath. Some had their limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Thick wooden needles punctured others, creating a haunting scene of horror and despair.
"Shit," Adam muttered, rapidly covering Julius' eyes. A short glimpse caused his stomach to churn in disgust, and he didn't want the boy to witness such cruelty. Truthfully, he didn't want to witness it either, so he turned away.
Meanwhile, Selene clenched his jaws tightly. What kind of madman would commit such atrocities yet converse with him so casually right after?
Even Elysia's guilt and misplaced emotions about her brother's death vanished in a puff of smoke, replaced by disgust and anger. "He deserved his fate," she cried, searching for Tealeaf Ted amidst the twenty-five carcasses.