Looking at it now, he had to admit—the spell Pantheon shared with him was too scary.
It allowed the user to trap a soul within a core-like object, its principles similar to how Ancient Dragons retained their consciousness after death. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
But unlike them, Leno lacked any ans of reclaiming his body or even creating a new one.
All he could do was keep shouting, cursing his fate, and regretting ever crossing soone who should never have been challenged.
Asher tilted his head, his voice calm and curious.
"How does it feel knowing that you'll be trapped in that place forever?"
Leno flinched at the words, his translucent form thrashing against the walls of his prison.
"No! NO! You can't do this! LET OUT!"
The crystal only pulsed in response.
Asher exhaled "Not so courageous now, are you?"
"Please!" he gasped, the arrogance in his tone gone, replaced with sothing pathetic and small.
"I—I take it back! Everything! Just kill ! Torture , if you have to—just don't do this!"
"I'm already satisfied with this. Any more, and people might judge for being too harsh," Asher casually responded.
He no longer looked angry, but his voice dripped with sarcasm. This wasn't how he usually acted, but watching his prey break—slowly, piece by piece—was a satisfaction he couldn't deny.
"No...!" Leno's screams turned to frantic pleas, his once-defiant face contorted in sheer desperation.
"Please! I swear, I'll do anything! Just don't leave in here!"
Shaking his head, Asher tossed the crystal ball up and down in his hand.
"I WILL TELL YOU SECRET INFORMATION!"
"That's unnecessary. I can get everything from your soul," Asher replied coldly, watching the ball spin through the air.
"NO! The information I have is more important! And even if you extract it , I doubt you'll get much!"
There was a mont of silence
He was right. While getting mories was easy , the results would be fragnted—disjointed glimpses rather than a complete picture.
"Asher, please let my brother talk. Maybe we can co to an agreent," Lucian pleaded.
"You really think he's worth negotiating with?"
Lucian forced himself to speak.
"I don't trust him either. He's a disgusting person who deserves all of this. But if there's even a chance his information is useful, we should at least hear him out."
Leno remained silent for a mont, sensing the slight shift in his favor. Then, cautiously, he spoke.
"It's not like I'm asking for freedom. Just a quick death."
Asher found it amusing—how soone who once clung so desperately to life was now begging for it to end.
But given the alternative, it made sense.
To Leno, death wasn't a punishnt anymore. It was rcy. A prize. Like winning the lottery.
Asher let out a hum, feigning contemplation. He rolled the crystal between his fingers, gaze distant, as if mulling it over.
But in truth, his decision was already set.
"I'll give you one last chance. If you cooperate, I'll grant you a quick death. But don't even think about lying—I can read the fluctuations in your soul."
"I—I swear, I'll tell you everything!" Leno choked out.
"Start talking about Lucy's brother first," Asher commanded.
Lucian's chest tightened at the ntion of his son.
Without thinking, he stepped forward.
"Where is he? Where is my son?"
Leno exhaled shakily, glancing at Asher before turning his gaze to his little brother.
"I'll tell you… but you won't like the answer."
Lucian clenched his fists. "Just say it."
Leno exhaled slowly, Then, with a low tone, he continued,
"Years ago, I discovered a ruin deep in the Demon World. It wasn't like anything I'd ever seen. Inside, I t an entity… It called itself a 'Forgotten Monarch.'"
Lucian furrowed his brows, confusion flickering across his face at the unfamiliar term. But the one who reacted the strongest was Pantheon.
(Brat, be careful!)
Asher raised an eyebrow, noticing just how shaken his partner was.
'Do you know about it?' he ntally asked.
(Yes. That's not a na just anyone would know,)
(If he knows about it, then he's likely telling the truth. And that ans this could be tied to the rging of the Demon World and your own.)
Asher's eyes widened. That sa question had been gnawing at him as well.
He wanted to discuss the matter further with Pantheon, to dig deeper into the implications. But for now, he chose to hear the whole story first.
"Go on, start talking," he urged.
Leno let out a slow breath, gathering his thoughts.
"It claid that if I helped it regain a body, it would grant power beyond imagination." Leno's lips twisted into a bitter smirk.
"But I'm not stupid. I knew sothing that powerful couldn't be trusted. It could've been a monster capable of taking over my own body. So I chose to wait—to grow stronger first. Then I'd return when I was ready."
His expression darkened. "But I never got the chance. I was captured before I could do anything. And then… Lukas ca to visit in my cell"
Lucian's heart pounded. "And?"
"I told him about the ruin. About the entity inside. That was the last ti I saw him. That was the day he disappeared."
Lucian's body tensed, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
He turned to Asher, his eyes searching for any sign of doubt, any reason to question what he'd just heard.
"He's telling the truth,"
A lump ford in Lucian's throat, tightening with each passing second. Every part of him scread to demand for more answers, but he held himself back—just barely.
When he finally spoke, his voice ca out rough, and unsteady. "Where… where is the ruin?"
"It's in the Abyssal Forest. "
"That place..." Lucian staggered back. "Why would he go there? Not even Demon Kings go there unprepared! Did you trick him?"
Leno chuckled, the sound dry and humorless. "Trick him? Guess your son got too greedy."
"Shut your dirty mouth!" Lucian lashed out.
Asher placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent reminder to stay in control. "We don't have ti for this. Let's focus on getting more information first."
"Okay," Nodding slowly, Lucian took a deep breath before pressing for the exact location of the ruin.
Asher, equally intrigued, listened closely. He had his own priorities, but once his current business was settled, he wouldn't mind taking a look himself.
If this was connected to the world rger, then he couldn't afford to ignore it.
When they were done, Lucian turned to Asher and gave a slight nod , a silent gesture that he got all the information he needed.
"I've told you everything you wanted to know. Now, just kill !"
Asher turned his head, studying the crystal with amusent. "Eager, aren't you?"
"I held up my end of the deal! You promised—just end it already!"
Asher shook his head. "I'll kill you after we check the ruins. For now, just stay still."
He pulled out a satchel and placed the crystal .
Inside , Leno's soul thrashed violently, his translucent form twisting and writhing as he pounded against the confines of his prison.
"You lying bastard!" His voice was raw, filled with rage and desperation.
"You said you'd kill ! You swore!"
"You have no honor! No—"
The bag snapped shut, muffling the rest of the ranting.
Lucian watched, arms crossed, but said nothing. There was no sympathy in his gaze.
"Now, let's focus on healing you," Asher added, wasting no ti.
He grabbed hold of the tal poles embedded in Leno's empty body and yanked them out one by one using telekinesis.
Each rod slid free with a wet, tallic scrape, hovering in the air for a brief mont before clattering to the ground.
CLANK!
CLANK!
CLANK!
Asher casted anther spell, lifting the body into the air.
Next, he manipulated the ground, weaving it together until two makeshift beds took shape—smooth, solid, and sturdy.
He placed the body onto one before turning to Lucian.
"Lie down," he instructed.
Lucian didn't say a word. He simply moved, and lay down on the stone bed without complaint.
Asher gave a small nod and raised his hands.
"Be ready. Once I'm done extracting your brother's magic pathways, I'm going to destroy yours."
Lucian's fingers twitched. His jaw tightened. "Destroy it?"
Asher didn't pause. "Your current magic pathway is too damaged to rge properly. If I tried, it would collapse, and you'd likely die in the process."
He flexed his fingers, magic crackling between them. "So, I'll break it completely and rebuild it using your brother's as a foundation."
Lucian forced a chuckle. "Sounds painful."
Asher smiled. "Oh, it will be. But if you want to survive, you'll just have to endure it."
"Do it."
He surrendered himself completely, placing his fate—and his life—in the hands of his son-in-law.
With that settled, Asher began the operation.
His eyes glowed faintly, sharpening his vision until the intricate web of magic pathways beca clear.
The Redthorn family relied on powerful artifacts to achieve this level of precision, but he needed no such tools—his eyes and senses alone were more than enough.
He took a slow breath, steadying himself. There was no turning back now.
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