Matheus could feel the cold sharpness in Ryu's tone. He could even feel that in Ryu's eyes, these words alone were an act of mercy and his way of being tolerant. In fact, it could be said that the only reason Ryu didn't kill Matheus back then was because he was fully aware that he couldn't.
Back then, when Matheus stopped him from killing City Lord Loom, Ryu had already wanted to lash out. The reason he didn't was because he knew that he wasn't a match for him.
Not only had Matheus been hiding his cultivation, as a Necromancer, he could control puppets that were far beyond Ryu's means. Not only that, but he could control multiple of them at a level potent enough to become a Throne of his Sect.
For Ryu, who had only just entered the Divine Vessel Realm after skipping over the Spiritual Severing Realm, he was too lofty of a goal.
The only reason Matheus hadn't swept through all of the competition back then was because he was still hiding his identity as a Throne and a Necromancer. He didn't feel he was powerful enough yet to bring his family out from their hardship, so his best option was to continue to lie low.
However, Ryu was well aware that if Matheus had to choose between continuing to hide his strength and saving his family, the choice would have been obvious. He was only hiding his power for their sake to begin with, so how could he not reveal it for their sake as well?
Had Ryu insisted on killing City Lord Loom back then, he wouldn't have only failed to do so, his life would have been in jeopardy. Back then, in order to ensure he at least made those who were most responsible paid, he had to swallow his pride and let City Lord Loom live.
Still… Ryu wasn't one who forgot being wronged.
That day, his grandfather had died a torturous death so that he could live. Even to this point, even after giving Esme a Fate even worse than what his grandfather had suffered, he still hadn't forgotten, nor had he forgiven.
If Matheus dared to stand in his way now after protecting someone who would have had him ignore what happened to his grandfather and even suffer for it… Ryu wouldn't mind killing him right here and now!
The Ryu of the past wasn't the current him now. If Matheus believed that things would be the same as they had been back then, he would be in for a terrible surprise.
Matheus' pupils constricted.
A murderous intent the likes of which he had never felt before locked onto his soul.
Feeling the rage of their master, the four Lower Skeleton Warriors all turned toward Matheus in unison, death qi surging all around them. Rather than Skeleton Warriors, they looked like soldiers willing to lay their lives down for their General.
"… So you are indeed abandoning my cousin?"
Matheus' knuckles cracked as he flexed his fingers, his expression returning to calm.
Ryu's aura became colder. If this Matheus was looking for a combination of words that would piss him off the most, he had definitely stumbled into one that was very close.
Those who were watching and didn't quite understand the situation suddenly felt the heaviness as though two raging tigers were facing off.
Niel pursed his lips and sent a subtle gaze toward Ryu. It was pretty obvious what was meant by 'abandon' in this context. It seemed that having a pretty face really didn't pay.
Luckily, Niel didn't voice out his opinion, or else some of Ryu's rage might have been transferred over to him.
As for Sarriel, she hid her face behind Ryu's back, a blush sweeping even down her collar. She felt as though she had done something wrong even though she really hadn't. In fact, she hadn't even been all that intimate with Ryu.
Of course, if she knew that she had definitely been far more intimate with Ryu than he had ever been with Taedra then her embarrassment might make her faint. How had such an innocent girl like her get caught up in such drama?
"So you won't get out of my way?" Ryu asked coldly.
If there was one thing Ryu absolutely abhorred doing, it was explaining himself. That day on the battle platform, facing off against those who had killed his grandfather, he hadn't even bothered to explain why he had never taken the Tor Clan's name. But, which of those who were present that day still dared to bring up such a matter?
If Matheus wanted to be treated like he had treated them, he would gladly advise and give him an unmarked grave.
Ryu flashed from Nemesis' back, his palms flipped over to reveal two Great Swordstaffs.
The two weapons crackled and whined as blue arcs of lightning dances across their silver surface.
Matheus' arms shot upward as though he was manning an orchestra. In the blink of an eye, several dozen corpse puppets appeared, each as outrageously armored as the original armadillo puppet Ryu had battled all those months ago.
However, this wasn't what made Ryu narrow his eyes. Amongst the pack of armored beast corpse puppets, he had spotted two that weren't particularly armored at all.
The two corpse puppets prowled, bearing their teeth. Their bodies were streamlined for power and speed, the strength of their paws crushing the stone beneath their feet with just a simple crouch.
With a single look, one could feel the wild bestial of the puppets, making them feel far more alive than they were dead.
It became very obvious, very quickly, that Matheus had a reason to be so confident in him, a reason to be willing to vent his hatred against Ryu despite the fact he face four Lower Skeleton Warriors.
Not only had he succeeded in claiming a Skeleton Wolf inheritance for himself, but he was also even able to summon two of them at once.