Chapter 162: Reunion. I
Ash’Kral told him that the totem was able to send an almost invisible thread towards the target... One only needed to will it.
Though Levi knew it should be impossible for it to work in the air like this.
As expected, Levi was surprised to see that Demetris was holding onto a different totem.
He knew it from its shape.
’Ability Enhancement Totem... Why is he using it? Does he plan on casting an ability first?’
Levi was confused for a moment, knowing that the contract would be voided if he did this, which would ruin his assassination attempt.
Unbeknownst to him, the contract wouldn’t be voided since Demetris signed it with his soul.
Lord Darius was wielding his body spiritually, which put him above the contract terms... His original plan was always this, but he wanted to make Demetris think that he had a choice.
He still had a use for him, if they were to survive this.
After whispering the incantation, using the powerful wind noise to hide his voice, Lord Darius activated Demetris’ new ultimate ability.
Dreamvault Field.
He knew that a time might come when he would need to possess Demetris.
So, he set him up with a remarkable evolution, investing quite a lot in a short period.
The moment the ability was activated, an invisible illusory ripple was released from Demetris’ flowery sword.
Nurah was the first to fall under its effect, followed by the rest one by one.
Even their nightcrawlers and nightmounts weren’t spared.
Once everyone was inside the field, Lord Darius started using his imagination to rewrite their world.
Kree! Kree!...
Abruptly, Velmira and the rest were shocked to see an army of flying nightcrawlers heading in their direction.
’What the hell? Where did they come from?’
Velmira’s expression turned for the worse, realizing that they couldn’t take them down... Not in their current weakened state.
Her spiritual energy was at an all-time low after her fight. Plus, they were carrying the fragile Seraphis and the bodies of the deceased.
Fighting midair was not happening.
"Everyone! Descend and cover your tracks, we can’t afford another battle!"
Velmira swiftly nosedived into the ground, followed by everyone else.
When Levi saw this scene, he knew immediately that something wasn’t right.
His spiritual vision was also picking up the queues of the approaching nightcrawlers’ army.
But when he considered what Demetris had just done, he had a feeling that they were connected.
’It’s too bizarre for an army to show up right after he casts an ability...’
Levi frowned.
’Are we inside a powerful illusion that can fool even our spiritual vision?’
Levi had utmost trust in his spiritual vision, but at the moment, he couldn’t help but question it.
’Use Sensebound Pearl.’ Ash’Kral advised.
’If your spiritual vision is strong enough, no type of illusion can work on it.’
Hearing this, Levi did as he was told, refining his spiritual prowess to its limit.
The moment it reached such heights, the spiritual auras of the army started fading away.
The illusion broke apart.
Levi’s chilling spiritual eyes immediately focused on Demetris after landing on the ground.
Velmira and the others were still under the illusion as they swiftly desummoned their large nightmounts and hid behind trees.
Their concerned eyes were affixed on the skies.
Levi acted the same as them, not to draw suspicion.
But in reality, Levi combined his spiritual vision with the harmonic spine to create the most detailed area around him.
When he finished, he watched Demetris pull out the Whispering Decay Totem and walk in the direction of Velmira.
Levi was confused for a moment, expecting Demetris to target him.
After all, he was the one with a strong enmity towards him.
But soon, the truth came out, and Levi felt a chill course down his spine.
’He isn’t targeting Velmira... The bastard wants to assassinate our instructor.’
Levi’s expression turned cold as he watched Demetris murmur the incantation to activate the Whispering Decay Totem right next to Seraphis.
’Oho... Congratulations, you have met your first Duskbound Order’s member.’
Ash’Kral smiled, understanding immediately that Demetris had switched sides.
Levi knew this as well.
Thus...
Whoosh!
Before Demetris could finish the incantation, a flying crown came out of nowhere and smashed his hand.
The totem dropped!
Demetris’s hand turned swollen at once, yet he didn’t seem to mind the pain.
He turned around slowly towards Levi and said, his voice as calm as a still lake.
"Boy... Don’t interfere in matters above your understanding."
Levi felt his heart skip a beat, his burning rage at Demetris’ betrayal squashed at once.
He was just about to curse his entire ancestral tree for going this low. But now... He remained silent, his guard raised to the limit.
It wasn’t the words.
It wasn’t the tone.
It was... the Candace of it.
A chill ran up his spine, sudden and unexplainable, like his body recognized something his mind couldn’t yet reach.
He could tell... This wasn’t Demetris he was dealing with.
"Who are you?" He asked, tightening his grasp on his staff.
Demetris stood there... except it wasn’t quite Demetris.
The posture was too elegant.
Too poised.
In Levi’s auditory vision, he looked like a man wearing a mask made of another man’s skin.
The confidence was too wrong... And then the voice came again.
"I was expecting more hesitation," he said casually, as if discussing the weather.
"But perhaps I overestimated how much the past still weighs on you."
Levi’s breath fastened.
That cadence...
He couldn’t place it.
But his chest suddenly tightened, and a splitting throb throbbed in his temples.
His hand instinctively brushed near his face, under his thick hair, over where his eyes should have been.
Memories flickered at the edge of perception.
The noise of destroyed furniture.
His mother’s scream.
The scent of corrosion... resembling a rusty metal.
A voice whispering: "Silence him, but leave him alive... It won’t take long before he becomes a Sleepwalker."
Levi’s entire body tensed.
His heartbeat accelerated beyond control.
"It’s you..." Levi’s voice came out lower than he expected, quiet, restrained.
But beneath it was a storm ready to be unleashed.
Demetris... no, Darius smiled faintly.
"Names... are such delicate things. So easily forgotten. So easily replaced."
He stepped forward.
Levi didn’t move, but his fingers twitched as he held his staff tighter.
"Child, I don’t have time to reminisce... We have spared you once, I hope you won’t make it into a mistake."
He said in a whisper meant for Levi alone.
"Or else... Next time, you will lose more than your eyes..."
Levi froze.
He didn’t know why... But he felt for the first time in a long while, the desire to run.
Not out of fear.
But because deep inside, something primal had recognized a predator from his nightmares.
And it was wearing a familiar face.
As Levi watched Demetris pick up the totem under his squad’s whispers to keep hiding from the enemy above, he felt a surreal sense wash over him.
He had dreamed of this moment for a very long time.
The moment of vengeance.
Yet, his body refused to move.
He felt like a helpless child again.
The clawed scars on his back tingled in pain.
A reminder of the outcome.
’Is that it? Are you going to stand still and watch him kill your mentor? Your instructor? Someone you care deeply about... Again?’
Levi’s thoughts were in the right place, but his heart seemed to be whimpering in fear.
What if he put us through the same pain?
This isn’t just any enemy.
This is him.
I don’t want to fall apart again ... It responded.
’Then don’t... You’ve trained. You’ve bled for strength. He won’t break you twice.’
Let me breathe... Just a moment... I’m still shaking ... His wounded heart sounded akin to a traumatized child.
’And that’s why I lead now...’
Levi let out a long exhale.
’You’ve suffered long enough... This is our reckoning.’
Then... promise me... If we strike, it’s with purpose. Not hate.
’No... Both.’
Levi’s expression turned cold as he rushed in the direction of Demetris at last.
He conquered the primal fear within him, which was meant to protect him from the same trauma.
But Levi didn’t need protection.
He needed closure.
He was embarking on his first step towards it.
"Perish, demon!"
He bellowed as he appeared next to Demetris, smashing him into a tree with a single strike.
The Whispering Decay Totem flew away, its activation interrupted again.
Levi gazed hatefully at Demetris, walking step by step towards him while building Thunder Chant.
"Foolish decision, my child..."
Lord Darius stood up with great difficulty.
His control over such a weak vessel was limited, making it hard for him to contend against Levi.
But he wasn’t here alone.
"Don’t you dare call me your child," Levi said, his voice low.
The staff in his grip vibrated with barely contained power, its tip leveled at Demetris’ neck.
"My father was Brian Larson. My mother... Ruqya Larson. You slaughtered them. You carved out my eyes and left me in the dark."
"From that moment, I wasn’t your victim. I became your retribution. You and your filth-stained master have been living on borrowed time ever since."
His voice was filled with bloodthirst for vengeance.
"Borrowed time?" Lord Darius chuckled.
"Boy, you have no clue what you are getting yourself into."
"I know, but it changes nothing... Now, die!"
Knowing that he would be getting nothing from him but taunts and manipulations, Levi had no interest in talking further.
He rushed akin to the wind and swung his staff with his heart burning in hatred.
"THUNDER CHANT! RELEASE!"