"Good choice, girl," said Riser, his voice laden with a deadly calm.
"Iryuka, you've chosen life, but at a cost," said Lord Glasya-Labolas, his voice tinged with disdain as his fiery eyes stared at his daughter. "I would rather die with honor than see my own daughter humiliate herself this way."
Zephyrdor, the heir of the family, kept his head held high, though fear began to manifest in his gaze. "He's right, Iryuka. Don't bow your head to them. You're betraying the blood of our family," he said, his voice choked with hatred.
Iryuka, despite having made her decision, felt a pang of pain upon hearing her family's words. Even so, she knew there was no turning back. "I choose life," she repeated, trying to keep her voice firm, but the sadness was palpable.
Riser, without showing emotion, turned to Erza. "Cut his head off, Erza."
"Yes, Riser-sama," Erza responded, her voice firm and without hesitation. With a swift and precise motion, she raised the sword that was already positioned at Zephyrdor's neck. The metallic gleam of the blade reflected the soft light of the hall for a brief moment before descending with deadly speed.
Zephyrdor, realizing the imminence of his death, widened his eyes in pure terror. "No... it can't be..." he murmured, his body paralyzed with fear.
SLASH!
The sound of the sword cutting through the air was followed by a dull thud. Zephyrdor's head separated from his body, falling heavily onto the marble floor. His body soon followed, as if his spirit had been ripped away along with his head.
THUD!
Iryuka, seeing her brother's lifeless body, felt her heart tighten. Despite her decision to distance herself from the family, the pain of losing someone she had grown up with was undeniable. 'I chose to live, but I've lost so much in the process,' she thought, her internal sadness carefully masked by a neutral expression.
Lord Glasya-Labolas, seeing his son dead, growled in pure fury and despair. "Guards! Kill Riser!" he ordered, his voice sounding more desperate than commanding.
The guards, who had hesitated until then, exchanged nervous glances. Their master's order was clear, but the fear they felt in facing someone like Riser was even greater. 'If we fight, we'll die,' thought one of the guards, terror overtaking his senses.
Before they could decide whether to obey or not, an overwhelming presence filled the room.
HAOSHOKU HAKI!
The pressure was instantaneous and overwhelming. The guards, unable to withstand the force that overwhelmed them, fainted on the spot, their bodies falling inert to the ground like ragdolls. The intensity of the power made the air feel heavy, making even breathing a monumental effort.
THUD!
Iryuka, who was already emotionally shaken, was the next to succumb to the power. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted, her body falling gently to the ground.
THUD!
Lord Glasya-Labolas, though more resistant than the guards, could not stay on his feet. His legs trembled, and he fell to his knees, sweating profusely. "Impossible..." he murmured, the word barely audible as he fought against the terror that overwhelmed him.
The hall was now in complete silence, except for the sound of Lord Glasya-Labolas's heavy breathing and the faint hum that still seemed to resonate in the air. Riser looked around, seeing the fainted guards and the involuntary submission of his opponent. "Boring. I expected a bit more resistance," said Riser, his voice devoid of any trace of emotion or mercy.
Erza wiped the blade of her sword with a smooth motion, turning to Riser with an expression of absolute loyalty. "The orders have been fulfilled, Riser-sama," she said, maintaining her imposing posture.
Riser took a step forward, approaching Lord Glasya-Labolas. "Your family was a mistake," he said, his tone icy. "And now, it's time to correct that mistake."
"Merlin," Riser said, his voice firm, "manipulate Iryuka's memories. She needs to forget what happened here today."
"Yes, Riser-sama." Merlin responded without hesitation, approaching Iryuka, who was still unconscious on the ground. With an expression of concentration, Merlin knelt, carefully picking up Iryuka in his arms, as if carrying a sleeping child.
Merlin began to murmur an incantation in an ancient language, his voice soft and melodious filling the room. Ethereal lights began to dance around his hands, enveloping Iryuka in a soft, calming glow. The lights penetrated Iryuka's mind, reorganizing her memories, erasing the moments that could bring future pain and discomfort.
Iryuka's expression slowly relaxed, her features becoming more serene as Merlin completed the incantation. "It's done, Riser-sama," Merlin said calmly, still holding Iryuka in his arms.
"Good," Riser said, looking at Merlin with satisfaction.
Riser then turned to Tiamat and Erza, his eyes shining with determination. "Tiamat, Erza, enter the mansion. Except for the servants, I want everyone dead."
"Yes, Riser-sama," Erza responded with a determined nod, her sword still stained with Zephyrdor's blood.
Tiamat, for her part, just smiled, a predatory smile that indicated her readiness for what was to come. "They won't stand a chance," she said, her voice laden with the implacable confidence of an ancient dragon.
Without further delay, the two advanced toward the mansion. Erza assumed an attack position, her sword ready to cut down anyone who dared cross her path. Tiamat, on the other hand, began channeling her draconic energy, preparing to unleash devastation that few could withstand.
Meanwhile, Lord Glasya-Labolas, still on his knees and weakened, looked at Riser with burning hatred in his eyes.
"You think this ends here?" he growled, his voice laden with bitterness and despair. "You may kill me, but Rizevim will never leave you alone. He will hunt you and your family until the end of time. The Old Satan faction never forgives."
"Hahahaha!"
Riser laughed, the sound echoing through the empty hall. His laughter was cold and devoid of any trace of humor, just a reflection of absolute contempt for Lord Glasya-Labolas's words.
With a sarcastic smile still on his lips, Riser raised a hand and pointed to Ophis, who was standing silently beside him, her expression as expressionless as ever.
"Do you know who she is?" Riser asked, his voice low but laden with a veiled threat.
Lord Glasya-Labolas looked at Ophis, confusion clouding his eyes. Who was this mysterious figure, and why was Riser so confident? Uncertainty began to erode his determination, but he still didn't fully understand what was happening.
"Infinite Dragon God," Riser said, each word laden with a threatening quietude.
Lord Glasya-Labolas's eyes widened in pure terror. His skin lost all color, becoming pale as wax. 'The Infinite Dragon God?!' he thought, completely paralyzed by the revelation. The strength that kept him upright was drained by an overwhelming fear.
Riser, still maintaining the smile on his face, casually pulled out his cellphone and pointed the camera at Lord Glasya-Labolas.
"Let's make a memory," Riser said, in a casual tone, as he started recording. The camera captured the panic in Lord Glasya-Labolas's eyes, his expression distorted by the realization that his death was imminent.
With a simple motion of his free hand, Riser conjured a bright and pulsating fireball, which floated in front of his palm. The intensity of the flames reflected Riser's power and determination, and the heat emanating from it was unbearable.
"No... please..." Lord Glasya-Labolas began to beg, but his words were cut off by screams of agony as Riser launched the fireball directly at him.
FWOOOSH!
The flames engulfed Lord Glasya-Labolas instantly, consuming him in a wave of devastating heat.
"AAAAAHHHH!" his screams of pain echoed throughout the hall as he was reduced to ashes, his form distorted by the relentless flames.
Riser held the cellphone steady, recording until the end. He watched impassively as Lord Glasya-Labolas's figure disintegrated until nothing was left but a smoldering pile of ashes on the marble floor.
With a casual motion, Riser ended the recording and put the cellphone back in his pocket, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
The hall was once again silent, the air heavy with the smell of burning, as Riser prepared for the next step, indifferent to the chaos he had just caused.
....
Tiamat and Erza returned to the main hall of the Glasya-Labolas mansion, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble. The air was still filled with the smell of smoke and burnt flesh, a remnant of Lord Glasya-Labolas's recent execution. The two warriors had impassive expressions, as if the act of eliminating the remaining members of the family was just a routine task.
"All done, Riser-sama," said Erza, her voice calm and controlled as she wiped the blood from her sword with a cloth she found during the incursion.
The blade now shone again, reflecting the soft light of the torches that illuminated the hall.
Riser observed the two with an evaluative look, but there was clear satisfaction in his eyes. He nodded, acknowledging the good work they had both done.
"Congratulations on your speed, Erza. Tiamat, as always, you were impeccable," Riser said, his voice filled with approval. "You completed your tasks with precision. Now, we have a territory free of traitors to reclaim control."
Erza slightly bowed her head in gratitude, maintaining her disciplined posture. "It is always an honor to serve you, Riser-sama."
Riser looked around the hall, observing the ashes of Lord Glasya-Labolas and the now pacified state of the mansion.
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