Chapter 24 - This is not my ending

Karil, along with an army of wizards, attacked the capital to take revenge on the king of that land. The battle was almost equal, but the king's army had stronger and better-equipped forces, giving them a significant advantage.

The king had a dictatorial personality and saw his people as instruments of his power. Karil harbored a deep resentment and hatred for the people and the king. All of Karil's resentment and hatred gathered in his heart, transforming him into a very dangerous monster. Karil attacked the city with flames.

Kazaris: "Who is that next to Karil?!"

A demon grabbed Karil from behind, then took Karil's face with his hand and brought him down to the ground. Lyotan quickly went towards him and said curiously and surprised, "Who are you?"

The red-eyed demon, while holding Karil, said, "I am Athiris."

Lyotan: "Athiris..."

Athiris said sadly, "This was my mistake, I should have been more careful with Karil."

Kazaris came towards Athiris angrily and said, "Hey you, this boy is mine!"

Athiris: "I had warned you before, Kazaris, if you hurt my child, I won't show you any mercy."

Kazaris and Athiris were staring into each other's eyes. Lyotan came between them and said, "What do we do now?"

Kazaris crossed his arms and frowned at Athiris. Athiris glared at Kazaris with his terrifying eyes.

"They're here, get them!"

The townspeople had surrounded Kazaris and the others, looking at them angrily.

Lyotan said anxiously, "What do we do now?"

Kazaris looked at Lyotan nervously and said, "I'll hold them off, you all get away quickly."

Athiris, holding Karil, fled and got away. Lyotan was still hesitant and looked back.

A man: "They are escaping!"

The townspeople attacked Lyotan, suddenly Kazaris shielded him and said, "Why are you still standing?! Hurry, run!"

Lyotan said worriedly, "But what about you?!"

Kazaris shouted, "I'll be fine, just run!"

Lyotan quickly fled and got away.

Kazaris landed on the ground and said, "I surrender."

Kazaris thought, "Why am I even helping them?"

The townspeople bound Kazaris' hands with magical handcuffs and took him to the city's big prison.

Kazaris was in a cell, leaning against the wall, with his hand resting on his knee, thinking, "What magic should I use to escape this time? If I use reincarnation, I might not be as lucky as last time."

The guard looked at Kazaris with a mocking laugh and said, "You are really tough, but today is the day you finally get executed, and that too by burning in flames!"

Kazaris was looking at him with a frown when another guard came next to the first one and said, "Don't mock him so much, have you forgotten who Kazaris is?"

Kazaris sneered and thought, "They plan to throw me into the fire? They think they can destroy me with something that simple."

About an hour later, the execution ceremony for Kazaris began. Kazaris was tied to a post to be burned in the fire.

"This punishment is what you deserve, you should have been punished a long time ago!"

"This isn't enough, you should go to hell!"

People were speaking about Kazaris with hatred.

Kazaris thought, "Even Karil's people are here! After all the good things I did for them, this is how they repay me!"

The flames rose higher, and Kazaris was engulfed in the fire.

Mellory was watching from afar.

Mellory: "Master Kazaris..."

It appeared that Kazaris was killed in the fire, but before burning in the flames, Kazaris used teleportation magic to go somewhere far from the crowd.

Mellory was walking in the forest, leaning against a tree, and said sadly, "Master Kazaris, where did you go?"

Kazaris: "Are you looking for me?"

Mellory was surprised and said, "Kazaris..."

Kazaris came from behind the tree, stood next to Mellory, and smiled, "Don't worry about me, I won't die that easily."

Mellory said happily, "Well yeah, you're Kazaris."

Kazaris looked at the sky, and Mellory, curious, asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Kazaris: "I want to find the others, but I don't know where to go."

Mellory: "You don't know where they went?"

Kazaris frowned and said, "No, my sense of direction is terrible."

Mellory thought for a moment and said, "If I were a scary demon wizard, where would I go to avoid being found?"

Kazaris got annoyed and said, "Hey, don't talk about Karil like that!"

Mellory: "Got it! The Demon Forest!"

Kazaris sneered and said, "Of course, but as I said, my sense of direction is terrible."

Mellory smiled and said, "Leave it to me, I'll guide you."

Kazaris and Mellory went to the Demon Forest. They were walking together.

Mellory looked at Kazaris and asked curiously, "I'm surprised, if your sense of direction is so bad, how did you find your way in the past?"

Kazaris: "Well, it's very different on the ground compared to the sky. When I'm on the ground, it feels like I'm in a different world."

Mellory smiled and said, "I understand, you are really proud and narcissistic."

Kazaris stopped and said, "I think I can fly now."

Suddenly, Kazaris grabbed Mellory and flew up quickly.

Mellory, shocked and scared, said, "At least tell me beforehand!"

Kazaris had sharp eyes; from above, he could see everything clearly. With the help of mana, he could sense Karil and the others' presence.

Kazaris: "Hold on tight, I want to fly faster."

Mellory: "What?!"

While holding Mellory, Kazaris flew quickly to where Karil and the others were.

Athiris was sitting next to Karil, nursing him.

Lyotan looked at Karil and said sadly, "He's not doing well, is he? Can you help him get better?"

Athiris looked at Lyotan and said, "He just has a slight fever, he'll be fine in a few days."

Lyotan smiled and said, "Sorry to ask, but what exactly is your relationship with Karil?"

Athiris gave a sad smile, sighed, and said, "He resembles my son, whom I lost, so I decided to take care of him."

Lyotan said in surprise, "You're saying you've been by Karil's side all these years, and we didn't even notice?!"

Athiris nodded and said, "Yes, I can become invisible and completely hide my presence."

Kazaris: "So that's why I always felt someone was possessing Karil."

Athiris stood up and looked behind him, Kazaris and Mellory had arrived.

Athiris frowned and said, "Karil is like

 a son to me, why would I possess him?"

Kazaris, extremely angry, said, "I saw Karil's soul; it was bound by demonic chains."

Athiris was shocked and said, "What do you mean?! I even-"

Kazaris said angrily, "Don't tell me you don't know anything. If it's not you, then why are you the only one who could calm Karil down?!"

Lyotan: "Kazaris is right..."

Athiris calmed himself and said with a

 smile, "Kazaris, don't you think if I had possessed Karil, it would be more beneficial for me to incinerate the entire city in flames?"

Kazaris was a bit confused and said, "Well, you..."

Lyotan put his hand on Athiris' shoulder and smiled, "I believe you. The day Karil was possessed, you didn't kill Kazaris and me."

Athiris, extremely frustrated, said, "What do you mean?! I've never possessed Karil!"