17. Engagement
Damon's lips curled into a sly smile as he rose from his bed, his movements deliberate and calculated. With a gentleness that belied the storm brewing within him, he cradled Velma in his arms, her limp form a stark contrast to the tension radiating from his body. The air in the room seemed to thicken as he stepped into the corridor, his boots echoing against the polished stone floor. Each stride he took was a declaration, a silent challenge to the world around him.
The onlookers froze, their whispers rising like a tide. "Isn't that Damon, the Void Lord's son? Why is he carrying that girl?" one muttered, their voice trembling with unease. Another, a member of a distant branch of the Void Clan, narrowed their eyes. "That's Velma, the daughter of the Heavenly Demon Blaire! What madness is this?" The corridor buzzed with tension, the weight of Damon's actions settling over them like a suffocating fog.
Emily, passing by, caught sight of Damon and the unconscious girl in his arms. Her heart skipped a beat. "What devilry is he plotting now?" she thought, her instincts screaming at her to stay far away. She quickened her pace, her footsteps barely audible as she disappeared around the corner, unwilling to be drawn into whatever chaos Damon was orchestrating.
Damon's path led him to the grand hall of the Void Lord, its towering doors etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with power. He paused, his knuckles rapping against the heavy wood with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. From within, the muffled voices of his father, Gerald, and the Heavenly Demon Blaire reached his ears. The tension in the room was palpable even through the barrier of the door.
"Father! I have arrived. May I come in?" Damon called, his voice calm and steady, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside the hall.
Gerald's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with dread. What had his son done now? The sound of Damon's voice at the door sent a chill down his spine. "You may enter, you venomous child," Gerald replied, his tone strained but controlled.
The doors creaked open, revealing Damon standing tall, Velma still cradled in his arms. Gerald's breath hitched, his mind reeling as he took in the scene. Before he could speak, Blaire's voice thundered through the hall, shaking the very foundations of the room. "Damon! Why is my daughter in your arms?!" The Heavenly Demon's rage was a living thing, his aura pressing down on everyone present like a mountain.
Damon's gaze flickered downward for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips as he met his father's eyes. Then, with a casualness that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard him, he spoke. "Oh, you see, she didn't want to leave me. She clung to me without realizing it. She's just a fly—why did she have to be so foolish? Hahaha! If I had known…" His voice trailed off, the implication hanging in the air like a blade poised to fall.
Blaire's aura exploded, a suffocating pressure that forced everyone to their knees. The air grew heavy, each breath a struggle. Yet, amidst the chaos, Damon remained standing, his posture unyielding. His eyes, glowing with the power of his Heavenly Wheel, locked onto Blaire's. "If I had known," Damon continued, his voice dripping with malice, "I would have killed her, devoured her flesh, and taken the Seven Poison Body for myself."
The room erupted in gasps and murmurs. Even Gerald was stunned, his mind struggling to process the revelation. Damon had just unveiled a secret so profound, so dangerous, that it sent shockwaves through the hall. Blaire's rage reached a fever pitch, his voice a roar that shook the walls. "How dare you, you puny rat! I, Heavenly Demon Blaire, Star Killer, demand you bow before me!" His hand shot out, the pressure intensifying, but Damon stood firm, his legs sinking into the ground under the weight of Blaire's power.
Gerald's heart ached with a mix of pride and fear. His son, standing tall before a peak Emperor Realm cultivator, showed no fear, no hesitation. Blaire, unable to contain his fury, lunged forward, his sword gleaming with deadly intent. But as he closed the distance, he saw something in Damon's eyes that gave him pause—a cold, unflinching resolve that sent a shiver down his spine.
"How dare you, Blaire!" Gerald's voice boomed, his own aura flaring to life. With a swift motion, he unleashed the Void Burst technique, a wave of energy that sent Blaire flying across the room. The Heavenly Demon landed gracefully, his eyes blazing with fury. "Gerald, what have you created? This child… he possesses no fear. Every step I take toward him only fuels my rage! I demand an explanation, and I demand it now!"
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Gerald stepped forward, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and pride. "He is my child! My pride! The one who shall bring the Void Dragon Clan back to the top! And you dare say you will kill him in my presence?!" With every word, Gerald advanced toward Blaire, his aura surging like a storm. The Heavenly Demon blinked, taken aback by the ferocity of his old friend. "Is this the same man I used to know?" Blaire thought, his confidence wavering.
Suddenly, a soft groan broke the tension. Velma's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she took in the chaotic scene. "What… what is going on here?" she murmured, her voice tinged with confusion. Her gaze swept across the room, landing on her father, Gerald, and finally Damon, whose arms she realized she had been cradled in. Her face turned a deep shade of red, like a ripe tomato, as she scrambled out of Damon's hold. Yet, despite her embarrassment, she didn't move far from his side. Something about his presence felt… safe. She couldn't explain it, but the fear she once felt around him had vanished.
"Velma!" Blaire's voice softened as he rushed to his daughter's side, his earlier rage replaced by paternal concern. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, his heart swelling with relief. After the death of his wife, Velma had become his entire world, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. "Are you hurt? What happened?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Velma hesitated, then whispered into her father's ear, "Father, I'm fine. It's just… I don't feel those pains anymore. It's like I have better control of the Seven Poison Body." Her words struck Blaire like a bolt of lightning. For years, he had searched tirelessly for a way to ease his daughter's suffering, yet here, in the Void Dragon Clan, her pain had been alleviated. His eyes flicked to Damon, the anger in his gaze melting into something far more complex—gratitude, curiosity, and a hint of begrudging respect.
But then, as if flipping a switch, Blaire's expression shifted dramatically. He pulled back from Velma, his face contorting into an exaggerated mask of outrage. "Oh, my precious Velma! Her innocence has been ruined! This vile child of yours, Gerald, has corrupted my daughter!" He gestured wildly at Damon, his voice rising to a theatrical pitch. "Your son must compensate for this! Do you hear me? Compensation!"
The room fell silent, everyone staring at Blaire in stunned disbelief. Even Velma, the supposed victim in this drama, was taken aback by her father's sudden performance. Her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "Father, what are you talking about? Nothing happened! I'm fine!"
But Blaire was undeterred. He placed a hand over his heart, his voice dripping with melodrama. "My poor, innocent daughter! Taken advantage of by this… this scoundrel!" He pointed accusingly at Damon, who simply raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the spectacle. "Gerald, mark my words, your son will pay for this! He will marry my daughter, or I will—!"
"Enough!" Gerald barked, cutting off Blaire's theatrics. "You're making a fool of yourself, Blaire. Your daughter is fine, and your overacting isn't helping anyone."
Blaire paused, then grinned sheepishly. "Ah, well, a father's heart is a fragile thing, you know. Can't blame me for being protective." He chuckled, the tension in the room dissipating as everyone realized he was only half-serious.
Velma buried her face in her hands, mortified. "Father, please stop embarrassing me…"
Damon, meanwhile, couldn't help but smirk. "Well, this took an unexpected turn," he muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Velma.