The situation with Maria was far from promising; many of the magicians had already been knocked to the ground. The battlefield was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and burning, each shockwave reverberating through the air and the earth. Despite her exhaustion, Maria pressed on, sweat streaming down her face, her gaze resolutely fixed. Her magical light flickered repeatedly, but it was clear that both her stamina and magical energy were dwindling. Standing alone amidst the chaos of the battlefield, she bore the weight of everyone’s hope, fiercely resisting Yolanda's relentless attacks.At last, both sides had reached their limits; the magical energy was no longer easily expendable, and the battlefield fell into an eerie silence. Both sides seemed to have entered a stalemate. At that critical moment, bottles of glowing magical elixirs suddenly flew toward Yolanda! Each bottle traced an arc through the air, imbued with potent magical energy, and headed straight for Yolanda. It turned
Dad gave a slight nod, his gaze soft with a reassuring warmth, and said with firm resolve, “Understood, child. You all should rest for a moment.” His eyes were calm and steady, exuding a sense of control that seemed unshakable, no matter the circumstances.Mom stood by, her gaze gentle yet resolute. “Neil is like a son to me as well; we won’t harm him.” Her voice, both soft and firm, carried a soothing strength that eased some of the tension in my heart.Harry quickly instructed the vampires from Wayne family, “Don’t harm Neil—just restrain him, understood?”Wayne family's leader nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. “Don’t worry, we’ll be careful.” His sharp eyes glinted with determination and conviction.In the next moment, the werewolves and the vampires sprang into action. They swiftly surrounded Neil, working to subdue him with the utmost care to avoid causing harm. Although Neil was still under the control of the malevolent spirit and his strength was formidable, the coordinati
His words brought tears to all our eyes. The tears blurred my vision, and I could barely breathe. I heard my mother sobbing nearby, her voice filled with anguish, “My poor child…” My father held her tightly, trying to offer comfort.Maria slowly retrieved the Soul Lock Ring from her waist, a silver ring adorned with ancient runes. Seeing her movement, I immediately tried to intervene, but Harry grabbed me firmly. I turned to him, his eyes brimming with tears, yet he shook his head resolutely, signaling me to stay calm.Maria approached Neil, her voice gentle and sorrowful. “Kid, we must meet again in the next life. I hope that, then, I can be your mother.” Taking a deep breath, she began to activate the Soul Lock Ring. The ring emitted a blinding white light, swiftly encircling both Neil and the malevolent spirit. The spirit roared in fury, its cries sharp and piercing as it struggled against the binding force.In that chaotic moment, Neil seemed to regain a fleeting clarity. His gaze
Yolanda’s body finally crumpled to the ground, lifeless and devoid of vitality. Her death came swiftly, so fast that she barely had time to utter a final cry. The air was thick with a profound silence, as if even the wind had come to a standstill. Everyone fell into a heavy silence, gazing at her lifeless form, as though reflecting on the chaos and suffering she had wrought. Her death marked the end of a chapter, a grim resolution to the torment she had caused.The silence stretched on until Lisa finally spoke. Her voice cut through the stillness like a blade: “I want to resurrect Neil.” Her words were sharp and unyielding, slicing through the heavy quiet with an icy resolve. Her eyes were resolute, betraying no hint of doubt.The declaration hit like a thunderclap, jolting both me and Ethan out of our reverie. We turned to each other simultaneously, our faces mirroring the same shock and unease. Resurrection? Was she truly intending to take this perilous path? I could see Ethan's bro
As I was lost in these thoughts, Ethan entered the room, his eyes reflecting a hint of concern. Noticing my deep contemplation, he seemed intent on breaking the silence. I had intended to discuss Maria's warnings with him, but instead, he fell back into his familiar butler mode."Master Ryan, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with a note of worry. The formality of his address struck me as both foreign and awkward. Ethan’s tone carried an undercurrent of anxiety, yet it also betrayed his inner conflict and guilt.I looked at Ethan, unable to suppress my question. "Ethan, by calling me ‘Master Ryan,’ are you blaming me too?" My voice carried a hint of resignation and pain, as I sought to gauge his true feelings from his expression and words. Ethan’s silence and the slight droop of his eyes seemed to reflect his inner turmoil. He didn’t deny it, but neither did he offer a direct response.Ethan's voice was tinged with a hint of choked emotion as he said, “I became too absorbed
In the darkness of the cargo compartment, Ethan had meticulously prepared all the necessary items for the ritual. The air was thick with palpable anxiety, as if every passing moment was a relentless test of our resolve. I carefully poured the blood into the chalice, my hands trembling slightly—whether from nerves or exhaustion, I couldn’t tell. The blood shimmered with a mysterious glow under the dim light, casting an ominous prelude to the life-or-death decision that lay ahead.Ethan stood beside me, his voice low and solemn. “Master, this is the third time we are going to resurrect him. Are you sure we should continue?” His eyes were filled with worry and confusion, clearly troubled by the lingering concerns about the depletion of my werewolf powers. Although this issue weighed heavily on his mind, my own focus remained firmly on the imperative of Neil’s revival.I looked into Ethan's eyes, sensing his deep concern for me. Despite the heavy weight of anxiety and uncertainty that fil
"Do you think that if you continue living this way, burdened by guilt and sorrow, the next Neil would be happy? Would he be content?" Ethan's question made me pause and reflect. I realized that if I persisted in this state of endless self-reproach, my negative emotions could affect any future chance at renewal or happiness.I fell silent, unable to answer Ethan's question. The pain and tangled emotions in my heart intertwined, leaving me without a path to choose."I am someone just like you, who has spent time with three different Neils. I remember each of his innocent smiles, every sincere glance, and the kindness in his heart. I believe he wouldn’t want to be with someone who appears to treat him well on the surface but is filled with guilt inside. He deserves a partner who loves him wholeheartedly, one hundred percent, without any trace of negative emotions. Don’t you want to give the next, and the last, Neil the happiest and most joyful life?" Ethan's words were filled with deep e
Then Peter suddenly became serious, with a touch of playful mystery, and began sharing an interesting story from recent events. "You know," he said, "I recently had something quite amusing happen. A kid, probably around twenty, suddenly appeared in front of me, trying to assassinate me." His tone was light, as if he were recounting a joke.Harry was taken aback for a moment, then asked with curiosity, “And then? Did you just let him go? Is that even possible?”I shook my head with a smile and said, “Not a chance. Our Peter Black isn’t exactly a philanthropist.”Peter rolled his eyes and retorted, “I’m not a philanthropist, but I’m not the kind of person you’re imagining either, okay?” His expression was serious, though his tone carried a hint of resignation.I continued to play dumb, “What are we talking about?”Harry chimed in with a tease, “Yeah, someone must be feeling guilty and letting their imagination run wild.”Peter looked at us with exasperation, “You two can stop pretending
Harry stood in the shadows, a subtle smile playing on his lips, his eyes radiating calm confidence. “Of course,” he replied, raising an eyebrow with that trademark mix of humor and certainty, as though he had the situation effortlessly under control. Harry was always like this—composed, astute, unwavering—seemingly born with the spirit of a fighter who refused to bow to fate. I looked at him, filled with gratitude and relief. The bond between us had long surpassed life, death, and honor; no matter the crisis, he was always there.As he turned his gaze toward Ken Yimo, a ripple of relief ran through me. Yes, Ken Yimo had indeed gone to Harry rather than taking some darker course of action. Unable to contain myself, I asked, “Ken Yimo, I’ll admit, I’m glad you actually brought Harry. Now, what about Neil?” My voice betrayed a hint of urgency, a worry that was impossible to hide. Neil’s condition had been weighi
Ken Yimo simply gave a cold smile, completely dismissing my warnings. There was no trace of pity or warmth in his eyes as he turned and walked out of the cell. I stood there, helpless and furious, watching him leave, fully aware that I was trapped here and powerless to stop him. As the heavy door slowly closed behind him, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me, and despair and anguish surged in my chest. I was locked in this cold, isolated cell, surrounded by thick stone walls that shut out even the faintest trace of light, leaving me in total darkness. There was no way to reach out, no phone, no tool to call for help. My thoughts began to be consumed by the shadows, yet Neil's face lingered in my mind, refusing to fade. Would he, once again, fall prey to Ken Yimo’s control and cruelty, triggering another episode of sleepwalking? The thought twisted my heart with an unshakable sense of dread and fear. As night fell, darkness engulfed
I stared at him, unwilling to waste words. Instead, I asked directly, “Where’s Neil?” The question was like a weight pressing on my chest, and this man before me was the only one who could answer it.Ken Yimo’s expression was one of indifference, as he replied coolly, “Neil? He’s resting. He’s very simple-minded. As long as I tell him to stay put, he won’t wander off. So, unlike with you, I don’t have to keep him chained up.” His words dripped with a detached cruelty, as though Neil were nothing more than a toy he could control at will. My fists clenched involuntarily, and a simmering anger began to burn within me.I knew then—Ken Yimo must have done something to manipulate Neil or force him into submission. I wanted to press him further, but Ken spoke first, a sly smile twisting across his face. “Ah, but it seems that when kids grow up, they’re not so easy to keep
“I’ve had enough.” Finally, my patience wore thin. Soft tactics weren’t working, so it was time to be firm. I stood up, bundled Neil up tightly in his blanket, ignoring his struggles or pleas. Before long, Neil was sitting at the small table, his head poking out from the blanket while the rest of his body was wrapped up snugly—held there by my bear hug, replacing any other form of restraint.I should have done it this way from the start. It saved time, kept the food warm, and, most importantly, even though he was wrapped in a blanket, I could still hold him close, care for him, protect him—letting him sit on my lap and lean against me.“Wow.” Seeing his eager expression, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud. “I know you love these dishes, so I made them just for you. What do you want to eat?”"My favorite pasta.""My favorite pancakes."
I rambled on while watching the stars twinkle silently in the night sky. The breeze caressed the woods outside the tent, and the night was as gentle as a dream. Unconsciously, fatigue crept into my eyelids, and finally I fell into a deep sleep in the stillness of the night.I didn't know exactly how long I slept until a beam of morning light shone through the transparent tent roof and shone on my face, waking me up from my slumber. In a daze, I blinked, as if last night's worries and hesitations were still swirling in my mind. But the scene that came into my eyes next completely turned all my imaginations upside down.“Neil!!! what are you doing?!” I instantly came to my senses and sat up with a jolt. Right in front of me, Neil was kneeling beside me, head bowed, with a serious look on his face as he tried to help me with my natural morning reaction. He didn't look hesitant at all, as if it was a matter of course.
My heart sank, realizing that it wasn’t just innocent childish behavior—it was a desperate search for affection, a need to please, a struggle to win more care and love from Ken Yimo. In that moment, I suddenly understood that Harry's words might have been true—their relationship was far beyond a typical father-son bond.I struggled to steady the emotions stirring within me, and looked up at Neil’s innocent face. He probably didn’t recognize the true meaning behind those gestures—their intent was not simply familial love, but a deep, almost physical craving for attention, a kind of dependence on being favored. A quiet ache settled in my chest as I wished with all my heart that he would never be caught in that dark emotional whirlpool again.I smiled softly, gently steering the conversation back to where it had started. "So, to get back to the point, I am your one and only, aren't I?" On this quiet night, I
"Yes, every day." Neil nodded firmly, his tone pure, almost childlike."Then, is this kind of missing me something unique?" I pressed on, as though I were hoping to hear a one-of-a-kind answer from him."Unique?" He blinked, looking as though he didn’t quite understand the meaning of the word.I patiently explained, "What I mean is... is this something that only I experience? Like, the way you miss your dad—does it feel the same as the way I miss mine?"Neil shook his head slightly, his voice soft as he replied, "It's different. I miss Ryan more."A flicker of delight stirred within me, but I kept my expression neutral and asked, "What about compared to your elder brother and your little brother? Is it different with them too?"Neil thought for a moment before nodding with certainty. "Yeah, I miss Ryan the most.""So, only I,
As I processed Harry's bombshell, I turned to Ethan and asked, "Have you checked if Fred Yimo is really Ken Yimo's biological son?"Ethan's expression turned serious as he pulled out his phone. "I'll have someone look into it now."Peter furrowed his brow, clearly skeptical. "You suspect Fred Yimo might be adopted too?""I actually hope so," I replied firmly. "It's a lot less messy than the unethical theory.""Ken Yimo really isn't simple," Harry remarked on the phone, sounding almost impressed. "When I was around, Fred was a bit more relaxed. But the moment I left, he turned into a mouse—didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, but a little bit “sticky” though."I let out a cold laugh. "Doesn't that completely clash with the surveillance cameras he set up at home?"Peter nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. Which of these sides is the r
As Peter and I sat off to the side, watching them laugh and chat, a tangle of emotions stirred within us. The scene was heartwarming, yet there was an undeniable sense of loss. Here we were, two grown men, holding our glasses, sitting on the fringes of this cozy gathering, as if the world had forgotten about us.Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Why does it feel like I'm drifting further away from my own precious one?" His gaze lingered on Nick and Neil, a hint of sadness in his eyes.I took a sip of my drink, my voice low. "It feels like everyone else is getting closer to Neil than I am." The words left a sting in my chest, as though something inside me had been pierced.Ethan, overhearing our conversation, smiled softly and leaned in to offer a quiet word of reassurance. "Don’t rush," he said gently. "You’ll grow closer in time." He set down his soup spoon, his demeanor calm and wise. "When the bond is strong, n