A few minutes later, we finally managed to get in touch with Maria. Everyone gathered around the television in the living room as her familiar face appeared on the screen. Her expression was tense, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation. As the video call began, the room was filled with an intense atmosphere; no one dared to breathe as we awaited Maria's guidance. Her presence felt like an anchor, slightly easing the anxiety and fear that had been gripping our hearts. Maria's voice came through the screen, carrying a weight of seriousness: "Ethan, tell me everything. I need to know every detail."Ethan wasted no time in recounting the entire situation to Maria, detailing everything from Neil's sudden disappearance to our fruitless search within the castle. His voice was steady and calm, as if narrating a battle whose outcome had already been decided. Yet, we all knew deep down that the outcome of this battle was far from certain. As Maria listened to Ethan's account, her e
When Harry and Peter heard Neil's voice, they immediately asked with palpable urgency, “Neil, where are you? Are you okay? Did she hurt you?” Their voices were filled with anxiety and concern, as if just hearing Neil’s response would empower them to rush over and rescue him from Yolanda's clutches. However, Neil’s reply only deepened their heartache. His voice trembled with a hint of tears, and although he tried to sound brave, the strain and helplessness in his tone were unmistakable: “I… I’m okay… I’m fine.” But that faint, quivering voice, laden with unspoken pain, made each of us clench our fists in silent rage, a helpless fury burning within our hearts.Even Maria, who had been watching intently through the video call, couldn’t hold back any longer. Her voice, laced with both fury and a chilling threat, cut through the tension in the room: “Yolanda, you’d better not harm Neil in any way.” There was a deep loathing in her tone, a clear warning underscored by the knowledge of just
As soon as Harry finished speaking, a palpable force seemed to grip the room, leaving everyone in a state of stunned realization. The expressions on each face revealed a sudden clarity, as if the pieces of a complex puzzle had just fallen into place. Harry’s insight dispelled the doubts and confusion that had clouded our minds, connecting everything into a coherent narrative. Yolanda’s plan wasn’t merely about a battle of strength; it was a calculated assault on our psychological vulnerabilities. By targeting what we held most dear, she aimed to manipulate our decisions and actions. Neil, though unsuited for combat, had become Yolanda’s most lethal pawn precisely because of his fragility.My thoughts began to drift back to the moment when Yolanda and Neil first crossed paths. I remembered how Neil, in a desperate attempt to defend himself, had used a magic potion that ended up wounding Yolanda. At that moment, Yolanda had been closing in on Neil, her eyes gleaming with malice, as if s
Ethan immediately shook his head, dismissing the idea: "No, that's out of the question. The evil spirit is far too dangerous—we can't take the risk of activating the magic box first. The consequences would be catastrophic." His tone was firm, carrying a clear warning rooted in reason. It was evident that this plan was far too reckless to consider. Lisa added, “We have no solid evidence or precedent to guide us on the possibility of trapping the evil spirit in an animal or corpse either. If it fails, the consequences could be disastrous. And as for trying to lock it in Yolanda, she’d likely retaliate with dark magic before the spirit even takes hold, and could easily transfer it to someone else. Yolanda would never allow herself to be cornered like that.” Her analysis made the plan seem even more perilous and impractical, leaving us with little hope of its success.Peter's sigh hung heavy in the room, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "It seems like, in the end, we're left
Yolanda looked at me, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips. "You're quite the romantic, aren't you?" she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Emotions are meaningless. People like you, who are so consumed by them, are the weakest." Her words struck me like a cold, heavy stone pressing down on my chest, making my heart sink with the weight of her contempt.Harry couldn't hold back any longer. He lashed out, his voice thick with anger and disdain. "That's something only someone as heartless as you would say!" His words cut through the tense atmosphere, carrying the weight of a final judgment against Yolanda's twisted sense of humanity. His defiance was a stark contrast to her cold indifference, a reminder that no matter how powerful she was, there were still things she could never understand or possess.Yolanda's reaction was chilling. Instead of anger, she burst into laughter, a sound that echoed eerily through the empty room, tinged with madness. "Heartless?" she s
But Yolanda caught wind of it, her sneering laughter cutting through the air as if she had anticipated our reaction all along. "Did you really think I wouldn’t know the magician’s box was in your possession?" she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "It was the River family who reached out to us. They claimed they overheard your conversations in the villa, plotting against us. You know what they say—‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ They even invited us to your villa. The moment I stepped inside, I could sense the presence of the magician’s box." Her words flowed as if she were recounting the most ordinary of events, but each syllable struck us like a heavy blow to the heart.We exchanged uneasy glances, our hearts gripped by shock and fear. Ethan and Lisa locked eyes, a shared but unspoken understanding passing between them, heavy with complex emotions. Yolanda's revelation had caught us off guard, especially the speed and precision with which she had detected the magician’s bo
Yolanda's eyes flickered with a hint of disdain as she glanced up at Kim, her gaze filled with scorn. “Ha, a mere human overestimating himself,” she sneered, her voice dripping with cold mockery, as if Kim was nothing more than a pawn in her game, utterly harmless and insignificant. Her arrogance and condescension thickened the air in the room, tightening the tension to the point where it felt like an uncontrollable conflict could erupt at any moment.However, Kim remained unfazed by her words, merely offering a slight smile, a serene calmness radiating from him. “Not as powerless as you think,” he replied, his tone laced with subtle irony and a hint of triumph. “At least my headaches are gone.” His voice was devoid of unnecessary emotion, as if he were stating a trivial fact, yet his words struck like a heavy blow, landing squarely on Yolanda’s ego.Yolanda’s face turned ashen in an instant, her eyes filled with disbelief and shock. “Impossible!” she nearly screamed, her voice tinged
Maria took the magician’s magic box from her earring. It was not as what we had imagined—nothing like the large, imposing vampire’s magic box from last time. Instead, it was a delicate, small box radiating a strange and mysterious glow. We hadn't had the chance to closely examine the vampire’s magic box before; but now, with this magician’s magic box in Maria's hand, right before our eyes, its every detail unfolded clearly in our view.Its surface was inlaid with intricate runes that seemed to glow as if in motion, the light dancing gently, almost as if it were alive. The moment the magician’s magic box appeared, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier, as though weighed down by an invisible force, making even breathing feel like a struggle. I could feel my heartbeat quickening with every passing second, as if it, too, sensed the oppressive power emanating from the magic box. Yolanda's eyes were fixed intently on the magic box, her pupils slightly constricted. This was the object s
Three days later, on a bright and sunny day, the warm light bathed the earth, as if even the sun was adding a touch of radiance to our wedding. The venue was set up like a dream—white flowers adorned every corner, and the air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance, as though each petal had been carefully chosen just for us. The guests had all arrived, their faces lit with brilliant smiles, their eyes brimming with blessings and hope. In that moment, all the exhaustion and pain seemed to be forgotten, replaced by nothing but boundless joy and warmth.This day belonged to us three couples, the happiest day of our lives. Neil and I, Peter and Nick, Harry and Nelson—standing together, it felt as if fate had already woven an invisible thread, tying us all together. Each of our faces radiated joy, our eyes filled with love and devotion for one another. Just before the ceremony began, I stole a glance at Neil standing beside me. His eyes sparkled softly, filled with warmth and unwavering d
Ethan continued to describe that miraculous moment: "When Neil's blood entered your body, everything changed dramatically. At first, nothing seemed unusual, but soon, the operating room was filled with dazzling light. Countless beams of light intertwined in the air, and the entire hospital was suddenly powered down, as if a mysterious force had illuminated it. Everyone was startled, and you, it seemed, experienced some kind of extraordinary transformation in that instant." There was a calmness in Ethan’s eyes. "Then, the situation settled. Power was restored, the readings on the instruments returned to normal, and your arm miraculously reconnected, fully healed. The symptoms of blood loss vanished in an instant, as though nothing had ever happened."I murmured, "If this is true, then what the Black Wolf said in the virtual world must also be correct. It claimed the calamity has been averted, the curse is broken." The Black Wolf had told me that these changes signified that the crisis
Everything went black, and I was suddenly jolted back to reality. The chaotic scene of battle unfolded around me—Kim and Peter had been knocked to the ground by the vengeful spirits, and Maria was visibly struggling, her strength fading. I looked around in shock, my heart heavy with realization. All of this suffering, all of this fighting—it was because of the decision I had made. I had refused to let go of Neil, going to any lengths to bring him back to life. But in doing so, I had led us into an endless cycle of calamity, and even Neil had been forced to endure so much pain. Perhaps the root of all this, the key to ending it, lay within myself.Slowly, I rose to my feet, a sense of clarity settling over me as I began to understand the true meaning of goodness. It was selfless letting go—it was the willingness to forsake oneself for the sake of others.I took a deep breath, releasing all my obsessions, letting go of the desire to fight for selfish reasons or love. I would fight now,
Ken Yimo raised his hand high, summoning the fragile thread of magic he could barely muster, and hurled it toward the demon with all the strength he had left. Though his magical abilities were far from impressive, his gaze was resolute, unwavering in the face of death. The demon, however, merely smiled faintly, effortlessly neutralizing Ken's attack. The vast disparity in power sent Ken crashing to the ground, his body feeling as fragile as an ant under the weight of the demon’s overwhelming force.But just as Ken fell, something in Fred's heart shifted. He could no longer bear to watch this crumbling scene unfold. Tears welled in his eyes as he screamed in desperate anguish, his voice cracking with raw emotion, “Ken, no! Don’t sacrifice yourself for me! I’m not worth it!” His words were soaked in sorrow and despair, filled with regret—as if all his anger and jealousy had now melted away into nothing but remorse.Ken Yimo struggled painfully to rise from the ground, blood and bruises
Nick forced himself to put on a defiant expression and coldly said, "Who's afraid?" But I could see a flash of fragile fear in his eyes, and my heart ached even more. Nelson had just recovered, his face pale, his body swaying slightly. Upon hearing Harry's call, he struggled to lift his head, his eyes still filled with trust and dependence on Harry. He parted his lips weakly and whispered, "Harry..." His voice was so faint, it seemed like it could vanish into the air at any moment. Neil, the most sensitive of the three, looked at us with fear in his eyes. But he didn't cry out for help; instead, he anxiously glanced at Nelson, as if silently urging us to take care of the more fragile brother first.Facing the scene before me, a surge of anger filled my chest, and I coldly demanded to know what Fred wanted. Fred stood in the shadows, his gaze as cold as ice. He gave a faint smile, revealing a sickly, cruel satisfaction. "It's simple," he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable o
Meanwhile, the others had scattered, continuing their search for any trace of Neil, their faces grim with concern. The tension in the air was thick, and every passing second felt like we were hurtling toward something far darker than we had anticipated.As everyone scrambled in panic, Maria suddenly called out, "There's a trace of magic here!" Her voice was tinged with urgency and surprise, clearly indicating that she had discovered something unusual. We hurried over to find her standing at the entrance of Ken Yimo's bedroom, eyes closed in concentration, her hands moving gently through the air as though she were carefully unraveling an invisible barrier. Soon, the tips of her fingers began to glow faintly, as if she had torn through a thin veil. In that instant, the magical barrier dissolved, and everything behind the door came into view, causing me to gasp in shock.Inside the bedroom, Ken Yimo lay on the cold floor, his face ashen, as though he had endured some immense shock. Scatt
"It turns out that Ken's coldness stems from such a painful past," I murmured softly, a deep, indescribable sorrow washing over me. The suffering Ken had endured was far beyond our comprehension. No wonder he kept everyone at arm's length, as if wrapped in a hard shell to shield himself."What's even more tragic is that our 'old-fashioned' people, upon learning about Ken's sexual orientation, grew even more hostile toward him. They have no idea that his sexuality was, for the most part, twisted by that monstrous foster father of his," Maria sighed, her eyes filled with profound sympathy and understanding for Ken. She shook her head, adding, "They ostracized him, yet they have no clue what kind of pain he went through."I couldn't help but ask, "What happened after that? What did Ken go through?"Maria gently shook her head, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. "He left our place. By the time I found him, that beast of a foster father had gathered thirty or forty people, trying to for
Ken Yimo chuckled gently, the smile on his face tinged with a trace of self-mockery, as if he had already come to terms with his fate. "For me, Neil’s safety is the most important thing. As long as he can get away from here, away from all this conflict, I fear nothing."His words were firm and tender, that kind of selfless, fatherly love stirring something deep within me. I clenched my fists in silent resolve, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Ken. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to take Neil away. I won’t let him come to any harm. I swear, I will protect him with everything I have."A flicker of gratitude passed through Ken Yimo's eyes as he nodded slightly. "I know you will, Ryan. Your care for Neil, your dedication to him—it's something even I deeply admire. He’s a child who deserves love and protection... Please continue to show him kindness, and give him the warmth he truly needs."His words struck a chord deep within me. I had planned to turn and leave, to end this
Ken Yimo nodded slightly, his expression laced with a complex mixture of emotions. “Yes. Fred knows he’s nothing more than a replacement. But he... he’s different. Despite everything, he still desperately seeks my attention. He doesn’t mind being my servant, if it means he can be close to me.”"A child with ambition," I murmured to myself, trying to grasp the psychological dynamics at play in such a twisted situation.A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Ken Yimo's lips. "Do you think Fred acts out so recklessly, causing chaos everywhere, even disregarding the reputation of the Yimo family? What do you think he’s trying to achieve?"I furrowed my brows, pondering for a moment, before the realization dawned on me. "Could it be... that he's doing it just to get your attention? He’s deliberately being reckless, making sure everyone knows."Ken Yimo nodded, his tone unnervingly calm. "Exactly. He knows that by antagonizing people, the Yimo family will inevitably be ostracized. But what