68: The rising tension & new death pattern!

After meeting some important people, or less important but seldom-seen ones, we still have many characters we didn't encounter after the event…

Let's meet Shuri, who is currently… "It was just a moment, and you might've died, understood!" Shuri yells at Aziel, who's currently plastered and treated as if he were an Egyptian mummy, though this mummy can still muffle some sounds right now.

Meanwhile, Charles and Leonard are holding her back, while Aelius sits in a corner sipping his tomato juice, clearly unbothered by them. "I think he needs time to think straight, Shuri…" Leonard says. "Yeah, Leo's right. Please, Shuri, don't lose your composure!" Charles adds. At their comments, Shuri regains her composure.

"How weird are these people…" Aelius thinks to himself, his eyes narrowing in clear boredom.

"I've never gotten attached to any women, but this girl is different… I can't deny that she's a big pervert for hanging around only handsome guys, but she does care about them. I never thought she'd dare fight someone like Void, who defeated her own nightmare!"

"I'm afraid of three people right now. First is Void; he's far more dangerous, but can be avoided if not provoked. Then comes Opal. I used to fear her a lot. Before coming here, every time we were on the cruise, I just saw her getting humiliated and abused by Aziel; but that was just a misconception she created!" Aelius leaves the ward after finishing his juice.

"She played a game. All this time, she just fooled us… She tried telepathy, asking for help… like she knew we wouldn't help her. Due to our nature as demons, we don't help the fallen! But it was us who were falling while she was flying above us, entangling us in her strings… making us puppets in her game. Honestly, what is your game… Opal Earlborrow?" Aelius goes to his own cabin to handle his duties while Void rests due to some important work.

As he enters, we see Christina passing by his cabin… "And lastly, Christina Phoenix, from the family of Phoenixes, who were bestowed with the flames of the Phoenix. She fought 30 people from the top 50 alone. After that, she fought Shuri, Charles, me, and Gallus, and to be honest, we were no match for her. We had to withdraw. She was the only one among the top five to remain unscathed until the last siren rang."

It seems someone is concerned. Is his statement baseless, or does it hold some truth? It's just a matter of time before we find out…

Weeks passed, and I missed orientation day and the chance to meet Aoi, Cassey, Arcane, and Luna… Right now, I am going to Middletown's territory. At first, I was thinking of waiting until they invited me, but they didn't let Zoe enter and now Vivienne… How dare they say she's not allowed!!

Recently, the five new heirs who were first chosen to support me are now trying to fight me. I don't have any problem with them doing that, but… who gave them the right to disrespect Vivienne and Zoe? My conditions are way better than I ever imagined… I won't reveal who I am yet, but I'll surely show them their place… and make them face the consequences of messing with me!!

"Void, you've been quiet for a while…?" Vannessa asks, looking at Void. She knew he seemed to be very serious and deep in thought.

"Yeah, it's not like you, cupcake!" Meisheng says, caressing his cheek. "I guess he's just angry because we ate all of his sweets. As he didn't let us join him in bed either after that!" Astrid says, biting her handkerchief, tears streaming down her face.

"Sir Void, if that's the case, you might've asked me. There are many shops under our territory. Getting a refill of sweets wouldn't have been a big fuss. Aghh!! How did I overlook this!!" Alfrin says, grabbing her head. "I can't let Arcane get ahead… this is my chance to get close to Sir Void!" Those were the thoughts in her mind.

"He's angry over the revolt his own family has started… he's now just trying to keep his cool… you idiots!! How in the world did you become grandmasters with such brains…?" Zoe murmurs, who was present in the car.

The car stops in front of a huge entrance, the entrance to Middletown's territory. There were people waiting, but it doesn't seem like they were welcoming Void… as weapons were summoned. "Welcome! The proud son of Aunt Maria, we've all gathered here to welcome you," a tall, bulky girl says, folding her arms. "I'm Erena Middletown! Your cousin!" There was an evil smirk playing on her lips as she said that.

Void steps out of the car, his overcoat draped over his shoulders, his sleeves rolled up, and the upper buttons of his shirt undone. "Erena… nice to meet you. I'm Void Middletown, son of Maria Middletown!" Void says with a warm, bright smile.

After him, Astrid, Meisheng, Anette, Alfrin, Vannessa, and Zoe all step out of the car. Cicely was sleeping inside, kept away from the possible mess to come.

"It looks like you've come with all your fiancées here!" Erena says with a smirk, emphasizing the word 'all.'

"Hehe…" Void lets out a light chuckle. "No, the rest are coming at their own pace. But for now, meet Alfrin, Anette, Meisheng, Astrid, Vannessa, and lastly, the one you didn't let enter our territory, Zoe!" Void says. "The rest will join us soon, hehe." Void adds, making it clear that he still considers Aoi, Cassey, Arcane, and Luna his fiancées.

"Oh… I'm sorry, Void, but the Middletown family never chose you as the heir because of your strength. We chose you based on the people you've attracted, and if you want to become the head of the Middletown family, you have to forget the rest of the weaklings and that Zoe, as she's barely of any use… Replacing her with Christina Phoenix wouldn't be bad, you know! What do you think, Void…?" Erena says with a wicked grin spreading over her face.

At her comment, Void's face darkens. Everyone who was present to welcome Void was now whispering and murmuring among themselves.

"He really thinks of himself as equal to Miss Erena! What a slut, to think we would accept someone like him as our head… huh!" Those words were reaching the ears of Void's fiancées too.

"Anette… should I just remove my Gratter? I really am in the mood to do that…?" Meisheng says, veins forming around her face, her tone filled with rising anger.

"Wait a little, Mei… It's best if we leave this to Void…" Anette says. As she finishes, a firm smile forms on everyone's faces. All of Void's fiancées turn around to leave, getting back inside.

"Looks like your fiancées are also aware that you're not qualified to be the head of this fa…" Erena says, her eyes narrowing as she looks at Void with hatred, but before she could say much, she sees Void gritting his teeth. The moment he exhales, the whole territory shakes, the ground trembles, the air grows heavy, and those mocking Void are frightened. The walls and ground start to crack.

"The only reason I was silent and nice to you was because I didn't want to fight my own people!" Void says, with a smile on his face, his eyes glowing as he speaks.

"But it seems you've underestimated my caliber a little too much. If you think Void has lost half of his mana and now you can easily beat him, then you're wrong! I have the strength to bring you to your knees without even using my full power," Void says, with a wave of his hand, freezing everyone and encasing Erena in solid ice.

Void turns around to leave, but before departing, he stops and turns his head slightly back, his glowing, ice-crystal eyes gleaming. "To be honest, I never had any interest in becoming the head of the Middletown family…"

At this moment, someone who had been observing Void all this time gets a flashback. The same words Void is saying were once spoken by Maria Middletown.

"But now! I'm going to show you who… I… am!!" Maria says in the past to Void's grandmother, her mother, and the former head of the Middletown family.

"I, Void Middletown, will make you pay heavily for what you've done!!"