Freedom

[WARNING NOTICE: This chapter contains acts of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.] 

"You…" Penelope clenched her teeth and stared at Pharis. Because of her attack, half of her face is burned. Thinking it could've burned her entire head if she had seen it later makes her rouse to anger but she immediately changed her expression into a grin. 

Pharis smiled but no emotion can be seen in her eyes. She felt nothing but a whim to kill the woman in front of her because she doesn't see her as a mother anymore but as a monster that must be exterminated. Penelope became solemn because she is aware of that. 

What she does not know is the extent of Pharis's ability, which is why she must stay on guard. Penelope worries about her self-experiment because it is yet to be completed, in short, it's still not perfect. Her ability still has so many flaws that she needs to get rid of, especially the pain that she's feeling right now after using her power. 

Penelope grin and calm down to hide the pain she's bearing. She can't carelessly use her power but it is now her chance to see what her daughter can do. It is also her chance to see the extent of her own power. 

And if Pharis exceeds her expectations, she might as well keep her, besides her men are outside. They can assist her once the battle became tough. 

Once again, she retracted her claws and this time, it is longer and sharper. 

"Now let's see what you can do," she grinned and get ready to plunge her claws as she charges towards Pharis who's just staring at her. 

It doesn't seem that she's going to dodge the attack which bothered Penelope making her attack feeble and giving Pharis a significant advantage. Effortlessly, Pharis grabbed her mother's hand to suppress her from moving and immediately form a ball of fire in her right palm and struck her stomach. 

Penelope's eyes dilated in surprise as blood escaped her mouth and then immediately back away to avoid getting another hit. She looked at Pharis but the girl is just looking at her blankly making her grin. 

The kid has lost consciousness and is only fighting because of her will. 

"Interesting," Penelope said as blood streamed from her burnt stomach. She grinned while hiding the excruciating pain that she's feeling. Pharis's attack caused critical damage to her body and she fears that if she got hit again, it will be her dead end. If only her experiment succeeded, she would've been undefeatable. But right now, the poison that she uses to kill is also the poison that is eating her body every time she uses it. 

"But very frail!" she said and attacked Pharis, this time, she's going to use her full power. The monstrous form reached her shoulders as her power began to get stronger. 

"Show me your power!" she yelled, striking Pharis, but the girl deflected it and struck back. Penelope was expecting it, so she dodged it right away with a smile plastered on her face. 

"I see, that is the only thing you can do," she said and thought that she wouldn't need Pharis anymore if she can't overpower her. 

While the two are fighting, Kiel who's weakened tells the kids to leave. It will be dangerous if they stay in the combat area but the children don't want to leave him. 

What Penelope didn't know is that he can heal but Kiel knew that it wouldn't be able to save him from the poison. It will only just give him enough strength to get the kids out of here. 

His wounds heal but the pain is still there. It doesn't matter to him now because his goal is to save the kids. He doesn't care about dying. 

"Let's go," he said to them. 

"But, what about sister?" the young girl said and looked at Pharis who's still fighting with her mom. 

Kiel gritted her teach and said, "She doesn't matter! You must get out of here now!" 

The kids couldn't do anything but follow what Kiel said but before they leave, Kiel looked at Pharis and said, "Tsk. Let's go." 

She's the least that matters to him, besides, she can protect herself, he thought. 

Kiel is expecting Penelope's men outside so he hold the gun tightly and shoot the door from the inside continuously. He signed the kids not to go out until he say so. After he checked that all the men are dead, he signed them to come with him then the children followed despite worrying about Pharis. They knew they can't do anything to save her and would just probably be a hindrance. They can only hope that she will win against her mother. 

"Move faster!" Kiel commanded as he tries to bear the pain of his injury. He knows he won't be able to make it. When they already got out of the basement, they saw the employees staring at the shocked so he retracted his claws to scare them. 

"Don't come closer or I'll kill you!" he yelled. 

The people including the doctors backed away in fear. They all knew that Kiel has and the kids have extraordinary ability and they can't win against them. Besides, all Penelope's men are killed. 

Kiel found out that the whole building was locked down so he had no choice but to force it open regardless of his wound opening up. After that, he looked at the kids and said, "Runaway as fast as you can and don't trust anyone." 

The boy looked at him and asked, "You are not coming with us?" 

Kiel couldn't answer him and heaved a deep sigh. He's just trying to hide the pain but it still there. Soon enough, he will die so he doesn't need to come with them. He thought that he will just give the kids a hard time. 

He looked outside of the building and smile. He could finally see the trees and the sky after so many years. Kiel couldn't count how many times he dreamt of this day and finally, it came true. 

He thought that it wouldn't happen but it did. What makes him happier is that he was able to save the kids from the Deviant. They don't have to feel that kind of suffering anymore. 

How he wishes he could live normally again with this kid but it won't happen anymore. 

Kiel smiled at the kids and tapped their heads. He looked inside the building and said, "Someone still needs my help." 

***