272. At Peace

Ryu's words echoed through the square stunning everyone. They watched as the army fell down like dead fish. Blood dyed the entire square making an eerie sight.

Just as Ryu's figure faded away a man wearing golden robes appeared. He had black hair and golden eyes. Seeing the Army laying cold beneath his feet a wild pressure spread out from him.

" No matter where you hide I will find you, Death will be but a boon once I do."

Without sparing another glance he vanished. The General had dull eyes seeing his Army dead, many of them were his comrades who fought alongside him for decades. Clenching his fist he stared with bloodshot eyes at his comrades.

" I swear I will kill you in the most gruesome way possible! I swear! "

Meanwhile.....

Ryu had just escaped into his pocket dimension. He put down Hisoka who was pale and sweating like crazy.

" You alright? "

" Fine....huff.. huff.. just a bit tired. That last one... huff.. huff..... nearly drained me."

Ryu nodded and looked ahead. In the grey world huge innumerable cuboid structures floated around. Two bloody figures laid in one of them, they struggled to even stand up.

Glancing past them Ryu found Mael still hugging his mother. Sighing Ryu walked towards him, patting his shoulder Ryu said.

" Be strong Mael. She never showed her weak side to you for she didn't want you to worry, even in death she did that. So honor her, be strong and one day, kill those who wronged her with your own hands.

That is the only way for you to atone for your sin for being weak. That is what you must do as her son."

Mael's body trembled. He spoke nothing and nodded. Ryu was relieved, he was worried the kid would fall into an endless abyss of rage.

" Master..... I want to bury her."

" Where? "

" My father.... I want to bury her with my father."

Mael gave a location slightly far from holy city. The place was close to a huge river flowed towards the little east. Ryu tracked the place and found a small rock formation near the banks.

' This should be the place.'

Ryu pulled Mael from his dimension. Seeing the familiar scene Mael felt his heart ache. He bore down the pain and walked near the rock formation. Placing the coffin near the formation Mael started to dig.

He didn't use any tools but his bare hands. The work was slow but Mael didn't stop. After an hour he dug out a hole several meters deep. Washing his hands Mael went to his mother's body and kneeled.

" Mother..... like you wished. You and Dad can forever be together."

Showing his undying love for his mother Mael picked the coffin and carefully placed it inside. He filled the grave bit by bit with his hands. Filling up the grave he found several rocks and made a similar rock formation as the other one.

Ryu didn't offer help nor did he disturb Mael. This was something he must do himself, to have inner peace.

Bowing before both the formation Mael vowed solemnly.

" Dad.. Mom... One day this world will know of my name. One day my enemies will understand what kind of destruction I can bring. One day I will erase all of them."

Taking a last look Mael walked back. Ryu patted his shoulder and walked towards the graves. Making several signs Ryu placed his hands on the ground.

The earth trembled for some time and settled down. Mael was confused but then sensed what happened. His eyes couldn't help but well up. Ryu finished what he was doing and got back.

" Now noone will disturb them."

Mael couldn't express his gratitude, he could only bow. That's all he could do for what Ryu just did.

Ryu had changed the terrain and made the rock formation as one with nature. Even if someone who has been here before wouldn't find anything out of place. In a way both his parents could finally move on.

Mael's fluctuating emotions suddenly calmed down. He looked serene at this moment. Ryu smiled and pulled him into his dimension and left.

Hisoka had slightly recovered from exhaustion. He was currently looking at these two men with a weird smile. The previously majestic Golden Immortals trembled seeing Hisoka smile.

Ryu and Mael appeared near him. Mael's eyes turned cold seeing these two men. Unlike before he didn't lash out instead he exuded a eerie sense of calmness that chilled their hearts.

" I will leave them to you."

Ryu took Hisoka and jumped out of the dimension. Watching a kid they could have easily killed before walking with calm steps towards them somehow horrified them.

" You people enjoy torturing others, don't you? "

The two men felt their scalps tingle. Mael closed the distance between them and started his work. Seconds later wails of despair rang through the grey world.

Outside.....

" Why did you take him as your student? He is gonna be a burden once a battle breaks out."

Ryu shook his head and said seriously.

" Hisoka, you only see people as prey to hunt. To that extent you can even patiently wait for years, that is your entertainment and thus you have limited yourself. Me taking him as a student, a large part can be accounted as showing pity and appreciation for his talent."

" Hmm? "

" There is another reason why I took him in. His life is a tragedy, seen as nothing but a beggar, mother burned alive, hunted by those fanatics..... the kind of desire inside him to take revenge is appalling."

At this point Ryu laughed.

" Haha, just think. If such a person whom they saw as nothing but as an insect suddenly rose up, towering before them.... what kind of expression do you think his enemies would have? "

It suddenly dawned on Hisoka. Showing a wide smile he said.

" Splendid."