Family P & C 19

At the same time on the ground floor, heaps of corpses fell on the floor torn by vicious hands. In the midst of the slaughter, two figures jumped around. One evading ghosts, the other was evading the walking corpses. One carrying nothing but a knife while the other absorbed the ghosts and turned them into raw power.

Noel's physical power and speed weren't bad but in face of Kil who buffed himself up, he was on the losing side. He had no other choice but to drag this fight out.

Since a while, he had been noticing the oddity of 'undead' walking around, killing the members and soldiers of the C family yet he had no time to think about it, except for that one face that popped up in his mind: Lia.

He long suspected that she hid some strong powers, however, he had never anticipated it'd turn out to be something as insane as this. This power was close, close to its level but it still lacked.

Momentarily, it was weak but if it was really what he thought it to be then if Lia managed to get stronger, this power will be tremendous. It would stand on top of everything. A power that heaven would fear.

The concerning factor was that Kil was also aware of it. Noel could never let Kil tell the Ghost King about this power. Kil couldn't leave here alive.

Kil's force was frightening. Each time his fist made impact with anything, even the air, a wave of gust would briefly push Noel back. He stood his ground but the fact the aftereffect of Kil's punch was forceful enough to make him wobble, showed how severe the situation for Noel was.

Noel needed to stop Kil and his priority now was neither the facility nor the C family, it was Lia. If she was who he assumed she could be, then in this world there was no one more important than Lia. The fates of the worlds were resting on her shoulders, even if she wasn't aware of it now.

If Lia managed to grow stronger, then Noel… he could finally attain power.

His knife made contact with Kil's fist and managed to slice a bit of his flesh off. Upon the realisation, Kil shouted in anger.

Just at that moment, another ghost passed by. Kil grabbed it by its neck and absorbed it. His body eerily glowing green again.

Noel didn't waste any time and jumped away, skillfully evading the ghosts.

"Come back!" Kil roared and rushed after him.

Noel needed an opportunity to bring Kil down but it wasn't easy. Even if Noel managed to hurt him, in this nest full of ghosts, Kil had the chance to constantly replenish himself. Absorbing ghosts didn't only give him powers, but also the benefit of constantly healing any wounds afflicted by the weapon that could even kill immortals and ghosts. How in the world was that fair?

***

Lia took a deep breath and calmed herself. Elder P and C, who were still held down by her corpses mockingly smiled at her. On the other hand, Nessa was still captured by the lackeys. Lia could see that if she made any wrong move, they would instantly end Nessa's life.

In a situation like this where hse had to choose between her own desires and the life of another, what would someone else choose in her stead? What would Noel do?

"Ok," Lia said after analysing her chances, "let her go first."

"Don't listen to her!" Elder C shouted at his lackeys. It didn't seem like he thought of them as smart but they surprised him,

"Yes, we know."

Then one of them turned to Lia, "We'll only release her if the elders are let go first."

In an instant, Lia's face turned cold. At the moment, she was at a disadvantage. Everything has been going well until now. She has lost control over the situation and needed to gain it back.

She made one wrong decision after another, would this be another? Lia gave Nessa a glance and told the lackeys, "We let go at the same time. On the count of three."

Silence overtook them before the lackeys nodded, "Alright."

Tension filled the air and was broken by Elder P's angry shout, "Hurry up!"

Now everything was put on the line. The lackey started counting down,

"1." The elders wriggled their hurt and bruised bodies.

"2." Nessa trembled as the knife slightly left her skin.

"3." At the same time, Lia's cold voice ordered, "Let go."

Just like she proposed, on the count of three, all three hostages were released. Then things went out of control.

Everything happened so fast, it was almost impossible to capture.

The exchange was dealt and Lia fell to the ground, huffing and panting as she roared with gritted teeth, "Kill them!"

The corpses moved at her command and ran at the two lackeys. Starting from the head to every limb below it, none of it remained intact.

Several alternative options cursed through Lia's mind but the only thing she could concentrate on was Nessa lying in her arms, gasping for air.

The only thing Lia desperately did was to press her hand over the gaping wound on Nessa's throat. The warm blood drowned Lia's hands and in a frantic, Lia whispered over and over again, "No, no, no!"

Followed by rueful sobs, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Nessa looked at her with glassy eyes, she couldn't speak, barely hear and move but she knew what went through the crying person's head who tenderly held her.

Nessa raised her arm and tried to smile but before her reassuring fingers touched Lia's stained face, it fell dull on the ground and her eyes turned blank, losing the bright glint it once held.