Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Eren’s Philosophy

The announcer’s voice echoed one final time.

“BEGIN!”

BWOOOOOOONG!

The ugly horn rang across the arena.

And the moment it did, Beatrice’s summons started moving. Without her uttering a single word.

I could guess she was feeding telepathic curses to her summons like kill him, destroy him, make him suffer.

The spear user and ninja charged toward us in perfect coordination.

I responded through my own mental link.

’Marcus, take the lead. Don’t let them get close to Zenos.’

He listened. Drew his sword and advanced.

’Zenos, help Marcus. Or use him as bait to kill them. Your choice.’

The battlefield was set.

The spear user launched himself into the air. His weapon crackled with lightning—a bolt of death descending from above.

And just inches behind him was the ninja, ready to stab Marcus with his twin blades the moment he was distracted by the aerial threat.

A perfect play by Beatrice. Take down the weak summon first. Then outnumber the stronger one.

Smart.

But predictable.

I walked casually to my right. Clapping my hands slowly. My mind remained locked onto the battlefield, issuing commands through telepathy even as my mouth moved.

“Hello to you too, Sis. Nice weather for a family reunion, don’t you think? A bit dry, but—”

FWOOOOSH!

I commanded Zenos instantly.

A wall of fire erupted in front of the descending spear user. A blazing shield that could be bypassed but not without taking serious burns.

The spear user’s eyes widened. But he was committed. No turning back mid-air.

Meanwhile, behind Marcus, the ninja had already teleported. Disrespecting the massive barrier entirely. Appearing right where Marcus’s blind spot should have been.

Should have been.

I had anticipated this. Calculated the distance between the fire wall and Marcus beforehand. Mapped out exactly where the ninja would likely appear.

And that spot?

It was already burning.

SIZZLE! CRACKLE!

The ground beneath the ninja’s feet glowed with molten heat. Like stepping onto fresh lava.

“ARGH!”

His momentum shattered instantly. The sudden agony broke his focus. His blades came forward but weakly. Barely a threat.

And Marcus had already moved. Changed his trajectory. Shifted away from the spot where he would have been vulnerable from both sides.

A good move. Commanded by me.

WHOOOOSH!

The spear user descended foolishly. Ignoring the fire wall entirely. His clothes caught flame burning and cooling rapidly as wind rushed past him. He was ready to pierce Marcus with his lightning-charged spear.

But as he closed in, he found his teammate directly in his path.

SCREECH!

He barely managed to change the direction of his throw at the last moment. The spear veered off course crashing into the ground where the ninja stood.

CRACKLE! BZZZZZT!

A small lightning field erupted on impact. Electricity arced outward for several brutal seconds.

The ninja took the hit directly. A devastating blow. He couldn’t teleport away his mind was still processing the searing pain in his legs from the molten ground. And now this.

But still, he wasn’t eliminated. Tough bastard.

The spear user landed on his feet. Brushed at his smoldering clothes. Both of them turned to look at Marcus.

He had a smug face. Arms crossed. Completely unharmed.

Behind him, Zenos had already created a curved wall of fire. Covering most of his position from sight. Showing Beatrice that Marcus was protected. Tempting her to split her fighters into different engagements.

She didn’t take the bait.

Smart girl.

Then I noticed something.

The burning wall started to change. Dark black flames began devouring Zenos’s fire. Consuming it. Corrupting it.

The wall shifted color. From orange to red. From red to black.

CRACKLE! HISSSSS!

I looked at the source of the commotion.

The old hag. Vespara.

She stood in the back with her staff raised high. That horrifying smile stretched across her wrinkled face.

I turned my gaze forward.

Beatrice had closed the distance toward me while I was distracted.

I smiled. Kept my voice light. Teasing.

“You look victory hungry, cousin.”

“Don’t call me that!” Her voice dripped with venom. Pure hatred. “We share nothing!”

I tilted my head. Pressed further.

“We share blood. We share a household. We share a history together, remember? I heard tales about you playing the overprotective sister back in my childhood. Tales of you fighting for me in front of nobles at those stupid gatherings.”

“Stop it!” Her fists clenched. “I was foolish at that time. Foolish that I helped you. That I even cared about you. I never knew the one I had been feeding all those years would turn into a devil right in front of me.”

I placed a hand over my heart. Dramatic. Wounded.

“That’s rude of you, Sis. Because the only devil I see here is you. Which big sister does this to her brother? Which sister leaves her brother during his darkest times?”

My voice hardened.

“I don’t have a single memory of you standing beside me. All I have is you ignoring me through my darkest phase. You never looked at my pleading eyes begging you to save me. You never bothered to speak a single word for me.”

I stepped closer.

“I was sure whoever whispered those tales of you being protective was lying. Because all I remember is a sister blinded by power. Or perhaps manipulated by a certain someone to turn a blind eye on her weak brother. To separate herself from the poor, so-called devil by you who was destined to bring shame to the family.”

I spread my arms. “Power is a very nasty thing, dear—”

“Yes, you’re right!” She cut me off. I could see tears forming in her eyes.

“Power is a cruel thing. Cruel enough to turn a weakling like you into a devil. A devil who, after gaining power, destroyed the entire family that raised him!”

Her voice cracked.

“I still recall the sight every single day. What you made me watch. What you did to them. It still haunts me. And I keep thinking about what more cruelty you’ll bestow upon them.”

I laughed.

“HAHAHAHA!”

Maniacal. Unhinged.

“Family? Me? A devil?”

Then my laughter stopped. My smile vanished. Rage took over completely.

“First of all they were never family to begin with. And you know that too. Your mother, who was a snake in our household, had already hollowed it from within. And I’m sure you’re aware of that. You aren’t naïve enough to miss it.”

My voice dropped to something cold. Dangerous.

“My own aunt treated me like trash. Stopped all the funds meant for me and my mother. Funds that were our right by blood. And what did my mother do for revenge? She treated you like her own child. Never expecting anything in return. Never expecting you to save her from the cruelty she endured.”

I spread my arms wide.

“All of that. And yet I’m the devil. Very well. I accept the title.”

I stepped closer. Close enough to see the tears threatening to spill.

“But let me ask you this, dear sister. If protecting the woman who gave me life makes me a devil, then what does abandoning her make you? A saint?”

She had no answer.

“The world loves to paint villains on those who would destroy everything for their loved ones. And heroes on those who wait for the perfect opportunity to strike down those broken beings.”

I leaned in.

“But remember this. When the heavens judge us, they don’t ask who held the blade. They ask who sharpened it first.”

My eyes locked onto hers.

“Your family sharpened that blade for eighteen years. I simply returned it to its owners.”

I stepped back. Let the silence hang.

“You still think of me as a devil? Then yes you’re correct. I have a devil inside me. However, it’s been tamed. It’s been taught patience. But make no mistake it’s still there. Watching everything from the inside. Watching from its cage.”

My smile returned. Cold. Predatory.

“But be cautious, dear sister. It gets very excited when someone tries to take a peek at it.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep