Author's note: Discord server for anyone who wants to join!
https://discord.gg/9S9vXcg

Also, I would like to thank, once again, for all the get well wishes on chapter 96. Even on my discord! You are all so sweet, I really appreciate it ❤.

Xue raised his eyebrows at Mir, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes as he tightened the hold on his spear as it started glowing. “Doesn’t matter if he did, I will catch him anyway.” 

“No, Supreme God, you don’t understand, he is completely different now--” 

Xue thrust his spear at Mir, and Mir barely dodged it. 

Hana gasped in surprise, widening her eyes at Xue. 

“I know myself better than anyone,” Xue stated coldly. “Don’t pretend to start caring for me now.” 

Mir blanched, knowing his current condition better than anyone. 

He was seriously injured, and even the Xue right now, with his soul partially completed, could defeat him. Moreover, the same ash blonde-haired man had a complete change in character, no longer was he the man Mir once knew.

A long time ago, or more precisely, more than two hundred years ago, he was an arrogant and bright angel, the next Supreme God-in line. He was confident, and very charismatic.

This angel possessed a heart of gold, and he was deferential to everyone, despite possessing the highest position throughout the three realms. 

He had a toothy grin, and the same grin made you want to smile back at him. 

No matter who or what you were, he would always offer a helping hand and even a listening ear. 

No matter what problems arose, he would eventually fix it by relying on his own skills and wit. 

Everyone believed he would be the best ruler under the three realms, and he would bring about an age of peace for centuries, until the next judgement came from the heavens for a heir to take over.

Alas, this same angel experienced betrayal after betrayal, tragedy after tragedy, before he could even ascend his rightful throne.

He couldn’t handle such changes in such a short period of time, he wasn’t equipped to.

It all added up.

It broke him. 

No longer could he trust people wholeheartedly, no longer could he see the good in anyone, no longer does he possess a heart of gold...when it was the same people who he all helped and promised to bring peace to, stabbing him in the back. 

Everyday to him after that was just to survive.

To keep running.

Then, it all came to an end when he was caught in a trap by the blue-haired devil.

Now, this same angel will now kill him without any hesitation. 

Mir doesn’t doubt that, and he knows he doesn’t have any right to lecture Xue. 

“Mir, he will not come back to us, ever again.” 

“This fight is our own, and a fight we are bound to lose.” 

“Dying together with our families and friends, that is all we are left with.” 

“We did this to ourselves, even though we did not, Mir.”

Mir defended himself against Xue’s attacks, feeling something nasty building up in his throat. He turned aside, coughing up a huge amount of blood. 

Hana covered her mouth with her hands, glancing between the two men. 

“As if letting Hana suffer once wasn’t enough, you are planning to let her suffer again? You almost killed Cecil as well!” 

“...I wasn’t planning to--” 

“Shut up! It’s fine if it is me getting hurt, I do not care! But not Hana, not Cecil!” 

Mir winced in pain, whether it was from his own injuries or the pain for this man before him, he didn’t know.

“Supreme--”

“Stop dragging the people I treasure into these matters! I won’t let anything happen to them, not anymore!” 

“I...I understand, I do…” 

“Do you?!” 

“I...no…” 

“I promised to kill you, Mir, and I will--” 

Mir dodged another attack from Xue, aiming his sword to the sky. A beam of light shone down, cutting through the fog, blinding Xue and Hana as they were forced to close their eyes. 

“Come find me in the heavenly realm, and kill me, Supreme God.” 

I hope that is a good enough reason for you to return, just this once. 

The beam of light grew wider and brighter, covering Mir entirely and the angel disappeared from the spot a moment later. This process of transportation caused another shockwave, blowing Xue and Hana away.

Xue cursed to himself, reaching out to Hana who shrieked. 

Their figures were flung out of sight.

***

Cecil jolted awake, glancing around wildly. She sensed something was amiss, somehow, but she didn’t know what it was. 

All of a sudden, she sneezed. 

She glanced down, realising that she was still in her wet, dirty clothes. The fire in front of her was also smaller than before. 

Cecil twirled the ring in her hands. 

[ Please form an image in your mind of the item you wish to withdraw.
Please extend your hands out to receive the item properly. ] 

Cecil did as the system instructed, and she felt the soft, silky material of her clothes in her hands. 

It was the same outfit she used to wear when she always met Kai at the usual training grounds, near her mansion. 

She slowly stood up to her feet, glancing around at the trees and she stretched her arms out. A moment later, vines started to sprout from the branches of the trees, flowing down until it touched the grass. She had created a temporary barrier, since she felt uncomfortable change out in the open where anyone could just peek in on her.

Cecil started to remove her clothes, changing quietly. 

“It seems like Xue still hasn’t come back yet…” she muttered softly to herself. “How long was I out for?” 

***

Isleif clutched at his open wounds, grimacing as blood slid down his arms and legs. He was dragging himself everywhere to find a proper shelter, if there was even a shelter in this forsaken place. 

A strange sight eventually came into his view, where vines cascaded down from the branches of the trees, forming a circle. 

It was like a shelter. 

Perfect.

Not knowing whether anyone was in there, Isleif stopped dragging his feet and sneaked his way to the vines, parting them gently as he peeked his head in. 

“...”

To his surprise, someone was actually hidden inside the vines, and they were changing their clothes. Isleif was even more surprised to know that he recognised the person in an instant. 

Cecil Lan. 

Her hair was swept to one side as she was adjusting the outer layer of her clothes, showing off her bare shoulders. Isleif admired her unblemished, ivory skin and how beautiful she looked while changing her clothes.

Even though it was something so normal, she still looked effortlessly beautiful in his eyes. 

“Who’s there?!” 

“Ugh!” 

Isleif was struck by a rock on his chest, and he was dragged to the ground by the vines. 

Cecil covered herself up hastily, but one of her shoulders were still exposed as she leaned down, observing the intruder that she caught. She had felt the presence of someone touching and moving the vines she conjured, making her panic. 

“...Isleif? You came down here as well?” 

Isleif winced, glancing up at Cecil. 

Cecil noticed the numerous wounds on his body, and also how his appearance has changed greatly from their previous meeting. She jumped back in shock as Isleif rose up to his feet, dusting his clothes, especially after seeing the black feathery wing on his back with its sharp edges.

“Are you...Isleif?” 

She inspected him from head to toe, furrowing her eyebrows. “What happened to you?” 

Isleif didn’t say a word, his hand reaching out as he swiftly aimed for Cecil’s neck. The same empty look was back in his eyes.

“What are you--ugh!”

Cecil soon found herself nailed to the tree, his calloused hand wrapped around her neck. She widened her eyes in horror, her airway gradually getting cut off as she gasped. 

“What do you think happened to me?” Isleif raised his eyebrows at her, smirking in a chilling manner. 

Cecil narrowed her eyes, one of her hands going down to her dagger while the other controlled the rock. She freed herself from his grasp in seconds by hitting the most serious wounds she saw on his body.

Isleif prepared to retaliate, until he saw the red imprint on her neck that matched the size of his hand. 

He tilted his head, fascinated by the sight. 

Cecil noted his distracted state, removing the outer layer of her clothes as she threw it in his face, throwing her rock at him. At the same time, she hurriedly snatched the cloak that Xue covered her with, shielding her bare shoulders from his sight. 

Isleif burned the clothes away with a swipe of his hand, and he flung the rock away with his palm coated in dark magic. 

Cecil moved in within that split second, aiming her dagger at his face and Isleif widened his eyes. The fight with Mir took a huge toll on him, and his senses were weakened despite him not showing it on his face. 

Cecil then halted abruptly, ducking down and landing a punch on his abdomen, before sweeping him off his feet with her leg. 

Isleif landed on the ground harshly, groaning audibly. 

She took the opportunity to run away, knowing she stood no chance against Isleif, and whatever form he was in now. There was something unsettling about his current condition, and she didn’t want to stay there to find out. 

“Cecil Lan.” Isleif called out to her name, his voice soft and pained. 

She stiffened, spinning back around.

Xue? 

It was Isleif on the ground.

Cecil shook herself awake, turning back around. She could have sworn it was like Xue calling out to her.

“Stop calling me.”

“Help me, Cecil.” 

Cecil turned back again, and this time, the image of Xue laying down on the ground in his own blood with his battered body drifted past her mind. Even though she knew the person on the ground was Isleif, everything about him seemed to look like Xue. 

“Why...why should I?” 

He was Xue afterall, even if he wasn’t. 

“I will die at this rate.” 

The thought of Xue bleeding out to death in front of her frightened her so badly, Cecil found herself kneeling down beside Isleif involuntarily, her heart racing with anxiety. 

“No, no, what am I doing?” Cecil shook her head, frowning deeply. “You aren’t the Xue I know, you aren’t him.” 

But he is Xue. 

His voice, his soul, his mannerisms. 

He is Xue. 

Cecil inhaled shakily, standing up and swaying unsteadily as she moved back.

Isleif grasped at the edge of her outfit, and Cecil looked down with wide eyes. Though his eyes seemed empty, there was a pleading look in his eyes.

“Cecil.”

Cecil froze, her heart dropped.

No--no matter how I look at it, he is Xue!

I can’t leave him to die, not like this! 

Her resolve shattered and Cecil sat down beside the weakened Isleif, twirling the ring in her hands as she started to bring out the items to aid Isleif. 

Isleif remained silent, observing the pretty, raven-haired woman who finally decided to help him recover. The fire crackled softly in the background, and Isleif turned to look at it, summoning out his flames with his left hand, making the fire grow bigger again.

***

“We need to relocate him.”  Zeau stated, returning back from his angry walking session.

“With them here, there’s no chance, they will definitely see us.” 

“What do you want to do then, brother?” Zeau sighed, exasperated. “They will eventually find him if they remain here.” 

Veau stood in front of K’xug, frowning, he was no longer wearing his iconic lazy smile.

K’xug disregarded the two men, focused on his own thoughts. 

“Let them find him.” 

Zeau’s expression became distorted, the rage written all over his face and he extended his hand out, a flute materializing in front of him as it landed on his hand. The flute was like the average wooden flute, if not for the ominous black mist drifting out from its holes. 

He waved his other hand in the air and suddenly, there were dozens of black needles sticking out from the spaces between his fingers. He stood behind Veau, aiming the needles at his neck. 

Veau didn’t move, but his eyes glanced towards the side, sensing the ferocious presence behind him. 

“I will kill you if you interfere with the plans, even if you are my brother. We have already come so far, I will not allow any further complications.” 

“You are free to try and kill me, Zeau.” Veau said, unfazed by his brother’s threatening tone.

Zeau put away his needles, the anger still swirling in his demonic eyes. “You have a plan, don’t you?” 

“Seal his will to speak,” Veau shrugged. “And his literacy memories.” 

“Your speciality.” 

“It certainly is.” 

“...you want me to cause a distraction.”

Zeau would have asked Veau to simply wipe out K'xug memories instead. Alas, K'xug wasn't just a simple angel, he was a hybrid, and a powerful one at that, despite his weakened state now.

“Very good, you finally calmed yourself down to figure it out.” Veau smiled lazily, clapping slowly.

“You are always a sarcastic asshole.” 

“Don’t worry, Zeau, your plans will come to fruition. I promised to help, didn’t I?” 

“My plans? It’s not only mine, it’s yours as well.

“Mine, yours, ours...what difference does it make?”

“...sometimes, I wonder if you even cared about mother and father.” 

“If I didn’t, what do you think I am doing right now?”

“You are just making up excuses,” Zeau snorted, putting his flute away as he narrowed his eyes. “Ah, that’s right, the only reason you are helping me is because of Eona--” 

Veau’s wings burst out and his entire demeanour changed, his large claws made of dark magic loomed in on Zeau. 

“If you continue speaking any longer,” Veau hissed out, his black and red eyes wide in anger. “I will not spare you any mercy either, brother.” 

“Hmph.” 

Zeau flipped his clothes, his body becoming a black mist as he exited the hidden cave. 

The cave was consumed by a deathly silence, and Veau stood in the spot, not speaking, his expression fathomless. 

On the other hand, K’xug wore an aloof expression on him the entire time, even though he was one of the main subjects of the conversation. 

“Demon lord.” 

“...”

“Weird devil.”

“...”

“Veau.” 

Veau blinked, lifting his head up and looking at K’xug, his solemn expression disappearing as he broke into a lazy smile. 

“Are you going to start your tirade of abuse again?” 

“...no.”

He stretched his hand towards K’xug, and a magic seal hovered in the air, the glowing symbols were black in colour.

“If only you were mortal,” Veau sighed. “It wouldn’t be this exhausting and troublesome.” 

“Like your half-brother said, just kill me then.”

“That would ruin the fun.” 

K’xug was speechless.

“...I want to ask a question.” 

“Go ahead.” 

“How is...he?” 

“Xue? He is great!” 

“How much has he...changed...?” 

Veau paused, pensive as he hummed, still wearing his lazy smile. “You’ll see it eventually.” 

K’xug remained quiet after that, his face impassive. 

Veau sealed away his speech ability, summoning out his claw and grabbing K’xug’s head with his claws, beginning the process to wipe out his literacy memories. 

***

“It is a miracle you still managed to walk all the way here, without fainting,” Cecil muttered, concentrating on bandaging and cleaning Isleif’s wounds. “You lost quite a lot of blood.”

Cecil had removed his shirt completely, to ensure it wouldn’t get in her way of dressing his wounds. She realised he had other scars on his bodies as well, as well as injuries that were still recovering. 

They were probably injuries from fighting the other soul fragments he absorbed.

Nevertheless, she was thankful she had stacked up on bandages, and brought over some medicine and ointment from her house. 

Cecil assessed his appearance once more, blinking. “I have no doubt whatever you used to make yourself like this helped you remain conscious and alive.” 

In the novel, this kind of Isleif didn’t appear like this, he was still a normal human being. Right now, Cecil knew he wasn’t a human being anymore.

She didn’t even know what he was. 

“I drank the blood of someone who isn’t mortal.” Isleif admitted nonchalantly. 

Cecil shot her head up, looking at the deformed black wing on Isleif’s back and she immediately arrived at a conclusion on what kind of blood he drank.

Demon blood. 

This soul fragment...I forgot how obsessed he is about power. 

“You are killing yourself, for power,” Cecil sighed, shaking her head as she grabbed Isleif’s bloody shirt, tossing it at him. “I am done, you can wear back your shirt.” 

Isleif clutched his own shirt in his hands, staring steadily at Cecil, his eyes following her every movement as she packed up her own belongings into her storage ring. 

“You care about me? You care about me dying?” 

“No.” 

Isleif raised his eyebrows, wearing his shirt but not buttoning it up. “But you treated my wounds.” 

It was partially torn anyway, due to his deformed wing.

“...if I could, I wouldn’t.” 

“So you do care about me.” 

“...” 

Because you are him, and he is you. 

You are one and the same, and I cannot leave you here to die.

Right in front of me.

Cecil sighed, closing her eyes. “If I could, I would choose not to care about you either--” 

Isleif stood up abruptly, grabbing her hand and within seconds, he pinned her against the tree trunk.

Cecil groaned slightly, opening her eyes and reeling back when she realised how close Isleif was. She could practically feel his breath, blowing away the stray hair on her face. 

“You really do care about me,” Isleif smirked, the colour returning back to his vacant eyes that were of a different colour. “You just won’t admit it.” 

Cecil blinked rapidly, not knowing how to respond.

The cloak slipped from her shoulders, exposing her shoulders and neck completely. Isleif glanced down, seeing the red imprint still on her neck. 

Once again, he was fixated by the mark, gazing at it.

“Isleif, you--”

Isleif moved one of his hands from the tree trunk, enveloping his hand around her slim neck in the same manner he did earlier. This time, he didn’t apply any pressure as if enjoying the feeling of his hand on her neck. 

“I permit you to care about me, and call me by my name,” Isleif spoke, the tone of his voice sending chills down Cecil’s spine. “I permit it all."

“Wh-why is it me? It's not supposed--"

“Because it’s you, Cecil Lan. You are an exception.” 

***

《 start 》

You are the only exception.

You are the first person I did not want to kill for caring for me.

You are the first person I did not want to kill for calling my name.

I feel content.

Even seeing the marks I made on your body makes me feel gratified.

Xue does not deserve you by his side, I do.

Only me.

And it will only be me.

I am the only one who can stay by your side, and you can only stay by mine.

《 stop 》

***

Author's note: It's a struggle to write obsessive (or extreme yandere) characters like Isleif, pfft.

And yes, people in this story keep getting blown away like a rag doll. I don't know why my mind likes to make me write stuff like that again, and again 🤦‍♀️.