Chapter 12: Death

I squinted, looking down. In the castle courtyard, a group of demon soldiers surrounded my mother. Behind her lay a maidservant, her face swollen and red.

"Who do you think you are to stop me?"

A tall, gray-skinned demon soldier with bloodshot eyes snarled, his hand gripping a whip.

My mother stood in front of the maidservant, her gaze resolute.

"I will not allow you to abuse your power to torment others."

"Hahaha! You won't allow it?"

The demon soldier sneered, lashing his whip against the ground with a deafening sound.

"Have you forgotten that you are now just a lowly wretch? A discarded outcast, no longer the empress!"

The surrounding servants held their breath, no one daring to speak. They all knew that resisting the demon soldiers would only bring suffering.

I watched the scene from above, my eyes growing cold.

Originally, I didn't want to concern myself with other people's affairs. But it was my mother. The woman who had protected and cared for me for the past twenty years.

I couldn't sit still.

Akazuha stepped onto the edge of the tower, slightly bending her knees.

And then—

Thump!

My entire body plummeted down from a height of several tens of meters, landing squarely on the back of the demon soldier who had just swung his whip, sending him face down into the ground.

"GRAGH!!!"

The impact was so strong that the ground cracked. The remaining demon soldiers recoiled in shock.

I stood up, brushed the dust off my clothes, and coldly looked down at the groaning demon soldier, also giving him a kick.

"Superior? You just said you're my mother's superior?"

I smirked.

"Then let me teach you how to treat your subordinates."

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The remaining demon soldiers immediately raised their hands to their weapons, their eyes filled with murderous intent as they glared at me.

The demon soldier I had kicked to the ground was trying to lift his head, half his face smeared with blood, his fangs clenched.

"Damn it... you... dare to attack me?"

I casually flicked my wrist, not bothering to answer. I turned to look at my mother, using my demonic eyes to check if she was injured anywhere.

"Mother, are you alright?"

She flinched slightly. My mother was still surprised that her son could fight that guy; she probably didn't know that I had secretly practiced martial arts for the past 20 years.

But before she could answer—

"You brat!!!"

The demon soldier roared, drawing out a heavy spiked mace and swinging it straight at me.

CRASH!

A strong gust of wind blew up a cloud of dust, but when visibility returned, the demon soldiers were stunned.

The mace... I had blocked it with one hand.

Not only that, I gripped it so tightly that the iron spikes on the weapon were bent and shattered into pieces.

Although I was a half-demon, I was still 500 times stronger than an average human. Furthermore, I had trained my physical strength extensively, and my core energy had recovered by one-hundredth—which seemed insignificant. In short, these guys were no match for me.

"Attack from the front and you're still so slow?" I mocked him.

"You should consider yourself lucky my mother is here. What she hates most is bloodshed."

The demon soldier froze. He couldn't believe his eyes.

Perhaps he thought, a half-human, half-demon brat, someone everyone considered trash, could crush his weapon with his bare hands?

But the shock lasted only a moment. Humiliation surged, burning his reason.

"Gahhh!!"

He roared, a crimson surge of magic erupting from his other hand, imbued with murderous intent. "You think you're so great?!"

He poured all his strength into the punch, lunging at me like a mad beast.

He looked strong, but no, this guy was weaker than a member of Izumo's organization—and that comparison was a bit of an unfair one, wasn't it?

I subtly tilted my head, narrowly avoiding the attack.

A second later, he felt his neck being squeezed.

I had grabbed his neck without him noticing.

"It seems you've chosen death."

"Wait... hold on!!!"

CRASH!

I lifted him up and slammed him straight to the ground. The ground shattered into a small crater.

The demon soldier convulsed a few times and then died instantly.

The atmosphere became eerily silent.

The remaining demon soldiers turned pale and retreated.

I brushed my hands together, looking at them with an indifferent gaze.

"Anyone else want to try?"

No one dared answer.

I snorted coldly, then raised my hand to the face of the maid my mother protected.

Healing magic, the only magic I dare to learn, you know, magic power is energy originating from the user's very essence. The amount of magic power extracted depends on each person's constitution.

But you know, my essence is destructive, and the energy extracted can destroy the entire world. This applies to all the magic I can use, except for healing magic.

"Mother, let's go, this place isn't safe."

The mother and daughter turned and left, leaving the trembling demon soldiers standing still, not daring to move.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I frowned slightly upon hearing that familiar voice. I stopped, then turned around.

From the shadows, a woman slowly emerged. Her skin was pale, her long hair a deep crimson like blood, her cold, sharp eyes carrying a hint of malevolence.

Lilith.

This old hag is my mother's older sister.

She's the mother of the 499th child, the half-sister who always comes to the servants' quarters, of course only to see my mother; I'm not particularly close to her.

She clutched her robe, her eyes wavering.

"Lilith..."

"Long time no see, my dear sister."

Lilith gave a sinister smile, but her eyes were filled with contempt.

"I heard you were demoted to a servant, a fitting end, isn't it?"

My mother pursed her lips, saying nothing.

Akzuha crossed her arms, her cold gaze fixed on Lilith.

"This old hag is blocking the way for both of us, surely she doesn't have good intentions."

Lilith chuckled, but a few veins bulged on her forehead.

"Well, I never imagined my sister's bastard son would dare speak to me like that."

A cold wind blew through.

The surrounding space suddenly became stifling.

I let out a long sigh, my gaze sinking.

"Say that again?"

Lilith raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Or am I wrong?

Aren't you the son of the Demon King? A weak bastard, born of a useless mother—"

Slap!

A loud slap echoed.

Lilith's eyes widened, a burning sensation spreading across her cheek.

Yeah, that's right... I slapped her.

Without a moment's hesitation. Without a moment's restraint.

"You—!"

Lilith gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"Let me tell you something, Lilith."

"You can insult me ​​as much as you like, I don't care." "But if you dare insult my mother again—"

I approached her, whispering in Lilith's ear in a voice chilling to the bone.

"Then I will break every single bone in your body."

"Let's go, Mother." I turned to my mother and tried to lead her away, but that old hag wouldn't let it go so easily.

"Do you two think this is going to be that easy?" "Quick, block them!"

The demon soldiers immediately blocked our way.

I stopped, glancing at the demon soldiers blocking our path.

My mother clutched my hand, whispering anxiously.

"Akazuha, we can't fight them..."

I gently held her hand, as if to say I would be alright.

Lilith stood behind us, stroking her cheek with a look of resentment in her eyes.

"Do you think a slap is all it takes to leave?"

She laughed coldly.

"Anyway, I can't let the son of a useless woman continue to live so carefree."

I sighed softly.

"That same old refrain..."

I muttered, then looked directly at Lilith.

"You keep repeating that my mother is useless, but who is the truly incompetent one?" "A glorious queen having to use her minions to block the path of my mother and me?"

Lilith narrowed her eyes, her hand clenched.

"Impudent!"

She waved her hand, giving the order.

"Arrest them!"

Immediately, the demon soldiers rushed forward.

My mother, startled, stood in front of me.

"Please, I will do anything, don't hurt the boy."

I was stunned; I had never heard my mother beg anyone before.

But now, she was standing in front of me, using her whole body to protect me from those demon soldiers.

I felt a simmering anger welling up in my chest, something I had never felt before.

She sneered.

"Do anything? Fine, then gouge out your eyes."

The air froze.

The surrounding servants were dumbfounded, and the demon soldiers hesitated for a moment.

Gouge out eyes?

What did she just say? Gouge out my mother's eyes?

"Lilith..."

I spoke in a low voice, the murderous aura behind me causing those around me to involuntarily shudder.

"What did you just say?"

Lilith smirked.

"I said, if this woman wants to protect you, then gouge out her own eyes."

This old woman truly chose death.

Just as I was about to lunge forward and tear her apart, my mother pulled my shirt back, preventing me from getting close to her.

"Fine."

A simple sentence, yet like a thunderclap in a dark sky. My mother was about to put her hand to her eyes, but I stopped her. I turned to Lilith and said,

"You want my eyes? Fine."

It's just my eyes, after all.

I placed my hand on my face, slowly gouged out my eyes, and held them before Lilith.

"Is this enough?"

The space fell into absolute silence.

All eyes were on me, the one who had coldly gouged out my own eyes as if it were a trivial matter.

My mother panicked.

"Akzuha! You—!"

Her body trembled, her hands reaching out to me, but I gently took hers, as if to reassure her.

Lilith was stunned; she hadn't expected that I was the one who had given her the eyes.

"You..."

Her voice choked, my fiery red eyes gone, leaving only two dark, blood-filled sockets. But even so, I stood there, calm and proud.

I curled my lips slightly, throwing the blood-stained eyes toward Lilith.

"Are you satisfied now?"

I asked, my voice cold.

Thump.

The eyes fell to the ground, rolling once before stopping at Lilith's feet. She recoiled, a chill running down her spine.

I was certainly not the reaction she expected. Lilith simply wanted to torment my mother as much as possible; she had been corrupted by the power my old man had bestowed upon her.

But my willingness to gouge out my own eyes and give them to her had stirred an emotion she had never felt before... a feeling of fear.

"You've gotten what you wanted. Now, can my mother and I leave?"

Everyone around held their breath.

The tension lingered; no one dared speak.

Lilith stared at me, her hands clenched so tightly her nails dug into her flesh. She was furious, but powerless.

My composure, that emotionlessness, pushed her to the brink.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and angrily waved her sleeve.

"Get out of the way."

The demon soldiers were stunned.

"Huh... but—"

"I SAID GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Lilith yelled.

They immediately recoiled, stepping aside to make way.

My mother clutched my hand, her eyes still filled with worry.

"Akazuha..."

I smiled faintly, not showing any sadness despite my impaired vision. "Mother, let's go."

My mother and I walked past the demon soldiers, leaving the castle and heading to the servant quarters in absolute silence.

Behind us, Lilith stood motionless, her eyes darkening.

She couldn't accept this.

He wasn't allowed to live. That was what she had decided.

Lilith narrowed her eyes at my mother and me, silently cursing.

"You can leave now. But that doesn't mean you and your mother will live much longer, Akazuha Shashiki."

I led my mother back to the servant's quarters. As soon as we entered, she frantically searched for anything that could be used to treat my wounds.

"Akazuha, you..."

Her voice choked as she looked at her son's face. Blood still flowed from his empty eye sockets, but I didn't seem to feel any pain.

"Don't worry, Mother."

I smiled, my tone gentle, as if it were nothing serious.

"Don't worry? You just..."

She bit her lip, tears welling up as she used a clean cloth to wipe the blood from my wound.

"Do you think I could possibly not worry?"

I remained silent, letting my mother bandage my wounds. For someone who was once a God of Destruction, losing eyes was a minor matter. But I think... for her, it was an indescribable pain, because no mother wouldn't feel pain when her child loses both eyes.

"She doesn't deserve anything from you."

I muttered, my voice filled with resentment.

"That... isn't worth me doing this for..."

I gently placed my hand on her trembling hand.

"I'm doing this for you, not for her."

My mother froze, staring at her son.

I smiled softly.

"And even without eyes, I can still see you with my heart."

"Because I've always felt it deep in my heart, my mother's love for me..."

Those words made my mother unable to hold back her tears any longer. She hugged me tightly, her tears soaking my shoulder.

"Foolish... you're so foolish..."

I remained silent, letting her rest her head on my shoulder and cry.

"Shophia, something's wrong!"

A maid ran straight into the room.

"What's wrong?"

"Lilith went tattling to the Demon King, and now he's sending people!"

My mother was startled. She knew that the Demon King's actions were due to what had just happened; it was clear that her sister had plotted this. She looked at me and made a very difficult decision. My mother placed her hand on my cheek and said,

"Stay here, I'll be right back..."

She tried to stand up, but I grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Where are you going, Mother?"

I asked in a low voice, but it held an indescribable coldness.

She turned away, hiding her worry.

"I'll be back soon... don't worry..."

She said, then released my hand and walked towards the Demon King's castle.

I watched my mother's figure disappear and wondered, why did he do that? Why did I protect her?

"Izumo..."

I murmured that name softly, even though I knew she wasn't here anymore. But her words echoed in my mind.

"You're so heartless, Akzuha."

Heartless? Perhaps. Even now, after my mother has left, I still can't fully understand my own feelings.

I don't want to get involved with anyone. I don't want to be bound by anyone.

But I stood up to protect my mother. I gouged out my own eyes for her.

I can't deny that, whether it was me in my past life or this one... that woman is still someone I cherish, just like Izumo, the members of the organization, they taught me so much. And now, my mother, the woman who raised me, is facing the Demon King alone.

I clenched my fists, the blood from my eye sockets had dried, but the pain remained.

I took a deep breath, then turned and walked out of the room.

"I can't let my mother go alone."

I headed towards the Demon King's castle, step by step.

"If you had a family, what would you do, Akazuha?"

I stormed into the castle, a few demon soldiers rushed forward and tried to stop me, even though I was only using my demon-human abilities, I was still stronger than them.

I kicked the door, sending it flying open. The door, weighing hundreds of tons, was kicked away, and I stepped inside.

My eyes widened for a moment, for before me lay my mother in the demon lord's arms, her body covered in bruises and even bleeding. But what was even more striking was Lilith pinned to the wall by a sword.

"MOM!!!!"

...

"If only I had a family..."

"Gods like us never have something called a family."

"Why?"

"Because for gods, family is just a vague concept."

"Even though we are siblings, we never treat each other like family."

"Gods don't need affection, they don't need love; we don't possess those emotions."

"Do you really believe that?"

...

...

...

I once didn't believe it.

But now, seeing the woman lying in those cold arms, the one who sacrificed everything for me, I'm no longer sure.

I stepped forward. The demon king, seeing this, silently set my mother down and knelt beside her. My hands trembled as I touched her face.

"Mom..."

My voice was hoarse.

"Mom, can you hear me?"

She gently opened her eyes, a weak smile appearing on her lips.

"You've come..."

A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. Her body trembled, but her eyes were still full of love.

"You're so foolish... why did you come here..."

I gritted my teeth.

I don't care about confronting the Demon King.

I don't care about being hunted.

I only know that...

I don't want to lose this person.

Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up inside me.

"You wretched bastard!"

I glared at the Demon King, who simply turned his back, not looking at either of us.

"I've foreseen the future; you won't be alive tomorrow morning!"

End of Chapter 12