Chapter 192: Fragment
Chapter 192: Fragment
On the Calim Continent, a mysterious and awe-inspiring wizard tower stood a thousand meters tall, suspended in the void, connecting to the vast Star Realm.
At a certain level within the tower, there existed a demi-plane, forcefully pulled into the tower by an immense power.
The core of this demi-plane was a black hole that devoured everything in its path—time, light, elemental ions, and even the dark energy of the Star Realm.
Perched on the edge of this black hole was a beautiful female figure, clad in a wizard's robe, her eyes closed in deep concentration. Countless magical runes and spell circuits floated around her, as if she were unraveling the secrets of the black hole.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and a fleeting shadow seemed to pass through them. Her expression turned contemplative.
"Hmm..."
"Another bloodline has perished..."
"The Magic Forest!"
"The Six-Circle Tower promised to protect the Green Family's bloodline, yet their people continue to die one after another."
"I demand an explanation."
Her voice, though not loud, carried through the wizard tower and across the vast void, reaching the ears of several powerful wizards.
One of the wizards, struggling in the Star Realm, opened his eyes and sighed in resignation. "The Magic Forest is located on the Eastern Kingdom Continent, a place where deities..."
"Enough!"
"Someone will pay for this!"
The Walker family returned to the Dream Marketplace, having defeated Vaughn. However, their faces were devoid of joy, as they had suffered heavy losses.
Many wizards and talented wizard apprentices had perished, and it would take decades for the family to recover.
"Let's go!" Nina waved her hand.
"Rest well, and don't think about anything else. We still have things to do, and the Perro Clan must..."
"Be eradicated!"
Her face turned cold as she raised her hand and clenched a crystal fragment.
Without the crystal, the Perro Clan lost their dominant position in the Dream Marketplace.
Possessing the crystal meant having the power to act in the marketplace, while lacking it meant being at the mercy of others. This was why the four great families held their ground in the marketplace and coveted the other crystal fragments.
"Yes!"
"Revenge!"
"..."
The group shared a unified determination as they retreated.
Crumwell remained, stepping closer and speaking softly, "Nina, don't be too hard on yourself. You've done well, and the Walker family is proud of you. We'll stand strong in the marketplace with a Late First Rank Wizard like you, and things will get better, even if they're tough right now."
"Thank you, Crumwell." Nina lifted her head, her beautiful eyes glistening. "Crumwell, I appreciate you being by my side. I don't know if I could have handled all this without you."
"You're welcome!"
"Ah!" Crumwell quickly waved his hand. "Don't you understand my feelings? I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
"That will never change!"
"Crumwell!" Nina looked him in the eye, her voice trembling. "There's no need for this. I'm grateful for your help in defeating Vaughn. But with the Perro Clan's revenge and the opposition from the other two families, you should stay away from here."
"No!" Crumwell's expression turned serious. "Nina!"
"I'll always be by your side..."
"You..." Nina's body trembled, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "Father taught me that family interests always come first. Even concepts like morality and justice must serve the family's interests."
"Hmm..."
A bitter smile crossed her face. "He lived by those words, betraying promises for the family's gain, and he died because of it."
"I kept my promise. Linda helped me, and so did you, Hag, and even Cannon. Trust is what matters."
"Absolutely!" Crumwell nodded firmly, a smile on his face. "What I admire most about you, Nina, is your pure heart, untainted by the world's corruption."
"Mhm."
Nina reached out and took Crumwell's hands in hers. "The more I experience, the more I understand Father's words. I'm beginning to see that his methods were right."
Huh? Crumwell was taken aback.
Suddenly, dozens of sharp vines burst out of Nina's sleeves, piercing Crumwell's body like venomous snakes.
The sorrow, sadness, and softness on Nina's face vanished, replaced by an icy and ruthless demeanor.
"I gave you a chance."
She shook her head gently.
"You helped me kill Vaughn, and I'm grateful, but that's where it ends. You should leave now."
"But..."
"You're being too greedy!"
"N...Nina..." Cromwell's body trembled, his eyes filled with terror and confusion.
"Why?"
Nina shook her head. "You should know the answer to that."
"Linda saved me, but what was your true intention that night of Harvey's wedding? What were you planning to do?"
"Hmph..."
"This is the Dream Marketplace, and I control a quarter of it. Your actions were discreet, but you left a trail that I could follow."
"You..." Cromwell clenched his teeth and roared, but he felt his life force rapidly draining away.
"Spare me..."
"I gave you a chance." A hint of struggle flashed in Nina's eyes, quickly masked by coldness. "Rest assured, I'll send Linda to meet you."
◇6◇9◇Book◇Bar
"Pfft!"
The vines exerted sudden force, tearing Cromwell's body into countless pieces, leaving him dead beyond recognition.
"Phew..."
With a wave of her hand, Nina wiped away the bloodstains, her heart hardening.
"Father was right," she said. "We must always prioritize the family's interests. Kindness, rules, and goodness are all in service of that."
"No one will truly care for you."
She had once been grateful for Cromwell's help and had even scoffed at her father's words.
Until...
The accidental discovery of certain secrets.
Not just Cromwell.
Even within the family, everyone had their own hidden agendas. Only through harsh measures could she keep everything in check.
Kindness?
It only caused trouble!
"Miss."
A voice came from outside the door.
"Mr. Cannon wishes to see you."
"Oh!"
Nina raised her eyebrows, suppressing the murderous intent in her eyes. Her expression softened, and her voice became gentle.
"Show him in."
...
Karl entered the room and saw Nina, looking exhausted and miserable, leaning against a soft couch.
"Karl," Nina forced a smile.
"I'm not feeling well, so I won't get up to greet you. Please, have a seat."
"Congratulations," Karl nodded. "Vaughn is dead, and his crystal shard is in your possession. The Perro family will be removed from the Dream Marketplace."
"The Walker family's revenge is complete."
"It's not that simple," Nina shook her head and straightened up.
"To kill Vaughn, we suffered heavy losses. Even Cromwell, whom we specifically hired, is gone."
"After dealing with the Perro family, we still have to face the other two great families. They won't let this opportunity pass."
"I trust you can handle it well," Karl spoke up. "About the crystal shard..."
"I plan to keep it for myself!"
"Hmm?" Nina was taken aback, her expression shifting.
"Karl, we had an agreement."
"If I couldn't kill Vaughn, the crystal shard would be your reward for blessing Harvey and his wife. If I succeeded in killing Vaughn, I'd exchange it for some of the Perro family's assets."
"Now..."
"You're just one person. What use is it to you? Give it back to me, and I can provide assistance in the Dream Marketplace."
"I've gotten into some trouble and need to stay in the Dream Marketplace frequently." Karl waved his hand. "As I said before, if I need the shard, I can keep it without claiming a share of the Perro family's benefits."
"I never agreed to definitely return the crystal shard. I just chose one of the two options."
...
You want to push me too!
Why?
Why does everyone treat me this way?
Haven't I done enough?
Nina's beautiful eyes narrowed, a surge of killing intent building within her, while her expression became increasingly fragile.
"Karl."
"Is there really no other choice?"
"No." Karl stood up, his face expressionless.
"I came here as the recipient of your past favor, to inform you according to our agreement."
"I didn't ask you to tell me what to do."
"And..."
He glanced at the floor, his eyes cold.
"After killing, it's best to clean up thoroughly. Some traces can't be easily wiped away."
With that, he took his leave.
He didn't pay attention to Nina's frustrated figure behind him. His mood wasn't any better, and an intangible sense of urgency made his heart race.
It seemed that...
Something was after him!
This wasn't an illusion.
When probing Gold's memories, the sudden burst of black light had even ignored the rules of the divine domain fragment, enveloping him within.
"Gold's memories contain some kind of restriction. I fear I've been marked by the Green family..."
"There might be retaliation from the Green family next. The Dream Marketplace can't accommodate a Second Circle Wizard. I can only be safe here."
(End of Chapter)
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