Greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt were emotions that dwelled within all hearts.Before Aria stood the restless souls of the fallen, their pain echoing in a single question—why us?Had they not lived earnestly, without sin? Had they not protected their humble lives, harming no one and never defying the heavens? Why, then, were they denied even an intact corpse?They had honored their elders, labored like beasts of burden, and asked for nothing but the survival of their children. Was such a modest hope too much to ask?These questions, arising from the depths of the souls' torment, were maddening enough to unnerve even the strongest of wills.Evil spirits, as terrifying as they might be, paled in comparison to the fathomless cruelty of the human heart.In the Netherrealm, there was an ancient saying, "The Wail of the Damned". It spoke of souls lost in the deepest corners of the River of the Dead, unredeemed and forever restless. Their cries had been so piercing that e
Inside the heart of this manifestation lay something powerful—something that belonged to Landon—the Soul-Summoning Plaque. This cursed artifact had once bound Landon, dragging him into the mountains and forcing him into a life of servitude, a mere plaything in someone else's hands."How could Landon forget its sinister pull and still venture near it? And what of Aria? Was she truly raised by her mentor only to have her soul offered to feed such a scheme?"While the crow stood in confusion, trying to piece together the unfolding events, Landon suddenly froze mid-movement.The black mist within the manifestation, which had been thickening ominously, abruptly ceased.Instead, it coiled around Aria, swirling slowly until it reached a complete standstill.Even the crow, experienced in such supernatural forces, was stunned by this sight.Then, from the dense fog, Aria's voice rang out, strong and defiant, "Because of these invaders! Because there will always be those who place power ab
"Didn't you say I'm just a Farsies, an experimental subject, no different from a lab rat?""Then let me experiment on you too, how about that?""Uncle Ryan, don't be afraid. Stupid, hold his legs.""His hands look delicious. I'll take care of those."Voices echoed one after another, mingling eerie laughter with sobbing cries.The Krowonian soldiers were paralyzed by fear; their mental states shattered. Scrambling backward in desperation, they clawed at the ground, their movements frantic and disordered.Some, gripped by blind terror, raised their guns—only to fire at their own comrades.When fear peaked, it turned humans into predators of their own kind.Amid the chaos, Aria didn't even spare them a glance. Her focus remained unyielding as she piloted the fighter jet higher. With a precise motion, she unleashed a missile aimed directly at the enemy's communications tower. The explosion severed their last means of escape.Seeing his forces crumble, Marlock clenched his tremblin
The once-arrogant Marlock lay sprawled on the ground, trampled underfoot by one soldier after another.Amid the chaos, a ragged figure crawled toward him, eyes locked on the emerald pendant hanging around Marlock's neck. He had clearly been observing from afar, waiting for his moment.After ensuring Marlock was lifeless, the man snatched the pendant and prepared to make his escape.But the "lifeless" Marlock suddenly opened his eyes in the very next second. Blood trickled from his eyes; his lips curled into a chilling smile. His hand shot up, gripping the thief's arm like a vice. The man froze as dark mist seeped into him, his eyes glazing over, life draining away.Only then did Marlock collapse backward, motionless once more.The thief, now holding the pendant, staggered to his feet, his expression twisted with malice—and a flicker of disgust. Yet, as he stumbled away, something felt wrong.An itch began to spread across his skin. His heart pounded erratically.…Meanwhile, an
Amidst the billowing smoke, the red flag flapped in the wind, looking particularly captivating. The four college students were also gazing at it, and they were all wearing peculiar expressions. Evander's heart was pounding like crazy. The country flag looked very different from its modern iteration, but Lionel could sense an inexplicable strength emanating from it. "It's an ally, Mr. Disher! She's communicating with us via sign language. It's our exclusive sign language, too!" Evander and Ingrid heard what the soldier said, and they were shocked. Who in the world was that young lady? How did she know about the earliest military sign language? It should've been a top classified information even in the 21st century. It wasn't their fault to be stunned, though. After all, the lady seemed very young, and she looked like a superstar. Considering the reality they were in, it was impossible to put this young lady and the military in the same picture, let alone fly a fighter jet."T
As the chief of staff, Lionel was shouldering immense pressure. Anyone who laid eyes on him would praise him for being a strategic mastermind. Lionel only had 30-odd soldiers in his company. However, he was able to hold out this place for this long. Not only did he buy time for the main force, but he also razed some of the enemy's rally points. The enemy force didn't dare to launch a large-scale assault. Instead, they relied on the fighter jets to carpet bomb the place. The reason for that was because the enemy force thought Lionel must've brought with him a huge army. After all, he attacked them in such a grandeur fashion. Naturally, he must've come fully prepared for him to do something this bold.It was all thanks to Lionel's deliberate actions. He might've been vastly outnumbered, but he carried the intimidating pride of his great nation. Lionel would never waiver when he faced the enemy. He even went to the mountains and shouted at the top of his lungs. That was when it g
People said that one couldn't fight destiny and that God had a plan. However, this wasn't true for the Farshyans; they made their own destinies.Aria approached Lionel, and there was respect and admiration in her eyes. On the other hand, Lionel was stunned when he saw her. "Did you pilot the fighter jet?"Aria nodded and opened the hatch to unload the cargo. The only inconvenience about the fighter jet was its space; she couldn't load a lot of stuff into it. It would've been much easier if she had a passenger plane instead. Lionel still couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Did you really capture the enemy's colonel?""Yeah!" Aria needed to be economical with the use of space in the fighter jet. So, Viktor was still tied up. He had just woken up, and his eyes widened in shock as he kicked both of his feet. Aria looked over a little, but she ignored Viktor for the most part. Instead, she dragged someone who was tied to the side."Yeah. Also, I brought something else over. We
The college students stood there, unsure of how they should have responded. Astrid wanted to say something, but her body immediately stiffened when Aria glanced at her. Lionel wore a smile on his face. He even came up with an explanation for them. "You must've worn a Krowonian traditional outfit to save yourself. I understand it. After all, we often wear disguises when we are doing reconnaissance. "It was just that we didn't speak Krowonian. So, we were constantly worried that we would be found out. You guys are better than us. You knew how to speak Krowonian, after all."This is great." Lionel was smiling a second ago, but his eyes suddenly reddened. He looked at Aria. "I can't believe my beloved country is doing this well in the future. Is this really happening?"Aria responded solemnly, "We are doing wonderful, and we owe it to all of you.""Looks like it's worth losing an ear, then!" Lionel threw his head back and laughed, his voice reverberating throughout the surrounding a
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soon—he knew that. He hadn't planned on revealing himself like this. But something that belonged to him was here, and the demonic energy in this place… Aria couldn't face it alone.She studied him from head to toe, her hand still in his. His grip was firm, protective."There's a lot of mist ahead," he said quietly. "We'll need to tread carefully."Aria tilted her head. "You speak like you know this place well.""I do," Landon replied with a calm honesty. "I was deathly ill once. My soul wandered into a place just like this. Homer pulled me back."His voice made it sound like a distant memory, and Aria gave a soft laugh, tightening her hold on his hand. "You really are full of surprises. I guess it's true—handsome men are the most dangerous."But Aria's thoughts were racing. Why had he come after her like this, knowing it would reveal parts of himself he'd tried to keep h
Landon was still handling the stragglers behind Aria when he paused, his gaze flicking upward. Cameras were mounted in every corner—too many eyes. Vanishing without a trace wasn't an option.He glanced in Aria's direction, then lowered his head. His lips moved in a whisper, but the sounds were incomprehensible—something rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chant—an exorcism.Meanwhile, Dave descended into the underground, calm and unrushed. That place reeked of foul energy, dense and suffocating. His master had cast a spell over it—one designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing priorities—destroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floor—only to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind her…
"Why would there be people outside?" asked Dave. He had been disguising himself as a doctor for years, and that was the first time he looked so anxious. After all, if someone did approach their building, the villagers would have informed them about it. However, they received no news this time.Dave wondered what was going on."Dr. Dave, what should we do now? I think we're surrounded!"He was still in his coat as he slightly clenched his fists. "Let's move out. Bring the girls in the basement with us.""T-They're not in the basement."When Dave heard that, he looked furious. "What do you mean they're not in the basement?""Someone took them away, and I'm guessing it was her fault!" The bodyguard pointed at Aria, who was standing on the highest point, showing off her skills. With swift, lethal kicks and a taser turned weapon, no one dared get close.Whoever touched Aria would die, and no one dared to approach her at all.As for Landon, he still had his mask on as he stood behind
Chaos erupted at the auction. For all their pride and arrogance, the wealthy clients' expressions had twisted into pure panic the moment something went wrong.So, their first reaction was to seek a staff member."The power's unstable!" Dave spoke into the microphone, trying to project calm. "Everyone, stay calm. There's scheduled maintenance in town—it's just affecting the electricity. Nothing's wrong."He genuinely believed that. It was what he'd been told.But Aria knew better. The blackout wasn't random. It was a signal. Sam had tracked down the source of the call. With the exits sealed off, Aria had everything she needed to act.A faint smirk curled on her lips. Without hesitation, she grabbed Landon and swiftly took Aliya hostage. Her movements were sharp, practiced, so fast that no one around her even had time to react.Then came the needles.Aria flicked her wrist, sending a series of acupuncture needles flying. The rich guests closest to her froze in place, locked in stu
Tony's accusation stirred a ripple through the room, and it didn't escape Dave's attention. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he signaled to someone nearby.Aria caught the movement. Her fingers tensed, ready to slip free of the rope she had already loosened. But before she could act, she heard a smooth, composed voice glide through the air."I need her to boost my luck," the man said coolly. "I've done my research. She's the ideal bride for someone like me."Dave stopped in his tracks, and it seemed like he was telling someone else to verify what Landon had said."Sir, it checks out," one of the staff murmured after a brief consultation. "Mr. Crow's fate is complicated. The master said only a spiritual match could extend his life. Otherwise, he won't make it past his next birthday."Dave let out a low chuckle, visibly relaxing. "Well then, Mr. Crow, it seems you've come to the right place. Please—carry on, everyone."Aria listened in stunned silence. Landon hadn't lied. His life
Aria couldn't tear her eyes away from Dave.He was still quietly speaking to the man on the screen, their exchange shrouded in secrecy. No one nearby could hear what they were saying—but Aria could guess. It had to be a deal of some sort, something about her. Everything about Dave's posture, the glint in his eyes, told her this wasn't just business. It was personal.She glanced up at the clock again, nerves coiling in her chest. Something was wrong. Sam was taking longer than usual. That wasn't like him.The auction was nearing its close. They couldn't miss the chance to strike. Sasha, glowing with excitement, clapped her hands and declared, "Six million! It looks like no one else is bidding—congratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tiger—""Ten million dollars."The voice sliced clean through the noise, calm, clear, and cold.Everyone turned toward it.A man stood at the edge of the crowd, dressed in a sleek tuxedo dusted with black feathers, his mask intricate and dark.T
Aria had once told Sam to avoid chaos if he could—but she'd also said that when desperation knocked, rules could bend.Now was one of those moments.Sam hesitated only briefly before diving in.He had to know who was behind this. Who kept targeting Aria? Who was pulling the strings in the dark? And once Sam decided on something, there was no turning back.Without Aria by his side, he breached the system, knowing full well the other side had already alerted the police.The firewall he faced wasn't just tough—it was nearly impenetrable. It filtered everything, controlling access with surgical precision. But Sam wasn't interested in the broader network. He narrowed his focus and cut straight to the source, filtering out all the noise to lock onto the actual IP.The auction raged on aboveground. The man behind the screen, confident in his usual routine, remained calm and unaware that the mask he'd worn for years was finally slipping. He'd always stayed out of sight, appearing only
While Aria discreetly signaled to move, the auction hall was buzzing with excitement. Laughter echoed, wine glasses clinked, and the room pulsed with greed.Sasha's voice came through the mic, smooth and cheerful. "While everyone's enjoying themselves, let's welcome our latest arrival of the evening."She glanced at the man beside her—her bodyguard—who immediately stiffened under her gaze.To the crowd, it looked like he was escorting Aria to the stage under control. In truth, Aria's hand was already pressed lightly against his chest, right over a poisoned pressure point. He knew better than to resist—he'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clear—if she was exposed or captured, he wouldn't live to see morning.The guests didn't notice a thing. All eyes were on Aria, their expressions hungry. They saw value in her—fresh, young, healthy. To them, she wasn't a person. She was premium merchandise.She was brought to stand beside a young woman who had alr
Eamon and Waymond had just been thrown out of the Chamber of Commerce. Waymond's face was flushed with fury, his eyes red. "Eamon, why didn't you let me speak earlier? Mr. Lincoln was being unreasonable!"Eamon, ever perceptive, shook his head. "Mr. Lincoln's been bribed. He was never going to take our side."Wise and strategic, Eamon had always been top of his class—but now, he was even sharper when it came to reading a room."I'm guessing Aria found something during her investigation that made them nervous," he continued. "Durand couldn't have controlled Lincoln on his own. There's more to it."Waymond frowned, still struggling to piece things together. "But who could bribe Mr. Lincoln? Not even the mayor has that kind of sway. He's—""What if it's someone from the state?" Eamon cut in, eyes flicking back toward the building. "We need to tell Dad. There's no point in staying here, but there is someone we can talk to.""Who?" Waymond asked quickly. "Lucas Murray—the new secr