The Damned Demon - Chapter 734

Chapter 734 Don't Make Promises You Can't Keep

"If you... don't leave... you will never escape... in time..."

Blood dripped from Arthur's swollen lips, and his body trembled with the effort of holding the barrier in place.

Grace's eyes narrowed, and her fury reached a boiling point. She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking as she glared at this foolish young man, the sight of his unwavering determination setting something off within her. Her vision blurred momentarily, and her mind flashed back to Emiko—the way Emiko's body had felt in her arms, cold and lifeless, and the graves of her loved ones.

The memory of those moments, of the injustice that had been done, lit a fire in her chest. It ignited a rage that she could not suppress.

"You are no Hunter!" Grace shouted, her voice seething with fury. In one swift motion, she raised her foot and slammed it into Arthur's stomach, a sickening crunch ringing out as the force of the blow sent a wave of pain through his body. *Krashk!*

"URGH!"

Arthur coughed violently, blood splattering from his mouth, but the radiant energy from his finger didn't stop—it flickered, briefly weakening, but it held firm, the barrier around Anna still glowing with protective light.

Grace's face twisted in rage, "Stop protecting her, or you're going to be the one who dies." Her voice dropped to a low, deadly whisper, "All my life, I was denied justice for those I loved... and I won't let you deny it to me as well, no matter what your intentions are."

With that, she raised her foot again, kicking Arthur in the ribs with brutal force. Each strike made his body jerk violently, his bones cracking under the impact, but still, he held onto the staff, his finger pressing forward just enough to keep the radiant energy flowing.

"You really think you can stop me?" Grace hissed, her voice filled with fury as she continued to kick him, each blow more devastating than the last. The pain was excruciating—Arthur could feel his bones breaking, his chest caving in, but still, he clung to that one purpose, that one goal: protect Anna.

Anna, her heart breaking at the sight of Arthur's suffering, watched helplessly from within the barrier, her vision clouded by tears. She could see how much he was enduring, how far he was pushing himself just to keep her safe. His body was battered, bloodied, and broken, but his will to protect her remained unbroken.

Her heart clenched as she weakly tried to move, to stand, to do something—anything—to help him even at the cost of her own life. She knew Grace would stop if she gets the chance to kill her. But alas her legs were lifeless, the pain too much to bear. She could barely feel her body, but her mind raced, her soul aching with the knowledge that she was helpless. "Aunty Grace, please stop!" A voice broke through the haze of Anna's grief, piercing the tension like a dagger.

It was Yui's voice, filled with panic and desperation. Anna's eyes widened as she saw this girl charging toward Grace, her face twisted with worry.

Yui, in her panic, lunged forward, throwing herself at Grace's feet, her arms wrapping around her waist, "Please... stop. This isn't who you are, Aunty Grace," Yui pleaded, her voice trembling as she looked up, her tears streaming down her face, "You taught us... you taught me... to be better than this. To fight for what's right, not destroy everything in our way for revenge... please, Aunty Grace... don't lose yourself."

For the first time, Grace's movements stilled. Her foot, still raised to strike, faltered in midair. The anger in her eyes softened, just for a moment, as Yui's words cut through the haze of her fury. The tension in the room was suffocating as Grace stood over Arthur, her bloodied feet planted firmly on the ground. She had come so close—so close to ending his life. But now, as she looked down at Yui, who was clinging desperately to her waist, her tears slipping down her pale cheeks, something inside Grace stirred.

Arthur, battered and broken, kept repeating what she said in his mind. But he didn't even have the energy left to process another thought and finally allowed his hand to fall limply to the floor.

The radiant barrier that had protected Anna flickered and then faded, leaving her vulnerable once more though he no longer had to worry.

And then, just as he exhaled a breath of relief, his consciousness faded away into the darkness.

Right then, the unmistakable sound of armor-clad soldiers echoed through the building. Several guards descended onto the scene, taking up positions around the perimeter of the orphanage, ensuring that no one else would intervene.

A middle-aged man with neat blonde hair and a matching beard, dressed in a classy gray suit, stepped forward. He clicked his tongue in displeasure, his gaze narrowing as he surveyed the wreckage. "What a mess this is," Greg muttered, shaking his head. "Get these two back to the station. Quick! The last thing we want is people sniffing and snooping around this area."

The guards nodded, moving quickly to collect Anna and Arthur's unconscious forms. As they carried them away, Greg's sharp gaze lingered on the ruins of the battle, his lips slowly forming a smirk.

—

Meanwhile, Grace and Yui arrived back at their Culthold, their flight swift and tense. Inside, Asher and Rebecca were waiting for them, their expressions a mix of impatience and curiosity.

"I can't believe it! I thought you would kill her for sure," Rebecca said, her arms crossed, disappointment and disbelief in her tone.

"That's enough, slave," Asher firmly said, making Rebecca bite her lip in frustration as she sat down.

Grace slowly shook her head, her expression weary as she collapsed into a chair, "I still want her dead," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "But then I realized that even if I kill her, it won't change anything. We won't get Emiko back. We won't be punishing the true culprit behind her death. Derek. He forced her into this, manipulated us into fighting each other while he reaped the rewards. By killing Anna, I would only be playing into his plan, making it easier for him to get rid of a loose end and cause more infamy to fall upon us."

She glanced down at Yui, gently caressing the girl's head, "I have to thank Yui for helping me see reason," Grace added softly.

Yui's eyes were filled with tears as she smiled weakly, nodding.

Rebecca rolled her eyes but couldn't argue with Grace's reasoning. She knew it was true, even if she still felt conflicted.

"You are right, Grace," Asher said thoughtfully, his expression softening. "We can't forgive Anna for what she did, but she can be a weapon against Derek. Unless, of course, he kills her after this. We are in a situation where we can't afford to leave out any options."

Grace nodded slowly, her eyes filled with quiet sadness, "I know. That's another reason why I left like that. But for now, let's first mourn Emiko in a way she deserves."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om