Protagonist? Antagonist? I Reject Both

"I told you that you are making a mistake."

A sound, ancient and majestic carrying an unfathomable aura echoed in her ears.

The voice resonates in the room repeatedly ringing in her ears.

Irina glanced at the man with a slight gray hair. He was old, his face filled with etchings of ages but his skin still looked like he was in his 50s with very few wrinkles.

He is Arthur Woods, a Martial Emperor powerhouse. One of the strongest men in the world. His attainments were already enough for him to break through to Martial Saint but he opted out to advance it cause once he did that he had to leave this place and guard at the dimension crack.

And with no other Martial Emperor to take charge, naturally he didn't want his family to fall in his absence so he was biding his time.

Waiting for someone to step into that realm so that he can lay down his burdens.

Only god knows how long he had to wait and carry the family with his old sickly bones.

She lowered her head in guilt and embarrassment.

"Father, I understand but...."

"Irina!"Arthur's eyes became sharp.

"There is no but."

"I know you are thinking why he agreed to go away to Elysium so easily instead of protesting a bit. If he had resisted you might have changed your mind but..."

A sigh of exasperation escaped from his lips.

"He seemed to have heard your conversation with that guy and for your happiness, he decided to act as if he hated you and wanted to leave you badly so that you could be happily married."

"However, stop deluding yourself that you wouldn't have done this if he resisted. An excuse is nothing but a way to avert guilt."

"I am sorry. I understand it's my fault," Irina murmured in a tearful voice.

Irina's heart, which was already frail, stung with bitterness again. She can feel her heart bleeding in pain. Even if she tried to hold back her tears she wasn't able to.

She had been blind to what she had done for some pathetic love but now as her eyes were opened to reality she felt literally disgusted at herself.

She despises herself for being such a bitch. Her earlier decisions were similar to a stupid bitches on heat.

"Father, Gwen had already gone there. But Leon seems to be missing. I do..."Irina's voice choked thinking about that unknown possibility.

"He is alive, "Arthur answered briefly and getting up on his feet, crossed his arms behind his back."I am neither blind nor cold-hearted like you."

Irina lowered her head as her father condemned him coldly.

Staring outside, bathing in warm sunlight, Arthur's expression became somber.

"Our society is a strength-based hierarchy but that doesn't mean those who can't cultivate are trash."

"What is a family?"

"When one lacks, the others are there to fill the gap. That's what family truly means."

"He lacks and is weak, so what? Are I and other members of Woods dead? We have enough money to last for several generations. He is my grandson and carries my blood. His well-being is my responsibility and so is yours."Arthur gave Irina a cold look.

He wasn't that typical guy who just discards someone from his family just because he is weak. If a person turns out to be the bad guy doing evil deeds that is another matter but he never discriminates based on power and achievements.

Since Leon was weak, he had always tried to take care of him.

Unfortunately, being busy with his work, the time spent with Leon was quite short however he liked those times. He didn't care what others said but his Grandson was quite sensible and always thought about others.

People may say him scum and playboy but he had never violated any woman nor touched them forcefully. It was just that he was hurt quite badly when that girl from his friend's family broke the engagement.

However, he didn't seek revenge because it would be improper for him to seek it when Leon didn't. If Leon decided to move, he would give his all to decimate them.

And he knew that Leon didn't do this because he was afraid of creating trouble for his family. His grandson had low self-esteem.

Turning back, Arthur gave Irina a hollow look,

"Do you know, Leon threatened me to commit suicide if I don't let him go and allow you to remarry?"

"A Martial Emperor, I had to step back because of a mere threat. How laughable."Arthur ridiculed himself for being weak-

hearted.

Irina's body froze and those words rang like thunder in her ears.

"What?"She exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

"Yes, he did that, otherwise did you think that I would have let him go? Another reason was that he wanted to get away from this suffocating place and breathe some fresh air."Arthur rubbed his chin.

"Even if I have lived for almost 2 centuries, I won't be a hypocrite and say that I know what he feels but he was in pain and dilemma."

Irina with a pale face collapsed onto the sofa. Each revelation was like an arrow shot into her heart.

"You said he is alive so you know where he is? Did you protected him in secret?'

Seeing him not answering, Irina pleaded…

"Please…."

"I will beg him to forgive me. Even if he didn't want me, I would go after him till the end until he is prepared to look at me..so"Irina choked in tears but Arthur just stood there unfazed

"I don't know where he is."Arthur's words came crashing down on Irina.

"I only know he is alive from his life meter. Since he decided to go, he had his own choice. He even threw away the life-saving treasure I gave him."

Arthur closed his eyes remembering his confrontation.

"Grandpa, let me go. Either I will come back stronger or die there as a weak. Whatever it will be, you or someone else won't be the one taking the blame as this is my choice."

Irina just stood there as her father sank into deep contemplation.

"Father, I will search for him. I am going to Elysium."Irina spoke resolutely, grasping her fist tightly.

'I would appease him. Even if he spit on my face.'

Irina's eyes burned with a new resolution. She will compensate him for everything he has lost of her even if she has to pay with her life.

"Your wish but remember one thing."Arthur's darkened gaze locked onto Irina.

"Every action has consequences. You should better prepare yourself for things you are soon going to face. It's not easy for him to forgive you."

After a brief conversation, Arthur stared at Irina with a complicated expression.

Leon wasn't born from Irina's womb, rather he was a test tube baby. Irina didn't want any more children after two daughters but Lex's obsession with a son was the reason they grew apart.

He even wanted Irina to abort the second child when he found out that it was a girl but Irina stopped him. There was also no guarantee that the third one would be a girl so after a brief confrontation, they opted for a test tube baby and the result was disastrous as Lex hated Leon for being born with a trashy physique without any talent and this finally created a gap.

Irina had gone through a lot of trouble to give birth so Arthur has always thought that perhaps she didn't love Leon compared to her two daughters.

'When she picked that man, I thought he didn't have any feelings for her son but now seeing her sobbing like this I wonder if she was brainwashed by that guy or if there was something more than meets the eye.'

Arthur's concern wasn't without reason as he knew his daughter very well. She was someone who would die with dignity rather than lose her dignity and that very woman decided to abandon everything for a mere love that occurred due to a one-night stand.

It would be understandable if it was a teen or young woman but she isn't a naive teen girl craving for love.

'My heart has been restless recently. I have marked Leon with a protection charm but for some reason, it stopped working even if he is alive. I should seek help from the Heaven observers in case there is a calamity ahead of us.'

...

While Irina and Arthur had a brief confrontation.....

In Aetheria Prime.....

A girl with a face radiating with coldness glared daggers at the woman making her scared.

"Where is he?"

Her voice carried a deadly chill and her eyes flashed with a bright killing intent.

"Where is my brother?"

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