The Damned Demon

"You said... close to impossible. That means there must still be a way, right?" Rhygar asked, his voice eager, clinging to the sliver of hope her words had inadvertently offered.

Lysandra's eyes, usually so stoic and unreadable, narrowed as she weighed the gravity of their discussion, "There is but also a high chance that we won't come out of it alive. That is why I never risked it."

Rhygar swallowed hard, the stark image of his demise at his father's unforgiving hands flashing through his mind—an image as harsh and nightmarish as the landscape around them. But as he gazed at his mother, her presence both regal and replete with a quiet vulnerability, a fierce determination welled up within him, "I will take the risk for you, Mother!" he declared, his voice resonant with resolve.

Lysandra's eyebrows lifted slightly, a flicker of emotion crossing her usually impassive face, "You would do that for me?" she asked, her tone laced with a mixture of hope and incredulity.

Rhygar nodded vigorously, his commitment unwavering, "Of course, I will. I am your only son. If I won't, who will?"

The corners of Lysandra's mouth softened, a rare smile threatening to break through her stern facade as she reached out, placing her hand gently on Rhygar's shoulder again, "I never knew you cared for me this much. I always thought you were your father's right hand. That is why I tried to distance myself from you. But now I feel regret that I didn't look after you better. Forgive me, son."

Tears welled up in Rhygar's eyes, hearing words he had yearned to hear but only could hear in his dreams.

Never before had he felt so close to her majestic presence. Even her warmth and pleasing fragrance gave him a liberating sensation, making her look even more of a divine beauty in his eyes.

He wanted to hug her with all his heart but he couldn't must the courage...not when he has yet to prove himself. For her to accept him, he has to show her that he was the only man she would need to protect her.

His voice was thick with emotion as he responded, "Don't apologize to me, Mother. You never did anything wrong; my father is to blame for everything. I should apologize for not proving my loyalty to you earlier. But now, I will let you see for yourself. What do you want me to do?"

Lysandra's gaze sharpened, a strategic glint appearing in her eyes, "It will be very difficult because there isn't also much time, but I want you to round up everyone who holds strong grudges against your father, including the ones among our allies. I want you to be the medium between me and them. If you can manage to do that, we will proceed from there."

Taking a deep breath, Rhygar's face set into a mask of cold determination, "I will do it, Mother. You can trust me with this. I personally know each and every one who would pounce at him given the right chance. I will start right away!" With these final words, he gave a deep bow and hurried away, his steps quick and purposeful.

Rhygar couldn't help but already dream of the day where he could free his mother from his father's clutches and live and rule this kingdom with her by his side forever. And then on, nobody can nor will he let anybody come between him and his mother. She will finally be his.

He also wanted to end this quick so that she didn't have to spend even a second longer with that alien dog.

Once Rhygar was out of sight, Lysandra allowed herself a brief moment of vulnerability, exhaling a sigh of relief that fluttered through the chilling air. Her hand pressed against her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart after forcibly keeping it steady for so long—a heart that hadn't fluttered with such fear in many years, now racing with both dread and a sliver of hope. She was this close to killing Rhygar the moment he first revealed that he followed her. But after taking a moment to suppress her fears and emotions, she felt she could use him instead of going to the trouble of killing him.

Knowing Rhygar for all these years, she knew what kind of man he was and his unhealthy obsession towards her. She had always felt disgusted by it since it only reminded her of Drakar even more.

However, she felt maybe this obsession could be turned into a weapon against his own father.

But she knew she couldn't be careless about this and be more guarded now that she experienced the fear of losing everything once again.

—

A part of the Malaysian landscape had been transformed, now marked by an imposing structure that reached toward the heavens—an architectural marvel known as a Junction Tower. Its sleek, conical silhouette was unmistakably modern, starkly contrasting with the lush greenery that surrounded it.

The tower was coated in a deep black material that seemed to absorb the sunlight, while bright, pearlescent lines snaked across its surface, pulsing with a soft, ethereal glow. Most people knew these lines were conduits of natural mana around them and even under their feet.

Across the world, similar dozens and dozens of towers had sprung up like sentinels, standing watch over the nations they protected. However, the project had faced its share of delays—political hesitations, logistical challenges, and international negotiations had slowed the erection of these towers in certain regions. Malaysia was among the last to consent, the memories of the devastation wrought by the Thundering Reaper still fresh in the minds of its people, making the government wary yet ultimately cooperative.

On this significant day, Cecilia stepped out of a helicopter onto Malaysian soil, the whir of the blades sending a gust that fluttered the hem of her suit. A few guards, alert and watchful, trailed behind her as she approached a gathering that included various dignitaries and government officials. The prime minister of Malaysia, Chen, stood waiting, his expression a mixture of relief and solemnity.

"Mrs. Sterling, it was an honor to see through the completion of this tower with you and your agency. As the prime minister, I feel greatly relieved that our country is under the protection of capable hands. Our people were, and many still are, shaken by the tragedy caused by the Thundering Reaper," Chen said, his voice carrying a hint of the trauma his country had endured.

Cecilia offered him a reassuring yet determined smile, "Do not worry, Prime Minister Chen. I give you my word that the Thundering Reaper won't strike fear in your country again because she can't. Once Project Guardian is activated, our Hunters can reach any place in this world within a matter of seconds and even lock down entire regions. She or any demon will get trapped like an animal if she shows up again in the future."

Chen's chuckle was tinged with genuine relief as he responded, "I am so glad to hear that, Mrs. Sterling. We know you put a lot of effort into putting our people at ease regarding the development of this project in our lands and quelled some unnecessary fears our government had. So we are indebted to you and your husband since he is truly a great man to look after us like this."

Cecilia's voice carried a note of pride mixed with humility as she responded to Chen's praise, "You give us too much credit. My husband worked the hardest, dedicating most of his life and even personal resources to this. But he is doing all this because of his dut—"

*BOOOOM!*

The world seemed to pause for a heartbeat before chaos erupted. The Junction Tower, once a symbol of security, exploded in a catastrophic burst of energy, the sound deafening, the force knocking the breath out of those nearby. The powerful and seemingly impenetrable barriers around it shattered like glass under a hammer, sending shockwaves hurtling through the air.

Chen instinctively raised his arms to shield himself, his face contorted in terror. Cecilia, reacting with honed instinct, conjured a radiant blue barrier that shimmered into existence, enveloping her and those close by, shielding them from the shockwaves of the blast. The barrier hummed with energy, its light a stark contrast against the darkening sky.

As the dust settled and the echoes of the explosion died down, groans of pain and confusion filled the air. Cecilia slowly lowered her hand, her barrier dissipating as she took in the scene with wide, shocked eyes. What remained of the Junction Tower was nothing but debris, smoldering and twisted metal strewn across what was once a site of triumph.

With cautious steps, she approached the wreckage, her senses assaulted by a heavy, oppressive wave of dark purple demonic mana.

It hung in the air like a thick fog, choking and vile. Cecilia paused, her instinct screaming at her to retreat, but her duty only let her take one step back.

Her guards rushed to her side, coughing as they said in a urgent tone, "Ma'am, *cough!*....we shouldn't stick around here. It might not be safe."

Cecilia shook her head, her voice steady despite the turmoil around her, "No...I have to find out what and who did this. Quickly inform our forensics department and get them here!"

"Yes, ma'am," they responded, moving to execute her orders with efficiency.

As Cecilia surveyed the scene, she noted with a grim relief that while many were coughing and showing signs of distress from the lingering demonic mana, there were no fatalities, "Quickly get these people out of here. This site needs to be quarantined," she instructed, turning back to the guards.

Chen, supported by his bodyguards, looked around with a mixture of horror and confusion, "Mrs. Sterling, wait... Was it a demon?... Who did this?" His voice was shaky, the fear palpable.

Cecilia's expression hardened, her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned to address him, her tone commanding yet calm, "Please get to a hospital first, Prime Minister Chen. I will investigate things here and let you know."

However, despite her calm expression, inwardly, she couldn't help but feel anxious that some demon managed to detonate a bomb in such a high-security area under everyone's eyes.

She sighed, wondering how her husband would react to this disaster.

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