Chương 1094: Interlude: Rage

He swung his axe through the air, cutting through the form of the man in white. In his mind, he killed Starsword countless times, beginning with removing his limbs one by one, all the while his own body grew riddled with holes from the Third Guardian Star's swordplay and magic. Jarot snarled as Otkan appeared within his sight, his axe poised to strike her. He glared at her, though as the daydream broke, his axe grew heavy within his hand and he sheathed it.

The redness in his body faded, replaced by the tan of the Iyr, lined with a layer of sweat, formed through his rage and frustrations.

"…" Otkan stared at the Iyrman who continued to pant.

"Who gave him such rights?" Jarot asked, still feeling the pulsing in his forehead, and the heat which threatened to cloud his mind.

"Who gave him such rights? To threaten to kill my own grandson in front of me?"

"…"

"A Guardian Star? Do they think they can survive this wrath of mine?"

"He can."

"I will take his arm!" Jarot gripped his axe tighter, but did not unsheathe it, allowing it to calm his rage. His eyes narrowed, the skin wrinkling further as he hovered on the edge of his dance.

'Who can take my grandson from me? Not even the Divine can take him from me!' The darkness crept closer. The shadow of doubt tickled at his heart. When he was young, no one would dare to covet his grandchildren. Time had formed dust over his name, but it was written so massively upon history, there were many who still remembered. Except, time had also wrinkled his body, and dust had grown upon his axe. For the last decade, just how little had he drawn his blade?

If he had continued to swing his axe, this wooden leg of his would have been flesh still.

'I… have grown old, Sarot.' Seeing as the old man was reminiscing about his brother, Otkan left him be. She did not think much of today, for she understood Adam was Adam, and there was little to consider about the matter. She stopped at the hut, waiting a moment, noting the pair of demons circling around the hut, before she stepped away, leaving them to their thoughts.

'Damn it, Adam!' Lucy thought, circling around the hut silently, Mara circling opposite her, the pair walking in the same direction, not able to see one another, but trusting the other was there.

'You should have run!' Lucy's heart ached, recalling how she hadn't run away when they had come across him. Emperor Shama, the Lord of Flames, Emperor Hadda's contemporary. He was an unimaginable foe, even now, and when they had fought alongside one another, Shama had almost instantly killed her. Even if she was a Paragon, she would have no chance against him, for he was an Idol among Idols. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. It was hopeless.

It hadn't been hopeless to run, but it had been hopeless to fight. She had refused back then, and it was only now that she understood what Adam had felt when they fought side by side. The guilt of hopelessness in not being able to protect those you care to protect. It was more than guilt, it was utterly terrifying. To wield a great weapon, a weapon like Great Destroyer, which could slice even King Merryweather with enough luck, but to be so utterly useless against the mountain that was Shama.

It wasn't just Shama, who hadn't hunted her any longer after their first meeting, but the Thirteen Stars? Starsword, considered the third strongest, and they were hopeless against him too? There were those who were stronger? Would they, too, come for Adam?

"You should sleep," the Iyrman called, walking up to the Demon Lord.

"…" Lucy bowed her head, unsure if she could even bring the strength to control her tone. She and Mara stepped away to the nearby hut, leaving Gangak to circle around the hut. Even though she knew it wasn't needed, Gangak walked around the hut, wearing only her breastplate, knowing that the figure would be gone. He had his chance, and he needed to return to his role.

'Thirteen Stars,' Gangak thought.

'Thirteen Guardian Stars.' The old woman wondered what she could have done against such an overwhelming foe. Even if her family came together, could they kill Starsword? Perhaps one of the weaker Guardian Stars, but someone like Starsword? The Rot and Kan families could, and with Shaool, the Ool family could attempt it with some success. The Gak family, though?

'I should have done more,' Gangak thought, thinking of when she possessed the Family Elder position.

'I should have trained the children more. I should have adventured through Aldland and returned greater wealth. I should have petitioned for more.' No matter how much rage she could hold for Starsword, it could not surpass the rage she held for herself.

'I can only blame myself for being so weak,' Gangak thought. It was easy to accept she was weak. It was also easy to accept that she would have died if Starsword had killed Adam, for she could not bear to face her greatchildren if their father was killed. She prayed they were safe and sound, and prayed for them to remain in the Iyr's gentle warmth always. Unfortunately for her, her greatdaughter was currently fuming at the thought of her father.

'How can daddy always work and work and work?' Jirot huffed within the darkness.

'Always working! I always miss you so much but you always go! You make me so angry, daddy!' The greyish face of her sister appeared in front of her, Konarot crawling over to her younger sister, laying down in front of her.

"Okay?" Konarot whispered.

"Okay," Jirot whispered back, closing her eyes for a moment as her sister kissed her forehead. Konarot reached up to brush along her sister's cheek, before she cuddled up to her, while Kirot and Karot lay above and under their twin siblings.

"Sleep time, now," Konarot whispered, nuzzling her sister's nose gently.

"Okay." Jirot snuggled her head against her sister's chest.

'Smelly daddy! Since you are not here, I will protect mummy and kako!' Vonda remained silent, nestled within her pillows and blankets, her eyes barely able to see her children all cuddled together on the other side of the room. Her lips formed into a wide smile, thankful to The Mother for gifting her such wonderful children, and a sight which she could use to tease her husband upon his return.