Kali was speechless when she heard Azane’s question, Kali’s face froze as her eyes widened slightly.

On the other hand, Peutoa’s bloodlust vanished as she opened her mouth as she stared absent-mindedly at Azane.

Both of them knew a small part of Shin’s past, they knew he had been alone, no one to depend on.

Not enough with that, he had been through what most people can’t imagine.

Azane snickered as she saw the clear changes in Kali’s and Peutoa’s expressions.

She knew that she had guessed correctly, thinking that Shin was the chosen one, while Peutoa and Kali were his followers.

But, before Azane could smile and laugh…

Two auras filled with rage and fury erupted like a volcano, the buildings and road cracked into pieces, turning the smaller pieces to dust!

Peutoa’s glared at Azane with ice-cold eyes, she was at this time, showing clear emotions of wrath.

Kali was not much different from Peutoa, her body ascended from the ground, barely half a meter. But, everything in a one-meter radius evaporated, her purple eyes turned golden and rotating like a machine.

“SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME!”

Kali’s spoke in a low but powerful voice, her words came out calmly, but Azane who heard it was slightly trembling.

Peutoa calmed down rather quickly as she glared at Azane, but anger was oozing out of her whole being.

“Don’t mistaken one thing, even if you are a Valkyrie of the Red Moon or whatnot, I will not allow you to speak that easily about something you do not even know!”

Peutoa said in a calm voice while showing no expression, but her eyes were frost-like.

“You speak about Shin’s suffering that easily without knowing about his real pain, do not speak casually of these things…”

Kali tagged along and spoke her mind as she calmed down.

“Because, we who already have promised to stay by his side, will not allow any rudeness towards him!”

“Humph!”

Azane straightened her back as she glared back at Peutoa and Kali in fury.

“Can the two of you really say something like that?”

Azane showed a bright smile as she spoke each word, trying to pierce Peutoa’s and Kali’s heart.

“Without me back there, that kid would have died!”

“The two of you, who want to protect him, do it correctly!”

Azane laughed as she happily continued.

“Weak, both of you are weak!! Hahahaha.”

“I know!”

Kali roared out as her heart was beating quicker by the second, feeling helplessness.

“I’m weak! I can’t even protect the one I love, even after everything I have done, I still can’t protect one person!”

Her roars turned into cries as Kali’s eyes turned moist.

Peutoa could only lower her head, she was disappointed in herself.

If only I were stronger.

Humph, now’s not the time of thinking about this…

“I will become stronger.”

She swore as she gazed deeply into Azane’s deep black eyes.

“Haha.”

Azane laughed out heartily, but in the end, she asked once again.

“Now, do answer me properly, was what I said is true?”

Neither Peutoa nor Kali made a sound, they just stared at Azane.

“Sigh…”

Kali was the first one to sigh as she calmed down.

“You speak of it as plainly as possible as it could ever be…”

“You’re asking this question to make sure, the one you need to follow is Shin, right?”

Kali asked her suspicion, in the end, it depended on Azane’s answer of what reply Kali would give to her question.

Azane nodded deeply this time as her expression dignified.

“This is something us Valkyries must do, even if I’m the last one surviving, I will not run away from my destiny.”

“If I run away, I will only bring shame to all the Valkyries of the Red Moon clan.”

“As long as I die being by his side, the deceased Valkyries of Red Moon will be able to raise their heads in the afterlife.”

Azane had a faint smile on her face, unlike her usual crazed attitude.

“I understand…”

Kali spoke in a low voice as her eyebrows relaxed slightly.

“What’s your name?”

“Me?”

Azane returned to her usual self again, she pointed at herself while grinning.

“My name is; Azane Zonor, the title I was given by my mother is; The Red Mist…”

Azane Zonor bowed slightly as she continued speaking.

“The Red Mist Azane Zonor the last Valkyrie of the Red Moon clan, greets you.”

Kali could only see aloofness and arrogance at Azane’s slight bow while locking her eyes with Kali’s.

“Hihi, you’re interesting!”

Kali laughed lightly.

“I’m the Purple Witch Kali.”

As Kali spoke, her body flashed purple and all the blood and meat on clothes disappeared.

“Peutoa.”

Peutoa said her name without saying another word.

“Now, about Shin…”

Kali smiled sadly as her eyes drooped downwards.

“12 years ago, when he was born, he was targeted by the ‘hunters’ we saw now and many other enemies. Only because he was born with a special Divine Power.”

“Aria, his mother, sent him to another world for his safety…”

Here, Kali stopped as she clenched her fist tightly.

Peutoa didn’t move from her spot, she had already heard a little of his past from Aria and Laura.

But, her heart was beating faster.

Azane, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes slightly.

12 years ago?

I do remember sensing something back then, but it was too weak at that time, was it because of that kid – Shin?...

“When he arrived, I do not know what happened…”

Kali’s voice had a slight hint of sadness and anger in it.

“But, since he was young, he had been all alone.”

“He had no one to rely on.”

Kali stopped for a second before continuing her story.

“For his own survival, he begged for anything that could be eaten. This was attracted by some certain people that used him…!”

Kali’s voice was calm but her eyes were shining coldly.

Even Peutoa which was standing behind Kali, tightened her fists until her nails dug deeply into her palm.

Kali closed her eyes as she continued speaking in a calm voice.

“Those people used Shin as their toy.”

“Torturing him worse than beasts…”

“Shin’s body was filled with scars, knife scars, whipping, bite marks, deterioration of the skin… that’s not all, his inside was even worse.”

Kali couldn’t keep herself calm any longer, she frowned as her voice turned cold.

“His bones had been broken several times and even twisted, his organs had been injured to the point of most of them had stopped working.”

Azane lost her cool and was on the brink of roaring, her eyes were bloodshot as she stared at Kali with her eyes filled with fury.

She breathed heavily in and out, trying to calm herself down.

Kali waited until Azane had calmed herself down before she said the last sentence.

“When they were done with their fun, they threw him a mouldy bread, so they could enjoy themselves the next day.”

The surrounding area turned silent, not a single sound could be heard.

Azane was speechless, she closed her eyes, thinking.

Kali on the other hand slowly opened her eyes as she watched Azane carefully, wanting to know how she would react.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“What you just now said, is it real or false?”

Azane asked calmly.

“Real…”

Kali just said a single word to confirm it.

“That means, that kid – Shin, is the one.”

Azane said bitterly.

“Mother did tell me, that things are bigger than what I can see.”

“Seems like I am still naïve in that sense.”

Azane opened her eyes as she stared at Kali and Peutoa.

“Who are you to Shin?”

“Hihi, I like him, I will follow him and protect him.”

Kali laughed as she said so with a smile.

“I am his 13th Guardian.”

Peutoa frankly said her role indifferently.

She had finally let her guard down against Azane.

“Guardian?”

Azane muttered before nodding.

“That means you will be my companions.”

“As I said earlier, I am a Valkyrie and what I have to do is to stay by that kid’s side.”

Kali nodded slightly while Peutoa didn’t even do anything.

“How did you know how to come here?”

Kali asked her doubt as she stared at Azane.

Azane nodded then afterwards shook her head.

“I sensed something familiar, which drew my whole being towards here, for how it happened, I am not sure.”

“You said you are the last standing Valkyrie of the Red Moon clan, there should be ways for the Valkyries to find about the one you have been looking for, right?”

Kali asked once more while her eyebrows rose a little, wanting to understand the Valkyries.

Azane raised her right hand towards the back of her head and scratched it while smiling bitterly.

“There are some things the previous Valkyries had created, for either trying to find the one who we’re supposed to follow and ways to become stronger.”

“I am the last Valkyrie and I have inherited everything which had been created and crafted.”

“For finding that kid, we could only rely on our senses. Because our souls are bound to the same destiny.”

Soul?

Must be something deeper than that…

Kali thought for herself when she heard Azane’s answer.

“For weapon, armour, devices and other things, they are limited.”

Azane continued talking as she explained it briefly.

“The past Valkyries and I has been trying to become stronger.”

“It was because we needed strength to help the chosen one when the time was needed.”

Azane presented her black halberd while speaking.

“For example; this halberd, it has been used by many generations of Valkyries.”

“There are indeed some ‘gadgets’ which can be used to protect either me, becoming stronger and ways to protect others. But, those things I will have to keep hidden for now.”

Azane smiled lightly as her halberd vanished into her black ring on her finger.

“Let’s stop talking, for now, you can tell it to Shin when he wakes up and anything else you want us to know or understand.”

Kali suddenly said so while turning around towards where Susan, Eline and Shin were at.

Peutoa nodded and followed behind Kali.

Azane kept her guard down when she found out those two were going to be her comrades from now on.

In a faraway place

A portal opened in the middle of nowhere, the portal was giving off a presence like an Ancient Beast.

But, it disappeared quickly as two women walked out of the portal.

The one leading had silver hair, wearing a white robe, while the following one was wearing a maid outfit.

Laura glanced around the area, speaking her doubts.

“Are you sure it is here?”

Aria didn’t glance around but still answered Laura calmly.

“Even if he is a douchebag, he was Michael’s friend and he also did his best back then.”

“If he said it’s here, I will not doubt him.”

Aria shook her head while tapping the ground, dashing forward like the wind.

Laura didn’t ask anymore and followed behind Aria.

What came in front of them, was a gigantic palace. Around the whole area, everything laid destroyed, leaving nothing behind besides the majestic palace.

“Is it this place?”

Aria mumbled for herself while she narrowed her eyes slightly.

She glanced around, trying to find something.

“Empress, it seems like everything has gone accordingly to his plan.”

Laura glanced at the palace while speaking with Aria.

“Even when he called out in the last second, he still dared to drag you into it when the ‘hunters’ started their move towards Young Master.”

Laura was slightly annoyed because they suddenly had to move out because of a single message they got.

“I had no idea, both of us were hunting the same person...”

Aria spoke while frowning.

“Hmm... it makes sense, he called that person the Zeroth Guardian and Shin has his parts doing with certain Guardians.”

“But, even so. He was rather quick and logical when connecting those two dots.”

Aria gave a compliment as she glanced around.

“Humph!”

“I’m sorry, Empress. But, I do not see that muscle-brained managing something like this.”

Laura felt slightly irritated thinking of that guy.

Aria didn’t answer, she turned her body and tapped the ground lightly. She was moving swiftly, not even three seconds later, she saw a gigantic crater.

In the deepest part of the crater, was a bloody body with a hole through his body.

Hmm...

Seems like everything is going accordingly as planned.

Aria thought to herself while glaring at the brown-skinned male with red hair.

“Have you rested enough?”

Aria snickered while glaring at the man laying in a pool of blood.

“Humph!”

“Making us even wait...”

Laura mumbled while staring at the man in a disdainful way.

The bloodied body eyes were wide open, it’s left eye was shining in a green colour while the other one was shining bright red.

The bloodied man on the ground was Leo Lenan!

Aria crouched down and held her palm at Leo’s back. Sending waves of her Power in his body, reviving his cells and duplicating them. Slowly but steadily, the hole in his body closed.

“Cough cough...”

Leo Lenan coughed up blood which was stuck in his throat. A broad smile appeared on his face as he saw Aria and Laura by his side.

“Haha, so you did show up even on that short notice!”

Leo smirked as he continued with a hoarse voice.

“It's pleasing to meet you again, your Freezing Highness, hahaha.”

“Cough cough.”

Leo coughed violently when a fist hit his stomach.

“The only reason I came is that you said you knew who wanted to harm my son.”

Aria said in a cold voice while narrowing her eyes.

“Tell me all about it, the only reason I haven’t killed you is that of what happened back then!”

“Hey, wait until Tharia is also healed!”

Leo protested with a light tone.

“You!”

Laura pointed at Leo with a hateful gaze.

“Don’t tell me that you used Tharia like that again! You shameless muscle-brained idiot!”

Laura fumed as she accused Leo over and over again.

Leo rolled his eyes while glancing at Aria.

Aria only nodded towards him, dashing towards Tharia’s body a few kilometres away.

She held her body in mid-air as she casually tapped the ground a few times back towards where Leo and Laura was.

It didn’t take Aria five seconds, but when she came back, she could only see and hear Laura reprimanding Leo with harsh words.

“It's enough, Laura!”

Aria spoke in a cold voice.

Laura understood that she had gone too far, she lowered her head towards Aria respectfully.

“Thank you.”

Leo really was grateful towards Aria for trusting him, even when it's just the start of the whole battle.

Aria waved her hand while glaring at Leo and Tharia in turn.

“Do it, I don’t know how Shin is doing right now.”

“You should know, if Shin’s injured slightly because I wasn’t there, I will rip your limbs off one by one!”

Aria’s ice-cold voice sounded out throughout the surrounding, sending shivers to Laura and Leo.

Leo gulped roughly while he turned his head towards Tharia’s body.

He reached out his hand towards his left eye, making a gripping motion and then pulled out instantly.

“Waaaargggh!!!”

Leo roared out loudly that even Laura and Aria had to block the sound waves from entering their ears.

A green light was in Leo’s hands, his face was bleeding profoundly, but he didn’t care.

He carefully held the green light, pushing it into Tharia’s body.

The green light was absorbed by Tharia’s body like a sponge.

Everyone stared at Tharia without caring about the bloody Leo.

After a minute, Tharia gasped for air as she rose up from the ground!

“Haha, welcome back Tharia!”

Leo laughed out heartily when he saw Tharia raising up from the ground.

Tharia was confused for a second before glancing around, seeing a bloodied Leo, Aria and Laura. A faint smile appeared on her face as she said joyfully.

“First step was successful!”

Tharia bowed down gracefully towards Aria.

“Thank you for arriving, Empress.”

“Don’t mind it, Tharia.”

Aria said casually, she flipped her hand as two white pills appeared in her palm.

She threw one towards Leo, while the other one towards Tharia.

“I’m not sure what the second stage of your ‘master plan’ is, but we must check how Shin is doing first!”

“Of course, of course!”

Leo ate the white pill without a second thought and nodded towards Aria.

He knew that Aria could never be fully concentrated if she left Shin for a long period of time, knowing that danger could arrive at any given time.

“I also have to congratulate you for that your son has returned.”

Leo smiled faintly towards Aria.

“Would you mind if I meet him? I could be his uncle and treat him like my own nephew!”

“No way!”

Aria, Laura and even Tharia yelled out in a cold tone.

Leo was taken back when he heard their denial.

“Why!?”

“No one needs a muscle-brained uncle like you!”

Laura spoke harshly towards Leo.

Tharia nodded a couple of times as she glanced at Laura.

“Laura is right, it will be for the best if he doesn’t meet you.”

Leo felt like coughing up blood as he heard their rude comments.

“I don’t want Shin to meet you, you will only have a bad influence on him.”

Aria joined in, but she was being serious.

Leo Lenan could only sadly cry in his own heart as he was being turned into a vile beast who could only leave behind bad influence on children in the eyes of Tharia, Aria and Laura.