Everyone, including the demon, was in shock about what had just happened. They couldn't understand why Mia had sacrificed herself for the family she seemed to harbor so much resentment towards. The demon, sensing the girl's deep-seated negative emotions towards her family, was perplexed by her selfless act.
Marry, Mia's mother, was the first to move. With desperation in her eyes, she held her daughter in her arms, internally pleading for any sign of life. But Mia's body was growing cold, even though no blood flowed from her wounds. “Mia, Mia. My baby, please, wake up. I'm sorry for everything, please answer me, please, please...” Marry called out to her daughter but there was no response. The rest of the family, except for Huang, gathered around Mia, their faces reflecting the grim reality of the situation.
Meanwhile, the demon, no longer interested in the scene unfolding before him, prepared to fulfill his promise and leave. However, Huang had something to say about it.
Huang, like most people, believed in the existence of higher beings, whether they be gods or something else and like everyone else he knew that those powers didn't care for those below him if they weren't connected in some way as more often than not, praying was a futile effort. But in this moment of despair, Huang sent a silent prayer to the unknown forces that governed the universe. He acknowledged his failure as a man, a warrior, and, worst of all, as a father. If someone had to go it was to be him, like all the ones before him. He felt a burning rage towards the demon for creating this situation, towards the world for allowing a young girl with so much potential to sacrifice herself for worthless people like him, and, most of all, towards himself for his perceived weakness and inability to protect his daughter and family.
To his surprise, Huang received a response to his prayer. A voice resounded in his head.”Warrior, what do you desire?” The voice asked in a very commanding voice with no way to say if it was masculine or feminine. It just was.
“I want to save my daughter but if the heavens are so keen on taking her from me I want that demon to pay for all the suffering he caused so far, at least this way I can atone a little for my sins.” Huang answered full of conviction and rage.
“What are you willing to give for this wish warrior?” The voice asked again, this time the voice sounded even more powerful.
“Everything I own and will own, everything I was and will be, Everything I am.” Huang answered again with full conviction.
“Good, very good! Warrior Huang, from this point on you are one of mine. Take this power, enact justice and if you are fast enough you will be able to save your daughter. Go and be what you need to be to never feel this rage again then in the future I will give you a new duty, one that I think you will be able to fulfill expertly. ” The voice said, full of joy.
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As the voice spoke its final message, an outpouring of energy surged into Huang. His injuries rapidly healed, and he felt his strength growing exponentially. An aura enveloped him, taking the form of a Chinese warrior similar to Huang himself. Instinctively, Huang summoned a spear made out of aura for the aura warrior, similar to the one he wielded in the physical world, and he began moving towards the demon.
The demon, realizing that something had changed, noticed the heightened power emanating from Huang. The aura avatar above Huang matched him in size, and the two adversaries squared off against each other.
Huang controlled his aura avatar with the same fluidity as his physical body, attacking the demon with precise stabs and slashes. The battle truly began as the demon fought back, launching punches and kicks in an attempt to destroy the avatar or distract Huang from his ultimate goal. However, Huang effortlessly defended himself and protected those around him while keeping his focus on the demon.
For what felt like hours, but in reality was only a few minutes, the fierce battle raged on. Huang's silent rage fuelled his assault while the demon's confusion on what was happening was making him do more and more mistakes in the fight. The demon's guard momentarily dropped as he attempted a powerful attack. Seizing the opportunity, Huang directed his avatar to launch the demon into the air, and with all his might, he threw his spear made of aura towards the demon. The impact reverberated through the air as the demon soared high into the clouds, ultimately meeting his demise in a cataclysmic explosion along with the spear once it exploded.
Exhausted and drained, Huang dropped to his knees but clung to consciousness by sheer willpower, determined to care for his daughter if needed. Sensing that the demon was gone, he moved towards Mia, only to witness the dagger plunged into her chest disintegrating into dust.
For a brief moment, relief washed over everyone present. However, panic quickly settled in as blood started to gush from Mia's chest wound.”Her wound. We need to address it quickly.” Lin was the first one to react as she shouted. Almost everyone froze, realizing that the only way to heal such a wound was through magic, and there wasn't a single person in town who possessed that ability. But before anyone could react, Liza stood up, retrieved a letter she had always carried with her but never revealed what it was about, and tore it apart. In an instant, a bald old man materialized before the family.
This old man was no ordinary figure. While some recognized him as one of the town's founders, few truly knew who he was. Huang had encountered him once during the town's early days, and his appearance now confirmed Huang's long-held suspicion. This man was no ordinary man.
Liza approached the old man, her voice resonating with determination as she uttered words that would echo in the hearts of everyone present for the rest of their lives. "So, you are a old man today? No matter. I gave you everything I had. Now it's time for you to pay for it. Give that girl the future she sacrificed for us." She pointed directly at Mia, emphasizing her demand.