Chapter 191 — Ends I

[Stormhold Academy - Dormitory for 3rd year - Mara’s Room]

Mara Kestrel sat on her bed, her communication device clutched in trembling hands, trying her father’s number for the tenth time in the past hour.

Still no answer.

She’d called earlier to confirm the operation was proceeding smoothly.

Her father had assured her that four A rank operatives were more than sufficient to eliminate one C- rank student, no matter how talented.

Damian Valcor would be dead by midnight, his body disposed of and his Mafia leaderless and ready to collapse.

And she would finally be avenged for the humiliation he’d inflicted on her months ago in front of the entire Student body.

But now... nobody was answering.

Not her father, not her mother and not any of the family contacts she’d tried reaching.

Complete silence from the entire branch.

’Something must have kept them busy. The operation probably required more attention than expected. Father will call once everything is handled.’

She tried to convince herself, pushing down the unease creeping through her chest.

’That bastard is probably already dead. Just need to wait for confirmation.’

She turned around to set the device on her nightstand.

"!!!"

But the moment she turned around... she froze completely, her blood running cold!

Damian sat in the chair by her desk, one leg crossed over the other, his posture relaxed, his crimson eyes watching her with calm interest.

His shoulder-length hair was loose, framing a face that showed no emotion.

His upper body was completely bare, rather than the suit she’d seen him wear every time.

And he radiated power that made her C+ rank senses scream warnings about the danger in her own bedroom.

Mara’s mouth opened to scream for help.

But before she could do so, Damian waved his hand casually.

Her jaw snapped shut, held closed by invisible force, telekinetic pressure wrapping around her face like a vice.

"Mmph! MMPH!"

She tried to speak, tried to force words through sealed lips, her hands clawing at her own mouth trying to break whatever was holding it.

Bam

Damian waved again, and her entire body lifted off the ground, floating helplessly, then slammed back-first against the wall with enough force to knock the wind from her lungs.

The telekinesis pinned her there, arms and legs spread, completely immobilized.

’No! No no no! This is impossible! He should be dead! Father sent four A rank operatives! How is he here?! How is he alive?!’

Damian spoke, his voice calm and conversational, like they were discussing weather rather than her imminent death.

"You know... I really underestimated the arrogance and pride of Nobles."

He stood slowly, walking toward her with measured steps.

"You couldn’t do anything to me through your own strength, couldn’t beat me in combat, couldn’t challenge me and couldn’t even touch me through Academy channels."

His crimson eyes met hers directly.

"So you involved your family and escalated the situation to have me murdered... All because you couldn’t stand being humiliated in front of your peers."

He stopped directly in front of her, close enough that she could feel the heat from his body.

"Well, I even forgot about your entire existence after that day. You were so irrelevant that I didn’t bother tracking whether you still held a grudge."

His expression shifted slightly, showing something approaching regret.

"And that mistake cost Zavier his family and cost me nearly dying tonight... So I’ve learned an important lesson: never leave a Noble alive with hatred in their hearts."

Damian raised one hand, his fingers gently stroking her face in a gesture that would be tender if the context wasn’t so horrifying.

"Which means... My dear Mara, you will not live past today."

Mara’s eyes went wide with terror, her body struggling uselessly against the telekinetic bonds.

"It’s funny, isn’t it? When I beat you up the first time, months ago in the Student Council room, I had to use an Aura Jamming Device to accomplish it.

I needed equipment to level the playing field because you were C rank and I was weak."

His smile was cold.

"But now? I don’t feel anything when I consider just waving my hand to end your life. I paid the price for my mistake of letting you live. And you’ll pay the price of me surviving your family’s attack."

Mara tried to scream through the telekinetic gag, her eyes showing pure hatred mixed with desperate fear.

’You’re just a commoner! You can’t do this to me! My family will kill you! They’ll destroy everything you’ve built! They’ll–’

Damian seemed to read her thoughts in her expression.

"You probably want to say that your family won’t leave me alone. That they’ll kill me and everyone I care about. Blah blah blah, typical Noble threats."

He stepped back slightly.

"But your family branch is already slaughtered. Every adult member was eliminated a few hours ago."

Mara’s expression shifted to complete disbelief, her head shaking frantically.

’Liar! He’s lying! He’s trying to break me psychologically before killing me! Father is S rank! Mother is A rank! Dozens of family members are B rank or above! No one could eliminate them all!’

"Sigh..."

Damian sighed, seeing her disbelief.

"Let me show you then."

His telekinesis wrapped around her entire body, and suddenly she was moving – not walking, but being carried through space at impossible speeds.

The bedroom wall became transparent, the Academy buildings blurring past with the forest behind campus appearing in seconds.

He set her down in a clearing far from any buildings or witnesses.

Then... pulled out his communication device and played the video Alaric had sent.

Mara watched as her home appeared on screen. Watched hundreds of family members standing frozen under hypnotic control! Watched her father, being forced to tear out her mother’s heart and consume it while fully conscious!

She watched the execution, the bodies and the heads separated from necks!

Her entire branch... Everyone she’d known since childhood! Dead!

"Mmph!"

Tears began flowing down her face, silent sobs making her body shake.

Damian released the telekinetic gag on her mouth.

"Go on. Tell me. I want to hear what you have to say now."