In the corridor of the Draco Manor, a human tragedy played out—one of blood, betrayal, and the pain of killing those once loved.
Iggy stood before Wachel, who was trembling in fear, and paused, locking eyes with him thoughtfully.
That look—it felt like staring into a mirror. Like seeing himself six years ago: small, powerless, broken.
Back then, he had watched his mother die tragically, his fists clenched so tightly they bled, but he couldn't do anything to stop it.
The same fear, the same helplessness, and the same rage now surged in Wachel's eyes.
If looks could kill, perhaps they would both already be dead.
But in this cruel, predatory world, only strength and cunning serve as protection.
> "I'm going to kill you! I'll avenge my mother!"
Suddenly, Wachel's tearful eyes hardened. He raised his tiny fist and struck Iggy in the face.
But the weak blow was like throwing a pebble at a mountain.
Who fears the rage of an ant?
> "Your name is Wachel—it means vulture," Iggy said with a smirk, straightening up. Then, turning slightly to look at Thorn, he continued,
"Too bad. I'm the eagle. You were always meant to be a lesser version of me."
Without warning, Iggy slapped Wachel with terrifying force.
The boy's small frame flew through the air like a kite with a severed string, slammed into the wall, and crumpled to the ground.
> "The weak can't change anything. They're only fit to be spectators."
Glancing at Wachel, too broken to stand, Iggy turned his attention to Thorn.
> "Stop, Iggy… Take my life in return for your mother's. Just—please, spare Wachel!"
Thorn had witnessed his wife's brutal death, and for a moment, he could understand Iggy's hatred. Carrying such a burden for so many years… it was something Thorn could now relate to.
The difference was, Iggy had grown strong enough to take revenge. Thorn's family never had that chance.
> "Let him go? My mother begged you too! Why didn't you let us go?!"
Iggy shouted, his voice cracking with pain. He grabbed Thorn's collar and lifted him off the ground with one hand.
In six years, Iggy had grown to match Thorn in height, but that only made it easier to see him for what he was.
> "Aghh! I… I'm sorry, Iggy. To you… and to your mother," Thorn choked, struggling to breathe as Iggy's grip tightened on his neck.
But apologies meant nothing now. Neither that broken promise nor this feeble remorse could undo what had happened.
His mother was gone. The past was gone.
Iggy tore open Thorn's shirt, revealing his chest.
> "Let's see what kind of heart hides behind that coward's shell!"
His hand opened, fingers digging deep into Thorn's chest. Blood began to seep out, warm and steady.
> "What are you doing?! No—AAAGH!!"
With a sickening crack, skin and flesh gave way, revealing stark white ribs. One by one, Iggy broke through them, exposing the beating, blood-red heart beneath.
> "AAARRGH!!"
The agony was beyond comprehension. Thorn wanted to die—but his mind stayed conscious.
He watched as his son's hand reached into his chest and wrapped around his heart.
Through blurred vision, he saw something even more painful than death—tears trickling from Iggy's hate-filled eyes.
> "I... Iggy. I... I wasn't the one who ordered it…"
Feeling his heart being squeezed, Thorn wasn't afraid anymore. Not of death. Not of Iggy.
He saw it clearly now—the son before him was a continuation of everything he failed to be.
In death, perhaps he could finally find peace… and face Yuni without guilt.
> "The clan… the elders… they're the ones who gave the order to kill your mother…"
With those final words, Iggy yanked the heart from Thorn's chest.
It throbbed in his hand for a moment… then stopped.
The truth, at last, had come out.
But like his mother's death, the truth changed nothing.
No one could be brought back. No justice could revive the past.
Iggy knew then—he would carry the curse of hatred to the bitter end, walking in shadow until the very last step.
> "We're even now."
He stared down at Thorn's hollow chest and lifeless eyes, then let go of his collar.
Thorn's body collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
> "Mother... I'll make them pay."
After a moment of silence, Iggy knelt and gently closed Thorn's eyes.
> "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Wachel's voice shrieked behind him. He hadn't stopped shouting since the moment Iggy struck Thorn.
First, his mother had been trampled to death.
Now, his father's heart had been ripped out before his eyes.
Despite his fractured body, Wachel crawled forward, blind with fury.
> "You want revenge?"
Iggy looked back at the boy—at the reflection of who he once was.
> "I'll survive. I'll get stronger. I'll kill you one day!"
From a broken child, a desperate promise was born.
Iggy crouched beside him and stared into his furious eyes.
That spark...
Wachel lunged and bit into Iggy's hand, tearing into it with all his strength.
But Iggy didn't flinch.
He grabbed Wachel's tongue and yanked—hard.
The blood-red tongue stretched half a meter, pulling tissue and gore with it. Wachel collapsed on the spot, lifeless.
Iggy stood, tossed the shredded tongue aside, and didn't spare the corpse a glance.
> "Sorry. I don't allow another me to exist."
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You really thought he was going to let him live? Lol, this ain't no "courting death, young master bs"
Send Powerstones bruzz& huzz