CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 1019: A Friend [GT Ranking Bonus - ]

Considering all these, their zero hesitation and eagerness to step forward and protect him each time he found himself in one situation or another, did he truly have the right to stay angry for too long? Did he have the right to be disappointed in his siblings and relatives, who were all likely just following orders?

He couldn’t help but remember a popular saying back on Earth: that if you do ninety-nine things right and one thing wrong, people will ignore the ninety-nine and remember only the one mistake.

Asher couldn’t help but see himself in such a situation. In his anger and disappointment, he had forgotten everything for a moment until he suddenly remembered.

He had even thought about not telling them about the Star Energy, Star Affinity, and Elemental Combination after what they had just done to him.

But alas... here he was, hung up on the singular bad thing Azaron had done.

His mind couldn’t help but shift to the moment when Zarek had told him that Azaron had planned to send him to the First Training Ground after his third awakening, whether he was talented or not, as the man planned to use his own authority as the Primarch to override tradition, then he later disguised it as a reward for his early breakthrough.

The more Asher thought about this, the more he sighed internally. Was he truly being too harsh in his judgment?

But of course, the ninety-nine good and one bad didn’t immediately mean that one should ignore or instantly forgive someone if they did anything wrong for the first time or anything of the sort.

After all, imagine a scenario where someone who had done ninety-nine good things, and the one bad thing they did was killing your own relative or parents. Would such a saying apply in this case?

Asher shook his head and decided to stop thinking about this for now. Even if he was angry and disappointed, what could he do? Drag Azaron by the beard and give him a beating and warning? Tell Malrik he was a disappointment of an elder brother? Call out his siblings?

Asher imagined himself falling into the dark side if his family’s death was true. He shook his head at the thought.

’If I get to talk personally with Elder Brother or Father, I will try bringing it up,’ he concluded with a final mental sigh.

’But I guess all those animes, novels, and mangas are all lying,’ Asher thought to himself. ’Shouldn’t I have awakened some great dark power or something because of my anger and grief?’ he couldn’t help but contemplate.

After all, in various fictions, the regular path, or cliché, was usually that. A friend or loved one dies, then the main character screams and stuff, and they awaken some ancient power and whatnot.

But when it came to him, Asher, his Astra Energy or Star Energy didn’t even stir in any form of awakening.

’I guess there is a difference between reality and fiction. This is reality, and that is fiction,’ he mused to himself. ’If I had awakened anything, then it would have gone against the entire established power system and such,’ he concluded.

’I guess everyone has their flaws,’ he thought to himself. After all, there wasn’t any family or anyone who was simply perfect and all.

Even he himself had his own flaws.

As Asher was in his thoughts, ahead, Azazel and Azaron were discussing.

"I’m glad I followed your advice. If I didn’t, I might not have gotten a good opponent to fight. It has indeed been a while since I bled and came face to face with death," Azazel spoke, his words directed at Azaron. He gazed at his large black hand that was still shaking out of excitement.

"Just looking out for a friend," Azaron replied with a small smile.

Azazel immediately paused, his eyes opening wide for a moment as his black eyes met Azaron’s golden ones.

"You just called me your friend," he spoke, as this was the first time Azaron had ever called him his friend or acknowledged the fact.

Through the century of their friendship, Azaron usually just introduced him with some idiotic name, just like how he had called him a nutjob when he was introducing him to Asher.

Hearing Azazel’s words, Azaron realized he had slipped because of the excitement coursing through his body after coming face to face with death after a whole century during his battle with Threshold I.

"I never said such a thing. You must have heard wrong. Old age must be getting to you," he immediately denied it with a flat expression.

Azazel stayed silent for a moment, then shook his head. He knew Azaron had slipped, and he had no need to press his best friend when he knew the bulky idiot would deny it to the end of time.

"Do you plan to return immediately? You do know you can follow us to the Zarethorne Empire," Azaron asked as he changed the topic expertly.

The original plan as of two days ago was that Azazel and his daughter would follow them and ambush whoever was coming together. And after that, the man would return to the Thalvorn Empire, wait a few days, then leave without notifying anyone and on a random date.

That way, no one would know he was leaving or anything of the sort of trap on the way.

Azazel smiled. Although he didn’t say it out loud, this was the first time Azaron had ever actively invited him to the Zarethorne Empire. Although the man didn’t mention the Wargrave Estate and territory, that was basically where he was going to stay if he went.

On a normal day, he might have accepted, but he couldn’t.

He shook his head as he spoke, "Unfortunately, I can’t. The people of the Velkarin Empire are waiting for my daughter’s return," he stated as he turned to Arianna for a moment. "While she may have lost in the final battle, she still put on a spectacular display and fight. The people of the Velkarin Empire would have my head if they don’t find her to celebrate her," he stated with a calm smile.

"But best believe I will be coming to the Zarethorne Empire soon for our spar once everything settles down," he added as his eyes turned to Azaron.

Azazel motioned to Arianna to come to him. Arianna, seeing her Father gesture, sighed. She didn’t need to be told to know it read time to leave. She turned towards Asher as she spoke with a calm smile.

"It was nice fighting with you, Asher," she stated as she began to walk forward.

But before she could go far, Asher stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Arianna stopped as she turned towards him, wondering what he was doing, but before she could speak, Asher spoke first.

A dagger marked with his own Position Marker appeared from the system inventory. He placed it in Arianna’s hand as he held her wrist gently.

"Channel your Astra Energy into the dagger, and I will teleport to you anytime, no matter where you are. It would be a shame if this was the last time I would be seeing you," he spoke without going into much detail, letting go of Arianna’s wrist.

Arianna stared at the dagger for a moment, then nodded. With a thought, it vanished into her space ring. She turned and continued walking towards her Father.

Upon getting to him, Azazel gazed at Azaron and bade one final goodbye to him and the rest of the Wargraves. A Teleportation Scroll leading back to the Thalvorn Empire appeared in his hand, and he tore it as he spoke.

"Until next time, mad men," his tone echoed as a white light enveloped him.

Arianna Haellight and Azazel Haellight had left the battlefield.