For 10 000 years have I kept this grudge,
this burning, blazing sensation of unhealthy desire to rip apart, to tear to shreds,
everything and everyone that stands before me.
And for years have I knelt in front of your statue, defeated, disgraced and humiliated,
and for 10 000 years more will I let this wrath consume me, hone my rage into a weapon,
vibrate this hatred to the depths of my bones until before the day where I can return,
return and claim my rightful spot to destroy, destroy and destroy.
For 10 000 years, I have sworn, for all those years I have suffered,
I vow to never let those feelings of loathing cease, to guide them to use as my power.
So come and await my return, I will lacerate you to my feet, gnash your skull beneath the earth
and mangle your flesh to wear as my skin, again and again, so you will hear and head anguish,
burn my image in your eyes, not even the devil can compare,
so come and await my return.
***
It has been 10 years since the news of Lia's betrayal and the K family's murder have taken the immortal world by storm.
In the city next to the capital, whispers have been passed around like a hot ball. Words that the Ghost King has been mourning the death of his fiance moved those living in the capital and around it. As a sign of respect, they left the Ghost King in peace and didn't dare to bring this topic up.
It has also been 10 years since the academy has been established and many talents have been born. Yet no one could compare to the legend of Yano, named the Guider by the public, who still remained the top exorcist in the whole history of the immortal world.
It was said that even the Ghost King would have a hard time against him. However, that was because no one was sure just how strong the Ghost King actually was. He kept a low profile and never used his powers, except for the academy, in public.
People noted how it was a shame Yano didn't join the private army of the Ghost King, which core and leading captains were the strong first years of that academy- the pupils of the family: Kil, Zayn, Leo and Eri.
Yet another one was able to rival them and despite his low status, became a captain, Timo. People also lamented how it was a shame that no once could rival the first years- the very first ones that attended the academy.
Amazing talents like Skyla, Mil, Lu and Holn were all first years yet they all went to the mortal world.
In a busy main street full of people gossiping, more and more words sprayed in the air like a sneeze trying to infest everything.
"After his mourning, the Ghost King will make a public appearance," a girl and her friend sat in a cafe.
"Ah, how romantic the Ghost King is! Despite his fiance's betrayal, he still has this undying love for her," the other girl swooned.
"Hey, let's go to the capital to see him!"
"Yes! Yes! He's gotta be very handsome!"
Lia sneered as she sipped on her tea. She more or less knew about the rumours and talks surrounding her. At first, she could barely control her rage but now she was calm about it. She spent years in the abyss, training her powers, ripping more and more of her soul apart.
She spent years, hundreds of years, planning her revenge, hundreds of years picturing how it would be to have Min and the other families at her mercy.
It was thanks to her power she was able to escape, building a ladder with the corpses and then tearing through the veil was easy.
Unfortunately, she couldn't take the corpses with her but she already found a solution for that.
Her revenge would begin now, starting with the detestable Z family.
Elder Z... Lia gripped the handle of her cup harder. He had to suffer first.
Lia relaxed and smiled at the waiter. The waiter blushed and fumbled with his hands before he left. Although she did retain most of her appearance, she still looked different. Those that didn't know her wouldn't be able to recognise her.
Those that knew her, would take a few seconds. She didn't mind. It was better if they didn't know how she looked like.
She paid for the drink and headed home. Getting back, integrating into life was a bit hard for her especially when she learnt that only 10 years have passed.
She decided to not remain in the capital and base herself somewhere far but close. Then the next step was to gain a sense of understanding of her surroundings and make herself familiar what was currently going on.
She was surprised, Min would open an academy and the private army gave her a bit of concern. Why would he need that? Furthermore, Min didn't give any of the Elders powers, which was even more strange. Wasn't it more reasonable to give them powers so they could protect him? Wasn't that a better choice?
She wasn't sure what he was thinking, then again she never did or else she wouldn't have ended up like this.
She laughed bitterly as she stood in front of the small house in the outskirts of the city. It was next to the river and cut off from the rest of the other houses.
In the middle of all the green grass and the river, her house was the only one standing amongst this beautiful scenery full of nature. She preferred to be alone, she didn't want to get close to anyone, all she wanted was to finish her goal and rest forever.
Lia sat on her bed. The Z family has gained visibly more power than 10 years before. People even said that the Z family or Elder Z specifically was the one in power while the Ghost King held himself back from matters. Elder Z took care of the council and was responsible for any public announcements.
"Elder Z," Lia whispered as she stroked the clothes on her lap and her eyes viciously lit up.
A blood debt must be paid by a blood debt.
Family Z, C, G and P would all need to be completely eliminated. As for Min's family...
Lia put on the clothes. It was Family L who took him in. She wasn't sure if they were aware of the truth behind her family's murder. The same applied to Family H and M. If those three families knew about it and only stood idly by... she would also show no mercy to them.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her appearance was really different yet exquisite. A cold smile graced her plum and red lips.
Elder Z had four children and all of them wantonly spend their lives outside the capital as they had no interests in the council and only wanted to drown themselves in money, luxury and women.
Lia continued to stare at her own reflection. Her indifferent face betrayed her, there was still that trace of naivety and innocence. Was she wrong for involving people that had nothing to do with her family's murder?
The corner of her lips rose even more. No, the fact they were blood-related was already a sin.
There was no right or wrong for her in this world anymore. Anything that stood in her way would need to be eliminated.
Lia waited for the night before heading out. There was also another reason why she chose to reside in this city because Son 1 lived here. She spent the past few days gathering intel about him and scouting the city. It's been two weeks since she got out of that hell and she has already waited long enough.
The capital was the most popular place in the immortal world, however, there was a spot that could be called the dark horse as it was secretly a much favoured place:
It was the Red Light District in the city next to the capital. The one Lia was in right now and the district Son 1 loved to hang out in.
He particularly frequently, no religiously visited a certain brothel to test out all the beauties it had to offer.
The Red Light District was hidden behind a gate in the north of the city as it was unbefitting for immortals to go after such lewd and worldly pleasure.
Lia stood in front of the gate yet it simply looked like an entrance to a desolated desert. It was only a distraction to keep people from entering. Those that didn't know the Red Light District lied behind the gate would only think that past it was nothing but empty land and didn't pay attention to it.
Those that knew of the secret pleasure waiting for them would enter the veil through the gate and had to face the gatekeeper.
Lia observed her surrounding and as no one was present, she took the first step towards the entrance and disappeared.
***
In the large residence of the Z family not far from the palace, servants and attendants ran around to tend to all of Elder Z's and his wife's needs.
Madam Z was an eccentric being who cared more about her appearance than anything else in the world. For her, beauty was of the utmost importance, especially as an immortal who loved to descend to the mortal world and seduce mortal men as they were young, fresh and wild. After all, they only had less than a 100-year lifespan and every minute in bed with them would feel like heaven.
Madam Z stopped her appearance at the age of around 400 which would equal to around 20 in the mortal world, however, in reality, she was well over 2000 years old.
Most immortals, the older they got, especially in their thousands would choose to age a bit more and adopt a mature look, rarely would someone still pretend to be in their hundreds at such an age.
It was just ridiculous. Although Madam Z's appearance was quite beautiful, the other families couldn't take her seriously. Elder Z looked in his 50s (mortal age) while Madam Z was still 20. That was too unreasonable.
"How do I look?" Madam Z viewed herself in the mirror and spoke to her servant.
"Very beautiful like always," the servant was long used to her needy nature and knew which words would please her the most.
"Very well," Madam Z brushed her hair as she stood up.
Madam Z valued beauty over everything that was why she couldn't accept that people would prefer Madam K, the wife of Elder K.
They were around the same age yet Madam K decided to keep a mature look. It made Madam Z furious how Madam K was described as more beautiful than her youthful look.
Every time they would meet, albeit seldom, Madam Z had to endure the gossip and vicious, green feeling in her chest.
The thing that bothered her the most was that Madam K didn't care. Her indifference was mistaken as arrogance by Madam Z, especially since she felt like the K family looked down on every other family because they had powers and didn't even want to share it by refusing to proclaim a Ghost King.
Until that naive, stupid girl Lia came in. Madam Z was exhilarated at the sight of the mutilated K family and at the news that Lia, the fiance of the Ghost King, was sacrificed.
Madam Z sincerely thought about if she shouldn't seduce the Ghost King, after all, all the mortal men fell for her sultry and seductive appearance and once the Ghost King would fall for her, the Z family would become the most powerful.
Madam K laughed as she was on her way to her husband's studies. Their biggest obstacle was the K family and now that they were gone, nothing could stand in their family's way.
It was just a shame she couldn't personally stomp on that repulsive skull of Madam K herself and watched her oh-so-beautiful face contort in fear, subservience and pain.
Madam K recollected herself and entered the studies. Elder P was present.
"Greetings, Elder P."
Elder P cupped his hands, "Madam Z you're as mesmerising as always."
Madam Z blushed and thanked Elder P whose greedy eyes followed every movement of hers, while she sat next to Elder Z at the table.
It wasn't that Madam Z and Elder Z didn't love each other. It was just that they had no need for it. The Z family wasn't built on love but ambitions and their desires, this was true for every member of the family.
They didn't care about each other but they trusted each other to strive for more power and personal gains.
Elder Z looked at his wife and knew she was in a good mood. Ever since the K family's died, she has been very happy. Elder Z's spirits were also high, his plan was going well and he almost attained the powerful position he wanted.
Once the Ghost King absorbed Lia's power, then Elder Z could force the Ghost King to transfer the powers to him and he could become the Ghost King. It was all to make the Z family the strongest and the mightiest.
There was no other feeling more fulfilling and more reasonable to live for than for power.
It was all determined by power.