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Return of the Fallen Volume 11 Chapter 73

Arc already knew the answer to Kazuki’s question.

(That feeling is not a figment of your imagination. Once again the cause is chaotic space. It is a restrictive force in a certain sense. Because of this invisible force, your speed, your magic, and your strength are bound to the rules of the Higher Realms. Not just you but anything below a God cannot simply destroy a world as if it were nothing. Nor would they want to even if they could. Destroying a world bound by the force of chaotic space would open up everyone to the dangers of chaotic space, including the Gods themselves.)

Kazuki flew down to the ground and opened up his ring before he brought in all of the 7th stage fighters he had killed at the start of the fight along with their storage rings. He felt there was no reason to let their riches go to waste. At the same time, he asked.

(So If I punch the ground with everything I have, I can’t crack this world?)

(Indeed. It is similar to the decaying eye of the Ancient one we just faced. That world was under Resadez’s authority. The Higher Realms have no one individual behind it but chaotic space replaces that so-called authority. In other words, unless you are a monster of a God or a God that possesses an artifact or other mysterious powerful tool, these worlds are not something you can break. It’s strange. I can sense something but I cannot put it into words. I can’t tell if chaotic space is holding everything together or slowly destroying everything.)

(Destroying everything?)

(Yes. I can sense space folding, ripping, and repairing itself all around constantly. Yet somehow it is not affecting you or me or anyone else for that matter. It’s like chaotic space has a strange purpose that disallows it from interfering with…whatever keeps the Realms together. This is all just a weird feeling though, so no need to look worried.)

(Who’s worried? I was just simply curious. For me to not be able to destroy this world, I just didn’t understand why that’s all.)

(Sure.)

Kazuki ignored Arc after that and returned to the ship before he lifted his hand.

The very next moment Simmons who was below deck was brought up and with a thought, Kazuki dropped him on the floor.

*Eurhg*

Simmons released a small groan of pain.

“Now that things have calmed down a bit, Samuel, it’s time to finish the rest, don’t you agree?”

Samuel saw the sorry state Simmons was in and he felt a mix of emotions. Anger, frustration, sadness, betrayal.

“Do we really have to kill him?”

Kazuki shrugged.

“He’s a traitor. Because of his actions, most of your crew was slaughtered in cold blood. You were almost kidnapped and used as a hostage against your father and many innocents suffered. I already have all of his information in my head. Keeping him alive only makes him a liability at that point. Killing him would be for the best.”

Samuel still felt off by this.

Simmons grumbled and groaned before he begged.

“Please young master, I…I don’t wish to die.”

The few remaining crew seethed with hatred when they saw Simmons and all of them wished for his immediate death but none dared speak up, not when the big dogs were talking.

Samuel looked down at Simmons before looking back at Kazuki and shaking his head.

“I can’t just kill him. Simmons was loyal to my family for countless years. For him to just turn on us, still makes no sense to me. I must know why before I make any rash decision. I asked you earlier for his reasoning and you said you would tell me after the battle. So I ask you now, show me…Show me the truth and then I will decide.”

Kazuki sighed before he grabbed Samuel’s shoulder. His aura rushed into Samuel’s soul world and then to his soul tree before Kazuki showed Samuel the exact reason why Simmons turned his back on the Cortail family.

Samuel saw Simmons go to his father and beg to get help in rescuing his relative but to no avail. He saw Simmons go and search high and low to try and get some help but no one cared. No one even gave him the time of day and he became lost in his own hatred. Desperate and with no other options he could only help the enemy, to fulfill their goals.

A fraction of a second later Kazuki removed his hand and Samuel began to shed silent tears.

“I…I understand. You were so desperate that you would do anything to help save your family and yet after everything you’ve done for my family, you were abandoned.

“Young Master.”

Simmons began to cry.

Samuel shook his head.

“I won’t kill you. Sir Jentson, please release your power from him so that he can recover.”

Marty raised a brow and was about to give the kid a piece of her mind but Kazuki stopped her.

(Jentson, are ya just gonna let this guy go?)

(I’m letting anyone go. So far the kid just asked me to allow him to recover. We’ll see how things go from there. If the kid really wants to let him go, you or I can easily deal with him.)

Kazuki wasn’t one for mercy. He didn’t even know if he believed in redemption or not. For the sake of not having to look over one’s shoulder, the best practice was to kill your enemy, and sometimes to go the extra mile you would pull the roots from the ground and eliminate any sympathizers along the way. To leave an enemy alive was foolish to the nth degree.

With a simple thought, the talisman he made from a strand of hair suddenly untwined from all of Simmon’s nerves and organs before flying out of his body and disintegrating. Simmons felt his power return and he was no longer suppressed. His charred black body began to recover and regenerate at a rapid rate. After about a minute all of his burns had fallen off his body like ash and new pink flesh regrew in its place.

After around 3 minutes, he was fully recovered but he did not dare make a single move. Kazuki had ordered him not to earlier and he would not lift a finger until his master or Kazuki said he could. Just as he thought this, Samuel told him.

“Simmons, kneel.”

Simmons glanced at Kazuki but he quickly looked away just in case he offended the man.

Simmons rolled over and kneeled in silence. He could feel the stares of the others all around him. He knew they wanted him dead but he could not die yet.

“Simmons, for the centuries you have served my family, It shall equal this single instance of betrayal.”

Simmon’s eyes widened as he looked at Samuel with an incredulous look.

Samuel though was not done.

“However, I cannot allow someone who betrayed me to simply go free. In the name of Cortail, I sentence you to life…in father’s territory. You will no longer be a manservant of the Cortail family but instead a slave for the rest of your days.”

Samuel’s ring glowed and he took a step forward.

Simmons cried even more but he did not fight this and just shut his eyes.

“I understand Master.”

Samuel then pressed his ring against Simmons’s forehead and to Kazuki’s surprise, he felt Divine power pour out from Samuel’s ring and into Simmon’s soul world. Half a moment later, the ring glowed no more and Samuel pulled his hand back. A strange seal Appeared on Simmons’s forehead. It looked like three triangles overlapping one another with a circle of chains wrapping around them biding them together.

Marty nodded watching this.

“A slave seal or slave mark. With this, he can no longer betray nor refuse a single order from any member who possesses one of those rings. Otherwise, his soul will be destroyed and scattered to the four winds.”

“Hmm, it looks like a tattoo on the surface.”

Marty nodded.

“On the surface yes. It’s placed on the forehead so that it can be seen by all in the public eye. This way everyone knows what he is. Take a look inside his soul.”

Kazuki did just that and could see the same tattoo on Simmon’s soul tree. Three triangles overlapped one another and a large chain wrapped around all three which surrounded his soul tree.

Kazuki could also feel divine power coming from this seal. It felt exactly like the power that came from Samuel’s personal barrier that protected his room as well as the second energy that was inside the bracelet Samuels handed over for the down payment.

(That must be his father’s energy. So he is at least at the Demigod stage.)

After the seal was in place, Samuel gave an order.

For now, go below deck and clean up the ship.

The mark on his forehead suddenly glowed with red light and Simmons stood up and began to walk. As he was walking he couldn’t help but ask.

“Young master! What of my family, what of my family!?”

Samuel ignored him and he went back into his cabin alone and shut the doors.