CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 319-BEHOLD THE LOST.

"Do I need to push something forward?"

Azrail spoke out as he sat alone in the room; everyone headed to their own duties. Lan managed her work, Xuanyin improved in ways she could, Raena was drunk and asleep, Valencia was at work, everybody doing their best to create something good for themselves, a life worth living and fighting for. Right now, Azrail could tell that some things he had kept in the past were pushing forth to the future.

’Timings are changing.’

Which, in a way, isn’t all that good either. It means certain things need to be pushed forth, the timing for the arrival of that woman who will take his sister away. He doesn’t want to lose her, but the opportunity is far too valuable to lose too. And Azrail, while he has his own wishes, will in the end respect the wishes of his sister; what she wants will be what he wants.

Smirking at that thought, Azrail focused back on the important topic. His little aunt Kia was undergoing her own set of issues. From what he heard, she had been more irritated lately, getting more outbursts, trying harder to push for more power. Things were getting worse when precious resources were being used on her, and no changes were taking place.

’Anya is pushing her influence far more than before. She knows fate has changed.’

In the past, all he could have done was sit back, take away her talent, and watch the true darkness take over Kia from all the bad things happening around her. But right now, all of that situation has changed. Someone as powerful as Kia could sense it; the perfect vessel of the future that was heading for her had changed. And she, seeing what she sees from Kia, knows that now she has to take action in the game not to lose.

’A black hole swallowing talents.’

As he thought of this, Azrail decided to push some things through. For now, he will keep getting closer to his little aunt, though it will create friction, as Azrail can see that Anya will push forth for Kia to have more enmity with him.

’And I know just what she will use.’

Envy, the envy of all the talent Azrail has, while she is stuck away like this, trapped in such a form. Envy and jealousy will be the main powers she will use to break and take Kia from her mind and push her away from him.

’But I can’t have that.’

Azrail needs to keep a tight leash around her, being the one who will stick to her, no matter how much she pushes him back. Thus, having made his decision, Azrail stood up from his seat, his eyes blazing with a certain need as he walked through the mansion, soon reaching the door to Kia’s room, to which he gently knocked.

"Go away."

Kia’s reply came from the room, to which Azrail, smirking, replied.

"It’s me, Aunt. Let’s go for a walk."

"..."

There was silence for a moment, after which the reply came.

"Go away."

The same reply, this time a bit more forceful, to which Azrail, shaking his head, easily opened the door, entering to watch a shocked Kia throw a pillow at him as he easily dodged it.

"Get out! This is my room!"

Kia shouted, her face filled with annoyance at the fact that I just walked in, breaking through the lock, to which I, still smiling, replied.

"Sorry, gotta go."

And before Kia could even say no, her body paused, her trying to struggle her level best but being locked, unable to move as we, in a flash, arrived in the sky, floating above it with Kia on my side. Her eyes widened as she looked down at the city and its beauty, and I, giving her the space to speak, shouted.

"Let me go! Let me go! What are you doing!?"

Kia shouted, now definitely angry at being manhandled like this.

"My favourite aunt didn’t want to speak with me, so I had to create a way for things to happen. Now you can stay roaming like this for hours in the sky, or you can go for a walk with me for an hour. What do you think?"

My words paused Kia, she wanted to struggle more, but held herself back for now, her mind working it out. After which, knowing that she can’t fight against it, she replied.

"Sigh... fine, I agree..."

Her words made me smile, as I, with a flash, pulled out a chariot for us to travel in. Seeing it, the two of us were quickly brought inside, and within a moment, it started to move, invisible and undetected to the world. Now the two of us sat in silence facing each other, silence being our gift.

"..."

"..."

Kia stared at me with wide eyes, clearly showing that she was pissed as hell! The smile I gave in reply was not making things better. Thus, the silence lingered for a moment, but even then, curiosity took her over as Kia asked.

"So where are we going?"

To which I, smiling, replied.

"Somewhere different."

That itself being the only answer as she, pouting, turned her head sideways. I enjoyed the childish way she was playing this, though within just minutes, we reached the place. We could have reached in seconds, but I held back the time. The chariot, invisible and protected, as we landed in a more deserted place in a more dangerous city.

Soon, the two of us were outside, Kia’s gaze filled with defiance as she looked around. We were in a wide desert with sharpened red sands all around, the smell being quite distinct and definitely not good at all, as she, looking around, saw only a single, more lazy city toward the far side, one looking definitely not rich and definitely dangerous.

"Seriously, where are we?"

To her question, Azrail, maintaining a normal rhythm, stored the chariot away, after which, looking at the spread-out place, spoke.

"A place where talent comes to die."

The words made Kia raise an eyebrow in question, to which Azrail, without a word, started to lead the way forward. The two of them were cloaked from any detection as Kia walked side by side with him. Soon, Azrail, controlling them, flashed them through the location as they arrived on top of the city.

"Urgh... this place looks dead."

Kia added, her eyes narrowed as she looked down at the city.

"The Gravemourn Stronghold, of the Demon Empire."

At the mention of those words, Kia’s eyes widened as she looked down at the city, dark, black, and perhaps red from the blood around.

The Gravemourn Stronghold was a scar on the face of the world — a city that should’ve long died, yet somehow refused to. From above, it looked like a massive crater carved into the land, the outer rings surrounded by jagged cliffs and blackened sands that stretched endlessly, as if even the desert itself avoided touching it. The walls of the stronghold were not built but grown — made from obsidian stone fused with blood crystals that pulsed faintly, like veins of a living corpse.

Thick smoke and ash rose from countless furnaces scattered across the ruins, mixing into the crimson-tinged sky. The air shimmered faintly with demonic energy, unstable and suffocating, twisting the horizon into mirages. Down below, streets made of cracked stone and molten veins glowed dimly underfoot. The city was a labyrinth — its alleys narrow, filled with broken statues and hanging cages that swung in the wind, carrying the remnants of screams that never truly faded.

Everywhere, there was motion — children with hollow eyes dragging blades twice their size, scavengers lurking among shadows, and monstrous silhouettes moving across rooftops. There was no music, no laughter, no light. The city breathed violence. The only sound that carried through was the clanging of steel, the roar of beasts, and the whisper of despair.

At the centre stood the Spire of Chains, a dark tower that pierced the sky, wrapped entirely in metal bindings that shimmered with cursed runes. Around it lay the Blood Courts — an arena district where life was measured in kills, not years. Near the lower layers, the Black Market of Sins festered beneath shattered temples, glowing with dim red lanterns and the stench of burning essence.

Everything about Gravemourn screamed death — and yet, there was life. A savage, unrelenting kind. The type that crawled, bit, and tore its way forward.

Kia’s eyes darted from one sight to another, her voice faltering as she whispered.

"...People live here?"

Azrail’s gaze remained calm as he looked over the dying city — the place that devoured pride and broke the chains of arrogance. The winds here carried not just heat, but memories — of those who entered screaming and left as monsters, or never left at all.

"This," he said quietly, his tone neither proud nor cruel, "is where the gifted learn what their talent is worth."

The words sank deep into the air between them, heavier than the ash that fell from the sky.