The Damned Demon
chapter-712

Cecilia's expression froze, tension coiling within her as she processed Asher's demand. Her gaze fell to the ground, Derek's ominous words echoing in her head like the relentless beat of a war drum.

Sensing her mother's turmoil, Rachel gently took Cecilia's hand, "Mom, we know Dad told you something important after he took you to the Nexus Tower. Whatever it is, it can't be anything good. We need to know what he's planning—to stop him before it's too late. Only you can help us."

Cecilia rubbed her fingers together, worry etched deep into her face. She kept her head lowered as she spoke, her voice wavering, "If I tell you, he'll know. He always knows…and I can't even begin to predict how he'd react now that I feel like I can't recognize him anymore. Maybe he already suspects I've gone against him. Maybe we're already—"

"Mom." Rachel's voice was soft but firm, her eyes filled with reassurance, "Don't worry. We're in this together. Whatever happens, we'll face it side by side, and we will protect each other. Dad might find out eventually, but the real priority here is protecting our world. Isn't that what matters most?"

After a long, tense moment, Cecilia raised her gaze, looking between Asher and Rachel, and finally spoke, her voice filled with dread, "Okay...I don't know how to say this, but…he's planning to sacrifice all manaless people to destroy…" She turned her haunted gaze toward Asher. "…your world."

Asher's eyes widened, the shock and gravity of her words taking hold, while Rachel's eyes filled with horror, "W-What… That cannot be…" she whispered, her voice breaking, "He wouldn't go that far…"

Cecilia grimaced, her face pale, "I'm sorry, Rachel. I wondered the same thing…if it was even truly your father talking. But he's deadly serious, and he's determined to see it through."

"Why? Just why? Why would he commit genocide and kill most of humanity to destroy the demon world? Not even most demons have done something like that to their own kind," Rachel's eyes shimmered with tears, disbelief etched across her face. Asher's expression turned dark, his tone laced with disdain as he replied, "Why are you surprised, Rachel? This is the man who experiments on innocents and betrays his closest allies, even to the point of killing those he once considered friends and family. What's a billion more lives to him if it gets him what he wants?"

Rachel gritted her teeth as she grimaced, her emotions raging in her chest, knowing he was right. Somewhere deep within her heart, she had always wished her dad still had some good left in him. But it seems she was hoping in vain.

Cecilia's chin quivered, Asher's words only adding weight to the truth she had tried to ignore. Her heart clenched as she realized just how monstrous Derek was turning out to be, a reality she had desperately wished wasn't true. But she couldn't help but wonder who Asher was talking about when he said Derek killed those he considered as friends and family.

"Mom…please tell us…Why does he need to go that far?"

Cecilia turned back to Rachel, her voice a low murmur, "He says he's creating a new world for us, for humanity. A world without weakness, where only the manaborn survive. He calls it an 'evolutionary step,' a purge of the weak links that demons exploit to terrorize our world."

Rachel's eyes filled with revulsion, "That's absurd! Weakness isn't tied to being manaless. Corrupted Hunters can wreak even greater havoc than those without mana. How can he justify such horror?" Her voice broke, "Even if he was right. It doesn't make it any less evil and wrong. Is he not afraid of the angels' wrath?"

Cecilia's face twisted with anguish, "He believes he's doing the angels' bidding. And that they want him to wipe out the demons at any cost. It's not just a purge; he's planning to channel the lifeforce of every manaless person into the Nexus Tower, using them to empower it even more. He intends to unleash that power during the Final Reckoning quest to make sure he can obliterate the demon world."

Asher clenched his jaw and said coldly, "And knowing all this, you were going to stay silent and help him, weren't you? Is that why you refused to go back to Russia with me?"

Cecilia's head dropped, her voice fragile and broken, "I… I didn't know what to do. He confided in me, convinced me that it was all for us—for Rachel, for our family, for a better future. He spoke with such sincerity, I thought… I thought maybe I was the one in the wrong. I just didn't know what to do, and I didn't want to betray him after everything he had done for us. I'm so sorry…I don't know what I was thinking..."

Without hesitation, Rachel pulled her mother into a comforting embrace, whispering softly, "It's alright, Mom. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to bear this alone. But you did the right thing by telling us now. You're not alone anymore in this."

Cecilia's arms tightened around her daughter, her heart burdened yet soothed by Rachel's forgiveness. Asher watched them, his expression unreadable, but the slightest hint of understanding touched his eyes. However, he clenched his jaw, a storm gathering in his eyes. "This is worse than I thought. There's no bottom line for that wretched dog. We'll need all the help we can to stop him."

"I…" Cecilia faltered, her voice trembling. "I'm prepared to reveal this to the public if it's the only way. Maybe then he'll be shut down before he can push it any further. The Judge will do something to stop him."

Asher shook his head, his gaze hard and unyielding. "You still don't get it, do you? He won't stop at anything, and we can't trust anyone, including the Judge, no matter how fair you or everyone believes him to be. Derek has the entire WHA in his palm and will crush anyone who stands in his way. Exposing him would only fast-track his plans and turn him even more ruthless. You know as well as I do—he's determined to see this through."

"T-Then, how do you plan to stop him?" Cecilia asked, worry etched on her face.

"We buy ourselves time," Asher said, nodding slowly, his voice chillingly calm. "And we start by…" His eyes turned to Rachel, a fierce determination flashing in his gaze, "…taking down Lenny for good. It's time. You're going to crucify him and his entire guild publicly."

A fierce light sparked in Rachel's eyes, her lips twisting into a smirk, "Thank the angels, you finally said it. I've been enduring his smug, disgusting grin for far too long."

Cecilia's eyes widened as she realized the hidden purpose. "So that's why you joined Lenny's guild? All this time?"

"Yes," Rachel replied, her voice filled with the bitterness of patience finally bearing fruit. "Dad used Lenny as his pawn, supporting him in all his schemes, and he still does. Taking Lenny down is the first step to slowing my father down."

Cecilia sighed, the weight of the truth settling heavily on her shoulders. Yet, another question lingered, a memory haunting her thoughts. She looked at Asher, her brow furrowed. "You said Derek killed those he once considered family and friends… W-Who did he…kill?" Her voice trembled, the dread in her eyes plain.

Asher turned to Rachel, inclining his head. "You should tell her. It's high time she knew the truth."

Rachel pressed her lips together, nodding before facing her mother, her expression deeply pained. "There are many, but the one that hurt me the most…the one that shattered everything…was Cedric."

Cecilia's face paled, her brows raising in horror. "Cedric? But…he was like a son to him. How could he…" Cecilia was shocked to hear the truth. But for some reason, she felt as if she knew this somewhere deep down in her heart.

"He killed him, Mom. Not because Cedric was corrupted or evil. He wasn't. It was because Cedric was a threat to his plans. He and the WHA plotted to eliminate him that day when the Demon King showed up," Rachel revealed, her voice catching, while Cecilia's hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief.

"No… How could he? Cedric was…He was family…What have I done…" Cecilia's voice trailed off, her body trembling as she stumbled back, caught by Rachel's steadying arms.

Asher's gaze darkened. "Is that so hard to believe when he's willing to commit genocide now? He's always been that way, Cecilia…even before you married him. You have no idea how many bodies he's buried behind your back, how many innocent lives he's traded for power and status. The life you enjoyed, the prestige he provided—it was all built on the blood of the innocents. Even the M.A.M. tech that revolutionized this world was meant for good, but he betrayed the inventor and had him killed in a way that would chill you to your bones. You've been married to the real monster all along, and it's tragic you never saw it."

Cecilia's heart twisted painfully as his words sank in, a brutal wave of guilt and shame crashing down on her. She had been so blind, her loyalty wasted on a man who held nothing sacred. She even ended up getting Cedric's good friends killed, including their family. Their blood was on her hands.

Tears blurred her vision, but she forced them back, clenching her fists as she lifted her chin, meeting Asher's gaze with newfound resolve, "You're right...I've been blind, ignorant, and because of that, I've sinned. But I...I want to make things right while I still can. I will help you both until the end... no matter what it costs or where it leads us.