"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion rang out! The moment the fireball collided with the barrier, it triggered a violent blast that sent Lucen flying backward. Fortunately, he was an Awakened. Otherwise, that explosion alone could have killed him.
"Are you rebelling?!" Robert roared. "Layla, do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
Above them, barriers appeared one after another, almost forming a solid cage that imprisoned Layla within.
Layla slammed her fist into the barrier, fine cracks spreading across its surface. "What am I doing? Why don't you ask yourself what you're doing! A child born of a concubine dares to go against the legitimate mistress of this family. Shouldn't he be punished?!"
Robert looked at Layla and said with a frown, "You've gone mad, Layla. I originally intended to give you and your son a more decent ending, but it seems you don't want that."
"Bang!"
Another punch struck the barrier. This time, the cracks spread wider and farther.
Layla laughed, yet it sounded more like she was crying. "A decent ending? This is what you call a decent ending?! Robert?! Do you even remember what you promised when you married me?! Look at what you've done to me all these years! You bastard!"
"That's enough!" Robert roared, waving his hand. A barrier shot out instantly, blasting Layla down into the main hall.
At the same time, the sound of wheels came to a halt. Layla fell right beside Nick's feet.
Nick watched the scene, a strange, ethereal light pooling in his eyes Layla hurriedly scrambled up and hugged Nick tightly. "I'm sorry, Nick. It's all Mom's fault. Are you scared? Let's go home."
But at that moment, Nick suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.
Layla could not help but look at Nick in surprise.
At this time, Tina had already stood up. She laughed as she walked up to Nick. Her long golden hair swayed with her movements. Though she had a beautiful face, her expression was filled with disdain.
In Nick's memories, she had bullied him together with Lucen many times. Even with an engagement between them, she had always looked down on Nick with utter contempt.
"Ha ha, Nick, perfect timing. Let's break off the engagement today. You know what I mean, right?"
Tina crossed her arms and sneered. "Though I suppose it's pointless saying it to you. Talking to you is like talking to a piece of wood. You can't even speak anyway."
The moment she finished speaking, Nick suddenly spoke up, "Breaking off the engagement. Why?"
Almost instantly, all eyes in the hall turned toward Nick at the same time. Tina was utterly stunned as well.
Nick could talk? Since when?!
Only now did Tina truly look at Nick. Wait, did Nick used to look like this?
She realized she could not recall anything clearly. In her eyes, Nick had always been nothing more than a fool.
So what if he could speak now? He was still a cripple with no Talent.
Tina sneered. "Why? Of course because you're too useless. Haha. Just like your mother. The two of you should get out of here already. Someone like you could beg on the streets. At least you'd look pitifully stupid enough for it. As for your mother, she could do something else. With that face, even if she's a bit old, it's still enough to support you. Who told her to give birth to such a useless son like you."
Ariana covered her mouth and laughed, clearly very pleased with Tina's string of words.
Layla was furious yet unable to do anything. She could not let things become even uglier. She might dare to risk her life against these people, but with Nick here, she did not dare.
The others looked at the mother and son with disdain, some watching the spectacle, some simply not caring at all.
"Hah."
But at that moment, Nick suddenly laughed.
Facing Nick's mocking smile, Tina felt irritated, and for some reason, a hint of embarrassment rose within her.
The chaos of emotions made her snap in anger. "What are you laughing at? You brain-damaged cripple—"
Before she could finish speaking, Nick had already raised his hand.
"Whoosh!"
A massive flame suddenly erupted, shooting straight toward Tina!
Tina was completely unprepared. Almost instantly, she was blasted backward by the attack, slamming hard into the wall before collapsing to the ground.
Flames spread rapidly across her body. In the blink of an eye, she turned into a human torch.
"Aaaa! It's burning! Help! Someone help me!"
Along with Tina's screams, the others panicked as well. But they had no chance to do anything, because after that scream, Tina's body was reduced to ashes, not even bones remaining.
Everything happened so fast that everyone was still mired in shock.
That kind of power… burning an Awakened to ashes in the blink of an eye. Just how terrifying was the rank of this Talent?
They looked again, only to see Nick slowly stand up, one hand still gripping Layla's.
He stood in front, while Layla stared blankly at his back. Tears from moments ago still lingered in her eyes.
"Nick… you…"
Nick turned to look at his mother and said softly, "This time, let me handle everything, Mom."
Layla had never realized that her son had already grown to be almost taller than her. Her son could speak, could stand, and even had Talent!
Oh heavens. No matter what had happened, no matter whether this was a dream or not, just let everything stay like this.
Layla covered her mouth as tears streamed down again, not tears of humiliation, but tears of overwhelming joy.
Nick extended his palm, and a flame flared to life in his hand.
At that moment, an enraged shout suddenly rang out. "You, Nick, what the hell did you just do?! You killed Tina! She was from the Valerius family! Do you even realize the trouble you've caused?!"
It was Lucen. His eyes were wide with fury as he glared at Nick, his posture clearly ready to pounce and fight at any moment. Tina was obviously the woman he loved.
Nick curled his lips and looked at Lucen with disdain. "I didn't just kill her. I'm going to kill you too. And your death will definitely be even more painful."
"Die!" Veins bulged on Lucen's forehead as he roared and lunged straight at Nick!
"Robert, stop them!" Ariana grabbed Robert's sleeve, Tina's death still vividly replaying in her mind. She had great confidence in Lucen, but she loved him too much to let him face such danger.
Yet the usually indulgent Robert forcefully shook her hand off.
Ariana stared up at him in a daze, only to see Robert lowering his gaze. Those deep blue eyes were filled with nothing but coldness. The beard Ariana usually found charming now made him look fierce and distant.
"Robert…" she murmured.
Robert spoke coldly. "Ariana, mind your place. This is just a matter between the children."
Seeing that his father did not step in to stop him, Lucen felt even more delighted. Perfect. This was the perfect chance to kill Nick. So what if Nick had suddenly awakened Talent? Lucen had possessed Talent since childhood and had trained relentlessly. He was now a D-rank Awakened and would definitely crush Nick!
The ground suddenly trembled as countless sharp spikes burst upward from below, surging toward Nick at an unbelievable speed!
"Nick!" Layla cried out anxiously.
But Nick had already leapt into the air. Two spinning fireballs beneath his feet lifted him, suspending him in midair.
He raised his arm high. Flames erupted from his shoulders, blazing fiercely before converging and then exploding outward in a powerful sweep. In an instant, a greatsword appeared in his hand, radiant and wreathed in fire. Veins of flame flowed along his palm, burning part of his sleeve, then extending onto the greatsword and winding along its blade.
Even his amber-colored eyes seemed to ignite with fire.
He lowered his gaze toward the ground. In the next moment, flames abruptly enveloped his entire body. His figure shot forward, wrapped in a storm of fire like a streak of light, accompanied by a shrill tearing sound as the air itself was ripped apart!
Lucen hurriedly slammed his palms together. Instantly, the earth rose up from both sides and fused together, forming a solid, seemingly indestructible shield!
And just as he finished, Nick's attack arrived.
"Boom! Crash!"
A explosion erupted, like a gigantic mushroom cloud rising into the air. Earth and stone flew everywhere as the crowd hurriedly took cover.
Layla watched anxiously. Ariana was so panicked she was on the verge of tears. Only Robert stared at the scene with excitement, his pupils trembling.
The smoke and dust quickly dispersed, revealing Nick and Lucen facing each other.
But shockingly, everything seemed unchanged…
No. From the tip of Nick's greatsword, cracks began to spread across the massive, sturdy earthen wall!
At the same time, a mangled chunk of flesh flew out behind Lucen. It was his heart, now shattered beyond recognition, reduced to a pool of blood!
"Rumble!"
The earthen wall collapsed with a deafening roar, and Lucen fell flat onto his back. His eyes remained wide open in death as fresh blood poured from his chest, quickly soaking the ground in a gruesome sight.
"Aaaaa!" Ariana suddenly screamed. Her eyes turned red, bloodshot with disbelief.
Impossible. Impossible. Impossible! Her son, her son!
She staggered, screaming as she rushed down from her seat and ran toward Lucen.
"Lucen, wake up! Wake up, my son, don't scare your mother!"
But how could he? Her son was dead beyond all doubt.
She glared at Nick, who had just landed nearby, and lunged at him in madness. "You vile beast! You monster! I'll kill you!"
Her scream was cut short when Nick kicked her away, sending her crashing hard into a pile of chairs.
She wailed in pain, unable to move.
Who could have imagined that someone who had been so arrogant and high above others just moments ago would fall into such a state?