Saruto froze, as if Darius words had weighed heavily on him. He hadn't expected this past; he hadn't imagined that Adrian, the being he had faced so many times as a merciless enemy, carried so much pain and suffering within him.
"Now…it's my turn to ask," Darius said, observing the silence that had fallen over Saruto.
He raised his gaze to him, his eyes gleaming with malicious curiosity. "What percentage of the dark energy have you released?"
"Fifty-five percent," Saruto answered without hesitation.
Darius smile widened slightly, but he didn't speak. "So…it's not time yet, my lord…to summon you," he thought to himself.
"Now it's my turn," Saruto broke his reverie.
He raised his head steadily and looked directly at Darius. "Can Adrian hear us…talking?"
Darius stiffened for a moment. "Why is he asking that question?"
He thought for a moment, then said to himself, "Even if I tell him… he won't gain anything."
"Yes," he replied calmly. "He can hear us."
At that moment, an unnatural smile spread across Saruto face. A dark smile. A thick, dark energy surrounded him, swirling like smoke.
Darius was confused. "Why is he laughing? What has he discovered?"
"Now it's my turn again," Darius said, trying to regain control. "Saruto… is your father still alive?"
Saruto was taken aback by Darius question. "Still alive? What does he mean by that? Does he intend to kill my father? And why is he asking about my father?"
But he concealed his confusion and replied, "Yes. He's still alive."
He took a deep breath and said, "Now it's my turn… but wait, let me formulate my question."
Saruto fell silent. He went back to replaying Adrian story from the beginning, every detail, every timing, every suspicious appearance. Suddenly, he laughed.
"I've found it," he said in a low voice. "But I'll leave that question for last."
He raised his eyes to Darius. "I'll stall a little... until I regain my strength."
"Who was this master you were apologizing to a moment ago?" Saruto asked.
Darius smiled briefly. "Rejected. Well... my turn."
"Are the Ten Kingdoms still alright?" he asked coldly.
"First he asks about my strength, then about my father, then about the kingdoms. What's his aim?" Saruto wondered to himself.
"Yes. They are still alright," he replied.
Darius nodded slowly. "I've run out of questions, Saruto. Now... this is your last question. What do you want to ask?"
Saruto smiled confidently. "Darius... did you have anything to do with the murder of Adrian's wife and daughter?"
Darius being shook violently. In the depths of his consciousness, Adrian was disturbed. "What?" he thought to himself. "Why are you asking this question?"
Saruto continued, giving him no chance to escape. "Are you surprised?
I analyzed the story you told me… and it didn't make sense."
He took a step closer. "Why… of all times… did you appear before Adrian precisely at the moment his wife and daughter were killed?"
Adrian energy began to surge within his body. Darius felt it trying to regain control. Saruto continued, his voice decisive. "And why did you choose Adrian specifically to make the deal? We are the Dark Family… and when our energy is unleashed by a powerful shock, we lose our awareness for a few moments."
His energy surged. "And you… you used that moment to make the deal with him. Didn't you?" "Answer! The darkness contract we placed doesn't allow you to lie."
Darius laughed, a harsh laugh as he fought Adrian control. "You're right... Saruto."
He fell to the ground, screaming, trying to restrain Adrian. "Everything that happened to Adrian... was part of my master plan, and for you, Saruto."
Saruto eyes widened. "A plan? For me?"
Darius said haltingly, "Yes... only for your training... to increase your strength."
"Training me?!" Saruto said.
Darius laughed weakly. "It's not yet time... for you to know the answer."
At that moment, Adrian regained control. The darkness erupted from his body, throwing Darius out. Adrian's energy completely collapsed, and he screamed in anger mixed with pain, "So... everything that happened to me... was because of you?!" "I will never forgive you!"
Darius materialized as a dragon, made of pure darkness, unlike any dragon Saruto had ever seen. "Goodbye… all of you," Darius said.
He tried to escape the Founding Father's world. But Saruto formed his chained swords and hurled them with force, grabbing Darius leg and pulling him down. Adrian rushed to his aid, but their strength wasn't enough.
Gathering the last of his power, Adrian moved over Darius and delivered a massive punch to his back, knocking him to the ground. They thought he had fallen, but Darius took advantage of their distraction, suddenly soaring out of the world. "Follow him!" Adrian shouted. "Don't let him escape, Saruto!"
Saruto dashed out of the world and back into the Time Chamber. The dragon suddenly reappeared. Ethan froze in shock. "Saruto! What is this dragon?!"
Saruto drew his swords and said quickly, "No time to explain. Help me catch him!" Ethan assumed the form of a Grim Reaper, while Saruto seized Darius's feet, pulling him with all his might. Ethan scythe rained blows, inflicting severe injuries. But Darius still resisted, until he heard a voice say, "Darius, let them hold you, for I still need you there."
"Yes, sir," Darius replied.
He reduced his strength. Saruto wrapped chains of darkness around him, immobilizing him, and Ethan added a seal that tightened the bonds. Ethan reverted to his form and looked at Saruto intently. "Explain to me… what happened?"
Saruto began to recount everything. Ethan remained silent for a long time, then said in a heavy voice, "So… this dragon… is the cause of all Adrian's suffering."