Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 587: Wrong Foot

Staring at the dead Emovira, Debro slowly tore his gaze away, his eyes settling on his now bloodied foot. With a single thought, Astra energy pulsed subtly around him, and the blood staining his boots was erased completely, leaving them as pristine as before.

While the Emovira had been capable of fighting above its rank, it had ultimately meant nothing to Debro. He had handled it with nothing but pure physical strength and combat prowess. No Astra energy, no awakened ability, no weapon, nothing but three simple, effortless attacks, and it had all been over before the Emovira could even fully process what was happening.

The Emovira’s long-held quest for revenge and vengeance had vanished like a candle caught in a violent windstorm, snuffed out without resistance, without significance.

With that concluded, Debro vanished from where he stood. His body reappeared high in the sky once more, and the moment he materialized, a smile formed on his lips. There was nothing left to hinder him now, nothing that could distract him from Ethan. With that thought firmly rooted in his mind, he shot forward, cutting through the sky as he made his way toward Asher’s location, anticipation building within him.

Asher could be seen seated calmly on the ground in a lotus position. His body remained pristine, his clothes untouched and immaculate, his overall cleanliness standing in stark contrast to the devastated battlefield he sat within. It was almost as though he had nothing to do with the corpses scattered all around him, as though he were merely an observer rather than the one responsible for the destruction.

Even with his eyes closed, Asher’s Star Sense and Omni Perception were operating at their peak. He did not know what Debro would do upon arrival. Would he be furious? Would he lose control on the spot? Would he attack immediately without hesitation? Asher had no answers, and so he chose the safest course, he waited, allowing the battle to come to him.

If only he knew that the man he was waiting for had, in truth, been waiting for him all this time, waiting patiently for him to finish his own battle so they could finally meet again, not as enemies, but for something far more personal.

Suddenly, a booming sound echoed from the sky above. Asher’s purple eyes fluttered open instantly, his head snapping upward toward the incoming presence. Although he had yet to visually confirm who it was, he already knew.

Debro.

Within mere seconds, Debro’s figure came into view. His body slowed to a halt as he hovered midair, looking down at Asher from above. Asher did not speak; he simply returned the gaze, his purple eyes locking onto Debro’s black ones.

Silence consumed the battlefield. The faint rustling of leaves could be heard in the distance, yet to these two, such sounds were meaningless. Their senses had already filtered everything else out, focusing entirely on one another, though for vastly different reasons.

Asher’s senses peaked, primed to react to any sudden or unexpected attack. He had no knowledge of Debro’s abilities. Number One through Number Six had all possessed unique and dangerous powers; it was only logical to assume that their leader would possess something even more terrifying.

Debro’s senses, on the other hand, peaked for an entirely different purpose. His gaze traced every single detail of Asher’s appearance. His lips, those striking purple eyes, the delicate purple eyelashes, the subtle rhythm of his blinking, the shade and texture of his hair, the smoothness of his cheeks, the sharp perfection of his jawline, the structure of his nose, the entirety of his face, the chest that seemed to press faintly against his breastplate, his height, his physique, every minute detail burned itself deeply into Debro’s mind.

Suddenly, a smile spread across Debro’s lips.

Asher could not help but feel a flicker of confusion at that expression, yet his guard remained at its peak. He did not dare lower it, not even for a moment.

"It seems we started on the wrong foot," the silence shattered like fractured glass as Debro finally spoke, his smile never fading. With flawless control, he descended slowly from the sky, his feet touching the ground with a light, effortless motion.

"I’m Debro. Nice to meet you," he added, his tone carrying an almost unnaturally kind warmth.

The more Asher observed and listened, the more confusion crept into his thoughts. He had been fully prepared to engage in battle the moment Debro appeared, ready to risk his life in combat. Yet here the man was, smiling, introducing himself, and speaking as though they had merely misunderstood each other.

Asher remained silent, his vigilance still there. He made no move to attack first. Although Debro appeared unguarded, Asher was not fooled. He could clearly perceive that, even in this relaxed state, Debro’s body, mind, and senses were passively reacting, ready to respond instantly to any opening or threat.

Seeing that Asher remained silent, Debro continued without frustration or annoyance. After all, love, as he believed, took time.

"I’m sure the name you gave me last time was fake," Debro said calmly. "And I’m assuming every piece of information you gave me was false as well. Although Ethan is a fine name, I’m certain your real name is far better. So... what is your name?"

This time, he paused, genuinely waiting for a response.

Previously, Asher had introduced himself as Ethan, even going as far as claiming that the Seer shared the same name. Now, however, he had no intention of engaging deeply in conversation. Still, despite that, he chose to respond.

"Do you really want to know?" Asher asked, his tone calm, his gaze flat.

"I do," Debro replied instantly, his smile soft but sincere.

"Asher," he answered simply, making no effort to conceal his true name.

"Asher..." Debro repeated softly, as though savoring the name, tasting it, committing it fully to memory. "A strong na—"

But before he could finish, Asher cut him off, "Asher Wargrave, Tenth Sun of the Ducal Wargrave Family," he stated flatly.

The moment those words reached Debro’s ears, his breathing halted abruptly, as though his very rhythm had been forcibly disrupted. His eyes widened in unmistakable shock as the name "Wargrave" echoed within his mind.

Although he had never personally met the individual known as Asher Wargrave, the name itself was widely known throughout the Zarethorn Empire. Asher was infamous as the so-called failure of the Wargrave bloodline, a name that had spread far and wide. Beyond that, however, details of his more recent achievements were largely confined to the noble class.

Debro did not know whether Asher was lying again. Yet, if this was a lie, it was an extraordinarily dangerous one. No one dared to impersonate a Wargrave, not even the organization he served would risk such a thing.

For a brief moment, silence reigned between them once more. Debro, for the first time, was rendered completely speechless.

Could his love truly withstand the overwhelming weight and might of the Wargrave family?

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ANNOUNCEMENT: This shameless author is finally back, and his finger health bar is back to 80%. Also, I would like to apologize for leaving, and also love to thank you all for the support, wishes, and love sent my way. Thank you all.

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