Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 588: I can’t

Debro was simply too shocked to speak when he heard Asher’s real name.

’A Wargrave,’ he repeated in his mind, the weight of those words settling heavily within his consciousness, echoing as though they carried a will of their own.

He didn’t dare believe that Asher was lying again, as anyone would rather impersonate the Emperor than a Wargrave itself, for the consequences tied to such a falsehood were far more terrifying than death itself.

Debro kept quiet; he didn’t speak, the silence around him and Asher thickening into something almost tangible. Although he loved Asher, he couldn’t help but ask himself if his love could withstand the might and weight of the Wargrave family, a lineage that stood far beyond reason itself.

His mind flashed through the Duke himself, Azaron Wargrave, the man who stood unchallenged amongst all, the one whom people feared and trembled at just from hearing his name, his very existence a calamity.

Then there was the First Sun, Malrik, who was rumoured to now be stronger than his father, the Duke himself, an existence that defied generational limits.

Wuthenya, the Second Moon, who moved more dangerously than any assassin, her presence said to be death incarnate. Then the twin Third Sun and Third Moon, whose synergy alone was enough to rewrite the rules of battle.

The more Debro thought about every single Sun and Moon, the more the silence between him and Asher stretched, becoming suffocating, as though reality itself was urging him to retreat.

Any of these people could end him at any time; he wouldn’t even be able to follow the attack before he was erased. Could he really stand in front of such people and declare his love for their kin? He didn’t even need to think too much to know that the moment he uttered any such words, he and whoever was related or linked to him would be erased from Crymora without a trace, without even the mercy of remembrance.

His fist clenched, determination burning within him as his eyes shifted to meet Asher’s, which were filled with a quiet confusion that barely masked his growing irritation.

Although Asher didn’t exactly know what Debro was thinking, he could tell the man was contemplating something significant, as he watched Debro’s face cycle through several emotions before settling on a firm, almost desperate determination.

"I have a confession to make," Debro suddenly spoke, his voice coming out clear-cut and unwavering as he stared at Asher, his eyes carrying a strange, fragile hope.

Asher didn’t speak; he didn’t ask what confession. He simply stared at the man without a word, knowing full well that Debro would eventually say what he intended to say, regardless of any prompt.

Seeing Asher’s silence, Debro continued, "I think I’m in love with you," Debro stated without hiding his thoughts or emotions, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words.

The moment Debro’s words registered within Asher’s ears and mind, both his body and thoughts froze in utter disbelief. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard; he, who possessed remarkable control over his facial expressions, felt that control slip from him in that very moment, however briefly.

Asher had thought of many things that could happen between him and Debro, but not this, never this.

Yes, he was aware of Debro’s sick and twisted desires, but love? How Debro even grew such an emotion within mere hours, Asher did not know, nor did he wish to understand. But before he could speak, Debro continued. As a man at the Wavestar Life Rank, being shy or hiding his thoughts wasn’t his nature, so he felt bold and continued speaking without restraint.

"Yes, I know you put me under an illusion, I know it wasn’t real, it was all fake," he stated with a calm tone, one that contrasted the intensity of his emotions, "but... those moments within the illusion were the best times I’ve ever had. Even my harem can’t elicit such pure emotions from me. Since then, since the illusion broke, I’ve thought of you and nothing else. You’ve consumed my mind and soul, Asher Wargrave," Debro stated as he met Asher’s eyes with unwavering fixation.

Asher stayed silent as he stared at the man before him. ’What kind of sick fucker is this guy?’ Asher couldn’t help but ask himself, his mind momentarily recoiling at the absurdity of the situation.

Was someone who was well over a century old truly professing love to someone who was barely eighteen years of age? An old man thinking about laying claim to a young male who had barely stepped into adulthood, no, it was beyond disturbing.

Asher’s face bore the deepest frown he had ever displayed in both lives, both as Ethan and as Asher, as he found himself utterly devoid of words for the man before him, a rare occurrence for someone like him.

"What do you say, Asher Wargrave? I’m ready to stand with you to th—" Debro began to speak again, but this time, Asher cut him off with a clear, sharp tone.

"No!" he uttered a single word, his voice brisk and flat, conveying his thoughts without any room for misunderstanding, without even the slightest hint of ambiguity.

Debro paused as he stared at Asher. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he spoke with a calm tone, one that almost seemed detached from reality, "That’s okay. Love takes time to bloom between two people. After all, it is difficult for two people to fall in love at first sight immediately," he stated as though he understood the concept of love better than anyone else alive.

Asher’s frown finally vanished as his face returned to its usual expressionless state. Then he sighed, a subtle release of irritation, as he spoke, "I’m getting tired of the words that are coming out of your mouth, Debro," he began, his gaze locking onto Debro’s, sharp and unwavering. "Do you really love me?"

Hearing Asher’s question, Debro nodded without hesitation, his nod faster than the blink of an eye, as though afraid that even a moment’s delay would invalidate his feelings.

"Then if you love me, kill yourself right here and now," Asher stated with an indifferent tone. If Debro could kill himself, Asher had no problems with that; it would simply save him the stress and effort of going through the battle.

Hearing Asher’s words, Debro’s face froze for a moment. Then he shook his head as he spoke, "I can’t."

"Then I guess we have nothing to discuss," Asher added, his tone lowering slightly as he met Debro’s gaze, his patience clearly thinning.

"You don’t have to believe me," Debro began again, unwilling to let the conversation end so easily. "You just have to come with me to my personal base, and I’m sure you will understand in a few days," he stated with a smile that carried undertones of something far more sinister than affection.

"I guess you will be taking me by force then," Asher replied indifferently, his senses heightening to their peak as he prepared for the inevitable escalation.

"Don’t make me drag you, Asher. While you might be a Wargrave, you are still just at the Swiftstar Life Rank, while I’m at the Wavestar Life Rank, that’s two Major Life Ranks apart, a bottomless chasm. Even the Wargrave, famous for their physical and battle talent and acumen, can’t bridge that gap at this level," Debro stated as he attempted to advise Asher, as he didn’t want to hurt him, despite the contradiction in his intentions.