Rise of the White Dragon

Amidst the tension of the moment, Cecilia's thoughts wandered briefly, recalling Renato Lopes and his formidable power. In her mind, she revisited the scene where Renato, with a graceful move, brandished his swords, resulting in countless fallen adversaries.

The irony was that, if Will knew of the comparison between his strength and Renato's in Cecilia's thoughts, his pride might be deeply wounded...

Snapping out of such reflections, Will summoned his special ability: a direct attack on Nicolas's psyche.

Nicolas's anguished scream shattered the silence, echoing for seemingly endless minutes until, at last, Will halted his assault.

Nicolas, with his sanity clearly shaken, laughed disjointedly. "Fools! All of you, fools! Idiots... Hahaha." He uttered with empty eyes, wandering aimlessly.

Will, with a stern look and an icy tone, remarked, "He's broken, lost his mind."

Observing Nicolas's pitiful state, Cecilia felt a mix of satisfaction and relief. "He got what he deserved," she stated, her determined tone hiding any trace of pity.

Will nodded, "Yes, my dear, he reaped what he sowed. But our work isn't over yet. There are others who need to face justice."

With renewed resolve, Cecilia replied, "I'm ready, Grandpa." Hovering in the vast sky, Renato Lopes let out a heavy sigh, laden with conflicting emotions.

Only a few days had passed since the shocking revelation came to light. His beloved, whom he thought had betrayed his heart, was, in fact, a victim.

A serial killer, having acquired supernatural abilities from a mysterious Origin that could manipulate minds as if under forced mind control; using this sinister power, he coerced Renato's fiancée into committing acts she would never dream of doing, culminating in the final act of taking her own life.

With fiery determination, Renato retaliated, dismembering the villain piece by piece, watching him plead for a swift release from pain.

It's curious, Renato thought. Many claim that psychopaths lack emotions. Yet, that man shed copious tears, like a lost child, facing days of torment under Renato's relentless fist.

However, that fiery vengeance provided only fleeting solace. Upon completing his mission, Renato was overwhelmed by a sense of emptiness and a sharp awareness of irrevocable loss. The adrenaline from the revenge was undeniable, but its aftermath left a void that seemed to consume his soul.

If only he had listened to his fiancée, or sought to understand more deeply what was happening... Might she still be alive?

It's a question that lingers in his mind, tormenting him. The weight of uncertainty, combined with guilt, might be a constant companion for the rest of his days.

His heart was inflamed with outrage upon discovering the reason why the young woman was being pursued. Although the details varied, the evil essence was eerily familiar. It brought back memories of the vile creature that had manipulated his beloved, discarding her afterward as if she was something insignificant.

Renato had come to believe that his former fiancée was a traitor, unworthy of his love...

A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He yearned to turn back time, but some decisions, once made, are irreversible.

══════『????』══════

Hours earlier, during a live stream of Catharina playing online, a disturbing comment appeared in the chat: "Someone is trying to forcibly take my purity!!"

Even though the comment didn't use explicit wording due to platform restrictions, the underlying message was unmistakable and distressing.

While part of Catharina hoped it was just a distasteful joke, something inside her sensed the hidden gravity in those words. Without hesitation, she quickly contacted her brother and asked him to identify the comment's author.

Understanding the reason behind his sister's request, Luan immediately reached out to Elias. "I need you to check on a situation at this specific address. If any member of the Elite Troop is nearby, instruct them to assess the situation. If there's any real threat, they have authorization to intervene."

Elias, who often adopted a playful and light demeanor, now bore a look of determination. "Consider it done, I'm already on my way." Thus, his more serious and protective side was revealed.

Catharina was momentarily surprised to see Elias in such a resolute mode. She touched her lips in reflection and, without commenting on the incident, returned to her game, keeping her viewers oblivious to the turmoil.

Meanwhile, Elias identified that Renato Lopes, a known hunter of disturbed beings, was patrolling nearby.

Since Renato had discovered the cruel reality behind the fate of his former fiancée, he became obsessed with tracking and eradicating such creatures, often disregarding the need for rest, even against the persistent recommendations of Elias and others.

After a brief investigation and intervention, Renato contacted Elias, reporting his assessment of the situation.

Hearing the confirmation, Catharina murmured, somewhat shaken, "So it was true after all..."

Elias, trying to manage the situation, instructed Renato: "Since the girl's grandfather is there and appears to be a commanding figure, you can withdraw. I'll handle the rest."

Renato's response was brief, just a "Understood." But even across the distance of the call, the profound complexity of his emotions resonated, making it hard to discern his true feelings.

Elias always carried a weight in his heart for what happened to Renato. The painful revelation about Renato's former fiancée, manipulated by a serial killer armed with a hypnotic Origin power, had deeply shocked all who knew the story.

To know she had been forced to betray Renato and then had her fate sealed by such cruel hands was a bitter pill to swallow. The anguish and helplessness that accompanied the discovery were almost unbearable.

"Are you sure you can handle this on your own?" Luan inquired, concern evident in his voice.

Elias responded with a determined expression. "It's just another mission. I know how to deal with it."

With years of experience in the army, Elias had faced and overcome countless challenges. He had learned a particular, albeit controversial, method to deal with situations like this: infusing a deceased body with the blood of a frenzied creature could induce transformations in the corpse, even if it did not revive it.

Even though the ethics of this approach could be questioned, it was, in many cases, the most effective means to address certain problems. Armed with this knowledge and accompanied by members of the Elite Troop, Elias headed to the designated location.