Chapter 318 - Ruined

She groaned as the link ended. 

Xeroha had always spent most of her time- if not all- in link. 

Even so- just a bit of this way too powerful link had made her body go sore. 

'Oh yeah, the checkup was still due…' The room was just as empty as before- devoid of people. Everyone had their own world to contend with. 

She just wanted to go back in link and go fight again but she knew for a fact, her body needed some care. 

Moreover, she didn't have any other strong soldiers so she only had two options. One, request a powerful modified soldier from Central or two- head in battle on her own. 

With one hand on the large link generator, she tried to walk forward. "Arhh…" But her body swayed. "I guess using almost all my powers was a bad idea- bleuh!"

And she almost threw up. 

It was a good thing there was nothing in her stomach. 

But her grin didn't disappear. 

After all, she'd just found her new toy and there was no way she was going to back down now. 

Again- the bit of drool on her face was definitely not part of the plan. 

***

It happened fast, perhaps too past. 

Helio's mother witnessed a tragedy she wished never came to fruition, even in her darkest of nightmares. 

Her husband fell- her brother fell- her mother- they all fell. 

This was a mistake- and yet, she couldn't just tell the others to get out of here either. 

After all- her son was here and he was about to be killed. 

In the end- she still screamed, "Everyone get out of here, I'll take care of this…" Her son was about to die- she had to do something. And at the same time, she didn't want others to die. 

But take care of this? 

How?

And though everyone heard that- no one had the energy to do anything. After all, they were already on the ground- mostly unconscious. 

The radiation poisoning was too much. 

With a deep breath, she took the place of her husband and stood in front of Helio- to protect him but- but with a flashy burning light- she was blasted away almost immediately.

She couldn't protect him… she couldn't protect anyone… 'No…' 

As her consciousness gradually drifted, she saw Helio getting up, a black aura of sort gradually covering him- and yet- she felt a stabbing pain- almost like she was never going to see her son again… 'Helio-' She tried to reach but passed out the very next second. 

The words never came out of her mouth.

***

Demigrace Academy was destroyed and so was most of the island. 

The casualties were high but more than two-thirds of the people had gotten off the island safely.

The headmaster was in a deep coma and his whereabouts were unknown. 

It was a tragedy and no one really knew who to blame or who to thank.

The news of the Romswells losing almost all of their firepower spread rapidly. Some couldn't believe it, others just dismissed it as a hoax. 

"The Romswells mostly dead? That's absurd!" A certain news tycoon flamed a piece of paper on the table, burning it to a crisp. He puffed on his large cigar and grumbled. 

Clouds passed by.

They were in the sky. 

"But sir, we've already confirmed the death of Excrucio and even-" there was another man here- his attendant. 

The two were high up in the sky- in the midst of clouds. The sunlight wasn't hurting them and they weren't falling down either. 

Rather the man had a comfy chair and a table to rest his hands on- or perhaps just burn down all the papers he had on it. 

The man sighed- taking a large puff. "Well, that's not really new. He disappears all the time…" The man refused to believe that monster was dead. "I once saw him fight…." And he got goosebumps just remembering it. "He can't be killed that easily… something just-" He just couldn't accept it. 

"The informants claim this is the work of aliens and soon we'll have to deal with an invasion."

"We can't press that!"

"We can sir and it'll be big news."

"Big news my ass. The world will go crazy." The man just scratched his hair. "Wait- what happened to the rookie?"

"You mean the cursed mask? He reportedly killed the alien and left for Antarctica, I believe."

"Wha? Not mourn the dead or amass their army, but he, just left? Wasn't he about to have a kid?"

***

Marg and Elsa were getting off the island when it happened. 

Some of Helio's cousins and aunties were taking them off on a boat. 

Even from here, they could easily feel the shockwaves and the dread. 

Something terrible was happening on the other side of the island.

Marg wanted to go- and so did Elsa. 

But- they didn't. 

Marg promised Helio's mother that she wouldn't go. But she chose not to because of the baby in her womb. If the baby wasn't here, she could care less about a promise. After all- Helio mattered more than a promise- even if that promise had significant weight. 

Elsa also promised but she wasn't going to keep it. She wanted to run there- right now!

And it took her Auntie's full paralyzing power to keep her on the boat. Even so- "Lemme go!" He flailed around and the ocean gradually become more and more furious- rocking the boat. 

But her Auntie didn't let go. 

'Please be okay…' Marg rarely prayed after that incident at the church. That incident that took her friends and-

And yet, today she prayed. Today, she prayed with all her heart. 

Eventually, the island was destroyed and the words of victory came. But the news of death came along with it.

Helio was alive but- but at what cost?

Marg's eyes leaked, she could feel her heart tremble, and yet- deep down she was glad. 'At least he's okay…' 

But later when Helio woke up and she could feel that he wasn't there- she just couldn't take it anymore. 

She'd lost everything. Her new family, and now her husband too? 

And that wasn't just all. Helio was leaving and with that snake too. 

Was she really that untrustworthy for him to take along?

Was she just a hindrance?

Would her child grow up without a father?

'Helio…'