Chapter 232: Counterattack 5

"You're also here? Well, I could've guessed."

After the bang followed, a person stood up on the roof. A rose-gold veil surrounding her.

"Eri," Lia saw that Eri dusted her clothes off while Holn moved next to Lia.

"I'd prefer it if you don't call me by my name. We're not close, neither are we," Eri pointed at Holn who just grinned and then said, "Wow, your kicks are pretty strong, huh? Lia, she sent me flying here. From the plaza. Can you believe it?"

"Yes, because it just happened," if Lia could then she would want to settle this peacefully with Eri, after all, they had some history of going easy on each other, "But are you hurt?"

"Nope, I'm fine," Holn flexed his non-existent muscles on his thin arms as Eri's veil-like scarf started to attack Holn again.

"Wait!" Lia jumped in front of Holn and used the sword Lily gave her to defend Eri's attack.

"I'm not going to talk to you," Eri retracted her end of the scarf and prepared for another attack.

"Are you sure about that?" Lia put the sword away, "It'll be your loss of something precious. I want to return the favour of you telling me of my friend in the palace."

"What do you mean?" Eri's scarf cooly swayed around her now.

"Do you know how Min created the ghosts here?"

"Through immortals," Eri answered with indifference.

"Yes, the immortals from the city next to here and from the capital. Eri, do you know what that means?"

Eri's eyes widened and explicable horror appeared. In an instant, Eri's power vanished and desperation overtook her.

The icy beauty's cold face melted into the height of expressions. Eri staggered towards Lia. Involuntary fear made itself present. It slung around Eri's body like a veil. But it was slimy and suffocating.

"Yes, your brother would also be one of them."

Finally, Lia's words made Eri's head crack. The tiny glimmer of hope Eri held on was gone in an instant.

Snap. Something inside Eri broke.

A tremendous amount of lifeforce came out but Lia was calm while Holn also prepared for an attack but Lia stopped him.

"Eri your anger should be directed towards Min. He knew about your brother yet-"

"Ah, I know! I know! I know! Shut up! Shut up!" nothing could describe the pain, sadness and deep hatred at herself, at the Ghost King inside Eri.

It had to go somewhere. Anywhere. Now! Now!

"I know what you're trying to do daughter of the perished K family," a huge yet desperate grin appeared on Eri's face as she staggered towards Lia. She didn't care anymore. Her brother was everything to her, the only reason why she could hold on for so long and yet-

"No, it's not over yet."

Eri stopped in her tracks.

"I don't want you to help me fight against Min but withdraw from the fight to do what you want to do. Protect your brother," Lia saw Eri slowly raising her head at Lia.

Faint light came back to her eyes, "He's alive?"

"Yes, he helped me to get my friend back, so I helped him," just before Min extracted the ghosts from the immortals in the first round, Lia and Noel were able to see it from the window on the second floor's room they hid in the palace.

Seeing the absurd amount of ghosts, Lia knew Eri's brother wouldn't be safe.

So to have Eri on her side, Lia called Yano and asked him if it was possible to talk to Eri's brother through the circle. It was a bit hard but in the end, Lia still managed to tell him to escape. If he, however, managed or not was up to him.

"Where is he?"

"I told him to go to the next city," the house that once belonged to Lia, even if it was destroyed, could still provide a bit of cover, "But I don't know if he managed to survive."

"Why did you do that?" Eri narrowed her eyes in suspicion but couldn't wait to hurry and check if what Lia said was true.

Lia decided to tell Lia the truth, "Because I want you to owe me a favour again and because I also care about him. I can also tell you where Madam H and Elder H are imprisoned."

Lia figured out the reason why Eri joined Min was because he threatened to kill her whole family if she didn't abide by him.

Thus he imprisoned Eri's parents in the prison where Zero was held. Without the Elder, Eri had to completely follow Min. He only left her brother free but it was clear he was a hostage.

Helplessly, Eri could only do her best to protect her brother and follow through with Min's despicable plans. Self-loathing and powerlessness plagued Eri constantly, and only when she saw her brother was her pain and burden eased, solely to be crushed by her worries about what she should do to keep him safe.

"I can save them later," Eri came to a decision, "They're safe in the prison for now. My brother's a priority," Eri gave Lia a glance and wanted to leave but then stopped herself.

"I'll repay my debt now," Eri pushed Holn away wanting to say something, "You should know that the Ghost King isn't using all of his power because he can't control it without the golden power he so desperately wants. That's why he uses the cube to control the ghosts."

Eri's gaze lingered at the palace before she turned her back to Lia, "You should've seen the cube he uses. Half of his power is stored there, if you manage to shatter it then he won't be able to control all, no any of the ghosts anymore. Make use of what I told you. My debt has been repaid."

Eri's slender back disappeared into the distance. This was great information that could change the battle into their favour. Lia didn't need to destroy the cube, she could just absorb it to get even stronger.

"You're not really thinking of trusting her?" Holn noticed Lia's gaze at the palace.

"She has helped before and didn't lie."

"That's enough?"

"She isn't bad, just someone who wants to protect what's dear to her," Lia could understand Eri's sentiment. Lia would also do anything she could to protect those she cared for. Even if it was to slaughter everyone.

"So, you plan to go to the palace?"

"Yes."

"Take out the Ghost King as well?"

"Yano should be doing it, hopefully, if he can get inside," Lia was a bit anxious about him. She could see everyone holding up well and her corpses provided good support.

"Ok, I'll go with you. I'll distract everyone until you find the cube whatever and take down the Ghost King."

Lia wanted to laugh at how simple things were for Holn but he was kind of right. That was the basic idea. With that, they jumped off the roof and made their way to the palace.

***

After Yano parted from Lia and Lily, he hesitantly made his way through the plaza. Dodging the soldiers, the ghosts and attacks left and right, Yano was able to quickly arrive at the entrance. With the help of Lia's corpses, it was even easier.

When Lu saw Yano coming, Lu projected his hose directly at Zayn covering his field of view, making it possible for Yano to slip through the entrance.

The gate closed behind Yano and he found himself in the encircled front area of the palace. However, Yano couldn't walk to the actual front door of the palace as just at that moment Timo came out.

With his sword in his hand violently spraying out sparks, he greeted Yano, "I didn't think that after such a long time we'd meet again as enemies."

Timo suppressed a yawn and Yano relaxed as he grinned, "You really haven't changed, Timo."

"Neither did you," Timo was surprised seeing that the latter didn't charge his power.

If Timo and Yano were to fight here, Timo could at best just slow Yano down. Timo knew very well that there was no chance for him to beat Yano.

The only one who was a match for Yano was Min or was it the other way around? It wasn't known who between them was stronger because both Yano and Min had never needed to fight with their full power.

"I'm curious, why do you decide to go against Min?"

Yano laughed as if he heard something funny while Timo tilted his head, "Did I ever was on his side?"

"…True. I should've known when you and Skyla rejected to join Min's forces."

Timo paused before he continued, "Then you always wanted to stop Min?"

A mocking smile spread, "And it took you more than 10 years?"

While Yano raced past a battlefield he managed to pick up a sword that was loosely held in his hand.

"You're getting something wrong, I never cared about him. My duty was to protect the Mortal World and now you guys are threatening it."

"Ah, so it has nothing to do with a certain ex-fiance?"

Hearing these words Yano slightly flinched but remained calm yet Timo had already noticed it.

"I can't understand your taste. For her you'd go so far. You and Leo, I really don't understand," not waiting for Yano to reply Timo raised his sword.

SWISH

He cut the air and the earth drew cracks for his lightning to reach Yano. Yet with just a sword, Yano reflected the lighting behind him. A hole was torn into the wall.

Timo immediately felt the gap between them. It was really unfair. It wasn't just simple skill but also talent. Yano was an all-rounder even without power; he was as strong as a captain.

Timo's electricity could only be deflected with another power, however, Yano easily nullified it with a simple sword he coated with his lifeforce.

Yano was always to be envied and admired. Back then and now.

"I don't even know why I'm fighting you now… It's clear I won't stand a chance," Timo said but he drew another attack only to be parried by Yano again. The distance between Yano and Timo was 10 metres.

"You never wanted to spare, which made me sad. Every time I talked to you, you'd rather daydream about Maria or run after Maria," Yano sulked, which made Timo's eye twitch, "You're still as annoying as ever, dammit."

"Let me be honest," Yano let his sword dangle from his hands, "In terms of wifey material my Lia is way better. I like Maria, she's a good person and friend but she can never beat Lia. Lia…everything about her's perfect. We were meant for each other since the beginning."

"???" Timo was speechless.

Did Yano just change the flow of the battle like this? They were, no, everyone was fighting to death and Yano rather talked about whose girlfriend was better?

Timo had a headache. Of course, this was Yano, everything went at his pace. He was unpredictable as a rattlesnake thrown into a river.

Timo didn't want to give in to Yano's childish remarks but having heard that the vengeful, cold ex-fiance ranked higher than his beloved, warm and caring Maria, Timo couldn't take this lying down. Timo stepped closer to Yano, his sword disappearing.

"You really want to start this? I can list 100 reasons why Maria is 100 times better."

"I can give a 1000-"

"Oh yeah? I can do a million!"

"Double that!"

"No, I triple that!"

A full bloom argument erupted from a fight that should be crucial to the overall tide of this war, but instead, Timo and Yano rather talked about who was the better wifey until both wives were actually fighting for their lives.

Lia jumped with Holn from the roof and raced through the battlefield.

While Maria was facing Min sitting in his throne room overseeing the battlefield.

A race for time began with neither side stopping. Only, it was already too late.