Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 716: Keaton

"You have made a big mess," a brown-haired middle-aged man said while standing on the terrace of the mansion building, looking at what was happening in one of the guest houses.

"But is it essential to kill family members?" Runeth further asked as a crimson humanoid flame suddenly appeared beside him and started forming into a deep blue-haired human.

"This is the lightest punishment I'm giving for their mistake. If they had killed Royalty instead of my father, what do you think would've happened to the Nightwind family right now, old man?" Charles asked.

Runeth went silent for a moment and soon answered truthfully.

"The whole Nightwind Family, including elders, women, children, and even the servants, would've been dragged out of the house and executed on the spot."

"Then, there is no problem, right? I won't touch any innocent. I'll only kill people who have committed murders and have connection with the Truelords." Charles said as he moved his hand, manipulated the invisible strings, and started the massacre stealthily.

Screams and cries continued to echo in the Nightwind mansion as multiple people belonging to the Main family started dying one by one. All of them were strangled to death by some invisible force, causing restlessness among the family.

The whole mansion fell into an uproar.

"W-What the heck is happening?" Patriarch Diego stood at the mansion entrance and observed the entire massacre that happened in his domain with wide eyes.

"I can't even sense the enemy's presence. Who is it?" At that moment, Runeth's face appeared in his mind.

"Could it be that man's doing?" He shifted his attention to the guest houses and soon noticed that Runeth was not there. But what shocked him was Elder Michael, whom he had dispatched to monitor Runeth, was still in the guest house's living room and lazily sitting on the sofa.

"That bastard! Even after hearing this much noise outside, he is still lazing around. No, something is not right."

He instantly flew towards the guest house, arrived before the entrance, and walked in, opening the door with a bang.

"What happened, Patriarch?" Elder Michael asked as he was completely unaware of the outside situation.

Only then did Patriarch Diego notice that the living hall appeared in eerie silence. The cries and screams from different parts of the mansion were nowhere to be heard.

"A big massacre is happening outside, Michael. Where is Charles's Teacher?" Patriarch asked with a sense of urgency.

"He is staying in the bedroom. I've been monitoring him all this time." Michael said as he pointed his finger at the opened bedroom.

Patriarch Diego turned around and soon saw Runeth sitting on the bed, apparently in deep meditation.

"But why can't I sense his presence through my wisdom power?" As he spoke, he walked closer to the bedroom and slowly entered it.

At the same time, he felt like he was entering some different dimension and became startled.

At that moment, he noticed that Runeth didn't show any sign of alertness and became more confused.

"Something is not right." As he spoke, he moved much closer and soon touched Runeth.

The next instant, Patriarch and Michael noticed that the surroundings suddenly distorted and broke into countless mirrors!

Instead of Runeth, what they saw inside was an empty room.

"It's seems like some kind of realistic illusion." Patriarch Diego said solemnly and moved outside.

"Come with me."

Michael nodded quietly and followed him from behind.

But as soon as he walked out of the guest house, his expression turned into shock and soon into disbelief.

"W-What the hell happened?" He instantly released his wisdom power and checked the whole surroundings.

"So many of our family members are dead?" As he further checked, his expression turned pale as a white sheet.

In the corner room of the mansion, he saw his son being hung in the mid-air and appeared to be lifeless!

"O-Oh, my god!!! Patrick!!!" But as he further checked, he noticed his third son was also dead in his room.

"W-What the hell happened here?" He felt stupid for not even realizing what had happened outside all the time.

"The enemy is far stronger than us and seems good at playing tricks." Patriarch Diego clenched his fist in anger and added grimly.

"But his actions puzzled me more. I don't know why he did this massacre, but he only killed particular people. Mostly, he only killed the ones who had ties with 'Truelords.' Elder Lucy and I are the ones who lost almost everyone from the family. I lost my first and second son, my wife, and even grandsons."

"I'm going to find that bastard and kill him brutally!" Elder Michael said as he took out the broadsword from his space ring.

"I already sent some men to other Guardian Houses and asked for their help. In the meantime, we should gather all our forces. You go and bring Kyle from the Palace. If possible, seek some aid from the His Excellency Keaton." Patriarch Diego said with a sense of urgency.

"His Excellency Keaton? Isn't that too much to catch a killer in our own house? Wait, you think the enemy is a Legend, Patriarch?" Michael's face turned stiff.

"It's highly likely. If not, how could Elder Luna lose to him in fractions of seconds? Anyway, I'll go to the Magic Tower and bring the mages. We'll meet again in 30 minutes in the living room. If you encounter that guy along the way, don't confront him alone." Patriarch Diego warned Michael, used his wisdom power to hover in the air, and moved towards the tall cylindrical building beside the mansion.

On the other hand, Michael also manipulated his wisdom power and started flying toward the Royal Palace.

...

Thirty minutes later, people from the Nightwind Family were gathered inside the living hall. Patriarch stood on the elevated platform while Michael and Kyle stood behind him.

Around thirty people stood before the Patriarch and Elders; some wore robes, while others appeared in formal attires.

Abruptly, with a resounding creak, the entrance gate of the living hall swung open, drawing the immediate focus of those within. Stepping into the hall with a noticeable fragility in his physique was an elderly man, his hair stark white against his age-worn features. He was approximately 70 years old and possessed a complexion that spoke of the passing years, with a pallor that accentuated the wisdom etched on his face. His eyes, unique in their crystalline clarity, caught the ambient light as he moved further into the space. He gripped a sleek black cane in his left hand, a testament to the support he sought in his advanced age. Clad in a simple white gown-like garment and matching pants, he seemed to embody the essence of vulnerability, resembling more an unassuming elderly figure than a powerful presence.

He was none other than one of the five Royal Mages of the Ember Kingdom!

Once the mages and other mystics noticed who this guest was, they instantly stopped chatting and bowed their heads.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Even Patriarch Diego, Kyle, and Michael stepped down from the elevated platform and bowed their heads.

"So, who are you searching for?" Keaton scanned the surroundings and soon asked. At the same time, a powerful ripple came out of his body, spread through the whole mansion, and observed every minute detail.

In a moment, Keaton noticed two people standing on the terrace of the mansion building and smiled.

"Found you!" But before he could try out his spell and sneak attack on them, an overwhelming pressure appeared in the living hall and caused him to squint his eyes sharper.

At the same time, his eyes suddenly shone in silver light and showed him the upcoming events.

In a blink, he saw a total of twenty visions. But he soon became horrified because his head flew right away whenever he tried to attack the humanoid crimson flame in those visions.

In the meantime, one of those two figures on the terrace suddenly enveloped in a crimson flame and disappeared from there.

A second later, a sudden flame appeared before his eyes and soon started to enlarge. Before he could even blink, it became a humanoid flame and turned into a blue-haired young man.

"Oh? You are a rat from Truelord Family?" Charles asked with a cold gaze.

Even though the young man appeared harmless, Keaton realized that the oppressive wisdom power coming from him was too terrifying!

'My sixth sense is screaming!!! Oh my god! His wisdom power is as powerful as Lord Franco and Founder Joe! No, he might be even stronger than them. I'm no match against such person.' His mind went blank.

'F*ck! Whom did these Nightwind bastards offend? If you want to die that badly, do a mass suicide. Why invite me into this mess? Sh*t! I need to deescalate the situation and apologize!'

"Charles?" Patriarch instantly identified him at that moment and took the sword from his space ring.

As he was about to attack him, a sharp ice blade came out of Keaton's hand and cleaved Patriarch's wrist.

"A-Argh!! Y-Your Excellency?" Puzzlement appeared on the Patriarch's face.

Before he and others could understand the situation, Keaton suddenly knelt on the floor and bowed his head.

"Have mercy, My Lord! I didn't know that Nightwind Family offended a Legendary Figure and even involved me in this mess."