Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person’s POV

The demon’s expression changed drastically, true shock and fear flashing across its face for the first time.

But before it could react, the unstable ice mana compressed within the spearhead in the form of millions of minute needles suddenly erupted.

BOOM!

A terrifying burst of freezing energy exploded through the damaged joint.

The remaining connection between the arm and shoulder was completely destroyed.

The sheep demon’s enormous arm was severed from its body.

Yet the truly frightening part wasn’t the severing itself.

The surrounding flesh rapidly turned white as layer upon layer of frost spread outward from the point of impact.

Within an instant, the demon’s entire arm was encased in thick, crystalline ice.

The frost mana penetrated every part of the severed limb, reaching its muscles, tissues, nerves, and even the deepest remnants of vitality within it.

Every trace of life within the limb was extinguished.

It had become nothing more than completely dead tissue.

Even if the demon somehow possessed a magical technique capable of reconnecting the severed limb, the arm would be useless.

Ethan landed heavily upon the frozen ground, his crimson eyes remaining fixed upon the demon.

There was no excitement or satisfaction in them.

The urgency and barely contained fear that had plagued him moments earlier, however, had vanished, as he had just saved the two most important women to him, and that was all that truly mattered in the end.

Without wasting another second, Ethan turned and immediately rushed toward the two women he had just saved.

...

While the members of both groups finally arrived, Ethan was finally able to console his mother and Aurelia and properly tend to their injuries.

After calming his emotions, and only after carefully examining both of them and confirming that they were safe, did the tension within his heart finally ease slightly.

He remained kneeling beside them for a while longer, as though he still couldn’t completely believe that they were truly standing before him after eight years of separation.

It was only after making absolutely certain that neither of them was in immediate danger that Ethan finally raised his eyes.

Both women had worry written across their faces, as though they already understood what he was about to do.

Seeing their expressions, especially Aurelia, whose eyes were still filled with worry and fear, Ethan smiled gently.

"Please don’t worry, you two. I am not going anywhere, not now and ever again.

This is a good opportunity to show you, anyway, how much I have grown and the extent of my abilities."

Eleanor nodded.

Seeing the calm confidence within his eyes, she finally relaxed slightly, though the concern within her heart didn’t completely disappear.

She knew how powerful the demon was, and no matter how much she trusted her son, a mother’s worry was not something that could simply vanish.

Aurelia, however, still looked unconvinced.

She stared at Ethan for several moments, her tear-filled eyes refusing to leave his face, as though she were trying to reassure herself that he truly was standing before her and that he wouldn’t disappear again the moment she looked away.

"What are you saying, Ethan? How will you fight that monstrous demon yourself?

That creature is very strong!"

Aurelia’s voice carried clear worry as she looked toward the enormous sheep-headed demon.

She seemed to have forgotten that spear light that had severed the sheep demon’s arm, but Eleanor gently calmed her down, while Ethan reached out and held her hand.

"Please believe in me, like you always did all those years ago."

Ethan’s voice was calm, and a familiar doting look appeared within his eyes.

Those words seemed to touch something deep within Aurelia.

She begrudgingly nodded.

At the same time, a faint trace of happiness appeared within her tearful eyes, accompanied by a strange sense of déjà vu as she looked at Ethan’s slightly playful and doting expression.

For a brief moment, despite everything that had happened, it felt as though she was looking at the same Ethan she had known all those years ago.

Ethan, meanwhile, felt as though he were on cloud nine.

After spending so many years alone and having grown accustomed to relying on himself, the simple feeling of having his family worry about him and care about him so deeply caused a warm and fuzzy feeling to spread through his heart.

He looked toward his beautiful mother and gave her a small nod.

Then he slowly turned around.

The playful and doting warmth within his eyes vanished almost instantly.

An indifferent expression replaced it, as his crimson eyes immediately found Arlene.

He gave her a subtle signal with his eyes.

Arlene’s expression changed in surprise, as she hadn’t expected him to call her over so openly, especially with so many people from both groups watching them.

But this situation clearly benefited her, considering her goal involving Ethan.

Also, since she understood what he wanted, she immediately ran toward him with hurried strides.

Ethan’s expression remained icy cold, but when he looked at Arlene, there was still a faint trace of warmth within his eyes.

He gestured toward his family and transmitted his voice directly to her, ensuring that only the two of them could hear it.

’Please take care of them, Princess, during my fight with that demonic creature.’

He didn’t say anything else.

But Arlene immediately understood what he meant when she glanced toward Erius, who was standing only a few steps away.

Ethan was clearly showing his trust in her.

He was entrusting his mother and Aurelia to her protection despite knowing that she belonged to the opposing side and that Erius was currently nearby.

The realization caused something within Arlene’s heart to stir.

The stuffy and uncomfortable feeling she had experienced in the academy’s square that morning, when she had seen Ethan standing beside Erius, faded considerably.

At that time, she had wondered whether Ethan had truly chosen to stand on Erius’s side.

Now, however, his actions gave her a completely different answer.

The sudden interaction between the two didn’t escape anyone’s attention.

Seeing Ethan’s actions and Arlene’s reaction, Erius’s eyes immediately turned cold.