Chapter 280 Pure Aetherial II
Liam picked Clark up from the ground. The fight was over. Both of them had already retracted their wings, and the night air felt heavier as silence fell over the battlefield. Clark’s spirit was shattered. His breathing was slow and ragged, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, and his gaze empty. There was no more fight left in him.
Liam gripped his neck tightly, raising one hand into the air. His knuckles cracked. The intention was clear—one sharp smack and Clark’s neck would snap. His grip tightened. The muscles in his arms flexed with quiet fury. His eyes were cold.
But just before his hand came down, a shout rang out from the distance.
"Stop!!!" Vanessa’s voice echoed with urgency.
Liam turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he saw her rushing toward him. She was still injured, her movements slow and wincing, but she pushed herself forward regardless. Her face was pale, her lips trembling, but there was a fire behind her eyes—desperation.
She stumbled the last few steps and finally reached him. "Please, Liam... stop," she said again, breathless.
Liam’s brows furrowed. "He would have killed you," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and sharp. "If I hadn’t shown up when I did, you’d be dead."
Vanessa nodded, swallowing hard. "I know... I know he would’ve. But... he’s not evil. Clark isn’t a bad person. Please, just..." she trailed off, her voice trembling as she looked down at the man dangling in Liam’s grip.
There was another light beneath her eyes—one that Liam didn’t miss. She wasn’t just pleading for mercy. She was begging for Clark’s life because something still connected her to him.
Liam clenched his jaw in frustration, his hand still raised. "You’re defending him after everything he’s done?"
"I’m not defending his actions," she replied quickly. "I’m asking you to spare someone who’s been twisted. Someone I... someone I once cared about."
Liam’s breathing was heavy. His arms were still tense, and the rage in his heart didn’t want to listen to reason. But just as he was about to make a decision—