Chapter 5 Don't Be Afraid, Lily

Devon, battered and bruised, was assaulted by waves of terror. Below Trash Peak, broken glass, nails, and problematic soil pierced his body repeatedly. The pain drove him to the brink of madness, his eyes bloodshot and veined. After an unknown duration, Devon awoke; the first sight he saw was Marcus applying medicine to him. "Awake? Perfect timing!" Marcus stowed the red medicine bottle. As the world's top divine doctor, his skills were unmatched. He ensured Devon stayed alive to endure the world's agony. Marcus dragged Devon back to the crane at Trash Peak. Boom! Another loud crash, and Devon was on the verge of breaking, his mind nearing collapse. The medicine's swift effect kept Devon from succumbing to despair. After countless repetitions, his nerves were frayed. Finally conscious, Devon pleaded, "Mr. Crawley, please, spare me. I'll do anything if you let me go." Marcus's expression remained cold. It was as if Devon was negotiating with a demon. "Did you ever think of sparing my daughter? Or Sadie?" Using his last bit of strength, Devon begged, "If you don't let me go, just kill me. I can't bear this torture. It's worse than death!" Marcus, unrelenting, called Maxwell, "Maxwell, come to Trash Peak now. I have a critical task for you!" Maxwell arrived swiftly, shocked by the blood pool. "Lift him up and push him down! Keep doing it!" Relentless pain, without end. The ground was to be turned into a crater by Devon's suffering. Gritting his teeth, Maxwell had never seen Wintermere's king so furious. Netherwood was facing a disaster. But then, something unexpected occurred. Marcus's angry shout echoed. "Maxwell, send a message. The Wintermere celebration banquet is cancelled and moved to Netherwood! Inform everyone that my daughter was pushed and nearly killed!" Maxwell trembled. The celebration banquet in Wintermere was grand, drawing countless individuals keen to witness Marcus in action. When he becomes enraged, the entire world feels his fury. The message stirred not just Netherwood, but also Wintermere and regions beyond. Outside of Wintermere, Marcus was viewed as heroic, tirelessly leading charges into battles for Mandoria. He bravely faced the brink of life and death without any grievances, all in the defence of his territory. Now, with his daughter had been hurt, his fury was something the world was forced to confront. It was Maxwell who disseminated the message, causing a stir across Wintermere. The realm was abuzz with astonishment. The first to respond were the members of the Blade. "Zenith Crawley of the Divine Phoenix Robe has called us to Netherwood for a celebration of victory." Within Wintermere, Marcus was renowned as Zenith, and his Divine Phoenix Robe was held in high esteem, even by the King of Hell himself. He was more ruthless than the demon king. Upon hearing the news, the distinguished Medicine King Hall acted quickly, sending their top divine doctors with a clear announcement, "Zenith has not called off the victory celebration. It's been relocated to Netherwood." The foreign assassin group Dragon Slayer noted this shift, urging action, "Zenith has left Wintermere. We must make haste to Netherwood!" This caused a stir among mercenary bands and notable figures from the shadows, all motivated by a shared sentiment. "We found Lily's photo. She is such a lovely girl. That man is heartless. Make your way to Netherwood quickly. It may be our finest opportunity to seek out Zenith for his unparalleled medical expertise." "Our leader is now safe. The key event has been moved to Netherwood." "The journey to Netherwood will attract a large crowd. Zenith has cancelled the traditional Wintermere festivity and opted instead for a gathering in Netherwood. It's crucial to identify his adversaries and understand the situation. Should Zenith require our support, we must be ready to provide it immediately." "Lily, there's no need for fear. War King Sir Leo, Sir Daniel, and Sir Gregor are en route to Netherwood." "Stay courageous, Lily. The wealthiest lady, Ms. Jenny, and the world-renowned assassin, Ms. Rosy, are also making their way to Netherwood!" Everyone considered a favour from Zenith extremely precious. His healthcare interventions were often miraculous. Nonetheless, it was rare for Zenith to leave Wintermere. Even in Centrium Vale, the sudden news caused a stir. "Why would Zenith make an unexpected return to Netherwood?" In the council room of Centrium Vale, Salvador Weston, the ruling monarch of the Westons, showed his frustration with a forceful strike on the table. "I'm unsure. The festivities in Wintermere were abruptly called off as he returned to Netherwood." The Sovic King was angry, exclaiming, "This is absurd! The influx of people into Netherwood is overwhelming. Tickets are becoming a rarity, and the surrounding cities are experiencing heavy traffic!" "We must find out what Zenith is up to." The news came in swiftly. "During his stay in Netherwood, he went by the name Marcus. Without his knowledge, he fathered a child with a woman called Sadie. Today was the first time he encountered his daughter. "However, an incident occurred where she was nearly killed after being pushed down from a crane." A profound silence enveloped the conference room.