Sighing, he walked out of his study when Esther, Amelia, Mina and butler George arrived and looked at Ashton with worried looks.
Ashton glanced at them and said, "Later, I'll create an opportunity for you guys to escape. Go somewhere far away where no one can find you."
After a pause, he continued, "If possible, contact Emily, Max and others and tell them not to leave their academies. Hopefully, they will be safe as long as they are in there."
Hearing this, everyone's expression became turn even more grim and Esther asked, "Is it really this serious? Can't we ask the royals' help?"
"I'm afraid not." Ashton shook his head. "Since he dared to come, it means he is fully prepared for everything."
He was filled with guilt and regret now. Guilt toward his family because he had dragged them down with him and regret for not being able to kill Count Wiley last time.
It was as if Esther could read his mind. She shook her head. "You don't need to feel guilty about us. We are a family. We'll both prosper and die together."
Ashton felt a lump in his throat when he heard this. He knew what she implied by her words. She was saying that she won't escape without him.
"Esther, listen to me just this time, alright?" He requested.
"Dear, you don't have to force sister Esther. I won't go either." Amelia chimed in.
"Same goes for me." Mina also added.
"Lord Ashton, I'll also—" Butler George also spoke up but,
"ENOUGH!"
Ashton shouted, immediately silencing him. He then glared at his three wives and Butler George, "Just do I say or I won't be able to die in peace."
Esther, Amelia and Mina didn't back down and glared back, demonstrating their intentions.
Just then, a cold snort sounded inside their heads.
[Hmph! None of you'll be able to leave alive if I don't get the thunder sword within 5 minutes.]
Ashton, who was acting calm until now, paled immediately when he heard this. Esther and others also had the same reactions.
Ashton suddenly chuckled. "Haha, it seems that bastard has come prepared this time."
He then glanced at his wives and took a deep breath before retrieving a small container that had a black liquid inside it and immediately drank it.
"Ashton don't!"
"No!"
"No!"
Esther, Amelia and Mina shouted simultaneously and rushed toward him to stop him, but it was already too late.
Boom!
A strange, gaseous energy erupted out of him and sent the trio flying. Butler George was also pushed away.
The ground where Ashton stood had cracked in a spiderweb-like shape.
The trio quickly stood up and saw Ashton gritting his teeth as his body slowly cracked and blood flowed out. However, the black energy was still erupting out of him.
"No, no, no, no." Amelia seemed to have lost her soul, as tears fell from her eyes.
Esther and Mina looked comparatively better, but it was only that. Both ladies looked heartbroken and tears were streaming down their faces, too.
"My ladies, what… what was that black liquid?" Butler George asked.
"Something that'll leave him at the death's door." Esther answered in a chilling voice and the air around her was becoming frosty by the second as she watched Ashton endure the pain.
…
Outside the residence, Count Wiley's trio stood, waiting for Ashton and others to come out.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, they felt a strange energy erupt from inside.
"What energy is that? Is it a bloodline energy?" Dean asked, his brows furrowed. Masked man also seemed confused.
On the other hand, Count Wiley's eyes widened and there was a deep fear in his eyes, when he sensed the energy.
'That fool, he used that item? Damn it!' He cursed inwardly.
The thoughts of retreating had appeared in his mind but he stopped himself and a cold smile appeared on his face as he glanced at the duo beside him.
"Lord masked ghost, should we go in? I have a bad feeling about this," Dean suggested. He never liked to take risks, so he quickly wanted to kill Ashton and take the sword lest things went south.
"What bad feeling? Isn't that crippled just a three-star mage? Even if he uses some secret method to increase his strength, can he become as strong as me?" The masked man snorted.
Hearing this, Dean's knitted brows eased a little. That was true. No matter what secret method a person used, they could only increase their strength by one mage realm, and it lasted only for a short while.
So, Ashton can only be as strong as a four-star mage while they had two four-star mages and a five-star one. In other words, they really didn't have to worry about anything.
'But why do I feel uneasy?' He thought.
Count Wiley sneered in his mind when he heard what the masked man said and thought, 'You'll soon regret your decision soon enough.'
Boom!
Suddenly, the roof of the building in front of them burst apart and a figure shot out of it, landing in front of the trio.
"Hm?" The masked man raised his brows when he saw Ashton's condition and clicked his tongue, "Tsk! You really want to die, don't you?"
Right now, Ashton's entire body was filled with countless cracks and blackish blood was oozing out from them. Veins throughout his body were bulging and wriggling like worms, and his face was contorted and dark. He looked the very definition of word horrifying.
"Mm? That's strange. His energy seems to still be in the three-star realm." Dean commented from the side.
"Oh?" The masked man also noticed this and felt it was strange, but he didn't bother to think much about it because he was confident in taking him down.
Ashton looked at the three in front of him and let out a mocking laughter.
"Haha, although I had expected the Dalton family was helping this vicious bastard, but I hadn't thought that the almighty royal family would also support him. It seems I was really blind to have worked for you all these years."
