Chapter 487 Brewing Storm (1)

Ashton might have said he wanted the rest to fight for their survival, but he had no intention of waiting for them. He gave the signal as soon as they lunged to kill each other, and the skeletons jumped into the fray, tearing the undead to shreds.

Hana watched on in horror as their cries for help slowly died down. However, killing them wasn't enough. The summons and the skeletons had to recover their lost appetite.

"Go ahead," Ashton mumbled, "Make sure not one corpse remains intact."

[It's a bit much, don't you think?]

Astaroth had been silent throughout the ordeal as he didn't know what Ashton did, thanks to his father. However, things were getting out of hand now. Sadly, Ashton disagreed.

'A bit much, you say?' Ashton scoffed, 'Limits to their cruelty don't exist, but I should show mercy to them? If the situation weren't serious, I'd have thought you were joking.'

[Cruelty should have a limit for the sake of your peace, not to show mercy to the doomed. I don't know what has gotten you all riled up, but toying with the weak-]

'You know you're the last person who should be lecturing me on playing with weak ones. Do you need me to remind you what your people did to mine?'

[I have committed mistakes and learned from them. That's the entire point we are having this conversation right now! If you detest Xyrans so much, then why the hell are you so hell-bent on becoming like US?]

'You saw what they had done to my father. Do you expect me to let them go after what they did?'

[No, but I expect you to punish the ones who deserve it, not the innocent ones who had no idea what was happening here in the first place!]

"Innocent? INNOCENT!? Who gets to decide who is innocent and who isn't?" Ashton asked, his voice shaking with rage, "Certainly not me, since I'm the reincarnation of rage in your eyes, and it sure as hell isn't you!"

Ashton couldn't see Astaroth's face, but he could feel the disappointment in his voice. But his disappointment was of no consequence to the former. He had made up his mind to punish anyone and everyone involved in Tartarus's creation.

But Astaroth's words were helpful as they gave Ashton a new point of view. Mindlessly killing everyone would become a chore, not to mention having the undead on his side would prove more useful as they were the most advanced beings on Earth.

Instead of complete destruction, selective elimination was a better option as it would take less time and resources. Also, a secret coup would work better in the long run than establishing a new rule from the ground up.

"Bring her here," Ashton took a deep breath as the skeletons brought Hana to him, "I want the names of everyone involved in these experimentations. For your sake, I hope you won't miss a single one of the bastards."

"What makes you think I'll obey you-" Hana retorted, only to be smacked across the face by one of the skeletons.

However, a slap wasn't enough to eliminate her sudden bravado. As the second in command of Tartarus, Hana had already lost everything she could. But she wouldn't lose anything as the President's daughter and a loyal soldier to her nation.

"I don't know why I was wasting my time like this," Ashton shook his head before promptly forcing Hana under his control, "Useless fucks like you should know when to start wagging their tail to their new master. Now, KNEEL!"

"I..."

Suddenly Hana lost all her will to oppose the enemy. Her mind became clouded with thoughts of absolute submission as if nothing mattered to her but her loyalty towards Ashton.

In an instant, Hana was more than happy to reveal the darkest secrets about her family and nation to a stranger. No, it felt as if something was compelling her to do so, and she was powerless to fight it.

"Hiroshi Miyamoto, Jacob Green, Nicolette Shenya, Zakir Memon, Joseph Elcid, and the current President are behind anything related to Tartarus." Hana revealed while hugging Ashton's knee, "The President should know anyone else's involvement."

"Good," Ashton replied before kicking her away, "Now be a good daughter and inform your father about his death. I want him to know why death will greet him at his doorstep; I want to see fear in his eyes like no one has ever seen before; I want him to beg for forgiveness when there'll be none."

Hana didn't make a sound as she crawled back towards Ashton. Grim Reaper's influence over the undead was mystical, and taming the strongest zombies was merely a joke.

Nirvana wasn't aware of the fact, but it was already under a new ruler's thumb. It was only a matter of time before the President was overthrown and the Reaper would take his place.

But before all that, there was one thing Ashton had to take care of as a son.

"One month... let it be known those bastards have a month to live their lives as ordinarily as possible." Ashton snarled, "Tell them to live while the Reaper grieves. After a month, death will come for them, but not like an old friend as they would have wished."

Before Hana had the chance to respond, the skeletons dragged her away. She had a task to fulfil, to ensure that everyone heard Ashton's words loud and clear.

Once done, Ashton decided it was time to head home. Avalina had been waiting for news about her husband and son. The only thing was... her husband was long gone.

Even though it was expected, deep in their hearts, everyone was hoping Ashton would find John alive and healthy. The mere thought of his mother's grief-stricken face made Ashton's blood boil again.

But now wasn't the time to let his rage flow. The turn to avenge the fallen would soon be upon him, but till then, Ashton had to bid his time.

"Enjoy your peace while you can, Nirvana. For inevitable chaos is upon you."