Arthur flinched as he caught sight of Neo’s face.
Neo ignored him and spoke to Felix.
“Felix, I think you understand why True Soul Weapons are precious?” he asked with a serious tone.
“I do!” Felix exclaimed, still excited.
She failed to notice the coldness in Neo’s gaze as he continued.
“That’s why you need to prove to me you are worthy of that weapon.”
“Huh?” Felix blinked in confusion.
Her excitement faltered.
“Venyth can make a beggar into a king.
“I can’t waste on someone who has no drive to improve,” Neo said.
Felix stared at him, stunned.
Neo, of course, understood how wrong his words were.
Mars had bought Venyth with money and given it to Felix.
The weapon belonged to Felix and Felix only.
Neo had no control over its ownership.
However…
‘True Soul Weapons, especially Venyth, are dangerous,’ he thought grimly. ‘Either Felix conquers it, or Venyth will turn Felix into her puppet.’
Neo had to force Felix to grow stronger.
That was the only way Felix would not fall to Venyth’s mind manipulation.
“What are you… trying to say?” Felix questioned.
“The academy’s ranking tournament will happen soon.
“You got second rank last time thanks to Arthur’s help. Maintain that rank in this tournament without any help,” Neo stated.
Felix chuckled nervously.
She stopped when she realized Neo wasn’t joking.
“Me? Rank 2? That’s impossible—”
“True Soul Weapons are technically Spirits.”
Neo continued.
“But unlike normal Spirits that die with their users, True Soul Weapons don’t.
“Of course, True Soul Weapons will follow you to the Underworld too, but they won’t get erased if you die in the Underworld again.
“I can take the weapon from you there.”
“What….?”
Felix struggled to process his words.
People could die in the Underworld?
Neo could go to the Underworld?!
Her mind raced as a nervous smile crept onto her lips.
“Are you saying you will kill me to take Venyth’s ownership?” she asked hesitantly.
“I’m glad you catch on quick,” Neo replied in a voice devoid of emotions.
“That has to be a joke—”
“Wait!”
Sean suddenly jumped between Neo and Felix, forcing a distance between Neo and Felix.
His wide eyes darted towards Neo’s hand resting on his sword.
Sean turned to Felix with a desperate expression.
“Say yes.”
“Huh? Why do you look afraid?” Felix asked.
“Say yes!” Sean shouted, grabbing her shoulders.
Felix flinched at his sudden forcefulness.
“Are you okay—”
“I just regressed!”
Sean’s breathing was ragged.
His chest heaved as his bloodshot eyes darted between Neo and Felix.
His voice cracked with urgency.
“Please say yes, or….”
Felix froze.
She understood the meaning of his words.
Her eyes slowly moved towards Neo’s hand, still resting on the hilt of his sword.
The glint of metal sent a chill down her spine.
She raised her gaze to meet Neo’s cold eyes.
Her heart hammered in her chest.
The oppressive weight of Neo’s presence made it harder for her to breathe.
“I hope that makes it clear that I was serious,” Neo said.
Felix couldn’t answer.
Her lips trembled.
Neo had killed her.
Sean had regressed to stop him.
“What…. What would you have done if Sean had not been able to regress? He is too tired. What if he had failed?” Felix asked, her voice shaky. “I would’ve… died.”
Neo clicked his tongue in irritation.
The sharp sound cut through Felix’s stupor like a whip.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Felix? What would ‘I’ have done if Sean hadn’t regressed?”
Neo’s pressure increased manifold.
Felix felt a few of her bones snap under the strain.
A gasp of pain escaped her lips as she was forced to her knees.
She braced her hands against the ground to stop herself from being completely crushed.
Neo crouched in front of her and looked into her eyes.
“The first thing that came to your mind was what I would’ve done?
“Do you even take a moment to think about what ‘you’ would’ve done to protect yourself?”
He grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him even as the pressure threatened to pull her gaze downward.
“I could understand it before. You weren’t talented and had no way to grow beyond your limits. But what about now?”
Neo’s voice grew sharper.
“Why didn’t you think that you wouldn’t be helpless now if you had trained diligently with Venyth?
“Better yet, do you realize I killed you because you said you would never be able to get the second rank? Why didn’t you say you could get the second rank?” Neo questioned.
“There is y-you, Mars, Arthur, Morrigan, and o-other god clan members.
“There is no way I can win against everyone,” she stammered.
“You have the True Soul Weapon.”
Felix couldn’t meet Neo’s eyes.
Her head hung low.
Shame and despair weighed on her shoulders heavily.
She had accepted, deep in her heart, that she could not grow stronger.
History’s weakest demigod—that was her nickname.
She was the butt of joke for everyone, whether they had awakened their Godblood or not.
“I have said my piece,” Neo stood up. “If you fail, I will take the True Soul Weapon from you.”
Neo stared at Felix.
He hated the way he had treated her.
However, it was better to force her to grow stronger.
Venyth was dangerous.
The Spirit would try to take over Felix if Felix couldn’t get it under control.
Felix had to be strong if she didn’t want to be devoured by Venyth.
Neo’s gaze shifted to Arthur.
The latter was glaring at him, his body trembling as he tried to rise.
A few moments ago, he was desperately trying to stand up and shield Felix from Neo, only stopping when Neo stood up.
Neo ignored Arthur and swept his gaze over the group.
“I used my true aura to subdue you all.
“But it was only at the rank of an Awakened Demigod. You guys lost.”
Since neo had gone through countless tribulations, his aura – even if he suppressed his strength to awakened demigod rank – was enough to knock out Mythic Demigods.
“I will give you one last chance.”
Neo stepped toward the devastated forest.
The forest behind the Hargraves mansion was large—larger than a dozen stadiums combined.
‘This place should be good enough,’ Neo thought.
Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire
Neo’s aura surged.
It filled the region of the forest that was destroyed during the earlier fight.
The aura of Death began to condense.
It transformed into a metallic platform.