Born in Blood

Chapter 380 Innocent

Liam put his hand on the Cloud Leech.

Soft!

It was incredibly soft.

Like a literal cloud.

One could even call it cute, with how soft and harmless it looked.

"This is an Abomination? Looks like something out of a child's fantasy," Jax said, squishing the giant creature.

It occupied a large section of the chambers, and made a soft squealing noise from its mouth.

"Pull it back," Liam told the Imperialist.

Slowly, the Cloud Leech was sucked back into her tooth, hardening back to normal.

It was then that Liam noticed how the tip of her canines, and every other tooth, had two little dots on them, and brighter tones than normal.

All of her teeth were Cloud Leeches!

No wonder Usan picked her out of everyone else.

Liam half expected for the woman to attack them with an Abomination.

He welcomed it, actually.

But she didn't, despite being unrestricted with her mental energy and other abilities.

All this woman could do was provide Cloud Leeches with her teeth.

"What happens if I pull a tooth out?" Liam asked casually. "Does the Abomination still work, or no?"

The woman grumbled, probably considering whether or not to tell the truth.

She had a feeling Liam would yank out a tooth if she lied.

"Curses... it would. But you won't be able to command it. Only I can, since I'm the one who subdued it."

Truth.

A short pause.

"Subduing an Abomination lets you control it?" Liam questioned curiously.

"No," said the Imperialist. "Subduing it is one part of the problem. Maintaining it is another."

"Special techniques are required for each Abomination."

Liam hummed to himself in thought.

Liam looked at Jax.

"There's no need to delay it any longer. We're leaving for the Dual Empire."

Liam gave Jax a firm nod.

Jax responded with a hard nod of his own, before heading out to let everyone know of what was to come.

Liam glanced at the Imperialist.

She had no space rings on her figure, but Liam took off the jewelry from her figure.

They were inscribed items.

But Liam could tell they held no special purpose, other than to exude a shiny black glow.

"I… won't help," the Imperialist said with defiant, blind eyes, but it sounded like she was convincing herself.

"Very honorable," Liam deadpanned.

Just then, Liam's cloak fluttered open, and all four of his arms swung open, revealing twenty fingers with twenty nails on them.

The Imperialist's face fell.

Of all the Abominations she'd seen in her life, she'd never seen one so terrifying.

Corruption flared on each of Liam's nails.

Screams.

***

Since the matters of invading a country were quite complicated, not every acolyte was trusted to come along.

Of course, each and every one of the acolytes would be useful for battle.

And they itched for battle.

But they were inexperienced, and there were too many for something that required discretion.

And thus, Liam denied their requests to tag along.

Instead, they'd be heading off to the Korsan Lands with the vampires, along with a few Elders.

Once Liam and those with him successfully connected the World Gate to Korsa, they'd join the fray.

It was a cloudy night when more than three dozen Elders were gathered atop the island's cliff, awaiting Liam's orders.

The Imperialist had a sudden change of heart.

She'd comply.

But before that, Liam met with Usan one last time.

"How long do you have left?" Liam asked, after waking Usan up from his slumber.

Usan wiped the sleep from his eyes. "Not long. But I can delay it by entering a comatose state," he said.

"I'll be as dead as a doornail… but it could extend my life for at least seven months."

Liam nodded firmly.

"I'll be leaving then," Liam said tersely, heading for the door.

It might have seemed cold, but Liam knew Usan's personality.

Wallowing about his sickness and speaking more of it would bring only bitterness.

This way, at least Usan would be treated as though he wasn't sick.

"Oh, and Liam?" Usan called out before Liam exited.

Liam looked over his shoulder. "...Yeah?"

A short pause.

"Thanks," Usan said with a slight smile and soft eyes.

The mood got a bit heavy then.

Liam scoffed lightly and gave a small nod.

A quiet gesture that Usan clearly appreciated.

Then, Liam left.

Usan was not innocent.

That much was clear.

To the clansmen he killed from his own country, to regular innocents killed on his path to revenge.

But to the Temple, it didn't matter.

He provided a home for the unwanted and outcast.

…All criminals, sure.

But still.

In the first place, this all started with Usan's quest for justice.

He just wanted to avenge the losses suffered during the wars in his country.

And in Liam's book, that was fine.

'On one side you're hailed as a hero, and the other, a demon.'

And who could tell which one Usan was?

Liam made his way towards the cliff, where the Imperialist and Elders stood.

The Elders all wore similar cloaks to Liam.

Only they didn't have redirection capabilities.

A distant, constantly scared look was on the Imperialist's face, with healed puncture wounds on her arms.

Liam stopped after the fifth Corruption injection.

Then, he made Elder Jax sign a Binding Oath with her.

Since Binding Oaths couldn't be forced upon someone without their permission.

Even Elder Jax felt a bit bad for her, despite how the Imperialist had spat in his face.

Liam heaved a long sigh.

"We can start."

Jax grabbed Liam from the shoulder, then looked up.

Elder Jane grabbed the Imperialist.

WHOOSH!

All of the Elders shot towards the clouds.

Loud wind shot past Liam's ears.

With every second, the ground grew more and more distant, and the vast skies filled his vision.

Liam loved this view.

For one hour straight, the group made a beeline towards the clouds.

A few magical beasts attempted to attack them, but there wasn't much that could threaten so many Zeniths.

Liam's ears tightened and his skin felt a soft chill.

Eventually, they brushed past a dense cloud.

Liam glanced at the Imperialist.

BLERGH!

Dozens of Cloud Leeches exploded from her mouth.