Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 320: A grieving father’s revenge

He spoke while walking forward, each step deliberate and menacing. He crouched before Thaurion, his gaze piercing, sharp enough to cut through bone.

"She suffered because of you," Yu Xi said, his voice low and venomous. "It’s time for payback."

Thaurion trembled, his blood running cold in the presence of a demon of his own making. He suddenly wished it was Seraphyne standing before him instead.

Eros finally had the opportunity to avenge his entire family that where ruined by this bastard. He took full advantage of it. Before Thaurion was suspended mid-air by shimmering energy restraints. Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth, painting a macabre mask on his face.

Whenever Eros closed his eyes, the image of his daughter flashed in his mind. Her sweet laughter echoing across sun-drenched fields, her small hands reaching for him. Daddy! Each phantom touch was a fresh wound, a reason to inflict unimaginable agony. He focused that grief, that love, into a psychic lance aimed at Thaurion’s already shattered mind.

Thaurion, a husk of the man he once was, chuckled, a wet, gurgling sound. The chains rattled with his weak movements. "Is that all you got, Eros?... You are fucking pathetic. You yourself failed to protect that precious daughter of yours.?" He spat a glob of blood. "How is that my fault."

Thaurion wanted to die. He wanted to end this misery and the best way he knew how was to further provoke Eros and end this. But he had sadly miscalculated.

Yu Xi, a figure of cold, contained fury, stepped forward. His emerald eyes, radiating raw psychic power, narrowed. "A quick death would be kindness but... kindness is a luxury you forfeited long ago. We won’t grant you the easy escape of oblivion."

Yu Xi plunged his mind into Thaurion’s. Not with the blunt force of Eros’s grief, but with surgical precision. He sought out the core of Thaurion’s psychic abilities, the intricate network that gave him immense power.

With ruthless efficiency, he severed the connections, cauterized the wounds. It wasn’t death, but a systematic dismantling. Thaurion’s howls, a desperate, animalistic sound, bounced off the prison walls.

"He will live," Yu Xi said, his voice devoid of emotion, as he backed away. "He will live with the knowledge of everything he’s lost, with the shattered remnants of his power. He will be nothing more than a vegetable, a hollow shell."

His gaze flickered to Eros, a flicker of something unreadable. "It won’t bring back my mother. It won’t erase the pain. But it’s something."

Eros, still gasping, managed a weak nod. "Its enough," he rasped. "The pain...the utter uselessness...that is enough vengeance for now."

He looked at Thaurion, his face devoid of emotion. The laughter had stopped, replaced by a vacant stare, mirroring the hollowness that Yu Xi had deliberately cultivated. Eros wasn’t satisfied. Not truly. But this would be enough, for now.

As they walked out of the prison cell, the silence between them was thick. Finally, Eros spoke, his voice rough with regret. "I am sorry I couldn’t get to you on time back then. I couldn’t get to your mother in time. I failed you. I failed her greatly. "

Yu Xi glanced at him, his emerald eyes softening. "Grandpa, how many times do you have to apologize? You did everything you could. Isn’t it good that we are together today?"

Eros’ shoulders sagged. "Yes... I just wish your mother was here with us."

Yu Xi patted his shoulder gently. "Me too."

They entered the elevator, the hum of machinery filling the silence. Yu Xi leaned against the wall, his tone shifting. "You should be a little nicer to Jian Ci. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be together today."

Eros knew Yu Xi was right. He should tolerate Jian Ci more. But he was overprotective of his grandchildren. They were after all, his only family left. Even if it was Xiaobao’s partner, he would react the same way.

"I understand," Eros said slowly. "But he should at least have a private conversation with me so we can... get to know each other."

The way he said get to know each other sounded suspicious, almost predatory. What he really wanted was an opportunity to finish off the fight that brat had started with him, to teach him a lesson. Only then could he let go of past grievances.

Yu Xi narrowed his eyes, clearly reading his grandfather’s thoughts. "Don’t go too far."

Eros feigned innocence. "How can you say that about your grandpa? I just want to get to know him."

Yu Xi gave him a look that said plainly: Do I look like I was born yesterday? Not even a toddler would believe Eros.

"Fine," Yu Xi said at last, sighing. "I will ask him."

Eros smiled, satisfied. "Good. We are all going to be family soon, so why not get to know each other?"

Yu Xi shook his head, exasperated.

***

On this day, in Virelia, a new era began. The imperial palace gleamed, decorated splendidly with banners of gold and crimson. Attendants rushed through the corridors, their footsteps echoing as they scrambled to prepare for the ceremony.

The transition of power had been sudden, almost abrupt, leaving little time for grandeur. Yet enough dignitaries had gathered to witness the appointment of Jian Rui as Virelia’s new Imperial Lord.

The Divine Council members, whether they favored him or not, had no choice but to attend. They assembled at the Shrine of the Hollow Sun, their whispers hushed, their eyes darting nervously. None dared raise their voices, not with the newly appointed Imperial Guards standing watch.

Questions lingered among them. Where were the other princes, princesses, and concubines? What had become of the heirs who had once vied for the throne? Those who had aligned themselves with rival factions were now confused, their paths uncertain. All they could do was wait.

Jian Rui, under Seraphyne’s guidance, had ensured no heir would rise to challenge him. Their secret backers had been dismantled, their influence stripped away before they even realized what was happening. By the time most of them understood, they had already been rendered powerless.

The concubines, once formidable in their pursuit of power, found their years of scheming reduced to ash. The influence they had cultivated for their children to inherit Thaurion’s throne had vanished overnight.

Seraphyne was especially ruthless. She ordered them locked within their sprawling palaces until they swore a mandated blood oath of allegiance to the Jian brothers.

The command was met with outrage. Resistance flared. Not even Thaurion had demanded such submission, yet Seraphyne was shameless enough to demand it now. To them, it was absurd, humiliating. But Seraphyne did not waver.

Her voice was calm, almost dismissive. "Okay. Then enjoy the confines of your palaces for the rest of your lives."

The concubines bristled, but her words carried finality. Their palaces were luxurious, gilded cages of marble and silk. Not the worst place to spend eternity, but the sting of powerlessness was sharper than any blade.

In truth, they were all placing their hopes on the First Prince, the only one who had not been captured. He had sensed the shift in the atmosphere, the moves being made in the shadows, and had fled the capital planet before the storm broke.

Whispers spread among the concubines and their allies. Two tigers will fight each other to the death, they thought. Once dealt with, the throne will be up for grabs. But their expectations of the First Prince were too high.

While Jian Rui prepared for the ceremony, Jian Ci and Yu Xi stood together, gazing at the incoming fleet with amusement. Most of the ships belonged to two factions of the Calamity Alliance, interstellar pirates infamous for their brutality. What promises the First Prince had made to them was a mystery, but one thing was certain: they were bound to fail.

Yu Xi’s lips curled. "He’s probably acting smug right now."

Jian Ci embraced him from behind, his voice low and mocking. "He thinks he will win against my brother. But he doesn’t know he already lost the second he allied with those two."

Yu Xi’s smile turned menacing, his dark eyes gleaming. "Time to show our hand and watch the good show."

Jian Ci kissed his neck and cheek, murmuring with a grin, "I love it when you act evil."

Eros, who had been listening in silence, finally snapped. "You do realize I can hear you two, right?"

Yu Xi smirked. "Grandpa, you can close your ears." Eros sighed, exasperated, before giving the order.

From the shadows, Eros’s fleet emerged massive, disciplined, and bristling with firepower. The interstellar pirates advancing toward the capital planet froze in horror. When they saw the crest emblazoned on the ships, panic spread like wildfire. All hell broke loose.

"How the hell did we provoke this big devil?" one pirate captain screamed, his voice trembling.

The answer was simple: they had chosen the wrong side.

***

Darion, the third of the Calamity Alliance, slammed his fist against the console, his voice booming through the command room. "Call that bastard of a prince over here!" His words were spit out with such force that flecks of saliva sprayed the air.

The warship’s command room was in chaos. Pirates shouted over one another, alarms blared, and the screens flickered with incoming data.

Darion was an overlord in his own right, ambitious and ruthless. With the First Prince under their pocket, they had believed they could take over Virelia. It had been a solid plan, well, until Eros appeared. Darion cursed, his face twisted in rage.

On the flickering holo-screen, the fourth member of the Calamity Alliance, Maximus, snarled. "You said this was an easy plan! How the fuck did you get us to offend Eros? The fuck is wrong with you?"

Darion’s jaw clenched, his voice defensive. "Maybe... maybe he’s with that brat."

Maximus sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Does it look like they are on the same side? Fuck, why did I even listen to you?"

Darion’s eyes burned with fury. He had gambled everything on the First Prince and now, with Eros in play, the gamble was turning into a nightmare.