The sword energy cascaded down like a waterfall.
The moment Fahima's demonic phantom came into contact with the sword light, it shattered into countless points of light.
Hector's mangled body slammed heavily onto the deck, landing right next to Avarish's pile of rotting flesh.
The entire cruise ship was groaning in agony, its hull tilting at an angle exceeding forty-five degrees, and seawater was frantically pouring into the hold.
"Cough cough... Hahahaha!"
Avarish, who was barely clinging to life, burst into laughter upon seeing this.
Its finger pointed laboriously at its "old friend" beside it, laughing so hard it sprayed green liquid.
"Fool! Is this your perfect plan? How does it feel to have your scheme backfire? Fahima, you look a hundred times uglier than a rat in a sewer!"
The body controlled by Fahima was now completely destroyed and could only lie limp on the ground like a dead dog.
Large gulps of black, foul blood gushed from Hector's mouth, a sign that his demonic essence was damaged.
"Shut up... you piece of trash who only eats garbage."
Fahima cursed weakly, the allure in her voice vanished, leaving only malice.
One foot was planted between two demons.
Yasuo looked down at the two figures lying in pools of blood.
The longsword in his hand remained terrifyingly steady, its tip pointed at Fahima's face, which had begun to rot.
"I have a few questions," Yasuo's voice was cold, even colder than the sea breeze. "How are you so sure I'll pave the way for you, Yasuo?"
This is what Yasuo cares about most.
If this demon was plotting against him from the very beginning, then the other party's understanding of his character was far too thorough.
Fahima struggled to turn over, looked at the sharp blade that seemed about to fall from above, and gave a bitter laugh.
"A plan? Ha... there's no such thing."
The demon coughed up a fragment of its internal organs, its eyes glazed over.
"I originally just wanted to completely absorb the White Tiger's power within this body. Hector, that idiot, has too strong a will; that damned amulet keeps resisting. I was planning to hide in this kid's hometown and digest it slowly, then come and settle accounts with that fat pig Avarish after I've had my fill."
"Who knew..." Fahima's Will-o'-the-Wisp eyes looked at Yasuo with a mocking gaze, "You suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
"I recognized you the moment I saw you. Yasuo of the Vought, that Ronin who always has a grumpy face but is actually as soft-hearted as a block of tofu."
Fahima laughed so hard her body was convulsing.
"I took a gamble. I bet you'd feel pity for a pathetic wretch whose entire family was brutally murdered and who carries a deep-seated blood feud. And guess what? The renowned the Unforgiven is really that obedient; I can make you kill whoever I want."
Yasuo fell silent.
The sea breeze tousled his long hair and obscured his expression.
Avarish nearby, was still gloating. "Did you hear that, warrior? You're a joke! You got played like a fool by a bitch, and you think you're doing something heroic? I'm ashamed for you!"
Yasuo took a deep breath, as if trying to exhale the pent-up frustration in his chest.
He closed his eyes.
Images flashed through my mind: Hector's calloused hands, his anger as he crushed a beer can in the repair shop, and the image of the two of them sharing a bottle of cheap whiskey on the way.
It turns out, only I took it seriously.
A pushover.
That's a disgusting word.
"You're right."
Yasuo opened his eyes.
The confusion in those eyes was gone.
"I'm a pushover." Yasuo flicked his wrist, his sword flashing like lightning. "So, to prevent more people from being disgusted by you, I have no choice but to ask you to disappear completely."
"Wait! I can give you..."
Before Fahima could finish pleading for mercy, his head had already flown off.
Next came Avarish, whose ugly head was ripped open.
Two black demonic souls tried to emerge from the corpse and escape, but were crushed to pieces by the lingering Wind Wall around them.
Utterly annihilated.
Yasuo sheathed his sword.
Amidst the pile of mangled corpses, a jade amulet stained black rolled out.
Yasuo bent down and picked up the amulet.
It was covered in the filth of demons, but he could still feel the faint yet resilient pulse within.
That was Hector Ayala's last obsession, or perhaps the spirituality of the White Tiger Amulet itself.
Sorry, buddy.
Yasuo muttered something under his breath and tucked the amulet into his pocket.
The ship made a loud crash and capsized completely.
Yasuo didn't linger.
He stepped onto the broken railing, leaped, and disappeared into the vast night.
Fifteen minutes later.
A public phone booth on Santa Monica Beach.
Yasuo was soaking wet and was wringing out his tattered clothes.
He took a coin out of his pocket and dropped it into the coin slot.
The sound of the dial turning was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
"Beep... beep..."
The call was connected.
"I'm Tali Zola." A calm, mechanical, and somewhat weary female voice came from the other end, accompanied by the clatter of keyboards. " Yasuo? If you hadn't blown half the earth up, I suggest you cut to the chase. I'm too busy to do anything right now."
"Hi, Tali," Yasuo leaned against the glass of the phone booth, "I need to ask you for a favor."
"I'm expensive."
Put it on my tab.
Yasuo answered without hesitation.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by what seemed like an eye roll.
"Speak."
"Help me find out about someone." Yasuo looked at the still somewhat cold White Tiger Amulet in his hand. " Hector Ayala. I need to know if he has any relatives still alive. Direct relatives, collateral relatives, even distant cousins will do."
Since Hector's story is true, and since that soul seeking revenge for his sister truly existed...
So Yasuo felt he had to continue playing the role of this pushover.
At the very least, this thing should be handed over to a truly clean person.
" Hector Ayala..." Tali repeated the name, the keyboard clattering even louder, "Give me ten seconds."
All that could be heard from the receiver was static.
Yasuo looked at his disheveled reflection in the glass and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Found it." Tali's voice suddenly became somewhat strange. " Yasuo, are you sure you want to find this person's relatives?"
"What? Are they all dead?"
"No, quite the opposite." Tali paused. "The records show that just three days ago, a woman claiming to be a distant relative of the Ayala family, carrying a DNA test report, took over the property deeds under the Ayala family's name. And..."
"And what?"
Yasuo frowned.
"That woman's name is Angela del Toro. She's investigating the truth behind the Ayala family's demise."