With one blow of his fist, Casado lurched back in pain and his eyes rolled back into his head. He crumbled into a heap on the floor and stopped moving about seconds later. He was no longer breathing. He was dead.
"You... you killed him! You killed my elder brother!" As Tyler and Ellen watched the scene before them, they felt that sky had collapsed and fallen upon them. They roared in grief and indignation while tears flowed from their eyes. It burned hot against the skin of their faces, but they made no attempt to wipe the tears. Why would they? Acting tough wouldn't do any good at this point. It wouldn't bring Casado back to life. It was the most heartbreaking thing they had ever experienced, and no amount of training or expertise could save them from the agony of losing someone they held dear.
They had feelings, too!
Ricky stood still, eyeing them with cold, distant eyes. Long ago, he might have been deeply moved by other people showing such intense emotions, but he was not the same person he used to be. He had changed. He felt nothing. Still, something was holding him back. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't bring himself to end their lives.
"You are going to kill me, but why couldn't I kill you guys?" asked Ricky. It was a question directed more to himself than his opponents. He turned away, his gaze a little less colder this time.
"We must kill you!" yelled the two people as they gathered as much strength as they could muster and charged straight into Ricky. They were so overcome with rage that only Ricky's vicious killing intent remained in their minds and not the fact that Ricky was too strong for them. After all, he had killed their brother within seconds. He couldn't be defeated, but they didn't care. They just wanted to avenge their brother no matter what.
"You leave me no choice," Ricky replied coldly, his voice cutting through the chilly haze that smothered the night.
All it took for him was one motion. He stepped in front of them and the next thing they knew, he was already severing the threads of life that bound them to their bodies. The sound of two large objects hitting something cold and hard was heard. Tyler and Ellen crashed into the ground, spitting blood like their older brother did.
These two were much weaker than the killer from the Endless Shadow. Ricky had already made great progress in martial arts. He could even be called a master on his own. So what made them think they could challenge him to a life and death battle and emerge as victors? They were delusional. They were desperate.
As the two lay on the ground, bleeding to death, they realized this harsh truth. They couldn't win against him. Not now, not ever. Ricky was in an entirely different league. A look of pure terror crossed their features, replacing the intense hatred burning in their eyes. But it was too late. All too late.
They now understood that they were doomed since the moment Casado decided to kill Ricky. It was a losing battle from the start--one that would force them to close their eyes forever.
"I don't want to kill women, but I can't set you free." Ricky said in a calm voice, but his words were laced with venom. He walked towards them and pulled out the Iron Destroyer on his back.
"You shall perish by my saber!"
With that, Ricky swung his sword down Ellen's neck.
The two just lay there, rendered immobile by fear. They had no way out. It was human nature to fear death. In the face of it, some people might greet death like an old friend and calmly accept their fate, while others could only cower in horror. It was the latter for the two.
"Ricky, keep them alive!" Just as the saber were about to slice off Ellen's neck, Theo came to stop Ricky. The blade was just a centimeter from her skin and she was covered in cold sweat.
"Ricky, that's enough! You have killed their elder brother. You have proven your strength. Now, spare them. I believe they are aware that they are wrong!" Theo said, almost begging Ricky for mercy. He, too, was sweating quite profusely.
Kayla, who was standing beside Theo, didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes told Ricky that she agreed with Theo.
'They were nothing but fools, Ricky. Too ignorant for their own good.' Upon hearing this, Ricky was in deep in thought. After a few moments, he looked at Theo and spoke, "Theo, buddy, didn't you hear what Casado just said? All three of them never intended to let us off the hook! They wouldn't have showed us mercy if the roles were reversed. So why should we spare them?" His eyes bore into Theo's. It was a look so intense that it made Theo uncomfortable, but the man held his ground.
"Ricky, I know that, but as the saying goes, 'Saving one's life is better than building a pagoda of seven stories.' It's in your hands now. You can either save two lives or end them. What will you gain if you go for the latter? Nothing but more blood under your name, more wounds on your soul. Let them go, Ricky. Let them live," Theo said, his words bearing nothing but sincere, wise advice.
"He's right! Master Ricky, please spare us. We know we have wronged you and it's shameless of ask to ask for mercy, but if you let us go, we promise never to cause you any trouble. Never again for the rest of our lives. We will stay out of your business," Tyler pleaded, seizing the opportunity Theo had provided them. He hoped that Ricky would give them a chance.
"Is that so? Didn't you guys just declare that you were going to kill me? What makes you think I'd let you go when you have such intentions?" Ricky replied, his hand tightening on the sword.
"Master Ricky, we only said that because we were overcome by hatred and grief. We loved our brother deeply and seeing him die by your hands sent us in a frenzy. I'm sure you have people you care about, people you don't want to see get hurt, so I hope you'll understand how we're feeling right now. We just... we just can't accept that our brother's gone," Ellen explained with trembling voice, a fresh wave of tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
She was obviously trying to get Ricky's sympathy.
"Look, Ricky, they know they did wrong. Just let them go!" Theo said, his tone more urgent than last time.
"Damn it! Fine, you two, get out! I'm only letting you go for Theo's sake. But I swear if I see even just your shadow lurking around me again, it will be the end for both of you. It won't end easily, either. I'll make sure to make you suffer," Ricky said in exasperation, finally giving in to Theo's request. He withdrew his saber and stared them down to make sure they got the message quite clearly.
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