Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

’Where did he go?!’ Leech exclaimed as Soren disappeared from his vision. ’!’

’Not good!’

He instantly activated his movement technique on pure instinct, his body blurring to the side. But the moment he reappeared, Soren was already above him, fist cocked back.

Thwack!

The punch connected before Leech could even think to block, the impact folding him around Soren’s fist and launching him across the arena. He bounced twice on the broken floor before Soren appeared again, driving another blow into his skull mid-tumble. Leech’s body went limp instantly, skidding across the stone before coming to a stop in a heap.

”...”

Soren straightened, his gaze sweeping across the arena until it locked onto a lone figure standing at the edge of the battlefield. The figure stared back at him, frozen like a puppet whose strings had momentarily tangled.

”...I found... you...”

”...Sevihan.”

”!”

The name barely left Soren’s mouth when the surroundings around them blurred, the arena bending and twisting like a reflection on disturbed water. And in just a heartbeat, the scene disappeared, and they were back in the room.

Aeshvin stood there, his borrowed face pale, his chest rising and falling as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. For the first time, his confident smirk was gone, replaced by a bizarre expression.

”I told you,” Ethea said, her voice tinged with pride. ”It’s over.”

”...” Aeshvin didn’t respond this time.

”I also forgot to tell you something.” She added, knowing he was listening despite pretending not to. ”It wasn’t me who defeated you. It was my husband. And I guess...” Her lips curled up as she realized something. ”...Sevihan is your true name?”

”!” Aeshvin’s body jerked, his head snapping toward her. His eyes burned with rage and madness, his shoulders shaking non-stop.

”D-Don’t...!” His voice cracked, no longer playful or amused. ”Don’t you dare say that name!”

”Sevihan,” Ethea repeated mockingly, meeting his gaze without a flinch. ”Goodbye.”

Then, her eyes began to glow, a brilliant silver light blooming from within. Countless tiny stars flickered in her irises, like a galaxy unfolding in her gaze.

”!” Aeshvin’s eyes widened. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Then his body went rigid, his expression freezing as the light swallowed him whole. A moment later, the possessed body went limp, the light fading from its eyes as consciousness slipped away.

Before it could hit the ground, the body stopped mid-air, hovering for a breath before drifting toward a nearby sofa and settling gently onto the cushions.

”Hmm...” Ethea let out a weary breath, her shoulders slumping as the glow in her eyes faded. ”Hm.. Hm..”

She took quick breaths to steady herself. Despite the exhaustion, she looked at ease, as if a mountain had been lifted from her shoulders.

”Dear,” She whispered with a gentle smile. ”I will leave the rest to you...”

───────

”Huff... Huff...”

Deep within an underground cave, far from the ruined arena, on the outskirts of Bagdad City, a cloaked figure collapsed onto the floor. His body hit the ground hard, and a mouthful of blood followed, splattering across the rocks as violent coughs wracked his frame. His chest heaved with every ragged breath, each inhale scraping against his throat.

”Damn it...!” His fist cracked against the stone, the impact splitting the surface beneath his knuckles. ”How... how did she do that?!”

His voice came out hoarse, trembling with a mixture of pain and disbelief. The mental backlash had torn through him like a blade, severing his control and leaving his head pounding. He could still feel the echo of that silver light burning behind his eyes.

’Urgh...’ Gritting his teeth, he tried to reach out, to slip into one of his puppets above, but the moment he stretched his consciousness, a sharp spike of pain drove through his skull. He spat another mouthful of blood, his vision swimming as the connection shattered before it could even form.

”T-That b*tch!” He cursed out loud. ”She must have done something!”

”I... I’ll kill her... No... I’ll kill...” he growled, his fingers curling into the dirt. His eyes, wide and bloodshot, gleamed with murderous intent. ”I’ll kill them both! That bi*tch and her bast*rd husband! But not before I make them suffer. I... I’ll break them slowly. I’ll make them beg for death... and I’ll give it to them... Hahaha!”

His manic laughter echoed through the cave. A moment later, he stopped laughing and, with great difficulty, took out a potion. He then raised his head to drink, his hand trembling as he brought the vial to his cracked lips.

But before the liquid could touch his tongue, his body went rigid.

Because...

He saw a pair of violet eyes staring at him from the darkness.

They belonged to a small black creature, its form barely distinguishable from the darkness around it. It sat just a few feet away, close enough that he could make out the faint outline of its body, but still enough to make his skin crawl.

’H-How is it here?!’

His mind raced. He recognized the identity of the creature right away, but that only made it worse. The cave was sealed off, hidden beneath layers of rock and dirt, and protected by dozens of barriers and traps. It was impossible even for an Emperor to locate, let alone enter unnoticed. And yet... There it sat, as if the concept of impossibility meant nothing to it. Heck, it looked like it had been waiting for him for a long time!

’...Gulp.’ He swallowed hard, his throat going dry. ’I-Is... Is this how it ends? Have I... truly lost?’

’Is it really... over?’

’Am I... going to die?’

His chest tightened at the thought. For the first time in years, true fear gripped him, sinking its claws deep into his heart. His grip on the vial loosened, and it slipped from his trembling fingers, hitting a stone and shattering upon impact. The sound echoed through the cave like a crack of thunder in the stillness.

’!’

The noise snapped him out of the spiraling fear that had taken hold of him. He blinked, his vision clearing, and gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached.

’N-No... There must be a way out of this... I didn’t come this far to die like this!’