Chapter 316: The Crossroads of Vengeance and Mercy

The old man's eyes widened in surprise as he heard his daughter claim that the boy he had been trying to kill was, in fact, his own grandson, his cherished daughter's child. It was difficult for him to accept, but he knew that no one else at such a young age could defeat him.

As he connected Rio's exceptional talent and elemental affinity for thunder, he realized he had made a terrible mistake. This boy truly was his grandson... His world felt as if it had turned upside down, and he began to loathe himself for his actions.

Aliyah saw Rio hesitating and decided to narrate the truth in detail, "Twenty years ago, Big sister Amirah, fell in love with brother-in-law, but Father didn't accept their relationship. He was angry and resentful that his cherished daughter had chosen to be with someone with no family background. But big sister Amirah didn't agree with Father's decision. She decided to leave with the brother-in-law, and they went to live in the land of Asura, far away from home.

That's when Father's opinion of the brother-in-law started to change. He saw him as the reason his daughter had left his side. The media even spread rumors that the Havenglow family had abandoned their older daughter, but that wasn't true. Big sister Amirah still lived with us, but she rarely came home.

One day, Big sister brought Lily home, saying she would become the wife of her son in the future.

But when big sister Amirah fought and disappeared during the battle with Dhovrix race 16 years ago, Father became unstable. He was too broken by his daughter's loss, and he thought your mother had died that day. We really don't know if big sister Amirah is dead or alive, but we never saw her again.

Father took Lily as his granddaughter and doted on her like a real daughter, he saw big sister Amirah in her. He always feared that she may also one day love someone else and get away from him. This caused him to do what he did today.

The reason I hid your identity from everyone was that I was afraid the Dhovrix race may come after you after finding out that the hero's child is alive and has returned. But now, it's time for you to know the truth so you don't kill your mother's father who doted on her as if his life depended on it."

As Aliyah recounted the tale, Rio's expression became more hesitant, and he clutched his silver-bloom king sword's hilt tightly.

The onlookers, who had been holding their breath, their mouths became agape.

Layla's eyes widened in shock, as she struggled to process everything.

The once noisy battlefield now lay shrouded in an eerie silence as everyone grappled with the weight of the truth and the complex web of relationships and secrets that had been exposed. The revelation had left them all speechless and overwhelmed, their minds reeling with the hint of what they had just learned.

"Even if he doesn't know the truth, he has no right to treat Layla this way. You should stop defending him. Let me end this man who's clearly lost his mind," Rio countered, his voice hardened by his resolve.

"Please, Rio, spare his life. I beg you... Father will be punished for the rest of his life, knowing what he's done to his own grandson. Your mother's soul wouldn't rest in peace if she saw her own son kill her father..." Aliyah begged once more, her eyes filled with desperation.

As Rio stared into Second Mother's pleading eyes, he found himself at a crossroads. The revelation of his connection to the old man sent a torrent of conflicting emotions surging through him.

The thought of exacting vengeance on the man who had caused him and Layla so much pain was tempting, but Aliyah's anguished plea weighed heavily on his conscience. She was right that his mother wouldn't want her own son to kill her father...

The onlookers watched with bated breath, the tension growing heavier as they awaited Rio's decision. Even the old man, battered and broken on the ground, seemed to hold his breath in fear of his fate.

Rio's grip on the Silver Bloom King Sword tightened, his knuckles whitening as he wrestled with the decision before him.

At that moment, he felt the weight of his entire world resting on his shoulders. He struggled to forgive the man who had caused so much chaos and had even tried to kill him, but he couldn't deny the fact that his mother had intervened to stop him and given him the power to protect himself... He thought he should at least spare this man for his mother's sake.

As he stood there, caught between the desire for vengeance and the plea for mercy, his eyes fell on Layla. He knew that even if he could never bring himself to consider this man his grandfather or stop hating him, in the end, Layla had grown up thinking of this man as her grandfather. He thought he should show restraint since the man was his mother's father and Layla's grandfather as well.

Realizing that he had the power to take this man's life at any moment, Rio finally made a decision. Drawing in a deep breath, he lowered his Silver Bloom King Sword, allowing the charged thunder energy to dissipate.

The tense silence that had enveloped the battlefield was shattered as a collective sigh of relief echoed throughout the crowd.

With a heavy sigh, Rio decided to show mercy. "I will spare his life, but if he ever comes between me and Layla again, I won't hesitate to end him, even if it means fighting you."

Casting one last resentful look at the old man, who stared back in disbelief, Rio turned to leave. All he wanted now was Layla and to leave this place.

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Edited By: TheWhiteSnow