Limitless The Strongest Revenant
Chapter 71: Heroine Chapter: For our Kindred!

Chapter POV: Lilly Browning

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[Are you fucking insane?!]

An angry scream came from the GRI phone on the table. I was on a video conference with various women from around the world. At my side was a woman over six feet tall, carefully trying to mix her tea.

It was adorable to see a strong Northerner fumbling with something as mundane as a teacup. On the opposite side was a young assassin from Down Under.

"Sweetheart. I am quite serious. You may tell John that assassins are coming for him. But I forbid anyone to tell him that Aki is among them," I instructed as I drank my tea.

[But Lilly, Aki will try to kill darling. What possible reason could you have not to warn him?]

It was hilarious. The women gathered here were all from such different backgrounds, but they all fell in love with the same man. I was pretty sure that love was not the only reason. Love might have caused the initial attraction, but they all had something they needed from my kindred.

"Josephine, you and Jasmine have IQ's of 141 and 145 respectively. What do you think?"

[What? 141? 145? Filho da puta! How are descendants even fair?!] shouted a certain bespectacled Brazilian.

"Who cares? Oy Princess, what if Aki succeeds in killing the wombat?" someone asked.

"Then that simply means that this is his limit. As much as you girls tell yourselves that you love him, it was his fighting potential that won you over, no? If he had died during the enlistment, no one would have spared him a second glance."

"..."

The silence that followed confirmed my words. No matter how good they were with words or how visionary a man seemed to be. If he lacked competence in either industry or battle, he was nothing but chaff in the wind.

I understood because I was the same. I was drawn to the man named John Smith not only because of his words, but because he had the strength and drive to rise higher.

[Still, I have trouble believing that Aki is the Bladed Kitsune. I thought she committed suicide? And why would she go after Honey in the first place?]

"Trinity probably put her up to it," the Viking replied.

"Ahh! Why do I always feel like a drongo when I talk to you slaggers? I don't get it, Liv!" shouted the one to my left.

Seeing the combat joey worry her little head made me smile. Completely unlike the crowd I usually had, this group spoke unfiltered and didn't walk on eggshells around me.

"Allow me, Robyn. Trinity is the enemy of all reapers. They want the world to end. One of their usual practices is to blackmail reapers into killing each other."

"Eh? Aki is being blackmailed? What did she do? She didn't seem like the type to have dirty laundry," Robyn questioned further.

Bella replied in a somber tone. [Robyn, Aki is a notorious assassin, she was known as the Bladed Kitsune. Her targets were usually Reaper families or those close to them].

It was so refreshing to have such a competent group of people discussing like this. "Wonderful information gathering, Bella, for someone without a sponsor, I am impressed."

[Stop patronizing her, Lilly. Bella hates that. We weren't sure when I met her, but Jas and I thought her name sounded familiar. For the descendants, the name Miroku was associated with the Miroku Massacre. Lilly, Aki is dangerous, she killed Reapers even as a human. We have to stop her.]

Dear, how much have you charmed this group? Though still embers, their affection for you was already smoldering hot. Before the others could ask, Jasmine finished the ninja's story.

[The Miroku raised children in pairs, one was trained as an assassin, the other was drugged to become sickly. The sick sibling would then serve as a shackle for the assassin. About a month ago, Aki's brother supposedly died, and when she found out, she broke down. Aki started killing everyone with the surname Miroku out of complete hatred.]

"If that is the case, what does she want with my wombat?"

"It seems that Haru, Aki's brother, was still alive. He was stolen from Miroku by Trinity," I explained in a stoic tone.

Liv pounded her fists on the table as she lambasted Trinity. "How cowardly, they should all die a dog's death!"

[Then the reason you want to leave Aki alone is because even if we intervened, as long as Trinity has her brother, she would try again? I don't think she can kill Honey, at least.]

"90 points, Aki will hunt John Smith until her brother is rescued or she is killed. If we want to help him, stopping Aki is not the answer. It is taking away the power Trinity has over her."

Because of this. Liv, Robyn and I were on a private jet on our way to Japan. Jo and Jas were on a smuggled flight to the same destination. Bella was providing tactical support.

It was only yesterday that Bella and I had helped the sisters. But when they heard about the situation, they had no qualms about helping.

[How did you manage to replace them, Lilly? Especially when someone like Bella could not? I believe in Husband, but I replace the whole thing suspicious.]

"I replace it more amusing that none of you thought of ending Aki, aren't we all in love with John?" I teased.

[...]

"Relax, the Miroku are vassals of the Browning family."

'HAHAHA this group was so much fun to mess around with.

It had been years since I let myself go like this. They neither pandered nor tried to take advantage of me. They simply appreciated my help and responded in kind.

'Right, they were just like my kindred. Could this be considered his influence?'

'Then it is decided, starting today, I will be your handler.'

'Excuse me? No! I refuse!'

It was a first for me. Usually people groveled to get my attention. But not him. Even when I challenged him in single combat, he not only won in spectacular fashion, but also praised my accomplishments.

'I am in awe of everything you have accomplished, Lilly. How much did you struggle to hide such a truth under the eyes of everyone. On the other hand, if they do know, how much effort did it take to get them to accept it? Either case, I replace you amazing!'

Just remembering his intense gaze made my body heat up.

'Then, from today, you're mine. If you don't do what I say or go against my words, I will not only expose you, but I will make sure that everyone knows that their princess indulges in porn like a depraved slut.'

Yes, as proud as I am, I feared that my true nature would be known by others. I lived with a mask that bound me like chains. As the last remaining bloodline of David Thomas, I could not fail. After all, I wasn't even his legal family.

Unlike any other prince or princess of the Revenants, I was a bastard born out of wedlock. The product of a one-night stand between a maid and a drunken Revenant. That was my true origin. My mother was eventually assassinated by the Trinity when I was ten.

The next day I was adopted into the Browning family. The house of my father's late wife. Like the plot of a cheap romance novel, I went from rags to riches. And those around me made sure I never forgot.

I tried my best despite my humble origins, but it all came crashing down the day I awoke {Store}. The rage and disappointment in my so-called father was palpable. Unable to live with my failure, I continued to struggle until I finally became a Phantom.

'LILLY! Please give me your blood! I will trade with you as much as you need!'

'What? Are you really that impressed with my {Fate}?'

'OF COURSE I AM! It is amazing! Please trade {Fates} with me!'

'Oh...is that so?'

Who knew I craved acceptance? No one appreciated my true self, they all loved the mask I wore. Lilly Browning, the manifested phantom and proud daughter of David Thomas. The higher I rose, the more I drove myself into a corner. Like a noose, each day was strangling me ever tighter. How long would I have to live a lie?

'Wait for me. I will kick so much zombie ass by the time I am done that being Formless will be like a badge of honor.'

'I refuse. I would not be alive right now if it were not for Bella. I will never abandon her.'

'I couldn't bear to let such fuckers insult you. It never bothered me when I was the butt of their jokes. But for them to say such garbage about you, when you are nothing but noble, didn't sit right with me.'

Every exchange made my heart lighter. Such simple words comforted me. Like a fly in a web, I found myself unable to escape his clutches. Even my dreams were invaded by his face from another life. All I had to do was close my eyes and I could see him again.

"Who are you? I am Nergal, god of war and guardian of the underworld. Are you Ereshkigal?"

Dressed in black armor, he asked in a bloodthirsty tone. A handsome face, eerily identical to my John Smith. Unable to escape the memory, my body moved like a character in a play.

"You imbecile, I am Ishtar, goddess of love and war. Ereshkigal, my sister, is the one who imprisoned us together."

"Oh? How can I meet her?"

"You can't. I came here to take her rule, and it seems you wish to do the same. According to her plot, we can only leave when the other is dead."

"Understood. Then, as gods of war, let our blades speak for us!" the man drew his weapon as a savage grin appeared on his charming face. I similarly prepared for battle and soon our dance of love and death began.

***

Oh? My mind drifted for a second. Back to the subject. Naturally, I knew the reason why no one could kill Aki. Every woman here, including her, had been used by a Revenant to threaten John.

Yet the man didn't deny any of us. For seven Formless Reapers, those the world considered to be of no value. A powerless man took on a god.

For fear of incurring the wrath of the One we sought, no one could act impulsively. For the same reason, we moved to defend each other, all to earn his favor.

How disgustingly sweet, yet irrevocably stupid. Yet, like a fly in his web, neither they nor I could save ourselves from the man named John Smith.

After a few hours, Liv, Robyn and I met the Italian sisters at Osaka's International Airport. Half an hour later we arrived at the abandoned Kyoto hospital run by Trinity.

Dozens of burly men with manifested weapons immediately surrounded us. With a smile on my face, I put on the kitsune mask I had brought with me.

"Shall we begin, sisters? For our kindred! OPEN COMBAT!"