After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 148
The sharp light bent into a curve, gaining speed as it struck with force. Henkit’s eyes gleamed with exhilaration. However, the next moment, the powerful recoil sent his wrist snapping back.
“Argh!”
It was a pitiful scream. Trembling from the current, Henkit clenched his shaking hand and stumbled backward. Dehart glared at him, slowly rising to his feet. The eerie light spilled over his dark clothes.
“You filthy bastard…”
His voice was low and venomous. In an instant, he unleashed a bolt of lightning, blocking Henkit’s attack just before his sanity snapped. How Henkit had managed to sneak up on him and why he had attacked was irrelevant.
What mattered was the safety of the herbs.
His gaze flickered back. The sight of the glass flowers, thankfully undamaged, eased his tension. A sharp, crackling sound echoed in the cold air as his fingers clenched. Relief flooded his chest.
But that didn’t mean he would forgive Henkit.
“I shouldn’t have trusted that doctor with your fate in the first place.”
Dehart smiled coldly, drawing his sword. The faint glow of the glowstone below illuminated him. Henkit shouted, suddenly convulsing.
“You’re not the Duke! The real Duke died protecting me, ah! Duke, forgive me! That demon is wearing your skin and coveting your things!”
Contempt shadowed Dehart’s cold face. He understood. Ever since the delirium in the nightmare forest, Henkit had lost his sanity. He likely couldn’t accept that he had failed and had resorted to wild delusions.
Perhaps, he thought he had found the Duke imprisoned but, unable to rescue him, had escaped alone in some absurd fantasy.
But I don’t owe him an explanation.
With a snap, a burst of flames flew out, and a sharp light encircled him in the darkness. Dehart’s eyes cooled, and his grip tightened on his sword.
“But it ends today, you bastard demon!”
Henkit let out a manic laugh and suddenly turned, running. In an instant, he vanished into the darkness. A deep crease formed between Dehart’s brows.
“Does insanity rob you of intelligence too? Well, I suppose it makes sense.”
It could be seen from himself. Dehart smirked. Even though Henkit had fled, he remained unfazed.
He sheathed his sword and snapped his fingers. With a sharp sound, the valley’s darkness was once again consumed by a burst of light.
Crack. Crackle—!
Thousands of beams of light shot up. As the darkness cleared, Henkit’s figure emerged.
Dehart watched him intently, pulling his wrist back. The moment the empty hand released a long beam of light, the air crackled.
“God, have mercy on this poor soul!”
Henkit, who had dashed into the cave, emerged holding something in the air. At the same time, a bolt of lightning shot from Dehart’s hand, striking Henkit.
“Ugh…!”
The sharp and condensed spear of lightning pierced through Henkit’s torso in an instant. But it was already too late. A vile grin spread across his face.
Bang—!
“What…!”
The deafening sound shook the ground. Dehart’s eyes widened as he scanned the surroundings. This wasn’t due to the lightning. It was only then that he saw the sacred relic fall from Henkit’s hand.
His eyes widened. There was no time to hesitate. Dehart immediately turned his back.
“Duke!”
Ryan, who had heard the commotion from the other side, rushed to Dehart with a look of shock on his face. The two men’s gazes locked across the glowing relic, and in that instant, the dust quickly clouded their vision.
Boom!
The valley began to collapse.
* * *
Boom—!
The massive impact reverberated through the mountain range. Sebelia collapsed, unable to keep her footing, as she chased after Claude. Worried, Watts quickly approached her, though he seemed to be struggling to maintain his own balance.
“Are you alright?”
“I… I’m fine. But Mr. Claude…!”
Sebelia’s gaze lifted to the ridge above. Claude, who had thrown the knights aside and rushed ahead, suddenly collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
“I’m fine. Go to him.”
Sebelia pushed Watts away with a firm tone. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded and tried to head toward Claude. But even he was finding it difficult.
Boom—!
The ground shook beneath them. The forest, devoid of wildlife, let out an eerie sound as leaves rustled in the wind. Sebelia clenched her lips and stood, forcing herself to move.
“Let’s go together.”
Sebelia grasped Watts’ arm, each step a struggle. Soon, a groan of pain pierced her ears. Claude was lying on the ground, looking as if his heart had been torn out. His eyes were wide, and he was gasping for air.
“No…! Ah, huff…!”
“Snap out of it, Mr. Claude!”
As Sebelia called out, Claude’s eyes suddenly regained their light, as though a corpse were coming back to life. Before Sebelia could even react, he sprang to his feet.
Claude seemed completely unhinged.
