"Darling, get up for breakfast!"
Louise's sweet voice came from outside the door, but at this moment, to David's ears, it sounded like the whispers of a demon.
David didn't respond immediately. Instead, he sat quietly on the bed, his mind involuntarily recalling various scenes from his previous life.
Those past events he had deliberately forgotten now surged like a tide...
He remembered that argument before the [Dark Path] game descended.
It was March 2016, when Jackson held a large concert in Los Angeles. Louise excitedly told him she wanted to go see the performance in person.
"No! Absolutely not!" David firmly refused at the time.
"Why? I already booked the tickets!" Louise looked at him in confusion.
David showed her the news: "Just yesterday, a massive shooting occurred in downtown Los Angeles, with over twenty casualties. It's too dangerous there now!"
"That was just an accident, these things can't happen every day!" Louise argued her case.
"I said no means no! I can't let you take such risks!"
That time, they fought fiercely. Louise ran back to their room in tears and ignored him for several days.
But in the end, Louise still defied his wishes.
She secretly bought plane tickets with her girlfriends and went to Los Angeles behind David's back. When David discovered this, the concert was already over, and Louise had safely returned home.
"See, nothing happened," Louise said smugly.
David was both angry and worried at the time, but seeing his wife return safely, he didn't pursue the matter further.
Later, when the [Dark Path] game descended and the world fell into chaos, David took the initiative to apologize to Louise, saying he had been overly worried. He feared that in this dangerous new world, there would be any rift between them as husband and wife.
From that time on, David protected Louise even more carefully.
In that era of rampaging monsters, he never let his wife act alone. Every time they explored dangerous areas, he arranged for Louise to stay in the safest rear position. Every time they distributed spoils of war, he always considered Louise's needs first.
Other survivors all envied Louise for having such a husband—young and handsome, incredibly powerful, completely devoted, who could still give her the best protection and care in the apocalypse.
"Louise is so fortunate to have such a husband."
"David really has nothing but good things to say about his wife. Where can you find such a good man these days?"
"I wish I could have a husband like that too..."
Hearing these words, David's heart filled with pride and satisfaction. He thought he was doing well, thought his wife would be grateful for his efforts.
But what was the result?
In Louise's heart, the husband who had accompanied and cared for her for over twenty years was actually less important than an idol she had never met in person!
"Baby, I finally got the Barbarian Ancestor's Heart for you..."
Recalling Louise's excited phone call to Jackson just before her death in his previous life, David's fists clenched even tighter.
Baby?
She actually called that man "baby"?
A wife married for many years, calling an outside wild man "baby"!
What was even more ridiculous was that David only learned the truth later—Jackson was nothing but a second-rate expert!
For nine years, this so-called idol star had never had any interaction with them as a couple. His reason for approaching Louise was purely to obtain David's Barbarian Ancestor's Heart!
From beginning to end, what Jackson wanted was power, not love.
But naive Louise actually thought the other party contacted her because he admired her.
"This is really enough..." David smiled bitterly and shook his head.
He began reflecting on all the choices from his previous life.
To protect Louise, how many opportunities had he missed?
To accommodate her emotions, how many dangerous but highly rewarding explorations had he given up?
If he hadn't had this "burden," what heights could he have originally reached?
Perhaps he wouldn't have stopped at the global top hundred, but could have truly ranked among the top ten peak experts!
Thinking of this, David's heart completely turned cold.
"Knock knock knock—"
The knocking sounded again.
"David? Why haven't you gotten up yet?" Louise's voice carried a hint of confusion.
David took a deep breath, slowly walked to the door, and opened it.
Outside the door, Louise was still so beautiful, wearing a pink home outfit, her long hair slightly curled, her face bearing a gentle smile.
This face had once been the most precious existence in his heart.
But now, looking at her, David felt only coldness.
"Louise, let's get divorced."
David's words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving Louise standing there in shock.
"What? What did you say?" Louise thought she had misheard.
"I said, let's get divorced." David repeated, his tone terrifyingly calm.
"Why? Wasn't everything fine yesterday? Did I... did I do something wrong?" Louise looked at him in panic.
David looked at that innocent face, a complex emotion surging in his heart.
The Louise from his previous life was also like this, always using this innocent expression to hide her calculations.
"There's no why. I just feel we're not compatible."
"Not compatible? David, what are you saying? We've been married for almost two years!"
"Precisely because we're married, I've realized we're truly incompatible." David turned toward the wardrobe and began packing his clothes.
Louise hurriedly followed, grabbing his arm: "David, don't do this! Let's talk it out properly. What exactly happened?"
David shook off her hand, looking at her coldly: "There's nothing to talk about. I'll have my lawyer contact you about property division."
"Property? Do you think I married you for your money?" Louise's eyes filled with tears.
David paused but didn't answer.
He knew Louise wasn't after money, but what was she after then? A fantasy idol? An opportunity to betray him?
"I've already decided." David finished speaking, picked up his suitcase, and walked toward the door.
"David! You can't treat me like this!" Louise cried as she chased after him.
But David walked out of the villa without looking back.
Sitting in his car, David started the engine, watching Louise's crying figure in the rearview mirror, feeling not a trace of reluctance in his heart.
On the contrary, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Having shed this "burden," he instantly felt enlightened!
For years, he had never been this relaxed.
Without the "dead weight" he constantly worried about, without the "hindrance" he needed to accommodate, he could finally live according to his own will!
In this life, what he wanted to pursue was the true pinnacle!
A top ten expert in the world!
Thinking of this, David's lips curved into a cold smile.
"Jackson..."
He silently recited this name in his heart.
From now on, this person was added to his must-kill list!
Anyone who dared to scheme against him would pay the price!
Just as David was contemplating his future plans, a mechanized, cold voice suddenly rang in his mind:
[Detecting host emotional fluctuation reaching threshold...]
['Hell Lord's Hand' activating...]
[Activation successful!]
[You have obtained 'Purgatory Fire'!]
David was stunned, and mysterious characters suddenly appeared before his eyes, slowly manifesting in his vision.
At the same time, he could clearly feel the mysterious hand-shaped artifact he had obtained in his previous life was now undergoing wonderful changes within his body!
So that's how it was!
David suddenly understood.
That mysterious hand-shaped artifact's true identity was actually the Hell Lord's Hand!
And it had long been bound to his soul, impossible for outsiders to take away!
In his previous life, what Louise thought she had taken was merely an empty shell. The real power had always been within him!
It was just that at that time, he had been bound by various emotions, unable to activate this power.
And now, having been reborn and completely severed the shackles in his heart, the Hell Lord's Hand had finally awakened!
Purgatory Fire!
Just hearing this name, one could tell this was definitely a terrifying ability!
David gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes flashing with excited light.
This life would truly be completely different!
He would let everyone know what a true strong person was!
Including that woman who betrayed him, and that clown who coveted his power!