Strangle

Dark.

That is what Caesar saw through his eyes. The anger in his heart made him unable to look at anything else but dark.

How dare this man call his adorable daughter 'ugly'?

How could his cute daughter and the word 'ugly' stand in the same sentence if not for describing antonyms?

The veins in his hand started protruding as he clenched his fist tighter recalling how the weird man spoke about his daughter.

The neighbor, being silly and weird that he was, did not observe the changes in Caesar's reaction and continued speaking his heart out, "Where did you even get this weird thing from? It looks not only ugly but also creepy. One look at it and one would lose their sleep for so many nights. How were you able to sleep at night after getting this thing as a pet, huh?

"Didn't you get nightmares? If I were you, I would have killed this thing long ago, burned it and threw its ashes in the toilet so that my eyes would become cleaner. Let me give you some friendly advice, alright? Just kill this weird thing and throw it away now. It is not too late either. Or, who knows what this thing would do to you later?

"Did you see its strength? It may strangle you one day when you are asleep. One look at this poor wall is enough to say that this thing is very dangerous," he continued giving his 'advice' without even caring about how Caesar was receiving his words.

With each word he spoke, Caesar's face grew darker and his eyes turned redder.

The veins in his fist bulged and were almost exploding out of skin.

The neighbor continued speaking and Caesar couldn't bear to listen to his nonsensical words any longer. He ordered in a low voice, "Hearthe."

Though he did not say another word except for calling her name, Hearth understood her Father's orders with the help of the blood bond between them.

She flicked her tongue a couple of times and a vine hanging around a tree at the back of the neighbor started moving.

It crawled towards his back and slowly around his neck. Before he could realize what was happening, the vine strangled his neck and his legs were now floating in the air.

"Ack!!!" He was strangled and was choked as he couldn't utter a word. He stretched his left hand outwards towards Caesar, trying to grab him for help while the other hand held onto the vine that was strangling his neck.

"H.. H.. Help.. Caesar.. He.. Help" He choked a few words out while his left hand continued flailing around in the air along with both his legs.

Caesar on the other hand didn't even budge but instead chuckled coldly, "Heh, help? You want me to help you?"

Only now did the neighbor notice that Caesar's face is as dark as charcoal. His eyes widened and started regretting ever coming to this lunatic's house.

That stupid wall.. Who cares if it is beautiful or broken? Is that wall more important than his own life?

Regret and fear started gyrating in his mind, which did not fail to show on his face.

But of course it was all late.

"Ple… Plea.. Please…" He tried to plead with Caesar for his life while a couple of tears dropped out of both his eyes.

"'Ugly'? 'Creepy'? How could you call my beautiful and adorable Hearthe using such cruel words? And you still expect me to save you? Anyone who dares to talk bad about my daughter deserves death and nothing else." Caesar did not care about the pleading voice of his neighbor. All he cared about was his daughter and her feelings.

How could his cute daughter be called ugly and creepy by a weirdo like him? No way.

As long as he was alive, he would not spare any life that speaks a word against his family.

Only after hearing his words did the neighbor understand what was happening. So it was all because he spoke a couple of words against that creepy looking huge worm?

If he knew something like this would happen, he wouldn't mind stitching his lips close so that he wouldn't be able to speak any words like that ever again.

That would be better than losing his life, right?

He struggled under the tight grip of the vines and hurriedly shook his head, "I.. I a… am.. I am s.. so.. sor… sorry…" 'Please spare my life.'

He wanted to speak a thousand- no ten thousand or more if needed- words to show how sorry he was so that his life could be spared but sadly no words came out of his lips.

Speaking barely a few words of 'I am sorry' was already his limit in his current position.

His eyes continued watering and his eyeballs started bulging out of their sockets. His tongue couldn't go inside his mouth and the air outside couldn't enter his respiratory system.