Alex rose from his crouch and looked down at Handsome Jack lying at his feet. White foam dripped from Jack’s mouth. Alex felt no sympathy — only cold indifference. While Jack was unconscious, Alex had already taken a look inside his mind. What he saw confirmed it: Jack was never a man broken by tragedy. He had always been a monster, dressing up his evil with pretty words.

Jack called the people of Pandora “bandits” who couldn’t be redeemed — but in truth, he was the worst of them all. Alex shook his head and looked again at the body at his feet. He wasn’t going to kill Jack now — death would only free him. No, Jack had to lose everything first and then taste the agony that would drive him insane.

Lighting a cigarette, Alex opened a portal straight into Handsome Jack’s personal office on Helios. Grabbing him by the leg, Alex effortlessly dragged the body and tossed it through the portal like a sack of trash. Jack crashed onto his desk, shattering it into pieces. Alex closed the portal, exhaling smoke to the side with a smirk.

He didn’t even need to wonder what would happen next. Now, for Jack, he had become that monster in the closet you couldn’t ignore. Alex knew that, in a fit of panicked madness, Jack might try to use a weapon capable of wiping Pandora from existence. But he also knew it was unlikely. Fear had sunk its roots into Jack’s soul, turning him into a frightened child hiding under the blanket, hoping the monster wouldn’t find him.

Pushing aside thoughts best left for later, Alex exhaled smoke and glanced at the ceiling. Half a day had already been spent attacking Hyperion’s bases to drive Jack insane. But leaving without destroying Angel’s prison was not an option.

Stepping into the center of the vast hall, to the very cell that had been her cage, Alex drew a deep breath. Then he crouched and launched himself off the ground with brutal force. Cracks split the floor beneath him, and his body pierced straight through the mountain rock, erupting into the open sky.

At the peak, Alex clenched his fist and struck downward. The shockwave tore the clouds apart.

Meanwhile, Maya, Angel, Axton, Salvador, and Zer0 waited at a safe distance. At the deafening roar, they turned to see a figure blast out of the mountain’s summit.

“Is that… him?” Maya whispered.

The sky itself trembled. Another thunderous boom echoed as the shockwave split the mountain apart. Massive boulders rained down, crushing Hyperion bases, flattening buildings, smashing machines and men alike.

“He just destroyed the entire mountain…?” Axton muttered in shock.

“A fracture in stone. Time wears. Rock will fall. Ash becomes earth,” Zer0 intoned, as if closing a poem.

Maya stared upward, her eyes locked on Alex’s figure towering above the ruins.

“Now I understand why he said we didn’t even need to come… With that kind of power, he could’ve done it all alone.”

Angel watched Alex, suspended in the sky, with a completely different gaze. Warmth spread through her heart — a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. She thought — or perhaps wanted to believe — that he had destroyed the mountain for her. To erase forever the place where she had been imprisoned for so long. She didn’t know why she clung to that thought, but she wanted it to be true.

Yet another question gnawed at her now — what was next? Before, she had planned to use the Vault Hunters not only to stop Jack but also to finally end her own suffering. But the pain was gone. Even though it had been her constant companion, now her body felt light, free. Ever since Alex had touched her fate, she felt good for the first time in years. It was strange… even frightening.

At that moment, Alex landed softly in front of the group, holding the Vault Key in his hand. For him, destroying the mountain meant nothing — just a trifle.

“Why did you destroy it?” Maya asked in surprise, still keeping her eyes on him.

“Just didn’t like how it looked. So I knocked it down,” Alex answered carelessly, waving his hand lazily.

“And Jack?” Axton cut in. “When we left, he was still down there. Did you kill him?”

All eyes immediately turned to him. Especially Angel — she wanted to know what had become of her father.

“Of course not, I didn’t kill him,” Alex shook his head.

“Why?” Maya frowned. “Even I get that Jack’s a real bastard, and leaving him alive only means more trouble for us… Uh… sorry, Angel.” She quickly realized Jack’s daughter was standing right there.

“It’s all right, Maya,” Angel said quietly. “I think my father’s a complete bastard too.”

“Fine, bastard or not, we already know that,” Salvador jumped in. “Just say it straight: did he croak or not?”

“No,” Alex repeated calmly, looking at them.

They exchanged glances. They had been sure he either killed Jack down below or that Jack died buried under the mountain’s rubble. But Alex clearly thought otherwise.

“I thought you’d kill him,” Angel whispered.

Alex leaned toward her and gently brushed his hand through her hair.

“Ah, my dear Angel. Death is just release. And for Jack, such a gift is far too generous.”

Her heart trembled. That warm touch felt like something she had long stopped dreaming of. She had almost forgotten what it meant to feel simple human care, gentle affection. Yet under Alex’s hand, she felt that long-lost warmth again.

“So you let him go?” Maya asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Let him go?..,” Alex smirked. “That’s saying too much.”

“And what did you do?” Angel asked, meeting his gaze.

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into a predatory smile.

“I became his personal monster in the closet. When Jack wakes up — and that’ll be very soon — he’ll fear every shadow, every corner. He won’t be able to sleep, eat, or even think. Every thought will be consumed by fear. And in the end, that fear will drive him insane. He’ll either do something stupid, like try to off himself, or become a pitiful shadow, running and hiding.”

“Ha! So you scared him so bad he pissed his pants?” Salvador grinned, folding his arms.

“You got it. He literally shit himself from fear. Want to see?” Alex said cheerfully, pulling out his phone. Follow current novels on novel[f]ire.net

“No thanks,” Maya waved him off right away. “I’ve had enough impressions for one day. The last thing I want is an image of a grown man crapping himself from terror stuck in my head.”

“I’ll pass too,” Angel shook her head. “Even if I hate him, that’s a bit too much to see.”

Alex shrugged — Maya and Angel refused to watch the recording of Jack soiling himself in terror, but the guys clearly wanted to see it through. Smiling, Alex opened the right clip on his phone: frame by frame, Jack on the floor, white foam at his mouth, and ruined pants.

Salvador burst into loud laughter, slapping his knees and doubling over. On Zer0’s mask, an “XD” emoji flickered. Axton just smirked, shaking his head — who would’ve thought the greatest enemy of the Crimson Raiders would sink this low from fear.

“So, shall we head back to Sanctuary?” Alex suggested, closing his phone. “Let’s rest. It’s been a long day.”

Nobody objected. Alex summoned Yamato and opened a portal straight into the Crimson Raiders’ headquarters. The portal appeared—and for a moment, everyone in the room, including Lilith, Brick, and Mordecai, turned their heads.

Alex and Maya stepped out first, followed by Angel—slightly timid, but finally free. After them came Salvador, Axton, and Zer0. Angel was a bit nervous about showing up, considering what she had done under Jack’s orders. But Alex had reassured her that no one would harm her.

“I see you saved Angel. Did you get the key? Any problems?” Lilith asked, arms crossed, staring at them intently.

“No problems. Everything went… boring,” Salvador pointed at Alex. “No fun, no shootouts, no giant flying robot. Nothing at all.”

“Told you it’d be boring,” Alex smirked and, unable to resist, kicked Salvador in the rear.

“Ow! What the hell are you doing?!” Salvador yelled, waving his arms. “If you want a fight, fight like a man—not sneak around like a coward!”

Alex sighed, placed his hand on Salvador’s head to keep him at arm’s length—after all, Salvador wasn’t the tallest guy around. But the man only screamed louder, swearing at the top of his lungs. Alex then pulled a toy rubber hammer out of his inventory and tapped Salvador lightly on the head once or twice. The hammer let out a squeaky sound with each hit, and Salvador collapsed to the floor, immediately snoring and drooling.

For a moment, the room went silent in dumbfounded pause—then everyone burst into laughter. Brick laughed so hard he fell off his chair, clutching his stomach. Lilith rubbed the bridge of her nose—this headache was inevitable.

“While this noisy non-dwarf snores on the floor, we can talk,” Alex said, sitting down on the couch.

Angel sat beside him; she felt safe with him, drawn to that sense of protection. Lilith noticed and threw Alex a sidelong, narrowed glance. He only smiled, and she rolled her eyes, looking away. She also wanted to be closer to him, but she kept that thought to herself.

“Before you tell me what happened in the bunker,” Lilith began, fixing her gaze on Alex, “I need to say something.”

“Where are the four gremlins?” Alex interrupted. “Still raiding Hyperion bases, or have they started building a psycho kingdom already?”

“That’s what I was about to say.” Lilith leaned on the table, frowning. “One of your ‘wives’ showed up and took all four of them. I don’t know how or why.”

“Which one? What did she say?” Alex asked, surprised.

“Tall, white dress, huge black hat. Said something about etiquette lessons, then just dragged them home. She also said that since you plan to adopt Tina, she’d take her a little early.”

The woman’s arrival had left Lilith with mixed feelings. It wasn’t just that this “wife” of Alex was stunningly beautiful. What shocked her even more was the woman’s sheer height—nearly three meters—and the cold, deadly look she gave Brick after one of his poorly timed jokes. Thankfully, the girls calmed their mother down just in time. Lilith didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened otherwise. It was clear Brick would not have come out on top.

Naturally, Tina hadn’t wanted to go anywhere, but she was simply taken away—and that was the end of it.

“Ah, so Alcina dropped by. She’s the one who gives the girls etiquette lessons,” Alex nodded, instantly realizing who it was. “Makes sense. The girls haven’t been home in over a month, they were traveling with their grandfather. And about Tina—yeah, I did want to adopt her. She needs a home and a family. Somewhere far from this planet, where death and madness rule.”

“Wait… etiquette lessons?” Lilith raised a brow. “Why? You mentioned that yesterday too. What, is your family aristocratic or something?”

“You could say that,” Alex chuckled. “Alcina’s a countess. She was raised that way since childhood. But that’s a long story. By the way…” He pulled the Vault Key from his inventory and set it on the table.

“So you have the key. Good. And now what? Care to tell me exactly what happened in the Bunker?” Lilith asked, her eyes drawn to the artifact.

Alex nodded and calmly began to speak. He described everything that had happened while they were fighting their way inside. Hearing the details, Lilith, Mordecai, and Brick understood why Salvador had been so upset upon their return: Alex had done almost all the work on his own. Then he explained what had happened with Jack and why he hadn’t killed him. Lilith frowned but didn’t argue—this was his decision. In fact, the longer she thought about it, the more she realized: leaving Jack alive but breaking his mind was far more intricate, and perhaps even wiser, than simply killing him.

At that moment, Tannis came up to the second floor. Spotting the Key, she immediately tried to grab it, but Alex stopped her.

“Give me the key! I have to study it!” she demanded, reaching out her hands. “Without me, you’ll never find the Vault entrance. I’m the best at this!”

“No need,” Alex replied calmly. “I’ve already deciphered the inscriptions and know where the entrance is. As much as I respect your ego as a great archaeologist, your help isn’t required.”

“So what?!” Tannis flared up. “I still have to study it! This is the meaning of my entire life. So you’ve got two options: either you hand me the key… or I’ll climb on top of you. I’d recommend the second—once I show you my skills in bed, you’ll hand it over yourself.”

She grabbed Alex’s arm.

Alex looked at her with an empty stare, stood up from the couch, and without a word, placed the Key into her palms. Under the astonished gazes of the others, he turned Tannis around and began gently but firmly pushing her down the stairs. On the first floor, he led her to her workstation, sat her down on a chair, set a pack of candies beside her, and with the same impassive face, went back upstairs.

Tannis sat there for several seconds, bewildered. She had been sure she’d finally convinced him to have some “fun,” but things had turned out far more mundane. Shrugging, she buried herself back into the Key.

When Alex returned, everyone stared at him in disbelief.

“That fast?” Brick smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re that quick.”

“I didn’t do anything with her. I just took her back,” Alex replied flatly, sitting down on the couch again next to Angel.

Lilith and Maya exchanged glances, surprised—they had expected Alex to give in to Tannis’s persistence, but he seemed unshakable. Alex let out a heavy sigh; dealing with overly straightforward women was exhausting.

“Not to interrupt your sighs,” Lilith said, drawing his attention, “but even with the key, we won’t be able to open the Vault.”

“Why?” Alex half-opened his eyes.

“The Key isn’t charged yet,” Angel explained. “Without that, the entrance won’t open.”

“Ah, that…” Alex waved it off. “Don’t worry. We’ll handle it tomorrow. Today I’m definitely not going near Tannis—afraid I’ll have to run.”

“Well, you could’ve just agreed,” Lilith remarked teasingly. “Would’ve solved all the problems at once.”

“No,” Alex shook his head firmly. “I don’t sleep with women I don’t feel anything for. I’m one of those men who value emotions. I need to know I’m truly loved.”

Alex’s answer stunned the three sirens—Lilith, Maya, and Angel. They had never expected that a man like him, strong and confident, would be someone who valued emotions and love above all else. Lilith, in particular, had always assumed that since he had many wives, it must be due to insatiability or that he was difficult to satisfy in bed. But the reality was entirely different: Alex simply preferred love.

And the longer Lilith thought about it, the more she realized that there was nothing surprising in it. Falling in love with Alex was natural. He wasn’t just handsome and kind, but also incredibly strong and responsible, even if he hid it behind a mask of lazy indifference. Even she herself had begun to feel warm emotions toward him over the time she had known him. She liked the rare sense of security she felt next to him. On Pandora, she had never experienced that. But with Alex, it felt as if he himself was the home she could always return to.

After discussing the plans for tomorrow, Alex agreed to postpone the opening of the Vault. He didn’t explain, however, how he planned to open it if the Key wasn’t fully charged yet. Glancing at the time, he thought it was about time for dinner, but first, he had one errand—a visit to Moxxi at her bar.

The moment he stepped inside, the patrons’ gazes instinctively turned toward him. The owner herself, noticing Alex, smiled flirtatiously and waved him over to the counter. As soon as he sat down, a glass of alcohol appeared in front of him.

“On the house, sweetie,” Moxxi purred, leaning on the counter.

“Thank you, I suppose,” Alex replied in a soft tone, offering a slight smile.

He took a small sip and looked around. The bar was shining clean once again. Tables and chairs had been repaired well enough to use. The shards and empty bottles were gone, and the place once again resembled the cozy bar Alex remembered from the previous evening.

“How did you manage to get those guys to clean everything and fix it?” he asked, turning to Moxxi.

“Oh, sweetie,” she purred lazily, “as if you don’t know. I merely asked politely… and maybe treated them to a drink. That’s all it took for them to do everything properly.”

“No wonder,” Alex shook his head.

“Who knows, sweetie,” she replied with a sly smile. “But you didn’t come here to ask me about the bar. Better tell me—how did your heroic rescue of the poor siren from the clutches of that vile villain go?” She traced a finger along his hand.

“It’s better seen than told,” Alex replied with a mysterious smile.

Intrigued, Moxxi leaned closer. She knew perfectly well that if Alex wanted to show her something, it was bound to be thrilling. Connecting to Navi, Alex found the moment when Handsome Jack appeared. The villain’s face appeared on the screen, and Moxxi instantly clenched her teeth, staring at the monitor. When Alex forcefully kicked Jack, sending him crashing into the wall, Moxxi smiled with satisfaction, as if she had delivered the blow herself.

She took particular pleasure in the scene where Alex brutally dealt with the two supersoldiers, and then in his confrontation with Jack. Navi couldn’t capture what the villain himself saw when he looked at Alex, but even without that, Moxxi clearly noticed the fear etched on Jack’s face. And Alex’s words about taking everything from him until he became that pathetic little boy again—the one abandoned by his parents and beaten by his grandmother—filled her with genuine delight.

Watching it, Moxxi felt a heat spread through her body. Her gaze greedily roamed over Alex’s face. She was a smart woman and knew when to strike a man. She didn’t care that he had wives and children—if anything, it fueled her interest. She decided to act differently: without overt aggressiveness, but in a way that would make him notice her specifically.

Before Alex could react, Moxxi grabbed him by the collar and pressed her lips to his in a hungry kiss. It was fiery, her tongue boldly exploring his mouth. After a few moments, she pulled back, leaving the mark of her lipstick on his lips. Smiling, she traced a finger over his lips, wiping away the red stain.

“Here’s my payment for you, sweetie. Not every day you see a show like that,” she whispered, lightly licking her lips.

“You do realize I have wives and children, right?” Alex asked, surprised by her boldness.

“Of course,” Moxxi replied softly. “But that makes you even more interesting. Not every man could hold so many women. And your lips… mmm, they taste just exquisite.”

Alex leaned slightly toward her ear, speaking in a quiet, low voice:

“The choice is yours. But know this: I’m not the kind of man who lets go of a treasure that already belongs to him. Think carefully before you take this step. Because once you do… you can never turn back. Never.”

Alex’s whisper right by her ear sounded to Moxxi like the voice of the devil promising forbidden pleasure. A shiver ran down her spine, sweet and frightening at the same time, making her flinch involuntarily. She caught his gaze—deep, gripping, as if she already belonged to him completely. No one had ever looked at her like that. It wasn’t the look of a man craving her body, but of someone who saw something far deeper. And suddenly, Moxxi realized she wanted to become his treasure too.

“And while you’re thinking, here’s another little gift from me,” Alex said, lightly poking her in the nose with his finger.

“Did you just turn into a child?” Moxxi asked, a little embarrassed and confused by his unexpected gesture.

“Better roll up your sleeves and see for yourself,” he smirked, resting his cheek on his fist.

Moxxi raised a skeptical eyebrow but did as he said. At first, she expected nothing—her scars were old and familiar. But as she rolled up her sleeve, she froze, staring in stunned amazement at the smooth, flawless skin beneath.

Not believing her eyes, she ran her fingers along her arm. No pain, no unevenness, no coarse scars — just soft, tender skin. She hurriedly rolled up the other sleeve. The same there.

Her heart beat faster. Moxxi lifted her top and exposed her stomach. There wasn’t a trace of the old wounds. All her scars had vanished. Without a trace.

“How did you do that?” she exhaled, looking at him as if she’d seen a miracle. “I had so many scars. They were everywhere… and now they’re gone. How?!”

Alex looked at her calmly. He knew perfectly well that Moxxi always hid her pain behind a careless mask, pretending she didn’t care about the old wounds. But he understood that deep down any woman dreams of a body without disfiguring marks. That’s why he gave her a gift she hadn’t even dared to dream of.

“It’s a family secret,” he said softly. “But know this: I can do much more than just remove scars. Much more than you can imagine. Let that stay a secret for now. As I said, the choice is always yours. Violating someone’s will would betray my father’s tenets.”

“Now I’m even more interested in your family,” Moxxi squinted, not taking her eyes off him.

“Believe me, you’re not the only one.” Alex tapped her nose with a light smile. “And if you need a hint… my family is far more wondrous than you can imagine.”

“Alright, we’ll see.” Moxxi smiled slyly and poked his nose back. “So what now? You got the key. What are the plans?”

“Now?” Alex lifted a corner of his mouth. “I want to have dinner. Want to join me?”

“Absolutely,” Moxxi replied heatedly. “What you cook is the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted… And therefore…” She turned to the room, “everyone out! The bar’s closed!”

“But we haven’t finished our drinks!” protested one of the drunk men, and the rest backed him up immediately.

“Here’s a keg of beer. Take it and drink somewhere else. The bar’s closed,” Alex said lazily, but his squint and tone left no doubt. “Or should I throw you out myself?”

All the drunks flinched at Alex’s words. None of them were eager to become his victim. Yesterday had served as a vivid reminder — you don’t joke with this man. But seeing that he’d generously set a whole keg of beer out, the boozehounds found the only sensible solution: stretch their smiles to their ears, thank him politely, and haul the precious trophy away as fast as possible.

Having made sure the problem was resolved, Alex gave Moxxi a thumbs-up and smiled broadly. Moxxi just shook her head, but deep down, she liked it. Of course, she was an adult woman who could stand her ground. But there was something in the care emanating from Alex that made her heart beat a little warmer.

Once Moxxi had closed the bar, Alex gallantly offered her his arm, and they headed together to the Crimson Raiders’ headquarters. Climbing to the second floor, he immediately met Lilith’s dry gaze — the kind that could make anyone feel as if they’d done something wrong.

“Since nobody ran off, I guess it’s time for dinner,” Alex said, noticing that the whole group was present.

“If you’re cooking, I’m all for it. And make it lots of meat,” Brick jumped in first.

“And beer, lots of beer! We need a party!” Salvador added, also springing to his feet.

“And what’s the occasion for all this celebration?” Angel asked, puzzled, looking at the animated Seekers.

Alex leaned toward her and gently ran his hand through her hair, a bright smile on his face.

“In honor of your rescue, my dear Angel. And the best way to celebrate it is with a barbecue. You probably haven’t eaten anything like this in a long time. Today, I’ll make sure your stomach and heart remember what delicious food and a warm atmosphere feel like.”

Angel stared at Alex, stunned. His kind words and radiant smile broke through the wall she had so long built around herself. Her eyes blurred, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Everyone went silent, unsure what to say, but each understood perfectly why she was crying. The girl had lived too long without warmth, without kindness, and now Alex’s simple, sincere actions awakened emotions that had been buried deep inside.

“Why are you crying?” Alex said softly, sitting beside her so their eyes were level. “Haven’t you heard that angels cry only when humanity can’t contain its sorrow? Everything you’ve been through is behind you. Now you have a new life. Let this be the last time you shed tears over the past. Learn to smile instead of being sad. Believe me, life is far more beautiful than it seems. There are countless wonders in this world, and they’re waiting for you to see them. The darkness is behind you — now look at the light and smile at it, just as you’ve always dreamed.”

Angel’s tears flowed even more, but now they were different tears — cleansing ones. With trembling hands, she wrapped her arms around Alex’s neck and pressed herself to him, sobbing on his shoulder.

Alex simply smiled softly and stroked her back, letting her release all her pain. Even Brick turned away and hastily wiped a rare male tear from his face. The others also watched silently, shaken by the weight Angel had carried all this time.

Alex understood perfectly that he could rewrite her past — he had enough power to go back and change everything. But he also knew that intervening in the past would bring far more harm than good. So the only thing he could do for her now was help her accept the past and step forward.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep