Chapter 160: Chapter 160 : The celestial sunblade(2)

Alex was seriously confused.

His head spun as he tried to make sense of what was happening to him right now.

’Where… the hell am I? What is this place? And why does everything feel so… wrong?’

Suddenly, the golden-haired lady stepped toward him. Her graceful steps made the campfire’s light flicker, and when she came close enough, her hand gently brushed over his hair, her fingers tracing his scalp.

“Are you alright?” she asked softly.

For some strange reason… Alex didn’t feel like pushing her away.

That, in itself, was even stranger. Normally, he would have instantly swatted away any stranger’s touch—especially someone this suspicious. And yet… here, now, he simply let her be.

She studied his face carefully, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

“It doesn’t seem like you have a fever… so what happened? Do you not remember any of us?”

Before Alex could answer, Ethan suddenly spoke from across the fire, his voice calm but laced with meaning.

“Maybe it’s because of all the pressure from the upcoming fight against the Outers. After all, he’s the only one among us who can even fight the Celestials. Without him, we’d have been toast long ago.”

At that, everyone turned to look at Alex.

Their gazes were… unsettling. Like they were staring at a poor little puppy that had been kicked too many times.

Alex’s mouth twitched.

’What’s with these pitying stares? Do they think I’m dying or something?’

He straightened his back and said firmly, “Look, I don’t have time to play games right now. I’m in a hurry. People close to me are in danger. I have to return—so can you guys tone it down a bit and give me some real information? Where the hell am I?”

Rowan, the white-haired man, stepped forward, his expression turning serious.

“Looks like he’s serious… He doesn’t even remember where he is.” Rowan crossed his arms. “Alright, I’ll tell you. We’re in the Abyssal Rift right now—fighting to defend our nations against the stray gods. To defend our world.”

But everything Alex heard only made him more confused.

Aurora tilted her head slightly.

“You really don’t remember anything at all?”

Alex rubbed the back of his head, a sigh escaping his lips.

’To hell with these psychopaths. I need to get back. The only reason this is happening to me is because of that damn sword.’

His gaze locked on Ethan.

“Hey… you. Give me that sword.”

Ethan instantly gripped the hilt of the Celestial Sunblade, his expression darkening.

“Hey, you bastard, don’t even think about taking this sword! My sis, Aurora, gave it to me—it’s precious to me. So keep your hands off.”

A vein bulged on Alex’s forehead.

’Just like my world’s Ethan… this bastard is also a major siscon.’

His eyes narrowed. The humor in his thoughts faded, replaced by cold resolve.

Without warning, Alex’s aura exploded outward.

The pressure slammed into everyone around the campfire like an invisible wall, suffocating them instantly.

“Alex! What the hell are you doing? Stop!” someone shouted, their voice panicked.

Even Alex was surprised by the sheer, terrifying power pouring out of his body—but he pushed the thought aside.

He stepped forward, his tone like iron.

“Give me the sword, Ethan.”

On his knees, struggling to breathe, Ethan couldn’t even meet his eyes.

Alex didn’t wait. His foot slammed into Ethan’s stomach, sending him stumbling back several steps.

Aurora’s voice suddenly rang out, sharp with anger.

“What the hell are you doing?! You already have your own unique weapon—why do you want his?!”

Alex didn’t respond. He simply bent down, grabbed the Celestial Sunblade from Ethan’s weakened grip, and straightened.

But just as he was about to unsheathe it—

—time stopped.

The campfire froze mid-flame. The voices, the air, the world… everything stilled.

Alex’s instincts screamed.

’Whenever this happens… it only means trouble.’

Then, in that suspended reality, someone moved.

A figure stepped into view—a woman with midnight-black hair, blood-red eyes, and a smile that could unsettle even the bravest.

Lilith Noctis Bloodrose.

She walked toward him slowly, her steps echoing in the unnatural silence.

Alex’s breath hitched.

’Oh, god… not her. She looks exactly like Lilith from my world. This can’t be good. Even her name is the same.’

Lilith stopped in front of him, tilting her head slightly.

“How the hell did you come here? You shouldn’t be here right now.”

Alex’s guard shot up instantly.

“You… know who I am?”

Her crimson lips curved into a smirk.

“Yes, I do know. But now isn’t the time for questions. You should leave immediately. If Chronos finds out, it will put your world in danger.”

Alex crossed his arms.

“Believe me, I also want to leave as soon as possible. But I don’t know how.”

Lilith’s smile grew sharper.

“I can tell you… but you have to promise me something first.”

He took a cautious step back.

“As long as it’s something reasonable… I’ll think about it.”

“Then give me your bloo—”

“No.” Alex cut her off instantly. “Forget it. I’ll figure it out myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

Lilith clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“Alright, alright… wait. You can promise me something else instead.”

Alex paused.

“Speak. And I repeat—it should be reasonable.”

Lilith sighed heavily.

“When you return… have a proper talk with the Lilith from your world. Don’t worry—she seems like a psychopath, but she’s a good girl.”

Alex muttered under his breath, ’Looks like a psychopath defending another…’

Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing. Just… thinking.”

She kept staring daggers at him, but Alex only gave a half-smile.

“Fine,” he said finally. “I promise.”

“But tell me something—what the hell is this place?”

Lilith’s lips curled into a knowing smile.

“This… is the Age of Gods.”

The words slammed into Alex like a hammer.

“What… did you say?”

She lifted her hand and flicked her finger. The world around Alex began to distort and fade.

“Your time’s up,” Lilith said lightly. “Maybe if we meet again someday, I’ll tell you more.”

As Alex’s vision began to sink back into darkness, he called out, “Wait! What about Aurora? Isn’t she the Goddess of Light?”

Lilith’s voice followed him into the void.

“Oh… right now? She’s nothing but a mortal I could crush anytime I want.”

Her tone shifted, softer but sharper.

“And remember, Alex—you don’t have to shoulder everything yourself.

Because of that stubbornness, you’ve made so many enemies protecting people who only saw you as a villain, never knowing what you truly did for them.”

Alex only smiled at Lilith’s parting words.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.

“But let me tell you one thing—I don’t care what unknown people say about me, or how they see me.

Whether I’m a villain or a hero, I’m the type of person who only cares about my own benefits.”

A faint chuckle echoed back.

“That’s just like you.”

Before Alex could respond, his vision completely faded.

The last thing Alex saw was her crimson gaze burning with something he couldn’t name before the world swallowed him whole.

And when it returned, the cold bite of reality struck him.

He was back.

Back in the same damn forest where moments ago he and his friends had been fighting for their lives.

But the scene before him made his breath hitch.

The protective barrier he had created around his friends and himself from the Wraith twins… was gone.

Carter was in the distance, standing bloodied and battered as he shielded the last remaining civilians.

And high above—Ethan was awake, locked in a brutal aerial battle against the Wraith twins, Veyron and Veyra.

Ethan fought with nothing but a standard steel blade. No divine glow, no artifacts—just pure strength and skill. His draconic aura flared around him, the air trembling with each clash.

But despite his regeneration and raw power, he was losing.

He was stronger than before, but just like Alex, every time Ethan got close enough to land a killing strike, a translucent, obsidian-like shield materialized out of thin air—blocking his sword just before it could connect.

Veyron laughed as his twin’s voice dripped with mockery.

“Come on, Dragon boy, is this all you’ve got?”

They moved like synchronized predators. Veyra’s scythe came in rapid arcs, forcing Ethan to block high, while Veyron’s scythe swept low in a killing strike. Ethan barely twisted away, but the edge still bit deep into his side.

Blood sprayed into the air, only to be burned away instantly as his regeneration kicked in.

Still, his breathing was heavier. His guard slower. And with each exchange, the twins pressed harder—methodically wearing him down.

Ethan roared, forcing Veyra back with a burst of flames, but Veyron slipped through his defense and drove a knee into his ribs before hammering his blade down, sending Ethan crashing through the air.

Alden, Charlotte, Seraphina, Ava, and Draven were holding the line, guarding Alex’s unconscious body.

The moment Alex’s eyes flickered open, Alden’s fist slammed into his cheek.

“You bastard! What the hell were you doing, going back to sleep after that heroic entry earlier?!”

Charlotte stepped forward, glaring.

“Yeah! What happened to you? You tried to steal Ethan’s sword and then just passed out!”

Seraphina crossed her arms, her tone icy.

“If Ethan hadn’t woken up in time, we’d have been toast.”

Alex’s mouth twitched.

’Great. Risk my life for them and this is the thanks I get.’

Only Ava’s voice was calm.

“Alex… are you alright?”

He gave her a faint smile.

“Yes.”

Then, turning to the other three, he snapped, “You ungrateful idiots—don’t you get the situation? This dimension is protecting those twins. I needed a divine weapon.”

His gaze slid to Seraphina.

“And only your boyfriend—the Lizard Man—possesses one. That’s why I took his sword.”

The trio went silent instantly.

Seraphina’s cheeks flushed scarlet.

“Don’t call him that.”

Alex smirked before glancing down at the sword in his hand—its once holy-gold radiance now replaced with a pitch-black, light-devouring sheen.

A familiar voice rang in his head.

’[Host! What the hell happened to you? You weren’t responding no matter how many times I called! And how in the world did you make a divine weapon submit!?]’

Alex sighed.

’Don’t ask. I don’t even want to remember the crap I went through.’

Looking up, his eyes locked on Ethan in the sky.

“He’s losing, isn’t he?”

Charlotte nodded grimly.

“Yeah. Fighting both of them at once is wearing him down. And just like you said, he can’t even land a fatal strike as something is protecting them.”

Alex’s lips curved into a dangerous grin.

“Don’t worry. I finally have the weapon that can cut both their necks off. Just watch.”

In the next heartbeat, the air exploded with a sonic boom.

Alex shot into the sky like a black comet, the trees below whipping in the wake of his speed.

“System—how much Cosmic Essence have I recovered?”

’[Host, only 5% has recovered, making your total available 15%.]’

Alex raised an eyebrow.

’Only that much in all this time?’

’[Host, I have warned you multiple times—Cosmic Essence takes a lot of time to recover. Use it carefully.]’

“Yeah, yeah, enough lecturing. Fifteen percent will do.”

Above the Battlefield

Ethan staggered under Veyron’s onslaught, his blade locking against the Wraith’s corruption weapon and Veyra dividing his attention. Seizing the opportunity, Veyron’s other hand flared with black energy as he prepared to sever Ethan’s head.

But before the strike could land—

SHHHHHK!

A blur of black and silver sliced through the air.

Veyron’s eyes widened in shock as his right arm was severed cleanly at the elbow. The mysterious shield appeared again to protect him—only for Alex’s blade to shear through it as if it were paper, carving through the barrier and taking the rest of his arm in one fluid motion.

Veyron’s scream tore through the sky as he reeled back, clutching the stump.

“AHHHHHHH!”

Veyra immediately abandoned her assault and darted to her brother’s side.

Ethan, blinking through the haze of battle, finally registered the figure floating beside him.

“You… bastard! What the hell did you do to my sword?! It’s all black now! You thief.”

Alex casually stepped back, holding up his free hand.

“Relax, relax. I didn’t do anything. I’m just borrowing it. You can take your stupid sword back later—I don’t even like it. It’s not my type, and it’s already given me trauma.”

As if insulted, the sword in his hand began vibrating violently, a deep hum buzzing in the air.

Alex ignored it.

Ethan exhaled slowly, visibly holding himself back from punching Alex in the face.

“Fine. But I will make you pay for it.”

“Yeah, yeah. For now, let’s focus on killing those two first.”

Below them, Veyron gritted his teeth, pulling out a dark, pulsating artifact and pressing it to his stump. A surge of corrupt magic enveloped him, and in seconds, his arm had regenerated.

He lifted his head, eyes burning with fury.

Alex and Ethan now stood side by side, facing the twins.

Veyra’s lips curved into a sultry smile.

“Darling, you’re back. Did you miss me? Did you finally decide to join us?”

Alex’s grin was razor-sharp.

“Yes. That’s why—as part of our deal—I came to take your brother’s head off.”

Veyra’s smile twitched.

“Looks like I’ll have to make do with your head instead.”

Alex just smiled at that.

“You can try.”

———

A/N:

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