Chapter 394: Chapter 395 : One Last Goodbye (5) Final

Alex opened his mouth, and his next words stunned Erwin.

“Then,” Alex said, voice warm, “welcome aboard.”

He extended his hand.

“Erwin.”

For the first time, Erwin’s composure cracked.

His eyes widened.

Then he lowered his head deeply—lower than ever before.

“It is my honor,” he said, voice thick with emotion, “to serve you.”

Alex turned toward Erwin, his expression calm—but sharp.

“Listen carefully,” he said, his voice dropping into something cold and unyielding.

“I won’t babysit you.”

Erwin stiffened slightly.

“The place we’re going to isn’t a playground,” Alex continued. “No one will protect you. No one will wait for you.”

His eyes narrowed.

“The moment I think you’re slowing me down, I’ll leave you behind.”

No hesitation.

“No mercy.”

Alex stepped closer.

“Your life there will be in your own two hands. If you die, that’s on you.”

Silence followed.

Erwin didn’t flinch.

“I understand,” he said firmly. “I’m prepared for anything.”

Alex studied him for a long second.

Then he turned away.

He looked toward Zara.

“How much time do we have left?”

Zara answered immediately. “Roughly twenty minutes.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah. I can make do with that.”

Zara frowned slightly. “Make do with what?”

Alex waved it off. “Nothing.”

He then added casually, “You guys should enter first.”

Zara’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Zara stared at him. “…Are you serious?”

Alex smirked faintly.

“Don’t worry. The minute you enter, a wolf-looking guy and a potato-faced lady I have a hunch are waiting there will greet you first.”

Azreal tilted his head slightly.

Alex continued, “Just stay with them for a bit. I’ll join you soon.”

Then he glanced at Erwin.

“And go before he starts forgetting about me too.”

Zara sighed.

“Fine,” she said reluctantly. “I just hope you’re right.”

One by one—

Zara stepped into the portal.

Azreal followed, wings folding as he vanished into the light.

Erwin hesitated for a fraction of a second, then bowed once more and stepped through.

The portal closed.

Alex was alone.

He exhaled slowly.

Then—

He flicked his fingers.

A second portal opened beside him, quieter, smaller.

Alex stepped through.

The world shifted.

When his vision settled, he found himself standing on the outskirts of Avaloria.

In front of an old, broken house.

Cracked walls. A sagging roof. Windows barely holding together.

Yet—

Light glowed from within.

Alex smiled.

“I knew it.”

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was dim but warm.

Lily sat on a wooden chair, a fat cat resting lazily in her arms. The place looked worn, almost abandoned—but lived in.

Alex leaned against the doorway.

“Nothing’s changed much here, huh,” he said lightly.

He glanced around. “Except it’s more broken now.”

Then at the cat.

“And looks like the cat still lives here.”

He waved. “Hi, smarty pants.”

The cat growled at him.

Alex snorted. “The fat one is as ungrateful as ever.”

He turned to Lily.

She wasn’t meeting his eyes.

Alex’s voice softened.

“I never wanted to be like Mother and Father,” he said quietly. “That’s why I thought it was necessary for you to know, Lily.”

He stepped closer.

“Besides, I already told you I was leaving. And that I will come back.”

He smiled gently.

“So don’t worry.”

Slowly—

Lily lifted her gaze.

She smiled thinly.

“We have a lot of memories tied to this place, huh,” she said softly. “Just you and me.”

Alex nodded. “Sure do.”

Lily stood up.

Her smile steadied.

“I know you’ll come back,” she said. “And I’ve finally come to terms with it.”

She took a breath.

“Because I know you’ll never leave me alone.”

Her eyes shone.

“And now I have many people who care about me.”

She smiled warmly.

“And it’s all because of you, Alex.”

She stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

“So… thanks for everything.”

“You’re the best brother in the world.”

Alex hugged her back—harder.

“My little girl finally grew up, huh.”

His voice wavered slightly.

“Thanks for giving me a reason to live too, Lily. Thanks.”

A car horn sounded outside.

Alex chuckled softly.

“Looks like Alyssa’s here. I already told her about this location.”

From outside, a voice called out.

“Lily? Are you there?”

Lily turned and walked toward the door.

She stepped outside.

She saw Alyssa waiting.

Then—

A sharp, numbing headache struck her.

She staggered slightly.

Her vision blurred.

She turned back.

The house was empty.

No one was there.

Her brows furrowed.

“What… what the hell am I doing here at my old house?” she muttered.

“Was there someone here just a moment ago…?”

Her chest tightened.

As tears started flowing from her eyes unknowingly.

As she wiped them saying ” Why am I crying all of a sudden.”

Confused, she shook her head wiped her tears and ran toward Alyssa.

“I’m coming!” she called out. “Mom!”

As she reached her and hugged her tightly.

Somewhere deep inside her—

The name Alex Dragonheart vanished.

Completely.

——-

Alicia sat at her wooden desk in her cozy room, lights flickering over scattered photographs—moments frozen in time.

The pictures captured them in wedding dresses and countless poses: shared laughter, radiant smiles, stolen glances.

At the center lay one image she couldn’t look away from—her and Alex, his arm slung casually around her shoulders, their lips meeting in a kiss, as if sealing a sacred vow.

Suddenly, the same numbing ripple hit her—a sharp headache stabbing like needles.

She gasped, clutching her temples. “What’s… happening?”

Her panicked eyes darted to the photos.

Alex’s figure began fading from them—first blurring at the edges, then dissolving like smoke, leaving empty spaces where he stood.

“No… it can’t be!” Panic surged. Tears welled as she grabbed the central photo, fingers trembling. “No… no… NO!”

She cried harder, trying to hold onto the memories—flashes of his smirk, his touch, their nights—but they slipped away like sand, faces distorting, voices muting.

The memories of Alex faded completely.

Her eyes rolled back, and she slumped unconscious over the desk, the photo crumpling in her fist.

Suddenly, Alex’s figure materialized beside her in a swirl of shadow.

He sighed fondly. “She really is a handful, huh.”

He gently brushed her hair aside, leaning down to kiss her soft lips tenderly, lingering a moment.

“Just wanted to see that face for good luck.”

He whispered, “There are several reasons for not taking you with me… but believe me, it’s for your own good.”

“Someone’s trying to play a game that even involves you. I’m pretty sure it’s a higher being, and I don’t know who yet. The Tower is filled with annoying gods like that.”

“And that particular higher being knows about me. I can’t expose you to that kind of danger right now, especially when you can’t control your powers properly yet.”

He placed a glowing golden sphere, a sealed envelope, and a letter on her bed beside her unconscious form.

“I’ll trust you with this because I know when the time comes, you will shine brighter than anyone in the entire cosmos—even me.”

A shimmering portal materialized behind him, swirling with violet energy.

Alex glanced at Alicia’s peaceful sleeping face one last time, eyes softening.

“It’s goodbye for now… my love.”

He stepped inside, the portal winking shut.

——-

Ethan finally reached home after the chaos, collapsing onto his soft bed with a groan, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly, a throbbing headache gripped him.

“What’s happening? Feels like someone’s tampering with my head…”

The pain subsided slowly, leaving him disoriented.

“What the hell was that?”

Something felt oddly missing—a fog gnawing at his mind.

He shook it off. “Whatever…”

Then he suddenly sat up.

“I almost forgot to feed the egg!”

He reached for his storage ring, channeling mana to retrieve the Spirit Queen’s egg—but it wasn’t there.

He dumped everything out frantically, potions clattering, weapons tumbling, scrolls unfurling.

Realization dawned.

Empty space where the egg should be.

“Someone stole it!”

His expression turned horrified, knowing deep down who—but the name wouldn’t form.

“Which bastard took it?!”

Suddenly, Evelyn burst into his room, golden hair disheveled.

“What happened? Why are you yelling?”

Ethan pointed wildly.

“Sister! Someone took the egg the Spirit Queen gave me! And I just can’t remember who could do such a thing without me noticing!”

A faint smile appeared on Evelyn’s face.

“Alex huh… that guy is really a headache sometimes.”

Hearing the name, Ethan’s eyes lit up.

“Who is this Alex guy? Is that bastard the thief? I’ll kill him tell me where can I find him!”

Evelyn scolded, “Don’t talk bad about him!”

Ethan fumed.

“Why? That bastard took my precious egg! And why are you defending him?”

Evelyn blushed faintly.

“Because…”

Ethan pressed, “Because…?”

“He’s your soon-to-be brother-in-law,” she said coyly.

Ethan’s expression darkened.

His soul seemingly left his body.

His face paled comically.

“Who is that bastard? I’ll kill him!”

Evelyn laughed harder, clutching her sides.

——-

In the center of Etheron, an enigmatic island had appeared out of nowhere, floating amid stormy seas.

Now home to the Tower of Ascension.

A colossal spire pierced the roiling clouds like a divine spear—its black obsidian surface etched with glowing runes, its base ringed by jagged thorns and eternal storms.

Alex’s body materialized just outside its massive gates.

Towering slabs of pitch-black stone veined with pulsing crimson energy loomed before him, carved with snarling demonic faces and ancient seals that hummed with otherworldly power.

The air crackled with suppressed mana.

Smiling, Alex said, “Wow. The gates look as ominous as ever.”

He flicked his finger.

His appearance shifted dramatically.

Silver hair turned raven black, flowing like liquid night.

His eyes deepened to amethyst purple, glowing with intensity.

A skeleton-shaped mask materialized above his head—polished bone-white with jagged fangs, hollow eye sockets flickering with violet flames, intricate runes pulsing across the mask.

Cool. Menacing. Perfectly framing his sharp features.

He donned it smoothly.

“All right. Now I’m all set up.”

The gates groaned open on their own, grinding stone revealing yawning darkness within.

Alex finally entered the doors as they closed behind him with finality.

As Alex walked inside confidently, a deep, mechanical voice boomed.

{Entry Confirmed.}

{Identifying Energy Signature…..}

{Welcome Back, Lucifer Morningstar.}

Suddenly, more messages began flooding his vision.

{ The Trickster laughs hysterically upon seeing you again. }

{ The Dragon God is infuriated after sensing your presence. }

{ The One Who Rules the Darkness is ecstatic at your return, her excitement spiraling beyond control. }

Several more messages continued to appear, but Alex ignored them all.

A sly smile appeared beneath the mask.

“Let the game begin.”

——–

End of Volume 2.

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