Chapter 409: Chapter 410 : A Cunning Guy

Remus stepped forward.

This time, he did not hide anything.

His aura erupted, completely unleashed—no restraint, no suppression, no mercy.

The ground beneath his feet cracked in a violent spiderweb pattern as a crushing pressure detonated outward like an invisible tsunami.

Trees in the courtyard bent violently, wood splintering, leaves ripping free before snapping in half as if crushed by a giant’s hand.

Windows across the mansion shattered simultaneously, glass bursting outward in glittering waves.

Stone tiles ripped themselves from the ground and shattered midair under the sheer distortion of force. Even the sky seemed to ripple as the air vibrated unnaturally.

James and Clara screamed.

The pressure slammed into them like a falling mountain. They dropped to their knees instantly, then flat onto the ground. Their lungs refused to expand.

Their ribs creaked. Their bones felt as though they were grinding against each other.

Blood vessels in their eyes burst faintly, their vision blurring as their hearts pounded wildly against the invisible weight pressing down on their chests.

Camila stood still, unmoved and untouched. Her black hair fluttered slightly in the violent pressure.

Remus’ amber eyes burned with absolute confidence. “This is the difference. This is what power looks like. You picked the wrong clan to provoke.”

His voice carried not just arrogance—but certainty.

For the first time, Alex’s playful demeanor vanished. The skeleton mask tilted slightly. His shoulders squared. His spine straightened. The air around him grew still.

Then his aura expanded.

It did not explode. It did not roar. It unfolded—silently, like darkness spreading at sunset.

But the result was catastrophic.

The shaking ground stopped. The distorted air flattened. The broken trees, frozen mid-collapse, hung suspended for half a breath before settling gently. The crushing pressure suffocating James and Clara was snuffed out instantly, as if someone had pinched out a candle flame.

Remus’ aura vanished.

Not pushed back. Not suppressed.

Erased.

Gone—like it had never existed.

The courtyard fell into absolute stillness. No wind. No tremor. No sound.

James and Clara sucked in air violently, coughing and rolling onto their sides as their bodies were finally freed from the invisible grip. James forced himself upright, shaking. Clara clutched her chest, breathing hard.

Then something impossible happened.

Remus’ eyes became bloodshot. His pupils trembled violently. His expression shifted from dominance to disbelief—then to fear.

Thud.

His body collapsed.

Unconscious.

No wound. No visible injury. He simply fell.

Silence filled the courtyard.

Camila’s composure fractured for the first time. Her dark eyes widened.

Remus was at the peak of Pseudo-Divine—ranked one step away from stepping into the Divine rank—and he had been knocked unconscious without a single strike, without a technique, without a visible attack.

Just presence.

Just from the collision of their auras.

Camila slowly turned her gaze toward the masked figure.

Now fully understanding how dangerous this masked man truly was.

Alex stood there casually, hands at his sides, completely unaffected. His aura still faintly expanded—not violently, but dominantly.

He tilted his head slightly. “So… little one. Do you agree now?”

Camila’s jaw tightened.

Her pride was hurt, but after witnessing the scene before her, she had to think logically without letting her pride get in the way.

“We acce—”

“Wait.”

James’ voice broke the tension.

All eyes shifted to him.

He swallowed hard, still trembling slightly from the earlier pressure. “Why don’t we use… a third option?”

Camila frowned. “What third option?”

Alex’s lips curved faintly beneath the mask. “Go on. I’m listening.”

James inhaled deeply. “What if… we form an alliance?”

He gestured toward the mansion. “And live together inside the mission. That way we can support each other.”

He turned to Alex.

“Lucifer can get the information he wants. I’m sure they know more about this floor than we do.”

Then he faced Camila again. “Ms. Camila, first of all, I apologize for all this. My friend Lucifer is new here.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “And he doesn’t really know how to get along with people.”

Alex’s mouth twitched. “I can hear you… you know.”

James ignored him. “But he’s not unreasonable.”

Alex nodded seriously. “That’s correct. I am extremely reasonable.”

James pressed on before Alex could add anything worse. “As you can see, he’s powerful. With his help, clearing this floor becomes much easier. We all benefit.”

Camila remained silent.

Her pride screamed to refuse. But reality was undeniable.

Remus lay unconscious at her feet. If Lucifer wanted the mansion, she could not stop him by herself—he could take it. If he wanted them dead, they would already be gone.

An alliance meant survival. Regrouping. Observation. Opportunity.

She looked down at Remus. Then back at Lucifer.

His aura was calm again—contained. But she had felt it.

It was not normal.

It was stronger than someone at the peak of the Pseudo-Divine rank.

Camila took a slow breath. Her gaze shifted from the unconscious Remus… to Lucifer… to James.

Then she said calmly, “We accept. And it’s not like we have any other choice.”

She then looked directly at Alex. “But will he also accept this proposal of yours?”

James immediately turned toward Lucifer. His eyes were wide, almost pleading, like a loyal puppy waiting for approval.

Alex stared at him silently.

’Will you just look at this guy.’

’He’s not as innocent as I thought.’

’He’s cunning.’

His mind moved quickly.

’He didn’t trust me fully.’

’So instead of escalating things further… he avoided making the Scorpion Clan our enemies.’

’Knowing they have no choice but to accept after seeing my strength.’

’And as the mediator, he made it look like this was his idea.’

’Like I was just the violent one acting alone.’

’He distanced himself from the conflict.’

Alex’s gaze sharpened slightly.

’Now he’s using my strength to establish connections with two prominent figures—Remus Clint and Camila Hosten.’

’And with this move… he and his friends no longer have to live in tents.’

’No more worrying about food. No more humiliation.’

A faint smile formed beneath the skeleton mask.

’I have to admit. He has a good head on his shoulders. Utilizing the situation to its fullest. Not making enemies out of either side.’

’This guy can be useful. He can act when he sees opportunity.’

“Lucifer…”

“Lucifer, are you listening?”

James’ voice pulled him back.

Alex blinked once and came out of his thoughts. He looked at James’ pleading expression and smiled beneath the mask.

“I accept.”

James’ expression brightened instantly. Relief flooded his face.

Clara still looked stunned. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Moments ago, they were about to be crushed by a big clan. Now they were forming an alliance.

Alex glanced at Camila.

’Let’s see who benefits more from this.’

—————————————-

Far away, high above the clouds, a floating island drifted silently in the sky.

Upon it stood a massive castle. Dark spires pierced the heavens. Walls forged from black stone veined with crimson energy towered over the landscape. Banners bearing the sigil of the Fallen Angels fluttered in the cold wind.

It was one of the main bases of the Fallen.

Inside the castle, a red-haired woman walked silently through the halls. Her heels echoed sharply against the polished obsidian floors.

Victoria.

Her blood-red hair flowed down her back like liquid flame. Her figure was flawless—tall, graceful, every movement controlled. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly with predatory intelligence. Her beauty was ravishing. Dangerous. Like a rose soaked in poison.

She moved with a clear destination in mind.

Eventually, she stepped into a vast training hall.

Inside, a woman in her twenties sat cross-legged in meditation. Gray hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her features were almost identical to Victoria’s—cold, regal, sharp.

Victoria’s lips curled slightly.

“Just stop all this drama and get absorbed already. I have to look for the other fragments too.”

The gray-haired woman’s eyes opened slowly. Calm.

Unyielding.

“I have no intention of becoming a part of someone like you. So stop coming here and get lost. Never show your face again. For your own good.”

Victoria’s face flushed red with fury. The walls around them began to crack, stone splitting apart under her killing intent.

“Let’s see how long that daddy dearest of yours can keep you safe, Princess of the Fallen—Kaelith Drakharis.”

Kaelith’s expression darkened. Her aura flickered violently. She was about to respond—

When suddenly, the doors burst open.

A Fallen Angel rushed inside.

The same one Lucifer had spared.

He dropped to one knee instantly, breathing hard.

“My Lady… there is a problem.”

Victoria’s crimson eyes shifted slowly toward him.

A faint, dangerous smile appeared.

“Speak.”

“And it better be worth my time, or prepare to die and get eaten.”

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