Bloody Odyssey

Chapter 66 - 65.

"Did you hear that?" Hanna asked.

"Yes," Zain replied while the others nodded.

"What could be going on outside?" they all wondered.

"It's frustrating staying here while it protects us," Mimi said, her tone full of concern.

"Personally, I'm happy I don't have to face that wretched church, but it makes me wonder what they're here for."

"And what makes it worse is the fact that angels are involved."

"This is far beyond us," Anastas replied to Mimi.

Zain looked toward the hovering bot and asked in a serious tone, "Is there no way we can see what's going on in the outside world?"

It paused, facing Zain, produced a short beeping sound, then continued on its path.

In less than a second, a holographic screen appeared, projecting the outside world.

The events unfolding on the screen left them in deep dread. They saw Dax holding a limbless, burning man.

Then they recalled the echoes of Dax's voice.

"Father?" Suddenly realization hit them—this was the head of the clan who had gone missing in search of his wife.

"How did he…?" Hanna questioned.

The squad turned to Hanna.

"Are you sure that's really the family head?" Zain asked, gripping Hanna's soft shoulder.

Hanna coughed slightly.

"I'm sorry." He stepped back.

"He is the clan head," Hanna said. "I heard the captain call him father."

The whole team was shocked. "Why would the Church of Light go to such lengths? The clan cut itself off from the world after the Blood River incident. We never had any animosity with them."

"They've gone too far," Zain said, boiling with rage.

In the outside world, the battlefield was covered in deep silence—only the sound of flowing wind could be heard.

On Dax's arm was his father, burning under the flames of light. The heat didn't affect Dax from holding him. In less than a breath, Dax himself began to burn along with his father.

"Be purified under the holy flames of God," the angel said, turning his gaze from Dax.

He turned to Nadia. "Such a perfect physique," he continued, adoring the experience of this new phenomenon. "I wonder how it's possible for anything alive to draw mana straight from the sun. I wonder if this state is constant?"

As he moved closer, he noticed the rays of light merging into her being. "Truly magnificent. I must return her to our lord."

Boiling with an indescribable rage, Dax's heart remained calm. "Some things never change," Dax said, his voice lower than a whisper.

"The heart of those who see themselves above everything." As he spoke, Dax raised his burning arm toward the golden string and yanked it, instantly extinguishing the flame.

"This is just a warning, unholy thing. Our lord is beyond your reach," the angel said, eyes closed tight with a carefree expression.

"I will be taking her with me."

"Gali!"

He called out, facing the messenger. Unknown to them, Dax had already extinguished the flames of light.

Dax whispered beneath his breath, "Epoch."

Instantly the gate to his lab manifested. "Inerous!" he called out. Not even a breath later, Inerous stepped out in her synth form.

The angel looked back one more time, burning Dax's image into his mind. But in that moment he saw a gorgeous woman covered in beautiful black garnets retreating into a black hole with the half-dead man.

He turned his gaze to Dax's spot. "He is gone."

"Gali! Take her back with you," the angel spoke to the messenger angel.

"Ryker, what are you planning? The mission was to retrieve this child," Gali questioned.

"That man cannot be left alive. He extinguished the flames of God. You know what that means?"

She nodded. "I see your point."

As they conversed, Dax appeared, launching Cil toward them.

It was silent but traveled like a black streak, a hair's breadth away from Ryker. Just then he scattered into tiny light particles, evading the deadly attack with impossible speed.

In the distance he rearranged himself. He is too slow, Ryker thought.

Thunk!

A soft piercing sound covered the battlefield.

"Gali!" He turned toward his companion just to see Dax stepping on her wings.

With force Dax yanked out his scythe without a shred of hesitation, flinging her body and the massive mirror, bashing her head-first into the earth's surface.

Even in this critical condition she held onto the mirror like it was her life. Dax's eyes had no speck of emotion in them.

Lying on the floor lifelessly, Dax landed before her, kicked her so she spun and lay flat on her belly.

"I wonder if your wings are as sensitive as those of the wingmen race," Dax said, comparing them to a strange race from his past life.

"You bastards are even cocky like them." Dax spat. Stepping on her back, he grabbed one of her two wings and pulled with force.

This world begs to see my true nature, and I will hide it no more.

She let out a gut-wrenching scream. Her golden eyes glowed bright until blood began to pour from them.

Her cries covered the heavens and even pierced Dax's very soul. Dax's soul trembled too. Slowly, blood began to seep from his ears.

But all he wanted was vengeance. He stepped on her head, increasing the screams. One by one, beasts within a hundred-meter radius began to drop dead—disregarding even the powerful ones.

He will really kill her. Ryker was astonished but had to make a move. In a flash he appeared, stabbing a spear similar to the one that had poured from the sky.

With his idle hand Dax raised Cil like a sword, cutting down and embedding it into the earth. Then he kicked, packing millions of force.

"Monster!" Ryker felt an impossible force. Raising his hand in a blocking motion, he was sent flying meters into the air.

This man is insanely strong. The angel looked at his distorted arm as it repaired in less than a fraction of a second.

He is overwhelmingly powerful. He looked at his sister, curled up. Pausing for a bit, he calculated, then retreated toward Nadia.

"Ryker…" Gali wept. Hearing her sobs, he hesitated.

"I'm sorry, Gali. Our lord will avenge you."

Her sobs increased. In that moment Dax held onto her wing and pulled until it came off.

"Curse you, wretched thing of darkness. The day my lord Sterion shall smite you will come." She knelt as she let go of the mirror, stretching her arm forward like she was ready to be killed.

"My lord will avenge my honor," she forced the words from her lips.

Dax clenched his teeth, about to leave with Nadia.

"No one is leaving here alive," Dax said. His voice wasn't loud but very audible.

"And with what authority can you keep me here?" Ryker's tone was irritated.

"Unholy bastard, you are not escaping this after what you did today," Ryker raged.

In that very moment Dax whispered,

"Backrooms."

Instantly, space distorted.