Bloody Odyssey

Chapter 75: Return.

Days later, they arrived at the Godfall Manor. Children and adults of the House of Fall gathered in droves, bringing the massive estate to life. Cheers and excited shouts filled the air as the wyvern squad descended.

On the back of Cain, Dax sat calmly. Madeka leaned against him without a care in the world, her head resting on his shoulder, eyes half-lidded in lazy contentment.

They dismounted. The crowd erupted in joy.

"Who are those beautiful women behind Dax?" a young man in the crowd whispered loudly. "The blonde one carries the gentle grace of heaven—like an angel cursed with unimaginable beauty. And the other… stunning grace rivaling the blonde, with an emotionless gaze as beautiful as the Death Star."

His words drew immediate backlash. A sharp slap rang out. Someone yanked him back into the crowd as whistles and scolding voices followed.

From the throng, a little girl stormed forward, breaking free from her guardian's arms. Her tiny legs pumped furiously beneath a long dress. She tripped, tumbling forward.

Tears welled in her eyes as she pushed herself up.

"Sapphire! Come here right now!" her older sister called, chasing after her.

Seeing her sister only made Sapphire scramble faster.

"Uncle Chocolate!"

Her small voice pierced the noise and reached Dax's ears.

The whole team turned in confusion.

"Who is Uncle Chocolate?" Nadia asked, genuinely surprised.

Suddenly all eyes shifted to Anastas. He looked just as perplexed.

Then Sapphire reached Dax. He bent down and scooped her up with gentle care.

"Little munchkin, what are you doing here?" Dax teased, playfully pinching her chubby cheeks.

The team stared in stunned silence—even Madeka.

"Uncle Chocolate… is Dax?" Zain muttered.

They tried to compare the cold, imposing captain with the giggling child in his arms.

"Daxy… the little child can walk" Madeka urged, jealousy creeping into her voice.

"Let her be." Dax retorted lightly. He shook Sapphire gently, making her giggle. She stuck out her tongue at Madeka, who hissed in mock offense.

The team burst into laughter at Madeka's reaction.

In the distance, Sapphire's sister hesitated, unsure whether to approach. In the end, she let it be. The house was alive with joy at the wyvern squad's return.

Tears welled in the little girl's eyes again. Before she could cry, Dax pulled out a neatly wrapped chocolate.

Sapphire's tears vanished instantly.

"Ha! Big big chocolate!"

She hugged it like treasure.

"Hehehe…" She laughed to herself. Genius Sapphire was right. I investigated and followed the chocolate trail. Unlimited chocolate!

She dreamed of the possibilities. With haste, she struggled, hinting for Dax to put her down.

Dax laughed inwardly as he set her on the floor.

"Thank you!" She swung her head and hands in pure joy as she toddled away.

The team began to see Dax in a new light. Some had viewed him as cold, emotionless. Now they saw something warmer beneath.

"You all may go about your activities as you please. Hanna and Anastas—report to my residence four days from now."

Upon reaching the residential area, Dax dismissed the team, leaving only Nadia and Madeka with him.

"Wouldn't you leave?" Madeka questioned Nadia without a care.

"That is none of your concern, crazy woman." Nadia replied calmly, staying close beside Dax.

Madeka ignored the jab this time. "I know I'm crazy." She hugged Dax's arm tighter, resting her head on his shoulder.

They reached Dax's large courtyard. The figure of the ancestor waited there.

"Grandfather."

Dax smiled and bowed deeply, touching the old man's feet—the highest sign of respect in House of Fall tradition.

Madeka's eyes shone with intensity. She copied the gesture perfectly.

"I pay my respect to Grandfather-in-law."

She smiled—stunning the ancestor.

Who is this woman? He couldn't sense any energy from her. That alone told him she had crossed the threshold of Odama. How did this boy find someone this strong?

He had once thought the Endo child would never settle for anyone weaker than herself. Now his grandson had brought home someone exceptionally stronger.

He laughed heartily.

"It's not my child's fault anyway." He pointed his thumb at Dax. "Good boy."

In the corner, Nadia bowed. The ancestor's gaze pierced her core.

Ohh… Rank Nine? Could this boy be a womanizer?

He smiled warmly.

"Welcome to our clan. Would you mind telling me your names? Since my mannerless grandson didn't introduce you."

They both introduced themselves while Dax opened the gate to his lab.

"Grandfather, now that you're here, I have something to show you."

Dax's tone grew solemn.

The ancestor sensed the shift immediately. What is wrong with this child?

But what worried him most was the black hole Dax formed—a spiraling portal of pure distortion.

This boy hides a lot.

"Please follow me," Dax said calmly as he stepped through.

Madeka and Nadia followed one by one. The ancestor took a deep breath and entered. The gate closed behind him.

They walked through a brightly lit hallway. The ancestor dragged his finger along the wall, feeling its cool, slippery surface.

"Dax… what is your problem with black?" He observed the shining concrete material.

"And what exactly is this place?" he asked. "There is not a whiff of mana here. My mind tells me this place is not what it presents itself to be."

"Grandfather, this place is my lab. If you don't really understand, you can call it an alchemist's room."

Dax walked past three see-through doors. Above each, names were clearly labeled.

Every peek into the rooms left the old man stunned and filled with questions.

On reaching the fourth door—Gene Chamber—it slid open automatically.

The ancestor froze. Weird alien creatures floated in capsules. He walked ahead, stunned.

Dax tried to stop him.

Then the old man saw it.

His surprise shattered into something unexplainable—then rage.

"What is the meaning of this, Dax?" The ancestor was angered on seeing his son floating limbless in a capsule.

His aura grew oppressive.

At the far edge of the chamber, in a capsule, a bulky red figure twitched—reacting to the ancestor's aura. But that was all it could do.

"It's adapting to suspension," Dax said, eyes glittering. Madeka tugged at him.

"Darling… is it a good idea bringing this thing to this world?"

She pointed slowly at the red, one-eyed alien. Dax ignored her.

Stepping forward, he began to explain the previous events.

The ancestor's rage only grew.

The hall trembled. The alien in suspension broke free.

"Fiora… I defeated you in the past and you decide to be my material Do you wish for me to go back on my pact and end your life?"

From the image of Dax alone, it froze—allowing suspension to reclaim it.

"Bastard… Gagarion dares to adapt through suspension."

Dax placed a hand on his grandfather's shoulder.

"I will fix him, Grandpa. This is not beyond my power."

The old man's rage slowly quelled.

"The Church of Light dares to bare its fangs at the House of Fall."

"How far we have fallen… for the weak who can't even gaze at the glory of heaven, let alone touch it."

"We have lost our romance and our taste for blood—so the world spits on us."

The old man's face was solemn.

"Grandfather… don't be sad. Father will be whole today. I just showed you this to justify my actions."

Dax placed his hand into an empty whirlpool. When he withdrew it, he threw the headless corpse of Gali to the floor.