Bloody Odyssey

Chapter 76: Return II

"Dax, what is the meaning of this?" his grandfather asked, deep amazement flickering in his eyes. "I can sense pure divinity from this body."

His gaze traveled over the greyed-out corpse as it pulsed with the dying embers of its divinity, astonishment deepening with each passing moment.

"She's one of the culprits—an angel of light."

The ancestor's eyes suddenly filled with terror. Slowly, he turned his head toward Dax.

"You are too much, child," he said. There was no anger in his voice—only dread at the unforeseeable future. "I saw a lot of blood in my dreams and the rebirth of our household through it… I never expected it to be so soon."

He paused, steadying himself. "Dax, you said you can heal your father?"

"Yes, I can." Dax's expression remained calm, almost serene. "In the process, I will increase his strength. And I have just the material for that."

He smiled, his gaze drifting toward the Gagarion that had nearly broken free earlier.

Just then, Micah walked in, instantly dropping to his knees. "I am sorry for bringing chaos upon your household," he said, his voice trembling. "I never wished for this. I just wanted my grand—"

"I initially found out some things about your story, Silas—or should I say Micah." The ancestor's mood had soured considerably. "If there wasn't a way to fix my son, you wouldn't dare utter these words."

His eyes held deep enmity, a warning wrapped in silence.

Then he turned back to Dax, his voice softening into something almost gentle. "My child, your path leads to war. You know that. War is coming. So what will you do when you feel the breath of war upon your neck?"

Dax met his gaze without flinching. "I see our enemies all around us. But they can never prevail."

His voice was cold, but beneath it lay an unshakable certainty—the calm of a blade already drawn.

---

Days Later

Zain sat at the center of the general training ground, deep in meditation. His body pulsed with lightning with every breath, arcs of electricity dancing across his skin like serpents awakening from slumber.

Deep within his core, a lightning tree absorbed mana greedily, its roots spreading through his spirit veins like ivy claiming an ancient wall.

I never thought a day would come when I would feel like this, he mused. Though I'm still using the incomplete Lightning Chronicles, my strength has improved significantly. At first, that man—I thought he wasn't worthy to lead. But I was wrong. His actions seemed wrong to me, yet they were to my benefit. How far does his depth really go? My core has expanded vastly because of this thing he put inside of me.

A group of guards walked in on Zain's training, and they were utterly awestruck.

How is he so strong?

They all stood at the border of the entrance, their eyes fixed on the chaotic pulses of lightning pouring from his body like a storm barely contained within human flesh.

"It was said that Vice Captain Zain was a rank 7 aura master," a fat, white-haired man in glasses and black armor lectured his fellow guards, his voice hushed with reverence. "But I can definitely say this aura far surpasses that. Still, this is unreal. Watching a master of this caliber train—I could never wish for more."

Just then, a middle-aged man with a decently refined presence walked in. The breeze of his passing carried the scent of refined dew, clean and sharp. His eyes drew slanted like those of a serpent, and he placed a folded fan against his lips. Each step screamed elegance.

"7th Elder." The guards blocking the entrance made way, bowing deeply.

"You all may return," he said, smiling kindly at them. "This place is dangerous at the moment."

"Understood."

As they departed, the fat guard looked back one more time with a questioning gaze. What could he want with Lord Zain? Elders barely come around this training ground.

The 7th Elder waved his fan, urging his mana forward. I wonder just how a rank 7 aura master is able to harness power above his realm. He has clearly not broken through his bottleneck. Something is definitely off.

Before Zain could notice him, he was gone with the breeze.

Zain opened his eyes, staring at the space where the 7th Elder had stood. Stretching his hand to the sky, lightning struck his palm, carrying him into the far distance in a crackling arc of light.

---

Location: Elder's Residence

In a wide hall covered in emerald carvings, two figures knelt before the 7th Elder, who sat on his chair like a king surveying his domain.

"I need all the information you can get on the Wyvern Squad," he said, his voice smooth as silk wrapped around steel. "If you get caught… you know what to do."

He drew a finger across his throat.

"I assure you, if a whiff of my name gets out… your family. Your loved ones."

He laughed with strange charm, the sound both beautiful and utterly devoid of warmth.

In a blink, the figures clad in black vanished.

---

Dax strolled into the main kitchen, surprising all the cooks. His smile was bright, genuine. One by one, the aunties swarmed him with questions, their tones playful and teasing.

From time to time, they served him food, which he seemed to enjoy with the enthusiasm of a man who had learned never to take a warm meal for granted. Dax had grown accustomed to this routine—every day, he made it a goal to visit the kitchen.

"Auntie, I haven't seen Freya around," Dax asked one of the women, the head female cook.

"Ohh!" Her eyes widened with delight. "So it's not because my food is sweet that you've been coming here. It's because of our little girl." Auntie G teased him, her laughter warm.

Dax smiled gently. "Auntie, you're getting it—"

"Don't you know I can slip in good words for you?" She hit him with her elbow playfully.

"Big Mommy!" Freya screamed, her face flustered. The nickname had stuck because of how Auntie G had sheltered and fed all the orphans of the Fall.

She grabbed Dax's arm, pulling him out of the kitchen as the soft laughter of women echoed behind them.

"Don't mind Auntie—she's very chatty."

Freya held onto Dax's hand unknowingly, her fingers warm against his.

"How have you been since our last meeting?"

A smile lingered in every word, soft and unguarded.

At his question, her eyes drifted into his.

Such beautiful eyes, she blurted out in her thoughts before realizing she had spoken aloud.

"You think they are beautiful?" Dax touched his face, almost self-consciously. "I've never seen them as beautiful. Instead, I've always felt like they had seen too much… but thank you."

She had a stunned look on her face. He speaks like he has seen countless lifetimes.

She smiled beautifully, the expression lighting her features.

"Has anyone told you how strange you are?" she asked, tilting her head.

He considered the question for a moment. "Well, I guess you're the first."

Because the others don't dare… or are just dead.

Inerous giggled inwardly. Hmmm… maybe Anastas too.