Chapter 676: Something is Definitely Wrong: Part-6

[Author’s Note:

Hello, guys! 😊 It’s been a while... I sincerely apologize for the sudden pause. Due to personal health issues, I couldn’t write for some time. Please forgive me for that. 🙏

I’m still not fully recovered, so for the time being, you’ll mostly receive just one chapter per day. This is only temporary, though! Once I’m feeling better, we’ll return to our previous schedule. 📅

Also, the chapters you get for now might be random, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. 💖 Please forgive me once again! 🙇‍♀️]

’He is stronger...’ the Principal mumbled, her eyes narrowing as she gauged the situation. With a swift kick to the ground, she launched herself into the air. Her movements were fluid, yet deadly, as she delivered a powerful full kick, slamming her foot directly onto the Master’s shoulder.

BAM!

Crack, Crack

The ground beneath them splintered under the sheer force of her attack.... Yet, the Master stood unmoving, unaffected, as if her strength was nothing more than a whisper against the wind.

He tilted his head slightly, then shrugged his shoulder. Her leg slid down his body effortlessly, leaving her momentarily vulnerable. In that instant, the Master’s hand shot out like a striking viper, grabbing her foot with a vice-like grip.

With an almost casual flick, he twisted her leg sharply, spinning her like a cyclone in midair.

The Principal spiraled uncontrollably before regaining her footing just as she hit the ground. Her knees bent to absorb the impact as she stabilized herself.

’He is...’ Before she could finish her thought, the Master’s shadow loomed over her. He was already there, moving faster than her eyes could track. ’...Faster!’ she realized with a surprised feeling as she raised her arms in a desperate attempt to block the incoming punch aimed at her gut.

Thud!

Crack

Nope... not the ground!... The force of the blow sent a shockwave through her body. Her forearm cracked under the pressure—a sensation she hadn’t felt in years.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, then narrowed in fury as she glared at the Master. His face remained hidden behind his tattered cloak.

"You’re holding back," he said in a low, indifferent tone that carried a chilling authority. "If you do it again, Pretty sure next attack will kill you."

With a wave of his hand, the earth beneath them surged upward, transforming into a massive stone wave that rushed toward her like a predator about to strike. It stopped mere inches from her face, the jagged edges poised to cut.

"..."

The Principal stared at the sharp stone, her expression blank for a moment. Then, with a single tap of her finger, the entire formation crumbled to dust.

She locked eyes with the Master...

"You shou--Pfffff!"

Before he could finish his sentence, her fist connected with his abdomen, a deafening crack reverberating through the air. The sheer force of her punch created a shockwave... like sonic way!

The Master’s body arched slightly, but before he could react further, the Principal grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground. With a roar, she dragged him across the battlefield, the terrain splitting and crumbling beneath them.

TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Chunks of earth and stone flew in all directions as the Principal dragged him through the wreckage.

"Hah... cough, cough... That’s it, my dear," the Master chuckled, his voice strained but laced with amusement. "You should have fought like this from the start!" Even with his head scraping through the rubble, he managed to speak with maddening confidence.

Meanwhile:

"Arrrrhhh!" Lia screamed, her fiery red sword slicing through the air as she charged at Victor. Her movements were precise, yet Victor dodged every strike with infuriating ease, his body barely shifting to avoid the blade.

Lia groaned in frustration. "Fight me, you coward!" she yelled, her voice brimming with fury. Her strikes grew more frantic, more aggressive, as she tried to land a single hit on him.

She was doing her best to get revenge, you know!

Victor, on the other hand, was supposed to fight Alaric. Yet, Lia kept interrupting, and he couldn’t even focus on his opponent.

Victor smirked, his icy gaze locking onto her. "Coward? No," he replied coldly. "I simply don’t waste my time playing with weaklings."

"You bastard!" Lia’s voice cracked with rage. "Say that again, you fucker, and I’ll kill you!"

Her body began to dissolve into blood-red particles, swirling ominously around Victor like a crimson storm.

Sssssshhhhhhhhhh!

The blood particles spun faster and faster, forming a deadly tornado. Victor remained unfazed, standing in the eye of the storm with a bored expression. "Is this your big move?" he asked mockingly.

"Arh" Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his back. He glanced over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of a thin red sword as it faded into the swirling vortex.

However, it was not over. Thin red swords started to appear, like shark fins breaking the sea’s surface—not just one, but hundreds of swords swirling around Victor.

"What? Scared to speak now?" a haughty voice echoed in the tornado. Victor sighed. ’This is going to be tough!’ he mumbled inwardly.

Victor needed to defeat her, and at the same time, he couldn’t hurt her. Otherwise, Aether would be pissed off.

Meanwhile...

"You motherfucker! Why are you getting in my way!!!" Jack roared, his voice filled with fury as he wiped the blood dripping from his mouth, thanks to Alaric’s unexpected punch.

The hit had interrupted his moment of "fun" with Aether, leaving Jack enraged and humiliated.

Alaric snorted, "As much as I’d enjoy watching that bastard suffer at your hands, now is not the time to play games." His voice was sharp, commanding. With a snap of his fingers, dozens of compressed air arrows materialized behind him, their razor-sharp edges gleaming ominously.

Alaric’s tone turned stern,

"You’re a Chosen One, Jack. I don’t know what they’ve promised you—power, wealth, immortality—but trust me, I’ve lived through centuries. From experience, I can tell you one thing for sure: they’re using you. Whatever they’ve promised, it’s nothing more than empty words.

The moment you finish their dirty work, they’ll discard you like trash, just like every other pawn they’ve ever used.... You will be thrown like a waste paper!!"

Alaric’s voice grew louder, brimming with conviction,

"That’s how these organizations operate!.... That’s how evil works!!!

I’m giving you one last chance, Jack... just one.

Surrender now, and I promise I’ll help you. I’ll fight for you, reduce your punishment, and help you find a way through this painful, twisted life. You’re not alone in this. You don’t have to be alone...

Just give us one more chance to understand you!"

Jack coughed violently, blood dripping from his lips as he staggered slightly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then spun his pistol around his finger with a weary sigh. Raising his hands, he muttered weakly, "Well... when you talk like that, my heart... it’s already starting to ache... ahh..."

Alaric took a cautious step forward, his posture relaxing slightly. "That’s it, Jack. Just let’s end this. You don’t need to be dragged any further into this mess. I’ll make sure you’re safe."

Jack’s eyes widened in surprise as tears began to stream down his face. He turned his head away, avoiding Victor’s gaze. "Ahh... fuck! I-I’m crying?" He wiped at his tears with trembling fingers, his voice breaking, "W-Why are you doing this to me? I don’t want to go back to being a nobody! That life... it was pathetic! I was pathetic!"

Alaric’s expression softened, his tone gentle. "No one is truly pathetic, Jack. We all have choices. You still have the chance to decide who you want to be. Just hand over the artifact, and I’ll help you. Trust me on this."

As he got closer, Alaric reached out and placed his hand gently on Jack’s gun. "Now, give it to me," he said softly, his voice almost soothing.

For a moment, Jack’s grip loosened. It seemed as though he was ready to let go.

"Jack?" Alaric asked when he noticed the trembling in Jack’s hand.

Jack’s voice came out as a whisper, "T-To be honest... I’m not like this at all. I... I..."

"It’s okay, Jack," Alaric reassured him, his voice tender. "It’s fine. Everyone deserves a second chance." He could feel the tension in Jack’s grip start to ease.

But then—

Thud!

BANG!!!!

Drip...

Alaric reacted just in time, narrowly dodging a fatal shot to the head..... However, his proud elven ear wasn’t so lucky. A bullet pierced through it, leaving a hole as blood trickled down his neck.

"W-Why?" Alaric gasped, his expression a mix of shock and hurt.

"Hah... haha..." Jack chuckled darkly, his eyes still closed as he twirled his gun theatrically. His lips twisted into a manic grin as he shouted, "Becaussseee... I AM FUCKING CRAZIER THAN THIS, BITCHESSS!!"

Jack’s chest began to glow, "Arcane!" he grinned, and within moments, hundreds of his puppets materialized around Alaric, each armed with a variety of guns, ranging from pistols to massive rifles.

Real Jack sneered, his wicked grin widening. "Now, it’s time for some bang~bang~!"

Meanwhile, Morgana...

Lia’s aunt Morgana watched the ongoing battle from a distance, her expression calm yet observant. Her sharp eyes fixated on Lia’s fight against Victor.

She noticed something odd. ’He’s holding back... but why?’ she wondered, her brows knitting together slightly. She had heard stories about Victor and knew his capabilities.

Morgana’s lips twitched into a half-smile, "Hmm... Whatever. Who knows what goes on in the minds of the younger generation?" she murmured, shrugging lightly.... As long as Lia wasn’t hurt, she was content.

Her gaze shifted to the other fights.... The Principal seemed to have the upper hand against the Master, and Alaric was now surrounded by Jack’s puppets. Despite the onslaught of bullets, Alaric seemed to be holding his ground.

But then... Morgana frowned.... Something was off.

Wasn’t someone missing from the group?

Someone insignificant had slipped away unnoticed amidst the chaos.

A background Character?

What were the perks of being a background character?

They were weak!

They were useless!!

They were scared of everything!!!

But most of all, they were forgotten by others... especially by someone like Aether, who was nothing more than a servant!

That’s what Aether loved most about being a background character.

They were mostly forgotten when something important shit happens with main character.

When the spotlight shone on the so-called "important" people, when critical battles erupted, and when the stakes were at their peak, the insignificant ones like him faded into the shadows....

While the main characters were busy clashing with real threats, Aether moved stealthily, his steps cautious yet deliberate as he made his way deeper into the Void’s Cradle.

The further he ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.... The sticky black substance covering the area was growing thicker.

Aether carefully leapt from one visible rock to another, his sharp gaze scanning for stable footing. Every time he got too close to the black goo, an eerie sensation crawled over his skin, like cold, invisible tendrils reaching out to him.

Step... Step.....

The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint sound of his boots scraping against stone.

And then—

"Co...me...to....e"

A voice that had been whispering in Aether’s mind ever since he entered this cursed Empire grew louder, clearer, and more insistent. It seemed to reverberate within the very core of his being, each syllable dripping with an eerie allure that set his nerves on edge.

Aether’s jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth. "Fuck you!" he snapped under his breath.

The oppressive atmosphere thickened the further he went, the air practically buzzing with malevolence. And then—

He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as they locked onto the sight before him.

"What is that...?" Aether mumbled, his voice barely audible.

Before him, nestled on the jagged surface of an Ebon stone, lay a massive transparent cube.

Inside the cube, two figures desperately struggled...

"Aqua, Celes?"

[Author’s Note:

Do you like it? 🤔 Does it have the quality you expect? If not, please let me know. I don’t want to waste your time and money with chapters that lack quality. 💔

Your feedback means everything to me, so please be sure to leave a comment and share your thoughts. 🙏 Thank you for your support! 💖]