Chapter 1170: Restarting The Grenthollow: Part-2

Nyx didn’t react.

She simply stood there, arms folded, her gaze cold and unblinking as she watched Aether repeat the same motion over and over again—guiding yet another soul into the feather’s divine embrace.

Again... And again.... And again.

It was like watching a man slowly drown on land.

His steps grew staggered. His shoulders slumped. Each time he returned from the crack, the way he dragged his feet made it clear—he was getting weaker, breaking apart piece by piece. And yet... he never stopped.

He just kept going.

Nyx’s brows furrowed. Her expression soured with irritation as she let out a soft huff, folding her arms even tighter against her chest.

"Tch..." she clicked her tongue, raising her hand with an exasperated look. "I can do it, you know... If you’re feeli—"

"Nah," Aether cut in mid-step, without even looking at her. His voice was strained, low, but still held that same casual bite. "I’d rather do it myself than rely on an idiot who’s all too eager to become one with fucking death."

His legs wobbled slightly as he walked past her again, almost like his knees would give in, but he didn’t even glance in her direction.

"...."

For a moment, Nyx just stood there... Frozen.

The corner of her lip twitched violently.

Was that... a pout?

She folded her arms again and clenched her jaw, looking away with a sharp exhale.

No, she wasn’t wrong.

Of course not! It was him who was wrong!

He was the idiot, not her.

She ground her teeth, annoyed at how stupid she suddenly felt.

Why was she standing here doing nothing while he burned himself out?

She wasn’t useless. She wasn’t some bystander.

She was Nyx Shadowfall!

"I don’t need your help!" she snapped with sudden defiance.

Aether still didn’t turn around. He just waved a lazy hand behind him as he said, "But I love you, my wife."

"...."

Her eye twitched.

She gritted her teeth harder.

"Just because I’m your wife doesn’t mean you have to do everything for me!" she growled.

"I’m a strong, independent woman!"

"Yaha... ya..."

Aether mumbled vaguely as he reached for the rope again.

Nyx’s hand balled into a fist. Her energy crackled faintly around her. She was supposed to feel numb, cold, disconnected. But this man... he knew exactly how to piss her off.

"That husband... tsk," she muttered under her breath, clicking her tongue in frustration. Her arms folded tightly again, but this time, it was more defensive than annoyed.

"Fine. Whatever. It’s his choice."

She turned her face away, pretending she didn’t care anymore.

As long as the Samara—the sacred domain—was getting healed... that was all that mattered. That was the goal.

Still...

[+100 AP]

And then finally it happened...

The giant crack began to close slowly but surely. The fractured edges shimmered, the purple glow softening as the wound in space itself began to knit together like flesh mending after a deep cut.

Thud!

The moment the final seal clicked into place, the great engine above rumbled back to life. It coughed with a few delayed sparks... then suddenly burst into full ignition.

Aether, Nyx, and Starla all flinched as the space around them trembled violently.

Ssssplasshhhhh...

A strange, wet roar echoed from above—loud, hollow, and deep. The sound was overwhelming, like a tsunami crashing down from the heavens.

Nyx immediately raised her hand, summoning her energy. Starla’s form, which had drifted apart like scattered flame, snapped back together and returned to her mistress’s side in a flicker of fire.

Without a moment to think, Aether grabbed Nyx and pulled her into his arms, wrapping around her just as the sky split open. A wave of purplish water shot down from above like a divine flood, engulfing them both with roaring force.

The water didn’t just crash—it devoured them.

It pulled them upward, dragging them through the sky like they were traveling inside a giant, swirling tube. Everything bent. Their bodies twisted in the current, spinning through the chaos.

And then—

They were spat out.

Like unwanted filth, the vortex rejected them from its swirling stomach and hurled them into the air.

Flames burst from his soles as he landed hard, anchoring himself on the lush, green cliff—the very same place he had once been thrown from.

Nyx form... was no longer hollow. No longer flickering.

She was full. Flesh whole again.

Aether stared at her in silence, then smiled—slow, wide, relieved.

But that peaceful moment didn’t last.

GGGNNGGGG!!!

A deep, thunderous hum vibrated from the heart of the Cycle of Samsara, reverberating through the land. The entire green stone mountain beneath them began to shake violently. The tremor wasn’t destructive—it felt more like something immense was finally stirring awake.

Then it happened.

From the very base to the towering summit, the mountain began to glow—a pale shimmer that bloomed into a bright, ethereal green light. It pulsed like a heartbeat. The once dull and lifeless mountain now gleamed.

Green neon light shimmered along its surface, crawling upward like fire tracing veins through a body. The glowing current surged, spreading higher and higher, until it reached the very tip—and from there, it exploded upward.

A single, sharp beam of green light shot into the sky, piercing the clouds like a laser. The heavens trembled at the impact. [Imgincmt]

And then...

At the base of the six massive staircases, the stone trembled as ghostly apparitions began to appear—souls.

One by one, they emerged from the mist.

The Soulwardens, stationed near the steps, turned their necks with startled expressions as the first spirits stepped forward onto the stones. They began walking upward—some slowly, some confidently, others limping or crawling.

Aether and Nyx looked at each other.

Aether let out a long, tired breath, the weariness visible on his face. "Looks like it’s working..."

He smirked faintly and added with a sly tone, "Let’s go inform Your Wonderful Majesty."

Nyx blinked, still lying on top of him—half in his arms. She didn’t move. Her heart fluttered for a reason she didn’t understand. His warmth, the sound of his heartbeat so close... made her feel oddly safe.

And warm.

Why?

She quickly pushed the thought aside.

The Soulwardens at the top signalled them urgently to leave,

"Fine, fine," Aether muttered, rolling his eyes as he rose to his feet. Then he glanced at Nyx—his voice softened.

"Let’s go."

Without waiting for approval, he scooped her into his arms again—carrying her like a princess. His legs flared with energy as he kicked off the ground, launching himself into the sky. The wind rushed past them, the mountain shrinking below as they soared upward like a falling star in reverse.

Nyx... just kept staring at him.

She didn’t know why she couldn’t look away. His face, his eyes, his hair ruffled by the wind—it all looked different now.

Like she was seeing him for the first time.

As they flew, Aether’s eyes scanned the staircase paths... He frowned.

The souls were walking. But not all of them.

Some struggled—barely able to lift their feet, staggering under invisible weight. And some... some didn’t move at all.

They stood frozen.

Then... darkness.

A black, sticky substance—like ink given life—rose silently from the ground. It slithered across the stone, latched onto those unmoving souls, and swallowed them whole.

"What the hell is happening?" Aether asked, frowning deeply.

Nyx didn’t even turn her head. Still resting in his arms, she answered calmly, almost as if reciting a known fact.

"This mountain judges souls," she said. "The greater the sin they carry... the harder it is for them to climb. The more guilt, the more pain. And those who can’t move at all... they’re claimed by the Void’s Cradle. It’s connected to the other side. The place where the worst are taken."

Aether’s brows raised slightly, impressed—and a little horrified.

"I see..." he muttered as they descended, finally landing with a heavy thud on the stone base.

BOOM!

*****

Meanwhile, far away—inside the palace throne room—a council was underway.

"I cannot believe both of them failed. Is this real, Empress?" Galen asked, his voice laced with mocking disbelief. He leaned back, his amused grin revealing he’d expected nothing less.

Seated upon the throne, Empress Mary gently stroked her daughter’s hair. The young girl was curled into her mother’s embrace, her face buried in Mary’s chest. The Empress patted her gently, a pained smile twitching on her lips.

"What more can I say..." she said softly. "That man proved his love. He jumped into death itself to save his wife... but even that wasn’t enough. Such a shame."

Mary’s voice trembled faintly, as if holding back tears. She hugged her daughter tighter as the child’s small shoulders trembled silently in her arms.

"Haha! I told you!" Galen burst out, laughing with cruel delight. "That pathetic piece of trash was never worth betting on. The moment he walked in here acting all high and mighty... I knew he’d disappoint."

But then—

"So our empire is doomed, and you’re just going to laugh about it?" Morgana asked, her tone flat and cold.

Galen flinched slightly, caught off guard by her ice-like voice. He cleared his throat. "W-Well... we do need to start planning what to do next. Is there really no hope, Your Majesty?" he asked, turning toward the Empress.

Mary shook her head slowly, solemnly.

"Our only hope was Nyx. But since she’s lost herself too... I fear this empire’s fate is sealed."

A heavy silence fell over the chamber.

Mary’s lips curled into a faint, satisfied grin.

Fear painted the faces around her. She could see it. Feel it. The way their eyes darted, the unease etched on every frown—it gave her a secret thrill.

However—

"Y-YOUR MAJESTY!!"

A soldier burst through the chamber doors, panting hard. The same one who had reported on the Cycle of Samsara before.

Mary’s grin widened. "What is it now? Is the sky falling already?" she asked mockingly, hoping for more signs of ruin.

But instead—

"T-The Cycle of Samsara... it has begun functioning again!"

"....."

Mary’s grin vanished instantly.

"Say what?"

Just as the soldier opened his mouth to explain, another voice echoed across the throne room—rich, confident, and infuriatingly smug.

"That means... we healed the crack, Bit—ahem—Empress~"

Mary’s expression darkened in an instant.

She knew that voice.

She hated that voice.

Her teeth ground together.

"...Aether," she whispered, eyes narrowing.