Chapter 54 : Saviour Jax?

The figure stepped into the light.

Silence rippled through the hall.

She was striking otherworldly in a way that made people stare.

Her skin had that same faint shimmer as Azara’s, marking her as non-human.

Small tufts of hair rose from her head like delicate animal ears which were white and elegant. Her eyes were sharp and predatory

She wore a deep crimson gown that hugged her figure tightly .

Her presence was commanding, dangerous like a lioness entering a den of sheep.

Queen Nyx Nyvess of Arcadia Spires.

Behind her stood Azara, dressed formally but nervously, her eyes darting around the room. Guards flanked them—tall, armored, their faces hidden behind helmets.

And beside them, partially obscured by the guards was another figure. A girl. Human. Young, but her expression was calculating.

Jax’s eyes narrowed. ’No way! Will she gonna do what i am thinking right here. And whats up with that girl why is she glaring at me’.

The crowd murmured, confused.

"What is she doing here?"

"She wasn’t invited, was she?"

"This is going to be bad."

Jax’s mind raced. ’This wasn’t in the plot. I skipped most of the side stories and cutscenes when I played the game but I’m sure this event wasn’t supposed to happen. If it did, too many things in the game’s future wouldn’t align.’

There were only two monarchies in Aeroria—Solaria and Arcadia Spires. And their history was bloody.

Wars and conflicts.

The last major confrontation had been two years ago during the Holy Festival, when Calista challenged Nyx to a race. Nyx had accepted out of pride and lost miserably.

Jax’s eyes flicked to Nyx again. ’She’s not stupid enough to challenge Calista at her own birthday party. That would only make her angrier. And that anger could destroy her entire kingdom.’

Nyx wasn’t weak—far from it. But Calista was different. She was the strongest among the most powerful women in this world. Stronger than Paige. Stronger than Jennifer. Even stronger than Beatrix, the goddess Jax worshipped.

Something was missing. Something was very wrong.

Queen Calista stood frozen at the top of the stairs, her expression shifting from confusion to cold fury. Her voice cut through the hall like ice.

"Queen Nyx. This is a private celebration. You were not invited."

Nyx smiled—sharp, confident, almost mocking. "I know. But I couldn’t resist the opportunity."

She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the marble. "Two years ago, you challenged me during the Holy Festival. You humiliated me in front of my people and the entire world."

Calista’s jaw tightened. "You accepted the challenge. And you lost."

"I did." Nyx’s smile widened. "But tonight, I’m here to return the favor."

The crowd gasped.

Nyx’s voice rang out, loud and clear. "Queen Calista Sterling. I challenge you. A bet. Right here. Right now."

The hall erupted in whispers. Shock. Disbelief.

Calista’s face twisted with rage. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You dare interrupt my celebration to issue a challenge? Have you lost your mind?"

"Perhaps." Nyx’s tone was playful, but her eyes were cold. "But I’m willing to bet you won’t refuse. Not in front of all these people. Not when your pride is on the line."

Calista’s breathing quickened. Her eyes burned with fury. But she didn’t refuse.

Nyx continued, her voice smooth and confident. "The terms are simple. I will accept any game you choose. You give me five options. I pick one. Fair, yes?"

The crowd murmured again. That was... surprisingly generous. Too generous.

Calista’s eyes narrowed. "And the stakes?"

Nyx’s smile turned wicked. "The loser will be presented to any number of volunteers. In public. In the other nation that wins. The loser will serve any number of men for an entire week. In the open live in the broadcast, Worldwide."

The hall exploded.

Gasps. Shouts. Disbelief.

"She can’t be serious!"

"That’s insane!"

"She’s trying to humiliate her!"

Jax’s eyes widened. ’What the fuck? That’s... that’s brutal. Even for this world.’

Calista’s face went pale, then red with rage. "You... you filthy—"

"Afraid?" Nyx’s voice was sweet, taunting. "I thought the great Queen Calista never backed down from a challenge."

Calista’s hands shook. Her mind was racing. ’Something’s wrong. She’s too confident. There’s a trick here. There has to be.’

But her pride screamed at her. The crowd was watching. If she refused now, she’d look weak. Cowardly.

"Fine," Calista spat. "I accept your challenge."

Nyx’s smile widened.

But Calista wasn’t done. Her voice dropped, cold and deadly. "But I don’t need that disgusting reward. I can’t drop that low like you. When I win, my prize will be a wish. Any wish. Even your head this time."

The crowd gasped again.

Nyx gulped. Her throat worked as she swallowed hard. Calista’s eyes were burning with vengeance, promising pain for ruining her celebration.

But then Nyx smiled again, wider this time, as if she knew she would win. "I accept."

Calista froze. ’She... she’s not backing down. She’s too confident. Something is definitely off.’

Fear flickered in her chest. ’If I lose...’

She crushed it down. ’I won’t lose. I can’t.’

And then a voice cut through the tension.

"This looks interesting. Can I join too? Like a three-way fight?"

Every head turned.

Jax stepped forward from the crowd, hands in his pockets, face calm but eyes gleaming with amusement.

Nyx blinked, then laughed. "Kid, what are you doing? This is a fight between nations. Go back to your mother before you embarrass yourself."

Jax ignored her. "Can I join? Make it a three-way fight?"

Nyx’s laughter grew louder, mocking. "A three-way? Oh, that’s rich. And what exactly can you offer in return? Your toys?"

Jax’s smile sharpened. "Why not? I’m the son of Paige Rayne, one of the richest family in Neo Veridia."

Nyx’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "So if you lose, what’s the maximum thing you’d put on the line? Your allowance?"

"Everything," Jax said calmly. "Everything we own. The Rayne family wealth, property, assets. Everything."

The hall went dead silent.

Nyx stared at him, shock replacing her amusement. The entire audience gasped.

"You... you’re joking."

"Do I look like I’m joking?"

And then Paige’s voice cut through like a whip.

"What are you doing?! Are you gone insane?!"

She stormed forward, her face twisted with fury. "Putting everything on the line without asking me—the owner?! Don’t cross your line! You think you own everything just because I said sweet things to you a few days ago?!"

The words left her mouth in a rush of anger.

And the moment they did, realization hit her.

’No... those words... I didn’t mean them. That’s what the other me would have spoken. The old me.’

She’d been changing. Jax had changed her. Wealth used to be everything—all she cared about. But nowadays, The huge gap between Jax and money was siting at fifty fifty. She cared about him now.

Her hands shot up and grabbed his cheeks, her eyes wide with panic and guilt. "I’m sorry. I went too far. I wouldn’t have said those things. I didn’t mean it."

Nyx’s laughter rang out again, loud and teasing. "Oh, how precious! Mother-son drama at a royal birthday celebration! This is pure entertainment! Should I grab some wine and watch?"

Jax ignored her words completely. He looked at Paige, his expression calm and reassuring. "Mother, you don’t have to worry. We won’t lose anything. Even if we lose."

Paige blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Watch me now."

He stepped away, moving between Nyx and Calista. His voice rang out clearly.

"I challenge both of you in this bet. I’m putting everything the Rayne family owns on the line. And the reward I want? Same. Same as Queen Calista and Queen Nyx."

He looked at Nyx. "Your reward is also a wish, which you’ve already stated. So mine would be a wish too, which I’ll reveal after winning—after thinking about it."

Nyx laughed mockingly. "You’re insanely stupidly arrogant! Fine! I accept!"

Jax’s smile sharpened. "But don’t you think it’s unfair now?"

Nyx frowned. "What?"

"Wouldn’t it be too much? The winner will have two wishes to ask for, and two losers. That feels unfair, don’t you think?"

Nyx’s eyes narrowed. "What rubbish are you saying? That doesn’t make sense. It’s just winner takes all."

Jax knew the loophole in this world’s betting system. There couldn’t be multiple losers or multiple winners for a bet. Just a single party wins, and for the loser it’s the same.

"In the betting rules, there can’t be multiple winners or multiple losers. Only one party wins. One loses. That’s the law," Jax explained.

Nyx processed that, then nodded slowly. "You being added to our bet is making things more complicated. Then fine, I have a suggestion. We will have a game where there is a single winner—whether from my team, yours, or Calista’s. And he or she will decide a wish that will definitely harm one party, and that party would be the loser. This will be for official records. I don’t care about any of them, so I accept these terms."

Jax smiled. ’Got you. Fell right into my trap.’

Paige watched from the sidelines, her sharp mind piecing it together. ’He just joined a nation-breaking game without actually putting anything on the line. If Calista wins, she’ll definitely ask something brutal from Nyx. If Nyx wins, she’ll ask from Calista. It’s win-win either way. But if Jax wins...’

Her chest tightened. ’What are you thinking now, Jax? And if you win, what then?’

The crowd murmured, slowly understanding.

"Wait... he just helped Queen Calista!"

"More challengers means lesser win rate for Nyx!"

"Smart move by the Rayne boy!"

"He’s protecting his family while lowering Nyx’s odds!"

Everyone thought Jax had helped Queen Calista by lowering the odds. More challengers meant a lesser win rate for any single party.

But Jax, who had just joined the challenge not for saving but he was here for his own little fun.

His eyes flicked to Nyx—confident, hiding something.

Then to Calista—furious, terrified beneath the surface.

’This is going to be interesting.’