"Pride, is that the reason?" the Witch of Chaos said subtly.
Despite offering to work together in order to take down the Executor, who has become everyone's parasite including the humans, she was not expecting Rex to be so motivated in taking the Executor down himself.
But then again, the Witch of Chaos would gladly give that opportunity to Rex.
Rex kept strong eye contact before he raises both of his hands which are now turning into vicious black claws, "Let's just say that he said something I could not forgive, and I will make him feel the true meaning of his words..."
"I will give you the honor, I'm not bent on killing the Executor myself" the Witch replied.
Nodding in understanding, the Witch of Chaos then looks down at Calidora's claws that were still on her neck, her claws are still slightly piercing the skin. "Are we in agreement now? How long will this Vampire have her claws on me?"
"We are not going to torture her?" Calidora glanced at Rex with a sense of disappointment.
Even though she heard what Rex and the Witch of Chaos were talking about a moment ago, she was still stuck at the torturing part. She even puts on puppy eyes, akin to a pleading child that didn't get to play.
'Maybe she's not entirely wrong, this is too light of a punishment' Rex thought.
Pondering for a couple of seconds, his eyes then directed back at the Witch of Chaos once again before he said, "Just remember, when we let you go, you still owe me four helps. I hope you understand. As you said earlier, I have a fearsome reputation I need to maintain"
Albeit feeling troubled, the Witch eventually nodded her head in understanding.
But instead of making Rex at ease knowing that he had the Witch of Chaos owing him four helps, he frowns inwardly as this makes him even more curious, 'I deliberately said four helps so that she can haggle, yet she accepted it instantly. Now I'm sure, the death of the Executor is very aligned with her plans'
Rex knows that haggling in a negotiation is a sign of trust and collaboration.
If the opposite side didn't haggle against a demanding proposition, there are only two reasons that might make them be this passive. It was either they are not going to complete the demand anyway, or the benefit of their collaboration outweigh the demand.
Judging from their exchange, Rex believed that it was the latter.
The Witch of Chaos is definitely hiding the true benefit that she will gain with the death of the Executor, and thus owing Rex four helps was a small price to pay as long as he helped her kill the Executor.
Lifting his chin a little, a glint of black lightning suddenly enveloped Rex's body.
Faster than what the Witch of Chaos can perceive, Rex vanishes from his spot and reappears right in front of her. Gazing up, the Witch of Chaos finds a fierce glint in Rex's vicious glowing red eyes.
Rex reaches out his hand and grabs the Witch of Chaos by the chin with his claws.
At the sight of this, Calidora was smiling excitedly.
"I want you to know that nobody has got this kind of mercy from me, this is a sign of generosity from me. I suggest treating it justly, and not seeing it as a weakness" Rex said sharply, his aura then started climbing higher. "Because if you do, then you'll learn soon enough that it's going to be a grave mistake that you'll regret before your death"
With that being said, Rex gave a signal to Calidora to let the Witch of Chaos go.
Despite unwillingly, she puts her claws away and walks over to Rex's side, shrugging her shoulders dejectedly. "Lucky you, if it weren't for him then your title would move onto the next right now"
Pausing for a moment, the Witch of Chaos then slowly gathered her cursed energy.
"I will be going now, there are other things I needed to attend. Keep your eyes open, I will be in touch, Royal Black Prince" the Witch of Chaos said, she then turns her head towards Calidora. "Princess..."
Just like that, her entire body slowly sink into the ground until she eventually disappeared.
Rex watches this with subtle eyes, what he was thinking is unknown.
But even as a couple of minutes passed already, he was still looking at the ground where the Witch of Chaos has sunk into. Calidora looks at him from the side and can't figure out whether he was in a daze or in a trance of his mind.
In reflex, she went closer to him with her fangs slowly elongating.
Out of nowhere, Rex snapped out of his trance when his shoulder was bitten by her.
"What are you doing?" Rex asked with a questioning look.
While sucking the blood inside of him with her vampiric fangs, Calidora then replied, her voice muffled as she was unwilling to pull away just yet. "It's payment for not letting me taste her blood, it's only fair for me to do this"
Upon hearing this, Rex can only sigh before a couple of prompts appeared before him.
<Sudden Quest has been completed!>
<Obtained 500 Billion Exp, and Confide of the Ice!>
<Level up!>
<Level up!>
<All physical stats has been increased accordingly>
<Berserk Quest has been completed!>
<Obtained Invincible Item, Eyes of the Pack skill, and 30 Skill Points>
Seeing these prompts from the system, Rex pushes Calidora away before he walks over to Kyran who is in hibernation. Lightly, he kneeled beside Kyran and inspected his body with a tender look.
Out of everyone, he blamed himself more for this.
Even though it was unrealistic as he was stuck in the ascension trial, he still blames himself.
Rex has learned throughout this hectic part of his life that he could always do something to prevent anything bad from happening to them, and in order to do that, being meticulous in approaching any problems is the only way.
It was one of the most important reasons why he has become a very careful individual.
But in a spot such as his, there would be hardly any people that wouldn't develop a trait similar to his. Also, despite trying his very best, something unexpected like this is bound to happen regardless.
When it happened, he could only grit his teeth strongly and suffer through the guilt.
Kyran looks peaceful in his state, he was lying still like a statue with a peaceful expression on his face. Upon a touch, Rex can feel the stinging coldness that can even penetrate the tip of his fingers.
Considering this is the power of the Lunirich Gods, he was not surprised that he got stung.
Noticing the somber and bleak air around Rex as he gazed at Kyran tenderly, Calidora kept her mouth shut and watches from behind while simultaneously keeping her senses to the max, alert to danger unseen.
Reaching out his hand, Rex then holds Kyran's hand and lets the system scan him.
<Scanning...>
<Calculating the level of Ice and Snow Full Moon energy...>
<Calculating the distance to the Alpha...>
As the System scans Kyran's body, Rex stays silent as his heart increasingly beat faster.
Even though he now managed to rescue Kyran, there was still a looming worry that will linger until he actually woke up. It was not a great feeling, the sensation was akin to waiting for a death verdict.
<Calculating the time until waking up...>
Upon the last notification from the System, the tension climbs even higher.
Just before the System can finish calculating the time until Kyran wakes up, the cloudy and dark sky started to cry with countless droplets of water. At the first touch of the rain on his shoulder, Rex looks skyward with a frown.
"Don't be like this..." Rex muttered, cursing the sky for giving a bad omen.
It was right after he said that the rain started to become heavy, the intensity grew, and the humming sounds made by the small moisture hitting the ground now turns into heavy drumming noises.
Rex's body becomes wet, he didn't use any energy to protect himself.
But then after the heavy downpour started, something Rex didn't want to witness appeared in his vision. As the bad omen brought by the heavy rain, his eyes slowly widened at the sight of another notification from the System.
<Calculation finished!>
<Time until waking up: 99 Years 355 Days>
Like a punch straight to Rex's heart, the notification makes his breath stuck in his throat.
"N-Ninety-nine- A hundred years...?" Rex mutters in disbelief.
Just earlier at the sight of Kyran in hibernation, he already decided to place his hope at the Confide of Ice item regardless of the time until he actually wakes up naturally. It shouldn't matter, yet this sight caught Rex off guard.
A hundred years until waking up naturally is definitely not a good sign.
Rex expected that the time until waking up naturally would probably take a couple of months or at most a couple of years, but he was slapped on the face when the System's notification appeared.
Now the stake has been raised, it doesn't bode very well for Rex right now.
But it was clear that the stake has been raised as opposed to if it only takes a couple of months, then even if the Confide of the Ice doesn't work, he could still wait it out and it wouldn't take very long.
Gulping harshly, Rex then opens his inventory and hovers over to the Confide of the Ice.
Clicking on the item with his mind, another tab was opened.
Rex's face takes on a solemn look as he reads the description of the Confide of the Ice, feeling drops of rain trickling down from his hair and rolling down his cheeks. As they fall, he stares at Kyran who is lying in front of him.
<Confide of the Ice>
It's a ninth-rank unique and mystical item that holds the power to grant the user a chance to establish a profound connection with the divine Lunirich God behind the Ice and Snow Full Moon. Crafted with ancient symbols etched into its shimmering surface, this item serves as a key to gaining the attention of the Lunirich God and also a gateway to the realm of ascension.
Even though the item was no doubt a great item, there was no joy in Rex's face.
Just like his power being stripped away by an unknown force, his body slumped as he realized that the Confide of the Ice item that he put his hope on was not an item that could help Kyran wake up.
'System, how much is the cost to know how to wake Kyran right now?'
<Knowledge to free Kyran from the shackle of hibernation induced by the Ice and Snow Full Moon energy will cost the user 50 million gold as it involves the Lunirich Gods, there are no alternatives other than Lunirich God-level of powers>
Upon reading this, Rex felt more of his strength disappearing.
Calidora who was watching this from behind was even surprised at this sight, 'I've seen him fight vigorously, I've seen his indomitable gaze and power, yet I've never seen him like this. Seen him so... vulnerable'
It was the first time she has ever seen this, she didn't even think this was possible.
~
Sometime later, Rex and Calidora got back to the castle.
Realizing that the two has arrived, Gistella and Naela were inside the throne room to greet the two of them. No sign of Adhara and the others around, they should still be in the Dwarven Kingdom.
But at the sight of the person Rex was carrying, the two women's expressions tightens.
Laying Kyran on the soft red and black royal carpet, Naela quickly rushes towards him. Seeing his state, she then shifted her eyes over to Rex, seeking an answer that she desperately needs.
Standing back up, Rex told him the entire thing before walking away.
Not even idling any longer he walked through the hallway and heads over to the courtyard where his foster parents' graves were placed, he then didn't hesitate and conjured a spear made of lunar light before also coating it with his dense arcane lightning mana.
Grabbing the spear with both hands, he pointed the sharp head of the spear to his chest.
Rex started breathing heavily as he gazed at the sharp head of the spear with resolute eyes, with a swift movement, he then brings the spear higher before he pulls it straight at his exposed chest.
Splash!