Chapter 75: Complacent

"What happened?" Reign's voice came out strained, barely above a whisper as he leaned heavily against the wall for support.

He fought to stay upright, battling a throbbing headache, blurred vision, and an overwhelming sense of weakness.

The cause of his exhaustion and gap in memory was unclear, feeling as though he'd been pushed beyond his limits.

'I need to calm down,' he whispered to himself

As he took a moment to rest, memories of recent events started to piece together.

The last clear image he had was of a girl he thought he'd killed, reviving and binding him with golden chains.

"Divine?" he pondered aloud, recalling her words. His thoughts wandered to the possibility of angels or deities.

In a world where demons roamed, the existence of beings of light and divinity was not a far-fetched idea.

There was an old saying in his previous world, one that seemed to resonate now more than ever: where there was light, there would always be darkness.

He made a mental note to discuss this with Mellisa.

After about ten minutes, he felt roughly 20% of his strength return.

Still weak but able to walk fine, he made his way back into the crowded streets, where life buzzed on, unaware of what just happened in the back alley.

The walk back to the INN felt longer than before, perhaps because he was still a bit disoriented.

Each step required more effort, as if he were moving through a world that had subtly shifted out of alignment.

Even though Reign felt confused, he was very careful.

The girl who had disappeared just as suddenly as she had shown up was still on his mind.

He worried she might come back and be a danger to him.

Now, every shadow seemed like it could be hiding a threat, and any sudden sound made him think she might be near.

Luckily, he got to the inn without any more trouble. He went inside, climbed the stairs, and used his key to get into his room.

"I don't know," Reign answered, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and bewilderment. "I can't remember; she was gone when my consciousness came back."

Mellisa leaned back, folding her arms as she contemplated the implications. "That's even more confusing," she mused aloud. "It means she either chose to spare you, or there was another reason for her disappearance."

"I don't care if she spared me or not," Reign declared, gritting his teeth in frustration.

The weakness that clung to him was more than a physical sensation; it was a blow to his pride, a glaring reminder of his vulnerability.

"The issue here is my strength. I'm too weak," he admitted, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. He had believed himself to be growing stronger, yet reality had delivered a harsh slap on his face.

Both of them exchanged glances and sighed. They knew Reign wasn't weak; he had simply encountered someone extremely powerful, that's all.

"George, get ready for the mission. We can't waste any more time," Reign commanded. His recent brush with death made him realize he'd been too relaxed, because of Mellisa's and George's company .

It almost cost him his life. He was a monster, not someone who could afford to take second chances lightly.

George and Mellisa stayed silent, sensing Reign's bad mood. They knew saying the wrong thing could be dangerous for them both.

Leaving the inn, Mellisa took them to get a new car .

They headed to a specialized shop that modified stolen cars and provided legal papers, ensuring the vehicles wouldn't be tracked.

This place was connected to the Veiled Nights.

The cars available varied widely, including sports cars, four-seaters, SUVs, pickups, vans, and more.

Though stolen, they looked brand new due to extensive modifications. Even the interiors were changed, enhancing their appearance and functionality.

Reign walked around the car showroom, feeling a bit out of place.

But even him have memories of being a kid. He remembered playing with toy cars his mom used to buy him. Those were simpler and fun times.

Now, as he checked out the real cars, he felt a hint of that old connection. Cars always had a special hold on males, no matter what.

Among all the shiny cars, Reign felt a bit of his human side peeking through--the part that knew how to appreciate a good piece of machinery.

"What do you want to buy, sir?" The man in his 40s asked, his smile practically expecting a fat commission to waltz right in.