Chapter 52: Desolate Mountain
On a barren mountain, where no trees marked the lifeless slope, only jagged boulders the size of houses littered the rocky face like shattered monuments.
In this harsh and desolate terrain, where the air was sharp and cold, a child no older than six was training… no, playing.
The massive boulders, seemingly as fragile as glass ornaments, crumbled under his small fists — breaking apart into rubble and scattered stones.
With a faint red aura swirling around him, the child Noel — was practicing his Destruction Law.
Beyond the barren mountain, greenery stretched from three sides, surrounding the rocky peaks like a distant border. And Noel's gaze would often drift across the wide chasm to the other side of the mountain, where the world seemed entirely different.
There, a quiet expanse of green lay untouched. Soft grass swayed beneath warm sunlight, and the air looked bright and calm — the contrast to where he stood was stark and surreal.
On that peaceful plain, a mature woman stood watching him. A baby, no older than a year or two, rested against her shoulder — occasionally glancing toward Noel before turning back to nuzzle into her neck.
Noel turned back to the rocks, showing off a little. He smashed another boulder, kicked up a cloud of red dust, then sprinted toward them proudly.
"Mom!" he called, already grabbing Lilith in his arms and showering her cheeks with kisses. "How was it?"
He looked just like any child, eager for his mother's praise. But Elaine wasn't fooled.
She raised a brow and said, "Is that what you understood when I told you to act more childishly? To go out and play with the other kids?"
Noel blinked, still smiling — but something shifted in his eyes. The smile stayed, but his tone carried a quiet disdain.
"They're too weak."
"Noel, it's you who's too strong," Elaine corrected gently. "The other children are actually doing quite well for their age."
But Noel shook his head, unconvinced, and said, "Even then, I don't want to."
"Practicing on my own, and learning more about our Cross bloodline and the Destruction Law — that's far more important."
Elaine sighed. She looked at her child — a boy who, despite having enough talent to slack off if he wanted, still trained harder than anyone… yet made no effort to befriend others. That part always worried her.
He seemed to look down on everyone, and that only seemed to worsen as he grew.
But watching him with his sister, seeing how he genuinely acted like a child when he played with her — that gave her some small relief.
"Mom," Noel suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
"I want another sister."
Elaine blinked, puzzled. "Why? Isn't Lilith enough? You adore her."
"No, no. You're misunderstanding."
He hugged Lilith closer, rubbing his cheek against hers as he grinned. "It's because I love her that I want another one! You said it yourself — 'the more the merrier,' right?"
"And having more things to love and treasure? That's always good… you said that too!"
Elaine stared at him, half amused, half helpless.
'That's not exactly what I meant,' she thought.
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Back in the present, Noel, who had just entered the pocket dimension, stood in the middle of a green plain. His gaze drifted to the desolate mountain in the distance — a mountain nearly leveled to the ground — and he stopped in his tracks.
A nostalgic look flickered in his eyes at first, as memories of this place… this pocket dimension that once belonged to him, came flooding back.
But that nostalgia quickly twisted into anger. Into a cold, sharp fury — knowing that it now belonged to Linda instead of Lilith.
Noel had come here wanting to vent. To destroy something. He couldn't very well tear apart his house, so this place was the only option that came to mind.
But now… looking at it, he changed his mind.
That mountain — the same one he used to treat like a playground, shattering boulders just for fun — suddenly felt too precious to break. Even a single stone. Let alone the grass beneath his feet, or the greenery stretching quietly around him.
So instead, Noel opted for something else.
He closed his eyes… and focused inward.
He reached toward his soul — something he was finally able to sense directly now.
And despite it being partially healed, and despite the end goal of full restoration seeming just a few simulations away, he could still feel it.
Even if it were to fully heal…
It wouldn't be like before.
It wasn't just a matter of rank — though, which according to the Codex Null, he had once transformed it and reached the Refined rank.
No.
It was something deeper.
The quality of his soul. His affinity to Laws. They wouldn't return to what they once were, even with full healing.
Especially not the Destruction Law.
Just what had happened to him?
Noel stood in silence, the question turning over in his mind — still without an answer.
For a moment, he lingered on it.
Then, he shook his head.
There was something more important to focus on right now.
He could feel the lingering traces of the Destruction Law within his soul.
Once upon a time, nothing had felt closer to him than that Law.
But now… Noel couldn't help but feel like it had become foreign to him.
Even so, he still tried.
Despite his soul being injured, he pushed himself to regain control — to return things to how they were before he'd awakened those memories.
Because now… he understood.
He shouldn't touch the Law, not unless it was necessary.
Not unless he was facing a true crisis.
Not until he fixed whatever was wrong with his soul.
The color drained from his face as he worked, and his legs weakened beneath him. But despite the strain, Noel suddenly let out a quiet chuckle.
He'd come here precisely because he didn't want to strain his soul.
And yet, because he came here… he ended up doing just that.
Nothing ever seemed to go his way.