NOVEL NEXT Chapter 498: Silenced Moments
His mind raced, searching for answers, for some explanation that made sense, but nothing did. The power she was wielding, the transformation—it was beyond anything he'd encountered.
Could this be him? The thought of the Angelic Society's skeleton reaper flickered in his mind. The captain who could manipulate the dead, twist life itself. But why would he be involved with Jade? Could he have done this to her?
There was no time to ponder. Jade's attacks came faster, more aggressive. Masabi barely managed to roll out of the way as her skeletal hand slammed into the ground where he had just been, the flames scorching the earth in an instant. She's trying to break me.
He pushed himself to his feet, launching a counterattack, but she was already there, blocking, twisting, countering with a force that sent him reeling. Every time he thought he saw an opening, she was a step ahead, moving with a precision that felt otherworldly.
Masabi's eyes narrowed as he blocked another of Jade's relentless strikes. There's no doubt about it—she's seeing deeply into the future. She saw far enough ahead to witness what I would have done to the girl with the pink hair. The realization both intrigued and unsettled him, but it also brought a twisted smirk to his lips.
With a swift motion, he jumped back, effortlessly dodging her next attack. "You truly are special, young lady," he said, his tone almost admiring. "But I'm done fighting you all for now."
He straightened, his smirk growing as he glanced around at the battlefield. "I could destroy this planet, but there are far too many fascinating specimens to report on," he mused aloud, his voice carrying an odd mix of curiosity and menace.
He turned his gaze to the remnants of the battlefield, taking in the chaos and destruction that surrounded them. "Earthlings, consider yourselves fortunate. I will return once the Angelics have decided this planet's fate. You've done well to fight and defend yourselves for as long as you have without Angelic intervention.
But this…" He gestured to the cracks in the earth, his voice taking on a darker edge, "this could be seen as punishment for severing your bond with the crystal. I see in the fractures that you've spent the last fifty or sixty years trying to break it completely."
Masabi chuckled, the sound cold and devoid of humor. "I poured an ounce of my strength into shattering its core, so the next time you try to break it, it will fall apart. When that happens, everyone will lose their bond to it."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Afterward, the protection of the Angelics will be no more, and this planet may very well be listed for destruction. But given our failures to protect you, I imagine you don't care much about that anymore."
His gaze shifted back to Ashaiki, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "As for you," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "I don't believe you're fully human. You should be put down for what you are, but…" He glanced at the sky, noting the passage of time, "unfortunately, I've run out of time."
Masabi surveyed the battlefield, taking in the lingering undead and the knowledge of the Kaiju still hidden beneath the earth. "I trust you to clean up the remaining undead," he said, his tone even but commanding. "As for the Kaiju planted in the earth, they'll emerge when they've consumed enough energy. Fortunately for you, that won't be for a few months.
I've already dealt with the one that surfaced, thanks to the boy's sword. Though he might not survive without immediate medical attention, it's a fine blade—especially for human craftsmanship."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "We'll ensure that no more Vale monsters spawn on this world for the time being. They'll be redirected elsewhere."
His eyes then flicked upward, drawn to the helicopters hovering above. One in particular caught his attention—a woman in a business suit, staring directly at him while holding a small rectangular device. Odd, he thought, noting the woman's intense focus on him.
Before he could dwell further on the strange sight, he felt Dimitri's hand on his shoulder, urging him to move on. Masabi nodded slightly, and together, they began to fade. Their forms dissipated, their energy dispersing as they left behind nothing but a small burn mark on the ground—a subtle reminder of their presence.
"Until later, humans," Masabi's voice echoed one last time as he and Dimitri vanished into the sky, leaving the battlefield behind. Read new chapters at empire
Jade crumpled to the ground, the white flames that had engulfed her flickering out as she hit the dirt. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt flesh and ozone, but as the flames died, patches of her skin began to reappear where the fire had been. Ashaiki's breath caught as she rushed to Jade's side, dropping to her knees beside her.
"Jade," Ashaiki whispered urgently, her hands trembling as she gently turned Jade over. Jade's eyes were half-open, glazed, her breath shallow and uneven. "It's okay, you're going to be okay." Ashaiki's voice wavered, her fingers brushing strands of hair away from Jade's face. But Jade's consciousness was already slipping away, her body limp in Ashaiki's arms.
Time felt distant, irrelevant. Jade's eyes fluttered open, met by the familiar coldness of the HQ medical ward. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled her senses, and the soft beeping of machines surrounded her. The blue liners around her bed created a cocoon of isolation, but she knew where she was, even before her vision fully cleared.
The sheets under her rustled as she shifted slightly, the sensation of fabric against her skin oddly grounding. Her body felt heavy, but she recognized the discomfort of being in the ward. HQ… I'm back in the med bay. The thought was clear, but her body was sluggish to respond.
Footsteps approached, the sharp sound of heels on the floor cutting through the quiet. A nurse appeared, muttering to herself with a mix of irritation and fatigue. "Another bento box, fresh every day… What's the point if she's not even awake? It's been weeks, and she hasn't so much as stirred…"
Weeks? Jade's mind latched onto the word, a cold realization settling in. How long have I been out?