Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God

Elric stood frozen at the edge of the room, his face turning pale as the last soldier hit the floor. His once-confident posture shrank as realization dawned on him.

He took a hesitant step toward the noble and stammered.

"M-my Lord Silas, I—I didn't know they would react like this. I swear, I just thought they'd be useful. I didn't plan any of this!"

Silas ignored him.

His face had gone from red with rage to unnervingly calm, the kind of calm that came before something snapped.

"Useless. All of you, useless." Then, louder: "You think you can mock me in my own house? Humiliate me in front of my men?"

He muttered.

He stretched out his hand.

The air around them thickened instantly, and the stench of aether grew heavier, choking.

A vortex of dark power swirled from Silas's palm, his eyes glowing faintly with a sickly green light.

"You'll regret turning me down."

Aether surged forward, coiling like a serpent ready to strike. Anna stepped back, arms raised in defense.

But Malrik didn't flinch.

Instead, he grinned.

"Is that it?"

The noble's attack collided with Malrik's barrier of raw energy—and shattered instantly.

The room cracked under the sudden shockwave as Malrik released a ripple of aether in response, a burst of pressure so strong the floor trembled beneath their feet.

Silas staggered backward, his robes snapping in the wind of the force. His mouth fell open.

"You… you canceled my powers? No—no, that shouldn't be possible."

He gasped.

Marlik took a step forward.

"You really thought that would work?"

Anna crossed her arms beside him, her tone cold.

"We gave you a chance to speak peacefully. You chose violence. That's on you."

Silas stared at them both, confusion bleeding into fear.

"Who… who are you people?"

Marlik tilted his head.

"Doesn't matter."

Anna added with a smirk.

"What does matter is what you're going to do for us."

Silas's hands trembled slightly. He'd felt it—that pulse of foreign aether, unlike anything that had ever walked the palace grounds.

These two… they weren't normal. They didn't even belong here. And he knew what that meant.

"You're not from this world. You're like them. Like the ones who came before. Outsiders."

he whispered.

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Elric stumbled backward, eyes wide.

Silas's jaw clenched.

"You'll bring chaos. Just like the last ones did."

Marlik's eyes gleamed.

"Then maybe you should treat us better than you treated them."

The noble stared, realizing the fragile position he was in. His pride told him to fight, but his instinct told him to survive. And survival, in this moment, meant cooperation.

Silas's shoulders slumped as he raised both hands in surrender. The arrogance in his eyes had vanished, replaced by weary calculation.

"Fine. This mansion is yours. Take it. Do what you want. Just… don't destroy everything."

He muttered.

Anna gave him a long look, then turned away, already analyzing the room's layout with an air of quiet command.

"First thing we do is clean the aether."

She muttered to Malrik, her voice firm.

Marlik nodded.

"This place reeks. Let's make it ours."

In less than an hour, Silas's men—those who hadn't been knocked out—were sent out, replaced by new orders under Malrik's name.

The staff bowed without question, sensing the shift in dominance. The mansion changed atmosphere almost immediately, the corrupted aether slowly giving way to the powerful pulse of something new and clean.

Meanwhile, back in the village, Amari stared at her reflection in a water basin, her fingers gripping the small pouch of blooming herbs that lay beside her.

Her face was calm, but her eyes darted with anxiety.

Nova leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes fixed on her.

"You're thinking too much."

Amari didn't respond. She touched the pouch again. Her fingers felt stiff.

Nova pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Amari opened her mouth to refuse, but the word didn't come. She hesitated.

"I'll be fine."

She started—but something in her chest squeezed. The same heaviness had been there all morning. She tried to ignore it, but her hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Nova raised an eyebrow.

"You sure? You're acting like you're going to war, not the palace."

Amari let out a breath, frustrated.

"I don't know. I've been there before, but this time... something feels different. Off."

"Different how?"

"I don't know. My heart just won't settle."

She frowned, reaching up to rub her temple.

Nova tilted his head.

"So? Want me to come?"

Amari hesitated once more, then finally nodded.

"Fine. But don't say anything unnecessary."

Nova smirked.

"Would I ever?"

She rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.

They set out together, walking side by side through the now-familiar streets.

Despite her earlier protests, Amari felt lighter with Nova beside her. His presence grounded her unease, even if she wouldn't admit it out loud.

Nova glanced sideways at her.

"Is this about the order? The flower?"

"Probably. They want something I don't even know if I can give."

She muttered.

Nova stayed quiet for a while, then said.

"If it goes badly, we'll handle it. You're not alone."

Amari blinked, surprised by the softness in his voice. She looked away quickly, trying to calm the heat rising in her cheeks.

"…Thanks."

She said quietly.

They didn't speak after that, but the silence between them was comfortable.

The palace gates loomed ahead. Amari's steps slowed as they drew closer, but she didn't stop. Nova's presence remained steady behind her.

Whatever was waiting inside, she wasn't facing it alone anymore.

As they approached the grand gates of the royal palace, Amari held the herb pouch close to her chest, her steps slower than usual.

Nova walked beside her, hands tucked lazily into his pockets, eyes scanning their surroundings with faint disinterest.

"You sure you want me to come?"

He asked again, his tone light.

Amari gave him a look.

"Yes. I don't like the feeling I've had since this morning. Something's wrong."

Nova hummed.

"You've been here before. What's different?"

"I don't know. But it's like the air changed. Like something's watching."

She murmured.

They reached the entrance, where guards flanked the doors in rigid silence. One of them gave Amari a sharp nod and gestured her in. Nova, once again, was ignored entirely.

"You can come."

Amari said quickly before they could object.

The guards said nothing, only moved aside.

As they walked through the main corridor, Nova's expression shifted. He glanced around the hall, sniffing once.

"There's something in the aether here. Something artificial."

Amari frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, someone's messing with the flow of energy. This place feels… too clean. Like it's been scrubbed."

He said under his breath.

Amari tightened her grip on the pouch. Her steps slowed. Something was definitely off.

And it wasn't just her imagination anymore.

Nova placed a light hand on her back to keep her moving.

"Don't stop now. If something's wrong, we'll deal with it."

Amari nodded stiffly, her throat dry. The palace felt emptier than usual. The usual attendants weren't around, and the silence pressed in from all sides.

As they approached the inner chamber, she whispered.

"Nova… promise me you'll stay close."

He smiled faintly.

"Alright."