The Alien Within

Chapter 219: Hovi's Declaration

Tessa's boots scuffed against the gravel, each step deliberately slow and measured, as if she wanted to carve every second of this moment into Hovi's memory. The gate loomed ahead, a silent witness to her defiance. She didn't turn back, didn't falter. Her presence carried an air of dismissal, a silent declaration that she would not entertain their schemes. Gastro followed in stride like a loyal puppy, every footstep was in sync as he got in line with Tessa.

Behind them, Hovi and Elial stood rooted in place, their expressions a mix of disbelief and simmering frustration. Elial's hand twitched at his side as though itching to intervene, but he refrained, his wide eyes locked on his fellow Xanthex rival- Hovi. Hovi, however, was less composed. His carefully laid plans had unraveled in the face of Tessa's defiance, and it stung more than he was willing to admit.

Hovi had spent quite some time, during the realm evaluations, boasting to his peers and subordinates, proclaiming that he would soon bring Tessa—the anomaly, the powerhouse—under his banner. Her abilities would secure his position as the next associate president, elevating his status amongst his siblings. With her strength, he had envisioned silencing the rival factions that constantly nipped at his heels and solidifying his grip on power.

But now, Tessa's rejection had turned his grand vision to ash. The sting of humiliation burned brighter than his anger, but Hovi clung to his pride like a drowning man to driftwood. His lips curled into a sneer, and his voice, trembling with barely-contained rage, cut through the air like a whip.

"I give you a decade," he snarled, his words laced with venom. "If you don't come here by then and retake the evaluation test, I will personally come to your home planet—and that of your parents—and erase every single life form on it, including you."

The air grew heavy, pulsating with an ancient, almost palpable energy that seemed to vibrate through every molecule. Hovi raised his hand, palm outstretched, his voice carrying a resonance that felt as though it emanated from the very fabric of the universe itself. "I swear this on my god-voice oath."

The words hung in the air like a divine decree. In an instant, a shimmering stamp materialized from the ether, glowing with celestial light. It hovered momentarily before pressing against Hovi's forehead, leaving behind an intricate, glowing imprint—a mark of the binding god-voice oath. Just as quickly as it appeared, the stamp dissolved into nothingness, the air returning to its natural stillness, though the weight of the moment lingered.

The crowd gasped in unison, a wave of shock rippling through the onlookers like a sudden gust of wind. Even Elial, usually calm and calculating, stumbled back a step, his face paling with disbelief.

Tessa's reaction, however, was the most perplexing. For someone who had just been promised death, her expression remained eerily neutral. Among the stunned faces, only Gastro, wide-eyed and sharp, caught the peculiar lack of fear in her demeanor.

To Tessa, a decade was an eternity. Even a single year would have been more than enough for her to develop the power to bring down a Xanthex-level god. Still, she was quietly grateful for the overly generous timeline. Had the battle been imminent, with only her current backlog of gathered knowledge, it might have proven a challenge. But the arrogance that led Hovi to declare a decade made her dismiss the threat entirely.

Her real concern, however, was the Imogi—Hovi's father. The thought of him seeking revenge caused a dull headache to creep in. Then again, she mused, if the son met his end, it wouldn't truly be her fault. His arrogance and ignorance were bound to lead him to ruin, whether she was involved or not.

"That is a god-voice oath... Why would you invoke that?" Elial's voice cracked, his usually composed demeanor crumbling under the weight of disbelief. He seized Hovi by the arm, his grip tight and desperate, as though trying to shake him back to his senses. "Are you insane? Do you even comprehend what you've just done?"

Hovi's reaction was unnerving—a slow, sinister smile curling across his lips. If only Hovi knew that he had just signed his own death warrant on a scale more devastating than he could fathom, he would probably be on his knees begging who ever cares to listen to save him.

Tessa, meanwhile, wore a faint, knowing smile of her own as she turned to leave with Gastro. The latter trailed behind her, his face pale, caught between confusion and fear.

The weight of the oath hung thick in the air, a palpable force pressing down on everyone present. A god-voice oath was not a threat to be taken lightly—it was absolute, binding, and merciless. The very fabric of the universe bore witness to the vow, enforcing it with brutal precision. Failure to uphold it within the promised decade would result in more than just disgrace. Hovi would be stripped of his powers, his existence unraveled by the unyielding laws of creation. The punishment was said to be a death so agonizing it defied comprehension, a fate that even gods feared.

Hovi yanked his arm free from Elial's grasp, his eyes burning with reckless, fanatical resolve. "She has left me no choice!" he roared, his voice reverberating like a storm. "This is the only way to make her understand the weight of her insolence!"

Elial's gaze flickered to Tessa, who had paused just shy of the gate. Her back remained to them, but the slight tilt of her head suggested she was weighing his words. A murmur rippled through the crowd, fragmented whispers of Hovi's audacity and Tessa's defiance. Yet beneath their hushed voices was a shared unease, a collective acknowledgment of the storm brewing.

Slowly, Tessa turned, her eyes locking with Hovi's. Her expression was unreadable, calm to the point of unnerving. The unspoken challenge in her gaze sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. She let the silence stretch, her defiance more potent than any words. Then, without a word, she pivoted and stepped through the gate, followed by Gastro, their figure disappearing into the distance, leaving Hovi and Elial to contend with the gravity of his rash oath.

Elial shook his head, a mixture of frustration and pity flickering in his eyes. "You've just set yourself on a path of destruction, Hovi. And for what? Your pride?"

But Hovi wasn't listening. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his jaw set like iron. Pride? No, it wasn't just pride. It was about dominance. About proving to the universe—and to himself—that he was beyond defiance.

Yet, beneath the storm of anger and bravado, a seed of doubt took root, festering quietly. As the crowd began to disperse, leaving the brothers in strained silence, the faint whisper of fear gnawed at Hovi's thoughts. What if she surpasses me before the decade ends?

He shook his head sharply, dismissing the notion. No, a decade is too short. She isn't even in line to inherit any godhood abilities yet, he reasoned. But the whisper lingered, an unwelcome guest in the recesses of his mind.