Chapter 965: The Champion Returns |
The remnants of Earth stood in eerie silence, a world shattered by war and destruction.
Once a beacon of civilization, now it was a graveyard of ruins, dust, and the echoes of a lost past. But amidst the desolation, a small group gathered—the last remnants of the Resistance, standing in what remained of their stronghold.
Rey stood at the center of them all, his expression unreadable, yet his posture was firm.
Behind him, Ater lingered in silence, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, watching the exchange unfold with the same faint smirk that never seemed to leave his face.
Angie took a step forward.
Her brown hair was disheveled, her uniform still battle-worn, and her amber eyes carried a mixture of emotions—gratitude, sorrow, and something else she wasn't saying aloud.
It was obvious that she kept herself busy even during his absence.
"…So this is it," she said quietly. "You're really going back."
Rey nodded.
A murmur rippled through the Resistance members.
They had fought alongside him, bled beside him, and survived the impossible because of him.
Now he was leaving, just like that.
Angie's hands curled into fists.
"You don't have to go," she said, forcing a small, strained smile. "We could rebuild together. The war's over, Rey. We could make something better."
"Earth isn't my home, Angie. Not anymore." Rey exhaled softly, shaking his head.
That made her flinch, and she quickly masked it.
But Rey wasn't finished.
"You don't need me for what comes next. You've proven you can lead them," he continued, glancing at the gathered survivors. "You already have."
Angie's lips parted slightly, as if to argue, but then she sighed.
She knew he was right.
"…Damn it, Rey," she muttered before taking a step forward and pulling him into a tight embrace.
Rey stiffened slightly before returning the hug, feeling the weight of everything they had gone through.
"…Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Rey didn't respond. He didn't need to.
When they pulled apart, Angie quickly wiped at her eyes and tried to regain her composure.
"You better come back someday," she said, forcing a smirk. "Or I'll find a way to drag you back here."
Rey chuckled. "I'd like to see you try."
The Resistance members approached one by one, offering their goodbyes—some with words of gratitude, others with simple nods of respect. A few saluted him, and one of the younger recruits joked about turning him into a legend.
At last, Rey turned to Ater.
"Let's go."
Without hesitation, Ater raised a hand, and the two of them vanished in a flash of dark energy.
~VWUUUSH!~
When the teleportation ended, Rey found himself in a secluded clearing, surrounded by remnants of ancient stone structures. The air here was different—charged with latent energy, humming with power. And at the center of it all was a massive Magic Circle etched into the ground, glowing faintly.
'Looks like Ater already made all preparations… impressive.' Rey smiled as he looked around.
Ater walked forward, his gaze flickering over the runes with mild amusement.
After a moment, he spoke.
"That woman, Angie… she resembles Alicia."
Rey's shoulders tensed slightly at the mention of her name, but his expression remained calm.
"She does," he admitted. "But she isn't Alicia."
Ater turned to him, watching carefully.
"And that's okay." Rey exhaled slowly.
He met Ater's gaze, his eyes resolute. "I've accepted it. Alicia is gone. I won't keep searching for her in others."
He clenched his fists.
"The only thing that matters now is the mission."
"That's reassuring to hear, Master. We're ready to depart." Ater's usual smirk deepened slightly.
With that, he raised his hand, and the Magic Circle began to glow more intensely.
The surrounding air trembled as the vast reserves of energy stored within the Energy Crystals—treasures once hoarded by the Dragon Emperor—were drawn into the spell.
A deep hum filled the clearing, growing into a deafening roar as the Magic Circle pulsed violently.
Light erupted from the ground, engulfing them completely.
And then—
They were gone.
'I can feel it… my consciousness fading and returning.'
That wasn't the only thing, too.
'My Level and Skills are resetting again.'
Rey already knew this would happen, but he didn't really care. He could always get stronger once he was back in H'Trae.
This time, at a much faster pace.
Then… the energy around him finally undulated and dissipated. The weightlessness around him disappeared and he felt the warm sensation that was all too familiar to him.
"Haaa…"
The moment Rey opened his eyes, he knew he wasn't on Earth anymore.
The sky above him was a deep shade of violet, with twin suns casting an ethereal glow over the land.
The air was crisp, filled with an unmistakable energy that hummed through his very bones. The scent of grass and magic intertwined in the wind, a stark contrast to the ruins of Earth.
But what truly caught his attention wasn't the scenery.
It was the army.
Stretching across the vast plains before him stood tens thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of warriors. They filled the landscape as far as the eye could see, forming perfect formations of discipline and strength.
At the forefront were the Elves, their tall, elegant figures clad in silver and emerald armor, and their piercing eyes locked onto him with silent reverence.
Their long ears twitched slightly as if listening to the very pulse of the world.
Behind them, the humans stood in rigid ranks, their steel-clad forms adorned with capes bearing the emblems of various kingdoms. Some carried greatswords nearly as tall as themselves, while others bore intricate staffs that crackled with latent magic.
To the right, the Giants towered over all, their enormous, stone-like bodies a living testament to raw power. Their armor was made of reinforced metal, and their weapons—massive axes and war hammers—gleamed in the light.
The Dwarves stood proudly beside them, their shorter frames stocky and powerful. They wore intricately crafted armor, every plate and buckle meticulously designed. Some piloted mechanical weapons and battle machines, while others clutched magical rifles infused with immense energy.
Above, Fairies flitted through the air, their translucent wings shimmering like liquid moonlight.
Some held tiny wands, while others simply hovered, their presence a testament to the vast magical forces that had gathered here.
Out of everyone present, their numbers were by far the highest.
And at the very center of it all, standing before the countless thousands, was Ater.
To Rey's utter shock, they all knelt.
And as if following a silent command, the entire army moved as one.
Hundreds of thousands of warriors—Elves, humans, Giants, Dwarves, and Fairies—all dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in perfect synchrony.
The ground trembled slightly with the sheer magnitude of their presence.
Then, their voices rose in unison.
"Welcome back, H'Trae's Champion."
Rey stood frozen, his mind racing.
He had expected to return and continue fighting. His biggest challenge would be recovering his old strength and gathering his allies.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
'Ater… you really took care of everything in my absence.' His eyes widened as his grin broadened widely.
'Good… this is very good!'
It was very evident that they were all ready for war.
And so was he.