Chapter 273

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Uh, Jin-Woo—I mean, Cid," Akane called out, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. "Now that you have universe-altering powers, do you ever plan on reversing the damage the Monarchs did to our previous world?" she asked hesitantly.

She peeked at him, worried she might have offended him with her question.

Cid glanced at her and asked, "Do you miss someone? Perhaps your parents?"

Akane nodded, mumbling, "I can't help but think about everyone else, too…"

"I mean, surely you miss someone else as well, right?" she asked curiously.

Cid nodded, his gaze drifting wistfully beyond the stars. "Yeah, my mother and father… Oh, and just so you know—Claire is Jin-Ah, my little sister."

"Wha—" Akane exclaimed in disbelief. But before she could process that revelation, Cid said something that shook her even more.

"But I'm not planning on bringing anyone back. Or our world, for that matter—the one the Monarchs destroyed."

"What? Why?" she asked, her expression confused.

"Because everyone has already moved on. It's been nearly sixteen years. They've all reincarnated into different universes, living new lives.

If I were to undo what the Monarchs did, I'd be killing hundreds of millions of people across the multiverse. I'd be tearing families apart…"

Akane's face turned pale as she grasped the complexity of the situation. "I… I see…"

"Wanna know something funny?" Cid said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Right now, my mother and father are in a different universe—as high school sweethearts. It's like no matter where they go in the universe, they always find each other."

Akane smiled softly at that, then slid her hand into his and asked, almost teasingly, "Isn't that kinda like us?"

Cid's eyes widened slightly before he burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Yeah… kinda like us. Do you want to see what your parents are doing?"

Akane thought for a moment, then closed her eyes and shook her head. "No… I know myself. If I look at them once, I'd never stop. It wouldn't be fair. Since they've moved on with their lives, I think it's only right if I do the same."

Cid ruffled her hair. "Smart choice."

'You know who hasn't moved on? Me! Bring me back my sexy daddy!' Celeste demanded with a serious expression—which only made her look even cuter.

"I swear to god, Celeste!" Cid groaned in frustration.

Akane looked confused, glancing up to see Celeste crossing her arms and pouting. The tiny girl leaned forward on Cid's head, resting there with a bored expression as she turned her attention to Alpha and Aurora's monitor.

---

Meanwhile…

Alpha and Aurora led their forces, following the strings of fate that guided them.

Aurora glided through the air with her angelic wings, while Alpha's leathery, draconic wings beat with powerful strokes. Behind them, an army of dragons followed.

Suddenly, they came to an abrupt halt. The dragon riders behind them stopped as well.

"What's wrong?" Beatrix asked, flying closer—then she saw it too.

They hovered over an open plain under the night sky, nothing but grass and a few flowers swaying in the breeze.

But the real problem was the string of fate. The path it was supposed to follow was cut off in the space before them.

Alpha was the first to laugh. Aurora soon joined her, both of their lips curling into amused smirks.

"How cute~," they murmured in unison.

"Are they hiding in another dimension or something?" Beatrix asked, confused by the severed string.

Alpha shook her head. "Nothing that elaborate. That's why we said it's cute."

"They aren't in a secret dimension," Aurora explained, analyzing the magic around them. "They're using a strong magical artifact—one that creates a force field. It protects them while also concealing them from the outside world.

To us, it looks like an empty plain. If anyone gets too close, they get brainwashed into turning back and forgetting they were ever here."

"Anyway, let's not waste time," Alpha said, taking a deep breath.

A golden glow formed in her throat as flames licked at the corners of her mouth. Then, she unleashed a massive beam of golden fire.

The barrier shattered like falling glass. The beam tore into the earth, melting a deep trench in its wake.

And as the illusion collapsed, the hidden institution was revealed.

A wave of bloodlust rolled off Aurora as she clenched her teeth, her rage barely contained.

Alpha placed a hand on her shoulder.

Beatrix, still taking in the sight of the newly revealed facility, asked, "What is this place?"

Aurora's voice trembled with fury. "It's where they take little girls and turn them into Diabolos.

They experiment on them, searching for the ones with the highest compatibility. Then they inject them with the original's blood—trying to resurrect Diabolos so they can harvest his power and restock.

It's a never-ending cycle that's been going on for hundreds of years.

As far as I know… I was the last successful recreation."

"They're coming…" Alpha warned, sensing movement inside the facility.

The doors burst open, and out poured the Named Children—the ten percent of orphans taken by the cult who had survived their grueling training.

The enemy forces charged without hesitation, swords drawn and maniacal grins stretched across their faces as waves of bloodlust radiated from them.

Alpha turned to the Shadow Garden members behind her and commanded, "Take care of them. Leave none alive."

"YES, MISTRESS!!" they roared feverishly before leaping from their dragons, rushing into battle with reckless abandon.

They could have easily used the dragons to end the fight swiftly, but revenge—true revenge—demanded a more personal touch.

"Let's go," Alpha said, glancing at Aurora before soaring into the sky.

Aurora bit her lip, eyes burning with fury, but nodded and followed.

Alpha shot toward the highest floor of the institute, extending her leg in a powerful flying kick. The window shattered upon impact, glass raining down as she slid inside, sword at the ready.

Inside the room stood two men.

One was tall and broad-shouldered, with golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and a powerful physique. He wore ornate golden armor, a matching sword resting lazily at his side.

The other had long, straight black hair that cascaded down his back. He wore silver armor, his silver sword sheathed at his waist. He sat behind a desk while the golden-haired man lounged casually on top of it.

"Ah, you must be the intruders," the golden-haired man said with mild amusement. "To think this place would be attacked while I, of all people, am visiting."

Aurora burst through the broken window a second later, her eyes widening in recognition before narrowing into slits of pure rage. Her bloodlust surged tenfold, the air around her thick with murderous intent.

"Pendragon…" she snarled, her voice dripping with venom.

Alpha's gaze flickered to her. "Is he…?"

Aurora gave a curt nod. "Yes. That is the first seat of the Round Table, the leader of the Cult of Diabolos. The man responsible for the suffering of countless girls…" Her fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms. "Artorius Pendragon."

"If it isn't the Witch of Ruin!" Artorius exclaimed, his face lighting up in mock delight. "My, how much you've grown! I almost didn't recognize you! Look, Lancelot! It's Aurora! What a pleasant surprise—I would have missed her if I hadn't come for the inspection."

Lancelot chuckled. "How could I ever forget, my lord? I practically raised her myself."

The moment the words left his mouth, Aurora's bloodlust exploded. The remaining windows shattered, and the ground beneath them cracked under the sheer weight of her fury.

Then, with a brilliant flash, pure white wings erupted from her back.

Artorius and Lancelot's smug expressions vanished in an instant, replaced by grim, unreadable stares.

For the first time, they looked serious.