CH477 Storm III

***

In Alex's raised hand was a crystalline heart—the Voidheart Core.

The moment it was exposed, its absorption ability activated.

Free energy in the surroundings—spatial energy and berserk energy alike—was drawn toward it passively. In response, a tattoo-like runic formation ignited across the crystal's surface, accelerating the absorption process.

The more energy the heart devoured, the brighter the formation glowed.

And the brighter it glowed, the more violently it fed.

The Voidheart Core drank energy like a ravenous beast with a bottomless stomach.

Shockingly, its absorption rate soon matched—and then surpassed—the torrent of energy pouring down from the higher dimension.

If left unchecked, it might even begin drawing energy directly from the source itself.

Alex felt a chill crawl down his spine.

AetherKindle had already surfaced across his body, shielding both him and Senu from contamination as berserk energy was pulled toward the Voidheart Core.

Even so, he could feel the strain.

If the main body of AetherKindle was being pushed to its limits just protecting them from the runoff energy, then what about the splinter embedded within the Voidheart Core's runic formation?

That fragment would be dealing with the full concentration of energy—not merely the residue leaking into their surroundings.

Alex's only comfort lay in the Voidheart Core's original design.

Its internal storage spaces were constructed to contain elusive spatial energy.

'If it can contain spatial energy,' he reasoned, 'then it should be able to contain berserk energy as well.'

As long as the energy remains contained, purification can be carried out later—slowly, safely, and under controlled conditions.

What reassured him further was the presence of spatial energy itself.

According to his design, the more spatial energy accumulated within the Voidheart Core, the stronger the looping confinement phenomenon would become. That same energy would reinforce the containment structure and expand the internal storage space.

In other words—

'The absorbed spatial energy strengthens the cage,' he mused, 'while berserk energy remains trapped inside it, awaiting future purification.'

Then a new thought struck him.

'Wait… that also means more spatial energy for my long-term use!'

Realisation dawned in Alex's eyes.

As it turned out, his reckless decision became a boon rather than a disaster.

'Well, that's as long as the energy cuts off soon,' he thought grimly. 'There's only so much expansion that can occur in such a short time without consequences.'

Fortunately, it seemed Fortune truly did favour the bold.

The torrent of energy flowing into the vortex above the Voidheart Core began to diminish rapidly.

"Huh?"

'!!!'

Alex could have sworn he heard a surprised voice.

Then—

the energy stopped suddenly.

It was almost as if something –or someone— had cut it off.

Alex didn't hesitate. He immediately pulled the Voidheart Core back into the Sanctuary Space.

"Get us out of here!" he shouted urgently.

[Spatial Step]!!

Sensing the alarm in his tone, Senu abandoned all concern for energy consumption. She used the fastest movement technique at her disposal, folding space violently as she blinked away from the spatial tear just moments before it collapsed.

As they crossed the boundary—

Alex's body jolted.

A gaze settled on his back.

He didn't dare turn around.

Instinct screamed at him what kind of existence was watching.

Alex and Senu burst out of the spatial tear, and it sealed shut behind them.

The entire nest shuddered violently, then fell still.

The ambient energy density dropped noticeably—at least to Alex's Truth-Seeker Eyes—but that was the least of his concerns.

His mind reeled, locked onto one horrifying realisation.

'Divinity!'

'How in hell did a damned nest ruler open a pathway to a Navi's Divine Kingdom?!' Alex cursed inwardly, his thoughts spiralling.

He had almost come face to face with a Navi.

If he had been trapped inside that space… If he had turned around and laid eyes on the being watching him— He would have been converted into a believer instantly.

Without resistance nor choice.

He was still a mortal. How could a mortal possibly resist the will of a being that stood at Epic rank or higher?

Cold sweat drenched his back as the realisation fully settled in.

He had come terrifyingly close to a fate worse than death.

Alex didn't mind dying. But to become a mindless puppet of a false deity…? He would rather die a thousand times over.

As Senu flew overhead, many people collapsed to the ground—some kneeling, others sitting and panting heavily—as the delayed realisation hit them.

They had stood on the brink of absolute annihilation.

Azgrug looked up at the human sorcerer with a deeply complicated expression.

To say the outcome of this raid was thanks to Alex's involvement would be a gross understatement.

They wouldn't have survived.

They wouldn't even have understood what killed them.

'And to think I boasted that I would reward him his due,' Azgrug thought bitterly. 'This isn't a favour that can be repaid so easily.'

Alex's party had helped eliminate the nest's greatest threats. Eleanor had saved dozens of orcs and adventurers who would have otherwise died out on the battlefield. And Alex himself…

He had risked everything. And somehow—against all odds—saved them all from certain death.

In the aftermath, many of the survivors approached Eleanor, asking about the Navi she served.

Caught unprepared for such attention, she did nothing more than smile, offering no answers.

The survivors interpreted her silence as restraint– As mercy.

They believed she feared using the situation to force her faith upon those who might later regret it.

Rather than her silence dampening their resolve, it instead only strengthened it.

In a world where deities competed relentlessly for followers, a clergy—and by extension a deity—that refused to seize such an opportunity was rare.

Perhaps even unheard of.

When Alex finally landed and dismounted from Senu's back, he reassured his wives that he was unharmed. Only then did Azgrug step forward.

"You have made a great contribution to this raid, Young Master Alex," the orc chief said solemnly. "I honestly do not know how to reward such efforts."

He paused, then continued.

"So instead, I ask you to name your price. Anything you desire—so long as it is within my power—I will grant it."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you want to give me a blank request like that?" he asked lightly. "Do you have any idea how terrible the things I could ask for are?"

"I am aware," Azgrug replied without hesitation. "But it is a risk I am willing to take. Such is the worth of your actions in my eyes."

Alex studied the orc chief for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Very well," he said. "Here's what I want…"

A few hours later, the non-beasts departed the nest, carrying with them news of glory and heroism.

There was no doubt that, in the taverns that night, countless tales would be spun—embellished, exaggerated, and retold—galvanising all who cared to listen.

And with that, the infamy and growing epic of Alex and his expedition party began to stir.

Just before the two groups finally parted ways, Azgrug turned to Alex once more.

"Young Master Alex, are you truly certain this is all you want?" he asked.

Alex patted the middle-aged orc's arm lightly.

"Don't think too much about it," he said calmly. "I'm not undervaluing your assessment of my efforts. My request might seem worthless to you, but to me… it has value. Immense value."

Then he added with a chuckle, "Honestly, if I'm being truthful, I feel like I may have cheated you."

Alex's request had been simple.

All the berserk beast cores recovered from the nest's core.

To the orcs and adventurers, the request made little sense. Berserk beast cores were considered nearly worthless due to the heavy concentration of berserk energy within them.

Still, as the request came from the one who had saved them all, they complied without hesitation.

They handed over every berserk beast core recovered from the final battlefield—some even retracing their steps to retrieve cores they had previously abandoned.

Feeling uneasy about the trade, many of them went a step further, adding in clean beast cores they already had on hand.

Because of that, it was no exaggeration for Alex to say he had gained far more than Azgrug realised.

And beyond material gain, Alex also gained something else.

Thanks to their misunderstanding, he had earned a far greater standing among both the orcs and the adventurers—one that might prove extremely useful in the future.

With everything settled, Alex led his expedition party back to their inn.

Everyone was exhausted after the chaos and tension of the day.

However, the night was far from over—for him and his wives.

Zora in particular.

Once they entered their suite—which was now free-of-charge, thanks to Azgrug— Alex locked the door behind them and had Zora cast a silencing spell over the room.

Only then did he turn to her and ask quietly,

"Do you have something you want to tell me?"

***

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