Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate
Chapter 297 - CHAPTER 297: SABBAH'S VISIT

"Goddess... number twenty and the new recruit—"

"I know. They are dead," Rebecca interrupted calmly, her voice unwavering despite the gravity of the news.

"By chance, Goddess, do you know who is responsible?" the Dragon King—Number Two—asked, kneeling respectfully before her.

"Yes. His name is Nemesis. One of the foreigners," Rebecca replied, her focus inward as her soul continued to recover.

"May I go after him?"

"If you want. But you won't," she said, her gaze flicking to him knowingly. "Your pride won't allow it."

"Hah. Goddess, you know me too well," Number Two smirked.

"You may leave, if you have nothing else to say," Rebecca ordered, her tone cold and final.

"Very well, Goddess." He bowed his head slightly, still grinning, and turned to leave.

"This will be my last warning to you. If you ever emit bloodlust or killing intent toward me again, I will obliterate you completely," Rebecca said flatly to his back.

The Dragon King didn't respond, exiting the chamber in silence.

---

Outside the chamber...

"Hah... To think she could detect that, even though I hid it so well," he chuckled. "The others are wrong—she's still very dangerous."

He pulled out a letter Number Twenty had sent him before his death.

"Someone she cherishes, huh? I should pay him a visit. Have a little chat," he thought to himself, the grin on his face stretching into a smile.

---

Hell Realm

Everyone stood frozen, their eyes fixated on Jessica's lifeless corpse. A heavy silence hung over the group like a shroud.

"This is a mess. Ezekiel, and now Jessica?! F**k! What the hell is going on today?!" Aaron roared in frustration, fists clenched.

"I wonder how Greg must be feeling right now..." he muttered again, this time more quietly. His voice cracked, hollow. "We were useless... All of us..."

Tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Cain remained silent, as did Chris. They hadn't known Jessica and Ezekiel long enough to feel the same gut-wrenching pain, but even they couldn't escape the guilt.

After a while, Lilith appeared in the realm, her expression somber as she looked over the crowd.

"Guys... Greg wants us all to return to our world. A funeral will be held for Jessica and Ezekiel." Her voice faltered slightly. "What happened to Ezekiel?" she asked, not knowing the full story.

No one spoke. Silence was their answer. It was better, they believed, if she remained in the dark about how Ezekiel died.

With heavy hearts, they retrieved the corpses of Jessica and Ezekiel, and returned to the floating island.

---

"Where is Greg?" Chris asked the butler upon arrival. Greg was nowhere in sight.

"I was instructed to inform you all to prepare for the funeral," the butler said. "Lord Greg has descended to Earth to fetch Ezekiel's wife and daughter. He believes they should be present for the funeral."

"You guys!" a voice called out.

Annabelle appeared, concern etched across her face.

"My brother told me... but I just can't believe it. Is it true?" she asked, hoping—praying—for denial.

Their silence, and the slow, painful nods, gave her the answer she feared.

"Jessica..." Annabelle whispered, her voice breaking. Tears flowed freely as her heart shattered.

"If I had known... I would've gone back to the Apocalypse World and joined her—"

"Annabelle," Will's hoarse voice cut her off. "Now's not the time to pass blame—especially to yourself."

---

Greg soared through the skies, abyssal wings slicing through the air. He landed at the precise coordinates of Ezekiel's hidden residence.

"Mister! You came!" Chloe, Ezekiel's daughter, opened the door with a wide, innocent smile. "Papa always wanted to invite you over. It's sad he's not here now…"

Greg gave a tight nod. The cheerful atmosphere around Chloe clashed violently with the sorrow weighing down his chest.

"Where's your mum?" he asked gently.

"Mum's cooking. Come in, Mister," she said brightly, leading him inside. Her voice brought a fleeting warmth—one that only made Greg's grief sharper.

Greg sat on the couch, watching as Chloe skipped toward the kitchen.

Moments later, Jane entered the living room. She had abandoned her cooking, alarmed by her daughter's sudden excitement.

"It's nice to see you in our humble home," she said, slightly breathless.

"Jane..." Greg began, forcing himself to meet her eyes. "I would like for you and Chloe to come with me."

"Sorry...? Is something wrong?" Jane asked, instantly sensing the tension around him.

"It's about your husband," Greg said, his voice weighed down by pain. "He gave his life to save a teammate. He died a hero."

Jane froze, her face contorting as she fought back the sob clawing at her throat.

"I see... At least he remained true to his faith," she whispered. A broken smile formed on her lips—but the tears that followed couldn't be stopped.

"The surface world is no longer safe for either of you," Greg continued. "I've come to take you to our floating island. You'll be safe there... I promise."

He paused suddenly, his eyes narrowing.

"I'll be right back," Greg said, stepping outside as a presence made itself known.

---

"What do you want?" Greg asked coldly, standing before the door like a guardian.

"It seems you've grown strong enough to detect me," Sabbah said, his figure materializing like a ghost.

"That's not an answer," Greg snapped. "What do you want?"

"Don't let grief push you into alienating your allies," Sabbah said calmly. "You've done it before. Don't repeat it."

"What do you know about me?"

"Enough to know the storm inside your head. Rage. Pain. Guilt. You'll need your allies more than you realize. That's my advice—take it or leave it."

"And your real reason for coming here?"

"Kate has been kidnapped. She was trying to reach your group, but Arthur, a Primogenitor of the Hidden Sword Family, intercepted her. She's being held hostage."

"Then we go together," Greg growled. "We'll bring her back."

"Don't be reckless. You only have one life, and you're up against an Absolute Concept wielder. Worse, the place she's being held is a temporary stronghold of the Primogenitors. They want your head more than anything."

"Then why come to me at all?"

"Because I'm going after her," Sabbah said firmly. "But the chances of my survival are slim. I'll be putting my life on the line."

"Why? From what I know of your Hidden Families, you don't care about your members. Family heads prioritize themselves."

Sabbah didn't answer with words.

Instead, a crow made of pure, pitch-black shadow fluttered down and perched on Greg's shoulder.

"This crow... keep it with you. If I need to escape, or if I manage to rescue her, I can use it to swap places with you. It will be our escape route. Don't destroy it."

Greg said nothing—but he didn't stop the crow. He allowed it to settle on his shoulder like a silent ally.

Sabbah gave a subtle nod, pleased. Then, like smoke, he sank into his own shadow and vanished from sight.