Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate
Chapter 298 - CHAPTER 298: CONVICTION

With Sabbah gone, Greg continued Where he left off, convincing Jane to accept his protection on the floating island...

Jane accepted Greg's offer without resistance, though her heart was heavy. She had always known the danger Ezekiel faced, but never thought she'd be attending his funeral so soon. Deep down, she knew this was the best decision—not just for her safety, but for Chloe's future. Greg had promised protection, and more than that, a connection to the man they'd lost.

They packed in silence.

Most of what they took had no practical use—just small keepsakes, clothes, and old photos. Items steeped in memory. Little anchors to a past now lost.

Greg flew them to the floating island with his abyssal wings spread wide, cutting through the skies like a dark omen. Jane clutched Chloe close, her thoughts a storm of pain, disbelief, and quiet gratitude.

Upon arrival, a solemn hush settled over the floating island. No celebration. No welcome. Just the weight of grief.

The funeral was held with the dignity and reverence Ezekiel deserved. The gathered mourners stood still as the wind whispered through the castle gardens. Chloe stood beside her mother, struggling to understand the finality of death. Jane held her hand tightly.

Greg had seen countless deaths. But this one lingered.

As promised, the castle that was meant to belong to Ezekiel was handed to Jane and Chloe. A small gesture, but one that honored his service and sacrifice.

Later, the surviving guild members gathered in the castle's council chamber. The atmosphere was thick with tension and regret.

"We should all know the reason we are holding this discussion," Greg began, his tone even, his expression unreadable. He looked at each of them, making sure no one avoided his gaze.

They had agreed to meet—not to mourn, but to reflect, to dissect what went wrong and ensure such a tragedy would not repeat itself.

Brian lowered his head, guilt all over his face. "Their deaths are on me. If only I had—"

"We are not here to pass blame, Brian," Greg cut him off sharply. "We are here to talk about the way forward. I don't care who made a mistake. It's done."

There was a pause. A heavy, uncomfortable silence.

"At the very least, you all now see it clearly—your lack of strength," Greg said. "The deaths of two of our comrades must not be brushed off. They should serve as your awakening."

He let the words hang for a moment, watching how each person reacted.

He could see it clearly now. Rage. Regret. But most of all—resolve.

"I can see it in your eyes," he continued. "You want to be stronger. Good. Because we don't have the luxury of time. The world we're fighting in doesn't forgive weakness. It exploits it."

He stepped forward slightly.

"When you're ready, you'll return to Apocalypse. You'll have one mission: grow stronger. Push your limits. Break them. And this time, you won't be alone."

He stretched out his arm, opening a swirling portal to his personal dimension.

A figure stepped out—calm, confident, radiating divine pressure.

Nemesis Black.

He took his seat without a word, leaning back as if the room belonged to him.

"One of my divine clones will go with you," Greg said. "Not because I doubt you—but because you now understand the stakes."

With that, Greg nodded once and turned away, ending the discussion.

Back in his quarters, Greg summoned Nemesis Blue and handed the crow Sabbah had left in his care.

The crow blinked once, its beady dark eyes glowing faintly.

"Watch over this. Until I return," Greg instructed softly.

He stood by the window for a long moment, staring into the sky. The clouds drifted lazily above the floating island, but his mind was already far away—in Apocalypse, in the past, in the future he still refused to give up on.

Jessica.

He hadn't truly accepted her death. Not yet. Not fully.

Some part of him still clung to hope.

"If I can master time... or life itself," he muttered under his breath, "maybe... just maybe…"

He didn't need to finish the thought. The determination in his eyes said it all.

He would chase that power—the power to rewrite fate itself.

And his first step was clear: turn the Concept of Darkness into an Absolute Concept. Into Law. No matter the cost.

*********

Far away in the depths of Apocalypse, an elite gathering had formed—one that hadn't met in ages.

The powerhouses of Apocalypse sat in a vast, shadow-lit chamber, each seated on a throne carved from ancient materials—bones, crystal, stone, flame.

At the center of the room stood the Demon God, his arms crossed as he scanned the familiar faces.

"How long has it been since we last gathered like this?" he asked, almost to himself.

The answer came in the form of silence.

They all knew why they were here.

The name on everyone's lips: Rebecca.

"So?" The Dwarf God finally spoke. "How do we even begin to contain a threat like her?"

"You're all scared of her?" the Vampire Queen chuckled darkly. "She's one woman."

"You didn't see what she did," Grey said grimly. "You wouldn't be talking like that if you had."

Her eyes narrowed but she said no more.

"We didn't come here to measure her strength," said Xerd, ever the voice of reason. "We came to decide what to do. How to contain her. Kill her. Control her. Something."

"He's right," the Celestial King agreed. "If we sit idle, she'll kill again. So—ideas?"

"We use those foreigners to our advantage," said the Werewolf King, leaning forward. "That one called Nemesis. We groom him. Fund him. If his talent is as rare as they say, he could become our solution. Let him do the dirty work."

"Use him?" Drakonix barked a laugh. "You'll be dead before he thanks you for the support."

"More like offer him help and he'll rip your throat out the next day," Leviathan added. "That one's not a pawn. He's a fire no one here can control."

"Oh please," the Werewolf King snapped. "You two accepted him as your god. Of course you'll defend him."

Drakonix and Leviathan didn't reply. They didn't need to. Their silence spoke volumes.

"That's enough," the Demon God growled. "We're not here to bicker. That plan is foolish. We're not here to create more enemies. We're here to eliminate them."