Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate
Chapter 303 - CHAPTER 303: OWE A FAVOUR

Greg swung his sword once more with raw ferocity, the blade slicing the air with a sharp whistle. This time, however, Rebecca didn't dodge. She remained rooted, unmoving—her expression calm, almost serene.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Greg muttered to Heaven Defier, tightening his grip with a frustrated growl. He poured his strength into the strike, willing the sword to obey. But it resisted him, like a beast refusing to bite its master's old friend.

The blade quivered, its edge trembling in midair, just inches from Rebecca's neck. It refused to descend.

A flicker of emotion crossed her face—a mixture of amusement and something more tender. "It seems," she said softly, "you haven't forgotten an old friend completely."

Greg's jaw clenched. "If you won't help me, I don't need you." His words cut colder than steel. With a forceful jerk, he released the weapon, letting Heaven Defier fall to the ground, its clatter echoing like a dying heartbeat.

Without hesitation, he reached into his inventory and retrieved a spare sword, one with no will of its own. No sentience. No hesitation. Just cold, sharp steel. He lunged again, aiming straight for Rebecca's throat.

But before the blade could land, fingers—long and clawed, forged from pure shadow—reached out of the ground and gripped the weapon. It froze in place mid-swing, halted by the shadowy hand's crushing force.

"Quell your anger, Kael," Rebecca said, her voice gentle, yet firm. "We can talk things out."

Greg's response was wordless. He abandoned the weapon entirely and lunged at her barehanded, his dragon-transformed claws gleaming like obsidian blades. But without Against the Heaven—deactivated the moment Heaven Defier rejected the battle—his stats were no longer enough to rival Rebecca.

She dodged effortlessly, weaving through his strikes like a breeze moving through falling leaves. Her movements were elegant, yet unyielding.

After a brief clash that ended in his exhaustion, Greg growled and forced himself to step back, exhaling sharply through flared nostrils. His tail swished in frustration.

"What do you want?" he finally asked, his tone tight, but composed.

"Like I said earlier," Rebecca answered calmly, brushing back a lock of her silver hair, "a conversation. Nothing more than that."

Greg crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "Very well. Talk."

Rebecca's voice turned grave. "Since you've mastered the absolute concept of darkness, I believe you now have access to the shadow realm."

Greg blinked, caught slightly off-guard by her knowledge.

"I'll be waiting for you there," she continued, "Away from the eyes and ears of certain... persistent beings."

Her words carried weight. The Universe Will. Greg nodded once, then slipped into the shadows without another word. Together, they vanished into the mirror world.

---

The moment they arrived in the shadow realm—a reflection of the real world drenched in shades of monochrome—Greg spun around, arms still crossed. His tone remained cold. "So? What do you want from me?"

Rebecca turned to face him, her expression pained. "Kate. Her life is in danger."

Greg's brow furrowed. "How's that?"

"The connection of both worlds—it's not just political. It's an assassination attempt. They intend to kill her."

"Why? What do they gain from her death?"

Rebecca sighed. "You want the full truth? Fine. Kate… is a part of my soul."

Greg's eyes widened.

"She's the fragment I need to regain my full strength—to fully heal, and to crush my enemies."

"That doesn't make sense," Greg snapped. "You've existed for centuries. How can a girl from my world—barely twenty years old—be a piece of you?"

Rebecca turned her gaze upward to the swirling shadows above. "It was your mother's doing."

Greg's breath caught in his throat. "My mother?"

"Yes. To prevent me from destroying the universe while you were still young. She proposed a deal. She took part of my soul and allowed it to be reborn as a life of its own."

Greg staggered back half a step. "What the hell are you saying?"

Seeing the doubt in Greg's eyes, Rebecca had no choice than to narrate her deal with Greg's mother.

Greg clenched his fists. "This is insane..." he muttered after learning of the truth.

"It's the truth," she said. "And now, that fragment—Kate—is under threat. I need you to protect her. Consider it payment for what you owe me."

"I don't get it," Greg growled. "You can enter our world. Why not protect her yourself?"

"I can't," she replied. "Not yet. If I come into contact with her before the merge, it could damage her soul beyond repair. Until my soul is fixed, I must stay away."

Greg went quiet. He stood still for several seconds, gears turning behind his eyes.

"One last question," he said at last. "After the merge… who takes control? You? Or her?"

"Neither," Rebecca replied. "The merge creates someone new. A third being—one with both our memories, temperaments, and essence. It won't be me. It won't be her. But… it will be someone capable of what I could never be alone."

Greg sighed and turned his back. "Very well. That's my cue to return."

"Why the hurry?" she asked, voice light.

"None of your business," he replied, stepping back into the physical world.

---

Greg reemerged, unloading hundreds of new copy cats that had been bred while he was gone. They scattered across the land like a swarm of silver-eyed beasts.

His intelligence stats were more than sufficient now. With an offensive absolute concept to match, he had what he needed.

It was time to visit the hidden families and help Sabbah save Kate if he still haven't saved her yet.

---

Elsewhere…

"Hah… hah…" Sabbah breathed heavily, drenched in sweat, each inhale feeling like fire in his lungs. His hands were numb, trembling from countless impacts, and blood trickled down his temple.

"How arrogant can you be," Daniel said lazily, eyes narrowed, "to think you'd get the girl and escape, Sabbah? Even your ancestors wouldn't be this bold."

Sabbah stood surrounded—completely outmatched—by Daniel and the founders of the hidden families.

Daniel stepped forward. "I'll ask one more time. Why did you kill our friends?"

"I didn't," Sabbah rasped. "I've told you over and over. I didn't kill them."

"Then who?" asked Logan sharply. "The special one? Nemesis? I refuse to believe he's grown strong enough to do this."

"He didn't either," Sabbah replied slowly, intentionally pacing his words to buy time. "Neither of us had anything to gain from that."

Lancelot spat at the ground. "Daniel, why do we hesitate? Let's kill him. At least then our friends can rest easy."

"Patience," Daniel said softly, though his eyes remained cold. "We'll get the truth. One way or another."

Daniel took a deep breath. "One final question. Answer this sincerely—because your clan and daughters' lives hang in the balance. Where is the promised child?"

"I don't know where he—"

"I'm here."

A calm, steady voice cut through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned.

Greg stepped out of the shadows and stood beside Sabbah, his posture relaxed yet regal.

"What are you doing here?!" Sabbah shouted in a mix of panic and fury.

Greg smirked. "Saving you. Someone has to make sure you don't die before your job is done."

He had used the shadow realm to track Sabbah's location—linking their presence between the mirror world and reality. Once in range, he had infiltrated the villa while Sabbah held the attention of the absolutes.