Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God
Chapter 48: Ch 48: Emergency Task - Part 4

Chapter 48: Ch 48: Emergency Task - Part 4

Anna’s instincts screamed at her to move, to fight, to do something—anything other than stay frozen under Commander Zero’s unflinching grip.

Her breath hitched, panic setting in. She’d played her hand wrong and now, she was paying for it.

’Think, Anna. Think.’

With a sudden movement, she twisted her body and fired a shot toward the commander’s side—not to hurt him, just to distract him.

A flash of light, the sharp sound of energy discharging—then nothing.

Zero didn’t even flinch.

He caught her arm mid-motion, tightening his grip like a vice until Anna winced. He yanked her forward, her blaster clattering to the floor.

"Where is the humanoid? You’re close to him. That means you know."

He asked coolly, eyes narrowed.

So Nova was his target. Anna’s thoughts raced. If she gave the commander what he wanted, it was over. But if she could stall...

"I’m not telling you anything."

She snapped, voice strained as she tried to yank herself free.

Zero sighed, his tone dipping into something disappointingly calm.

"Why do they always choose the hard way?"

He twisted her arm suddenly—not enough to snap it, but more than enough to make her cry out.

Pain exploded through her shoulder. Her knees buckled.

"You’re not built for interrogation. Save yourself the trouble."

He muttered.

Anna gritted her teeth, her resolve cracking at the edges.

She was going to fail again—going to be the weak link that dragged Nova down. The one who couldn’t keep up. The one always needing saving.

She clenched her eyes shut, swallowing the shame.

’Maybe it’d be better if she stayed behind. Let Nova go on without her.’

And then, everything shifted.

A sharp noise echoed through the hall—a gunshot, followed by the distinct sting of impact.

Zero hissed and immediately let go of her, recoiling just enough for Anna to stumble back, holding her injured arm.

"What the—?"

He muttered.

She turned around.

Nova stood at the far end of the hall, gun still raised, smoke trailing from the barrel.

His eyes were fixed on Zero with a deadly stillness.

"Let her go."

He said coldly.

Anna’s breath caught in her throat.

Nova was here.

Commander Zero turned toward Nova, the faintest trace of surprise flickering across his face—only to be replaced by a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Well. You really are full of surprises."

He said, brushing the scorched edge of his sleeve where Nova’s shot had struck.

Nova stepped forward, calm, unshaken. His gun lowered slightly but still in hand, ready.

"Step away from her."

He was close to Anna so he discreetly passed her the thing he was holding under the sheet.

Anna felt startled by the sudden weight in her arms, but she made sure not to show her surprise out loud.

After all, she did not want to draw attention to herself.

Zero chuckled as he rolled his shoulder.

"You don’t get to make demands here, humanoid."

"I wasn’t asking."

The tension between them hardened like ice. Aether crackled in the air—Nova’s own faint signature stretching out around him, silent and sharp, like blades waiting to drop.

Anna backed away, clutching her arm, eyes wide as the two forces prepared to collide.

Zero’s movements were clean and practiced.

One blink, and his hand shot to his belt, activating a compact baton that extended into a double-sided spear crackling with raw energy.

"Let’s see what your body can take before it breaks."

He charged.

Nova stepped aside just before impact, barely dodging the spear’s wide arc. The polished metal scraped the wall behind him, sending sparks flying.

Nova’s gun came up instantly, firing a short burst aimed at Zero’s midsection—but the commander twisted, letting the shots scorch the floor where he’d stood a moment ago.

Zero swept his spear low in retaliation, trying to cut Nova’s legs out from under him. Nova jumped, flipping back midair to land farther down the corridor.

"You’ve trained well. Too well for a stray."

Zero said, voice light, amused.

Nova didn’t respond.

He extended his free hand and formed an aether blade—not flashy, just a smooth extension of his will, shimmering faintly with green-gold energy.

Commander Zero’s eyes narrowed.

"So it’s true. A humanoid using aether."

He lunged again, this time feinting low before swinging his spear down in a deadly arc. Nova raised his blade, catching the strike just in time. Sparks exploded between them.

The impact drove Nova back two steps. The commander pressed in, swinging with calculated fury, testing Nova’s defense with rapid jabs and sweeps.

Nova parried each one, but Zero’s relentless pace forced him on the defensive.

He ducked under a strike, pivoted, and lashed out with a low kick aimed at the commander’s knee. It connected. Zero staggered—but only for a heartbeat.

He twisted, grabbing Nova’s ankle and yanking him off balance.

Nova rolled as he hit the floor, sliding back on his hands and vaulting into a crouch.

"Come on. Show me what that aether of yours is really capable of."

Zero said, grinning now.

Nova’s answer was silent.

He dashed forward, closing the distance between them with explosive force. Their weapons met in a flash of light, the sound of metal against aether echoing through the corridor.

Nova twisted his blade, using his off-hand to strike at Zero’s side, but the commander turned and used the shaft of his spear to block it effortlessly.

"You fight like someone who’s seen real war."

Zero muttered, pushing Nova back again.

Nova’s eyes stayed locked on his opponent. His breath was steady. Controlled.

And then he moved again.

Feints, swift changes in rhythm—he began to adapt. His blows came quicker now, sharper. He stopped reacting and started pressing.

Zero’s smirk faded as Nova’s blade nearly caught his shoulder, the aether edge sizzling as it sliced through a layer of his uniform.

"Not bad. But let’s see how long you can keep up."

The commander admitted, voice lower now, more serious.

He activated a secondary energy node on his spear.

The weapon flared with a blue pulse, growing heavier and more lethal. With renewed force, Zero launched a flurry of blows, his strikes fueled by military-grade aether tech.

Nova blocked the first two, deflected the third—and then barely ducked beneath a spinning arc that nearly tore through his jaw.

But instead of retreating, he slid forward, pressing in under Zero’s guard and slashing upward with his blade.

The commander twisted just enough to avoid it—but the blade grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

That stopped him.

His grin faded entirely now.

"You’re going to regret that."

"You’re already bleeding."

Nova replied, stepping back.

Zero adjusted his stance.

"So are you."

Nova blinked—and felt a sharp sting across his ribs. One of the earlier glancing blows must have landed harder than he’d noticed.

Blood trickled down the side of his uniform.

Both stood still for a moment, chests rising and falling with restrained effort. Aether shimmered faintly between them.

Anna, still clutching her arm, didn’t dare move. Her eyes darted between the two, unable to look away.

Zero exhaled slowly. "This isn’t over, humanoid."

Nova didn’t answer, simply tightening his grip on his weapon. The atmosphere remained tense, silent. Neither was backing down.