Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God-Chapter 78: Ch : The End of Callex - Part 2

Nova’s blade slashed forward again, but Betty twirled back, the ribs of her strange umbrella catching the glint of the moonlight.

She grinned like a fox, every movement fluid, almost playful—but Nova could sense the intent behind each dodge, each block.

She wasn’t just toying with him. She was studying him.

"You’ve got good instincts. But you hold back."

She said, voice light, teasing.

"I don’t need my full strength to deal with you."

Nova muttered, stepping into a low stance. His aether surged, the ground beneath them cracking faintly with pressure.

Betty arched a brow, her stance shifting too, more guarded now.

"Then try harder."

They clashed again, a thunderclap of aether and steel shaking the corridor. Nova’s strikes came fast, relentless.

Betty blocked with that odd umbrella, but the strain started to show in her arm. With a sharp cry, she spun away, kicking off the wall to put distance between them.

"Whew. If this is you holding back, I’d hate to see you serious."

She said, exhaling.

Nova didn’t respond. His eyes flicked to the side—he felt something shift. The aether around them rippled unnaturally.

A low rumble rolled beneath their feet, growing stronger with each second. Then, like a roar from deep within the planet, the very ground shuddered violently.

______

Far below them, deep in the ancient dungeons of the palace, stone cracked as X’lat pushed open the final gate.

His tall form moved like liquid shadow through the dim corridors, ignoring the tremors shaking the foundation.

He stopped before a heavy cell door, where a woman sat shackled, her body frail and pale, but her presence unmistakable.

Queen Gorgon raised her head slowly. Her eyes met X’lat’s, and for a moment, disbelief flickered across her features.

"...Is it time?"

She whispered, voice raspy from disuse.

X’lat smiled gently.

"It is, High One. The world has reached its edge. And the god has chosen you as its vessel."

Gorgon’s face broke into a terrible, ecstatic grin. She laughed—low at first, then rising into a crescendo that echoed in the hollow chamber.

"I told them. I told them all! And they locked me away like a madwoman. Fools! The lot of them. They turned away from the god’s truth. They feared what they could not understand."

She spat.

X’lat knelt before her.

"And now, you will show them. You will become the beginning of the end. Burn away the rot. And from the ashes, build a world of devotion."

Chains snapped with a wave of his hand. Gorgon collapsed forward, trembling, but her eyes were filled with radiant madness.

"The prophecy. I will become it."

She whispered.

Gorgon stood now, barely. Her body trembled, but her spirit burned. X’lat handed her a vial, filled with swirling silver-blue liquid.

"The god’s mercy, condensed. Drink it, and your body will become the seed of purification."

He said.

Gorgon stared at it for a moment before downing it in one swift motion. Her body convulsed, her veins glowing faintly under her skin. Then... stillness.

X’lat placed a hand on the side of the core, which now pulsed brighter.

"Let the final stage begin."

The core cracked once—just a hairline. A tremor rippled out from its center, unseen but unmistakable.

Above ground, Nova stared at the cube in his hand, unaware that across Callex, the countdown had begun.

______

Betty and Nova were frozen mid-duel, the tremors still echoing. Nova stared at the ground, jaw clenched. Something was terribly wrong.

His connection to the planet’s aether was warping, resisting him more violently now.

Betty let out a sigh and rested her weapon on her shoulder.

"Looks like my time’s up."

"You’re not going anywhere."

Betty smirked and gave him a wink.

"You’ll miss me when I’m gone."

She turned, preparing to retreat, but Nova surged forward. His blade swept in a wide arc, aiming to cut her path off.

Betty spun, blocking with her umbrella again, the shockwave blasting stone and debris across the hallway. But her feet were sliding now.

Nova pressed the advantage. He twisted and kicked her squarely in the stomach, sending her flying into a wall. She grunted but rolled back to her feet, grimacing.

"Okay, rude."

"Where’s your partner going? What are you people after?"

Nova demanded, advancing again.

"Secrets. A mysterious girl is much more attractive, right?"

She said breathlessly.

Nova’s eyes narrowed, but before he could strike again, the tremors intensified.

A burst of aether cracked through the palace, and a low, inhuman cry rang out in the distance. The sound twisted the air, thick with corruption.

Betty groaned and flicked her fingers.

"Well, crap. The prototype’s awake. We really gotta stop meeting like this, Nova."

She turned and began to run, and Nova shot forward to follow—but her next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Don’t waste your strength chasing me. If you want answers—"

She tossed something over her shoulder, a small metallic cube that glowed faintly

"—you’ll get more from that."

Nova caught it instinctively. The cube pulsed once in his palm, but before he could examine it, Betty vanished into the darkness, leaving only the scent of scorched aether behind.

Nova cursed under his breath.

The earthquake hit Callex like a roar from the gods themselves.

The palace floor trembled beneath everyone’s feet, and a sudden, violent shudder sent goblets crashing and chandeliers swaying.

Gasps broke out in the hall as nobles stumbled, grabbing at tables and walls to steady themselves. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

It prompted Queen Eleysa to quickly return back to the place she was before and control the crown.

Otherwise, there was no telling what could happen as people panicked more and more.

From her place on the raised platform, Queen Eleysa immediately stood, her expression sharpening. She didn’t need an explanation—she could feel it.

The divine power rising beneath the surface wasn’t natural. It was old, suffocating, and far too familiar.

"Evacuate! Get everyone out of here—NOW! This building would not last for much longer under such pressure."

She commanded, her voice ringing across the hall.

Her guards sprang into action, but panic had already begun to ripple across the room. The nobles were too slow to respond, their instincts dulled by safety and luxury.

Screams followed as the ground cracked again, deeper this time, like something ancient was stirring from beneath the skin of the planet.

Malrik appeared at the queen’s side in an instant.

"It’s not just the palace. The whole city’s shaking."

He said grimly.

Eleysa didn’t respond at first. Her eyes were distant, calculating. She could feel it building like a storm. The divine energy wasn’t just rising—it was being summoned.

"No one touch the mana lines! Seal the altars. And keep the civilians away from the central ward—do it now!"

She barked at her priests.

"But Your Majesty—" one councilor started.

She cut him off with a glare.

"Do what I said or you’ll answer for it personally."

Another shockwave struck—louder, more aggressive. Tiles shattered and the walls groaned. The feast was forgotten.

Servants fled, nobles tripped over one another, and chaos took root in the place where only celebration had existed moments before.

Eleysa stood firm, her golden aether glowing faintly around her. She knew this was only the beginning.