Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God-Chapter 80: Ch : Your Choice - Part 1

The secret tunnels beneath the imperial palace were dimly lit, their walls damp with ancient moisture.

Betty’s boots echoed with soft taps against the stone floor, her pace casual, almost like a walk through a museum.

Behind her, X’lat’s movements were noiseless, mechanical, precise.

"So, do you feel sorry for Callex and its people? I mean, even if they manage to kill Queen Gorgon, there’s nothing left for them. Their planet’s done for."

Betty began, swinging her arms slightly.

X’lat didn’t slow his stride.

"You’re being sentimental again. As a Neuroxian, I do not feel. Emotions are inefficient. My directives are based on reason, not regret."

Betty chuckled, the sound echoing softly through the tunnel.

"You always say that. But you know, we’re really different in that regard. I do what I do because I care... just not in the way people expect."

He glanced at her briefly.

"Then you’re motivated by chaos."

"No. Just personal reasons. I’m willing to do anything to protect what matters to me. Even betray the cause if I have to."

She replied with a smile, twirling a small blade between her fingers before tucking it back into her sleeve.

X’lat paused mid-step, turning to face her more directly.

"Would you betray our mission if it suited your whims?"

Betty’s smile widened as she leaned closer, eyes glinting.

"I don’t know, X’lat. Maybe. Maybe not. That’s the fun part, isn’t it? Even I can’t predict myself."

He turned back without comment, continuing onward.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Soon, they reached a reinforced chamber deep below the city. In its center, suspended in an energy field, pulsed a strange crystalline construct—the Core of Reason.

It throbbed with rhythmic light, like the beat of an ancient heart.

Betty approached it with reverence, reaching out to press a hand against the field.

With a soft pulse of aether, the core deactivated and floated gently into the containment box she prepared.

"Well, that’s one box checked."

She murmured.

She sealed the box and turned to leave with X’lat—only to freeze.

Movement.

In the far corner of the tunnel, something stirred.

Betty’s smile vanished.

"We’re not alone."

etty and X’lat stood motionless, watching the flicker of movement at the tunnel’s edge.

A shadow detached from the wall—a scout, perhaps. Or worse, a witness.

Betty drew her umbrella-like weapon, spinning it once with flair.

"X’lat, want me to take care of it?"

"No. We leave. If the anomaly is close, confrontation is inefficient. Our task is complete."

He said.

Betty pouted, clearly disappointed.

"No fun."

Still, she turned and followed X’lat as they disappeared into the next tunnel, vanishing just moments before Nova and the others entered the chamber.

Meanwhile, on the surface, the tremors from the earlier quake had subsided, but tension hung in the air like static.

Nova, Anna, and Malrik moved quickly through ruined corridors, stepping over cracked stone and fallen banners. The trail had gone cold.

"This is pointless. We don’t even know where to start."

Anna hissed, frustration creeping into her voice.

A voice rang out in his head—

[Nova, I’ve cracked the code. The signal was fragmented and cloaked in a localized loop, but I found a hidden beacon. I can lead you straight to it now.]

Nyx.

"Good timing. Nyx found it. We have a lead on the core."

Nova muttered, then looked to the others.

Malrik straightened, resting a hand on his sword.

"Then we move. Fast."

With Nyx feeding him the path, Nova led the way.

They darted through alleyways, into side entrances of the palace’s lower wings. The deeper they went, the thicker the air became—like it was charged with raw, unfiltered aether.

"The core must be close."

Nova said under his breath.

As they approached a sealed hatch covered in runes, Nova raised a hand. With a pulse of his own aether, the runes flickered, then gave way.

The door creaked open, revealing a staircase that descended into the bowels of the palace.

Without hesitation, they stepped into the shadows.

Just as Betty and X’lat reached the tunnel’s final gate, preparing to vanish into the wilderness beyond the palace’s reach, a pulse of aether surged through the narrow corridor—warning them.

"Too slow."

Came Nova’s voice.

Betty paused, hand still resting on the lever, and turned with a bright smile as Nova, Anna, and Malrik stepped into view.

Her eyes lit up with recognition, and she gave a cheery wave. "Nova! You came after me. I’m touched. Really." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Nova said nothing. His gaze was cold, focused entirely on the sealed container Betty was holding.

Anna didn’t hide her reaction. Her eyes dropped to Betty’s attire, and a look of sheer disgust crossed her face.

"What... are you wearing?"

Betty twirled on the spot, letting the fabric ripple dramatically around her as she struck a dramatic pose.

"Oh, this? I found it in one of the royal chambers. Dancer’s garb—beautiful, isn’t it? I figured if I was going to do something outrageous, I might as well look fabulous while doing it."

Anna looked unimpressed.

"You look ridiculous."

Betty simply giggled.

"You mean seductive? Thank you! That’s the energy I live for."

Malrik stepped forward, jaw clenched and eyes locked on both of them.

"Are you two behind Callex’s curse?"

Betty blinked in exaggerated surprise, then tilted her head.

"Curse? Oh dear, that sounds serious. I only planned a date."

X’lat, ever the pragmatist, responded before Malrik’s anger could boil over.

"No. We did not curse Callex. That would imply emotional investment. Callex was always a failed system—culturally stagnant, politically fractured, and theocratic in denial. Its end was a matter of time."

He folded his arms.

"We merely accelerated its entropy. The experiment was efficient. That is all."

Malrik took a sharp step forward, fury barely restrained.

"You ’accelerated’ this? You toyed with lives like this was some kind of controlled fire?!"

X’lat’s tone remained calm.

"We recorded all parameters. The response was within expectation. This planet has outlived its usefulness."

Malrik’s hand went to the hilt of his blade.

"You heartless piece of—"

"Whoa, whoa, let’s not get too dramatic! He’s just bad at phrasing things. We didn’t curse Callex. We simply... helped it reach the next phase."

Betty interrupted, stepping protectively in front of X’lat and holding up a hand.

Anna’s voice was sharp.

"You mean its destruction."

Betty didn’t deny it.

"Call it what you want. It’s all a matter of perspective."

Nova had stayed quiet through it all, but now his gaze lifted, fixed on Betty.

"Hand over the core."

Betty smiled, sweet and unbothered.

"Nova, come on. We’ve barely even talked today. You just want to leave already?"

He took a step forward, his voice cutting through the stale tunnel air.

"Now."

Her smile faltered—only slightly.

"You’re no fun."

Malrik stepped beside Nova, sword half-drawn.

"We’ll take it, one way or another."

Betty glanced between them, then tilted her head toward X’lat.

"Looks like it’s time for round two. What do you think, partner? Can we play for a little longer?"

X’lat didn’t answer, but he shifted his stance and stepped back, silently calculating exit paths.

Nova’s sword gleamed with faint light, and Anna reached for her own weapon as well.

The air was thick with tension again, heavy with the scent of aether and coming conflict.

Betty gave one last dramatic sigh, pouting.

"Fine, but let me say this much—if you want the core, you’ll have to dance for it. And I promise, I’m a terrific dance partner."