Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God-Chapter 76: Ch : The Curse - Part 4

In the hollow, dimly lit chamber beneath Callex, Betty watched the unstable core pulse with growing urgency.

The glowing veins running through it were now throbbing faster, syncing with the aetheric waves in the underground system. Something was shifting—something final.

She tilted her head.

"So, have we picked the final catalyst yet?"

Her tone was airy, as if asking about a dinner menu, but her eyes gleamed with something darker.

X’lat turned to face her. His expression, though unreadable beneath the distortions of his form, carried the weight of finality.

"Out of all the potential vessels we implanted, only one responded. One whose body has already been aligned with divine energy. Queen Gorgon."

Betty’s grin widened.

"Ah, the chained goddess of the dungeon. Fitting."

"She is the only one who has survived the initial phases of infusion. Her connection to their god and her twin’s own divine link makes her the perfect candidate. If she can withstand the fusion of the two powers, we will know if synthetic divinity is possible."

X’lat continued.

"And if she can’t?"

"She dies. As does the planet."

Betty clapped her hands, giddy.

"Delightful. I always liked her. But this is for science."

X’lat didn’t comment. Instead, he waved a hand and a section of the cavernous wall shimmered, revealing a hidden portal etched in corrupted runes.

"Everyone’s focused on the monster incursion now. The queen is being celebrated. The timing is perfect. Let’s begin."

Without another word, the two vanished into the portal, leaving only the trembling pulse of the core behind them.

Back in the royal palace, the grand hall had been transformed into a lavish celebration.

Bright lights reflected off polished stone walls, and silver dishes lined with meat, fruit, and rich stews filled the air with enticing aromas.

Music played in the background—soft and regal—masking the tension still thick beneath the surface.

The queen sat at the head of the long banquet table, regal and composed. Her armor had been replaced with flowing silks and her expression was one of calm power.

She had saved the village. That was all the people needed to know. Their queen had protected them.

To her left sat Malrik, sipping lazily from a golden chalice, eyes scanning the room as he half-listened to the council’s formal praises.

Further down, Anna sat rigid in her seat, hands folded tightly in her lap. She watched the laughter, the drinking, the dancing servants who had been called in to perform in celebration.

"This isn’t right."

She muttered.

Malrik turned toward her.

"What’s not?"

"This party. People died. There are still villages under attack. Why are we celebrating?"

He chuckled and leaned back in his seat.

"You’re not wrong, but that’s exactly why we’re doing this. These people need a break from the fear. It’s not about joy—it’s about illusion. Give them something to hold on to before the world breaks again."

Anna frowned.

"That’s... cynical."

Malrik shrugged.

"That’s survival."

She looked down at her untouched plate, uneasy. Then her eyes flicked around again, searching for a familiar figure.

"Where’s Nova?"

She asked.

Malrik’s eyes followed hers before he casually answered.

"Haven’t seen him since earlier. But don’t worry—Nova’s the last person you need to worry about. If something tried to kill him, I’d probably feel sorry for the something."

Anna didn’t laugh.

She glanced back toward the palace corridors beyond the celebration, her instincts stirring with discomfort.

"Still... shouldn’t someone check?"

Malrik waved a hand.

"If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go poke around later. For now, just try to enjoy yourself. There might not be many nights left like this."

Anna forced a nod and tried to calm herself, but her unease didn’t fade. There was something in the air she couldn’t quite name. Something off.

And Nova’s absence—especially on a night like this—only made it worse.

But Anna was not the only one being affected by Nova and his...lack of presence. There was one more person more anxious compared to her.

Queen Eleysa leaned back in the chair of honor, chin resting delicately against her fingers. Her eyes swept lazily across the hall.

Dancers moved in graceful arcs across the polished floor, music hummed beneath the sound of celebration, and yet none of it held her attention.

’Where is he? Did he decide to ditch this party or something?’

She scanned the crowd again, lips twitching in irritation when she still didn’t find the face she was looking for.

Her personal guard stepped closer.

"Is something wrong, Your Majesty? You look worried. If it is something I can help with-"

Her eyes flicked toward him, sharp and cold.

"Mind your own business."

The guard bowed his head slightly but didn’t back away.

He’d served the queen long enough to pick up on subtle shifts in her expression—and this one was obvious. She was irritated, restless. And clearly watching for someone in particular.

Nova.

He didn’t speak it aloud, but the name passed through his mind like a whisper. Even if the queen denied it, it had become impossible not to notice.

The outsider had caught her attention in a way no one else had managed to in years. That, in itself, was dangerous.

After a few minutes of silence, the guard spoke again, casually this time.

"I heard a few servants say that the outsider was lured away by a noble. Toward the eastern wing... perhaps the washroom?"

Queen Eleysa didn’t answer.

Her fingers curled ever so slightly, gripping the edge of her throne. Her face didn’t move, but her spine straightened.

She offered a short scoff, the kind meant to show disinterest.

"If he wishes to entertain nobles, that’s his concern."

She said, dismissively.

But not five minutes passed before the queen stood.

The hall quieted slightly. Conversations paused, eyes turned. She never left mid-feast.

"I need to check on something. Continue enjoying yourselves."

She said offhandedly, her voice smooth but final. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

No one dared stop her. Not even the council members who had started to whisper among themselves again.

She didn’t walk fast—but her strides had purpose.

She followed the corridor her guard had mentioned, heart pacing just a touch faster than usual.

Every step echoed in the quiet of the stone halls, the golden fabric of her dress whispering along the floor.

’Foolish. Why am I doing this? There is no benefit in me looking out for that outsider. I need to curb my obsession and return to more important things at hand.’

She didn’t bother answering herself. The irritation bubbling in her chest had no name—only direction. And it led her straight to Nova.

The queen stopped outside the eastern wing corridor. The servants’ quarters were nearby, and a few rooms reserved for high-ranking nobles.

But she could feel something else—faint trails of aether, just enough to confirm that Nova had indeed passed through here recently.

Her jaw tightened.

If anyone had dared—

She didn’t finish the thought. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone as she continued, eyes narrowing.

She didn’t know what she would find at the end of this hall.

But she would not sit idly in her throne while someone thought they could take what she was still deciding belonged to her.