Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God-Chapter 77: Ch : The End of Callex - Part 1

Nova sat alone at the farthest end of the great hall, his expression unreadable as flickering lantern light danced across the golden walls.

The music continued, laughter ringing through the air, but his attention was elsewhere. He sipped his drink with disinterest, eyes occasionally scanning the room.

It hadn’t taken long for attention to drift toward him.

A group of nobles, clothed in silks and arrogance, slowly began gravitating toward his corner.

Some came with questions about the hunt, others with sly compliments and hollow pleasantries.

Most, though, came with something else in mind—flirtation laced with political curiosity.

Nova deflected each approach with carefully chosen words and a look that discouraged further conversation. Most took the hint.

Except one.

A particularly bold noblewoman had latched onto him, ignoring the coolness in his gaze.

She leaned closer with every word, her hand brushing his sleeve as she laughed at something that hadn’t been funny.

Nova’s patience thinned by the second. He knew how this sort of thing worked—gather information, get close to the outsider, offer something in return.

It was a dance he had no intention of participating in.

Before she could press further, Nova stood up. No warning. No explanation.

He vanished from the hall in moments, moving swiftly down the side corridors, steps silent despite the marble floor beneath him.

The air grew quieter, cooler, away from the chaos of the celebration. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

He reached a secluded balcony nestled between the eastern towers and leaned against the stone rail, drawing in a deep breath of the night air.

Stars glittered overhead, but Nova’s shoulders didn’t relax.

Something was off.

Aether shifted around him—unfamiliar, warped, like it had been twisted into something unnatural. His instincts flared. He pushed away from the railing, scanning the open space.

"Nyx."

He muttered.

Silence.

"Nyx, come in."

Still nothing. The signal was jammed. His jaw clenched.

He hadn’t moved more than a few paces down the shadowed corridor beyond the balcony when something rushed toward him—fast, silent, and deliberate.

Nova spun, catching the leg aimed at his head with one hand.

The woman smirked, teeth flashing in the darkness.

"Reflexes better than the reports said."

A burst of aether exploded from her captured leg, knocking Nova backward. He skidded against the stone wall, the force sharp enough to bruise—but he didn’t let go.

The woman was dragged along with him, eyes widening in surprise.

Still holding her, Nova pinned her to the opposite wall with one hand, his other arm already glowing faintly with raw aether. She wriggled in his grip, laughing breathlessly.

"That grip—"

She hissed.

"—is very unfair."

She twisted her body with trained precision, finally slipping free after slamming her knee against his shoulder at just the right angle.

She landed lightly on her feet, a few meters away, flipping back to create distance.

Without missing a beat, she turned toward the corridor and shouted.

"Go! Complete the mission! I’ll distract the anomaly!"

Nova’s eyes narrowed.

He stepped forward, voice low.

"Who sent you?"

The woman didn’t answer. Instead, her body rippled with unstable energy—dark purple aether flickering across her skin in jagged lines.

She shifted into a stance that wasn’t taught in any school Nova knew.

She grinned again.

"You’re cute when you’re curious. But sorry, anomaly—playtime’s over."

Nova’s eyes flicked past the strange girl standing before him.

From behind her, deeper in the corridor, a new figure stepped into view—tall and humanoid, but unmistakably artificial. Its joints hissed as it moved, a faint red glow flickering from its eyes.

The humanoid machine paused only for a second before raising its hand and signing something silently. Nova didn’t need to understand the language to recognize the meaning: a farewell.

"Stay alive. For the mission."

The machine signed with deliberate motion.

Then it turned and vanished into the shadows beyond the corridor.

Nova made a move to follow.

But the girl was already in front of him, her heel slamming down in his path and halting him with a playful smirk.

"Tsk. Where do you think you’re going?"

He didn’t answer. His hand returned to the hilt of his sword.

The girl folded her arms under her chest, head tilting mockingly.

"You’re staying with me, pretty boy. Let’s call it a date."

Nova raised a brow.

"This is the worst way I’ve ever been asked out."

She just grinned.

"Yeah, well, I’m cute. So it works."

Nova’s gaze sharpened.

"Name?"

The girl spun her umbrella-like weapon between her fingers as if she were at a tea party.

"Betty."

"Real name."

"Betty. Now, are you gonna fight me, or are you gonna flirt some more?"

She repeated, twirling the umbrella once more with exaggerated flourish.

He didn’t dignify her with an answer. The sword left his sheath in a single motion, the edge glinting with aether.

Betty reacted just as fast, opening her strange umbrella with a snap. It flared out like a shield, crackling with dense energy.

Nova’s sword struck it directly—and the impact sent out a resounding shockwave.

The walls trembled.

Air burst outward in a ring of pressure, and both combatants were knocked back several feet.

Nova landed smoothly, his boots sliding slightly on the polished stone floor.

Betty tumbled with a laugh, flipping backward and landing on one hand before gracefully pushing herself back to standing.

"Damn. You hit hard. That’s so unfair. I’m cute, you’re strong. Life really has no balance, huh?"

She pouted dramatically, tapping her chin.

Nova stared at her, evaluating.

She didn’t feel entirely human. Her movements were too clean. Her aether signature—off. Not corrupted like the monsters from before. Not divine either. Just... wrong.

Manufactured.

"You’re not ordinary. You withstood that strike."

Nova said at last.

Betty gave a little bow.

"Why thank you. I do try."

His eyes narrowed further.

"You an apostle?"

The smile didn’t leave her face, but her head tilted again.

"Apostle?"

"Don’t play dumb."

"Not playing. Just don’t know what you mean."

She said lightly.

But something flickered in her eyes. A twitch. A moment’s pause. Nova caught it.

She was lying.

He stepped forward, sword held low, aether gathering behind him like heat waves off the desert.

"You’re stalling for time."

Betty shrugged.

"Maybe."

"Do you want this place to get destroyed?"

"Maybe."

"Why?"

This time, her smirk sharpened into something more serious.

"Because Callex is going to fall, Nova. And no amount of brooding or slicing your way through enemies will stop it."

He didn’t respond.

Betty tilted her head.

"Still want to fight me?"

Nova’s voice was cold.

"That was never in question."

She twirled the umbrella, this time raising it over her shoulder like a greatsword. Her stance shifted.

"Good. Let’s dance then, Nova."

She said softly.

Nova lunged forward without warning, blade slicing through the air in a clean arc.

Betty’s umbrella-weapon snapped up to parry, sparks flying where steel met reinforced aether. The collision sent vibrations up Nova’s arm, but he didn’t stop.

He twisted low, using his momentum to feint and strike from below. Betty grunted, barely dodging as the edge grazed her coat.

"Fast and mean."

She muttered, stepping back, breath quick.

Nova didn’t reply. He advanced again, precise and merciless.

"You really are the anomaly. No wonder he’s so interested in you."

Betty said under her breath.

Nova’s eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

Betty smiled.

"Guess."