Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)-Chapter 497: Heaven Shrouding Hand

Third Person’s POV

As Ethan’s soul continued to heal and fill with renewed energy, he watched in shock as thousands of distorted faces emerged from the cave walls and the dark lake itself.

Their expressions were twisted with suffering, mouths open in silent pleas as they reached outward.

But none of them could endure the light.

Touched by the gentle yet absolute radiance of the Heaven Shrouding Hand, they dissolved one after another and faded into nothingness as though they had never existed at all.

And amid the retreating darkness, Ethan felt something he had not felt in what seemed like an eternity, and it was none other than the emotion of relief.

Ethan watched in a dazed state of amazement as the colossal white hand descended further and entered the dark lake, moving steadily toward him.

Its presence alone caused the surrounding darkness to recoil, and the moment the radiant hand touched the surface of the lake, violent reactions erupted everywhere.

Piercing screams and hateful curses burst out from below as the countless decaying hands gripping Ethan finally loosened their hold.

One by one, they slipped away from his body and retreated frantically before vanishing back into the unfathomable depths of the endless dark lake, as though fleeing from something they could not oppose.

As the immense white hand reached him fully, an indescribable sensation washed over Ethan.

The unbearable thirst that had tormented him for what felt like an eternity suddenly faded and was quenched in an instant by a warmth that spread gently through his entire being.

At the same time, he felt himself being lifted upward and away from the suffocating darkness and the freezing depths.

For the first time since he had fallen, a sense of absolute safety enveloped him.

It was a strangely familiar feeling, and wrapped in that warmth, he felt as though he had returned to his mother’s womb, where he had been protected, weightless, and free from pain or fear.

His tense thoughts finally loosened, and his exhausted mind began to slip away, but as his consciousness faded, he managed to witness one final, haunting sight.

The moment the giant hand closed around his small figure, enormous waves surged violently across the surface of the lake.

The black water churned and roared as if something deep within it had been enraged by the loss of its prey.

Then, just as the radiant hand began to retreat upward with Ethan held safely within its grasp, the lake split apart, and a massive, hideous maw emerged from the depths.

It opened wide with terrifying intent and lunged upward as though to bite the retreating hand clean off and claim its prize back.

The sheer size of the maw was overwhelming as it stretched across the darkness like a living abyss.

Its surface was covered in millions of pulsating purple eyes, each one staring with malice and hunger, while countless sharp, jagged black teeth formed its grotesque structure.

The sight was so horrifying that Ethan felt his soul tremble violently, as though it might be torn free once again by fear, even though he was in the protection of the radiant hand that was nourishing and protecting his soul continuously.

Yet the radiant hand did not hesitate.

It showed no fear, no urgency, and no reaction at all.

Remaining fully calm and unwavering, it continued its retreat upward at the same steady pace.

To Ethan’s shock and disbelief, the enormous black maw suddenly halted mid-motion and became frozen in place, or to be exact, slowed down to a snail’s pace as if bound by an invisible law.

It could do nothing but watch as the white hand ascended beyond its reach.

Ethan frowned weakly in confusion as the monstrous maw slowly began to shrink.

Its massive form receded back into the lake and grew smaller and smaller until it finally vanished entirely, leaving behind only rippling darkness and silence.

At the same time, a soft and gentle voice echoed through his fading senses.

It was warm and soothing and carried a deep reassurance that wrapped around his consciousness like a lullaby.

"Sleep, my child... you are safe now..."

As the voice reached him, his awareness dimmed completely, and he surrendered to a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

...

Meanwhile, in the outside world, Isha carried Ethan’s unconscious yet now peaceful figure in her arms, holding him carefully in a princess carry.

His breathing was steady and his expression calm in a way that felt almost fragile after the shockingly dangerous ordeal he had endured.

Without hesitation, she transformed once more into a flowing stream of white light and shot away from the epicentre of this once in a century confrontation between beings of such overwhelming power.

She did not slow, nor did she look back as to her, to Altheria, and to Nyx, Ethan’s life was the single most important matter at hand.

Everything else at this point was secondary as defeating Dajjal, though a very desirable thing for them, was never their true objective as they all knew too well that killing him outright was impossible.

At best, he would retreat and escape, as he had done countless times before.

However, saving and preserving Ethan’s life and state was non-negotiable.

As she thought this, the roar of immense and monstrous fury, heavy with hatred and frustration erupted from Dajjal echoed behind her.

Yet to Isha, it felt distant and almost meaningless, like the fading cry of a wounded beast and she ignored it entirely.

Rising high above the battlefield, she put enough distance between herself and the chaos before finally stopping.

Hovering in the air, she waited silently for Nyx and chose to remain a distant observer rather than an active participant in what followed.

Her posture was composed though her awareness still remained sharp and alert. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She did not move to fight alongside Altheria as it was neither the time nor the place for her to reveal her full strength so openly.

This continent was a mortal enemy of her native land, and displaying her power so ostentatiously would invite consequences she found messy and exhausting to deal with beyond this battlefield.