Free Web NovelChapter 267: _So Predictable
Crescent Gem Hotel
"Ah," Loki sighed as they stepped out of the building’s main entrance. "Well... that was something."
Their lips curved as they recalled Augustus’ screams when they stopped playing nice. Usually, when it comes to interrogating people all they’d have to do is smile and watch them crumble.
This bastard was a tougher nut to crack. And shit—they absolutely loved a challenge.
Ignoring the stares they got as they chowed on a cookie on the way out, Loki went into thought.
’So I was right. The only reason he didn’t report his so-called suspicious findings of Ambrose was that he was gathering more evidence.’
’Tch. I’m not going to let him out of my sight though. Han Jae-won transferred his obsession to him before dying. Gods forbid he becomes the next Void Entity host.’
Their head lifted toward the clouds as they took another bite from the cookie.
Was it just them or did the weather seem... cloudier than normal?
A cool wind blew through the city just then. A couple walking past them giggled as they hurdled closer to each other, mentioning something about how they should’ve brought an umbrella.
Loki smiled when they glanced back at them. That was genuine love between those two strangers.
However, that smile soon dissolved into a scowl when a familiar searing pain stung their arm. They gritted their teeth, lifting the arm to their face.
Only to see THE sigil glowing fiercely from underneath their skin. The same sigil that’s only supposed to activate if and when the Pantheon are needed to exterminate an extinction-level threat.
"What in the world...?" Loki’s eyes narrowed as they looked at the clouds above Aurelia again.
Just then their phone buzzed.
"Loki!" Apollo yelled out the second they picked. "Thank goodness you picked quickly."
"You guys felt it too, huh?"
"This has to be the Void Entity." Apollo continued. "It’s... It’s not masking its signature anymore. Kali was just able to track it with her projections. It’s—"
"Right above Aurelia city." Loki paled, the phone nearly slipping out of their fingers.
Suddenly they remembered the reports Ambrose, Devon, Gabriel and the others gave. During the incident at the Maximus Hotel last night.
They’d thought the Void entity had wiped out the entire city because of the shroud of nothingness draped over the building.
Was... was that some kind of creepy foretelling? Was it here now to make that a reality?
"Do you have a visual of the entity?" Apollo asked. "We’re on our way there as we speak. If you could just hold it down and stop it from escaping long enough—"
"I got it." Loki’s voice became thick. "See you guys soon."
The second they hung up and kept the phone away, their back bulged. With a snap of their neck, two large falcon-like wings sprouted out of it.
People nearby gasped in shock but then quickly relaxed. It was probably just another Esper, they thought.
Loki spread out their arms, creating a lift-like illusion that stretched over the entirety of Aurelia without affecting anyone directly. The illusion would make anyone or anything viewing the city from above think it doesn’t exist.
Basically messing with their spatial awareness.
With that taken care of, Loki’s wings flapped once, shooting them into the air like a living bullet.
Soon they arrived at the clouds, hundreds of meters above the city. It didn’t take long to see the Void Entity.
It levitated not too far away from Loki’s current position with its back facing them. Not doing anything. Not even making any moves to attack the city.
Just... staying absolutely still.
Somehow that unnerved Loki more.
"Hey!" They shouted, pulling out an aether dagger.
Then they launched themselves at the Void entity, their wings flapping with enough force to disperse most of the clouds around them.
Right when they were a few feet from the Entity—it angled its head to Loki. That black hole-shaped mass spun, empty and ravenous.
Loki was taken off guard for only a split second. But that was enough to let the Void Entity disappear into a cloud of black smoke.
They halted sharply after the smoke obstructed their vision, lifting their dagger with a snarl.
The fucker couldn’t have gone too far.
Their senses exploded outward, sweeping through the skies.
In no time at all they spotted the Entity flying away at near impossible speed to their right.
’Found you.’
Loki’s wings spread wide before propelling them after the Echo Rift creature. The chase was grand—entire clouds splitting out of their way as they flew.
Occasionally the Void Entity would make difficult turns and stops to disorient Loki. But all that did was push them to adapt with shape-shifting.
"What the fuck do you want?!" Loki roared loud enough for the creature to hear. "You want a fight? Stay still so I can give you one!"
They were only saying that to spite the Void Entity into staying still, not expecting it to actually work. So you could imagine their shock when the Void Entity indeed... stopped.
It turned to face Loki, its head tilting. The mini black hole spun faster, almost like it was going to try sucking Loki in.
Too late.
The air suddenly became permeated with a suffocating amount of aether. Golden light enveloped the sky, so bright that people below thought a second sun had appeared.
Only for the light to clear, revealing Apollo hovering at the same level as Loki and the Void Entity. And it wasn’t just him.
Yemoja also appeared, ’flying’ thanks to a sphere of water beneath her feet. Kali flew beside Apollo, her eyes glowing with a bright violet light.
As for Wukong, he wasn’t too far away, flying thanks to a dull golden aether armour made from true dragon scales.
The Void Entity looked around itself.
Surrounded.
Cornered.
"Glad you guys could join the party." Loki gave Apollo a nod. "And don’t worry. The city is still down there. I just hid it under one of my illusions."
Apollo returned their nod, pulling out a golden spear that looked like it was carved out of divine light. "Good," his eyes locked on the Void Entity. "That gives us time to annihilate this abomination."
All of them were ready with their aether and weapons. Preparing themselves for what they thought would be the Void Entity’s inevitable attack.
Yet it didn’t come.
Instead, it uttered words that heightened their confusion.
"So predictable."
