Free Web NovelChapter 71: _Like A Bad Dream
Gabriel’s eyes dimmed as he and the others stared anxiously at the Echo Rift. For days now they’ve been battling the Leviathan.
DAYS.
It’s been so long since he’s had to face such a battle. What pissed him off most was the fact that there was still one more SS Rank Esper in this damn continent who should be helping out here.
Other than the United States Federation President.
Now the Echo Rift had suddenly stopped expelling energy, making the black sea around it still like a graveyard.
"... You all felt that too?" Magnus murmured, the flames around his body dying down a bit.
Even Irina was tense. "That... power..." she glanced at the Leviathan which had all its eyes pinned on the Rift. "Whatever it is, it feels more powerful than this thing."
Her glacier wings flapped once in preparation, frost particles gathering around her like tiny blades. Magnus’ flames grew, taking the shape of a phoenix just like the beginning of the battle.
Gabriel’s jaw tightened, head angled toward the Leviathan. It still didn’t dare move. Like it was waiting for whatever that presence was to come out.
"Fuck this," his iridescent eyes shifted to pure golden white, his hands stretching out.
That got the attention of the Leviathan but before it could defend itself, Gabriel clenched both fists hard, increasing the spatial lock around it.
"We’re killing this fucker now." He didn’t care if he was vulgar. "Go all out. We’ve fought for a few days but if we don’t bring this shit down before that other thing comes out..."
Irina summoned a frost halberd, spinning it between both hands. "About time."
Even with several cities and coastal regions evacuated. Even with lower-ranked Hunters told to leave... none of them had truly been using their full power.
Not quite.
As SS-Ranks, they had to be more careful about expending aether. If they go all out, the risks of going berserk are extraordinary, especially without a Guide.
And no one wanted to deal with a berserk SS-Rank.
The Leviathan roared just then, the sound shaking the sea and splitting the clouds above. Gabriel made the first move, wiggling his fingers like he was playing the piano.
The Leviathan broke out of its spatial lock with brute force, its massive jaws opened wide—
—Until it shut after Magnus rammed into it with his equally sized phoenix projection. Irina’s wings spread wider, her eyes glowing as she charged toward the beast as well.
Monstrous amounts of aether energy pulsed through the air with each desperate clash. Reality fractured around them, as tons of water evaporated under Magnus’ flames while more froze solid with Irina’s ice.
All while the presence at the other side of the Echo Rift seemed to be getting closer.
"Everything you’ve got!" Gabriel thundered, slamming his palms together.
The water and weather attacks from the Leviathan were warped through space, seeming farther than they should be and taking longer to strike. That gave the others time to dodge and deal stronger blows.
For once since the beginning of this ordeal, they appeared to be winning.
Then—Gabriel’s blood chilled, the hairs across his body standing on end. He turned to the Echo Rift, eyes bulging when he saw what was happening now.
A... a hand.
A literal hand, pitch black and eerily humanoid, clawed its way out of the Echo Rift. It gripped the fabric of space, struggling to pull the rest of itself out.
"Shit!" Gabriel flew in the direction of the Rift, trying something he hadn’t done before.
He used his powers to hold onto the Rift, bending space around it until it began folding on itself.
"What are you doing?!" Irina screamed. "You know you can’t forcefully close a Cataclysm Level Rift."
"I can not let whatever that thing is make its way out!" Gabriel snapped, stretching forward another hand. "Hold off the Leviathan still. Let me handle this."
He gnashed his teeth, slowly making a squeezing motion with both hands. The Echo Rift thrummed violently in return, its edges narrowing in on itself.
Gabriel didn’t stop, ignoring the mental strain as he expended even more Aether. "Come... on..."
The Rift appeared like it was seconds away from collapsing. Then—all the built-up energy exploded outward in a flash of white light, pushing Gabriel several meters back and rattling the waters for miles.
The Leviathan was left disoriented, alongside Magnus and Irina.
By the time the explosion had died down... everyone present swung their heads to the Echo Rift.
"... What in the world?" Gabriel blinked, squinting at the figure levitating right in front of the black Rift.
It seemed human at first. Until the light from the explosion cleared slowly, revealing a form Gabriel couldn’t comprehend at first.
Tall. Pitch black naked body. And then a faceless head with a spiralling dark vortex spinning where it should be. The new entity stayed levitating for seconds.
No one spoke. Gabriel didn’t even try breathing too loudly.
Suddenly, the new being’s body went rigid.
It unhurriedly spun its head until it was looking over its shoulder. At first glance, it would seem like it was staring at the vast sea behind it.
But no.
It had its attention right where it wanted it...
★★★★★
Ambrose’s eyes jolted open, his breathing shaking as he got pulled back to consciousness. He blinked once, head snapping around his room.
He... had a nightmare.
Norfolk.
The SS-Ranks were battling the Leviathan. Then out of the Rift, something came out that nullified all their attacks within seconds. And that thing... said his name.
"Daddy?" a tiny voice coming from the foot of his bed made him halt.
Standing there was none other than Orion, his head lowered and arms wrapped around a pillow he brought with him. When his head raised, those big golden orbs gleamed pitifully.
"C–Can I sleep here with you?" The boy asked. "I’m scared. I had a bad dream."
With sleep-laden eyes, Ambrose gestured for the lad to come to him. He scooted over, giving Orion enough space to sleep beside him.
"It’s okay, little guy," Ambrose sighed, pressing a kiss on his temple. "Daddy had a bad dream too."
Yet the more he thought about it, the blurrier it became. Orion snuggled closer to him, laying his head on his chest.
"What did you dream about?" The little rascal asked innocently.
Ambrose shook his head. "Nothing that you have to worry about, okay?" Then his eyes trailed to the bedroom door. "Let’s try getting some sleep."
As Orion clung to him, sleep hitting his eyes again, he mumbled. "... Papa is on the sofa. I don’t... think he’ll be comfortable."
Ambrose smacked his lips.
Crap.
"Stay here, okay?" He threaded fingers through the kid’s hair, already stepping out of the bed.
Orion’s little fingers gripped his palm. "But daddy, are you coming back?"
"Of course. Daddy just... wants to check this out."
Orion hesitated for a second longer before letting go, watching him with those wide, trusting eyes.
Ambrose gave him a small nod before slipping out of the room, the door creaking softly as he eased it shut behind him.
The suite was quiet. Too quiet.
He rubbed at his eyes, the remnants of that strange dream still clinging faintly to the edges of his mind, before making his way into the living room.
And... yeah.
There he was.
Devon, sprawled across one of the sofas as if he’d simply given up halfway through existing. One arm hung off the edge, his head tilted at an awkward angle that definitely couldn’t be comfortable. His breathing was slow and completely out.
Ambrose stared at him for a moment. "Seriously?"
A quiet sigh left him as he dragged a hand down his face.
He hesitated.
Then, after a brief internal argument he refused to unpack, he stepped forward and bent down, sliding an arm beneath Devon’s back and the other under his knees.
It took some effort. But on the plus side, the past Ambrose wouldn’t have been able to do this at all.
"You’re heavier than you look," Ambrose muttered under his breath, lifting him carefully.
Devon barely reacted, only shifting slightly, his head falling against Ambrose’s shoulder like it belonged there.
Ambrose froze for half a second before clicking his tongue and continuing toward the bedroom.
The door nudged open with his foot.
Orion, who had very much not been asleep, immediately buried his face into the pillow—his shoulders shaking suspiciously.
"I’m not laughing," he whispered.
Ambrose shot him a look. "You absolutely are."
A tiny giggle slipped out anyway.
Shaking his head, Ambrose crossed the room and lowered Devon onto the bed on Orion’s right side, adjusting him so he didn’t end up half falling off again.
"...Unbelievable," he murmured, more tired than annoyed.
Devon didn’t wake or flinch.
Ambrose circled and slid back under the covers on Orion’s left, the mattress dipping softly beneath his weight. The warmth returned almost immediately, sleep tugging at him again like it had never really left.
Orion shuffled closer, satisfied.
For a moment, everything was still.
Until a heavy arm draped over Ambrose’s waist.
Warm. Strong.
Ambrose blinked, glancing over his shoulder.
Of course...
Devon.
Still very much asleep, expression relaxed, like he hadn’t just invaded his personal space without permission.
"You’ve got to be kidding me," Ambrose whispered.
But he didn’t move or push him away.
Instead, something in his chest softened. Before he could question it—before he could pull back—a small, unconscious smile touched his lips.
And then sleep took him again.
Outside, the world trembled on the edge of something catastrophic.
Inside... They slept.
