NOVGO.NET Chapter 1253: Who? I’ve never heard that name before
Chapter 1253: Who? I’ve never heard that name before
The tailed figure’s gaze followed them briefly before snapping back toward the heavens in fury.
But the white-haired man was no longer there.
“Where are you looking?”
The deadly voice echoed close. The figure looked down… and froze. The white-haired man stood before it.
The man’s eyes shifted past the figure to where Lia lay unconscious. His expression hardened, “Let her go.”
The tailed figure frowned, lowering its body like a predator, curling to hide Lia behind its back.
“…” Aether’s blank stare it. Then his hand shot forward, aiming a punch at its face…. only for the figure to vanish from sight.
Aether frowned. Then—
Tap
Something brushed his shoulder. He turned sharply. The figure was behind him, holding a white staff identical to the others, pressing it against his body as if expecting him to explode.
“That ain’t gonna work on me, bitch.” Aether’s hand snapped up, seizing the staff. He slammed it back into the figure’s palm.
Thuck!!
The figure shuddered violently as the staff embedded into its own hand. In that same instant, Aether’s other hand clamped around its neck, ready to snap it in two.
But again—the figure dissolved from his grasp.
Aether spun instinctively, already knowing. As expected, the figure appeared behind him, momentarily stunned by his anticipation.
Aether smirked. “I’m not idiot enough to fall for the same trick again and again.” He lunged, swinging his leg for a crushing kick—
But his strike halted mid-motion. His leg refused to move all of a sudden.
Aether clicked his tongue in irritation.
The tailed figure seized the opening, signalling the other metallic beings with a sharp glance. Guns rose in unison, barrels aimed at Aether. And then the figure vanished again, darting from place to place like a ninja cloaked in steel.
BOOM!!
The remaining figures unleashed a storm of radiant beams. Energy tore into Aether’s body, each impact ringing out with concussive force.
His body shook with the assault. He glared at them, and that single look carried such weight that several faltered, their aim wavered in fear.
Aether’s eyes tracked the tailed figure, now darting toward the massive portal…. He couldn’t allow that.
And then—
“KILL THEM ALL!!”
The shout rang from the captives he had saved. They surged forward, joining the fray at his side…. Aether smirked grimly.
The figures that had been firing on him turned their guns toward the charging wave, redirecting their fire into the crowd.
Meanwhile, the tailed figure dropped low, moving on all fours. Its metallic tail lashed violently through the air, coiling tightly around the unconscious Lia as it carried her toward the portal.
It motioned its group to move faster. The captives were starting to break free, and if they didn’t leave now, everything would go to waste.
They had already secured most of their packages… the metallic figures quickened their pace, leaping into the portal one by one in rapid succession.
The tailed figure stepped forward, its body already fading as the portal swallowed it. Its tail whipped as it prepared to slip through as well—
“I said, let her go!” Aether’s voice thundered.
In an instant, he unleashed his stored energy, teleporting straight to the figure. His hand shot out, seizing Lia’s leg just before she could be dragged into the portal.
Aether gritted his teeth, every muscle straining as he pulled against the constricting tail. His toes dug into the ground, trembling, his fingers barely holding on as his grip threatened to slip.
“Come on!” Aether roared, dragging inch by inch, forcing the figure backwards. The tailed figure lowered its body like a beast, claws scraping the ground as it tried to pull forward.
Aether almost had her free…. when suddenly, his other hand went rigid, turning stiff as stone.
His control faltered. The tail began to slip from his grasp.
“WAKE UP, LIA!” he bellowed, fury burning in his voice.
That was enough…. Lia’s eyes fluttered open, her mind reeling as she found Aether struggling to save her.
With desperation, she crushed her own bones, freeing one arm. She shot her hand forward, grabbing his just as it threatened to slip away.
“I got it!” Lia cried, a faint smile breaking through her pain.
Aether smirked back through gritted teeth and pulled her. Slowly, her body rose, the tail slipping further and further loose. She was almost out—
Thufff!!
Aether’s hand dissolved into mist. His puppet’s hand connection broke entirely. His eyes widened in raw horror.
“NOOOO!!”
Lia screamed as the tail yanked her back into the portal…. Or so it seemed until,
“I’m back, motherfucker~”
A white tail lashed forward, snapping around Lia’s arm and yanking her free just before the portal swallowed her whole.
She crashed into Aether, their bodies slamming together as they tumbled back. Lia groaned, blinking in shock. Her face flushed as she realised she was sprawled on top of him. She scrambled up quickly, stammering, “I-I’m sorry…”
Aether blinked, then let out a weak, trembling smile… He couldn’t even put into words what he felt in that moment…. he had been certain she was lost. His lips quivered as he exhaled, finally letting himself breathe.
His gaze drifted to Snowflake, who grinned ear to ear, clearly expecting praise—until her face fell into a frown.
“You’re not Master, are you?” she said flatly.
Aether sighed, shaking his head. “I’m in my puppet, Snowflake.”
Snowflake’s face went blank. She snorted and turned away. “Tch. Fuck off… I need my Master.”
Aether chuckled softly despite the sting of her words. Relief washed over him… his beloved, his family, were safe.
He turned to Lia, his smile warm yet heavy with guilt. “I… I’m really sorry. This all happened because of my selfishness. I… I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”
His voice faltered, his expression twisting with pain.
He hadn’t known this would happen, hadn’t imagined Lia would be kidnapped—dragged somewhere he might never have reached her again.
The reason he fought Mary was to… prove to her that he could be worthy of Lia… of course, he tried to kill her during that.
He did still think that way, of course, but deep down, he wanted to prove something to Mary. That was why… but the situation had slipped out of his hands, spiralling into a mess far worse than he ever imagined.
And because of that… Lia was kidnapped right under Mary’s nose.
Honestly, when Mary told him it was his fault… he couldn’t object.
After all, he felt it in his heart—he shouldn’t have done it. If anything happened to Lia, he could only blame himself.
Mary would never abandon her daughter. Even when facing someone like Snape, she always put her child’s life above everything else.
Lia blinked in confusion. “I’m not sure… what are you talking about?”
Aether forced a weak smile. “Well, we’ll talk about it later, Lia…” He leaned forward, arms moving to hug her when—
Thud!
Lia shoved him back, frowning. “What are you doing?”
Aether blinked, startled by her reaction. Then it struck him—his body was battered, his face disfigured, and he probably looked nothing like himself right now.
He chuckled faintly. Her reaction was so very Lia—keeping her guard up even with a stranger who had just saved her.
That was her nature.
“Come on now, I know I look disgusting right now… but even a stranger found me—not you~” he teased with an amused grin. “I’m so hurt, darling… so hurt.” He even sniffed dramatically.
However—
“…What are you talking about?” Lia’s brows furrowed, her lips curling in faint disgust.
“Anyway, thank you for your help. I’ll ask my mother to reward you with goods. Don’t worry.”
Her tone was dismissive, laced with disdain, as she snorted and turned away.
“Lia… It’s me…” Aether let out a nervous laugh, “Haha… your boyfriend, idiot.”
Yet—
“…Boyfriend? Who are you?” Her face turned grave, her gaze turned serious as she summoned her red sword into her hand.
Aether’s expression froze, the faint happiness draining from him instantly. “Lia… It’s me… Aether.”
“…Who? I’ve never heard that name before.” Lia’s voice was cold, almost unfamiliar.
Aether’s eyes widened, horror surging through him, “L-Lia?”