Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 204 - : DEMON WAVE XVI

While Brian and the TAINTED engaged in a brutal battle, Elizabeth stood at a distance, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Worry danced in her eyes, flickering like a candle in the wind, but her expression remained frozen in cold indifference. Ever since her awakening, she had found herself unable to express anything but an icy stillness. Emotions no longer rose freely to the surface—they were buried deep beneath the frost that had settled over her heart.

"Let's leave and allow those foreigners to take care of the situation. We don't have what it takes to defeat that monster," Emperor Augustus said with calm authority, his gaze fixed firmly on the raging battlefield ahead.

"You may leave," Elizabeth replied without hesitation, her tone glacial. "But I'm not leaving Brian behind. I'm fighting alongside him."

Without waiting for his reply, she turned and began striding toward the castle gate, her determination evident in every step.

"I wasn't asking," Augustus said quietly, his voice no louder than a whisper—yet it carried the weight of a command. In a flash, he moved with a speed far beyond her ability to react. With one precise, decisive blow, he struck her. Her body crumpled as unconsciousness claimed her instantly.

Commander Harold stepped forward without a word, catching her before she hit the ground. He slung her carefully over his shoulder and awaited further instruction.

"Let's leave now," Augustus ordered, his face devoid of emotion. "But before we go, seal the gate with the spell. I don't want anyone entering my city through it. Initiate the barrier spell of the old mage."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Harold responded, already moving to carry out the order.

The castle and its formidable walls had been constructed as a final line of defense on the borders of the Grey Empire's capital. This imposing fortress, crafted with care by Archmage Leonardo—the legendary right-hand man of the first emperor—was more than stone and steel. It was reinforced with arcane might, built to withstand even apocalyptic threats. A powerful barrier spell had been etched into the very walls and gates, dormant until activated in times of greatest peril. It was the last bulwark against destruction, and Emperor Augustus intended to use it—not to defend the people, but to isolate the threat.

He had no intention of fighting the TAINTED. He did not fear it, but he saw no reason to waste strength in a battle that wasn't necessary. Cold logic guided his decisions, not valor.

With Elizabeth unconscious and secure on Harold's shoulder, the emperor turned his back on the chaos and left—destination: his imperial castle.

Meanwhile…

Greg finally reached the location of the rift that linked the demon world to the human world. The familiar energy swirled before him like a shimmering portal of light and shadow.

"Time to return," he muttered, a small smirk forming on his lips.

But as he stepped forward, he realized that getting through wouldn't be as simple as he'd thought. Demonic creatures prowled around the rift, twisted things with glowing eyes and jagged limbs, drawn to the power it radiated.

"Well," Greg said, his grin widening, "when I want to leave, no one can stop me."

With a snap of his fingers, Heaven Defier materialized in his hands, crackling with divine energy. Without hesitation, Greg charged forward. His blade danced like lightning, carving through the demonic beasts with fluid, merciless strokes. Each enemy that dared stand in his way was cut down without a second thought.

"That was fun," he said casually, standing before the now-unblocked rift. Without giving himself time to overthink or doubt, he dived headfirst into it.

The sensation was like being stretched and compressed all at once. Moments later, Greg emerged from the other side, landing in the barren desert where he had first entered the demon realm. The rift behind him shimmered for a second before closing with a sharp snap of energy.

The path back was sealed. Kodiac must have closed it after leaving.

Still, Greg wasn't troubled. He could return to the demon realm at will through the independent space—his clones maintained a constant link, so he always had a path if needed.

The rift in the central continent was strange in its behavior. Unlike a direct gateway, it was linked to several locations across the demon world. That was how Greg had ended up in the wilderness while Jessica appeared in the heart of a demon civilization.

As Greg stood beneath the vast sky of the central continent, he took a moment to breathe in the warm sun, contrasting it with the cold void of the demon realm. His brief appreciation was interrupted by the mechanical chime of the system ringing in his ears.

[The Demon Wave has come to an end! Congratulations, players, for your participation!]

[Warning! An unexpected situation has occurred!]

[New Event Starting!]

[Players are to work with central continent natives to put an end to the 'TAINTED']

[Penalty for failure – Destruction of the central continent and forceful ending of Apocalypse!]

"What the hell?" Greg muttered.

Opening the game forum, he began browsing for information. He had been cut off while stuck in the demon realm, and he needed to know what had happened.

He clicked on the guild forum and immediately saw a live broadcast trending at the top. Curious, he tapped on it—and what he saw made his blood boil.

The TAINTED was attacking Jessica.

His eyes burned with fury. Without hesitation, he flared his wings wide and shot into the sky at breakneck speed, the wind howling around him as his rage fueled every beat.

He arrived just in time—mere seconds from disaster. Brian had bought him that time, but even that sacrifice seemed barely enough. Greg witnessed the TAINTED hurl Brian aside effortlessly and lunge toward Jessica with bloodlust in its eyes.

Driven by pure rage and instinct, Greg flew straight into the fray.

"How dare you lay a hand on her?" he growled.

The TAINTED's massive sword came crashing down, but Greg met it head-on, deflecting the blow—not through clever use of momentum like Brian had, but by overwhelming force. The impact knocked the TAINTED back, briefly throwing it off balance.

Turning toward Jessica, Greg's expression softened slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with quiet concern.

Jessica, her heart pounding from the close call, nodded softly. "Yes," she whispered, cheeks tinged with a slight blush.

Once assured of her safety, Greg turned back toward the enemy. His voice was cold now, the fury barely hidden beneath the surface.

"Beast or not, if you want to survive, you should learn the instincts of a living creature. One of those instincts," he said, clenching his fist tightly, "is to never touch what's mine."

With that, he punched the celestial messenger squarely in the chest, the force of the blow sending it skidding backward, carving a trench into the ground as it tumbled.

Elsewhere…

"How envious… to be saved by two handsome men? Who the hell is she, some kind of princess?" a female player watching the broadcast said with a dramatic sigh.

"Beats me. But who the hell is the second guy? He's trashing that monster like it's nothing! I thought it was supposed to be overpowered?" another asked in confusion.

"Overpowered, my foot!" a third chimed in. "That same monster killed demons like they were insects. If it wasn't for those knights, half of you would be dead right now!"

"Then who the hell is that guy? Is he even a player? How can someone be that strong?"

"You guys been living under a rock or what?" an informed player interjected. "That's Nemesis! Number one player in Apocalypse. He's got powers in the real world, not just in-game."

"Ohhh… now it makes sense," many players chorused, heads nodding in realization.

"Sigh… guess he never changes," Aaron muttered bitterly, watching the broadcast with folded arms. "Always showing up at the last second to steal the spotlight. Now he's gonna make Sword God look weak in front of everyone. Ugh. I wouldn't wanna be in that lad's shoes. Honestly, I'd probably just curse Greg to death and log off." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

His eyes stayed glued to the screen, unable to look away from the collision of power between Brian, Greg, and the unstoppable force known as the TAINTED.