Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1004: Aether is wicked than Xara?: Part-1

Kai and Leon fought fiercely against the creature. For them, it was almost too easy at first. The creature was clearly unfamiliar with this world, sluggish in its reactions, its movements uncoordinated, like it hadnʼt fully adapted to the fight.

Aether and the others stood on the edge of the battlefield, watching the chaotic exchange unfold.

Kai moved with fluid, silk-like precision, his swords slicing through the air with deadly grace. Each movement looked effortless, yet powerful.

ʼHe has grown... betterʼ Aether thought with serious thought.

Leon, on the other hand, used his elemental water magic with skill and control, casting his signature water bubble attack. The sphere expanded rapidly, crashing into the creature and exploding with a burst of force, sending it flying backwards.

Aether hummed at Leonʼs fight... too good.

But still, the creature didnʼt give up. It struggled to catch Vesperine, its singular, mindless focus locked onto her.

Yes… that thing was still chasing Vesperine.

”Do you know why itʼs acting like that?” Aether asked, narrowing his eyes.

Xara slowly shrugged her shoulders, eyes not leaving the creature. ”Iʼm not sure...” she said softly, then hesitated before adding, ”But maybe... maybe Kai had deeper feelings for that woman than I realised. Itʼs like those emotions... are being reflected in the creature somehow. Thatʼs what I believe, anyway... Itʼs... fascinating,” she muttered in a tone filled with awe, almost like a scientist discovering something groundbreaking. Her fingers twitched subtly, as if aching to experiment, to test the boundaries of her creation. She was completely absorbed.

Just then, her gaze flicked and landed on Aether—who was quietly watching her. Her heart skipped. Caught under his gaze, she blushed faintly and lowered her head, embarrassed.

Aether softly shook his head. He already knew what she was thinking. That look in her eyes, that fascination—it wasnʼt just about the creature. It was about control, creation, emotion... a reflection of her heart, and now it had taken a form.

He let out a slow sigh, glancing to the side at Selene. She hadnʼt spoken once. She stood still, quiet, her expression unreadable.

Aether took a step back, getting away from others, and leaned toward her gently. His voice dropped to a soothing tone. ”You can go home if you want... Iʼll handle things here. You donʼt have to force yourself to stay.”

Seleneʼs eyes lifted to meet his. He looked at her with a mix of tenderness and love, his concern reaching her deeper than any words.

”I... I... really—” her voice cracked. She couldnʼt finish the sentence. Emotions swirled in her chest, too heavy to speak.

Aether pulled her into a gentle hug, wrapping his arms around her with care. No one noticed them—everyone was too busy staring at the ongoing battle.

”Just take your time...” Aether whispered into her ear, holding her close.

Selene slowly turned her gaze back to the battlefield, then to her mother, who remained fixated on her creation.

She had never seen her like this before—so immersed, so different. It was as if she was seeing a new side of her, one both inspiring and slightly terrifying.

And she herself... she needed time. Alone. She needed space to process everything—what had happened to her, what she had felt. So, she turned to leave, but just as she took a step, she paused.

Her voice was low, full of restrained rage and sorrow. ”Kill that thing...” she whispered to Aether before walking away without looking back.

Aether quietly hummed. He turned around and walked back toward Xara, who remained deeply fixated, awe still shining in her eyes.

However,

”What... what did she say?” Xara asked, her voice trembling slightly, her body tense with apprehension.

Aether blinked, looking at her with a soft, mildly surprised expression.

Xara bit her lip, her expression weakening. ”I... I really do love children... even if Iʼm not normal, Aether,” she said quietly, almost ashamed, yet desperate to be understood.

Aether lowered his eyes gently. Even with her strange behaviour, even with her distraction... he could feel it. She loved her children. She cared deeply, even if her way of showing it was different.

He sighed softly. ”She... asked me if itʼs possible to kill that thing,” he finally answered, his voice low but firm.

Xaraʼs lips trembled violently. Her creation... her child... She clenched her fists, her lips quivering. ”W-What are you going to do? Are you really going to kill it?” she asked, her voice cracking under the weight of pain and conflict.

Aether turned his gaze to the battlefield. The creature had changed. It was flying faster now, its body regenerating swiftly, dodging attacks with more skill than before. It started gaining the upper hand. Its growth wasnʼt just physical—it was learning, adapting at a dangerous pace.

Blood spilled across the ground—Leonʼs cheek was cut. Kaiʼs arm bore a deep gash. The fight was no longer easy.

Aether frowned, clenching his fists. The air around him pulsed slightly as he channelled energy through his legs. He uttered, ”I believe in you” Without hesitation, he stomped on the ground and shot forward, landing in the centre of the fight, interrupting it.

He stood like a referee in a fighting game, tall and commanding, spreading his arms out to both sides.

”Enough!” he yelled. ”Thereʼs no point in fighting like this! Canʼt you see... itʼs healing itself!” He pointed at the creature, whose wounds were visibly closing up with each passing second.

Kai growled in frustration. ”So what?! Iʼll cut it into pieces before it can even heal!!” he roared, stomping the ground in fury. Blood dripped from his blade, sweat clung to his forehead.

Aether turned to the creature, speaking louder. ”And you... Your mother was worried about you. Listen to her! She didnʼt want you to get hurt!” he said, raising his voice with forceful emotion. He wasnʼt even sure if the creature could understand, but he had to try.

Xara watched Aether. Her heart ached. He stood between them, trying to bring peace... trying to protect both sides. Her lips trembled as his words echoed again in her mind—ʼI believe in you.ʼ

He trusted her... He believed in her... He wanted her to be happy... despite everything. That much, she understood from the way he looked at her.

She clenched her fists, a storm of emotions building within her. Her creation… her child… her failure…

The creature blinked at Aether, its eerie eyes twitching with confusion. But then, its expression twisted—its face contorted into pure disgust.

”Slave!!!” the creature suddenly screamed. It was the first time it had spoken a proper word—clear, sharp, and filled with venom.

Before anyone could react, its nails elongated, warping into black, dragon-like claws. With a guttural snarl, it lunged straight at Aether, moving with terrifying speed.

Aetherʼs lips twitched violently, a flicker of surprise and anger, ”Fucker,” he muttered under his breath, already stepping back to let them fight.

But just as he stepped back when Kaiʼs sword suddenly appeared at one side of Aetherʼs neck, while the creatureʼs newly formed claws reached the other side—both blades and talons gleaming inches from slicing into him.

Aether froze, breath catching.

Xaraʼs eyes widened in horror, her hand flying to her mouth. ”What the hell...? Theyʼre going after Aether?!”

In that split second, Aether crouched low, instincts kicking in. The sword and claw clashed with a sharp metallic screech just above his ducked head, sparks flying as steel met scale.

Tanngg!

He twisted his body mid-movement and rolled across the dirt, barely avoiding being decapitated.

With a swift motion, he stood back up, face darkened in frustration.

”The hell are you doing?!” Aether snapped, frowning as he glared at Kai.

Kai blinked, his expression oddly unreadable as he turned his eyes to the creature. The creature blinked back, pausing mid-air. For a strange, eerie moment, they just... stared at each other.

Something passed between them... A flicker of understanding... A silent, dangerous alignment.

They both turned their heads in perfect sync to stare at Aether again.

”Oi...” Aetherʼs frown deepened, his posture shifting into defence.

Kai smirked, a dark grin forming on his lips. ”You know... maybe we should finish him off first. Otherwise, heʼs just going to keep getting in the way. Always stopping our fight.”

The creature hissed in agreement, eyes narrowing with cruel joy. ”Slave. must. die!” it declared, its voice dripping with hatred.

”Indeed,” Kai murmured, smirking wider as if he felt some twisted sense of unity now. A strange bond sparked between him and the creature—dangerous, primal, and completely unhinged.

Leon and Vesperine stood off to the side, their faces tightening in confusion and disbelief.

”What the hell is going on?” Leon muttered, his hand gripping his weapon tighter.

”Why are they... suddenly friends? What is this?” Vesperine whispered, her voice tense, trying to comprehend the unnatural shift.

But there was no more time for questions.

In perfect synchrony, Kai and the creature dashed toward Aether, their auras flaring—one of fury, the other of madness.

Aether narrowed his eyes, watching every inch of their approach. His body shifted fluidly, dropping low as Kaiʼs blade slashed through the air above him.

sssnngg!

With a quick spin, Aether twisted his body, letting the creatureʼs claw pass just inches from his chest. He didnʼt just dodge—he anticipated, read their rhythm. The two werenʼt attacking randomly—they were in perfect sync.

A terrifying, unnatural coordination... But Aetherʼs mind was sharper.

Kai slashed again from the side. Aether ducked, pivoted, and twisted his arm up as he escaped from the slash.

Before he could recover, the creature somersaulted midair and came crashing down from above, claws extended to rip Aether open.

Aether crossed his arms and caught the blow on his forearms, sliding back on the ground with the force of the impact, boots scraping along the dust and stone.

Sttttrrrrrrrrrrr!

Then he bent backwards like a wave as Kaiʼs sword came for his neck from behind—flowing under it with unnatural grace.

He rolled to the side, kicking up dirt to blind them for a second. His breathing stayed calm. Measured. Not a single word spoken. His eyes were locked in—reading, calculating, surviving.

Kai lunged in again, blade flashing in wide arcs. The creature backed him up with erratic movements—claw slashes that spun in a frenzy, swiping from angles that were nearly impossible to predict.

But Aether was like water. He weaved between them, his feet gliding across the field. One moment, he ducked under a claw; the next, he tilted his head just enough for Kaiʼs blade to miss his ear by a hair.

His arms spun as he blocked with his forearms, elbows, shoulders, and even his knees when needed. Aetherʼs style wasnʼt just trained—it was instinctual, honed by life and death.

Every motion of his was efficient, precise. He never overreacted. Never wasted a breath.

The ground cracked under them. The heat from the creatureʼs aura was rising. But Aether kept slipping through, making them clash into each other more than they touched him.

He diverted their combo attacks like a flowing current, bending metal—redirecting rather than resisting.

His breath hitched, only slightly, when the creatureʼs claws almost near to... Kaiʼs neck, Aether snapped his finger as a small spark flickered, blowing the claw from Kaiʼs neck.

Kai didnʼt see that, just tried to attack Aether.

Aether managed to escape every single one of their attacks, dodging and diverting even their tightest, most punishing combinations. Their movements were flawless—more than just sync. It was as if they were reading each otherʼs minds.

Not even Aether, with his finest puppets, had ever achieved this level of linked rhythm.

Kaiʼs frown deepened with every missed strike. His movements became rougher, more aggressive.

ʼHow in the hell… is he escaping us like this?ʼ he thought, frustration blooming behind his eyes. ʼIt looks easy... but itʼs not. Itʼs not!ʼ

Aetherʼs body flowed like wind and fire, never allowing them to box him in, no matter how tight their formation.

Kai gritted his teeth.

”LEON!” he suddenly roared, unable to suppress the annoyance boiling inside.

Without hesitation, Leon opened his mouth and spat a massive stream of flame directly behind Aether, the blaze roaring and twisting like a serpent of hell.

The heat seared the air.

Aether flinched. He stepped forward, away from the inferno threatening to roast him alive.

Just then—

Kkccchh—

The creatureʼs claw slipped in.

It slashed across Aetherʼs forearm—shallow, but real... Skin split open in a bright red line.

Drip…

A single drop of blood slid from the cut, hitting the ground.

And that… was all it took.... for someone to finally snap!

”KAAAIIII…”

Aetherʼs lips curled up wickedly with a wicked expression as he glanced behind Kai and the creature... Xara who had a dark expression.

ʼHehehe~ʼ He grinned inwardly.