Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1166: Mending the Broken Samsara: Part-6

Aether appeared mid-air, a blur—his eyes locked onto the ghostly figure floating before the crack. Her form was pale and shrouded in yellowish black mist, with yellow eyes. She turned just in time.

Second 1—

He roared.

”OUT OF MY WAY!!”

In that split second, his fist collided with her face.

CRACK!

The sound burst like thunder—his knuckles meeting her raw, ghostly face.

Her head snapped to the side, strands of her ethereal hair whipping through the air, but she didn’t fall back. She took it. Her body held firm, only swaying slightly as she stared at him—stunned. For a moment, disbelief flickered in her expression. She touched her lip, then spat something dark and sickly—like blood, laced with a shard of a tooth.

Her expression twisted with cold amusement as her hands came up, catching his wrist mid-swing.

”You’re strong...” she muttered with a dull, eerie calm. ”But not enough.”

Aether blinked. He was sure he had poured everything into that blow.

’Looks like she really was a top-tier knight back when she lived...’

Second 2—

Aether’s foot slammed into her abdomen—

BOOM!

She raised her massive sword just in time, absorbing the strike with a sharp hiss. Her heels dragged back, sliding across the wet floor. But she grinned—lifting the sword overhead—then sliced through the purple flames erupting toward her.

They parted like air, cleaved effortlessly.

Aether scowled, kicked off the ground, spun mid-air, and crashed his elbow into her shoulder.

WHAM!

She flinched. Before she could recover, his knee shot up like a bullet aimed at her chin.

Second 3—

She caught his leg—one-handed—gripping tight, and with a ghostly snarl, hurled him across the space like he was weightless.

Aether flipped mid-air, barely landing in a crouch on the wet, muddy floor. Mud splashed, his boots sliding as he launched forward again with a roar.

”LET ME THROUGH!!”

His body twisted to evade her blade—barely. The sword grazed past him, slicing wind and leaving a crackling trail of black mist. He slid under it, came up inside her guard, and drove a punch straight into her jaw.

BOOM!!

Her head jerked backward violently.

Finally, she staggered.

Second 4—

He didn’t stop.

Aether lunged, grabbed her collar mid-stumble, and yanked her forward.

THUD!

He slammed his forehead into hers with savage force. Blood sprayed from his scalp—his skin split—but from her, it wasn’t blood. It was something else... purplish-blue, ghostly ichor that sprayed like vapour under pressure.

”Rrrgh—I don’t have time for this... MOVE!!”

He roared, desperate, shaking, and flung her back with all his strength.

But Starla grinned through the blood and mist.

She released her giant sword, letting it fall behind her—and with a twist of her hips, she swung her arm deep into his stomach.

BOOOOOM!!

The punch landed like a bomb.

Aether’s eyes widened—his breath left him in one violent gasp.

Agonising pain shot through his torso. His feet lifted off the ground.

Second 5—

Veins bulged around his reddening eyes as something snapped inside him. His hand sparked—crackling with a purple blaze before vanishing mid-swing—only to reappear as it slammed into Starla’s face.

Then again.

And again.

Their fists collided in rapid fury—one after another—blows so powerful they shattered the air like glass with every strike. Shockwaves rippled around them, making the entire space vibrate like it could collapse at any moment.

Starla’s form stuttered, glitching like a damaged projection. Her body recoiled, step by step, barely able to keep up with the speed and fury he had suddenly unleashed.

But she didn’t stop.

She refused to stop.

Her blazing eyes burned hotter, the yellow flames flickering with renewed madness and will. She lifted her hand, and as if the weapon could hear her soul’s scream, the massive sword she had dropped earlier came hurtling back toward her. It spun through the air with a metallic whistle before snapping into her grasp, like it had been waiting—bound to her by something far beyond steel.

In that instant, a clear image flashed in her mind: slicing his throat open in a single brutal slash. That was how she pictured it ending.

But it didn’t.

Aether’s hands moved before thought could form. With sheer instinct and impossible timing, he caught the sword’s hilt mid-swing. The impact sent tremors through his arms, but he didn’t flinch. His muscles screamed, but he didn’t let go. Using the sword’s own momentum, he twisted his body and redirected the force, swinging it back toward her neck with a savage counterattack.

Chu—

The edge of the blade skimmed her neck.

But instead of decapitating her, it only left a shallow line—thin, red, almost mocking in how close it came.

Her hand shot up and caught the sharp blade directly, her palm digging into the edge. Purplish-blue blood oozed from the fresh wounds, dripping down her arm as she clenched the steel with trembling fingers. She stood there, breathless, staring at Aether—blood-streaked, fierce, and silent.

”I can see it now... how hard you’re fighting...” she said quietly, voice rough but sincere.

”So go. Save her.”

Aether’s gaze locked with hers. His body swayed slightly, and for a moment, the fire in his eyes dimmed. He looked down at his hands, realising they were no longer holding the sword, just an air where the hilt was there... His soul power had already vanished.

She had seen it before he had... She knew.

And yet... she hadn’t stopped him.

She had let it happen.

He didn’t ask her why.

He didn’t need to.

He turned away and rushed toward Nyx.

Her limbs were cracked and stiff, her skin dry like scorched earth. She clung to the slightly welded crack in the air, her trembling hands pressed against it, pouring the last fragments of herself into it.

”Hehe... w-with this... everything... eheh...” she whispered, her voice wobbling as her eyes clouded over.

Her words stumbled from her mouth like a broken lullaby, her breath ragged, her consciousness slipping.

Then—just as her body seemed ready to crumble—

”That’s enough,” Aether said.

His voice was soft but final.

He reached out and struck the side of her neck. A gentle yet precise touch. Her body, already so weak, couldn’t resist. She slumped forward, collapsing into his arms like a doll losing its last thread.

He caught her.

His eyes lifted, staring through the jagged air at the crack she had almost sealed. For a brief second, it stayed closed.

Then, slowly... silently... it began to split open again.

Sigh...

Her hard work... really didn’t do much!

Aether looked down at Nyx’s fragile form resting in his arms, her breath faint but present. His gaze softened, and he asked inwardly, ’She’ll be fine... right?’

[Since her essence is still inside, yes. She’ll recover. Just let her rest a while.]

The log’s honest reply echoed in his mind, unexpectedly comforting him. He blinked, surprised it responded so clearly.

Aether let out a soft hum, then turned. Starla was already there—standing silently behind him, arms extended and ready to take Nyx from him. Her gaze held no words, just quiet understanding.

Without speaking, Aether gently passed Nyx into her care.

Then, wordlessly, he sat back down. His body slumped slightly as his mind re-entered the domain within.

Inside, Grace sat on the bar waiting with her usual calm poise. A small smile played on her lips, as if she’d been expecting him.

”I assume you’ve taken care of whatever ghost was lurking in there, hmm?”

Aether gave a tired nod and a soft smile.

”Now... about the crack... Is there a way to fix it?”

Grace’s smile faltered.

She hesitated.

That pause alone made his chest tighten.

His voice cracked as he stepped closer. ”Please... I’ve really tried. I did everything I could to open the cage... but it’s not working. That damned cage—those bitches gave it to me without even asking. I didn’t even know where it was until it trapped you...”

He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling in his voice.

”You think I’m just pretending to care? Faking it?”

His eyes softened as they searched her face, desperate for a sign of belief.

”...”

Grace frowned deeply. Her sharp eyes locked onto his, searching—probing—for any trace of deceit, any shadow of manipulation.

But all she saw...

Was a boy.

A foolish, broken, innocent boy... hopelessly in love.

She exhaled sharply and muttered, ”Sigh... fine. There is another way... but—”

Aether’s eyes lit up immediately. Hope flared in his face as he leaned forward, serious now, voice low but determined.

”I’ll do anything... for my love. Just tell me... Even if it means... death!”

Grace stared at him for a second longer. Then blinked.

”You’re really an idiot,” she muttered under her breath.

[+10 AP]

”...Whatever.”

She shook her head, disappointed but slightly amused. Her wings fluttered behind her—not from annoyance, but maybe... just maybe... from a quiet flutter of something softer.

”The Samsara... it was part of me,” she began, slowly. ”But that doesn’t mean I needed to be there to make it function every time.”

”Oh? So it can run without you?”

She gave a firm nod, her cute head tilting confidently.

”Of course. I’m nothing more than a worker doing her job. Though... only I can actually do that job,” she added with a hint of smug pride.

Then her tone shifted, her eyes narrowing as she stared daggers at him.

”But the crack only appeared because of the sudden disconnection between me and the Samsara. If that hadn’t happened... this never would have happened in the first place.”

Aether felt that glare burn straight through him.

’Bitch! I’m not the one who came here!’ He screamed internally.

But on the outside, he forced a sheepish grin, keeping up the act.

”Aww come on, don’t look at me like that... I’m shy, you know...”

Grace’s lips twitched in disbelief.

She sighed again, rubbing her temple, and finally continued, ”Anyway, here’s the point. To fix this... You just need to do exactly what I say.”

Her expression turned dead serious.

”Just guide the souls.”

”...Pardon?”