In the misty rain, Alex, holding a black umbrella, slowly walked towards home.
Just as I was about to leave home, a familiar system notification sounded in my mind: Columbina friendship +5] [ Arlecchino ] friendship +10] Rosalyne friendship +5] Sandrone friendship -20] When he heard the final notification sound, Alex was speechless.
He wondered how he could have been demoted when he hadn’t provoked her.
Is it because I ‘m close to Columbina?
Could it be that the two of them, Makoto, are…?
As I was pondering this, a slender figure slowly came into view.
The man stood in the rain, his face covered in scars, his eyes sinister like those of a venomous snake.
” Alex,” he grinned, revealing a cruel smile, “come with me!
Lord Dottore is waiting for you in the laboratory.” Alex chuckled softly, ” Goris, I have some bad news for you— the Medical Experimental Center has been taken over by Children…
” Tartaglia is ruined.
“Ha, you think I’d believe such a low-class lie?” Goris scoffed.
Alex shrugged, his tone casual: “Don’t believe me?
Then go back and see for yourself.” Before he could finish speaking, Goris suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter full of sarcasm: “Still trying to fool me?” He paused, his expression turning cold and stern.
“Now, either you come with me obediently, or…
I’ll knock you out and drag you away.” “Then I choose—” Alex hurled the black umbrella to the ground and shot out like an arrow!
The sharp tip of his elbow tore through the rain, carrying a deep shout that broke through Aether: ” Mambas Unyielding Iron Elbow!” Goris had no time to react before he was sent flying by a powerful elbow strike, crashing heavily into the door behind him with a dull thud.
The excruciating pain contorted his facial features.
He gritted his teeth, pulled a test tube containing a strange liquid from his pocket, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
The next instant, his entire face began to fester and rot, and he exuded an ominous aura that sent chills down one’s spine.
Goris actually managed to leap from a mortal to the lower level of the extraordinary!
He stretched his limbs, his venomous gaze fixed on Alex: “You…you despicable scoundrel!
Today I will tear you to pieces and torture you slowly!” The rain intensified, its chill soaking the entire world.
Alex remained calm, only sighing softly, “Why bother?” Before he finished speaking, he raised his elbow again and slammed it straight at his opponent.
This time, Goris was prepared and held his hands tightly in front of his chest to block.
But to his utter surprise, even with all his defenses, he was still sent flying by an elbow strike once again.
Another dull thud followed as he slammed his head against the door.
“How is this possible…
You’re just a mortal!” Goris roared, his eyes filled with disbelief.
With red eyes and clenched fists, he pounced on the enemy like a madman.
But what awaited him was still being blasted away by an elbow strike.
The door behind him already had a deep dent from being smashed.
“You forced me to do this!” Goris was panting heavily, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes.
He trembled as he pulled out a second test tube—filled with black sludge that writhed like living creatures.
Grit your teeth and swallow it whole!
In an instant, his eyes turned blood red, and his aura surged wildly.
Intermediate level of the extraordinary!
Extraordinary High-Level!
The power is still rising wildly!
Faced with this horrifying change, Alex did not hesitate any longer, turned around and ran away.
Although his elbow was strong enough, his arm could not overpower his thigh.
Seeing him flee, Goris’s eyes widened in fury, and he transformed into a streak of light, relentlessly pursuing him.
His speed was astonishing; in the blink of an eye, his fingertips were almost gripping Alex’s back!
But at this very moment— His outstretched hand suddenly withered like a dead tree, followed by his arm, then his body…
In the blink of an eye, Goris collapsed like a piece of rotten, dead wood onto the muddy ground in the rain, lifeless.
Alex stopped and turned to look at the mummified corpse, panting heavily.
Rain dripped from his hair, mingling with sweat as it slid down his cheeks.
As he panted, he suddenly chuckled softly, the laughter growing louder and more unrestrained.
“Haha…
Hahaha—!” The laughter echoed freely and loudly through the rain.
Since his adoptive parents passed away, Alex has hardly ever smiled.
Their departure was like a long, silent winter for him.
Today’s satisfying revenge has finally made this winter a little less cold.
” Dottore…this is just the beginning!” He dragged his soaked and exhausted body, walking step by step toward home.
A moment later, he opened the door and went inside.
After changing into clean clothes, Alex sat at his desk and gently stroked a family photo of his adoptive parents.
He then put the photo in a drawer and got up to leave.
Dottore has suffered a great loss this time, and given his vengeful nature, he will certainly not let this go.
Staying here would be tantamount to courting death.
In fact, Alex’s decision was an extremely wise choice.
Not long after he left, Dottore’s cold figure appeared in the humble house.
He walked slowly to the desk and picked up a piece of white paper lying quietly on the table.
There were only four words on the paper: “I am your father!” Dottore expressionlessly tore the paper slowly into pieces.
With a casual toss, snow-white scraps of paper fluttered down from the sky.
“interesting…” He chuckled softly, then stepped into the cold rain.
…..
As evening approached, the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed.
The sunset glow on the horizon was like fire, dyeing the entire sky a magnificent orange-red and golden-purple, like a slowly unfolding oil painting.
The air in Aether is filled with the fresh, earthy fragrance after the rain, which is very pleasant.
Alex strolled leisurely along the wet streets, admiring the view of Winter Capital.
Not long after, he stopped in front of a luxuriously decorated restaurant.
Just as they were about to go in for a big meal, they suddenly noticed something strange.
I turned my head to look.
Across the road, Columbina was calmly “staring” at him.
Alex thought about it for a moment, but ultimately decided against saying, “I’m here to find someone.” He stepped up to Columbina and said gently, “Great Moon Goddess, your devout follower, I would like to invite you to dine with me.” “Okay,” Columbina replied softly.
The two walked into the restaurant side by side and sat down in a quiet corner.
The table was soon filled with a sumptuous feast: The aroma of grilled, crispy meat skewers, sweet and sour borscht, and rich, smooth stewed beef fills the air.
There was silence at the table, broken only by the light clinking of knives and forks and the soft sounds of chewing.
Columbina is elegant in demeanor, yet her movements are surprisingly fast.
Soon, the two of them had devoured all the dishes.
However, to Alex’s dismay, despite treating the other person to such a nice meal, their friendship didn’t improve at all.
It seems it still has to be dalieba.