NOVEL WEB Chapter 646: Reunion
Rumble!
A low rumble echoed from above as wings wide enough to blanket the sun descended slowly over the battlefield.
The oppressive aura made the demons scurry into hiding. They had always considered themselves to be apex predators. However, the creatures above… the creature above gave a divine vibe.
"What in the heavens is that?" Hans mumbled in a dazed voice as he looked at the sky.
For a brief moment, no one moved—not even the arrogant giant prince who, just moments ago, stood fearlessly before the army of Awakened.
The proud smirk on his face had long been wiped off, and his greatsword, still raised, was suspended mid-air.
Because what loomed above was something not even his father, the Giant King, would underestimate.
Massive creatures… they were over ten in number, more than enough to wipe out everyone present.
Meanwhile, the citizens of the Cromwell Barony were in a trance-like state when they heard the voice that came from above.
"That voice…" Aina's eyes widened slightly in shock.
It might have taken the others longer to remember, but she couldn't forget. After all, the voice belonged to only one person.
Gracefully and slowly, the dragons began to descend. Both giants and humans cleared from the area.
BOOM!
The moment several dragons touched down, a tremor passed through the ground as dust rose and pebbles scattered in every direction, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the dust finally subsided, they saw it.
Students in Vermilion Kingdom uniforms.
"Hahahaha! Kid, at this point, if someone told me you practiced all your entrances, I'd just believe it," Nathan laughed when he saw Nox.
"My babies!" Aina broke into a sprint and hugged both Nox and Nyx in a tight motherly hug.
"Let me go, Mother, you're squeezing me!" Nyx complained.
"I can barely breathe!" Nox gasped.
"You two just shut up!" Aina reprimanded. "Can't a mother bond with her kids again?"
"Wendy!" A single drop of tears slid down Celine's eyes as she rushed forward as well.
"Mother." Unlike her mother, Wendy's tears flowed freely like a dam as she rushed into her mother's open arms.
"I thought something bad happened to you… Oh, my poor child, you've become so lean."
"Nox is back, everyone!" a certain bald boy with bruises shouted, his body trembling with excitement.
"Hahahaha! These giants must have the worst luck in the world!"
Previously, it had looked as if a violent battle was about to erupt between the giants and the human Awakened. But now, after the arrival of Nox and the others, the Awakened seemed to ignore the giants completely—as if they weren't even worth their time—instead focusing on celebrating Nox's return.
"You don't look well," Nathan said, furrowing his brows as he helped Bridget off one of the dragons.
"I'm a bit better now, all thanks to your grandson," the headmistress said as she looked at Nox with grateful eyes.
If not for him, she didn't know how—or when—they would have escaped that cursed island filled with constant battle.
Nathan stared at Nox, whose face turned red as Aina continued to hug him and Nyx, showering them both with kisses.
"How is the capital?" he asked, looking at Bridget with serious eyes. "I heard what she did, and honestly, I'm just as shocked… I knew something was off when those people started visiting."
"H-How do you know about what happened in the capital?" Bridget narrowed her eyes.
It was at that moment that she noticed a figure emerge from the back of the crowd.
Grey eyes. Grey hair.
It was none other than the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild himself—Boris.
"Father?" Theo's eyes widened when he saw the man, and he didn't even realize when his body moved on autopilot.
"Hahahaha! I knew you were stubborn like me. I always knew you'd make it out alive." Boris Fanum laughed as he embraced his son.
Although he tried to put on a brave front, in truth, he had been worried. After killing a high-level demon, he had rushed toward the academy—only to discover it was completely overrun by demons, with hundreds of instructors slain.
He had no option but to retreat to somewhere safe. Even though he truly cared for his son, charging into an academy harboring thousands of demons wasn't a good idea.
Moreover, there was Vom and several powerful existences who were just as strong as him.
"I'm glad you're safe, boy."
All around, reunions were happening. The air became somewhat awkward for the giants, whose gazes alternated between the celebrating humans and each other.
"Nox…" Akira whispered under her breath. Her voice was so low it could easily have gone unnoticed, but somehow, it still reached Nox's ears.
He swiftly escaped from his mother's grip, leaving Nyx with a wronged expression, as if he had betrayed her.
"I have a lot of questions for you," Nox smiled as he approached the Valkyrie Princess whom he had once met in a random dimension. "But I'll refrain from that for now. How have you been, Princess?"
"Y-You… where have you been?!" Akira shouted the words, half worried and half angry, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I had some trouble to take care of. But I didn't expect to see you here—in the human continent, in my hometown to be specific." Nox furrowed his brows. "What happened? How did you end up here?"
Akira wiped a trail of tears that had managed to escape her eyes. Her expression darkened, and in an irritated voice, she explained everything to Nox.
"So… they want to force you to marry the disgusting giant you dislike with a passion?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes." She responded, fists clenched.
Nox slowly turned toward the giants.
"Y-You're the one in the portrait!" Gideon stuttered when he finally saw Nox clearly. He quickly retrieved a parchment that had been made back in Valhalla and checked it.
Indeed—it was the same person.
The same person he had sworn to crush when they crossed paths for stealing his bride from him.
The giant's eyes suddenly turned red in anger.
"Y-You! Are you the one who infiltrated the dimension back at Valhalla?!"
"What a stupid question to ask… Are all giants this dumb, or do you just need an official confirmation?" Nox tilted his head to the side mockingly.