Revenge: A Path of Destruction
Chapter 165: Leaving

Chapter 165: Leaving

Reaching the edge of the mountain peak, where jagged stone steps spiraled downward like a path carved by ancient titans, Alex paused and glanced at Nyxara. The cold wind swept through his hair, carrying with it the scent of distant trees and wild magic.

Nyxara met his gaze, her feline eyes narrowing slightly. With a sharp nod, she leapt from his shoulder. Mid-air, her body began to shift—bones elongating, muscle expanding, fur rippling like wind across water.

By the time she landed, the petite tigress had transformed into her true, awe-inspiring form: a massive, sleek predator with black and silver stripes that shimmered under the sun like runes of storm-forged steel.

Alex landed on her back without hesitation, his body moving in perfect sync with hers.

Aetheria had graciously offered one of her own beasts to carry them down the treacherous descent—but Alex and Nyxara had declined. As they still didn’t trust her enough, especially since they showed her the contract.

And so they moved.

Nyxara lunged forward, paws striking the stone with practiced grace as she launched them down the slope. Thunder cracked with every stride—no, not thunder, but the crackling hiss of black lightning that danced along her body and arced from her limbs, leaving smoking trails in the air.

Their descent was a blur of motion and raw power.

From afar—if one happened to be anywhere near what was once known as Mont Blanc—they might catch a fleeting glimpse: a colossal tigress streaking down the mountainside like a living bolt of fury, a figure on her back veiled in lightning, descending not as travelers but as omens.

In less than a few minutes, they had reached the base.

The mountain now loomed behind them like a fading monument to what had just occurred.

Without a word, Nyxara veered into the dense forest ahead, paws silent on the ground despite her size. Trees parted before her with respect born of fear and legend.

Alex sat on her back, silent and watchful, as they disappeared into the shadows of the woods—heading straight for the human lands that lay across the fractured continent once called Europe.

---

It had been more than a week since Lauren arrived in Europe to search for Alex.

She had used every resource the Association could offer—surveillance systems, movement trackers, even personal networks of informants spread across the major cities. Yet, it was as if Alex didn’t exist. A ghost.

The Wind Clan had granted temporary monitoring rights, allowing her team access to street-level and aerial surveillance feeds across the continent. It should’ve been enough. But Alex remained unseen—no airport scans, no traffic logs, no gate records. Nothing.

And that bothered her more than she cared to admit.

Right now, Lauren sat at a desk in an office provided by the European branch of the Association, the branch manager, had arranged everything personally, ensuring she had space to work, as all matters concerning Alex had now fallen into her hands.

The desk was cluttered with documents. Not the mess of disorganization, but of pressure—each folder another dead end, another false lead.

Her eyes scanned a printed report. She didn’t blink. She hadn’t blinked in a while.

A knock came at the door.

Without looking up, she answered flatly, "Come in, Liam."

There was no hesitation as Liam stepped in. He wasn’t surprised. He knew she had sensed him long before his knuckles touched the wood.

---

Liam stood just inside the room, his eyes fixed on Lauren. She hadn’t changed much since the day they landed. Buried in reports, analysis logs, field surveillance footage—anything with even a whisper of Alex’s name. Every lead, every dead end, every vague trace was routed through her.

And not once had she stepped back.

It wasn’t just determination. It felt heavier than that.

Liam’s frown deepened. For someone who claimed she didn’t know the boy personally, Lauren’s obsession made no sense. He’d caught her working past midnight more than once. Caught the light under her door long after the branch had gone quiet. Now, the signs were all over her—dark circles beneath her eyes, her posture tighter than usual, and a distant sharpness in her tone that wasn’t there before.

He watched her in silence for a few more moments before finally speaking.

"Hey, Lauren... I think you need a break."

"I’m fine," she said without looking up.

But Liam didn’t drop it this time. He took a step forward, folding his arms. "You’re not fine. It’s been over a week since we arrived, and you haven’t rested.

Even for you, two straight weeks of no real sleep is too much. You’re starting to burn out—your eyes have bags under them, your focus is slipping. You need to take a step back, at least for a while."

Still, Lauren didn’t lift her head. Her fingers flipped another page, her eyes scanning as if she hadn’t heard him. "I said I’m fine, Liam."

That was the final straw.

"I don’t get it," he snapped, his voice suddenly raised. "Who is he that you’re this obsessed with? Because I don’t understand! Is he really worth all this?"

Her hand froze mid-turn.

The silence that followed was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room like glass. Then, slowly, Lauren placed the paper down and looked up at him.

Her eyes met his, calm but steady. And when she spoke, her voice was quiet, controlled. "You’re right. I need to rest. I’ve been... a little carried away. For that, I’m sorry."

Liam blinked.

He had been ready for her to argue—to snap back, to double down like always. But this—this calm acknowledgment—threw him off. She didn’t even sound defensive. Just... tired.

"...Alright," he said softly, not quite sure how to respond.

He made his way over and sat opposite her, watching as she began neatly gathering the files on her desk.

What Liam didn’t know, what he couldn’t see, was just how close she had come to saying something else after his outburst. Something she didn’t want him to hear.

He means more than you could imagine.

But she’d swallowed the words. Let them die before they reached the surface.

Now, she listened quietly as Liam spoke again, his voice softer, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. She nodded occasionally, organizing the documents into a closed pile.

And for now, that was enough.

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