Even with the weight of four consciousnesses far beyond his own bearing down on him, Apex didn't seem to care in the slightest. As for the pain? He relished in it. It fueled something deep within him, likely stoking from the Barbarian Race he was meant to be born into.
But as with all things, Existence had forsaken him and he had ended up as a Variant Invalid instead. As far as he was concerned, there was no pain greater than that. What could these mere beasts do to him?
"Why have you summoned me here, hag?"
"You are to bring the news back," Nova said without much emotion and hardly any gentleness. "We have managed to procure the Life Tablet."
"Life Tablet?" Apex raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Isn't that thing in the hands of a human brat?"Read latest chapters at novel35.com Only
"No longer," Nova replied shortly, not planning to give any further explanation.
"Then give it to me. I will take it to my master."
"No," Nova replied just as evenly.
She had no obligation to do such a thing. They weren't here in a subservient position. If so, what would be the point in everything they were doing? What purpose would all of this serve?
Apex laughed. "Stingy old hag. How absolutely ridiculous. I don't see the point in all of this posturing. You need us, not the other way around."
BOOM!
A mighty tempest of space descended from the skies and Apex was forced to his knees with such momentum that his knees dislocated, his upper legs driving into the ground and shearing away from the muscle and skin that connected them to his lower legs.
It was a truly ghastly sight, and even Nova and Astral Winds were frowning. However, they said nothing. It was hard to expect Apex to keep getting away with snubbing their noses in his careless disrespect. He spoke as though he was his master, but he wasn't. Ultimately, he was just a junior, an ant in their eyes.
The others were shocked hearing Nova curse like this, it wasn't something she ever did. But even so, it didn't seem like she was mad.
"Old Terror," Nova asked softly, looking toward the Celestial Terra Ancestor. "This won't change anything, will it?"
"No."
The voice was as old as time itself. When he spoke, rustling leaves fell to silence and loose rocks and boulders raised up from the ground. When his voice finally stopped echoing, the rocks and boulders fell, causing avalanches all around the realm.
Nova nodded, looking toward the others.
"The only hole to our plan will be if the boy exposes the fact he has taken the Life Tablet back. It will be best to try and kill to silence him, but he has also proven that he knows how to bide his time when it is necessary.
"In my opinion, his death is a lower priority matter, though something that is most definitely on the list just for the sake of tying up loose ends.
"Right now, though, our main focus should be forcing the Owlans into the light while we grapple from the shadows. While they are basking in all the pressure, we will take the reins and ascend to Godhood once more in a single bound.
"The question is, my brothers... are you prepared?"
Roars filled the skies.
"Go, boy. Report this matter to your master."
Nova swiped a wing and Apex was blown thousands of kilometers away.
...
In the Segmented Cube, Leonel sat in silence, a ticker of time continuously echoing in his mind.