The Masked Virtuoso-Chapter 156: Kael vs. The Pervert Cult!?

The world was still adjusting to its newfound peace. The Rift was gone, reality had been rewritten, and yet—Kael found himself staring at a sight so absurd, so completely ridiculous, that he almost wished the world had stayed broken.

Standing before him, adorned in flowing crimson robes embroidered with golden symbols of questionable meaning, was a man who exuded an air of unshakable confidence. His extravagant golden hat was almost offensively large, casting a shadow over his smirking face.

The man pointed dramatically. "My new member! Let’s go!"

Kael blinked. He stared. Then blinked again.

His eye twitched. "...So this is what Ethan did."

Somewhere, in whatever celestial battlefield Ethan had vanished to, Kael could feel his old friend laughing.

"You have got to be kidding me," Kael muttered, rubbing his temples. "This is a joke, right?"

The High Priest took a step forward, his voice booming. "No joke! You have been chosen! The great and honorable Pervert Cult welcomes you with open arms! Accept your fate!"

Kael was already drawing his sword.

"Oh, I will accept my fate." His voice was dangerously low. "The fate where I cut you down and end this madness."

The cult members—an entire horde of them, all dressed in the same ridiculous crimson robes—began to gather behind their leader. Some were chanting. Others were...Kael shuddered. No, he refused to analyze their actions any further.

One of them produced a scroll. "As dictated by Article 69 of the Holy Pervert Scriptures—"

Kael sliced the scroll in half with a single swing. "No."

"Blasphemy!" the cultists gasped in unison.

Kael exhaled sharply. He was so close to starting a massacre.

And then—

A soft laugh.

Kael froze. He turned his head slowly, his silver eyes widening.

There, standing at a safe distance, was her.

Princess Lysara.

Dressed in a flowing blue gown that shimmered in the sunlight, her golden hair framed her delicate features as she watched the scene with an amused smile.

Kael sighed deeply, shoulders slumping. "I’m going to forgive you, Ethan. But only because she’s here."

The High Priest blinked. "Wait. Who’s she?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Kael didn’t answer.

Instead, in one smooth motion, he lunged forward, wrapped an arm around Princess Lysara’s waist, and hoisted her into his arms.

She let out a surprised gasp before quickly regaining her composure, laughing softly as Kael turned on his heel.

"We’re leaving," he announced.

"Hold on—!"

Kael didn’t hold on. He ran.

The Pervert Cult exploded into chaos.

"AFTER THEM!"

"HE KIDNAPPED A PRINCESS!"

"IT’S NOT KIDNAPPING IF SHE LOOKS THAT HAPPY!"

Kael didn’t care. His priority was escape.

Lysara, for her part, seemed thoroughly entertained. "So, you’re still a wanted man, huh?" she teased, her arms loosely draped around his shoulders as he carried her effortlessly.

Kael grumbled. "This is your fault. You fell for a war criminal."

She smirked. "And I regret nothing."

---

THE GREAT ESCAPE (FEATURING THE PERSISTENT CULT OF PERVERSION)

Kael ran.

The cult chased.

The entire city became witness to the most absurd pursuit in history.

"STOP HIM!"

"THE HOLY SCRIPTURE DEMANDS RETRIBUTION!"

"I JUST WANT TO TOUCH HIS HAIR!"

Kael shuddered. "I hate this. I hate everything about this."

Lysara was still laughing in his arms, clearly having the time of her life. "You know," she mused, "I could walk if you let me down."

Kael snorted. "You’d trip on your dress and fall face-first into a fountain."

"...Fair point."

Their escape took them through bustling streets, across rooftops, and through (accidentally) a bakery where Kael had to apologize to a very startled old lady after knocking over her entire shelf of bread.

The cult did not stop.

Not after one hour.

Not after five hours.

Not after twelve hours.

By the time nightfall arrived, Kael had never been more exhausted in his life.

The cultists finally gave up somewhere around the outskirts of the kingdom, collapsing in a pile of crimson robes and overdramatic whining.

Kael—sweaty, irritated, and deeply regretting every decision he had ever made—finally slowed to a stop in a quiet, open field beneath the stars.

Lysara, still in his arms, smiled warmly. "You can put me down now."

Kael dropped her.

"Oof—!" She landed on soft grass, laughing even as she glared up at him. "Rude."

Kael flopped onto the ground beside her, utterly spent. "I am never letting Ethan hear about this."

She turned on her side, propping herself up on one elbow. "Why? Because he’d say ’I told you so’?"

Kael groaned. "Because he set this up."

Lysara raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

He threw an arm over his face. "Ethan knew they were here. He left me behind on purpose. He saw an opportunity for one last prank, and he took it."

Lysara covered her mouth, trying—and failing—to hold back laughter.

Kael grumbled. "Damn it, Ethan."

---

A QUIET NIGHT UNDER THE STARS

For a long while, they simply lay there, side by side, gazing up at the night sky.

The world was at peace.

For the first time in years, Kael wasn’t fighting, wasn’t running from war, wasn’t burdened by impossible choices.

He let out a slow breath, closing his eyes.

"So." Lysara’s voice was soft, gentle. "What now?"

Kael turned his head to look at her.

She was watching him, her golden eyes glowing in the moonlight, filled with something warm. Something certain.

He exhaled slowly. "I don’t know."

"Good." She smiled. "That means we’ll figure it out together."

Kael blinked.

And then—he laughed.

A deep, genuine laugh.

For the first time in a long, long time, he wasn’t alone.

Lysara intertwined their fingers, her grip firm, unwavering.

Kael squeezed back.

For the first time, he wasn’t afraid of the future.

---

SOMEWHERE FAR BEYOND

Meanwhile—somewhere far beyond the stars, Ethan stood before an ancient being, golden flames crackling around him.

The entity loomed, shifting through time and space itself, its voice echoing across the cosmos.

"You dare challenge me, mortal?"

Ethan smirked.

"Mortal? Nah." His golden eyes blazed with power. "I’m just a guy with bad ideas."

And with that, he stepped forward—

Ready to fight God.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...