The Outergod's Avatar-Chapter 62: Traitor (6)

"That fucking bitch!" Raynoel cursed as he staggered away, his hands clamped down over his neck, trying to slow the blood pouring from his wound.

The injury he sustained from Nyx was still bleeding profusely. Warm, wet blood oozed through his fingers, running down the sides of his armor, staining it a dark crimson. His breaths were shallow and erratic, every step forward driven by sheer adrenaline.

"Look at what she did," he hissed, eyes darting wildly, voice shaking. "I wasn’t even fully ready yet—but she still... Fuck!"

He winced as pain shot through his body. His legs trembled beneath him, barely supporting his weight. His vision blurred momentarily, but he shook his head and kept moving.

"It’s not over yet. I’ll get my revenge. Another day," he muttered bitterly. "For now, I need to regroup with Gallad and the others... we have to escape from here."

He limped toward the path descending the hill, brushing past tree branches and uneven terrain, his focus narrowing to survival. He was so consumed with his injury and thoughts of vengeance that he didn’t notice the figure ahead—standing silent, like a shadow waiting in the daylight—until he bumped right into him.

Raynoel stumbled back, lifting his head instinctively to meet a hard, unyielding gaze. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

A face with a deep scar cutting across one eye stared back.

Raynoel froze.

His breath caught in his throat.

It was the Legion Commander.

For a second, time stood still. The realization hit like a hammer.

’If the Legion Commander is here...’ his thoughts raced, ’...that means—’

"Damnit!" he spat, eyes widening. He hadn’t even been up here that long, but Gallad and the others were already dead.

Before he could move, he heard slow, deliberate footsteps from behind. He turned his head slightly, wincing. Sophia was approaching—with her bonded wolf Nyx at her side, pacing like a silent predator.

"Seems like you’re in even worse condition than I expected," Flavius said, his tone low and firm. He shook his head with visible disappointment. "You were always too careless while fighting,"

Raynoel gritted his teeth. His body was failing him, and now, so was his pride. He’d lost—badly. And now that his uncle was standing before him, he could feel the crushing inevitability of defeat.

He wasn’t walking away from this. Not without doing something.

There was only one path left.

"Uncle... please help me," Raynoel croaked. His knees gave in, and he dropped to the ground, blood still seeping from his fingers.

Flavius stared at him, expression unreadable.

"Please, Uncle," Raynoel said again, this time with more desperation. "I don’t want to die."

Tears welled up in his eyes, his voice cracking as he pleaded.

Flavius exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. "Something like this can’t simply go away because you say you’re sorry, Raynoel."

There was pain in his voice, like a man torn between duty and family.

"I know this is all your father’s fault," he said softly. "He never thinks of his actions."

Raynoel’s expression twisted with rage. "Don’t speak of my father that way," he spat, eyes flashing. The tears were gone now, replaced with bitter pride. It seemed he had given up on being spared.

"You’re the one who doesn’t understand," he hissed. "That’s why you continue to defend these people. Don’t act like we’re the ones in the wrong."

He coughed, blood flecking his lips.

"How can we serve someone that isn’t even one of us? Can’t you see?!"

Sophia stepped forward sharply. Without hesitation, she slammed her foot into his chest, knocking him backward. Her spear lowered, its blade gleaming in the moonlight, inches from his throat.

"Well, it doesn’t matter to me," she said coldly. "I’m just glad my face will be the last thing you ever see."

With that, she raised the spear with intent.

But before she could strike, Flavius raised his voice.

"Sophia, wait."

She stopped, her blade trembling just above Raynoel’s throat.

Flavius stared at the pitiful figure beneath him. He knew this was what Raynoel deserved. Death. Execution. Justice.

But watching his own nephew bleed on the ground, begging for his life, even now... it was cruel.

Still, this wasn’t something that could wait forever. Raynoel was too dangerous to be kept alive for long. His influence in the Legion was deep. His blessing made him difficult to restrain. Every moment he lived was a risk.

Flavius’s eyes narrowed, already weighing the options.

But before he could decide, a sudden gust swept past them.

Raynoel vanished.

Gone.

Nyx lunged toward the space he once occupied, snarling, his nose searching the air. But he was already gone.

"He got away," Sophia said, voice tight with frustration.

Flavius didn’t respond right away. He closed his eyes again.

"But can you track him?" he finally asked.

"His wound would soon stop bleeding," she said, scanning the forest. "It’ll be difficult."

Flavius let out a heavy sigh.

"He probably won’t get too far with that type of injury," he muttered. "Still... get back to quarters and organize a search party. We have to find him. At all costs."

"Yes, Commander," Sophia said with a sharp nod.

---

The next morning, Izikel was woken by a loud, thunderous banging on his door.

The knock echoed through the house, relentless and obnoxious.

He groaned and pulled his blanket over his head.

"I’m coming! Do you want to break down the door?" he shouted, voice muffled with sleep.

He dragged himself out of bed, feet shuffling, hair disheveled. When he finally opened the door, his expression soured.

"Lyzah... what are you doing here first thing in the morning?"

Then he remembered.

’Oh yeah... she slept here last night.’

"Why are you still sleeping? It’s almost noon!" she said, arms crossed.

"Why do you care?" Izikel grumbled. "It’s not like I’m hurting anybody. I don’t know why you can never just let me be at peace."

"Stop making excuses, you lazy boy," she said playfully, sticking out her tongue before running off down the hall.

Izikel stared after her, lips curling in a faint smirk.

’It seems like she’s recovered a bit from Felvin’s death... That’s good.’

It was nice to see her acting like her usual self again.

’But if this means I won’t be able to sleep to my satisfaction, I might have to consider throwing her out.’

He shut the door with a long sigh.

---

After breakfast, Izikel found himself hiding in the study.

’I’m not hiding,’ he told himself. ’I just wanted some peace and quiet.’

He stood near the book shelves, sipping from a cup of lukewarm tea.

"Is that too much to ask for in my own house?"

He paused, realizing he’d spoken aloud. His eyes darted to the door. No footsteps. Not yet. Lyzah hadn’t found him.

"How couldn’t I have seen this nightmare coming," he muttered. "It’s only been one day and I’m already regretting letting her stay...why did the commander even want her to stay here?"

He glanced at the bookshelf and pressed his ring into the small dent. A low rumble echoed as the secret door to the altar cave creaked open.

Descending into the dim, cold staircase beneath his home, he welcomed the silence. The violet hue from the Altar flame becoming brighter as he descended

And when he finally got to the end, panic bloomed in his chest.

His breath caught.

He couldn’t move.

Eyes wide, pulse hammering, he stood frozen in the center of the chamber, staring at the burning rock.

Something was wrong.

Before he could process it, he heard a sharp knock upstairs.

The door.

This time, he remembered to lock the office. The sound echoed through the cave like a bell tolling doom.

He rushed up the stairs and sealed the passage behind him.

"Lyzah, I’m not in the mood—" he called, yanking open the door.

But it wasn’t Lyzah, instead it was Sophia and Flavius.