Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

When Aether woke, knocking rattled the door, sharp, persistent, as if someone on the other side meant to break through by force.

Aether’s gaze lingered on it for a moment before he exhaled under his breath.

He took the mask, slid it over his face, and wove a thin illusion around himself, shaping another presence to blur his existence.

“Arh… it’s annoying,” he muttered.

Knock… KNOCK!

“Coming!”

Victor pulled the door open in one sharp motion, already prepared for trouble, only to be met with Vesperine’s hurried face.

Her breath came unevenly, strands of her hair clinging to her cheek, eyes wide with something that did not belong to her usual composure.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

If she had come to mess him up again, he would not tolerate it this time.

However, she didn’t move like someone here to provoke. She stood still, shoulders tense, lips parting before the words finally broke free.

“The Terra is about to attack us.”

Victor’s expression shifted instantly.

The irritation drained, replaced by something colder.

“How do you know?” he asked.

Vesperine flinched at that. Her gaze faltered, slipping away from his as if the floor suddenly held more answers than he did.

“I… I… Well…”

Victor clicked his tongue softly and shook his head. Whatever she was hiding could wait.

It didn’t matter right now. He stepped forward slightly, “Where? And when?”

She let out a small breath, relief flickering across her face at the shift in question.

“I don’t know the exact location,” she admitted, “But they could attack at any moment.”

Victor didn’t waste another second.

He turned away, already issuing commands through his link as he contacted his wives.

Security tightened across the empire within moments.

People were moved, guided, sometimes dragged toward safer zones.

Near the corridor’s corner, hidden behind the shadows, a pair of eyes followed their departure.

“She really managed to get close to him… even after I told her not to…” the voice muttered, low and sharp, carrying quiet irritation. A soft click of the tongue followed.

“Tsk, tsk… ungrateful brat.”

Across the Four Empires, the shift came like a storm.

Those who slept were torn awake, confusion quickly replaced by alarm as orders spread. People moved in hurried streams toward shelters… fear leaking through even the calmest instructions.

Guards advanced toward the edges of the barrier.

Those trained with bows were handed gun artifacts.

The weapons hummed faintly with foreign design, mirroring the ones used by the Terra forces. Some hesitated as they took them, unease flickering across their expressions, but no one refused.

There was no space left for pride or preference.

They adjusted their grips awkwardly. The attack had come too soon, stealing the time they needed to prepare.

Beneath the shelters, people held their breath without realising it, hands clenched, eyes fixed on nothing and everything at once.

Some trembled quietly, the thought of dying just like those who died previously.

Others sat in stillness, their expressions hollow, as if they had already accepted what might come.

Everyone hesitated.

Everyone worried.

Everyone felt the shadow of another loss creeping closer.

Except one.

Victor stood before the barrier, his gaze locked onto the shifting visuals displayed before him.

The faint glow reflected in his eyes, but there was no fear in them, no doubt.

Only a cold, steady focus that refused to waver.

This time, he would not allow them to step into his motherland. This time, he would end them before they even crossed the line.

Silence stretched as they all waited, hearts beating louder than any sound around them, each second dragging like the final thread before something inevitable snapped.

Ba-dump… Ba-dump…

Every heart beat in unison, as if the night itself listened along with them.

Each second stretched, heavy with the memory of their last nightmare, and the quiet only made it worse.

One hour passed… nothing came.

Two hours passed… still nobody.

Five hours passed… yet not a single soul appeared.

Selene stood still, her gaze fixed on Vesperine. Sweat clung to Vesperine’s skin, sliding down her temple.

She had dragged the entire Four Empires out of sleep in the dead of night. If her words were wrong… the thought alone tightened around her throat like a noose.

She swallowed, her throat dry, before her eyes shifted toward Victor.

He hadn’t moved as if he chose to believe her words without questioning.

[+4000 AP]

Her fingers curled into a fist, nails pressing into her palm as she tried to steady herself.

She had failed to prove she could read the values from the cards. And now this…

What if he stopped believing her?

What if she had been wrong?

The questions clawed at her, each one louder than the last.

Seven hours passed… the sky threatened dawn, a faint light beginning to creep at the horizon.

The tension slowly began to crack. People shifted, some exhaling long, shaky breaths, others glancing around as if waking from a bad dream.

The fear that once gripped them began to loosen.

“Sigh… I think we should take a rest,” Selene said.

Beside her, Emberlyn nodded, equally drained, her shoulders lowering as if a weight had been lifted.

But Victor didn’t move.

His gaze remained locked on the barrier, eyes cold, sharp, unblinking.

… And just as he expected,

A voice brushed against his mind.

’Aether… they arrived.’

****

Aurora Empire. Near the barrier.

A golden portal shimmered into existence, its edges flickering like liquid sunlight.

From within, figures began to emerge.

Black metallic figures stepped through one by one, their forms sleek and unnatural. Weapons rested in their hands, guns that hummed with contained energy, spears that gleamed with a cold sheen, and other metallic weapons.

They moved with precision, spreading out as they exited, their faceless gazes scanning the land.

Then they stopped.

A few meters ahead stood a woman.

Her red hair burned against the pale light of the portal, strands shifting slightly with the faint breeze. Her expression held cold amusement, lips curved just enough to suggest she had already decided how this would end.

Behind her stood dozens of dragon soldiers, their posture perfect, hands clasped behind their backs, like statues waiting for a command.

“Looks like we got lucky… they walked right into me at the perfect moment~” Thalia’s voice slid out, low and wicked, curling with amusement.

Her fist tightened, and a red-golden glow ignited along her knuckles, sparks crackling like restrained lightning.

Her gaze fixed ahead, taking in the sixty to eighty black metallic figures standing in formation.

They weren’t towering, nor monstrous, just eerily ordinary in shape… humanoid, each gripping weapons that hummed faintly with energy.

For a brief second, stillness held.

Then the metallic figures reacted.

They shifted, heads tilting in near-unison, as if sharing a silent command.

A ripple of motion passed through them before the front line stepped forward. Gun barrels lifted in eerie synchronisation, their surfaces vibrating with a rising mechanical hum as they locked onto Thalia and her group.

Before a single trigger could be pulled, Thalia’s soldiers moved.

Dozens of hands snapped upward at once, each gripping a compact gun that pulsed with a sharp white glow.

The metallic figures visibly flinched in shock to see those guns in the enemies’ hands.

Thalia’s lips stretched into a slow, dangerous grin.

“Now…” her voice dropped deadly, “…taste your own fucking blood, bitches~”

Her arm cut forward.

The soldiers pulled their triggers.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

White beams erupted from the guns, not just shots but violent lances of compressed light tearing through the air.

The recoil slammed into the soldiers’ arms, jerking muscles and forcing gritted teeth, yet they held on, fingers locked, refusing to stop.

The beams carved through the battlefield in streaks of blinding brilliance. In that stretched heartbeat, the metallic figures barely reacted.

Dust exploded upward.

The ground trembled.

The air filled with a storm of light and debris, flashes flickering through thick clouds as beam after beam tore through the formation.

Behind the firing line, some soldiers staggered.

A few lost footing entirely, thrown backwards by the brutal recoil. Others struggled to steady their aim, arms shaking violently as the weapons roared in their grip.

Yet none of them stopped.

They fired.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Each shot carried desperation and fury until every single soldier had emptied at least ten rounds, their breaths ragged, shoulders trembling from the strain.

Only then—

Thalia raised her hand.

The firing ceased.

Dust began to settle.

Slowly… Painfully~

“How is it…” Thalia’s voice cut through the haze, smooth and mocking, “…bitches?”

As the last veil of dust thinned, the sight revealed itself fully.

The first line of metallic figures stood frozen.

Not pierced… obliterated.

Their bodies were riddled with holes, torn open in dozens of places, jagged cavities exposing shattered internal structures.

Thick, dark blood dripped steadily from each wound, trailing down in slow streams, pooling beneath their feet.

Some twitched.

Most didn’t move at all.

Behind them, the second line stared.

Shock rippled through their structure, visible even through their rigid forms. Their heads turned toward one another, processing, recalculating… failing.

Then rage took over.

Weapons rose.

A distorted metallic roar echoed as they charged forward, their movements no longer controlled, but feral.

Thalia’s fingers curled into a tight fist.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about…” her grin sharpened, eyes blazing, “…come on.”

Flames erupted.

Her body ignited in a burst of red-golden fire, heat distorting the air around her. She slammed her foot into the ground—

The earth cracked.

And she launched.

Her figure blurred forward, flames trailing behind like a comet. As she closed the distance, time stretched once more.

Her fist pulled back.

Muscles coiled.

Flames concentrated, spiralling tightly around her arm.

Then—

BOOOMMM!!

Her punch connected squarely with the charging front.

A deafening shockwave exploded outward.

The ground shattered beneath the force, cracks spidering violently across the battlefield as a blast of fire and kinetic power erupted from the point of contact. Metallic bodies were hurled into the air, spinning, twisting, pieces tearing away under the overwhelming force.

Some soared high.

Others slammed into the ground like broken dolls.

Behind her, soldiers resumed firing.

Short bursts now, controlled.

Beams sliced through the scattered battlefield, picking off the disoriented figures struggling to recover.

Beyond the barrier, Raven stood watching everything.

Her cold eyes reflected the chaos unfolding within. Beside her, a crystal orb floated silently, its surface shimmering as it captured every second of the battle.

Across distant lands, inside shelters scattered through the four Empires, that same vision flickered into existence.

Every strike.

Every fall.

Broadcast live!

Elsewhere—

Helena and Aria moved swiftly as they approached the towers ahead to enter the barrier.

Aria lifted the white crystal.

“Lyirrs, get ready, we’re entering the barrier. Stay alert… the signal will come any moment.”

The crystal flickered.

Lyirrs appeared within, nodding once.

Back at camp,

Nightfire rested.

Her body lay still, exhaustion weighing heavily after the relentless strain of the day.

Not because she was useless.

Never that.

Her sisters knew.

This battle…

They would win.

An absolute win!

Their plan stood firm.

Or at least—

They would force it to.

Survive!!

No miracles.

Only strength.

Meanwhile…

Near a rusted, ancient spear embedded in the earth.

A soft breeze curled around it.

Ssshhh~

A golden shimmer tore into existence beside the spear, forming a portal that rippled like liquid light.

From within, a figure stepped forward.

Black metallic figure just like others, but its surface seemed to be glowing with and humming with energy, and A long, segmented tail trailed behind it, glinting faintly as it moved.

It emerged slowly.

As if it had all the time in the world.

Its faceless metallic mask turned slowly, scanning the surroundings, as if searching for any presence that might threaten its purpose.

Then, to its right.

Far in the distance.

A flicker.

White.

Blue.

Red-golden.

The colours pulsed faintly through the trees.

The battle continued there, every warrior drawn into it with complete focus, unaware of what had just emerged behind them.

The tailed metallic figure remained motionless for a moment longer.

Observing.

Then it turned.

Its gaze settled upon the spear.

The rusted weapon stood embedded in the ground.

The figure stepped forward.

It stopped just before the spear, tilting its head slightly, its faceless surface reflecting nothing, yet somehow conveying recognition.

This… was the object.

The one that had nearly annihilated their previous army.

Its hand rose.

Metal joints hummed softly as its fingers spread open, reaching forward with mechanical precision.

Closer.

Closer.

Its fingertips hovered inches away—

BOOM!

A violent burst of white light exploded against its face.

The impact snapped its head backwards, its entire body launched through the air before crashing into the ground several meters away. It rolled harshly across the dirt, limbs scraping, tail dragging behind like a severed cable, before finally skidding to a halt.

“How dare you touch what belongs to my god.”

It echoed across the space like a decree, carrying authority that pressed against the air itself.

The tailed metallic figure reacted instantly.

It sprang back to its feet. Its faceless mask now bore a visible crack running across its surface. Internal systems flickered, recalibrating, scanning—

Searching.

Its head snapped toward the source.

There—

From the shadows of the trees.

A figure stepped forward.

White robes flowed around her form, their fabric clean and pure, adorned with intricate golden embroidery that caught even the faintest light.

In her hand—

A familiar weapon.

The same type of gun.

Its surface gleamed faintly, already humming with restrained power.

Sera emerged fully into view.

A smirk curved her lips, “Just as he predicted…” her voice carried quiet satisfaction, eyes locked onto the metallic figure, “…you really came for it.”

For a brief second, her expression shifted.

The smirk faded.

Something darker surfaced.

Hatred.

Pure fucking hatred!!

“And you will not leave this place alive.”

Her finger tightened on the trigger—

BOOM!