Novel Full Chapter 1879: Better to be Air
Chapter 1879: Better to be Air
Rex came on time.
He came right when Lilliana was about to lose control.
Frankly, he wouldn’t mind if she attacked and killed someone as long as the person deserved it. He’d stand by her even if it meant offending some people. Across realms, he had many enemies, so it doesn’t matter if he offended a few more.
Fortunately, Lilliana hadn’t hurt anyone.
“It’s hot…” Lilliana fanned her own face. Right now, she felt like her body was on fire. “I don’t know what to do,” Her eyes began to tear up from the rampaging anger inside her. She sucked in air sharply and let it out roughly. She did it multiple times in an attempt to suppress the anger. “What should I do? I really want to kill him.”
<Notice: Lilliana is resisting the berserk state!>
<Be advised, successfully resisting the first berserk will grant Lilliana a significant boost>
Rex stared at the notifications.
He was doing this because he didn’t want Lilliana making a mess in the mall, but this changed things.
If she’ll be rewarded for enduring this, then Rex ought to help her better.
“As I said, control it. Aren’t you a pure-blooded noble?” Rex held her shaking shoulders. “Since when does a proper noble give in to their impulses? Self-control. If you can go through this, you won’t need to worry about next time.”
Of course, controlling the anger was easier said than done.
Rex knew it so well.
But it’s good to instil in Lilliana early that anger is now her source of power.
He’s not someone who excelled in self-control. In fact, he decided to take the military route because he doesn’t have control over himself. Restraining himself in a near-berserk state is impossible for him, but Lilliana could do it.
A woman with braided hair and dressed modestly approached.
“Hi, my name is Bellana,” She leaned forward, trying to meet Rex’s eyes. “Are you Rex?”
“Yes,” Rex nodded without turning to look. He wasn’t surprised that he knew, as the sisters must have mentioned him. “Care to explain what happened here?”
On the other hand, while the woman explained what was going on, Aksa was shimmering in anger.
“Is he fucking ignoring me…?” He sucked in a cold breath in total disbelief.
He stared at Rex’s back and then at his friends, as if searching for confirmation from them.
Nobody has ever ignored him like this.
It took him a second to realize that Rex was actually looking down on him.
“Gentlemen.”
Just as he inhaled deeply to say something, a voice stopped him.
A man wearing a black double-breasted coat with steel buttons and embroidery stood behind them. He is wearing the security guard outfit of the mall. And behind this man was a waiter, who should have filled in what went down on the second floor.
“I believe the situation is getting out of hand,” He gestured towards the staircase. “May I suggest a visit to the private room. All of you are VIPs here, and the restaurant is willing to compensate for a full-course dinner in exchange for your big heart.”
“I do have a big heart,” Aksa nodded, but then pointed at Rex. “But I want her to apologize to me first.”
“Okay, Sir,” the security guard’s face tightened. “I’ll ask them about this, but you and your friends may wait in the other room.”
“No—I’ll do it myself.” Aksa shook his head and turned to his friend. “Drag that girl here and make her apologize.”
“Gladly,” the man smirked and approached Rex.
Seeing this, the security guard wanted to step in, but Aksa placed a hand against his chest.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Please step out of the way, Sir.”
“I’m the person who can dictate you well being in this mall, and even your life and fucking death. Don’t force my hands. If you do, I’ll make sure to drop you into a realm that’s worse than hell. Do you want to test me and see if I’m lying?”
Ignoring the banter behind, the man with a snarky smile grabbed Rex’s shoulder.
“Yo, tell your bitch to apologize, or things will get ugly,” He demanded.
“Screw you!” Bellana retorted. “She’s not going to apologize. If anything, your master should be the one to apologize!”
A vein bulged on the man’s forehead.
Being talked to like he was a dog, and Aksa is master was infuriating, but he ignored her.
He focused solely on Rex.
“It’s okay. Squeeze my arms harder. Just find a way to regulate the anger,” Rex kept guiding Lilliana to control the anger. Even with a hand on his shoulder, he didn’t bother to turn to look. “No going berserk. No killing. You’ll endure this.”
’He’s still ignoring us…?’ The man was at a loss for words, but he quickly shook his head. He charged his energy and shot it into Rex’s body. One would feel excruciating pain from the energy seeping into the bones and internal organs. ’Let’s see how long you’re going to hold out, bastard.’
“You can’t do that!” Bellana pointed at the man and roared. “Powers are prohibited here!”
All she got in return was a smirk from the man.
She turned to her friends in frustration, “What are you guys doing? Stop him!”
“A-Ah, but he doesn’t look like he was hurting.”
“Yeah… Do we even need to help?”
“I don’t want to interfere.”
Bellana was completely thrown by her friends’ response. Anger burned in her chest. Though Lilliana is a new friend of theirs, she is still their friend. And friends ought to help each other. Still—inside, she understood why they were holding back.
None of them knew Aksa other than Aaran.
And judging from how Aaran treated Aksa, it was certain that he was some kind of a big-shot.
One that none of them wanted to offend.
Just as she turned to the scene again, her brows knitted together.
Even though her friends refused to help and her thought processes, the man continued shooting energy into Rex’s body. But from the very first moment, Rex hadn’t made a sound. Better yet, he hadn’t even acknowledged the man’s existence.
No matter how hard the man tries, he can’t get Rex’s attention away from Lilliana.
’Is he being serious?’ The man used more of his energy.
At this point, his hand was already glowing—and one could even see how his energy was shooting into Rex’s body like a violent stream. But that was all for nothing. A commotion interrupted him from his focus. Behind, the security guard who was trying to push through got slapped on the face and knocked over.
Aksa loomed over the security guard, eyes blazing with wrath.
“Hurt him! I’ll take responsibility.”
“As you wish.”
From the inside of his neat and tidy blazer, the man took out a pocket knife. The blade was black, and its edges pulsed with an orange glow. “Blame yourself for acting tough,” He whispered into Rex’s ears smugly. “You should’ve stayed quiet. That bitch already has her hooks in you. You’re nothing but her lap dog.”
Since Aksa was going to take responsibility, the man struck.
He swung the knife straight at Rex’s neck.
Of course, the man wasn’t aiming to kill Rex. But this slash would certainly cause major bleeding.
’It wouldn’t be my fault if he died from loss of blood and energy,’ the man grinned.
Before the knife could reach him, Rex raised a hand and caught the blade mid-strike. He stopped it as if it were a child’s toy. Then, he shoved the man away. No flair. No wasted motion. His push looked so weak it seemed almost useless.
But the man knocked over, crashing onto a table and sending tableware down to the floor.
Had it not been for the carpet, everything would’ve shattered.
At that sound, Aaran snapped out of his daze and blinked, “Okay, that’s enough! No more!”
Bellana didn’t know what Aaran was even aiming for by saying that.
Across, Aksa stared at the scene in shock.
He was expecting the man to finish the task quickly, but this happened inside.
Brak—!
Like a raging bull, the man threw everything his hands could reach out of his path and forced himself to stand back up. His face was contorted in anger now. Shame has regressed his mind to that of an animal. Nose flared, eyes wide, chest pumping heavily and rapidly, and fists balled into white-knuckled hammers.
He was a man who was ready to cross the line.
And he did.
“Die!!”
Lowering his stance a bit, the man slashed the knife at empty air.
It fired an arcing energy slash that rippled against the mall’s suppression.
Seeing that Rex was still not moving. Still consoling Lilliana. The man smirked in contempt.
No chance Rex could block that with his skin.
Rex is going to be decapitated, and he only has his arrogance to blame for underestimating the man.
Clang—!
But to the man’s shock, his energy arc that could cleave through anything had frozen mid-track.
A reddish glow. Something that he couldn’t make sense of had wedged itself in the way, grinding against his power with violent friction, spewing sparks like a dying star. He poured a lot of his energy into that attack. Perhaps too much. The anger made him pour more than he intended.
Even then, Rex had stopped it.
However, as shocking as it was, the fear on his face didn’t originate from that.
It came from another thing entirely.
For the first time throughout this ordeal, Rex’s attention was finally on him.
Rex’s crimson eyes stared the man in the eyes. He didn’t speak. He did not scowl or snarl. He didn’t even look at the energy eyes. And that stare was enough to lock the man’s body, forcing his muscles into a forceful spasm.
He understood then, with primal certainty, that he was prey that encountered a predator with a full belly.
It was entirely up to him whether the predator would attack or not.
And only at this moment did the man finally realize one thing.
Better for him to be treated as nothing but air than to have Rex’s full, undivided attention.
“He used his energy and attacked me with the intent to kill.” Rex’s voice was not loud—but enough for everyone to hear. “I didn’t instigate him. I didn’t do anything personally to him. And yet he attacked. If I retaliate right now, it’s self-defense, right?”
“Sigh…” the security guard sighed. “Yes, it’s self-defense. As long as it’s within the limit.”
“Sir, please don’t go overboard…” the waiter beside the security guard asked with an acute smile
Nonchalantly, the security guard raised his hand and made a flick.
A sound like a great inhalation tore through the restaurant’s second floor. It was loud—as if something was trying to empty the very air around. But it wasn’t sucking out the air. It was energy. All energy was suppressed to the limit.
Nobody could use their energies anymore.
Even the man’s energy disappeared from his hands, leaving him bare and defenseless.
“I’ve placed the second floor in a dimensional bubble,” the security guard said as he rubbed the ring on his index finger. The mall’s name was engraved there. “You can only use your fists. I am also obligated to call my colleagues. But since I think I’m impaired from the slap, I suppose I can’t call them for at most five minutes.”
“Maybe more?” He stared at Rex.
Everyone stared at the security guard as if he were a ghost.
Nobody expected him to side with Rex like this.
But then again, it’s wise to show respect when one can’t withstand the consequences of disrespect.
Rex succeeded in that, while Aksa and his friends failed.
A slow smile curled on Rex’s lips at the question, “Five minutes are more than enough.”
Rex turned from Lilliana and faced the man, who swallowed thickly at the smile spreading across his face. He cracked his knuckles, tilted his head just slightly, “Besides, though my energy control is good, I’m still far better with my fists.
“You ask for my attention? Now you have it.”