Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 195: Unleash the Rift

Vale shuddered in the tower. The monster’s voice was like ice sliding against naked skin, malice covered in sweetness.

’...i don’t know what Vorgaelor wants, but I know it won’t be anything beneficial to me...’

"Don’t you think that is disrespectful to your host, eh, Vale Athrimir?" Vorgaelor’s voice took on a darker tone, and his eyes narrowed. He turned to Steelclaw. "Dispel the clouds."

And the former Flagbearer did. He clapped, and the cloud disappeared as if blown away by a strong wind, leaving the tower standing alone.

Vale froze. His mind hovered on using the last of his essence to teleport away, but he hesitated at the look in Vorgaelor’s eyes. The Rift Lord’s gaze glinted as if this were all just a game to him.

’...he wants me to run... He’ll catch me anyway...bastard...’

Vale didn’t run. Instead, he made his voice as calm as possible and told Slya and Tiber, "Once we get out of here, I want you guys to run as fast as your legs can take you."

They didn’t reply, and Vale sighed. He knew they wouldn’t follow his orders.

’...ah, why do I bother?...’

The tower shrank, then expelled them into the hall. The moment Vale’s body reappeared, he lifted a bow made of white bone and hair—Carnifex!

He loosed an arrow at the monster so fast that no one had time to react. The arrow vanished from Vale’s sight because he had already turned his eyes away from it. Then, his figure blurred toward the door, followed closely by Tiber and Slya a heartbeat later.

Their feet pounding against the ground was the only sound in the hall—until it suddenly stopped.

They had stopped running. Now, they were staring at the place where the door should be.

Behind them, laughter echoed—laughter that made their heads swell and their hairs stand on end.

Vale turned slowly, met with the sight of Vorgaelor laughing helplessly on his throne.

The monster waved his hand, wicked green claws glinting. "I knew it! You guys were going to try and run! That’s what you humans are good at—running away!"

"Apart from Steelclaw. He’s the only human to ever see me and look me right in the eyes. Oh, you tried a little as well, Vale Athrimir, when we first met. Small world, right? We meet again."

’...bastard... Bastard!...’

Vale clenched his trembling hands into fists and dragged every ounce of courage he had left to raise his eyes. The red moon mark on his right hand flared brighter.

"Yes, we meet again, Vorgaelor."

Vorgaelor’s eyes lit up, and he stood from his throne. "Do you see that, Steelclaw? You might have a successor in being stupidly courageous."

As the monster got closer, Vale took a step back. Even without Vorgaelor throwing his aura around, his body instinctively recognized a higher predator.

Tiber and Slya were hiding behind Vale. Even though they tried to conceal it, their limbs were trembling.

Steelclaw glanced at Vale, looked away—then slowly turned back. His eyes locked onto the Mark Order on Vale’s hand, and the lightning in his gaze flashed faster.

"Let’s do what we are here for, Lord Vorgaelor."

Vorgaelor waved his hand, then ripped a bone-white arrow from his chest. Its tip was stained with green blood.

"I assume this belongs to you, Vale of the Athrimir Clan."

He tossed it to the floor.

Vale sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes locked on the arrow.

’...I hit him after all... And the bastard doesn’t even feel a thing... Now what?... There’s simply nothing more I can do... Do I really think the Flagbearers can deal with this monster?...’

Vorgaelor sighed, his voice turning serious. "Alright, Steelclaw, stop glaring at me. I’ll do what I need to do."

He stepped back to his throne—then ripped it from the ground with a screech, revealing an altar hidden beneath.

Vorgaelor stared at the altar in contempt before turning to Vale and gesturing with one clawed finger.

"Come here."

Vale’s fear-filled body jerked forward before he forced himself to stop.

"What do you want?!"

His voice was dry and too fast. He took a deep breath, swallowed, then pushed his fear as far back in his mind as possible.

"What do you want? If you’re going to kill me, then I deserve to know. You owe me that at least. Is it because of my blood as a Athrimir?"

Vorgaelor stared at him, then shrugged.

"I don’t want to kill you. Whether you die or not is your fate, and it depends on you. I don’t care about your blood—it’s as special as mud."

"Maybe Steelclaw cares about your blood. He’s been planning for years, thinking of different ways to make you regret carrying it."

Vale resisted the urge to look at Steelclaw. He was using all his strength just to stand straight in front of Vorgaelor—he didn’t need the added burden of meeting hate-filled eyes.

"Then what do you want?"

Vorgaelor pointed at the Mark Order. "I want that."

Vale’s face tightened.

...I really don’t like it when my guesses come true... I guess what changed my life is about to change it again...

He gave himself a self-loathing smile.

’...at least I fulfilled some part of my ambitions before going... I became a Knight... It always comes back to the Mark Order...’

"You can’t take a Mark Order! It’s part of them—it’s impossible!" Slya shouted, breathing hard, as if it took all her strength just to say it.

"Of course," Vorgaelor said, placing a hand on the altar. "You’re right. But I don’t want to take it. I just want him to use it for something... his ancestor did."

At that, Vorgaelor laughed, then shook his head.

"How ironic. I wonder what he would say if he knew things would turn out this way for him. Come here, Vale. Steelclaw is impatient."

Vale took several deep breaths and stepped toward the altar.

"What exactly are you going to do?"

Vorgaelor looked at him as if he had asked a stupid question.

"I’m going to unleash the Rift."