CHAPTER 430: CAIRO AND ME

I lay stretched out on Silver’s back as he soared through the open skies, gliding past soft white clouds. The wind brushed against my face, cool and light, carrying away the smell of blood and ash that had clung to me for days.

"Ahh, such a beautiful day. That place really sucked," I muttered, folding my arms behind my head.

’Yes, other than the fighting, I didn’t like it either. Too dull, too grey for me,’ Silver’s voice echoed in my mind, his tone carrying the same weariness I felt.

For the last four days, my small crew of summons and I had been stuck in the lost continent—or what was left of it. A shattered land crawling with Abominations. Day after day, battle after battle, their screams filled the air as we cut them down. There was nothing else to do there, no real rest, just endless combat.

I glanced at the glowing numbers floating before me.

[Billion Ironhart – Level 295]

Four days, and still no sign of slowing down. We had decided to give ourselves a handicap, to push everything we had—our skills, our laws, our endurance—to the edge. If there was ever a place to sharpen ourselves, it was that wasteland.

’I think the feud between Ragnor and Lyrate is getting too serious,’ Silver’s voice broke into my thoughts.

A short laugh escaped me. "It’s fine. Ragnor’s too stubborn to admit he isn’t the strongest among the summons. Let them fight it out. They’ll figure it out sooner or later."

’Doesn’t matter,’ Silver said with pride. ’In the sky, I am the strongest. None of them can match me.’

I smirked and gave him a pat on his back. "Sure, sure you are."

My eyes drifted back to the endless blue stretching above, dotted with lazy, drifting clouds. A strange calm settled over me. After four straight days of battle and the constant shrieks of Abominations, the silence of the sky felt like a blessing. For the first time in days, I let myself simply enjoy it.

I had made up my mind to visit my grandmother. It had been far too long since I last saw her, and something inside me told me I needed to.

After that, in just a couple of days, we would be heading to Peanu. That trip would be different—loud, messy, filled with chaos and death. A storm waiting to happen.

For now, though, Silver carried me through the skies, his wings cutting clean through the air as we flew toward Cairo.

I had first thought about crossing directly into the realm and then making my way across from there, but Silver’s suggestion to simply fly felt better. I agreed with him—it was slower, but it gave me time to breathe.

The flight took us another hour.

Finally, Cairo spread out beneath us, its streets alive with the usual mix of noise and movement. Silver swooped low and landed smoothly outside my house. I gave him a small pat before sending him back to the core, then stepped inside without delay.

The first thing I wanted was a bath. So I took a cool, refreshing bath, letting the water wash everything off me until I felt lighter. Afterward, I put on my hoodie, the familiar comfort of it settling over me, and made my way to the living room.

Sinking into the couch, my eyes drifted to the wall. There hung the portrait of my family. I stared at it for a long time, and slowly, my expression hardened.

That picture wasn’t just a memory—it was a reminder. A reminder of why I couldn’t stop, why I had to keep pushing, keep growing stronger. I needed answers. I needed to find the truth. And above all, I needed to find my parents’ souls, no matter where they were hidden.

While I was busy thinking of the next steps of my life.

The door opened without a knock. My grandmother stepped inside, dressed in her military uniform, her hair tied neatly back. Her presence alone filled the room with calm.

"Billion," she said, her voice steady, yet carrying warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I stood up quickly. For a moment, all the stuff I had done I forgot, and I moved without thinking. I stepped forward and hugged her. She was smaller than I remembered, but her arms wrapped around me with the same firm strength as always.

"It’s been too long," I said quietly.

"It has," she replied, pulling back to look at me. Her sharp eyes searched me as if reading every scar, every shift in my posture. Then, suddenly, her calm expression faltered. Her brows lifted in surprise.

"You... Billion, your level..." Her voice actually wavered. "You’ve surpassed me."

I gave a small nod. "Guess I did."

For a long moment, she just stared at me, caught between pride and disbelief. Then she let out a small laugh and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be congratulating my grandson for outgrowing me. You’ve done well, Billion. More than well."

"Thank you, Grandma," I said softly.

She gave a small smile, then tilted her head. "Now, tell me, what would you like to eat? I’ll cook something for you."

I shook my head. "No. Today, let me cook for you. I’ve been watching some cooking videos lately. It’s not much, but I want to try."

Her eyes widened slightly again, then softened. "You, cooking for me? That I’d like to see."

I grinned faintly and made my way to the kitchen, pulling ingredients from the fridge and cupboards. Simple things—vegetables, rice, eggs, spices. My grandmother sat at the table, resting her chin on her hand, watching me with quiet amusement.

"You move like a soldier even in the kitchen," she said.

I laughed. "It’s the training. Hard to shake it off."

As the rice simmered and the vegetables sizzled in the pan, we talked. Not about battles, not about Essence or power, but about ordinary things. She told me about her current mission, the new recruits in the military, the way Cairo had changed in the past few months. I listened, adding salt and stirring, realizing how much I had missed hearing her voice.

When the food was ready, I placed it in front of her. "It’s simple," I said. "But it’s from me."