CHAPTER 548: A NEW PLAN

They were way out of Alexander’s universe’s range. However, locking onto the location of those he assigned to guard the universe, Drakmor could deduce the location.

The dragon believed Alexander was somehow alive. However, given the desperate state of their situation, Drakmor was beginning to have second thoughts.

He knew Alexander was not one to stand by while all this happened. And his colleague was right... This Cthulhu entity was winning.

Turning his attention back to the laughing maniac, Drakmor narrowed his eyes, his gaze moving from him to Feng Xiaotian, who now had a grin on his face.

’Do you have any ideas?’

Although Drakmor agreed with his dragon colleague, they had no other alternative. Sealing them was impossible. Killing was the only feasible way.

’Actually, I do.’

Ignarok’s response, along with the appearance of four more chiefs on their side, captured his full attention. ’What is it?’ Drakmor asked, sounding a bit anxious.

’Remember that patch of nothingness Zauren and the others created?’

That was all Ignarok needed to say to make Drakmor understand what he meant. For a moment, Drakmor felt his core throb.

It was a good plan. However, after a bit of thought, Drakmor dreaded the plan. ’That would be too cruel to Alexander’s universe, Ignarok.’

’It’s the only plan we have, Drakmor.’

’He’s right.’ One of the new chiefs chipped in. ’Zauren is mad, too far gone. If we don’t get rid of him now, we might never get the chance. That universe is a small price to pay.’

’Indeed... And we have already instructed those guarding the universe to evacuate everyone. So you don’t have to worry. At the very least, his people will be fine.’

Drakmor could not refute that logic. Honestly, it was a sound plan. A low-level universe was a small price to pay to rid themselves of their mess.

And with Zauren and the others all here, it was the perfect time to eliminate them. Arriving at this conclusion, Drakmor realised the others were here to guide the fight back to that abyss.

’Shit...’

Ignarok suddenly cursed, his expression slightly changing. Drakmor did not like the sound of that very much, prompting him to demand an explanation.

’What’s going on, Ignarok?’ The dragon could tell something had gone wrong.

’They can’t enter the universe.’

’!!’

Drakmor’s eyes widened at those words. He immediately grasped the implications of those words. After all, when they came to ask for Alexander’s help, they had to knock to draw his attention.

’Fuck...’ Drakmor felt his insides twist at the idea of what his colleagues would do.

’We should think of another plan. The very first patches of nothingness are still where Alexander discovered them. We can take them there instead.’

’Yeah, but that would require void-shifting, and I doubt Zauren and his colleagues would come along quietly. This is the only way. You either join us, or you sit it out.’

’...’

Drakmor inwardly cursed. He knew his colleagues well enough to know they were dead serious. Alexander’s universe was done for.

Although their conversation might have felt long, barely a nanosecond had passed.

Zauren and the newly corrupted Feng Xiaotian looked at the freshly arrived chiefs, their grins widening.

"Kind of you to bring new existences to be corrupted," Zauren spoke freely, his cocky remark an insult to their power and pride.

"You may have taken Feng, but he will be the last time your vile essence takes over any of us."

"You sound confident, hehe."

"That’s how things are, Zauren. You’ve done enough damage to our reality. You and your Cosmic Master can no longer be allowed to do as you please!"

The moment those words were transmitted, the chiefs made their move, explosively closing in on the two corrupted Enforcers.

Drakmor, on the other hand, stayed back. He could not bring himself to participate in what his colleagues were attempting.

’But will it work?’ Drakmor was not sure.

Also, he had no intention of just watching. With a thought, he melded with the void and disappeared.

***

"What were you trying to do just now?"

Julia and the others stood before an Enforcer who had attempted to enter their universe, only to be ruthlessly rebound.

The Knight princess did not like how the Enforcer seemed to be paying attention to the universe below them than to acknowledge her presence.

And as unnerving as it was, Julia could not force the Enforcer to reply if they didn’t want to. But then, the Enforcer’s gaze settled on her and the others.

"Open the barrier."

"What?"

"It’s for the good of your universe, Missy." The Enforcer replied as if it were a chore.

"That doesn’t explain anything." Julia clenched her fists, pissed off. "You attempted to barge in, and only when you couldn’t did you even acknowledge our presence."

"The more time we waste, the higher the chances of you losing your universe. Do you want something like that?"

"..."

Julia could not respond; the Enforcer’s words sent a wave of terror through her body. They would lose their universe?

Suddenly, the Enforcer looked to his left, catching the attention of the group. Looking in the same direction, they spotted Drakmor, who had appeared at some point.

"I’ll take it from here, Jor’Khai." The dragon addressed the Enforcer with a succinct nod and turned to the group.

"What is going on, Lord Drakmor?" Cassandra asked grimly, calmly observing the dragon’s actions to deduce anything useful.

Unfortunately for her, Drakmor’s expression and demeanour gave nothing away. Slowly, the dragon approached the group, coming to stand a few meters away from them.

"My colleagues plan to dispose of the corrupted Enforcers in that..." Drakmor gestured towards the black patch of nothingness.

"And those guys won’t be going in there quietly." Ross swiftly deduced what was happening, his expression darkening.

"Yes." The dragon did not deny it, nodding. "We plan to evacuate your universe in the event things go... wrong."

Observing them, Drakmor could not tell what they were feeling. The cloaks they put on shielded them from any probing scans.

For several seconds, the trio remained silent. But Drakmor was willing to wait, keenly discerning that they were working on it.

"We understand the situation, Lord Drakmor." Ross was the one to reply, his tone unchanging. "But there’s nothing we can do..."

"We can enter the universe freely..." Cassandra added. "But that only applies to us. We can’t bring anyone along."

Drakmor frowned slightly, not sure he understood what the catwoman was saying. Cassandra was a Veilwalker and had the power to tear open veils in any universe, as long as she was capable.

"It’s Alexander’s will..." Cassandra answered, almost as though she could read the dragon. "Had he been present, that wouldn’t be an issue. However, right now, his essence and will are passive."

They could only use it for whatever they desired. However, allowing foreigners into the universe without Alexander’s awareness was a problem they had just discovered.

"I see..."

Drakmor did not press, turning around to look into the distance. He could feel his colleagues were close by, gradually heading for their location.

But then, Drakmor furrowed his brow when he failed to sense two of the enforcers who had appeared to push Zauren and Feng Xiaotian.

’Two more were corrupted, huh.’

Drakmor did not like how things were going. And since he was stuck here, there was only one thing he could do.

’I’ll have to protect this universe for as long as I can...’ he resolved calmly.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The fight was finally in range, loud and explosive enough for the Demigod and two Immortals to sense.

A sudden wave of dread and panic washed over them, and immediately, the furious shockwaves of energy slammed into the protective barrier with relentless force.

The shockwaves were continuous and unrelenting, with barely any time elapsing between one impact and the next.

Accompanying the energy shockwaves was the wrong and abhorrent repulsiveness that came with the corrupted essence.

’This is bad...’ Julia shared with the others, swallowing nervously.

They were inside the barrier, seemingly protected and safe. But nothing was certain. Had that been the case, Drakmor wouldn’t be here to evacuate their universe.

Looking at the majestic dragon floating before them, Julia could not help but yearn for her beloved. ’Alexander... please, come back to me.’

Her heart ached from the absence of Alex, and the unconscious coldness her body usually emitted grew colder by the second.

It took everything in her being not to break down in front of her companions and the Enforcers.

’Hang in there, Julia.’ Ross encouraged, sensing the fluctuating changes in the coldness Julia emitted. ’Alexander will make it back...’

Julia nodded, letting out a sigh.

Focusing on the raging shockwaves that continued to impact the protective barrier with increasing momentum, she and the others began to notice ripples and cracks appearing in the barrier.

Every pronounced explosive shockwave reverberated through them, wreaking havoc on their psyche. They knew what the barrier shattering meant for them, their anxiety rising through the roof.

Despite Drakmor and the other Enforcers’ presence, they could not calm down their racing hearts and cores.

It also did not help that they could not see or sense the position of the fighters.

Resigning themselves to watching the Enforcers reinforce the barrier, Julia and her companions prayed for a miracle.