The Conquerors Path Chapter 983 - 981-Made The Move.

Eleanor was suffering the most among them all, her mind spiraling into a pit of self-blame. She was convinced that Austin would never have faced such a fate if not for her presence, and the weight of that guilt was suffocating. Although she had remained at Austin’s bedside without pause for the first three days, her various obligations and a desperate thirst for vengeance had eventually forced her away.

Once again, Eleanor was confronted with the reality of her own weakness. Seeing Austin collapse, with no certainty of when he might awaken, felt like the ultimate punishment. To her, physical torture would have been a mercy compared to this. As the guilt gnawed at her daily, she diverted that pain into a single-minded goal: extracting the most massive compensation possible from the war council.

She sought resources to bolster her own power, vowing that she would never let Austin fall for her sake again. Originally, she had begun her training and Cultivation to protect him, yet when the moment of crisis arrived, it was Austin who had shielded her. While that realization filled her with a sense of sweetness, it was overshadowed by a searing guilt over the consequences. Her only desire now was to ensure such a tragedy never repeated itself.

.......

"He appears to be at peace."

Max remarked while observing the unconscious Austin. His hand brushed through the boy's hair, his expression calm yet carrying an innate authority. He then glanced toward Elda, who had drifted off to sleep beside Austin. Even in slumber, her face bore the marks of exhaustion, her hands still clutching onto him.

"She looks well, too."

Max noted as his gaze shifted to a weary Grace. Dark circles were visible beneath her eyes as he spoke to her.

"You ought to get some rest. You’ve earned it."

Grace simply shook her head in refusal.

"I’ll be fine once he wakes up and is out of danger."

Max let out a sigh at Grace’s persistence. He saw that same stubborn streak mirrored in Mira and even Nora, though Nora had been forced into sleep long ago. Unlike Grace, Nora lacked the high power level required to endure long periods without rest, yet the strain was clearly beginning to affect Grace as well.

Holding back his further thoughts, Max turned his attention to Mira and asked in an even tone.

"Where are they?"

Mira understood the weight of the question immediately. Her features twisted with malice as she replied.

"They are being held in a dungeon under my personal seal. I am the only individual permitted to enter or leave."

"I see... I see..."

Max nodded, processing the information.

"So, you’ve squeezed everything useful out of them?"

Mira gave a firm nod.

"Yes. At this point, they are being kept alive solely for the purpose of torture."

"Excellent. However, I’ve brought along an expert from my own ranks. Grant him access. He will take charge of their suffering every day from here on out."

Max instructed, and Mira agreed. Those responsible for nearly capturing Elda had already endured unspeakable horrors, and every scrap of intel had been drained from them. All six captives had attempted suicide, but they were being kept under strict watch; they were currently begging for the mercy of death, a release that would not be granted easily.

Their nightmare was only beginning. In truth, even the foulest demons would have found the methods of these people educational, should they ever escape the depths of hell.

"So, there is still no word on when he will recover?"

"No. The Saintess merely indicated it would be soon. His physical body is entirely mended; it is now simply a matter of his consciousness returning."

Mira spoke with a tinge of sadness. Max offered his daughter a comforting pat before departing to handle other matters—tasks that would inevitably lead to significant bloodshed. Even so, he had stationed his finest warriors and assassins at the manor. Anyone attempting to infiltrate would have to be prepared to forfeit their life before crossing the threshold without leave.

While these events unfolded, the very man everyone was either praying for or fearing was already putting several schemes into play—plans destined to reshape the future. Deep within the heart of the war council, Austin was already orchestrating his next move.

.......

One Week Earlier:

The Day Austin Fell Asleep:

Austin POV:

Observing the sight of my weeping family and the surrounding turmoil from above, I can't deny a certain twinge of guilt. It weighed on my conscience, but this deception is a necessity. Things have taken a turn for the worse now that the protection I previously enjoyed seems to have vanished.

I am currently hovering in the sky above the academy. I can feel the ripples of the problems I’ve triggered; while it’s actually boosting my divinity, it’s doing very little for my peace of mind. Regardless, there were several strategic reasons behind my decision to fall "unconscious."

First, after revealing such immense power, I have to demonstrate that there are physical costs. If I had appeared completely unscathed, it would have raised too many questions. There must be visible consequences—and technically, there are. The stone I received as a reward from the Dragon God explicitly stated that its use would take a heavy toll on me, so I must maintain this facade.

Secondly, I need to drop off the map for a while. There are contracts to manage and issues to resolve away from prying eyes. Furthermore, with the current chaos, I need a moment to reevaluate my strategy. Despite my knowledge and preparations, I was blindsided by things I didn't foresee. It proves I was becoming arrogant and overly confident in my control, which is a dangerous path.

Most importantly, it is time for Rex to begin his maneuvers within the war council, and my absence provides the perfect cover for my own operations. The timing is ideal. The war council is currently reeling, and chaos is the best environment for exploitation.

The thought made my eyes gleam. I need a place to regroup and plan my next steps, and I have plenty of safe houses for that. However, I had to inform a select few that I am actually fine. If I hadn't, the combined might of two supreme churches might have descended upon this place to heal me, causing an even bigger mess.

Foreseeing that disaster, I didn't hesitate to let my inner circle know that this is all a ruse, which settled their nerves. Now, it’s time for a face-to-face meeting with a specific source.

I glided through the spatial layers, effortlessly cutting through the dimensions to reach the city's upper district. I moved through the Darknight headquarters with ease; to my current senses, their security systems were as flimsy as paper. I slipped through and manifested in a room, standing silently behind Ralph.

"Don’t worry, Austin! I’ll get revenge for you. We’ll make sure every single person involved pays!"

The man was radiating righteous fury. Beside him, Athena looked visibly shaken as Ralph held her, trying to provide some comfort.

"I need to see him!"

Athena insisted. Ralph looked conflicted, only able to murmur her name in response.

"Athena..."

Their genuine distress was moving, and my conscience pricked at me again as I watched them. I decided to drop my concealment and cleared my throat.

"Cough..."

They both reacted instantly, dropping into combat stances. But the moment they recognized my face and felt my aura—not to mention the authentic key they had given me—the tension vanished instantly.

"Austin, how ar—Ah!"

Ralph started toward me, arms open for a hug, but Athena practically tackled him out of the way. She sent him tumbling and moved with a speed beyond her Origin level, throwing her arms around me and pulling me against her chest while stroking my hair.

"Austin, you’re safe!"

Her voice cracked with relief as she held me tightly, her hands trembling as she rubbed my head. She clung to me for a long moment while I sensed Ralph lying on the floor, completely stunned. The poor guy was pushed aside faster than he could blink. I gently patted her back as she held me.

"It’s alright, I’m fine."

I reassured her. It took several minutes for Athena to move past the initial shock and joy. She eventually pulled back slightly, holding my head and looking me over intensely to confirm I wasn't injured.

"You’re really okay, right?"

"Yes, I’m perfectly fine."

I answered with a smile. She finally let go after a soft kiss on my forehead, though she kept a firm grip on my hand as if afraid I might vanish again.

I kept my amusement to myself, looking over at Ralph. He was smiling now, seemingly recovered from being shoved, and he stepped up to pat my shoulder on the side Athena wasn't occupying.

"It is truly good to see you well, Austin. Very good."

Ralph’s voice was steady but thick with emotion, and I met his gaze with a smile of my own.