Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Chapter 161 The Countdown Begins! The survival of them all is on you.

Noel remained unfazed, gulping down her tension in silence. "In that case, then I believe I am unprepared. I shall leave—"

But her sentence came to an abrupt halt. She could feel the intense, deadly glances from Axel and his generals sharpen with each second that passed. They weren't just going to let her slip away so easily, not after what she'd hinted at.

"And why would I let you walk away?" Axel's voice was calm, yet laced with a deadly undertone.

Noel gave a knowing smirk, her gaze cool but piercing. "If an all-out war breaks out, there's no guarantee that any of your companions would survive," she said, her tone chillingly confident. "With a single flick of a Voidwalker's finger, they would all be dead. Even with the protection of your army, that doesn't guarantee any of them would escape unharmed."

Loki bit his lip, narrowing his eyes at her. 'She's using us as leverage to escape… Smart,' he thought, though the realization tasted bitter. 'We can't just let her walk, but why isn't she attacking herself? If she holds the upper hand, why does she choose flight over fight? Does she have a hidden motive?'

Axel broke his intense gaze from Noel to look at each of his teammates. The weight of responsibility bore down on him. He couldn't risk an all-out battle here—not without putting everyone at risk. There wasn't enough time, space, or margin for error. The entire planet might pay the price if he made the wrong move. Was he really left with no choice but to play it safe?

"Next time I see you, I won't let you walk away so easily." His words dripped with barely-contained fury.

Noel's smile widened with satisfaction, a sense of victory gleaming in her eyes. She turned her back on them, crouched, and with a sudden explosive force, rocketed off the ground, leaving a thick cloud of dust in her wake.

For a moment, silence gripped the room like a tangible force, heavy and oppressive. They all stood frozen, processing the exchange, the unspoken threats, the grudging retreat—until...

"Damn it, Axel!" Trisha's voice shattered the stillness as she rushed forward, slamming her head against his chest. Tears streamed down her face, raw and unrestrained. "You died! How was I supposed to cope with that? How would Luxiam and Anna feel…? You didn't think any of that through, did you? Was that the excuse you were going to give?" Her voice shook with pent-up anger and grief. "Why do you have to be so selfish? You sacrifice yourself for everyone else, get yourself hurt, and leave us to pick up the pieces! You're not a hero, Axel. You're just a person, like everyone else. Stop acting like you're somehow different or from another world."

Axel kept his silence, letting her words echo and reverberate. He gently patted her head, a silent gesture that offered solace without stirring the embers of her anger further. He knew that words wouldn't ease her pain; they would only fuel her frustration, and he wasn't prepared to face that right now.

Off to the side, William's expression darkened as he glared at Axel, his eyes filled with loathing. "Why the hell did you save me?" he whispered, his words meant for no one else but himself—or so he thought. Loki, standing nearby, caught the faint utterance and turned to him.

"What do you mean?" Loki asked, his tone cautious.

"You saw my memories, didn't you?" William's voice was barely a whisper, laced with bitterness. "You know I'm not a good person. I'm almost as rotten as that woman, yet you said nothing."

It was true. Loki had glimpsed the dark fragments of William's past, the deeds he tried to bury. Yet, for some reason, he had chosen to keep this knowledge to himself.

"You're a pathetic, miserable wretch who probably deserves a far worse fate than death," Loki replied coldly, barely containing his disdain. "But despite all that, I chose to pity you. Change your ways, or keep testing my patience. It wouldn't take much for me to decide otherwise."

With that, Loki turned away, distancing himself from William's presence and from the burdens everyone seemed to throw at him. He was growing weary, an unwilling confessor to others' sins. After all, he wasn't a life coach; he had his own demons to wrestle with.

"So… the plan's officially gone to hell, hasn't it?" Sarah muttered, her voice heavy with resignation. She sidled up to Josh, clearly seeking some sense of direction amidst the chaos.

Josh shrugged, his expression bleak. "Honestly? I don't really know. The only option left is to go to Asgard and try to retrieve the sword. But what are the odds that Asgard would willingly hand over something they've safeguarded for eons?"

"So, basically… we're screwed."

"Pretty much. But let's keep some faith in Thor and Loki." He sighed, but his gaze held a sliver of hope.

Silence settled over them once more, a thick and uneasy quiet that seemed to muffle even their breaths. The room felt stagnant, heavy with unspoken fears and frayed emotions, when suddenly—

A change, almost imperceptible at first, but then unmistakable. The night sky above them turned an otherworldly shade of blue, as if the heavens themselves had been painted with ethereal light. A beam of brilliant blue radiance cascaded down, enveloping them all in its glow.

For a moment, they stood transfixed, suspended in the surreal brilliance. And then, as swiftly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving only the empty room behind.

They were gone, as if they'd never been there at all.

***

Back on Earth…

"Are you alright?" Anna knelt beside a battered woman who looked to be in her middle years. The woman's face bore the scars of battle, one eye hidden behind a haphazard bandage, her body covered in bruises and bloodied gauze.

The woman nodded, her face twisted in silent agony but determined not to draw too much attention. She looked around at the others, many of whom bore far graver injuries.

"Please… attend to the others," she murmured, gently pushing Anna's hands away and gesturing towards the wounded who lay scattered around the room.

Anna nodded, respecting the woman's resilience. She moved on to a young child nearby, whose arm hung at an odd angle, clearly broken. She placed a steady hand on the child's arm, murmuring words of comfort as her healing magic took effect. The bones realigned, snapping back into place without causing him a flicker of pain.

"Anna!" A voice called from across the crowded space, filled with urgency.

She turned to see two figures standing a few yards away—an older man, strong and imposing despite his years, with an eye patch over one eye, and beside him, another man of similar age yet emanating a profound aura of wisdom and strength.

She hurried over to them, bowing as she reached their side. "Sir Seo, Sir Wukong."

Seo Jihnyuk reached out, resting a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't be so tense, Anna. You're still young, and you've become our savior in these times, but don't push yourself too far. You've been healing everyone, supporting raids… Don't forget, you're human too."

Anna took a shaky breath, nodding slightly, though the weight of the responsibility pressed heavily on her. Trisha's house had become a refuge, packed with civilians who had nowhere else to go. Since the invasion on Kyota began, the destruction had been relentless, devastating cities and leaving families torn apart.

Refusing Hera's orders to stay within the safe zones, Anna had ventured outside, determined to do what she could. Cell and a few others had joined her, forming a defensive line to shield the area from further attacks. Together, they managed to secure a small section, a fragile haven for the desperate and displaced.

Yet, even within this sanctuary, survival was a daily struggle. Food supplies were dwindling, and every new day brought more survivors. Alien forces had caught wind of this human stronghold and launched relentless attacks on its borders, testing their defenses again and again.

Anna glanced at the faces around her, each one reflecting fear, pain, and exhaustion. She had begged Cell to mobilize more of the army, to offer these people a stronger protection, but he'd declined, bound by his master's command. Until an absolute emergency, the full force remained off-limits.

Turning back to Seo Jihnyuk, Anna's eyes held a fierce determination. "I can't stop now," she said quietly, the conviction in her voice unwavering. "I have to keep going, to save as many as I can… so that I won't be left living with regret."

***Author's note***

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