Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1003: Aether Saved Kai... Tsk!

!~Ding~!

Aetherʼs pupils dilated sharply as his awareness surged back. A chiming sound echoed through his mind, ringing like a bell inside his skull.

”Is this thing... still alive?”

The voice pierced through the fog in his head. He snapped back instantly, his eyes locking on Kai—who was, shockingly, still alive and breathing.

Thatʼs when something clicked inside Aetherʼs mind, ʼ3 seconds skill?ʼ he questioned inwardly, narrowing his eyes.

That means... Itʼs about to happen... Kai was about to be killed!

If he wanted to, he could have let it happen—just stand back and watch it unfold.

Who really cared about Kai anyway?

But... killing someone like that, right in front of Xara? A mother?

That... Aether wasnʼt comfortable with that anymore... Not now.

Not after everything.

A dull frustration crossed his face. With a reluctant expression tightening his jaw, he stomped on the ground, the force cracking the dirt beneath him, and appeared instantly in front of Kai. Without hesitation, he shoved Kai to the ground, pushing him away from the corpse that was about to stir.

ʼNext time, try to inform me when this skill activates... Itʼs damn confusing,ʼ Aether grumbled to himself with irritation, shooting Kai a sideways glance.

Aether snorted, realising how sudden his move must have seemed. It needed a reason—an excuse. After all, anyone would think it was weird if he just did that without saying a word.

”How dare you destroy your Motherʼs creation!!” Aether barked out loud, faking rage, hoping it would cover his tracks.

Kaiʼs lips twitched visibly, his eyes filled with disbelief. ”Bastard! How dare you—”

Crack...

Once again, a chilling sound tore through the air—the unmistakable noise of glass shattering.

Everyoneʼs attention shifted.

The dead body, the one theyʼd all believed was finished, began moving. Its lips twitched. Limbs trembled. And then, slowly, it began to rise.

Kaiʼs eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.

Everyoneʼs expression turned into one of shock and disbelief.

Even Xara looked slightly taken aback. But then her lips curled upward, just a little, and a whisper of awe passed through her thoughts. ʼOh my goodness...ʼ She watched her creation—her child—rise from the floor.

The gaping wound in the creatureʼs stomach began to close rapidly, flesh knitting together with unnatural speed. Its legs shuddered, unstable for a moment, before it began to stretch its body upright, bones cracking audibly. ”Hmm...” it groaned faintly as its neck twisted left and right with small, popping cracks, and then—slowly—it opened its eyes.

Everyone was immediately on high alert.

Aether narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable as he watched the creature rise.

Its gaze landed first on Xara, who was standing just a few steps closer. It tilted its head, studying her as if trying to recognise something.

”M...M..a...?” The creatureʼs lips parted, a fragile voice escaping.

Xaraʼs eyes welled up, ”Yes, thatʼs it... My child. I am your Mother,” she said gently, her voice trembling with emotion, her smile wide with joy.

Kaiʼs face contorted, his fists tightening by his sides. Rage started bubbling up under his skin.

The creature tilted its head again, the movement almost childlike, and then slowly turned its gaze toward Selene, who stood behind the others, arms crossed and frowning.

”S...ss?”

Seleneʼs frown deepened further. She didnʼt like this. Something about the way the creature looked at her... it felt off. Wrong. It didnʼt just see her—it felt like it was studying her, and it made her skin crawl.

Even though the creature looked like a younger Kai—barely 15—it stared at her with a gaze that made her gut twist.

The creatureʼs eyes wandered again, sweeping over everyone until they landed on Velc.

”Da...?”

Velcʼs face immediately twisted with pure disgust. His nose scrunched up and his lips curled back. ”Donʼt call me that, filth!” he spat venomously, shouting at it.

But the creature showed no reaction. It simply blinked, then tilted its head once more, turning to Leon.

”... BF?”

Leon blinked, clearly taken aback. ʼDoes it recognise me or what?ʼ He was baffled—this creature had never seen him before, and yet... somehow, it seemed to know who he was.

Then... the creatureʼs gaze landed on Vesperine, who was standing slightly closer. Her posture was stiff, her shoulders trembling. Fear was clear in her eyes, and her breath caught in her throat.

Suddenly, the creature smiled.

”L...ve,” it whispered softly, its hips twitched like front and back... Aetherʼs expression turned deadpan for obvious reasons—and without warning, it lunged forward and hugged her tightly.

Everyone blinked again, confused and caught off guard.

Xaraʼs lips twitched subtly. She knew exactly what was happening. The real Kai and this creature—they were connected. Whatever Kai felt... this thing felt it too. And that meant—

”GET AWAY FROM HER!!” Kai roared, voice filled with fury. He stomped on the ground and vanished from where he stood, reappearing just inches from the creature. With no hesitation, he threw a punch at its face. The impact cracked the air.

Thud!

The creature flew back, crashing against the wall, dust exploding on impact.

”Are you alright? Did he hurt you or anything?” Kai asked urgently, turning toward Vesperine. His eyes scanned her body. She was trembling, frozen in place, her hands shaking uncontrollably. The fear on her face made his chest tighten.

Kaiʼs lips twitched in growing fury. He turned back toward the creature, now slowly rising from the ground again. Blood trickled from the corner of its mouth. Its head was down, hair shadowing its face, its breaths ragged and animalistic.

Then... it looked up.

Its eyes locked with Kaiʼs. But something had changed—something darker had awakened.

A cold, murderous intent now filled its gaze.

”Ge... awa... her...” it growled lowly, voice distorted and filled with rage.

Then, the creature charged straight at Kai—mimicking what Kai had done to it. It tried to tackle him, its movements wild but filled with a strange, desperate strength.

Kai quickly shoved Vesperine behind him, shielding her with his body. His eyes locked onto the monstrous creature with burning rage as he summoned his sword in a flash of glowing steel.

”Fuck it up, sucker!” he snarled with a feral grin as he lunged forward, slashing the creatureʼs shoulder with brutal force. The blade tore diagonally down, slicing past the collarbone and nearly reaching its belly.

A stream of blood erupted like a fountain, spraying across the ground.

But the creature didnʼt scream. It didnʼt stagger. It didnʼt even flinch.

It just stood there, silent… staring at Kai with cold, blank eyes.

That empty stare.

Kai gritted his teeth in frustration. Something about that look—it pissed him off more than anything. It felt like he was staring into a twisted mirror… It was just like him.

A perfect replica!

”Just die already!!” he shouted, voice booming with fury. As his rage surged, the sword pulsed brightly in his hands, responding to his emotion. The light blazed out from the blade, and then—

BOOM!!

A powerful blast of energy exploded from his sword. The shockwave flung the creature backwards violently. It tumbled across the ground like a ragdoll, rolling multiple times before finally sliding across the broken floor, leaving a shallow trench in its wake.

Dust billowed in the air.

Kai smirked, stepping forward with a satisfied look on his face as he watched the debris settle. He had felt the impact. The force. The slice. That thing had to be dead—no doubt about it.

But…

Something felt wrong.

His instincts screamed.

And then he saw it.

Through the clearing dust… the creature was still moving.

Slowly, unnaturally, it rose from the ground.

Everyone around gasped. Even Aetherʼs expression shifted to something far more serious. His eyes widened with disbelief as he stared at the impossible sight before them.

The creature stood up—its body mangled and horrific. A large piece of its shoulder and arm were missing, entirely severed by Kaiʼs slash. Blood poured freely from the grotesque wound like a crimson waterfall. You could see the exposed layers of muscle, bone, and torn veins—and even worse…

A part of its heart.

Still beating.

Pulsing slowly inside the gaping chest wound.

It was alive.

And then something even more disturbing happened.

The torn flesh began knitting itself together.

Bit by bit.

It was healing?

Aetherʼs entire face stiffened. He turned toward Xara, whose expression… wasnʼt shocked. Not even surprised.

She looked pleased. Wickedly amused. Her lips curled in a soft, proud smile, as if watching her child take its first steps.

Aether shook his head in disbelief and turned to Velc, trying to stay composed. ”Thereʼs something… on your shoulder.”

”H-Huh?” Velc blinked, eyes unfocused. He turned, confused, and then froze.

A hand.

A severed hand—the creatureʼs hand—was latched onto his shoulder.

”AARRHHHH!!” Velc screamed, staggering back in raw panic, clawing at the dismembered limb. He flung it to the ground, trembling in horror.

Kai glanced to his side at Leon. Their eyes met. The time for playing around was over.

Leon nodded firmly and stepped beside Kai, raising his own weapon. ”We need to finish that thin—”

Crack…

A sharp, sickening sound rang out.

Bone.

They both turned to look—and their jaws clenched.

The creatureʼs back began to split open. Slowly, two enormous, black bat-like wings unfurled, dripping with blood and twitching with primal movement.

It wasnʼt just healing.

It was evolving.

Kai and Leon both stared in disbelief. Their expressions said it all.

”What the hell…?” Kai muttered.

They turned to Xara.

She was beaming.

Like a proud parent watching their child win an award.

”Just… whatʼs wrong with your mother?” Leon asked under his breath, unable to hide his disbelief.

Kai didnʼt respond. He couldnʼt. Because deep down, he already knew.

This wasnʼt his mother anymore.

Not in the way that mattered.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Aether approached Xara quietly.

”Just... just tell me the truth,” he said in a low voice. ”What kind of add-ons did you give your creation?”

Xara blinked, startled by his presence. Her expression shifted from proud to shy in an instant. A soft blush crept onto her cheeks as she looked away, hands fiddling nervously.

”W-Well...” she murmured, lowering her eyes. Her face flushed pink.

Aether gave her a faint, tired smile. Her bashfulness was... honestly ridiculous right now. He realised he really needed to understand this woman better—because she was anything but ordinary.

Xara began speaking softly, ”Itʼs just… I added a few things. Like Vampire regeneration, their flying abilities, some Mermaid blood for adaptation and liquid body adaptation and… well... a little bit of dragon essence for power enhancement and breath function and—”

”Enough,” Aether cut her off quickly. He pinched the bridge of his nose. The more she spoke, the more worried he became. If she kept talking, he might genuinely panic. He turned his attention back to the ongoing battle.

Kai and Leon were holding off that creature. But it was relentless. And worse... it wasnʼt after them.

Its eyes were locked on Vesperine.

That singular obsession.

Aether narrowed his gaze. Something about that unnerved him deeply.

Why her?

Why was it only interested in her?

”Anyway,” he said finally, glancing back at Xara, ”For now, we need to stop your little creation from going on a full rampage and killing your son again.”

”Again?” Xara frowned in confusion.

”I mean...” Aether trailed off, trying to find an excuse, something that wouldnʼt make him look insane.

But he then, ”Tsk. Yeah? Question only me? when that bitch literally found your secret hideout out of nowhere.”