Odyssey Of Survival - Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Chapter 170 Nate’s Return II
The green aura from the Govark’s body stretched high into the sky, blotting out the sun and casting a suffocating darkness over the island. Yet Nate stood there, completely unfazed, as if the Govark’s intimidation meant nothing to him. Flames flickered wildly across his body, swirling hotter and brighter than before.

Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, Nate blasted into the air, leaving streaks of fire behind him. The Govark roared, and the two forces collided mid-air with a violent shockwave that rattled the island. Everyone watching shielded their eyes from the blinding light, but when the dust settled, there was an audible gasp.

Nate had been pushed back.

He skidded through the air but managed to stabilize himself mid-flight, landing on the ground with a calm, controlled grace. His foot barely scraped the dirt as he straightened up like nothing happened, flames still wrapping around his fists.

From behind, Alice squinted, noticing something off.

“Bella,” Alice whispered while tugging on her arm, “look at his shadow.”

Bella frowned and followed Alice’s gaze. When her eyes focused on Nate’s shadow, her heart skipped a beat.

“That’s not normal,” Bella muttered.

Indeed, Nate’s shadow was rippling unnaturally. It moved as if alive, twisting and swirling independent of Nate’s movements. Madison stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the strange occurrence in the woods when Nate first reappeared to save them.

“Just like before…” Madison murmured.

Before they could fully process what was happening, Nate suddenly appeared beside them. His presence was calm, but his eyes carried urgency.

“Madison,” Nate said in a low voice, “I need you to keep Sera and Cleo close.”

Madison blinked in confusion. “Sera? Who’s Sera?”

Before anyone could speak further, Nate’s shadow rippled like water. Slowly, two figures emerged from its depths, as if the ground itself was giving birth to them.

First, there was a tall woman who exuded grace. Sera. Her beauty was unmistakable, The soft glow of her sun-kissed skin was accentuated by the harsh contrast of the island’s darkened skies. Her long, wavy black hair flowed effortlessly down her back, blending into the folds of her deep green robe. The robe hugged her figure just enough to hint at the soft curves underneath, and golden embroidery lined its sleeves and collar, giving her a regal air. But what stood out the most were her striking green eyes—calm but sharp, glowing faintly like they held secrets from an ancient world.

By her side, holding onto her leg tightly, was Cleo—the little girl with wide curious eyes that darted nervously around.

Even Jack, though still held hostage by Claire, couldn’t hide his shock.

With a crooked smile, Jack breathed, “No way… Nate keeps a goddess in his shadow now?”

Ray and Amara’s jaws dropped as they took in the sight of Sera standing amidst the chaos like a phantom from a myth.

Sera gave Nate a knowing look, calm and poised, before gently placing a protective hand on Cleo’s head.

Madison’s heart raced as she realized—Nate wasn’t just stronger than before… he was something else entirely now. A mystery.

The flames behind him surged higher as the remaining Govark’s eyes narrowed at Sera’s appearance, its instincts sensing something more dangerous than just Nate’s power.

Nate’s gaze remained fixed on the towering Govark. Now that Sera and Cleo were safely out of his shadow and by Madison’s side, there was no reason to hold back. His fists clenched, flames licked around his arms, and with a single step, he vanished into the air.

Higher and higher he soared, until he was just a small flicker against the darkened sky. At the peak of his jump, Nate’s entire body erupted into fire. His form compressed into a tight, fiery streak—different from the wide, chaotic blaze he used earlier. This time, it was more focused, more lethal.

From below, everyone watched as Nate shot up like a flaming arrow towards the Govark.

The massive creature sneered, its three tails swaying lazily. It raised its green aura to meet Nate’s incoming blow, expecting another collision like before. The aura pushed back hard, slightly slowing Nate’s momentum, but Nate pressed forward, cutting through it like molten steel.

As Nate’s flaming punch landed squarely on the Govark’s chest, everyone braced for an immediate explosion—but nothing happened.

Silence.

Even the Govark blinked in confusion, its mouth curling into a mocking grin.

Then—

BOOM!

The delayed shockwave shattered the stillness as the Govark’s body detonated from within. Flames ripped through its flesh, tearing it apart from the inside out. A blazing inferno replaced the darkened sky as the green aura was consumed entirely. Flaming debris and ash scattered across the crater while the Govark’s charred corpse crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud.

Madison covered Sera and Cleo with her arms, shielding them from the falling embers. Ray and Ryder could only stare, wide-eyed, as the impossible unfolded before them.

Nate landed beside the smoldering corpse. His breathing was steady, calm, like he’d just finished a warm-up. Without a word, he grabbed the dead Govark’s limp body and tossed it into the crater, ensuring it wouldn’t rise again.

Silence blanketed the battlefield—until Nate’s eyes locked onto Claire.

Claire, still holding Jack tightly with a blade pressed against his neck, tensed up. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty for the first time. Axel and the other rogue men at her side watched cautiously as Nate began to walk toward them.

Suddenly, Claire’s hand darted into her pocket. Whatever she pulled out was too small for anyone to catch a clear look, but the moment she smashed it against the dirt, a blinding light flared around them.

A teleportation seal.

Everyone’s hearts dropped as realization struck them like lightning.

“No!” Madison shouted, stepping forward instinctively.

The teleportation circle glowed beneath Claire, Axel, and their allies, ready to whisk them away. But Nate’s body moved before anyone else could react. Flames surged beneath his feet as he burst forward, a blur of heat and smoke.

Just as the light swallowed Claire’s group, Nate snatched Jack from Claire’s grip with pinpoint precision and yanked him out of the circle. The teleportation rune snapped shut, vanishing in a blink, taking Claire and her allies with it.

A heavy silence followed.

Jack collapsed to the ground, panting hard as he processed how close he had come to being dragged away.

“She… she took it,” Jack muttered as panic set in. His fists slammed the ground. “She took the key home! The crystal! We can’t go home without it!”

Everyone froze in horror.

Even Madison’s face went pale. Without the crystal, their only hope of leaving this cursed island was gone.

Then Nate casually raised his hand.

“Are you looking for this?” he asked calmly.

Jack’s head snapped toward him, eyes wide in disbelief. In Nate’s hand was the crystal, glowing faintly but unharmed.

“You… you got it?” Jack stuttered.

Nate nodded. “Grabbed it from her pocket before I took you out.”

Jack rushed to him and carefully took the crystal, clutching it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Jack breathed, barely able to hold back a nervous laugh. “I can’t believe you pulled that off…”

The group let out a collective sigh of relief, but beneath it all, the tension still lingered. Claire had escaped. She had exposed herself fully now—and worse, she was working directly with Zoro.

Ryder clenched his fists as he spoke quietly, “That confirms it. She’s been with Zoro all along.”

Madison’s jaw tightened, her mind still reeling from the betrayal.

Nate, meanwhile, calmly turned his gaze to the horizon where the portal had disappeared.

Everyone stared at Nate in awe, realizing how much he had changed since the last time they saw him. Stronger. Sharper. And far more dangerous.

****

Support with Golden Tickets and Power Stones