Chapter 116: CONFESSION AND REJECTION

"Where have you been, bro?" Leo asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and relief. He placed his hand lightly on Aaron’s shoulder, as if to confirm his friend was truly standing there before him and not some mirage conjured by exhaustion."Like I said," Aaron replied calmly, though a faint smile tugged at his lips, "I’ve been in a long nap." He tried to sound indifferent, but in truth, he couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through him at seeing Leo again. He had missed this—missed his old friend, his brother-in-arms, someone who once stood by his side before the world fell into chaos.

Leo chuckled bitterly. "A long nap in the middle of an apocalypse, huh? Funny way to put it. Everyone thought you were dead—Alice, Michael, all of us. Honestly, it’s a miracle you weren’t found until now. Endrick and Geralt... they’ve been searching for you everywhere." His tone faltered at the mention of those names, the weight of betrayal pressing down on his words.

Aaron’s brows furrowed. "Endrick? What the hell happened while I was asleep?" That question had gnawed at him ever since he woke, and now, standing face-to-face with Leo, he could no longer hold it back.

Leo’s eyes hardened. "Come with me. I’ll explain everything once we reach the base. It’s too dangerous to linger out here. If we run into a more powerful monster, things could turn ugly fast." He gave Aaron’s shoulder a firm pat before turning ahead.

"There’s no need to worry about monsters," Flameborn interjected, puffing out his small chest with pride and tapping it with a clenched fist. "Father, Mother, and I have already taken care of them all."

Leo’s expression froze. His gaze darted from Flameborn to Aaron, suspicion sparking. "Father? Mother?" His voice dropped, tense with disbelief. "Aaron... don’t tell me you—"

"It’s not what you think, Leo!" Aaron cut him off sharply, his eyes narrowing into daggers aimed at the boy. He didn’t need Flameborn making things worse.

But Flameborn, unbothered, tilted his head curiously. "Since when did he start calling Alice ’Mother’?" Leo pressed, suspicion deepening.

Aaron himself was baffled. "Since when did this brat—?"

[Perhaps you shouldn’t have slept for that long, host.]

Aaron resisted the urge to groan aloud at his system’s timely jab. He had more pressing matters at hand than arguing with the voice in his head—like the judgmental stares drilling into him.

Leo’s eyes were sharp but tinged with worry. Draken’s stare was downright irritating. And Lily? Aaron could hardly care less.

"He’s not our biological child," Alice finally stepped in, her tone smooth and composed, diffusing the tension as naturally as breathing. "We only cared for him. That’s why he calls us Father and Mother."

Even so, the suspicion lingered. Leo and the others exchanged glances, their gazes flickering with doubt, though none voiced it further.

"Alright," Aaron said, exhaling, deciding not to waste more time. "Let’s get out of here. Where’s this secret base you’ve been hiding in?"

"Follow me," Leo replied, his voice low but decisive. He led the group to a concealed path, pushing aside debris until a hidden tunnel revealed itself. The air was cool and damp as they descended into the underground passage, torches lining the way in faint intervals.

As they walked, Leo explained, "Your parents... they planned ahead. They built underground cities in select locations across the federation. Each one is protected. Any being tainted by monster energy or dungeon core power can’t step inside. It’s one of the few safe havens left for us."

Aaron’s chest tightened at the mention of his parents, but he kept silent, absorbing every word.

"You guys made it back alive. I was starting to worry," a woman greeted them as they emerged into the underground city. She was striking—short green hair, caramel-toned skin, clad in tight black jeans and a matching jacket that accentuated her lean frame. Her voice carried both strength and relief.

"We’d have been long gone if not for them," Draken admitted, tilting his head toward Aaron, Alice, and Flameborn. His tone held no shame—only honesty.

The woman’s eyes shifted to Aaron and Alice. "Thank you for saving them," she said earnestly. "But... who exactly are you?"

Leo stepped forward. "This is Aaron—the son of the Highborn. With him is Alice Frost... and their child."

The woman blinked, then gave a solemn nod. "Aaron, then. And Alice. My sincere condolences... for the extinction of your clan. Their sacrifice for humanity will not be forgotten."

Alice’s steps faltered. Her brows knitted, a storm gathering on her face. "My clan has been what?" Her voice was sharp, disbelief coating every syllable.

"That..." Draken began hesitantly, then gestured ahead. "Come with us. We’ll explain everything inside."

Alice moved forward quickly, her expression grim. Leo, Flameborn, and the woman—Rhea—followed close behind.

That left Aaron and Lily trailing in silence.

"So..." Lily finally spoke, her tone soft but edged with guilt. "How have you been?" Her eyes carried regret, her lips pressing tightly as if she wrestled with her words. She remembered all too well—the way she had broken off their engagement without a shred of fairness, how cruelly she had treated him back then.

Aaron didn’t even look at her. "Stop, Lily. Just because the world is ending doesn’t mean we suddenly have to get close again. Don’t even try whatever you’re thinking." His tone was sharp, final.

"I know I hurt you," Lily pressed on, her voice trembling. "And I’m sorry. I was naive, childish. But with time to think... I realized my mistake. I realized my true feelings for you. I miss the way you cared for me, your love, your—"

"Lily." Aaron’s cold interruption sliced through her words. His eyes glinted with frost. "You didn’t hurt my feelings. You didn’t break my heart. You did me a favor. Breaking off the engagement was the best thing you could’ve done for me. So if anything, I should thank you."

The sincerity in his indifference hit her harder than any insult could. Lily’s lips trembled, but no words came.

"You two finally caught up," Leo’s teasing voice broke the silence as they reached Draken’s home. He smirked lightly. "Almost thought you were rekindling old flames."

"Old flames my foot," Aaron muttered flatly. "I was just putting her in her place." He wasn’t interested in saving Lily’s pride. The broken engagement had shown him a glimpse of who she really was—he didn’t need reminders.

"Yeesh... cold," Draken muttered, shaking his head as he pushed open the door.

They all entered, gathering inside the dim but sturdy shelter. Aaron wasted no time. His voice was serious, almost commanding. "Enough beating around the bush. Tell me everything. What the hell happened?"

Leo’s jaw tightened. "This has everything to do with Geralt. That bastard betrayed humanity. With his allies, he imprisoned Dream, caused the dungeon outbreaks, and slaughtered every clan in his path—including my Blaze Clan... and the Frost Clan." His voice cracked slightly at the last part. Google seaʀᴄh NovᴇlFir(e).nᴇt

Aaron’s eyes darkened. "Geralt... I should’ve ended him when I had the chance," he muttered, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.

But Rhea interjected, her tone grave. "Geralt isn’t the only problem. The chimeras are."

"Chimeras?" Alice asked, her frown deepening.

"Yes," Draken answered with a bitter smile that looked more like a grimace. "The fusion of humans and monsters. They’ve evolved into something far worse. They serve Geralt. And they’ve crushed every hidden base they’ve found—including my own clan." The tremor in his voice betrayed the fear he still carried.

"Why be afraid of mere chimeras?" Flameborn asked innocently, his curiosity genuine.

Draken’s hands clenched. "Because they destroyed us. They destroyed everything. Don’t underestimate them, boy. They are monsters in every sense."

Leo was about to add more, his face grim, but a sharp vibration from Rhea’s communicator cut him off. She answered quickly. "Steven. What is it?" Her brows furrowed, but she tried to mask the dread already creeping into her expression.

On the other end, a shaky voice replied. "They’ve found us."

Rhea’s stomach dropped. "Who? Who did?" she asked, her voice low, afraid to hear the answer.

"Chimeras," Steven’s voice cracked. "They’re here."