Chapter 98: Chapter 94

Disregarding the promise he had just made for himself, Spencer tore through space and warped. His destination was outside of the Earth's atmosphere, the disturbance he felt did not allow him to simply traverse normally.

In an instant, he vanished from above the now roaring ocean waters that just an hour ago housed a proud and bountiful island full of wonders that even in the modern era, many would covet.

A dark distorted tear in space appeared in his chambers where Castor was resting, recuperating her injuries, both physical and emotional. His figure alongside the two unconscious Atlantean gods emerged from the void, welcomed by a sight he had not expected. His room was in shambles, the furniture tore to pieces, and whilst the walls withstood whatever chaos ensued, the clues of a grandiose battle and carnage could be followed without issue.

Yet, this chaotic scene, this remnant battlefield didn't bother Spencer too much, as he was focused on a vastly different sensation. He frowned as he soon realized what must have happened, he sighed as he reached to caress his temples.

"I should have expected something like this to happen... Just not this fast." He mumbled to himself, before tossing the extra luggage he was carrying, the two Atlanteans aside atop the pile that was supposed to be Castor's bed.

Vanishing from the room in the next instant, Spencer sped through the vast hallways swiftly following along the traces left behind by what could be considered two important individuals in his life.

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Some distance away, in a larger hall, two figures clashing against each other could be seen. One, a ragged-looking woman with long, albeit disheveled black hair hurled dark green balls of condensed energy towards a scientist-looking crimson-skinned martian woman. She was floating above the human absorbing and blocking each hurled attack of immense energy with relative ease, but with a growing, increasing annoyance.

Even for the untrained, inexperienced eye, it was clear that the floating figure coated with a veil of fire was far superior to the seemingly human female. Even though the woman, Castor, was an incredible fighter with powers far above the average, she could not hope to match the perfected bloodline of all Martians.

Bey'on despite not being a fighter herself was still reborn with the help of Spencer to be, in all counts, perfect. The absolute peak of what a martian genome could produce, one of their so-called legends, myths, the ancient's bloodline, a Burning Martian. Her power, if she would go all out could easily match if not surpass the famed and hated Olympian Gods themselves. If she would take them seriously, perhaps she too could have matched and even defeated Poseidon.

"I don't care who you are, or what schemes that bastard brother of mine had pulled this time! You will NOT TAKE ME WITHOUT A FIGHT!" Castor roared, tears and snot smearing her visage as her face contorted into a mixture of grief, sorrow, and equal amounts of anger.

She raised both her hands in the air, above her head and began to revolve all her remaining energy in one final push, one final attack.

"Even if it kills me, I will take you down with me! I will not let him take me away so easily!" She cried out, her emotions growing more and more chaotic with each passing second.

A bright green aura began to appear and swirl around her fragile-looking frame, slowly gathering towards her raised palms, first forming into a floating rotating seed of energy that kept on growing, its size increasing as more and more of her energy was condensed into its semi-transparent mass.

Looking at the woman that Spencer has brought in, Bey'on felt somewhat threatened for the first time since her abrupt awakening, her inexperience in combat adding to her nervousness. Her instincts nudged at her to do something as its magnitude could potentially cause her harm.

"Cease these senseless actions, human!" Bey'on exclaimed, trying to reach into her mind and calm her down forcefully. Yet, as she tried to, she felt her attempts hitting a large, insurmountable wall, protecting her mind, and blocking each attempt no matter how hard she tried.

Feeling the familiar signature of energy coming from this mental protection, Bey'on could only click her tongue in annoyance.

"Great, just great... The only time I could rely on my power, he comes and prepares something like this..." She grumbled in annoyance, before gritting her teeth.

Seeing that despite her call, the human woman had not listened and her attack was reaching the size that seemed to be close to its maximum, Bey'on made up her mind.

"Fine then. If that's what you want, you can only blame yourself for this! I have tried reasoning, in both ways I know but you are just as stubborn as that big oaf."

Raising her arm, she pointed her right index finger towards Castor's chest.

"You leave me with no other choice. I will explain the matter to him when he comes back... *Sigh* I can only hope he would listen..." Bey'on muttered to herself, as she focused her energy towards the tip of her pointed finger.

A crimson ball of swirling mass appeared in the next instant, that merely an instant later was released in the form of a beam of energy.

However, just as her attack would have connected suddenly a familiar figure appeared between the two taking the full brunt of their attacks instead, whilst at the same time pulling both women into his embrace, canceling Castor's attack in the process at the same time.

"ENOUGH!" A loud, majestic voice thundered across not just the entire hall, but the whole Mortifier.

Both girls trembled at the familiar voice. Each being shocked to see him return so suddenly. Caught unaware Bey'on's expression turned from shock and surprise to a deep, growing embarrassment as she gradually realized she was once again pulled into his embrace, without being able to offer any resistance. She squirmed and fidgeted trying to slither her way out of the hold, yet she could not do so. In the end, she could only sigh and wait for the 'judgment'.

Spencer looked at the both of them, before finally letting go of the Burning Martian scientist and focusing all of his attention on the trembling, shivering girl in his arms.

A look of pure shock was plastered across her visage. Her eyes growing wide she looked at the familiar presence with pure disbelief.

"W-w-w-w-wha..." She stuttered, unable to formulate words. Her mind was falling into greater turmoil the more she tried to process what was happening. Unable to believe her eyes she leaned into his broad chest and sniffed at it.

Sensing the same, well-known scent that she treasured so dearly, her eyes quickly watered up and blurred his vision. Her lips quivered as they unknowingly parted and with great force blurted out one single word, one single name.

"S-Spenc...er?" She asked, with a meek, barely audible tone. Her right arm slowly sailing the air she weakly reached out for his face, wanting nothing more than to feel his warmth once more. To finally be able to convince her raging heart and quell the chaotic storm in her mind.

Just as Castor couldn't bring herself to speak, so did Spencer experience the same. He looked at the little girl, reminded of the cheerful, happy, and excited attitude of hers as she kept on following him everywhere he went. He could recall how she used to copy everything he did, how she looked joyous and exuberant as he began teaching her.

Then he recalled the memories that she had lived through. The tragic scenes of witnessing the death of one brother in the hands of another... Her father's eventual demise in the long, worn-out pointless civil war. Spencer could still vividly recall that feeling, that eventual cold, the deep-seated grief and sadness that shielded her already damaged heart and ruined her visage from then on.

He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself, and force the threat of tears back where they belonged.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally managed to place his large hand over the top of her head and gently caressed it.

"I'm back... little one, I am finally back. Everything will be alright from now on, I promise..." He muttered, uncharacteristically weakly.

"Y-you p-promise...?" Hearing his words, Castor slowly raised her head and looked at Spencer. Her lips still quivering as she was still battling with her emotions, she hesitantly asked.

"Y-you promised already... to return... B-but you... you... never came..." She muttered, her expression revealed how truly, deeply hurt she was.

Although he was an all-powerful entity after several years of adventures, under the gaze of the girl he already considered his own, Spencer felt a sense of guilt swell within him. He took several long seconds before he could muster the will to speak up once more.

"I... I am sorry... I couldn't come faster..." He spoke, looking at her. He wanted to hug the girl, to embrace her once more, yet he dared not to do it. He knew how hurt she was.

She had all the right to hate him, resent him for his failure to keep his promise.

Castor looked at him in silence for several seconds, before her expression finally began to show changes. As if she finally registered that he was really back, that his Spencer had finally, after such a long time... through countless prays and pleas... have returned.

Even if it was later than what she had hoped for. He had still come back, and protected her, saved her.

"W-will you... w-will you... go away again?" She asked after some time, her expression once again souring rapidly.

"No. I pro-" Spencer spoke, stopping himself before he clenched his fist and spoke with a renewed determination. "... I PROMISE to you that I will never leave you ever again. Even if you now hate me, and would never want to see me again, I will always watch over you and do my best to keep you safe... That's a vow I can make with all my heart."

Looking at him and listening to his heartful pledge, Castor could no longer stand against the erupting tide. Overcome with the emotions she had pushed back for far too long, she erupted, sobbing, crying hard.

At the same time, Spencer could also not hold himself back any longer, so he pulled the girl into his embrace. A tear escaped from his eyes, he too was overcome by emotions. No matter how hard he tried, he could not win against the foe that was his feelings. Regardless of how repressed they were, it remained a futile battle.

Reciprocating his embrace, both man and woman, father and daughter found themselves holding onto each other, happy of their reunion.

Standing by the side and looking at the duo, the usually cold and aloof Bey'on felt a strange sense of unease welling up in her heart. The more she looked the more she could feel this unknown source of pain growing more in strength.

She couldn't understand what was happening and why, but the scene made her feel strangely uncomfortable. As if... she also wanted to feel the strength of his arms, the warmth of his chest...