God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 602: Past Grudges

General Everett Tempest gazed into the distant wilderness. His hand gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, his face dark.

Months ago, Ken, his son, had gone into the wilderness with his unit during the Inter Guild Display Event on a mission to kill Gabriel Reyes and never came back alive. By the time word reached the Kingdom, the footage had already spread across the server. Ken was already dead.

Gabriel had beheaded him with Crimson Judgement on the live stream, the whole continent watching. There was not even a proper body to bury, only outrage and a father’s rage. Everett had watched that clip until it burned into his mind. Ever since, he had thought about it every night.

Now, Everett had finally brought his army here to settle this personally.

Not far away, Lilith Valentine stood quietly. A dark blindfold covered her eyes. Her right hand was clenched into a fist. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, brimming with hatred.

She still remembered what happened in the wilderness that day. The stream had shown Ken’s death before countless witnesses, Gabriel standing over the headless body, looking at the camera with those eyes. That humiliation, she could never shake off. Every time she thought of Gabriel, it burned in her chest like fire. She swore one day she would make Gabriel pay.

Lilith moved suddenly. She pushed off hard with her feet and launched herself forward. Her form was swift, arcing upward, and in a few bounds she landed on the summit of a high mountain.

Standing at the peak, she looked down.

At the foot of the mountain, the army of the Edgeburne Kingdom was fully deployed. Countless steel war tanks stood in neat row after row, their gun barrels gleaming cold in the setting sun. Behind the tanks was a sea of soldiers in uniform, weapons in hand, their formation stretching far beyond what the eye could see.

The battle lines extended deep into the distance. Farther out, more supply vehicles and heavy weapons could be seen moving into position. The entire formation stood motionless, yet it pressed down with a weight that made it hard to breathe.

This was the true strength of the Edgeburne Kingdom. No ordinary camp had tanks and heavy weaponry on this scale. Only when the Kingdom truly meant to wage a great war would it pull all of this out.

Lilith stood on the mountaintop, her gaze sweeping over the formation below. She knew full well that mobilizing an army like this was no casual matter.

General Everett could bring so many men and so many tanks here because he had called in a favor from the King of Edgeburne.

The King rarely granted favors. This time, he made an exception. Everett had already burned every path of retreat. If he could not defeat Gabriel with his own hands this time, could not personally avenge his son, he would not only lose all face in the Kingdom. He would lose everything. The Kingdom would not keep a general who could not even protect his own son and had squandered the King’s favor. He would be destroyed beyond repair, with no chance of ever rising again.

Everett knew this. He had to win, and he had to win utterly.

The mountain wind tangled her long hair as Lilith whispered, "Gabriel... have you ever imagined? What you will face today is the fury of an entire Empire."

...

New Dawn Camp.

The room was quiet. Only the occasional noise of the camp drifted in from outside the window.

Gabriel stood by the window, his back to Seraphina. He stayed silent for a moment, then turned around. His voice was low.

"Seraphina, I need to tell you something."

Seraphina was sitting on the edge of the bed, her long crimson hair falling past her shoulders. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with concern.

"I left you once before," Gabriel continued. "Now, I have to leave again."

Seraphina’s face visibly darkened. She pressed her lips together. She didn’t speak right away, only quietly tightened her grip on the corner of the blanket.

"I know you want to come with me." Gabriel walked over to her, crouched down, and brought himself level with her gaze. "But not this time."

"Why?" Seraphina’s voice was very soft, but the disappointment in it was unmistakable. "We’ve always been together... I don’t want to go looking for you like last time."

Gabriel looked at her. His tone remained even, but it carried weight.

"Because the camp needs someone to guard it."

He paused, then went on.

"Right now, the strongest person in this camp is you. I trust you. You’re the only one who can protect this place while I’m gone. The others... I can’t rest easy leaving it to them."

Seraphina lowered her eyes and stayed silent for a long time. She wanted to argue. She wanted to say she would go with him. But she could tell Gabriel meant every word.

She knew he wasn’t leaving on impulse this time. What he had to deal with was far more troublesome than she had imagined.

In the end, Seraphina gave a small nod. Her voice came out muffled.

"...I understand."

Gabriel reached out and pressed her shoulder gently. He said nothing more.

He stood up and pushed the door open, but before he could leave, a pair of slender hands suddenly wrapped around him from behind, halting him.

"Don’t get lost. If you do, I’ll find you myself."

Outside, Sophie was already waiting, leaning against the wall. She had fully recovered. Color had returned to her face, and she had changed out of the pale infirmary clothes into her everyday combat gear. When she saw Gabriel emerge, she straightened up.

Gabriel nodded at her.

"Let’s go."

Sophie asked nothing. She simply answered quietly and fell in behind him.

The two left the protected area side by side and headed toward the entrance of the camp. Behind them, Seraphina stood at the window, watching their figures fade into the distance. Her eyes were full of tangled emotion.

At the same time, in the distant wilderness, the army of the Edgeburne Kingdom was slowly advancing.

General Everett Tempest sat in the leading vehicle, looking out over the endless battle lines stretching before him. His face was hard as stone, his eyes carrying undisguised killing intent. The army was vast, tanks and heavily armored soldiers mingled together, a force of staggering magnitude.

And farther still, the Grand Tournament at Stellar City was counting down its final days. Every major power was moving in the shadows. Some had begun gathering intelligence. Others were already laying their plans. The eyes of the entire continent were gradually converging on this grand event about to begin.

No one knew what price Gabriel would one day pay for leaving the camp this time.