( Max's POV )
" Where is Ravan Bloodfall? "
It was a very simple question which under normal circumstances would have been very easy for Max to answer, however, under the present circumstances he could not.
Not only had he signed a system contract in front of the entire vampire council stating that Ravan and Max were not the same individual, he had also taken subtle jabs at Regus while doing so.
Although their relationship had improved several fold since then and now Regus seemed to be quite fond of Ravan, if Max came clean here, it would all go south really fast.
On one hand, he did not wish to come clean, but on the other he had no other option but to do so.
Angakok was thorough when he exposed his identity.
Now, no matter how he tried to spin a lie or try to protect his identity, nobody would believe him.
He was already in the worst possible situation and from this point forward needed to consider how to make the best of it.
Shaking his head, Max looked Regus in the eye and said calmly " I am Ravan Bloodfall "
Regus's reaction was one of absolute shock.
He had seen with his own eyes as to how Max signed a system contract confirming his identity.
It was impossible to cheat the system, which was the only reason behind why despite all his suspicions he truly believed that Max and Ravan were different people.
Taking a step back, Regus looked more disappointed than disgusted as he spat on the ground and flew away.
He had not yet decided what he wished to do with this information, however, it was mostly because he was extremely tired and in no mood to confront this issue that he decided to let it be for now.
The issue itself was by no means resolved and it was going to come hounding Max sooner than later.
Max felt slight discomfort in his chest as he observed Regus's reaction. Lately he had grown to truly respect the Vampire King and did not wish to defeat him using dirty underhand tricks.
However, despite his personal feelings it was clear that he still had a task left to complete before he could also head back towards the base.
Satan's disc was still shining brightly and he needed to destroy it to complete this vampire raid as a success, and he intended to do so with Lucifer's sword itself.
***********
( Meanwhile Rudra )
It took Naomi and Ruby quite a bit of convincing to make the kids reluctantly accept their father.
As they were kids their grudges towards him evaporated almost as fast as they formed, however, it was clear to Rudra that they were doing this only because their mothers were telling them to and that there was no real affection behind the hugs and kisses they gave him.
Despite this, Rudra was having the time of his life as fake as it might be, this was everything he had ever dreamt off.
Now that he was back with them he felt everything in the universe was perfectly balanced once more, however, to his surprise it was Naomi who blocked his entry within their now house as she blocked his entrance at the door.
There were visible tears in her eyes as she did this and Rudra could clearly see that she was absolutely distressed, but he could not understand the reason behind her doing this bizzare action, as after all this time he was finally back and she was stopping him from entering the house?
" No entry for me? " Rudra asked sweetly as he hoped to win over Naomi through sweet talk and lovingly stroked her chin, but Naomi held firm in her resolve and did not allow him to coax her as she said "No"
Ruby who seemed to be on the fence about this confrontation till now glanced first at Kartikeya and then at Rudra and decided that she supported Naomi behind her decision as she silently gripped her hand from behind and affirmed to her that she was making the right decision.
" I will ask you a question and you will answer me honestly " Naomi said, as although her voice was shaky, it still had some authority behind it.
" Okay … " Rudra replied softly as he decided to answer whatever Naomi wanted to ask him honestly.
" What is your next big mission? What is the next calamity that the universe needs your help for? " Naomi asked with clear sarcasm behind her voice as she glared at Rudra with teary eyes, but that glare was more menacing than anything that Rudra had ever seen in his life.
Rudra took a step back as he scratched his chin, as the greatest mastermind he thought about a lot of possible answers, but unfortunately for him, Love, was not a game of strategy.
" I have to kill the universal queen… " Rudra replied honestly as Ruby stomped her foot on the ground below angrily and clutched Naomi's hand a bit tighter.
" I understand….. We do. We understand that you are the strongest in the universe and that you have to achieve more.
We don't wish to be the chains that hold you back, but here is what you fail to understand, husband.
It's that for the last 3 YEARS, YOU WERE NOT THERE! " Naomi said as she finally absolutely lost control of her emotions and could not speak cordially anymore.
" YOU MISSED THE BIRTH OF YOUR SECOND SON.
YOU COULD NOT EVEN CONVEY TO US THAT YOU WERE ALIVE AND WELL.
YOU HAD TO HIDE YOUR IDENTITY AS AN OLD MAN WHEN YOU MET US.
ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT BE THE STRONGEST, AS A FATHER YOU FAILED!
AS A HUSBAND YOU FAILED! " Naomi said as she broke down into a stream of tears.
As Rudra tried to hug her, she pushed him away as she continued her rant.
" Before, I always knew that after your mission you will come back home. But you broke my trust.
We don't want to stop you from fulfilling your duty and kill whatever you deem is necessary to make the universe a better place.
But I WON'T LET MY CHILDREN SUFFER.
I won't let them grow attached to you, only for you to not be there for them when they need you.
We can raise them by ourselves just fine.
But if you wish to be a part of this family, you need to bury your sword, bury whatever weapons of mass destruction you carry on your body and empty your inventory in our yard before you take a single step into the house.
If you decide to step inside, know that for the next 12 years, till Jake and Amy turn 18 and Kartikeya turns 15, you will have only one duty and that is to be their dutiful father.
We can be a happy family on this farm, and I'm sure their father can teach them combat and about the real world better than their mothers can, but it is YOUR choice if you wish to be that father.
If you want to come inside this house, you come as Rudra Rajput, the man.
If you want to continue being Shakuni The Undefeated, then I'm sorry, my husband love, I will not permit you inside this house-" Naomi vented as she slammed the door shut on Rudra's face, leaving the God-King absolutely baffled.
For a man who had omniscient eyes, Rudra never saw this confrontation coming and it left him with a lot to ponder on.