North Star Stronghold - Tartarus Realm
Ery stood before the Star Gate, its swirling energy casting an eerie glow on his determined face. After three long days of waiting and preparation, the ti had co.
He was finally going ho.
At his side stood a company of powerful allies.
Rosin Karat, the Supre Magus, had regained most of his strength, now at the peak of three cosmos Grand Magus realm. Beside him, Vayerel had recovered enough to stabilize at the One-Cosmos level. It wasn’t ideal, but full recovery would take weeks, perhaps more.
They could wait no longer.
Not only for Ery’s personal reason, but the scourge had swallowed the northern frontier entirely. Even now, corrupted shadows crept across the map. The decision was made: North Star Stronghold was to be abandoned.
Commander Jhett approached, his expression grim. Though still grieving the loss of Feil and the horrors of the last battle, he held himself together.
"We sent in three teams. None returned. Are you sure you’re going to do this?"
Ery nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I have to."
The commander let out a slow breath.
Despite Ery being a traveler—an outsider to their realm—the commander understands his worth. Ery was a brilliant alchemist who had contributed significantly to the war effort. The Expira Draught he developed had beco essential in detecting scourge infestations.
Understanding the look in Commander Jhet’s eyes, Ery turned toward his alchemist friend Ivaris. "I’ve left all my notes, all the recipes and research with him," Ery said, placing a firm hand on Ivaris’s shoulder. "Everything. He can carry it forward better than I can."
There was weight behind the words—intent. He was making it clear that Ivaris needed protection to survive the dangerous path on their return to Pardera.
Their conversation was then interrupted by a figure. Identical in build and face to Ery, but with a darker aura. Jet-black hair. Eyes as deep and empty as the void.
His tone was impatient. "Let’s not waste any more ti. We need to go."
It was Dark Ery, housed within his newly created true clone body. Always more impulsive, he had grown restless with delay.
They turned to the small group assembling. Shinta, King Rig, and Haron were ready, faces solemn. But one group remained apart from them.
At one corner of the hall, stood the fey warriors.
Kaeylin Silverleaf, priestess of light, knelt before her father, the Sun Guardian—a towering figure of golden power.
"Go, my daughter," he said with a proud but heavy voice. "Fulfill your destiny."
There was a flicker of hesitation in Kaeylin’s eyes. She wasn’t just leaving her family—she was leaving her world behind. But her resolve remained unbroken. She had received the Earth Mother’s prophecy, and her heart would not falter.
Rising gracefully, she turned and approached Ery, her steps calm, unwavering. Four fey warriors followed behind her, all Grand Magus realm.
"We are ready," Kaeylin said.
It seed they were all set. The portal pulsed with celestial energy, its swirling starlight calling them ho. Yet Ery remained still.
He turned his gaze toward the rear of the hall—toward the solitary elderly figure who hadn’t yet moved. Ery crossed his arms and called out, "So... are you coming or not?"
This elder was no other than Grand Magus Soltz. He responded with a deep grunt and a half-hearted scoff, "Tch... I really don’t want to. Urgh... damn it all."
He stopped just in front of Ery and leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a grumble laced with frustration, "You still owe ... I can’t just let you vanish off into so other realm without settling the debt..."
His wrinkled hand tugged at the edge of Ery’s cloak.
"You weren’t lying, right? That realm of yours... you said the alchemists there—" his voice hitched— "they can help ... To cure this damn rot inside ?"
Ery held his gaze. "I said they’re more advanced in research and technology," Ery replied honestly. "That’s all."
Soltz exhaled slowly, like a man releasing a lifeti of disappointnt. He had nothing left in Tartarus. No kin. Only one vendetta left unfinished, and for that, he needed to be healed. He’d long since lost hope in finding a cure in this realm. Perhaps it was ti to take a risk.
Then, softly, almost childishly, he asked, "You promised to find a cure... but can you promise sothing else?"
He straightened up as best he could and locked eyes with Ery.
"Promise that you’ll co back... If I go with you... Later... you’ll find a way back to this cursed realm. Don’t let die in so foreign land... not before I finish what I started here."
Ery turned his head to glance at Kaeylin, who was watching in silence, and then up toward her father, the Sun Guardian. With quiet conviction, he said,
"Yes. I will definitely return."
That was enough for Soltz. He gave a resigned nod and joined the group. Another powerhouse—one more grand magus—ant better odds of surviving the crossing through the Eternal Void into the Magus Realm.
Before their departure, Ery turned to his daughter, Shinta, along with his two students. Though they had all reached the magus realm, their cultivation was still far too shallow to endure what lay ahead. He opened his domain and let all three enter.
Shinta protested, but relented with concern.
"Be safe, Father."
Now the final group was assembled: Ery and his darker self, Rosin Karat, Vayerel, Soltz, Kaeylin, and four Grand Magus fey warriors. Ten figures stood before the glowing Star Gate.
This would be the last ti it opened. Once they crossed, it would be dismantled, destroyed to prevent the scourge from following.
"Let’s go!" Ery called.
Vayerel stepped in first, and one by one, the others followed him into the swirling gate.
Just as the portal began to close, a sudden motion caught everyone off guard.
A shadow leapt through.
"Wait—soone just entered!.. Who was that?!"
The portal collapsed in a shower of fading starlight.
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