The Lord of the Underworld nodded at Ethan’s question.
"The Blood Clan’s domain is much like your own universe, but it exists on a single plane. Even so, it holds countless star systems. The reason I ca here first was because I knew you were in trouble. This campaign—I initiated it myself, to buy you so ti, perhaps."
The others in the ch didn’t glean much from her words, but Ethan understood. When she spoke of "ti," she was talking about Earth’s looming catastrophe.
"Is there danger?" Ethan asked, his face tight with worry.
She gave a soft laugh. "Silly child. You’ve grown up, you know how to care for others now." Seeing the worry in his eyes, the Lord of the Underworld smiled knowingly. She touched his cheek, her voice lowering. "There is danger. That’s why you must grow stronger, and quickly. But as long as he does not intervene, nothing can truly stop your mother. You don’t need to worry too much."
Ethan caught on the crucial detail and frowned. "Who is ’he’? Is he really that powerful?"
"As for his na and his identity," she said, brushing her fingers against his face, her expression warm and strangely tender, "it’s better that you don’t know. He is powerful, yes, but not invincible. There is at least one person who can fight him to a standstill, every ti."
Ethan shifted uneasily but didn’t interrupt. In truth, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike the rare affection in her manner.
"Then why not ask that person to deal with him?" he pressed.
For a mont her smile wavered. Sothing unreadable passed across her face, and she didn’t answer.
Before Ethan could push further, a voice called from outside. "My Lord, the nearest Blood Clan star system has been located!"
"Good. Mobilize another fifty million black-armored soldiers from the Throne Hall. We depart shortly."
"Understood!" The black-armored leader vanished again.
"Ethan, it’s ti for you to return," the Lord of the Underworld said, stepping back as she slowly lowered her helt into place.
"Mom..." Ethan took a step forward.
"I know what you’re thinking. But you must return. You need to grow stronger in that place. Your mother will be waiting for you, and when the ti cos, mother and son will fight side by side."
Her words cut him off. His face twisted with conflict, but he stayed silent.
Just as she was about to leave, he blurted out, "Oh! Mom... that pendant you gave —"
"I know. That stone was never ant for you," she said, her tone carrying a strange inflection.
Ethan froze. "Not for ? Then who was it for...?"
"It has already found its true owner. Don’t worry yourself about it. Just take good care of your little girlfriend. I must go now."
She turned. Through the strange helt, her eyes lingered on him for a mont longer. Then she vanished, reappearing outside. With a wave of her hand, a dark, gaping portal opened behind the ch. The black-armored army marched toward it, and as they did, her figure slowly faded from view.
For a long mont, Ethan stood in silence. At last, he turned back.
"Ethan..." Dragon Child’s voice was soft, cautious, her eyes full of concern.
"I’m fine," he said quickly. "We should head back too."
He slipped into the cockpit. Behind him, Uncle Jed and the others traded bewildered looks, unsure what to make of it all.
The Shatterstar ch ca alive with a deep hum, its fra shimring as it plunged into the spatial channel the Lord of the Underworld had left for them. The Blood Clan’s original portal had vanished. That one had required infiltrators and elaborate preparation to activate; hers, by contrast, had been conjured with nothing more than a wave of her hand.
Ethan couldn’t help but feel a surge of awe for his mother’s power. Still, her portal was far less stable. The crossing tossed them through endless turbulence, and nearly half a day passed before the eight suns of Umbral Star finally ca into view again.
They erged above a blinding expanse of snow. The Shatterstar had not returned to its previous coordinates, but thankfully, it was still within the Extre North Ice Fields. This ti, Serpent-Turtle accompanied them. With the go board formation still active, Serpent-Turtle’s guidance allowed Ethan to steer the Shatterstar ch directly through the shifting boundaries, without wandering off-course.
At last, they returned to Micah’s location. The Blood Clan’s dinsional breach there had already been destroyed, and Ethan’s return won him recognition as the lord of Clearspring City, Hurricane City, and Forgotten City. He received their seals in turn: the Clearspring Seal, the Hurricane Seal, and the Mark of Oblivion.
[Ding... System Notification: Ultimate Quest [Conquer the Sea of Death] completed. Do you wish to submit the quest and claim rewards? (Yes/No)]
Ethan opened his quest panel.
Quest Na: [Conquer the Sea of Death]
Quest Requirent: Unify the four main cities of the Sea of Death.
Hurricane City: 1/1.
Beastfall City: 1/1.
Forgotten City: 1/1.
Clearspring City: 1/1.
Quest Duration: Within the trial quest’s ti limit.
Quest Reward: Divine Ability Scroll: Immortality (Divine).
He stared at the panel for a mont, then closed it without submitting. A nagging thought pressed at the back of his mind—if he claid the reward now, the system might send him straight back to Earth. There were still things he had to settle here. Better to wait until all of it was finished.
They returned to the place where Micah had established the grand array. The civilians had already evacuated in an orderly fashion, leaving only the familiar faces who had stayed behind, waiting for him. Everyone stood quietly until Micah had collected the last of the array talismans and dismantled the formation. Then, together, they boarded the Shatterstar and made for their main stronghold—Beastfall City.
That night, the city lit up with celebration. Tables were pushed together, barrels cracked open, and laughter filled the hall. Ethan himself brought out all the delicacies he had hoarded from Earth in his Mindscape, offering them freely to everyone. For a while, no one spoke of losses or grief. They ate at, drank deep, and forced themselves to laugh.
Hank, already well into his cups, staggered over and clung to Ethan’s leg, declaring him "Brother" while demanding another of the little white bottles of liquor he’d fallen in love with.
Regis, by contrast, hardly touched his drink. His gaze never left the cup sitting full before him, untouched. That seat, that cup—that was where Quinn had always sat. Quinn had given his life in the last battle, choosing to self-destruct in his final monts, leaving nothing behind.
Julian drank heavily beside his father, but his silence spoke louder than words. Across the room, Bongo lingered in her Beast Spirit form, watching him. When her eyes fell on the place where his left arm had been torn away and devoured, her heart twisted. She could not stop glancing, could not stop hurting for him.
Nearby, Dana sat quietly beside her. She barely touched her vegetarian plate before setting her spoon aside. One eye was hidden under a bandage, and fresh blood had seeped through the cloth. Ethan glanced at her. The first ti he had seen Dana, her beauty had stunned him—pure, almost unearthly. But now her head was completely shaved, and she wore a plain blue monastic robe.
She had left Beastfall City earlier that day, and when she returned, her hair was gone. Her disfigured face and her calm bearing said it all. She had chosen to renounce the mortal world, and while Ethan did not know it, she had decided on this path long ago—ever since her body had been violated.
This feast was for all the warriors who had fought for Beastfall City. Ethan looked around the hall. Many seats were empty, left untouched, reserved for the fallen by the Central Dominion Guard. They had been the seats of comrades who would never return.
Everyone laughed loudly, as if nothing was wrong. They clapped one another on the shoulders, they toasted, they cheered. Yet beneath the noise, the air was heavy, their laughter tinged with sorrow.
When dawn ca, Ethan stood watching the first rays of the rising sun. His heart was heavy. He was leaving, but before he went, there was still one more place he needed to visit.
User Comments
0 comments from readers