Chapter 189: Awakening?

'Hmm, it's been roughly forty minutes since they entered, only a little bit longer, though as an Emperor, while I shouldn't be thinking this, I hope I win that bet.' Mused Marcus calmly as he floated before the massive portal while Illumia and Maxim were beside him.

However, while I was observing the portal, making sure nothing unexpected happened to it, all of a sudden, I felt someone forcefully take control of the portal, and before I could even react, it vanished from sight, taking me by utter surprise.

"What the hell just happened!?" Exclaimed Marcus with an ugly expression as he tore a hole in space, leading directly toward the void, specifically the area near the Treasure realm.

"You two, stay here; summon Mother, Father, and Maria." Ordered Marcus as he glanced at Illumia and Maxim, who nodded in response before he entered through the portal.

Stepping through the tear in space, I emerged from the other side, appearing right inside the colorful void that attempted to erode my body, but with my cultivation base, the void was practically harmless to me. The only way for the void to be considered a threat would be if I were to land inside a void storm, though even so, unless it were a decently powerful one, it wouldn't be threatening at all.

Looking at the Treasure realm, it was encased in a naturally forming protective Qi barrier formed by the realm itself, protecting it from the harsh and deadly environment of the void. Reaching my hand forward, I manifested a massive golden palm larger than the realm itself before launching it toward the Treasure realm as I intended to wrestle for control over it against the person who initially stole it from me.

However, to my shock, my golden palm couldn't even get close before it suddenly collapsed from a massive and terrifying pressure that emanated from the Treasure realm, causing me to swiftly back away, though luckily, it didn't seem intent on coming near me.

'This isn't good; whoever stole the Treasure realm from me is far stronger than either Maria or I; my strongest attack couldn't even get close. I'll need Mother or Father, though; from what I could sense, not even they might be able to do anything.' Thought Marcus, and although his outward appearance was relatively calm, he was anxious, worrying deeply about Elif and Elaine, who were both stuck inside the Treasure realm.

"Marcus, what happened?" Asked Tyler with a frown as he, Tiana, Maria, Illumia, and Maxim emerged from the portal while floating within the void.

"Someone has forcefully taken control of the Treasure realm; whoever is doing this is powerful; my palm wasn't even able to get close to the realm before it was destroyed." Replied Marcus with a frown, his words angering everyone present, especially Maria, though thankfully, her years as an Empress had helped her manage her emotions somewhat.

"Hmm, If that's the case, I doubt either of us will be of much help; someone who would dare mess with our Empire can't be someone weak." Said Tiana with a frown as she gazed at the Treasure realm in the distance.

"Tiana's right; the power I can sense surrounding the Treasure realm is unbelievably powerful, and even from a distance, it feels suffocating. We'll need to summon an ancestor, possibly several." Remarked Tyler, manifesting a massive golden palm, even larger than Marcus's, though just like the first time, his palm couldn't get close as it was destroyed by the pressure surrounding the Treasure Realm.

"If something happens to my babies, I don't care who it is that pulled this stunt; I'll send the entire Elven Empire after them!" Stated Maria angrily, venom lacing her every word as she eyed the Treasure realm peacefully floating in the void.

Nodding at Maria's words, I was about to have her stay here while I go and speak with the ancestors, but out of the blue, the same powerful pressure that encompassed the Treasure realm suddenly surrounded every single one of us, halting our actions as it took control of our body.

'Do not fret, my Descendants; all is under my control. Stay and observe his awakening.' Said the woman's voice softly, her words entering the mind of every Royal Elf present, and if Elif were here, he would recognize that voice.

That voice was one I'd only heard once before, and it was on the day of my inauguration as I ascended to the throne alongside Maria, both of us officially becoming rulers of the Empire. The ascension ceremony consists of several traditions and things we must do, but the last step is vital. The last step, while important, is also the simplest; all you must do is enter the ancestral land where the ancestors reside and have Progenitor Lourdes place the crown atop your head while officially announcing you Emperor and Empress of the Empire.

'That voice, it was the exact same as hers: Progenitor Lourdes.' Thought Marcus in astonishment with widened eyes as he felt the power surrounding his body vanish.

"F-Father, tha-" Asked Maria in disbelief, though she couldn't even finish speaking.

"Yes, that was her: Progenitor Lourdes." Replied Tyler, feeling just as shocked as everyone present.

"I wasn't expecting to hear her voice until Elif and Elaine's inauguration; however, at least we know they are safe, and nothing will happen to them with her present." Said Tiana as she regained her composure, her words calming both Maria and Marcus.

"Yes, that is a good thing; however, what did she mean by his awakening?" Remarked Marcus with a slight frown as he glanced at the three, their conversation confusing both Illumia and Maxim, though they just silently observed.

"His awakening? She must've been speaking about Elif, right? But what does she mean by awakening?" Questioned Maria in confusion, feeling slightly worried as she knew awakening sometimes comes at a cost.

"I may be wrong, but do you remember Elif's first Heavenly Tribulation?" Said Tyler with a thoughtful expression while looking at the Treasure realm, his words causing the three and Illumia to nod, understanding what he was implying.

"You mean the intent that showed itself during his final lightning tribulation? While it was incredibly pure, powerful, and even capable of ignoring the differences in our cultivation, I find it a little hard to believe that could be the reason." Remarked Maria with slightly furrowed brows as she replayed that memory in her head with utmost detail.

"I'm not that confident in my assumption either, but that is the only thing I can think of when she mentioned the word awaken; then again, it's possible who she was speaking of wasn't Elif." Commented Tyler, though he was even less certain about that.

"I find that even harder to believe, Father; with how special he is, she must've been speaking about Elif. I couldn't Imagine someone else being so unique that Progenitor Lourdes herself would make a move and intervene." Stated Marcus with a shake of his while Tiana and Illumia nodded in agreement.

"Anyways, we can do nothing; let us just do as Progenitor Lourdes said; watch and observe Elif's awakening." Said Tiana as she sent her divine sense into the Treasure realm while concealing her presence.

"You two can watch as well if you so wish." Said Marcus as he glanced at Illumia and Maxim before following suit and sending his divine sense into the Treasure realm, locating Elif and Elaine instantly.

"So, about what you said earlier, Maria?" Asked Marcus with an amused smirk, earning him a glare from Maria and causing him to chuckle.

'Do you have any idea what they were speaking about, Miss Illumia?' Asked Maxim, slightly confused while observing Elif and Elaine, who were listening to Idonea recounting her experience with the Nether Monsters.

'I'm about as clueless as you, though it seems like Their Majesties don't know much more than either of us, so it's not like we are missing out.' Replied Illumia calmly while watching the same thing as Maxim.

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After listening to Idonea, I closed my eyes and contemplated for a few minutes, trying to figure out a way out of this mess; unfortunately, while I couldn't come up with a safe one, I did think of a way to stop things from getting worse. Once I formulated a plan, I gave Idonea a concealing Talisman, hopefully keeping her, Marley, and Sarah hidden from harm's way while Elaine and I headed south.

"For them to be appearing outside the Nether dimension, that must mean a portal has formed somewhere; in order to stop things from getting worse, all we need to do is close the portal, though that is easier said than done." Remarked Elif while flying through the sky alongside Elaine, frowning as he viewed the tens of thousands of monsters with Divine King strength.

"If only Divine Kings are present, that means the portal they are using isn't strong enough to allow a Divine Emperor to pass through; though that's only for now, eventually, they'll start appearing." Said Elaine while flying beside Elif as the two were hidden within the void thanks to Elaine's physique.

Thanks to Elaine, we were relatively well concealed within the void, though because the monsters were being controlled, they always knew our general location, so it didn't help nearly as much, but it did prevent us from engaging in unnecessary battles. However, the only way this is even working is for me to hold Elaine's hand, at least that's what she said, and although I have an inkling she's lying, it wasn't really the time to confront her about that; there were bigger things to worry about.