Return from the Nether Realm
(3rd Person POV)
Following Queen Lily's suggestion, King Luke ordered Perah to summon the kingdom's most talented young demons before his throne.
The throne room's atmosphere crackled with tension as the recent graduates from Morningstar's most prestigious universities knelt before their ruler, Luke Morningstar. Each of them could feel the weight of his gaze.
Perah stepped forward to introduce them. "Your Majesty, these young demons before you are the finest talents I could find in our kingdom. Each has achieved notable accomplishments in mechanics and technology. Their academic records show exceptional grades from their respective universities."
King Luke fixed them with a penetrating stare, gesturing toward the computer stationed nearby. "If these youngsters are truly as talented as claimed, I want them to create a device that equals this computer - no, one that completely surpasses what it has to offer!"
The young demons exchanged nervous glances. Perah turned to them sharply. "You heard His Majesty! The king challenges your abilities to develop our own device to rival the computer!"
Several demons swallowed hard, their eyes drawn to the computer. They'd been researching this device for days, marveling at its capabilities. Now their king demanded they create something superior? Many wanted to declare it impossible, but fear of royal displeasure kept them silent.
"What is the matter? Why are these youngsters so silent?" Luke's voice carried an edge of impatience.
Perah's face darkened. "Why do you remain silent? Do you dare refuse His Majesty's challenge?"
"We..." one of them stuttered, before they all answered in trembling unison, "We accept..."
Luke's frown deepened. "I sense these youngsters lack confidence in their abilities..."
As Perah moved to scold them, Luke raised his hand for silence. "I'll give you two days to study the computer. After that, tell me honestly - can you create something superior or not?"
One graduate finally mustered his courage. "Your Majesty, I actually own a computer myself. My friends and I at university have been researching it extensively, and... we've discovered it's far more complex than it appears. The technology is so advanced we've barely begun to comprehend it..."
Luke's frown deepened at this admission.
Another stepped forward. "I too own one, Your Majesty. I thought I could understand its workings within days, but now I realize... even months or years, perhaps decades, wouldn't be enough to fully grasp it."
"Even just copying its components seems nearly impossible..." a third added, voice trembling.
Perah's expression grew serious as one by one, the graduates confessed their struggles, not even waiting for the promised two days. Each admission tumbled out like a guilty confession.
"So you've all been studying these computers independently and concluded it's impossible to replicate, let alone improve upon?" Luke's frown intensified.
The young demons nodded in unison. Perah quickly interjected, "I could search for more talented graduates, Your Majesty—"
"No need," Luke cut him off with a sigh. "I trust you wouldn't bring incompetent graduates before me." He turned to the kneeling demons. "If what these youngsters say is true, then this computer is far more sophisticated than we imagined."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the graduates from the throne room.
Perah approached the throne once more. "What shall we do now, Your Majesty? I've heard the computer is appearing in Thorne, Choson, and Japon. Given its capabilities, it's likely to become commonplace worldwide. It's revolutionizing both government operations and business efficiency."
"And computers will revolutionize warfare," Perah pressed urgently. "If neighboring kingdoms master and implement these devices, it poses a severe threat to our empire's security!"
Luke gritted his teeth, knowing the truth in Perah's words. "You're right..." His fist clenched. "Damn it."
Perah remained bowed, clearly hoping his king would swallow his pride and request Arthur's aid. But Luke merely straightened in his throne. "I'll decide our course later. For now, we must prepare for the crown prince's return."
Perah nodded, recognizing the dismissal.
***
The Glacia Expanse stretched endlessly, a frozen wasteland where even the hardiest creatures feared to tread.
Behind its towering wall of ice loomed the Hades Gate - an ancient structure of black stone that seemed to drink in what little light reached this desolate place.
Carved with eldritch runes that pulsed with sickly light, the gate radiated an aura of otherworldly dread.
As it opened slightly, tendrils of supernatural cold slipped through the crack, bringing with them whispers of nameless horrors from the Nether Realm.
Yet even this narrow opening was sufficient for the returning parties to emerge.
Groups of elves, humans, dwarves, and demons filed through, each accompanied by mages whose staffs glowed with warming magic to ward off the killing cold.
Their national flags snapped in the bitter wind - the eagles of the United States of Empirica, the sun sigil of Apollo Kingdom, the crescent of the Lunar Kingdom, the blooming standard of Roses Kingdom, and the dragon banner of Wales Kingdom among many others.
Among them waved the flag of the Morningstar Kingdom, carried by a behemoth demon.
Behind him came the royal escort - eight warriors in matching blood-red plate armor bearing enchanted weapons, flanked by three sorceresses whose crystal-tipped staves maintained a sphere of warmth around their charges.
Within this protective formation walked five young demons of obvious noble bearing, despite their current state.
Their once-fine clothes hung in tatters, their armor showed deep gouges and scorch marks, and even their proud faces bore new scars.
At the gathering's fore, elders from each race prepared to activate the rare World Spire Portal - a gateway that could only be opened during specific celestial alignments.
The heirs watched as their mounts arrived - magnificent griffins for the U.S.E elites, elegant pegasi for the elves, sturdy wyverns for the demons, and a majestic hippogriff for the Wales Kingdom heir.
The Morningstar heirs mounted their wyverns, preparing to enter the portal. The air crackled with energy as the elders began their incantation.
Golden light spiraled upward, forming a towering vortex that rippled with prismatic energy. Excited chatter filled the air as groups began their entrance.
Agustin Asmodeus guided his wyvern beside Azazel's. "Six years... feels like an eternity since we left home."
"The Nether Realm showed no mercy," Azazel nodded. "My siblings will want to hear every story."
"Even dealing with the Bloodseekers was hell," young Morpheus Belphegor added, referring to the massive insectoids that plagued their nights. "Those swarms would overrun entire camps."
"The nightly waves were relentless," another heir shuddered. "Unbelievable we survived that..."
Each heir received their destination crystal - enchanted cards that would guide them through the portal's pathways. Azazel tucked his safely away before they took flight.
They soared into the vortex, entering a network of shimmering channels that pulsed with ethereal light. These mystical pathways twisted through reality itself, carrying them across vast distances in moments.
They emerged into Morningstar Kingdom's bright blue skies, the fresh air a welcome change from the Nether Realm's oppressive atmosphere.
"Home at last!" Agustin breathed deeply. "I'll take my leave here, Your Highness. Until we meet again!"
Azazel watched his companions depart with their escorts, leaving him with just one sorceress and two guards for the flight to the castle.
As they soared, he pulled a mechanical puzzle box from his pocket - an intricate device of gears and sliding panels from the Nether Realm. "Arthur might appreciate this," he smiled, thinking of the gifts he'd gathered for each sibling. The puzzle box seemed perfect for his nerd brother.
Although he never displayed any affection for his nerdy brother, it became undeniable that his time in the Nether Realm had taught him to value life and family more deeply.
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For advanced chapters, go check my p@treon.com/NewComer714.
AN: Apologies for the delayed update—things have been hectic recently. The house still isn't finished, though construction has begun. Progress is slow, but I'm grateful that my family and I are safe. Your continued support means so much to me, and it's one of the things I'm most thankful for. It may take time to recover everything I've lost, but I truly appreciate just being alive. I could have been trapped in that house with no way out.
My message to all of you is this: no matter how tough life gets, always find something to be grateful for and appreciate the goodness in your life. These hard times have taught me something invaluable: To Be Alive Is To Live A Life.
Do something you love—just, you know, nothing illegal (haha). Follow your passions and chase your dreams, because only in those moments do we truly feel "alive."