At William's side, he found himself being dragged by his ear all the way to the library. Lumia, not loosening her grip until they arrived, finally released his poor, reddened ear once they reached their destination. She sat down in a large, ornate chair, motioning for William to sit in front of her.
William nodded and took his seat, knowing better than to protest or complain. He waited quietly, his eyes fixed on the floor, anticipating the scolding that was sure to come.
Lumia sighed, the sound reaching William's ears as he braced himself for her words. He knew that sigh—it meant she was disappointed, which was somehow worse than if she were simply angry. The weight of her expectations settled heavily on his shoulders as he waited for her to begin.
"I know you're free-spirited, but we are Royals, William. We have a duty to our people," Lumia said, her gaze steady as she looked at him.
"I know, Mother. I just went there to train and hunt," William replied, his tone respectful but defensive.
Lumia's eyes narrowed slightly. "Was that all?" she asked, her voice firm.
William opened his mouth to say yes, but under her scrutinizing gaze, he hesitated and then admitted, "No... I also wanted a breather."
Lumia shook her head slowly. "It's understandable to want a break, but you can't expect me to overlook your negligence. You know tomorrow is a special day for you," she reminded him.
"Tomorrow, you will leave for your first Dive into the Parallel World," Lumia continued, her tone serious.
William nodded, fully aware of the importance of the mission. After all, the concept of the Parallel World had been drilled into his head countless times.
The Parallel World is an exact replica of their world, but it's overrun by demons. According to zealous believers, it was meant to be the end of the world in the Nexus Alliance if not for the Goddess's intervention. Demons use the portals that sometimes spawn in the Parallel World to invade the real world, connecting both realms.
It's like a VR simulation—a grim, apocalyptic VR—where you enter, slay demons, protect a region, and secure it. The only way to ensure safety is by placing a device called a Blocker in the region, which prevents portals from spawning and stabilizes the area.
Every young awakener whether Royal or not who turns 14 is required to enter the Parallel World and aid in securing a region. But the process is perilous; when passing through the portal, you're thrown into a random location. It's like a deadly game—if you're unlucky, you might find yourself in the heart of a demonic stronghold, but if fortune smiles upon you, you could end up in a treasure trove.
Upon arriving in the Parallel World, the first task is to secure a kilometer-wide radius and place the Blocker. This device is crucial—it not only stabilizes and protects your designated region but also purifies it from demonic influence. To expand the secured area, you simply feed the Blocker with demonic cores. The more cores you provide, the larger your region becomes.
When William first learned about this system, it reminded him of those strategy games where players awaken a territory, summon heroes, and protect their land while expanding their domain by conquering others. But the reality was far harsher.
First, there's no newbie protection. That's why children in the Nexus Alliance are trained from the moment they awaken their talents, as early as three years old. They are prepared for a relentless, unforgiving world.
Second, summoning isn't free or easy. To summon a hero or powerful ally, one must create a sacrificial circle, offer up demons, and hope the Gods bless them with a character from history. It's a gamble with life itself.
Third, there are no safe zones or periods of peace. The Parallel World is a 24/7 deathmatch, where danger is ever-present, and death can strike at any moment.
Lastly, unlike those strategy games, expanding your region doesn't grant the Lord any direct power. However, there is one advantage—by increasing the size of your territory, you can command more soldiers, gain more troops, and summon more heroes. The more territory you control, the stronger your forces become, making you a formidable protector of your people.
Its like an Nightmare mode Lord game.
"I know mom, I am ready in every possible way for the parallel world" William said,
"No, William von Chronos , No one is ever ready for the parallel world, no one" Lumia replied with stern gaze on him.
William opened his mouth to retort but sighed knowing it won' help " I know Mom, I meant I did everything I could do on my part"
Lumia nodded thoughtfully and said, "Remember, nothing can be taken into the Parallel World—not even your clothes. So if you want to select a third talent, do it today."
William considered this and replied, "My two talents are strong enough. I'll wait and see if I find anything worthwhile in the Parallel World to fill my last slot."
In their world, a person can only safely house three talents within their soul. Taking on more than that is a death sentence. However, the Parallel World is known for its high drop rates of Talent Crystals, which can be bought and sold through the connected Parallel Market.
Lumia continued, "Also, remember that demons aren't the only obstacles you'll face there."
William nodded, fully aware. The Parallel World is inhabited by various other races, many of whom aren't part of the Nexus Alliance. These races come from different corners of the universe, each with their unique cultivation systems and power structures. The Parallel World acts as a virtual reality, connecting all these diverse worlds, making it the only place where the laws of the universe are suspended, allowing anything—from killing others to plundering their resources.
But it's not as easy as it sounds. In the Parallel World, everyone starts on a single world. From there, they must conquer that world and then move on to dominate entire galaxies before they can even think about participating in the intergalactic battles.