Meanwhile, Grey, still recovering, couldn't shake a dark premonition that weighed heavily upon his heart.
"I don't like the idea of staying here any longer," Grey said, his brow furrowed as his mind scanned the faces he remembered from the human continent. "For 1,800 years, we've ignored what happens beyond these walls, but I can't rid myself of the feeling that the kings outside are moving against us."
Camellya approached him, gently taking his hand.
"You're right. We must leave this place. I have the same uneasy feeling about them. Besides… now that we've revealed a glimpse of our power, they'll surely begin to make their move."
Aurora, still burdened by guilt, remained silent. She merely nodded, allowing Grey to make the decision.
Suddenly, Samson emerged from the shadows.
"That might be a wise course of action, Your Majesty. But tell me… once you leave, what do you intend to do?"
Grey stood, facing Samson with a serene smile that masked a steely resolve.
"I'm going to activate the summoning portal."
Samson raised an eyebrow.
"The portal?"
Grey nodded, his gaze burning with renewed purpose.
"I can't force the humans of this world to fight for us. But I can seek help… from other worlds."
Samson fell silent as the gravity of those words settled upon him.
"You're saying you're going to break the first law of the Omniverse?"
"Any law can be broken by a Blessed Child, if it's deemed necessary," Grey stated with dangerous calm, his voice resonating with quiet authority. "This may be a risky move, but I'm certain that Raynold and the others will go to any lengths to see us fall. I can't afford to remain idle."
Samson narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening.
"Very well. I won't stop you. But remember this, King Corey—if the gods descend from the Ancestral Plane…" He paused deliberately, allowing the weight of his words to drop like a hammer. "I won't hesitate to put an end to you and stop this odyssey."
The air grew tense with the threat. Yet Grey showed no fear. Instead, a warm smile curved his lips, as if Samson's words were merely a reminder of a burden he had long since accepted.
"Don't worry, Samson. I will do what must be done." He waved a hand dismissively, as though brushing away the concern. "By the way…"
As the conversation between Grey and Samson continued, Camellya quietly approached Aurora. She took her hand delicately, but with enough firmness to compel Aurora to meet her gaze.
"Is something troubling you?" Camellya asked softly, her tone gentle yet direct.
Aurora looked away for a moment, fixing her gaze on the ring she wore on her finger.
"I'm afraid… that the power you and Grey possess now might spiral out of control again," she admitted with a trembling sigh. "Was it a mistake to marry him so soon?"
Camellya observed her with patience before releasing a soft sigh.
"I don't think so." Her voice was firm yet serene, a balm for Aurora's restless mind. "It's true that the power you now share with us doesn't entirely harmonize with mortal bodies… but I don't believe that's the issue."
Aurora frowned slightly.
"Then… what caused it?"
Camellya shook her head with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry too much. Just because our transformations went awry once doesn't mean it will happen again."
Aurora seemed ready to argue, but Camellya gently squeezed her hand to silence her.
"Besides, I'm glad to have someone to share my husband with." Camellya's smile was sincere, though it carried a complex mixture of emotions.
For a moment, Aurora stood in stunned silence, surprised by the honesty of those words. She knew that what Camellya said might seem strange, but she also understood the sentiment behind it.
(Should I be happy about this?)
Perhaps she shouldn't. But she couldn't deny that sharing Grey with Camellya brought a strength to her heart that she couldn't fully comprehend.
"We must prepare," Grey's voice interrupted, cutting through the delicate thread of thoughts the two women shared.
"Very well," Aurora replied, straightening as she released Camellya's hand.
The two women stood and walked side by side, following Grey into the depths of the castle.
Once Grey and the women disappeared into the castle's shadows, a man emerged silently beside Samson. He wore a black cloak that shrouded his figure, revealing little of his form. Yet his presence radiated a confidence that seemed to permeate the air. His sharp eyes, gleaming with cunning, observed everything with a calm that commanded both respect and unease.
"Why offer a warning to the future King of All?" the man asked with a blend of incredulity and disdain. His voice was low and gravelly, almost a whisper, as if he didn't want the walls to overhear.
Without taking his gaze off the corridor where Grey and the women had vanished, Samson replied coldly.
"You know well that the Shadow Witches are not entirely reliable with their premonitions." Samson's words were precise, each syllable weighted with skepticism. "I'd rather be cautious than regret it later."
The man nodded slowly, grasping the full implications of Samson's statement.
"I see… So, what do you plan to do now, Your Majesty?"
Samson turned his gaze to him, a dangerous smile spreading across his lips. It wasn't the kind of smile Grey knew — warm and reassuring. No, this smile was cold, laden with hidden intentions, the kind of expression a predator shows just before pouncing on its prey.
"I will do nothing," Samson said softly, his voice like a clandestine command not meant for any other ears. "But I want you to dispatch knights of the highest caliber to watch them."
The man narrowed his eyes, sensing the weight of those words.
"Watch them?"
"Yes," Samson continued, his eyes gleaming with an eerie intensity. "If the summoning portal spirals out of control, I want them to eliminate Corey without hesitation. Use magic dust. Leave no trace of his existence."
For a moment, the silence grew heavy, almost tangible. The man absorbed the order and, with a brief nod, turned away.
"Understood."
With a fluid motion, his figure began to blur, as though his very body was dissolving into the shadows. Within moments, he vanished entirely, leaving behind only a faint echo — a whisper of impending doom.
Samson lingered for a moment longer, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distant stone walls. Something dark and terrible was approaching. He felt it in every fiber of his being.
---
What Grey would need most upon venturing into the outside world was food. Not just any ordinary fare from the castle, but something unique, something native to the enigmatic realm of Nurukaido — the elixir fruits. These legendary fruits were said to grow only in the depths of the caves where the Nurukaido people dwelled. Hanging from vines that draped the cavern walls, the fruits possessed extraordinary properties: they dulled pain, replenished mana, and heightened the five senses. Samson had explained all of this with the precision of someone well-versed in the world's most ancient secrets.
The first time Grey tasted one, he did so alongside Camellya. At a glance, the fruit resembled an ordinary apple, but its skin shimmered with a phosphorescent cyan hue, as if the very light of the stars had been woven into its flesh. The taste, however, was sweeter, and its texture — astonishingly soft — reminded Grey of a perfectly ripened avocado.
"I suppose these will suffice," Grey remarked, lifting one last elixir fruit and examining it closely before tucking it away. He grasped one of the hanging vines and carefully descended to the cavern floor.
"We've got ten. Perfect. I'll store them safely," Camellya said, closing the leather pouch that held the precious fruits. Wasting no time, she turned toward the castle to gather her belongings. Their departure was imminent, and every moment mattered.
Not far away, Aurora stood watchful, her gaze fixed on Camellya. Her posture was calm, but her thoughts were a storm of concern. She cared deeply for both Grey and Camellya, knowing that the power of Ryujin and Tiamat, slumbering within their hearts, could awaken again at any moment. That possibility troubled her more than she could admit.
(I hope this journey will be safe), she thought, absentmindedly twirling a lock of her silver hair between her fingers.
"Are you certain you're coming with us?" Grey's voice broke through her reverie. "Shouldn't you stay behind to protect the Coliseum?"
Aurora blinked, returning to the present. She remained silent for a few moments before answering with firm resolve:
"There will be no problem. The kingdom's knights will handle its defense in my absence."
Grey nodded, satisfied with her response.
"Very well. Let's go, then. Let's help Camellya with her things."
Without hesitation, Aurora followed him toward the castle's interior. There, they found Camellya in the grand hall, hefting two backpacks filled with essential items for their journey. Aurora quickly stepped forward and took one of the bags to lighten Camellya's burden.
Grey, witnessing the scene, allowed himself a faint smile — a brief glimmer of peace amidst the storm brewing on the horizon.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows with the quiet grace of a specter. It was Samson, who positioned himself beside Grey without a sound.
"Take care out there, Your Majesty Corey," Samson said gravely, his tone solemn.
Grey inclined his head slightly in gratitude.
"I will."
Samson crossed his arms, his piercing gaze locking onto Grey.
"For the summoning portal to function, it must first be constructed. And you'll need to know the correct spell, will you not?"
Grey sighed, already aware of this.
"That's right. Which is why I'll make a brief visit to the Dwarven Continent. I need to acquire the scroll that holds that spell."
Samson raised an eyebrow, his expression calculated and shrewd.
"And how do you intend to build the portal? Remember, it requires precise architecture to function properly."
Grey stood in silence for a moment, his gaze distant, fixed on the horizon beyond the castle windows. His thoughts, like shadows, drifted toward the uncertainty that lay ahead.
"Humans can be masterful builders too," he finally replied.
But Samson shook his head, as if he had already anticipated that answer.
"Allow me to suggest something that will save you time," he said firmly. His voice carried a weight of certainty, as though what he was about to say had already been decided. "I know of a place where a portal already exists. And it remains intact."
Grey turned to him, intrigued yet wary.
"Where?"
With an elegant motion of his hands, Samson conjured a small map that hovered between them, its edges glowing faintly in the dim light. His finger traced a path toward a dark point in one corner of the parchment. The name Hellspire stood out among dark smudges that looked like spilled ink.
"You may not like the idea," Samson continued, his tone measured, "but this place was once home to certain… demons. It is there that the first summoning portal was erected. If you acquire the necessary spell, I assure you that this portal will function. And you won't need to build anything from scratch."
Samson's words were clear and concise. There was no deceit in his voice, no trace of hesitation. Yet Grey's heart stirred uneasily. The very mention of that name — Hellspire — tightened his chest with a sense of dread. It was a place of ancient sin, a profane territory that had once been the stronghold of the most fearsome enemies he had ever faced.
Even so, Grey knew that dismissing this suggestion could cost them precious time. And each second lost was a gift to the outside kings who moved their pieces in secret.
"I'll consider it," Grey replied at last, though his hesitation was evident in his tone.
Samson inclined his head respectfully.
"Go behind the castle," he added. "There you will find the passage that leads to the outside."
Grey turned toward Camellya and Aurora. With purposeful strides, he approached them, his steps carrying both the weight of a ruler's duty and the tenderness of a man determined to protect those he held dear.
When he stood before them, he gently placed his hands atop their heads — a gesture of paternal care, filled with quiet affection. It was as if he sought to shield them from every danger that lay in wait beyond the castle walls.
"Let's go," he said softly, yet there was steel beneath his calm voice.
The two women met his gaze with understanding. Without further words, they fell in step beside him, following as he led them toward the back of the castle. There, beyond the ancient stonework, the exit to the unknown awaited.
The wind howled fiercely, whipping through the trees and rushing over the craggy cliffs. It carried with it a whisper of foreboding, a warning from the world itself.
A great war was coming.
And Grey knew it better than anyone.