Everyone descended to the ground. As Aron removed his mask, he knelt before Zelda as a sign of respect.
Zelda smiled warmly and said, "My son, welcome home."
The room fell into stunned silence at the revelation.
Lara turned to Sam, realization dawning on her. "So, that's what you were hiding?"
Sam smiled in response but said nothing.
Zelda pulled Aron to his feet and into a heartfelt embrace. The two began walking side by side toward the estate, with everyone following behind them. Sam dissolved the protective barrier he had cast, and the tension in the air eased.
As they neared the estate, a distant rumble caught their attention. An army was approaching swiftly. Instinctively, the group assumed battle stances, preparing for a potential attack.
Aron raised a hand to calm them. "Relax, everyone. They are not foes, but allies. This is the army I led during the war... though not all of them made it back." His voice grew somber toward the end.
Zelda gave him a solemn nod, understanding his grief. She led the group inside, ready to formally address the situation.
Inside the Hall
The hall was filled with the elders, commanders, and other key members of the family, all waiting as Aron delivered his report.
As Aron explained the details of the conflict, the room shifted in mood when the mention of three Dominion lord Realm fighters from the demons was revealed. Mixed expressions filled the room as the gravity of the situation became clear.
Zelda, her gaze steely with concern, asked, "How did you survive?"
Aron narrated his predicament and then unleashed his aura.
A fiery landscape seemed to materialize around him, the air crackling with intense heat as his body took on the same fiery elements. The sight left the elders gasping in surprise.
Zelda's expression softened with recognition. "So, you broke through to the Dominion Lord realm," she said, her voice a mix of approval and pride.
Aron smiled and bowed slightly. "That is everything, Your Majesty."
Zelda's gaze warmed further as she spoke, her voice steady. "You did well, my son."
The room erupted in applause, with commanders and elders alike expressing their pride. "Congratulations, Aron! Now our family has six active Dominion Lords!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with unity and respect.
Zelda nodded, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. "Indeed, with your breakthrough, the family grows stronger."
Zelda's voice turned commanding. "Jaime, step forward. Let us hear what happened during your capture."
Jaime, still bearing visible injuries, knelt before her. "I was captured during the ambush and interrogated for information about the family. No matter what they did, I refused to divulge anything. Eventually, the Patriarch came to save me before I was sentenced to death."
Zelda's eyes narrowed as she processed his words. Her expression remained thoughtful but unreadable. When he finished, she said, "Thank you, Jaime. A healer will be sent to treat your injuries."
"Thank you, Sovera," Jaime replied, bowing deeply before returning to his seat.
Zelda turned to the next subject. "The Family Leaders and Echelons."
After the report, the discussions shifted toward matters of governance. The room filled with the upper echelons of the Cruz family, a group whose collective strength could devastate entire armies.
The First Great Family Leader, James Cruz: A towering figure, his body covered in markings that resembled tattoos. James specialized in physical combat, augmenting his body with mana to treat his body as the ultimate weapon. His philosophy was one of brutal strength, a belief held by every member of his family.
The Second Great Family Leader, Bran Cruz: A master of all weapons, Bran was equally adept with blades, spears, and ranged armaments. His family was renowned for treating their weapons as extensions of their very beings, moving with unparalleled precision in combat.
The Third Great Family Leader, Mary Cruz: An expert mage whose devastating spells could turn the tide of any battle. Her family specialized in mass destruction as well as precision spellwork, often altering the course of conflict with a single incantation.
With the day's matters concluded, the family members dispersed to attend to their respective duties.
Later in the evening, Aron, freshly bathed and dressed in a soft cotton t-shirt and joggers that did little to hide his striking looks, stared at himself in the mirror. His dark hair, ruby eyes, and slightly elongated canines gave him an aura of danger and allure. Satisfied with his appearance, he opened the door to find the family butler, Kevin, waiting for him.
Kevin, an older man with white hair and a long beard, stood tall and confident. His presence exuded the authority of a domain lord, and his eyes reflected the wisdom of his years. With a respectful bow, Kevin greeted Aron.
"Welcome back, Patriarch."
"Thank you, Kevin," Aron replied.
"What would you like to eat, Patriarch?" Kevin asked.
"I'll eat later. Take me to see my wife and son," Aron said.
"Yes, Patriarch," Kevin responded, leading the way toward Chloe's room.
Upon arriving, Kevin stopped and gave a subtle nod. "We are here."
"Thank you, Kevin," Aron said as he approached the door.
Inside, Chloe sat on the bed, cradling their sleeping baby. Aron's expression softened as he walked toward her. He leaned in and kissed her deeply, expressing the longing and love that had accumulated during his time away. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me," he murmured.
Chloe smiled warmly, her love for him clear in her gaze. Aron turned his attention to their son, asleep in her arms. He gently took the baby into his hands, his gaze filled with tenderness and awe.
"What's his name?" Aron asked, his voice full of wonder.
"Alex Cruz," Chloe replied, her smile widening.
"Alex," Aron repeated, the name filling him with pride. "Ah, the name I proposed! I thought you didn't agree."
Chloe chuckled softly. "I couldn't think of a better one."
Aron held Alex close, a profound sense of fulfillment washing over him as he stood there with his family.
Aron, eager to know his child's aptitude, called out, "Kevin!"
The ever-dutiful butler entered promptly, bowing respectfully. "Yes, Patriarch?"
"Do you know how to assess a baby's aptitude?" Aron asked.
Kevin shook his head slightly. "Apologies, Patriarch. There's no way to determine young master Alex's aptitude until he comes of age and takes the aptitude test."
"I see. Thank you," Aron replied, his curiosity unsatisfied but tempered with patience.
Chloe, sensing his thoughts, placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Honey, we'll know in due time."
Aron smiled at her reassurance. "Yeah, I know. I was just curious."
Chloe gently took baby Alex from Aron's arms, placing him in his crib and carefully covering him with a soft blanket.
"I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything all day. Would you join me, Aron?" Chloe asked, turning to him.
"Yes, I'm famished too," Aron replied with a chuckle.
Chloe smiled. "We'll come back to check on Alex later. He should be awake by then."
The couple left the room together and made their way to the dining hall. Along the way, they encountered Kevin.
"Fetch us dinner, Kevin," Aron instructed.
"Right away, Patriarch," Kevin replied with a bow before hurrying off to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in a distant and desolate place, surrounded by the corpses of both humans and demons, two towering figures stood. Their horns gleamed ominously, and their powerful auras radiated malice, marking them as demon lords.
"Bale, how goes the infiltration?" asked the first demon, his voice deep and guttural.
Bale closed his eyes, furrowing his brows as if in communication with an unseen force. After a moment, he opened his eyes and grinned sinisterly.
"It was a success, Buzz. Hunger has infiltrated the Cruz estate and is being treated as one of their own," Bale replied.
Buzz frowned, his sharp features twisting in contemplation. "Why does the Demon Saint want us to infiltrate the Cruz family?"
Bale's grin widened, and his dark aura pulsed with power. "The Saint's plans are beyond our understanding, but one thing is clear: he wants to damage the Cruz family."
Buzz's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile. "Well, I don't care, as long as I get a taste of blood. It's been too long since I last battled."
Bale smirked, his sharp teeth glinting under the dim light. "Zelda won't know what hit her. She can't defend the whole family without her husband, who is still in seclusion."
Buzz chuckled darkly. "I heard one of her platoons got wiped out recently, with three Dominion Lords dead."
"Yeah," Bale replied, his tone darkening. "It was Aron Cruz who did it. He broke through to the Dominion Lord realm."
"Our plan was just to get the spy in," Buzz muttered, irritation creeping into his voice. "We didn't expect to lose an entire platoon for it."
Bale shrugged. "Luckily, he got in without raising any suspicions."
Suddenly, murderous intent exploded from Buzz, his dark aura thickening and suffocating the air around him.
Bale placed a steadying hand on Buzz's shoulder. "Why are you so angry all of a sudden?" he asked.
Buzz's eyes glinted with fury. "One of the Dominion Lords we dispatched was my student."
His voice dropped to a menacing growl. "You're going to regret this, Aron Cruz."
Bale grinned wickedly. "Let's get to work, then. Afterward, we'll feast on Cruz blood and flesh."
With that, the two demons vanished into the shadows.
In his quarters, Jaime, lying on his bed, suddenly opened his eyes, which now had a red hue, and sharp teeth resembling those of a beast appeared in his mouth.
He rubbed his hands together and smiled maliciously. "It's time."
If Aron or Zelda were to see this, they would know this wasn't Jaime—but a demon.
In an instant, Jaime vanished, reappearing outside the Matriarch's chambers where two guards stood watch.
"I need to see the Matriarch," Jaime said firmly.
"You can't see her now," one guard replied.
"I have crucial information about the demons," Jaime insisted.
"Tell us, and we'll relay it to the Matriarch," the guard offered.
"No, it's too important to entrust to anyone else. Just inform her that I need an audience," Jaime said impatiently.
The guard hesitated but knocked on the chamber door. Inside, Zelda sat meditating, a storm of mana swirling around her in a majestic display of power. Her piercing gaze shifted to the guard as she opened her eyes.
"Why are you disturbing me?" Zelda asked coldly.
"Jaime claims to have sensitive information about the demons," the guard explained.
Zelda narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Tell him I'm busy."
The guard bowed and relayed the message to Jaime.
"Nothing I can do, then," Jaime muttered, turning to leave.
Ja
As Jaime took two steps away, he suddenly spun back around and lunged toward the door.
BAM!
The tightly shut door was forced open as he burst inside, ignoring the guards' protests.
Inside, Zelda was levitating mid-air, her aura crackling with raw energy. Though deep in meditation, she remained highly aware of her surroundings. The moment Jaime stormed in, she sensed the shift.
Her eyes snapped open, locking onto Jaime's face. The urgency in his expression was unmistakable.
The guards immediately moved to restrain him, but before they could, Zelda raised a hand. "Stand down," she commanded, her voice calm but firm.
She descended gracefully, her sharp gaze locked onto Jaime. "What is so urgent that you had to force your way in?" she asked, her tone laced with warning.
Her eyes narrowed. "If this isn't important, be ready to face the consequences."
Jaime kept his head bowed. "It is," he said, his voice edged with tension. "This information is too important to wait."
Zelda studied him carefully. Something was wrong. His stance, his refusal to meet her gaze—her instincts whispered that this was no ordinary message. A bad premonition settled deep in her chest.
As she stepped closer, scrutinizing him, Jaime suddenly smirked. His entire demeanor shifted, the tension in his shoulders melting into something far more sinister.
Zelda immediately noticed the sudden shift in Jaime's demeanor, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"The information I have is..." he said, his voice taking on an unsettling edge and his aura rising.
A man with white hair and dark eyes walked through the hallway when he sensed a rising aura.