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[POV - ???][Underworld - Hidden Location]
Drip-drip-drip.
The sound of dripping water echoed through the dark cave like a sinister metronome, marking each second of growing tension. The air smelled of sulfur and fear — a combination that would make any mortal vomit, but was common perfume in the Underworld.
Step-step-step.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the stone corridors, each footfall reverberating like a funeral drum beat. A hooded figure approached the throne of bones, carrying news that nobody wanted to deliver.
— Report — the voice from the throne was like glass being crushed, harsh and cutting.
Gulp.
The hooded being swallowed hard, the helmet he wore to hide his identity trembling slightly. Damn, how he hated being the messenger of bad news.
— I-it appears they failed, Lord! — the words came out stumbling, as if he wanted to spit everything out at once and get it over with.
Silence.
The silence that followed was dense as molten lead, heavy enough to crush souls.
— Continue — the voice from the throne ordered, dangerously calm.
Trembling.
— Not only did they fail... all the perpetrators were sealed — the messenger continued, his voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. — Rizevim, Samael and Trihexa. All of them.
Crack.
The sound of breaking bone echoed when the skeletal fingers of the being on the throne closed over the throne's arm, cracking the ancient material.
— Sealed? — he repeated, each syllable loaded with contained rage. — How?
— It was... it was that abomination, Lord — the messenger stammered. — They were fused as the Balance Breaker of the Sephiroth Graal. According to preliminary analyses, it was practically impossible to separate them. The fusion was complete, absolute. But somehow... th-that... thing... managed.
Sweat.
Cold sweat began to drip from under the messenger's helmet. He could feel the room's temperature gradually dropping, as if the Underworld itself was reacting to its master's rage.
— Managed to separate Samael and Trihexa — he continued quickly, before losing courage — and create individual seals for each one. Seals that our specialists say are... unbreakable.
SLAM!
The skeletal fist hit the throne's arm with enough force to make the entire cave tremble.
— Unbreakable — the voice came out as a growl. — Nothing is unbreakable.
— These are, Lord — the messenger murmured, wishing to be anywhere else. — It was His work. The... the Creator's.
Pause.
The mention of the title made even the air stop circulating. As if the entire universe had decided to hold its breath.
— So it's true — the being on the throne murmured, more to himself than to the messenger. — He really returned.
Nod.
The messenger only nodded, wordless.
Pacing.
The sound of creaking bones echoed when the being rose from the throne, beginning to pace back and forth like a caged animal. The cloak he wore dragged on the floor, leaving shadow trails that seemed to have life of their own.
— I thought... — he began, his voice loaded with bitter frustration — I thought they would kill each other. Angels, demons, fallen... all fighting like stupid children. I wouldn't need to do anything. Just wait until they destroyed each other.
Irony.
The irony of the situation was almost funny. Almost.
— But in recent years — he continued — everything changed. And I know exactly when.
— Lord? — the messenger asked cautiously.
— Apollo — the answer came loaded with meaning. — The sun god had the ability to see the future. Not with perfection, but enough. Like the Fates, those irritating old women.
Alliance.
— With our alliance — he explained — we constantly exchanged information. Every vision, every thread of destiny the Fates wove, every fragment of the future Apollo glimpsed... everything was shared.
But.
— But... — he paused dramatically — sixteen years ago, everything disappeared.
Snap.
As if someone had cut the threads of destiny with cosmic scissors.
— Apollo's visions stopped. The Fates could no longer weave the future correctly. It was as if someone had... erased... the entire timeline from that point forward.
Realization.
— And now we know why — the voice came out bitter. — Sixteen years ago, He was born. Or rather, reborn. And His mere existence is too large for destiny to process.
Frustration.
The being hit the cave wall, leaving cracks that spread like spider webs.
— I hesitated — he admitted with anger. — When the visions stopped, I was afraid to make a move against Heaven. Without knowing the future, without being sure... I waited. As an Underworld god should. Patient. Eternal.
But.
— But now I can't take it anymore! — he exploded. — I can't stand those arrogant demons with their Evil Pieces. I can't stand those Sacred Gears stealing power that doesn't belong to them!
Calm.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
— And especially — he said quietly, dangerously — I can't stand Him. That abomination who dared to return and mess everything up.
Dismissal.
— You may go — he ordered the messenger. — And send Apollo to see me. We need to... reevaluate... our strategy.
Relief.
The messenger ran out as if hell itself — ironically — was on his heels.
Left alone, the being returned to the throne of bones, sinking into it like a tired king.
— Yuuki Rito — he murmured the name like a curse. — I'll discover your weakness. Everyone has one. And when I find it...
He left the threat hanging in the air, unspoken but deeply felt.
[POV - Yuuki Rito][Sainan - Yuuki House]
Satisfied.
I leaned back in the living room chair, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. The arrangements I had made... perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Sip.
I took a sip of the tea Asia had prepared — she always went the extra mile when she knew I was stressed.
Nervous energy.
But to be honest, I was a bit nervous. Lala's parents — my in-laws — were arriving soon. King Gid Lucione Deviluke and Queen Sephie. The rulers of the largest known galactic empire.
— Rito-kun — Lala appeared at the door, that radiant smile — are you worried about daddy and mommy arriving?
— A little — I admitted. — It's not every day you meet in-laws who can literally destroy planets.
Giggle.
She laughed, throwing herself on the couch beside me.
— Daddy will love you! And mommy too! They already know you're special.
Special.
If she knew just how "special" I really was...
But.
But there was something more important occupying my mind now. Sainan. My city. My home.
Protection.
After the Khaos Brigade attack in Kuou, it had become clear I needed to take drastic measures. I couldn't leave Sainan vulnerable. Not when everyone I loved lived here.
Snap.
So, with a simple thought a few nights ago, I had created something special. A security system that would make even the Vatican seem unprotected.
Enclave.
An Enclave. A city within a city, a dimension superimposed on normal reality. All of Sainan now existed in layers — the normal version that regular humans saw, and the protected version where the supernatural was regulated.
Clever.
The genius was in the simplicity — the domain only allowed entry to supernatural beings that I specifically authorized. Angels? Of course, family was always welcome. Demons and fallen who made the peace treaty? They could pass. Aliens like Lala's family? Obviously.
But anyone with hostile intentions?
Nope.
They would hit an invisible wall and wonder why they couldn't enter the city. It was like having a cosmic doorman who never slept, never failed, never let threats through.
Mikan.
— Oni-chan — Mikan entered the room carrying cookies — you're making that face again.
— What face? — I asked innocently.
— The "I just did something super powerful but I'm trying to look casual" face — she replied with that irritating perception little sisters always have.
Busted.
— Okay, you caught me — I laughed. — But it's to protect you all. All of you.
— I know — she placed the cookies on the table. — Just don't blow up the city in the process, okay?
Promise.
— I promise — I held her hand. — Sainan is safer now than it's ever been.
And it was true. With the system I had implemented, any supernatural threat would be barred before even getting close to the city. And if someone tried to force entry?
Alerts.
I would know instantly. No matter where I was — in Heaven, in another dimension, in space — the moment someone tried anything against Sainan, I would be alerted.
Family safe.
My family was safe. My friends were safe. The entire city was under my protection now.
And any idiot who tried to attack would discover very quickly that they had chosen the wrong target.
— So — Lala stretched on the couch — when daddy and mommy arrive, are you going to tell them about... you know... who you really are?
Pause.
I paused, considering.
— Maybe — I replied. — Depends on how the conversation goes. Your father is perceptive enough to notice there's something different about me.
— He already knows — Lala said casually.
Wait what.
— Wait, what?
— Daddy has technology capable of detecting cosmic power levels — she explained as if it were obvious. — He probably already scanned all of Sainan and discovered what you did.
Oh.
Oh shit.
— And he's... okay with that?
— Okay? — Lala laughed. — Rito-kun, daddy is EXCITED! He's never met anyone stronger than him before!
Great.
Great. My super-powered alien father-in-law was "excited" to meet me because I was strong enough to be a challenge.
This visit was going to be interesting.
Very interesting indeed.