The days passed heavily in the capital, but they were chaotic across the First World; the news of the former "traitor" Arius's engagement to the mysterious ruler Clarice rocked the foundations of society. In every corner, people whispered about this sudden turn of events and how the prisoner had become the "son-in-law of the rulers" in waiting.
Arius stood on the edge of the towering palace roof, the wind caressing his hair as he stared at the distant horizon, where the lights of the city that was once under his command twinkled. He was thinking of Cain, of Ramin's betrayal, and of Nahira, who had vanished under mysterious circumstances. His thoughts were interrupted by the footsteps of a servant who bowed respectfully and said, "Sir Arius, Lady Clarice requests to see you in the throne room immediately."
Arius descended the marble stairs with calm steps. When the massive doors opened, he found Clarice sitting proudly on Nahira's throne, which had remained empty for days. As soon as she saw him, her face lit up; she quickly stepped down from the throne and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly as if she feared he would disappear.
She whispered, burying her face in his chest, "I missed you so much... I felt as if my soul had left me in your absence." Arius replied with slight surprise, "But you saw me just this morning!" She raised her head and looked into his eyes with overwhelming emotion: "You were gone for three hours, and it felt like three thousand years... Do not leave my sight again."
Arius laughed lightly to play along with her act, then said seriously, "Anyway... I have a request I would like to make." Clarice began adjusting his clothes with her soft hands, saying, "Speak, my dear, whatever you ask is granted."
Arius looked into her eyes and said clearly, "I want us to marry when I turn eighteen." Clarice's smile suddenly vanished, replaced by a suspicious coldness. Arius continued, justifying, "Don't worry, we are officially engaged, but currently I am considered a minor... I am only sixteen, and it is not fitting for me to marry at this age."
Her eyes narrowed as she said in a slightly sharp tone, "There is no law here that forbids it; time and place are at my command... and I do not agree to this delay." Arius laughed, trying to lighten the mood: "Alright, alright... we will talk about this subject later, there is no need to be angry now."
Clarice regained her composure and said, taking his hand, "Anyway... today is the day to wear the 'rings.' They will be an eternal proof before everyone of our bond, and no one will dare to question your position after that." Arius tapped his forehead lightly and said, "Ah, yes... I completely forgot about that with all these events."
While the atmosphere of celebration hung over the First World, the Sixth World was enjoying a simple calm. Rimus and Lina went out with Yuna for a walk among the crowded city streets, trying to steal moments of peace away from the pressures of training and work.
In a corner of the grand plaza, they were stopped by an eccentric woman wearing a cloak studded with ancient symbols, claiming to be a "fortune witch." She approached them with a mysterious smile and said, "Strangers, fate smiles upon you today... Tell me, what is the wish that dwells in the depths of your hearts? Perhaps the stars will respond."
Lina laughed with her usual cheerful spirit and said, "My wish? I want a smart robot to work in my place at the company, so I can spend my whole day sleeping and strolling without thinking about balance sheets!" Everyone burst into laughter, and the tension eased slightly.
As for Rimus, he looked at the witch with a seriousness that hid an endless ambition, and said, "My wish is to reach a power that cannot be broken. I want to be much stronger than I am now." Lina winked at him, saying mockingly, "It seems you are not convinced of your strength, boy, even though you nearly break the training walls daily!" Rimus replied with the pride of the Celestins: "I am a Celestin, Lina... It is natural for me not to be satisfied with my strength no matter how high it reaches, for our blood always aspires to the summit."
As the two exchanged banter and jokes, the witch turned toward the silent Yuna and said in a gentle tone, "And you, ma'am... tell me, what is it that you wish for most? Perhaps one day, in a way no human can imagine, your desire may be fulfilled."
Yuna looked at the distant horizon, sighed a sigh that came from the depths of her soul burdened with longing, and said with a slightly trembling voice: "Although I do not believe in these things... I have only one wish; I hope to see my son even once in my life, and I wish for him to be happy wherever he is, and for joy to never leave his heart."
A sudden silence prevailed. Lina stopped laughing, and Rimus's features froze. At that moment, they realized that Yuna, despite pretending to be better, still lived on the memory of Arius, and that his absence was a hole in her heart that nothing could fill.
The witch looked at Yuna deeply, as if she saw something in her eyes, and said, "A beautiful and noble wish, ma'am... and fate does not forget sincere tears. I hope with all my heart that your wish will be fulfilled soon."
They left the place and continued their tour, but the clouds returned to hang over their feelings. They did not know that at that very moment, in the First World, Arius was wearing the "engagement ring" that bound him to a completely new fate, far removed from that simple wish his mother had made.
After a long day of fun that was not without a pang of longing, the family returned home, only to be surprised by the presence of Arlin and Wang waiting for them. An atmosphere of sudden seriousness prevailed, and after Yuna and Lina went to the kitchen to prepare tea, Wang pulled Rimus aside into the lounge, his features appearing more rigid than usual.
Wang cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Rimus, I have reached results regarding those insects... and the matter is more complex than we imagined." Rimus straightened in his seat and said seriously, "Tell me, where do these filth come from?"
Wang replied while displaying a distorted energy map: "Their source is not from the ten worlds, but from a completely isolated dimension, a void inhabited by no one and containing nothing tangible. The strange thing is that this dimension is witnessing continuous changes; random gates open within it, and its climate changes as if it is being shaped to serve a purpose or a being... It is a temporal dimension that lies outside the known concept of time, but is governed by the laws of space."
Rimus furrowed his brows in confusion: "And what is the meaning of all this? Can we not track them?"
Wang shook his head with regret: "The meaning is that we are being watched from a place to which our time does not apply. Unfortunately, reaching there is currently nearly impossible. It is so far away that the journey there might take hundreds of trillions of light-years, and since it is outside the concept of time, normal travel methods do not work there. We need a miracle or a power that surpasses the limits of the Rulers to reach the source of that spying."
Silence reigned for seconds, before Arlin, who was watching the horizon from the window, approached and said in a mysterious tone: "If the source is that far, this means that whoever is watching us possesses technology or Rizo power that exceeds our current understanding... someone who holds entire 'realms' in their hands."
Rimus felt a chill run through his body, so he looked toward the kitchen where the laughter of Yuna and Lina echoed, and thought to himself: "An enemy we cannot reach, and a friend whose location we do not know... is this the power that we were ignorant of?"
Arlin's features changed suddenly, a serious gleam appearing in her eyes that no one had seen before, and she said: "Oh... there is another matter we would like to tell you, which is the real reason for our coming anyway."
At that moment, Yuna and Lina entered from the kitchen carrying a tea tray and sat with the rest, curiosity filling their faces. Rimus looked at Arlin and said, "Speak, Arlin, what is this news?"
Arlin took a deep breath and said, "In fact... we received confirmed news from our acquaintances in the Cosmic Network: Arius is currently in the First World... and his engagement to Clarice, sister of the ruler Nahira, has been announced."
A deadly silence lasted for seconds, before Lina burst into a hysterical laugh mixed with shock: "Haha! Arius? My brother Arius who barely knows how to talk to girls decided to get married? And to Nahira's sister? Are you joking?"
As for Yuna, her hand shook as she placed the tea cup, her eyes shining with tears of longing and fear combined, and she said with a trembling voice: "Please, Arlin... can I see him? I want to see him, even from afar."
Arlin nodded sadly and turned to Wang: "Open the broadcast, Wang."
Wang raised his energy staff and struck the floor with it lightly, and a huge holographic screen emerged in the middle of the lounge, showing a live broadcast from the First World. The scene was majestic; the entire planet was decorated with lights, the royal hall was teeming with thousands, and everyone was in a state of unprecedented anticipation.
The camera suddenly moved to a private room inside the palace, where Arius appeared in front of the mirror. He was wearing a royal black suit embroidered with threads of gold and Rizo, looking as if it were a piece of the stars. He looked confused, rubbing his hands together while the servant helped him adjust the collar and put on the royal scarf.
Yuna whispered as she touched the screen with her fingertips: "Arius... my son... he has become a man, but his eyes... why do they look so sad?"
In those moments, Arius was standing in front of the mirror, watching the reflection of someone who was a stranger to him. The servant bowed while adding the final touches to his scarf and said in a faint tone: "You look very handsome, sir; this majesty suits you."
Arius looked at him coldly, and the bitterness of his heart was reflected in his voice: "Enough with this deception... I know you hate me, and that you are forced to say this because I will become the son-in-law of the rulers."
The servant stopped moving, looked at Arius with sincere eyes that Arius did not expect, and said in a whispering voice: "No, sir... in fact, I really admire you. I saw your courage in challenging the great Rulers, and that 'spit' you directed at Lady Nahira was enough to teach us all that you are a free man who fears nothing... You are a hero in the eyes of the oppressed here."
Arius's heart trembled slightly, but he warned the servant strictly: "Do not dare to say these words in front of anyone; the walls of this palace have ears and kill without mercy."
Arius left the room and began walking through the long corridors leading to the Great Hall, his heart beating with a tension he was not accustomed to. Suddenly, as he looked out of the corridor window overlooking the back courtyard, he froze in place; he saw Nahira returning to the palace, but her appearance was terrifying. She was covered in blood from head to toe, her eyes gleaming with indescribable madness.
Arius whispered in panic: "Goodness... where did this savage come from? And what did she do?"
As he continued on his way, his footsteps met hers in a narrow corridor. She passed by him, the smell of blood wafting from her as if she had emerged from the heart of a massacre. She stopped and looked at his suit, then smiled maliciously while blood stained her face and said with a terrifying hiss: "You look beautiful, groom... I hope you don't stain these elegant clothes with blood soon." Then she left, laughing hysterically, which terrified the servants around her.
Arius tried to gather himself and headed toward the massive gates of the hall. As soon as the doors opened, a storm of applause erupted that shook the entire capital. Arius walked on the red carpet, but he stopped suddenly when his eyes fell on Clarice.
She was standing at the end of the hall, wearing a lavender royal dress studded with rare rubies that shone with every movement as if they were small planets. She looked incredibly beautiful, so much so that Arius was shocked and felt his breath quicken; he had never seen beauty blend with awe in this way in his life.
While millions of viewers in the Sixth World, and behind them Yuna and Lina, held their breath in front of the screen, Arius was taking his final steps toward the "Royal Ceremony" platform. Clarice welcomed him with a warm hug that overflowed with joy, and the majestic rituals began amidst uninterrupted cheers.
At the height of the celebration, the massive doors opened to reveal Nahira. She had changed her blood-stained clothes for a luxurious dark black dress, but her features exuded a funereal spirit, as if she were not entering an engagement party but a funeral wake. She sat in a row by herself, and began to clap slowly, eyeing Arius with a look that carried deferred death.
The ceremony was completed, and Arius and Clarice exchanged "energy rings" that glowed, announcing the official binding of their fates. Clarice threw herself into his arms, whispering: "This is the best day of my life, ever!" Arius asked her in a mysterious tone: "And when will be the best day for me?" She replied with eyes gleaming with possessiveness: "When we are finally married and you become mine forever."
Arius placed his hand on her hair with feigned tenderness, and as he was about to say "As you wish," his "Celestin intuition" screamed at him suddenly. He felt a danger tearing the particles of air behind him. His body moved automatically as a survival instinct, and in the blink of an eye, he saw Ramin standing in a dark corner, pointing an energy dagger reinforced with the "Dimension Shredding" spell, which destroys even the most powerful cosmic beings.
The dagger launched toward Clarice's back, but Arius did not think; he threw his body in front of her to take the blow instead of her. The dagger exploded in his shoulder with tremendous force, and blood and energy sparks scattered everywhere. Clarice screamed in terror, falling to the ground holding the wounded Arius, while Nahira sat in her place coldly, a malicious smile on her face, enjoying the sight of the blood flowing.
But the shock did not end there; despite his bleeding wound, Arius rose like a savage beast in which the spirit of revenge had awakened. He charged after Ramin, who tried to escape, taking advantage of the chaos. It was a lightning-fast pursuit that nearly shattered the palace walls, until Arius caught up with him at a massive tank outside the palace.
With a brutal grip, Arius grabbed Ramin and threw him toward the tank, causing the steel to shatter under the traitor's body. Arius descended upon him like a thunderbolt, and began raining punches on him with all the malice and oppression of the days of abandonment, until Ramin's face was drowned in blood and he lost consciousness completely under the weight of Arius's blows, which did not stop until he was sure he would never escape again.
A terrifying silence prevailed on that planet; nothing could be heard but the rustling of voices, the wind, and Arius's heavy breathing. His face was covered in the blood of his former "friend," and his eyes had lost all human gleam, replaced by a frightening icy coldness. He carried Ramin's broken body like the carcass of an animal, and launched himself, piercing the planet's atmosphere, to place him in this remote place far from the eyes of "Clarice" and "Nahira." He threw him onto the hot sand on a distant planet like a piece of wreckage, and stood waiting for the traitor to wake up, his wounded hand dripping with blood that would not stop.
As for the Sixth World, the warm home turned into a scene of amazement and panic. Yuna fell to her knees, sobbing with a heartbreaking sound: "Oh God... why is this happening to my son?! He survived death only to live in a pool of blood again?!"
Rimus was watching the broadcast with wide, shocked eyes; he could not believe that Arius was able to move with that speed and super reaction despite the power of the blow. He whispered to himself: "His power levels double in moments of anger... He has become a true Celestin monster." As for Lina, she was spinning around in amazement, screaming: "Who is this scoundrel who tried to kill him?! And what is Arius doing to him now?!"
Suddenly, the broadcast cut off, and the screen turned to gray static. Wang said calmly, closing his staff: "The broadcast has been shut down from the source... It seems the palace has imposed a total media blackout after the assassination attempt."
Arlin sighed with boredom, stretched on the sofa with a coldness that someone might envy, then sipped a mouthful of tea and said with indifference: "It seems Arius is suffering from an assassination attempt there... but, let's be realistic, this matter does not concern us currently. He chose his path, and now he must finish his own filth."
Lina looked at her in anger, but Arlin did not care, for in the world of Rulers, blood is the only currency traded.
On the desert planet, Ramin began to open his eyes with difficulty, to see Arius's shadow standing over him like the King of Death. Ramin coughed blood and tried to back away crawling, trembling: "Arius... listen to me... I had no choice... Nahira... she is the one who..."
Arius interrupted him with a calm and terrifying voice, a voice that carried no anger but carried a death sentence: "Do not mention her name with your dirty tongue... I saw the video, Ramin. I saw your laughter when you talked about 'Rogue' and about 'Cain'... Tell me, is this moment worth all that betrayal .