"I will see what I can do," she stated, giving a slight bow before leaving with an urgent step. As she departed, she pondered her next course of action.


    The portal closed as the Demon King stood in contemtion. He pulled a square device from his pocket, adorned with blue engravings and small holes on one side. Pressing a button on its side, the device began to ring.


    (---- Meanwhile, somewhere far away ----)


    In a quiet room, a man with sses sat writing notes and jotting things down. Across from him, another man was engaged in discussing battle ns.


    The bulky man finished wrapping bandages around his bleeding arm as he spoke out, "So Jalen, what are the ns for when father returns?"


    "I was thinking about asking him to head back to the academy to learn more about using spirit energy. But the cost is severe, and I don''t know if he would be able to afford it," he pondered aloud.


    Jalen, brushing back his hair in a messy fashion as his oversized sses obscured his face, replied, "Alfred, I think we should just focus on what we can control right now. "The vige is already suffering from the great blight." Jalen was about to add something more when he was abruptly cut off.


    A ring sound erupted from his footlocker, shoved in a corner of the room and shrouded in a dark, ominous aura. "What is that? Some kind of animal?" Alfred asked, startled.


    "No," Jalen replied with a slight chuckle. "It''s an emergency item for ater raid I''ve been working on. It''s still in the beta phase, so it''s a bit finicky. Listen, I''ve got to finish working on it. Please head back to the guild house, and I''ll meet up with youter, okay?"


    "That''s a little sudden, don''t you think?" Alfred asked as he started to get up, picking up his sword and shield.


    "Yes, I know, but this is urgent. Trust me," Jalen said, hastening Alfred out of the room before mming the door shut.


    An annoyed expression was painted across Jalen''s face, his emerald green eyes shimmering through his sses. He headed towards the box and ran his hand across it, muttering to himself, "It''s been a while since I''ve opened you, my little friend."


    He knelt down to examine the dark chest more closely. As his hand passed over the lock, he released a bit of pure Reiesencia. The lock transformed into a golden eye, blinking around in confusion before speaking without the use of a mouth.


    "Good day, Master Jalen. What can I do for you?" the eye inquired.


    Before Jalen could respond, the ringing persisted. The eyeball lock, still speaking without a mouth, informed him, "I assume it is for the Receiver cube. It appears the Demon King is trying to contact you."


    "Please state the password so I may unlock the chest," it requested.


    Jalen, looking intently at the lock, removed his sses. His eyes gradually shifted from emerald green to a more yellow tint as he stated, "Democ, Repobic, 8th."


    "That password is epted," the eyeball announced, then vanished back into the lock, which clicked open. An array of wheels inside the chest set into motion, turning intricately until a single item appeared on a tray hovering over the chest.


    The cube Jalen held had the same design and features as the one the Demon King had used, but this one bore the number #8 engraved on it. As Jalen gripped the cube, small specks of fur began to protrude around his hand, a mix of ck and red colors, before he pressed a button on its side.


    "Chained de, is that you on the line?" he inquired into the cube.


    "Yes, My king, I apologize for my dy in answering. I was in the middle of assisting a fledgling potential hero with his daily life," came the reply from the cube. "Currently, the major threat here is a Blight event that is likely to escte into a civil war."


    "I see," Jalen said into the cube.


    "You have three months on Gerald. Then, head to Scylce. Stop the Angelic race from wreaking havoc or getting too involved. I''m working on a project from the human Realm. It could finish in a few years, instead of millennia, with the right progress."


    "Understood, my King," came the reply from the cube. "What presence level should I maintain on Scylce?"


    Another question followed swiftly. "Also, isn''t your daughter stationed on that?"


    "Yes, I want her involvement kept to a minimum due to her abilities and the''s current standing."


    "Very well, I will wrap up the events here as best I can and head out. It is a pleasure to have this opportunity, my King."


    "Good. Don''t let me down, and I will have a file sent to you going over all the important details and the three people I need you to ensure don''t die."


    "It is unlike you to be this invested in an event, but I will not let you down, my King."


    "Good," the Demon King stated before the transmission cut off, leaving Jalen alone in the room with his thoughts.


    "Well, things are definitely about to get fun," he stated out loud, as the fur and his eyes returned to their original state.


    "For now, the best I can do is prepare Alfred for his endless challenges."


    Standing up fully, Jalen ced the cube back in the box. It swirled and locked back into ce, returning to its original ckened state. "Well, all I can do right now is focus on Alfred and his family."


    "The blight is a nasty issue to deal with. I wonder if he will be able to handle it fully when winteres. Perhaps I can lead him to find some allies with a strong magic affinity against diseases." Jalen mused to himself.


    Pulling on the handle, he headed out of the room, stating, "Well, time to get to it."