Chapter 588: Next Stage


    <strong>588. Next Stage</strong>


    But why?


    I asked the question as I stared at Haec. It had been so long. A long time had passed. But now, here he was my firstpanion. He was like my brother. He was the person I had been searching for for so long. He was the reason why I had returned to the Netherworld in the first ce.


    I had left the Mortal Realm to get back to him. I left behind all my friends andpanions I had made to save him. But now, when I had given him a chance to escape this <em>hell, </em>he rebuked me.


    He refused to leave the Netherworld. He didnt want toe with me to the Mortal Realm.


    Haec shifted back ufortably as I just stared at him. I looked at him with wide eyes for a moment, trying toprehend his words. And then my eyes flickered. I nced to the side, looking at Taburas, Betrugil, and Aem.


    They were Haecs friends. Maybe even hispanions I didnt know who they were. I just met them. However, if they were important to him, then perhaps that was why he didnt want to leave. Because he didnt want to leave them behind.


    So I shook my head as I turned back to him.


    If you want, we can bring your friends with us too!


    Thats not it, Salvos.


    Haec replied simply, lowering his head. A dark shadow was cast over his face as he sighed. I stared at him, blinking as I nced between him and his friends.


    If thats not it, then what?


    And I paused. My eyes narrowed as I caught sight of a silver glint a metal cor clung tightly onto the necks of the three Archdemons. I knew what those metal cors were. They were summoning cors, given to Regnorexs minions to cross the nes.


    I frowned as I remembered what my dad the Devil himself had told me about Haec. That the Demon King had taken Haec under his wing.


    The realization settled in, and I turned to Haec with round eyes.


    Wait, are you saying you dont want to go to the Mortal Realm because youre with Regnorex now?


    I took a step back, but Haec quickly shook his head.


    Thats not it, either. I am free from the Demon King. For now.


    He raised a hand, flexing his fist. I eyed him quizzically I didnt know why he was staring so intently at his right hand. But he just sighed and took a step back.


    Theres another reason as to why I cant leave, Salvos.


    Is it because they cant leave?


    I asked as I turned to his friends. I gestured at the three Archdemons. Each of them were wearing the summoning cors on their neck, while he was not.


    Because if those summoning cors are preventing them from leaving, I think I can get help from <em>someone </em>who can remove them.


    I raised my head, thinking about my dad. While he didnt want to get <em>too </em>involved in my affairs, I was sure I could convince him to do something as simple as removing the summoning cors from Haecs friends.


    And while Haec nodded gratefully at me, he didnt seem cated just yet.


    I would appreciate it a lot, Salvos. However thats not why I want to stay in the Netherworld.


    If its not because of Regnorex, and if its not because of your friends, then why cant you leave?


    I tilted my head. Now I was getting a little bit frustrated. Because it seemed ridiculous to me I came all the way here for Haec. Sure, I knew he was safe. But I wasnt going to be leaving the Netherworld without him.


    My dad had already told me that Haec was fine a while back. However, I still sought him out. After all, he was my firstpanion. I made a promise to him. I wasnt going to break it. Not back then, and not now.


    Haec took in a deep breath as he lowered his head. I watched him carefully, and he slowly cast his gaze towards a corpse lying amongst the rubble behind me. His lips moved as he mustered the words up.


    Its because of her.


    He whispered softly. I blinked a few times, staring at the same body he was looking at. It looked like a [Hellhound]. Except farrger. And like it had a skeletal frame around it, worn like armor.


    I ced a hand on my chin as I wondered aloud.


    Whats wrong with that wild Demon?


    Shes not a wild Demon.


    Haec replied simply. He raised his head to face me, shaking his head.


    Her name is Vianna, and she was no different from you and me.


    Huh.


    I didnt know that [Hellhounds]... or [Hellhound] evolutions could be intelligent. Well, I guess I had met a [Savage Agarat] that wasnt wild before. And they were kind of adjacent to [Hellhounds], at least in terms of appearance.


    and also I was given the [Hellhound] evolution in the past.


    But I never really pieced it together. I nodded along as Haec continued, exining what happened.


    Her kin were ughtered and captured by Regnorex. I made a promise to her I am going to help save them. And I am not going to break this promise.


    I paused as I heard his words. I held Haecs gaze, and I saw the resolution on his face. I thought about how stubbornly I had insisted on keeping my promise to see Haec again.


    And I opened my mouth, before closing it. I just listened as he continued his exnation.


    But its not just her. Its not just about her kin. Its also about all those I had met in the Demon Kings Domain. Many of them will be sacrificed whether it be willingly or unwillingly and I cant just let them die.


    Taburas blinked as Aem and Bertrugil exchanged a nce. Haec raised his hand to the cracked sky of the Netherworld, before balling it into a fist.


    Its actually Taburas who made me realize this.


    He nced back at the [Subus] with a nod. She took a step back, trying to work her jaw.


    W-wait, what did I do?


    I have been using others like a tool.


    Haec spoke simply as he strode forward towards her.


    I have never once thought about how they felt. I never thought about those who were left behind to die in the Expanse. I never thought about those I knew who were callously sacrificed to further Regnorexs ns. They were there, then they were just gone. And I never thought about how they could have felt.


    Taburas shrank back, but Haec firmly ced his hands on her shoulders. She straightened as he touched her, before slowly rxing as he held her gaze.


    I understood that it was wrong. I disagreed with it on principle. But I never thought about all those Id be leaving behind once I left the Demon Kings Domain.


    The [Subus] was blushing. It was quite obvious on her blue face that she was blushing. I raised a brow at that, but before I could point it out, Haec turned back towards me. He wore a contemtive look on his face.


    I only ever thought about how you felt, Salvos. How you must have felt having been separated from me for so long. And while I do care for you, I really do I cant just selfishly ignore all those around me, can I? Id be no different from Regnorex if that were the case.


    Youd just be wild.


    I spoke simply, agreeing with Haec. He blinked as he stared at me. I shook my head as I ced a hand on my chest.


    I understand how you feel, Haec. I get what youre saying.


    I gestured vaguely around me, closing my eyes as I remembered the time I spent in the Mortal Realm.


    I have a lot of friends in the Mortal Realm, Haec. And I promised I was going to return to see them again one day. I want you to meet them too. I want to go back soon. But


    I raised my head, before holding Haecs gaze. He stared at me with round eyes as I smiled.


    Youre my firstpanion Haec. And I said we would be together no matter what. So if you dont want to go to the Mortal Realm just yet, then Ill wait for you. Ill help you.


    His eyes widened slowly as I brought a hand out, holding his hand tightly. He looked down at our held hands as I continued.


    Then when its all over, we can finally leave the Netherworld. Together.


    Youre going to help me?


    Haec whispered as he looked back up to me. I drew back, giving him a thumbs-up.


    Yep! Because I am your leader, after all!


    For a moment, the both of us shared a memory. A time long ago when it was just the two of us. When we were wandering the Netherworld alone. When we spoke to each other for the very first time.


    <em>You are our leader, after all.</em>


    Haecs words echoed in my mind. And my own words never left my head. It was forever burned in my memory.


    <em>Well be fine no matter what. Im the leader, after all. I will protect you</em>


    And I nodded to myself. I beamed at Haec as I drew away from him, cing my hands behind my back.


    I told you I will protect you, Haec. So if this is what you want to do, I will help you do this.


    Haec gaped at me. His lips twisted, hearing my words. And I watched as the expression on his face subtly changed. A small smile spread across his face as heughed.


    You havent changed at all, have you, Salvos?


    Of course! I am Salvos, after all!


    I grinned back at him. And he smiled. He closed his eyes, before taking a step back.


    You are. Thank you, Salvos.


    With that, we made our decision. First, we were going to return to the Demon Kings Domain to save those oppressed by Regnorex. And after that I was going to bring Haec to the Mortal Realm.


    Haecs friends were going to follow us too, of course. Taburas seemed to ecstatically want to follow after him which was good. And while Bertrugil and Aem were less enthused, they trailed after us anyway.


    We began to crest up and out of the crevice as Haec turned to me curiously.


    How did you find me anyway?


    Well


    I started to exin, but then I paused. My eyes flickered as I looked up towards the cracked sky of Revtion.


    Whats going on?


    I asked as Haec furrowed his brows.


    What are you


    He started. But before he could continue, he was interrupted by a loud <em>crack. </em>I watched as the hole in the sky began to ripple, before the ground shook. The earth began to tremble all around us as Taburas, Aem, and Bertrugil stumbled back.


    I spread my wings wide as my Divine Essence continued to wisp off me. I was about to fly to the sky, but Haec caught me. He whispered with a ghastly gaze.


    This is the second stage of Revtion


    He gritted his teeth as the ground continued to shake beneath him. I looked down, then back up towards the shing sky. The crimson dome overhead began to shine with a scintiting iridescent light as he continued.


    The Unveiling hase to an end, and Reconstruction has begun.


    And I watched as the copsed rubble around us began to bounce around, before the ground cracked open as anotheryer of earth shot up into the sky. My eyes went wide as Haec finished.


    That means that the second stage of Regnorexs n will start.


    I just looked on as the destruction of Revtion began to repair. And a single word left my mouth.


    ...huh.