A soft click resounded as the door shut, and Ryuk inhaled slightly before turning to look around him.
The lighting was dim, the brightest source of illumination emanating from the center of the rectangular-shaped room.
It was a vast pool, stretching out in a rectangular form, its surface shimmering with fluorescent blue light—the source responsible for the room's eerie glow.
[A Mana Sea.] The system notification flashed as Ryuk stepped closer.
Upon reaching the edge, vapor curled toward him, as if drawn to his aura. His hands reached down, gently dipping into the surface.
The moment he did, the blue light slowly gave way to a snowy white hue, and the aura of the Mana Sea turned frigid cold.
"The Mana is abundant. Very high quality. Pity—I don't need Mana any longer to increase my cultivation..." he mused aloud as he rose to his feet.
Taking off his shirt, he stepped into the pool and settled at the side.
The waters swallowed him up to his chest, leaving only his head visible.
He exhaled cold, white breath before letting his head fall to the side.
His last thought echoed within him as he felt his consciousness begin to fade, his heartbeat slowing to a near-dead silence.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the emerald-painted ceiling.
Moonlight streaked across the panel above, casting silver across his face as his blue eyes fluttered open. He sat up in bed.
He heard movement from the side and turned to locate the sound—his gaze landing on her.
She stood before the mirror, golden hair cascading over the sharp black of her blazer.
Morgaine's fingers tugged her chest zipper, drawing up the white hoodie beneath the jacket, sleeves pushed back to reveal her wrists.
Loose black trousers skimmed her ankles.
She bent down to grab the sneakers at her side, slipped them on, then stood.
Reaching to the wardrobe, she pulled out a black cap, placed it on her head, and turned—only to freeze briefly as she caught him staring directly at her.
"You were spying on me?" Morgaine said, her expression feigning shock and betrayal, though it was clear she couldn't hold it for long.
"Spying?" Ryuk repeated as she approached, her eyes playfully accusing.
"I wasn't spying. I was just... appreciating the outfit," he said with a soft smile as she extended her hand.
He took it, and she pulled him up.
"So... how do I look?" Morgaine asked, standing in front of him.
A black face cap, a white hoodie beneath a dark jacket, and loose black trousers paired with sneakers.
"I love it... but not as much as I love the one wearing it," he teased.
She blushed lightly before letting out a humph.
"You sure have a sweet tongue," she replied with a coquettish smile before giving him a light kiss.
"Go get dressed, too. We should be leaving in less than an hour..."
Footsteps echoed through the marble steps, leading out of the massive golden gates.
Ryuk glanced downward. Morgaine stood beside him as they both looked at the small group already gathered outside.
The Half-Fallen One stood beside Old Jack, along with three more powerful-looking Fallen Angels.
Their gazes lifted as if sensing their arrival. Old Jack turned toward them, surprise briefly crossing his face.
'Wow, they both look so good—yet so different,' he thought silently, a sentiment mirrored in the minds of everyone present.
Morgaine wore mostly black—jacket, trousers, and cap—with a splash of white in her hoodie and shoes.
Her outfit sat perfectly at the boundary of formal and casual—clean, sharp, fitting.
In contrast, Ryuk was entirely in white.
The only contrasting color was the deep red of his lips, and the crimson, blue, and red of his eyes.
He wore a simple white shirt, layered beneath a long-sleeved white jacket that reached his wrists. Matching white trousers completed the look.
Coupled with his snow-white hair bouncing slightly with each step, he was a living silhouette of light—a stark contrast to Morgaine's dark palette.
Old Jack snapped out of his thoughts as a hand waved before his face.
"You've been zoning out for a minute now, old man. You okay?" he heard, followed by Ryuk's grin.
"Whatever you're thinking—it's still a dream," Old Jack said with a scoff. Check latest chapters at N()velFire.net
A soft giggle escaped the Half-Fallen One's lips at their banter.
"Everyone's gone?" Morgaine asked her mother, who nodded.
"Yes. Well, aside from those still here. I've managed to reach the others on the other side. Seems like they've gotten their attention too—not the best of welcome, but nothing to worrisome ."
"Let's go," Morgaine said.
They all turned to the golden revolving gates—one of the portals to the Fallen World—standing about 30 meters ahead.
But as they took their first steps—
A dark vortex swirled beneath their feet, and each of them fell through.
When they emerged, they stood directly before the teleporter.
"You're getting good at Void control..." Morgaine noted, nudging Ryuk with her elbow. He offered a faint smile before turning his gaze back to the now-opening golden gate.
"Let's go," Old Jack announced, the first to step through, followed by the guards, then the Half-Fallen One and Morgaine.
He tried to move in with the others, but suddenly halted at the last second, as his outstretched legs and hands recoiled back.
He turned his back to the portal, looking at the wide expanse before him.
A glow in his eyes, and the entirety of Endearth seemed to zoom in completely as Ryuk sighted every single thing.
It was here that it had all begun, and for the next few seconds, the memories of his stay here in Endeath seemed to shuffle through his head like cards, before he eventually exhaled deeply.
A soft smile curved on his lips, and he turned to face the portal making his way forward with a straight spine, but not without whispering,
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