Activating the terrifying time ability, Kranos watched as ten million time points vanished into the void.
Yet, a faint smile played on his lips. Finally, he could leave this emptiness behind and return to the immortal world.
He was curious how much time had passed while he was trapped here. According to his estimation, not much had gone by—perhaps only a few months.
Since he hadn't seen his parents in years during this life, he found himself wondering how they were faring.
The moment Kranos activated the time technique, a pulse of radiant light erupted around them.
A pale blue portal formed in mid-air and swiftly enveloped them.
The cat beside him was frozen by the sudden development. But being just an ordinary feline now, it was powerless to resist and could only be swallowed whole by the immense power of the time domain.
Moments later, Kranos felt a shift in his perception. Slowly, he opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings. He had returned to the immortal world.
As he took in the scenery, a wave of unease crept into his heart.
The sky above was cracked like shattered glass, a deep crimson hue staining the heavens as though the world itself was bleeding. Scattered fragments of sky floated in the distance like broken mirrors.
An ominous aura lingered in the atmosphere, thick and cloying. The sun hung motionless overhead, casting an unsettling blood-red light over everything. Its rays were strangely warm, but a metallic tang filled the air, as if the land itself reeked of iron and decay.
A chill ran down Kranos's spine.
"Are those demons?" he murmured, startled. All around him, grotesque creatures prowled and leaped about, using twisted, unnatural abilities.
"Is this still the immortal world I remember?" he whispered. According to his understanding, the time technique should have brought them back to the royal capital.
So why was everything unfamiliar?
Suddenly, he noticed a group of humans approaching him. Their steps were confident and battle-hardened, and their cultivation aura was powerful—they were Dao Palace Realm experts, radiating fierce killing intent.
As they drew closer, Kranos recognized their uniforms. He had seen guards dressed like them during visits to his father in the palace, usually bringing reports from the battlefield.
"Hey, brat. What is going on here?" the cat asked, its tail flicking restlessly. "You dragged us out of the void, and now look where we are. What's this oppressive aura I'm sensing?"
The cat stared ahead with wide eyes, curiosity and apprehension swirling together in its gaze.
Kranos paused for a moment before replying. "This is the immortal world. This is where I'm from."
The cat blinked in surprise. It had assumed Kranos came from a mortal realm and had somehow stumbled into the void by accident.
"You're from an immortal world?" it asked.
"Of course. But it seems something has gone very wrong here," Kranos replied, his voice quiet and thoughtful.
The cat nodded in agreement as it sensed the familiar yet twisted aura surrounding them.
At that moment, the guards finally reached Kranos, the cat, and the young transmigrator.
Their faces were grim and solemn, but upon recognizing Kranos, the prodigy known for his A-grade space element, they smiled in relief.
Back when Kranos was at the royal palace, his father had received updates from guards like these, who occasionally returned from the frontlines with news of the conflict.
Due to the secrecy surrounding Kranos's disappearance, the order to search for him had not spread far. Now, seeing him suddenly return from the academy in the midst of chaos, the guards assumed he had come back to help.
Kranos nodded in greeting, then asked curiously, "What exactly is going on here?"
At his words, the expressions of the guards shifted slightly.
"Young master," one of them began, "it started a few years ago. The skies suddenly cracked open, and a terrifying beast descended from above. Before that, demon activity had been steadily increasing, and we had decided to launch a full-scale battle to exterminate them once and for all."
"Then the creature arrived during that battle. With its appearance, the skies turned blood-red and fractured across many regions. Worse still, the demons grew stronger under the influence of the red light, their abilities amplified by its presence."
Hearing this explanation, Kranos fell into deep thought, his brows furrowed in concentration.
Something about the man's words struck a chord.
"A few years?" he asked, his voice growing tense. "How long ago exactly did this all begin?"
The lead guard thought for a moment before responding, "Roughly five years ago."
"Five years?" Kranos's heart trembled. That could not be right.
He had spent no more than two years in the Elven Immortal World, and the incident with Kathryn had only lasted a few months. Altogether, it should not have amounted to five years.
Did this mean he had spent three whole years inside the void?
Kranos stood frozen, unable to find a clear answer. He decided to suppress his thoughts for now.
"I see. How has the battle progressed, and where are my parents?" he asked, shifting the topic.
"Young master, your parents are safe. I'm sure they will be overjoyed to see you again," the guard replied, his voice softening. The others nodded in agreement.
"In that case, lead the way," Kranos said, a gentle smile forming on his face.
He turned toward the cat, suddenly recalling something important.
"This man," he said, pointing at the transmigrator, "watch over him carefully. Make sure he is fed. He hasn't eaten in a while, and he's suffering from severe malnutrition."
Kranos gave this instruction, then bent down and picked up the white cat in his arms.
The cat's eyes widened in horror.
"Put me down, old man!" it hissed mentally. Having lost all its cultivation, it could no longer speak aloud and now resembled a normal housecat. It growled and thrashed in protest.
Kranos, however, saw through the cat's bluff. He smirked and rubbed its soft head with playful affection.
Furious, the cat swiped at him with its claws, scratching repeatedly. But Kranos's body, now hardened by both cultivation paths, was beyond ordinary durability. Even low-grade weapons struggled to pierce his skin, and the cat's attacks tickled at best.
Realizing it was futile, the cat huffed in frustration and turned away.
The guards who witnessed this exchange were quietly amazed. The young master, once known for his cold and distant nature, now showed a surprising warmth. None of them voiced their thoughts, and they simply led Kranos and the cat toward the palace.
Meanwhile, a few other guards escorted the transmigrator to fulfill Kranos's orders.
As they walked, Kranos observed the palace surroundings. It had changed drastically. The peaceful serenity he once knew was gone, replaced by a tense and fortified atmosphere. He suspected this change was not solely due to the demonic invasion or the celestial beast's descent.
Perhaps there was something else at play.
Kranos rubbed the cat's head again, this time more gently, and murmured inwardly, "At least I've escaped that cursed void. It feels good to be back."
They passed several unfamiliar buildings, their architecture foreign even to Kranos. The air was charged with tension, and thanks to his heightened cultivation, he could hear faint clashes in the distance—evidence of battle not far away.
Eventually, they reached a secluded part of the palace. Before them stood a towering structure built entirely of dark cobblestone. It radiated a formidable presence.
With one glance, Kranos could sense this was no ordinary building. He found himself quietly impressed.
His attention shifted to the entrance of the palace itself.
Through the open doors, he could see faint silhouettes waiting within.
As Kranos stepped into the cobblestone chamber, several pairs of eyes turned toward him.
The higher-ups of the royal family were gathered inside. Their presence was overwhelming, radiating a pressure that rivaled even the God Immortal Kranos had once faced.
Some among them, however, were only at the God Incarnate Realm, their auras far less oppressive.
With his current strength, Kranos could now challenge or even slay beings of this level. His progress had been immense. Once, he could not even sense such auras—now, he could dominate them. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel✶fire.net
Perhaps next time, he would be the strongest in the room.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he turned his attention to the people gathered there.
The king looked stunned by the unexpected entrance. The princes and princesses also stared in shock.
Among them, two figures stood out. Raphael and Anna, seeing the silver-haired youth, felt their spirits lift.
"Kranos! My baby boy!" Anna cried out, unable to contain herself. She rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, unconcerned by the others' presence.
Kranos felt her warmth and love envelop him. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Mother…"
In his mother's embrace he could feel all his worries disappear, and even the faint worry in his heart slowly dissipated. He felt an unprecedented calmness, which he had never felt before.
'So warm… so peaceful…'