Chapter 693: The Way Home (2)
The Dangerous Plan
Everything done, Luke returned to the camp. The three heroes were ready and, having heard they might return to Earth, were quite impatient.
Diana asked curiously,
"How do you plan to take us back?"
"It's both simple and complicated," Luke replied.
Luke re-inhabited the hostile twin's body, explaining with a serious tone, "The seal on the Valley of No Return isn't a simple spatial lock; it's a transfer. After the War of the Gods, to protect Earth from the Underworld invasion, the surviving Gods forcibly used spatial magic to change the portal node location from Earth to Dark Space. That's why the Valley of No Return is a one-way trip."
Clark frowned. "You're going to change the node back?"
"No."
Luke shook his head. "If I did that, Earth would be exposed to the Underworld's clutches. What I mean is another method: using the body's spatial abilities to forcibly change our trajectory and find the way home through the endless void."
Diana hesitated. "Are you sure... that will work?"
"Honestly, I can't be sure."
Diana and Clark exchanged glances, falling silent. Luke wasn't one to exaggerate. His admission meant the success rate was likely less than ten percent.
Luke shook his head. "Take a moment to consider it. If you think it's too risky, we can try to find the Death Gods. Each Death God represents a civilization; they must have a way to return to the real universe."
Diana gave a bitter smile. "At this stage, how could we find the Death Gods? I don't want to see them again."
Clark agreed. "Let's do it. No need to drag this out. Whether we live or die, we have to push through."
Akorn's Choice
Luke nodded, then turned to look at Akorn. The demon lizard was staring back, its eyes wide. It had vaguely guessed Luke's intentions and was starting to panic. Betraying allies, discarding the old—such things happened not only on Earth but in the Underworld, often more brutally so.
A useless thing becomes a burden, and Akorn was now a burden.
"Young Master, I..."
Luke raised his hand. "Trust is mutual. You trusted me, and I won't disappoint you. I'm giving you two options now. This isn't a test; it's compensation. You've helped us a lot and proven your loyalty. You deserve this."
"One: Risk your life and return to Earth with us."
"Two: Stay in the Underworld. I will leave you some things to make you a true powerhouse."
Akorn immediately said, "I choose the second..."
"Hear me out first," Luke said.
Luke stared at him, speaking deliberately. "Don't worry about me reneging on my word. These two options are compensation. You deserve this." With that, he took out a rice-grain-sized, shimmering crystal.
"This is a Soul Crystal, a treasure rarely seen in the world. It can greatly enhance soul strength and gives you a chance at acquiring soul-based superpowers. Paired with the primal blood essence inside the Dragon Heart, it's enough to make you a warrior second only to the Underworld Dragon itself. If you stay, these two things are your compensation."
Akorn froze, his eyes shining. His heart pounded uncontrollably. Becoming a warrior second only to the Underworld Dragon was his life's ambition. The temptation was too great to resist.
His long-cherished dream was right before him. How could he refuse?
Luke continued, "If you choose to return to Earth with us, these two items will not be yours. Furthermore, you must adhere to some rules."
Akorn hesitated. "What rules?"
"Earth is different from the Underworld. It has an independent and mature operating system. There is no survival of the fittest, and you cannot kill people arbitrarily. If you go to Earth, you must abide by three laws: One, never kill without my express order. Two, eat only cooked food; no drinking blood or eating raw meat. Three, adapt to human life and culture. If you cannot do this or dare to violate it, I will personally kill you."
As he spoke the last sentence, intense killing intent erupted.
Akorn's face twisted like a chrysanthemum. The demon lizard race's primary food was blood and meat. How could he live without it?
And the Soul Crystal and primal blood essence—going to Earth meant forgoing both and risking his life. It seemed like a losing proposition.
The second choice was clearly better, yet he felt the first choice was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one he would regret forever if he missed it.
"I've said all I need to say. Think it over carefully and give me your answer in five minutes."
Luke turned and left, letting Akorn struggle with the decision.
Diana couldn't help but say,
"You're not seriously considering taking him back to Earth, are you?"
"It depends on his commitment. If he's truly willing to give up everything to follow me, taking him back is acceptable."
"But he's an Underworld creature?"
Luke shrugged. "Does it matter?"
Diana fell silent. Taking an Underworld creature as a subordinate was perhaps too crazy, even for Luke.
The Void Journey
Time flowed silently. Five minutes passed in a blink. Luke returned to Akorn.
"Have you made up your mind?"
The demon lizard, its eyes red, knelt on the ground. "I am the Young Master's servant, a servant to follow you for all eternity."
"Are you sure about this? There are no demon lizards on Earth. Going there means you can't have descendants."
Akorn's face looked like a bitter gourd, but he ultimately remained prostrate.
"I've decided. I will never change my mind."
"Very well. Remember the three rules I just mentioned. If you dare to violate them, don't blame me for abandoning our master-servant relationship."
With that, Luke turned to leave. Akorn quickly shouldered his bundle and followed.
Clark and Diana exchanged speechless glances.
A pile of artifacts, super-metals, and a demon lizard. Well, this trip to the Underworld was certainly fruitful!
The group returned to the original location of the Valley of No Return, finding the spatial node hovering in the air.
Luke manipulated the hostile twin's body, transforming into its giant form. He swallowed Diana, Clark, J'onn's body, Akorn, the artifacts, and the bag filled with spoils, all into his abdomen. Then, he extended a finger and pointed ahead.
A spatial vortex formed and merged with the node.
Luke took a deep breath and stepped into the vortex.
Time and space flowed, and the dimension shifted. After a dizzying moment of weightlessness, Luke found himself in a constantly distorted, dark world—spatial turbulence. Invisible forces acted on his body. His left arm disappeared without a sound, and large wounds appeared all over his body.
Spatial turbulence!
It was more dangerous than he had imagined.
Luke closed his eyes, searching for a gap hidden within the turbulence while simultaneously sensing the location of his main body on Earth. If he could find his original body's coordinates, he could find Earth.
Unfortunately, the situation was not ideal. There was nothing around him; he couldn't sense anything.
Luke could only proceed cautiously, searching for a flash of inspiration.
Space has many forms: folding, splitting, shattering, fissures, nothingness... Only those with powerful perception and spatial abilities can sense them. An ordinary person here would be instantly torn apart by a fissure.
There was no concept of time here, only a void.
Luke didn't know how long he stayed there—maybe a day, maybe a month, maybe even a year. He felt as if a very, very long time had passed.
During the endless journey, both his body and soul approached the brink of collapse, yet he still hadn't found the lighthouse that would lead him home.
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