"Wait, what do you mean?" Lexel asked. His eyes looked at his father, the strongest being that he knew ever existed in the Three Worlds.
"It means what it meant," Lyon said, his voice unusually serious. "You three are going to this 'Fourth' world. And you're going to live there for a while."
"A while?" Seleron asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's right," Cecile nodded, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword. "Trust me, it's not easy for us parents either. But peaceful days have come to pass."
"Indeed," Selena added, her gaze sharp but protective. "However, this is also an opportunity for you three to grow. To experience this new world... something that we never got the chance to do properly."
"But it's dangerous," Myda said, calculating the risks. "It's like playing Alchemist without any recipe. One wrong ingredient, and..."
"It is," Lyon agreed. "But I've done that a couple of times. More than the sum of the fingers in this room."
"That's not exactly motivating, Dad," Seleron deadpanned.
"It's not about motivation," Lyon shook his head. "Of course, you are not going to live there just because. There is a mission that you must fulfill. And this mission will affect us all. And by 'us,' I mean most importantly, you boys."
"As where we stand, we are nothing but defending," Cecile said, her tone turning strategic. "We can keep them at bay for now. But who knows? Maybe when we are sleeping, they are invading. We cannot keep a hold of the fort forever. Empyrean might live, but the Three Worlds... it might not be the same if we don't raise our arms."
The three boys looked at each other. Confusion and trepidation embraced them.
"Does it mean..." Seleron started, but dared not continue.
"You three are the ones that could stop this madness," Lyon said. "As I told you three before, the moment I stepped inside that Fourth World, their 'System' rejected our 'Cultivation.' It's a clash. But you three... you are different. Perhaps the blow to your meridians—the one that caused your cultivation to be exhausted, to reset—is the trigger to awaken the 'Anti-System.'"
Lyon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I cannot afford to lose my Zenith Realm, knowing that threat looms over us. Not with Luna and Lumina carrying my children in their wombs as well. But..." He grinned. "It is the consequence of a heavenly harem."
Black lines covered the foreheads of all three sons at Lyon's proud claim.
"But think about the bright side," Lyon said, slapping Lexel on the shoulder. "You can get girlfriends over in that Fourth World."
"W-Wait," Lexel sputtered. "Isn't our goal to stop the invasion? Wouldn't that mean destroying this System World?"
"In a sense," Lyon shrugged. "However, you're going to be there for years. Even perhaps decades. Who knows? Surely you don't want to be lonely. I know, 'brotherhood' and stuff, but come on."
"What if we fail?" Seleron asked quietly.
"Then you retreat," Lyon said firmly. "As long as you don't die, you can always try again. But first... you need to understand how the system works."
"Ah..."
- Cornerstone Continent, Mortal World.
The sacred continent of the Mortal World, home to the literal giant tree, Yggdrasil—the World Tree itself. Its roots spanned dimensions, and its canopy brushed the stars.
The trio gathered in front of the giant tree. Behind them stood Lyon and his entire family.
The boys wore simple clothing, handcrafted to be different than their customary Empyrean silks. They wore plain, sturdy tunics, leather trousers, and rugged boots—like an adventurer used to wear. No more regal gold in their clothing. Only, perhaps, in their faces.
No more status. No more spatial rings. Just three young men.
"Be very, very, VERY careful, okay?!" Maria said, tears already welling in her eyes. She squeezed them all in a desperate embrace. "My boys... I knew this day would come, I just..."
"I-It's okay, Mother," Myda said, patting her back. "We'll be fine. We promise."
"En!" Lexel and Seleron nodded.
"Alright," Maria wept, wiping her tears. "But if anything happens, run straight back toward home, okay?!"
"En!" the three nodded again.
"Unfortunately," Lyon said, stepping forward, "bringing weapons from this world would do nothing in that world. Neither the Returning Jade Stone nor the Summoning Ruby Stone holds any power there. So... the only thing we got for you is plain old steel."
Assid stepped forward. In his arms, he carried a set of weapons. Not divine artifacts. Not legendary blades. Just well-forged, reliable steel.
One pair of gauntlets. A short sword. And a bow with arrows.
Meticulously picked for the trio's new "classes."
Lexel took the pair of gauntlets, feeling their weight. They weren't his onyx claws, but they fit. Seleron took the short sword, testing its balance. It was simple, but sharp. Myda took the bow and arrows. He frowned slightly—he preferred mixing potions—but he understood the need for range.
"Though the ways of getting stronger are different, the way to win battles stays the same," Selena said, looking at the three boys. One blink, they were children playing in the courtyard. Another blink brought the present—three young warriors leaving for war. "Don't forget what you learned."
"En!" the three nodded.
Cecile stepped up, placing a hand on Lexel's shoulder. "There are dangers all around. You might get scammed. You might get hurt. But always remember: you got each other. The three of you grew up together. Trust each other. Never betray one another. A kingdom may fall... but not your brotherhood!"
"Yes! Empress!" said the three of them, straightening their backs.
"Now, as a dad," Lyon said, his smile soft. "Have fun." He ruffled Seleron's hair. "Don't worry about here. I got it. And if I don't... there's still your grandfather, your uncle, and also Rakumtatak and the Elven Emperor."
"You... you didn't forget my name, did you?" Elandril asked from the back, where he was being held by his wife, the Elven Empress Iris, and Yala's mother.
"A-And that's that," Lyon coughed, ignoring the elf. "Perhaps, Yala, would you like to say a few words? I know you are fond with the kids."
Yala, the beautiful elf princess, panicked for a second. Her cheeks flushed pink. "I..." She looked at the three of them. "I could only wish that I have more episodes with you three... but it seems that it's a wishful thinking. However... I hope I get reimbursed with how dashing you look in a few years."
"You got it!" Lexel gave her a thumbs up.
"Don't worry, I got dad's genes," Seleron smirked.
"There is no telling how dashing I would become," Myda added, adjusting his collar. "Perhaps I would be dad's rival."
Lyon laughed, a loud, booming sound that echoed against the bark of Yggdrasil. The entire family laughed with him.
The three of them looked at Lyon, their mothers, their grandfather, the Six Pillars, and everyone else. This was their world. And they were leaving it behind to save it.
"Yggdrasil," Lyon said, turning to the tree. "If you please."
"Right," the ancient voice replied.
The ground shook. Massive, wood-veins slithered beautifully from the earth, weaving together to form a hollowed portal frame. Then, it lit up with the same black, swirling vortex they had seen in the forest.
A stable bridge to the Fourth World.
"I see you later then," Lexel said. He nodded to his family.
Then, without hesitation, the three of them jumped inside the vortex.
RUMBLE.
The moment they vanished, the ground shook violently. Everyone panicked.
The beautiful wood-veins started to rot apart, crumbling like dust in the wind. The vortex faded, flickering out of existence.
"W-What's going on?!" Lyon shouted toward Yggdrasil.
"It seems that the portal couldn't hold on for more," Yggdrasil's voice rumbled, sounding tired. "The power of that world is astonishing. Just like my own. It... resisted."
Then, a killing intent surged up high in the sky.
Selena.
She was harnessing the Void through her speech, her eyes turning into abysses. "You better make another. Or the next thing you know, you're just nothing but a big firewood."
Rakumtatak whistled and smirked. After all these years, her killing intent is still fucking intense. Even the Ogre Emperor needs to enter fight or flight mode.
"I-I can," Yggdrasil stammered. "But I would need to recharge. But even then... it wouldn't be long."
Cecile and Maria stepped forward, putting their hands on Selena's shoulders.
"Calm down, Selena," Cecile said softly. "They are safe. They are through."
Selena took a breath, and the killing intent faded.
"Whatever it is that they are facing, they are playing their roles," Lyon said, looking at the empty space where the portal had been. "What we should do... is focus on ours."
He turned back to the group. A familiar, mischievous glint returned to his eye. He rubbed his hands together like a fly.
"Also," he grinned. "The kids are gone. And it's still the vibe of an anniversary."
He looked at his wives.
"So everyone... DISMISSED!"