Alastair and his companions emerged into a barren dimension.
There was nothing—nothing but endless emptiness stretching beyond the horizon.
A gray land devoid of life. No trees. No color. No light.
Stone and cracked earth, silent and dead, like a realm abandoned by existence itself.
"It's freezing… and dark," Vera muttered, still held in Alastair's grip.
"Where are we? This place feels suffocating. And the smell—something's wrong."
"The scent of death," Milo said.
"Huh?" Vera frowned, but Milo offered no further explanation.
"Hey—let me go already!," she protested.
Thud.
"Ow!" Vera yelped as Alastair released her and Milo without warning. She wasn't prepared and landed hard on the rocky ground.
Milo landed on his feet, steady and graceful—almost like a wildcat.
"Is everyone here? Anyone hurt?" Carla asked.
She activated her phone's flashlight to check on the group, but Alastair produced a small glowing orb and tossed it into the air.
Its radiance far outshone the flashlight.
"You seriously have way too many gadgets," King said in awe.
"Floating lights, tracking devices—this is insane."
In truth, Alastair no longer needed light after becoming a demon.
But he had brought the luminous orb out for the sake of the humans traveling with him.
"What now?" Henry asked.
"Obviously, we track down the demon named Hyde," Alastair replied.
The most difficult part—opening a path into this dimension—was already done.
Now all that remained was to find Hyde—and hope he could open a gate to Sybil's world.
No—first, he hoped Hyde was still here at all.
"I don't think we need to search," Milo said, pointing ahead.
"Hm?" Everyone followed his gaze.
Space itself rippled, and a rectangular gate unfolded in the air.
A tall demon stepped through.
He was the one from the image Carla had shown.
Tall. Pale. Yellow eyes. Long teal-green hair.
Handsome features, calm and composed.
"Hyde!" Carla and King exclaimed.
Hyde did not respond. His gaze shifted to Milo.
"You opened the gate into this dimension."
"Yes."
"An A-class demon shouldn't be capable of that," Hyde frowned, studying him.
Milo shrugged.
"My master wishes to see you," Hyde said, turning to Alastair.
"Please follow me."
Alastair paused, his expression darkening.
I am the one who came looking for you.
What gives your master the right to summon me?
"I have no intention of meeting your master. You are the one I came for."
"My master asked me to tell you this," Hyde said.
"He knows what you desire. And he can grant it."
Alastair's eyes widened despite himself.
He had never expected anyone to claim such a thing.
"Is your master the man called Elijah?" Alastair asked.
"No," Hyde replied.
"Elijah is my partner. My master is someone else. Once you meet him, you will understand."
Hyde gestured toward the gate.
Alastair considered, then stepped forward—dragging Vera along with him.
I'll see for myself, he thought.
Who dares claim they can fulfill my wish.
"What is with you? Stop dragging me around like luggage!" Vera complained.
The others followed close behind.
They emerged into another expanse of the same desolate land—dark, silent, empty.
But this place was different.
An overwhelming pressure crushed the air around them.
It dwarfed Alastair's own.
Soul Sovereign-level presence filled the air.
Alastair froze.
He had never encountered anyone at the Sovereign tier before.
As a Soul Master, he had already reached the highest level ever recorded in his world—a world known for producing the strongest cultivators among the three he knew.
Soul Sovereign existed in legend alone.
How is this possible…?
This dimension may not even belong to any of the three worlds I know.
He narrowed his eyes and surveyed the figures ahead.
A tall man stood near a throne—brown hair, brown eyes, glasses.
His appearance was identical to that of the demon hunter Elijah.
Nearby stood Delinda and Maya.
And seated upon the throne itself was a black silhouette.
That shadow was the source of the Sovereign-level pressure.
The aura emanating from it carried a strange, cloying sweetness.
Alastair held his breath and ordered the demons to do the same.
The humans were instructed to cover their noses at once.
Poison? Hallucinogen?
So that shadow was the Soul Sovereign.
What were Elijah, Hyde, Delinda, and Maya to him?
Servants? No—something was off.
Delinda and Maya looked terrified. Maya was trembling.
Elijah stood at the throne's side.
"Ha ha ha… yes. This is perfect," the shadow laughed.
"That woman was completely unsuitable."
Maya relaxed, then looked at Alastair with a strange mixture of relief and shock.
Suitable…? He means me?
Alastair frowned, already calculating escape routes.
"Elijah. Hyde. What is the meaning of this?" Carla demanded, her voice steady despite the crushing pressure.
Elijah smiled.
"Honestly, you should never have been involved. But this works out nicely. My task just became easier."
"And what task would that be?" Carla pressed.
"My role is hardly interesting. Why not look at your demon friend instead? I doubt he cares."
Indeed, Alastair's attention never left the shadow.
"You claimed you know what I desire," Alastair said.
"And that you can grant it. Is that true?"
"It is," the shadow replied.
Alastair's gaze sharpened.
"Then tell me," he said.
"What is it that I desire?"
"Grace," the shadow answered without hesitation.
"You wish for Grace to be restored—perfectly.
And to stand beside her once more."
Alastair's eyes widened.
Not only did the being know his desire—it knew her name.
"I acknowledge that you can perceive my wish," Alastair's voice was measured.
"But you won't grant it without a price. Correct?"
"There is always a price," the shadow said.
"And that price… is your body."
"I want your body."