A literal explosion outside the house instantly shattered the cheerful atmosphere of the party. Aquarina began trembling slightly, turning her gaze toward the window with a sudden seriousness that didn't match her age.
"Something bad is coming…" he muttered.
Was that some kind of sixth sense? Could he sense danger? Some innate ability?
"Aquarina, what is it?" I asked, my voice low and cautious.
"Bad… evil…" he replied quietly, his lips quivering.
"Eh?"
"I'm scared…" he whispered, and then suddenly clung to me tightly.
"Oh, hey… it's alright…" I said, instinctively brushing my hand through his soft hair to calm him down.
Naturally, our parents picked up on the tension right away.
"Something's trying to force its way through my barrier… Wait… demons?! A large group of them!" my mother exclaimed.
"What? Don't tell me the remnants of the Demon King's army came here to ruin my son's birthday?! I'll burn them to a crisp!" my father bellowed, fire practically igniting from his eyes.
"I'll accompany you," said Shade, rising calmly. A dark aura pulsed from his body as shadow energy surged all around him like smoke.
"I'm coming too," said Nepheline, her body glowing faintly as layers of stone and metal began forming over her skin. It was like armor natural and raw. Even gemstones flickered within it.
"Just like old times, huh? Let's end this quickly," Father said.
"I'll maintain the barrier and assist from a distance. Summon Spirit Familiar," Mother responded, and immediately began casting. A radiant light engulfed the area as a floating golden eye with six wings and a glowing halo materialized. Its aura was divine, overwhelming… and weirdly calming.
"Aaaaaaah~"
It sang in a soothing, ethereal voice that echoed through the room. Its presence radiated immense magical power.
"I'll leave a few back-up clones here. Shadow Clone," said Shade.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
In a second, his form split into three additional figures made of pure shadow perfect replicas of himself. They stood silently near Mom, ready to act if necessary.
The original trio Dad, Nepheline, and the true Shade rushed out of the house and took off into the sky like shooting stars. The winged familiar soared after them.
"I'll let you pass through the barrier. Stop them before they do any damage!" Mom shouted.
"Got it!"
Curiosity getting the best of me, I pulled Aquarina closer and peeked through the wide window with him in my arms. The curtains had already been pulled back, giving us a full view. Though distant, everything looked eerily clear to me. Then suddenly, mana surged to my eyes automatically enhancing my vision.
My sight sharpened focus locked. I could see as if I were standing right there in the battlefield.
One of Shade's shadow clones stepped beside us and gently held Aquarina's shoulder, calming him down like a protective father.
"Relax, little guy. It's just a minor disturbance," the clone said softly.
Mom came to my side, her eyes glowing faintly.
"Leon, do you see them from the window? Those are demons just like the ones we fought before…" she murmured.
I squinted through the glass.
And then I saw him.
"Kukuku… I've finally found your home, Heroes! After six years of training, I've grown stronger than ever! I'll avenge the Demon King's death and ascend I will be the next Demon King!"
Hovering in the air was a grotesque monster an enormous fly.
Yes… a literal fly.
It was hideous. Towering ten meters tall, with hairy black limbs, massive compound red eyes, and vicious fangs gnashing together from a bloated mouth. Sitting atop its grotesque head was a twisted, golden-yellow crown.
He wasn't alone.
Behind him floated more than a dozen other insectoid demons, similar in form but slightly smaller. Their bodies exuded ominous purple-black auras. Their presence alone made Mom's golden barrier flicker under pressure, their evil energy attempting to corrode it inch by inch.
"You're… Beelzebub!" Father shouted.
"I figured that bastard had slipped away in the final battle," said Nepheline. "Looks like he and his crew were biding their time."
"Filth of the world," Shade said, his voice cold. "We end you here."
"Kukuku! I'm glad you remember me, Heroes! I am Beelzebub—King of Flies! Lord of Famine and Pestilence! Prepare to be devoured!"
"Domain of Famine!"
TRUUUM!!!
Before the trio could reach him, Beelzebub unleashed a purple-black energy field around himself a Domain, a personalized space that warped reality to suit its creator's power. The aura of hunger and sickness spread across the sky like a rotting fog.
And then his minions moved.
The swarm of massive flies shot toward my father and his allies, their flight so fast they blurred. Even though they were lesser than their master, their power was palpable—easily comparable to that of the red dragon I saw weeks ago.
Terrifying.
"Blaze Domain."
FLAAASH!!!
Father responded with his own Domain, igniting the sky with blazing golden flames. Fire and poison collided in midair as the battlefield turned into a storm of light and death. He summoned his giant flaming sword again, crackling with power. The heat radiating off him reached even our home.
"Shadow Domain."
Shade unleashed his power next. The sky darkened as his shadows spread like sentient smoke. His hands reached into his own aura and pulled out twin daggers made of pure darkness.
"Earth Domain."
Nepheline didn't lag behind. The ground trembled as her gravitational pressure intensified. The air grew heavy—like the weight of mountains pressed down. In one arm, she wielded a hammer the size of her torso, formed from radiant gems and rare minerals.
And just like that, the sky ignited with chaos.
Three titans of power clashed against a swarm of abyssal nightmares.
My heart pounded.
I stood in silence, holding Aquarina closer as we watched the battle unfold Heroes of legend, fighting for peace once more.
This was the world I'd been reborn into.
And someday… I'd stand beside them too.
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