WHOOSH…
The tension that had gripped the trio James, Emma and Jack slowly dissipated like mist after a storm. The weight of uncertainty, grief, and fear was finally lifting. A collective sigh escaped their lips long, deep, and filled with unspoken relief.
Ironfang… was alive.
Though unseen, his presence lingered like a fading scent of rain faint, but undeniable.
Emma exhaled gently, brushing her red hair hair behind her ear. "So… what now? The Beast Tide is over, right? What's our next move?"
Jack, still processing the whirlwind of emotions, gave a half-smile and responded with playful calm, "What else mom? First, we go to the Adventurer Guild. Report everything that went down here… the beast tide and it's beasts full details, everything."
DING!
He tapped the side of his Dagger, still sheathed, with a light metallic chime. "Then we collect our reward. And if we're lucky, we might even get a promotion in the Adventurer Rankings."
Emma chuckled softly. "A well-earned one."
Jack's eyes warmed as he continued, "After that, we go home… and celebrate with Ava and Sofia."
That name Sofia brought a change in his expression. His lips trembled for a moment, and a bittersweet memory surfaced.
"When I rushed back home earlier… to warn Ava and Sofia about the Beast Tide," Jack said, his voice quieter, "Sofia… she broke down and cried lot."
He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"She grabbed my arm and cried, and said 'Big brother, don't leave me… please stay! Don't go, I'm scared!."
"Don't live alone hear, I also coming with you. Please take me with, plz...' with tears in her big round eyes"
"Then I said, 'You're not alone. You've got Ava to keep you company,'." Jack added with a teasing grin.
THUD.
The words hit Emma's heart like a hammer. Her hand instinctively covered her mouth, eyes glossing over.
"Oh, my baby girl…" she whispered. "She's only eight. Of course, she would be terrified."
James's voice cut in, firm and filled with newfound strength. "Then let's not waste a second more.'
BANG!
He slammed his fist into his palm. "We return home now! If we're late, our little Sofia might think we've…"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Jack nodded, eyes glowing with resolve. "You're right, Dad. Let's head back. It's time we go home… together."
WHOOSH!
A gentle breeze passed between them as if Ironfang himself acknowledged their pact to return to reunite as a family.
This wasn't just the end of a battle…It was the beginning of a promise.
A promise to return. A promise to protect.
A promise that no matter what darkness lay ahead… they would face it together.
----
Meanwhile…
On the other side of the battlefield, the Otherworlders had just finished celebrating the so-called "extermination" of the Beast Tide. Now, their focus shifted from cheers to recovery.
One by one, they sat or collapsed where they stood, panting heavily as they applied healing potions, activated recovery skills, or used shimmering relics to stabilize their fading vitality.
WHOOM!
A soft wave of green light from a healing spell enveloped a group of five, their wounds vanishing slowly beneath the glow.
Though none among them had faced the terrifying final wave of 3-Star Peak Beasts, to them, it felt like they had fought hell itself.
That's the twisted miracle of Sora's memory manipulation.
In the fabricated memories forcefully burned into their minds, they had battled endlessly swords clashing, spells roaring, death narrowly avoided. To their bodies and souls, the pain, the exhaustion, the fear it was all real.
And yet…
Out of the hundred ascendant warriors present, no one had died.
With no single casualty in what should have been a bloodbath. Because the truth was darker.
None of them had actually faced those final beasts. None had actually been on the front line.
Their war… was a lie, created by Sora's ability for Jack's test trial from her master.
"Memory manipulation to this level… it's insane," Jack muttered under his breath.
As they rested,
CLINK!
CLANK!
A group of armored Adventurer Guild staff approached, their voices clear and formal.
"Congratulations, Otherworlders, on the successful extermination of the Beast Tide!"
The crowd stirred. Some weakly cheered. Others just nodded, too drained to celebrate again.
The Guild official continued, "Once you've completed your recovery, your next task is to collect the Beast Tide loot across the battlefield."
DING!
A command echoed in their minds.
All the Otherworlders nodded. This part was really cleaning up the battlefield.
An hour passed.
ZING!
WHOOSH!
Potions were used, bandages wrapped, mana potions drained. Slowly, one by one, the 100 Ascendants returned to their peak condition. Bruises vanished, limbs straightened, hearts steadied.
And then, like synchronized clockwork, they began.
Beast corpses littered the scarred terrain: fur, bone, claws, blood, and beast cores glimmering with dormant power.
CRACK!
A tusk snapped off.
SHIING!
One by one, they began collecting the loot scattered all over the battlefield. With the help of space rings provided by the Adventurer Guild, they worked efficiently and joyfully because they knew that all the loot would be fairly distributed among the 500 Otherworlders who had risked their lives in this war.
As per the rule of the Soul Contract, the Guild staff being natives of Samsara World couldn't take even a single item from the Otherworlder continent's loot.
So all the resources, beast cores, materials, and treasures would go to the Otherworlders.
And for those who lost their lives in the Beast Tide… their family members would receive a large portion of the loot and compensation directly from the Adventurer Guild.
A fair reward for a fabricated sacrifice.
----
Meanwhile....
Back on Jack's side…
He adjusted the strap of his weapon sheath and turned to face the path home. Emma and James stood beside him, unaware of the storm brewing inside their son's mind.
The others laughed. Smiled. Talked about home.
But Jack… he smiled only on the surface.
Because deep down, his thoughts lingered on Sora and the unknown mysterious god, legendary Beast Egg and Divine Level Life Bond Artifact as Gift, Sora's manipulated memories. And his family involvement in future trials.
'This is just the beginning… isn't it?'Jack thought in his mind.
A chill passed through him, unnoticed by the others. Not from fear. But from realization.
Something greater was coming.
And the true god behind the curtain… wasn't finished with him and his family yet.
What might be planned in future for him and his family is unknown.
But One thing for sure that is not going to be Easy. His 1st trial is already Life threating, If he doesn't breakthrough to 3rd Star early Stage Jack will be done for.
Then Jack remember when almost lost his life in his mind only Three things repeatedly played.
- What will be happened his family if He died.
- His ethereal wish of Conquering Of Samsara World after he got his Supreme blessings.
- And lastly Creating his Own Harem like Novels, Mangas and Animes in his previous World fantacy adventure Stories....
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To Be Continued….!!