"Mommy..."
Liora's breath caught at the sound of the soft, small voice calling out to her. Locked inside the same dark, filthy cell, Liora stared down at the little child she had rescued from the overseer's whip. Unfortunately, Lily had been dragged away and locked in a separate block, leaving Liora alone with the boy.
The toddler looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, uttering a single word that instantly filled Liora's eyes with tears.
"I'm not your mommy, sweet baby." Liora murmured softly, gently stroking the child's small cheek with trembling fingers.
"Mommy..." the boy repeated stubbornly, leaning forward to wrap his tiny arms around Liora's neck.
A faint, tender smile broke across Liora's face as she hugged the little boy back, holding him close against her chest.
The boy pulled back slightly, pointing a small finger at Liora's large bump. "You are my mommy. My mommy had a big belly."
Liora paused, a pang of sympathy touching her heart. "W-Where is your mommy now, baby?"
"Right here." the child replied innocently, pointing straight at Liora.
Liora couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "Alright then... from now on, you can be my son." She leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to the top of the boy's head. The child giggled happily, burying his face back into Liora's neck.
Suddenly, the little boy pulled back again, staring down at Liora's stomach with a curious frown. "What is that?"
Liora chuckled softly. "Oh... look at that. Someone is getting jealous already! Do you know, my little son, there's a tiny, possessive tiger cub inside my belly?"
The child reached out a timid hand to touch Liora's stomach, but the moment his fingers brushed the stretched fabric, he pulled his hand back in surprise. "He kicked me! He hit my hand!"
Liora laughed softly, resting her hand over her bump. "Hey, my little prince, don't be like that. This is your big brother, okay? He's my big prince now. Are you trying to be a jealous little tiger just like your daddy, hmm?"
Two weeks passed in the dim confines of the cell. Through the boy's broken fragments of speech, Liora gradually pieced together the heartbreaking truth: the child was an orphan, his mother long gone. The heavy weight of loneliness and the constant ache for Ronan were gently eased by the little boy's presence, bringing a warm flicker of happiness back into Liora's life.
Because the child could not remember his real name, Liora decided to name him Benny. She affectionately called him Ben.
By now, Liora had entered her eighth month of pregnancy. Her body felt impossibly heavy and exhausted. Her little prince had grown significantly, making every movement a grueling chore. Lying on the cold, unforgiving floor of the cell brought constant ache to her bones.
Fear constantly gnawed at her mind. This was her first pregnancy, and the terrifying reality of giving birth in a dark, filthy dungeon without Ronan terrified her to her core. Weak, malnourished, and frail, she lay awake through the long nights, weeping softly as she imagined how Ronan would have held her hand, rubbed her back, and guided her through the pain.
Whenever Liora cried, little Ben would crawl over, wrapping his small arms around her and softly patting Liora's bump, whispering to his unborn brother not to make mommy sad. Ben's gentle comfort was the only thing keeping Liora's spirit alive.
Meanwhile, back in the Mo Kingdom, Ronan worked frantically to forge the key that would unlock the portal to the Land of Limits.
Together with the guardians, Ronan had scoured the ancient archives within the Emperor's grand library, searching night and day until Rechard finally uncovered the forgotten ritual.
"First, we must forge the vessel key from rare metal, and then you must imbue it with your imperial core energy, Ron." Ethan explained, showing him the ancient text. "On paper, it looks straightforward."
However, the execution was far from simple. The special metal required to hold dimension-tearing energy took an entire week of dangerous searching just to retrieve and craft into a key.
The guardians forged the physical key, but once it was complete, the task fell entirely upon Ronan to channel his imperial life force into it. According to the ancient texts, infusing the key required a grueling month of uninterrupted, concentrated energy transference.
Ronan refused to wait a month.
"For my angel... for my prince... I will finish this in two weeks." Ronan declared, his voice cold and unwavering.
Driven by absolute devotion, Ronan began the agonizing process. Day after day, night after night, he remained motionless, refusing to sleep, eat, or drink. He sat like a stone statue, his eyes closed as raw energy poured from his body into the key.
Only after relentless begging from the guardians did Ronan agree to swallow a single daily ration of food just to keep his heart beating. For fourteen straight days without opening his eyes, fueled purely by the love for his wife and unborn child, Ronan pushed his body past its absolute limit, and succeeded.
The key flared with brilliant, stabilized power.
"Ron, we know how desperate you are to save her." Maya said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as Ronan stood up, exhausted but triumphant. "But instead of charging in tonight, let us rest and launch the attack tomorrow morning. While you were imbuing the key, we spent those two weeks mobilizing our powers and preparing for battle. Everything is ready. Tomorrow, we will bring your angel home."
Ronan looked at her and gave a single, firm nod.
Night fell over the mansion. Ronan walked into his quiet bedchamber, looking around the empty room with a heavy heart. Yet, he did not shed a single tear. The burning determination in his soul outweighed his grief.
Walking over to the bed, he picked up a pair of tiny baby shoes they had bought together. A soft, breathless smile touched his lips.
"Are you holding on, my little bean?" Ronan whispered softly, pressing the small shoes gently against his cheek. "Just be patient a little longer, my sweet baby. Daddy is coming to save you and your mommy tomorrow."
He pressed a loving, tender kiss against the soft fabric of the baby shoe.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
The morning sun rose, casting a pale light over the desolate realm.
Inside the dark cell, Liora spent her day as she always did, but a strange, unexplainable sensation settled over her. The baby in her womb, who usually rested quietly throughout the morning, had been kicking excitedly since dawn.
"Why are you so restless today, my love?" Liora murmured, gently resting her hand over her bump. Strangely, despite her physical weakness, Liora felt an odd surge of renewed energy flowing through her veins.
She looked over at Benny, who was sitting on the dusty floor, happily drawing shapes on the stone with a small pebble.
"Ben, come here, sweetie." Liora called gently.
Benny scrambled up and hurried over, wrapping his tiny arms around Liora's waist. He glanced nervously at the heavy door, knowing that the guards who delivered their daily meals were cruel.
Moments later, the iron slot slid open, and two cold rice balls were carelessly tossed onto the dirty floor before the slot slammed shut.
Benny quickly scampered over, picked up the food, and handed the cleaner portion directly to Liora.
"Thank you, my brave boy." Liora whispered, pressing a kiss to Benny's forehead. The little boy helped her constantly with small tasks, fully aware that her pregnant 'mommy' struggled to move.
After eating their meager lunch, the two curled up against each other on the cold ground, drifting off to sleep as the afternoon faded into dusk.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Liora suddenly bolted awake, her heart hammering against her ribs.
A sudden, overwhelming sensation washed over her, a presence so distinct, so achingly familiar that her breath hitched in her throat. It was the distinct aura of imperial energy.
Liora stared into the dark, wide-eyed, as hot tears flooded her eyes.
"R-Ron...?" a shaky gasp tore from her lips.
Beside her, Benny stirred awake, rubbing his eyes. "Mommy...?"
"B-Baby... help mommy stand up." Liora sobbed, her voice trembling violently.
Benny immediately pushed against Liora's side, helping her heave her heavy body off the floor. Clutching the damp stone wall for support, Liora tried to reach the high window, but it was far out of her reach.
"Ron?! RONAN!!" Liora cried out, shuffling as fast as her weak legs could carry her toward the heavy wooden door, banging her fists against the thick wood. "P-Please open the door!! Ron, I'm in here!! RONAN!!"
Benny clung tightly to Liora's leg, looking up at his sobbing mother in silent, confused terror.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inside the grand throne room of the fortress, Darken suddenly bolted upright from his seat, his face draining of color as his eyes widened in sheer panic.
"H-How is this possible...?" Darken choked out, clutching the armrests of his throne.
Lucas stepped forward, alarmed by his master's sudden distress. "Is something wrong, Your Majesty?"
"He's here... HE IS HERE!!" Darken shrieked, his voice echoing frantically across the hall. "How did he find this realm?! How did he break through the boundary?! AAAAAAH!!"
Darken turned to his commander, his eyes wild with rage. "Rally the entire army right now!! PREPARE FOR WAR!!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A blinding tear in space ripped open, and Ronan stepped through the portal into the Land of Simaya, flanked by the four guardians and Rechard.
They looked around the eerie, desolate landscape in cautious silence. But the very next second, Ronan's heart slammed against his chest as the distant, undeniable resonance of Liora's spirit hit him.
Tears welled in Ronan's eyes after months of agonizing darkness. "L-Liora..."
Impatience flared through his veins as he surged forward, desperate to reach his wife. But before they could advance a hundred yards, the sky darkened as Darken's massive vanguard army surrounded them from all sides.
Ronan's eyes instantly snapped from dark brown to a lethal, crimson red. He offered a single, cold nod to his guardians.
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
For Ronan, it was not a battle, it was a slaughter. Fueled by months of unyielding fury, he obliterated every soldier who dared step within his path, his imperial aura tearing through their ranks like a whirlwind.
Ronan lunged forward, grabbing a high-ranking commander by the throat and lifting him effortlessly into the air, his teeth bared in a terrifying snarl.
"Sending dogs to do your dirty work?!" Ronan barked into the soldier's face. "Where is he?! WHERE IS DARKEN?!"
Before the soldier could even respond, the sheer pressure of Ronan's aura crushed the life out of him. Disgusted, Ronan tossed the lifeless body aside and marched toward the central palace. Behind him, Rechard and the guardians finished off the remaining forces, rushing to keep pace with their Emperor.
Ronan slammed through the grand gates of the palace courtyard. Upon stepping into the arena, a cold, dark laugh echoed through the air.
Darken stood at the top of the grand staircase, flanked by a massive wall of elite guards.
"A warm welcome for the Emperor." Darken sneered, a mocking smile on his lips. "Tell me... are you truly so afraid of me? You weren't this desperate before. Have you finally realized you cannot defeat me as easily as you thought?"
Ronan's lips curled into a deadly smirk. "Afraid of you? Don't flatter yourself, Darken. I didn't come here to play games today."
Darken's laughter echoed across the courtyard. "It matters not! You know as well as I do that your raw strength alone cannot destroy me. Only the main power can, the child inside her womb! And that is precisely why I will slaughter your beloved lover and your precious heir right before your very eyes!"
Darken reached behind him, violently grabbing Liora by the throat and hurling her frail body down the stone steps.
Liora slammed onto the hard ground at the base of the stairs, hitting the earth heavily on her side while instinctively curving her body to shield her bump.
The mocking smirk vanished instantly from Ronan's face. His heart stopped dead in his chest, and wide, horrified tears spilled silently down his face.
Ronan stood completely frozen, staring at the sight before him.
Liora was changed beyond recognition. Behind him, the guardians gasped, covering their mouths in utter horror as tears filled their eyes.
Liora's body was skin and bones, her cheeks hollow, her frame so terribly thin that her massive, eight-month belly looked almost crushing against her fragile structure. She was bruised, filthy, and bound in heavy iron chains like a wild animal.
"L-Liora..."
Ronan's voice choked in his throat. The sight of his precious angel kneeling in the dirt, weak and chained, shattered his heart into a million pieces.
Liora slowly lifted her exhausted head, her dark eyes locking onto Ronan. Seeing her husband after months of nightmare filled Liora's soul with an overwhelming wave of joy, relief, and deep sorrow.
Time seemed to freeze as their eyes met across the bloody courtyard. Both longed to tear down the distance between them, to fall into each other's arms and drown in the warmth they had been denied for so long.
"L-Liora!!" Ronan cried out, stepping forward to run to her, but Michael and Ethan immediately lunged, grabbing his arms to hold him back.
"Ron, wait! Don't rush in blindly!" Michael warned urgently. "We have to secure Liora safely first-"
"LET ME GO!!" Ronan roared, violently slapping Michael's hands away. He glared up at the stairs, his voice shaking the earth. "LET HER GO, DARKEN!! WHERE DID YOU GET THE AUDACITY TO LAY A HAND ON MY WIFE?!"
Darken let out a dark, amused chuckle. "Oh, calm down, Emperor. I haven't even begun yet. Save your screams for when I'm finished with you."
Darken unsheathed a long, jagged blade.
Ronan's eyes widened in sheer terror. Down on the ground, Liora squeezed her eyes shut, wrapping her arms protectively around her bump.
"N-No..." Ronan whispered, his voice cracking.
Cruel and sadistic, Darken did not strike a lethal blow right away. Wanting to watch Ronan suffer in absolute agony, Darken lowered the blade against the side of Liora's neck, slowly pressing the sharp metal into her skin while mocking Ronan with a wicked grin.
"AAAAAH!!" Liora shrieked in pain as a bright line of crimson blood welled from her neck, dripping down her collarbone.
At the sound of Liora's scream, something inside Ronan snapped entirely.
"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHH!!"
Ronan roared, a sound so terrifying it vibrated through the heavens. In a split second, his eyes blazed into a violent, luminescent purple. A roaring aura of deep violet fire erupted from his skin, engulfing his entire body. The veins along his neck and arms bulged dangerously, black and purple, as infinite rage overtook his consciousness.
Simultaneously, a brilliant, blinding golden light erupted from Liora's body. The bloody wound on her neck healed instantly, leaving behind smooth, unblemished skin.
Darken's eyes snapped wide in sheer horror. "W-What is this?!"
The heavy steel sword in Darken's hand began to vibrate violently. Before he could process what was happening, an invisible force blasted the sword out of his grip, shattering the metal into pieces and sending Darken crashing hard onto the stone floor. Darken stared in absolute shock at the two glowing figures.
"KILL THEM!! KILL THEM ALL!!" Darken shrieked to his army.
Darken's elite legion charged forward, surging toward Ronan and the guardians.
But no one could even step within ten feet of the Emperor. The ferocious purple aura radiating from Ronan was so dense and deadly that any soldier who rushed forward was instantly crushed by the raw pressure, falling dead to the ground before touching him.
With a single wave of his hand, half of Darken's army was wiped out in an explosion of purple light. The guardians engaged the remaining forces, clearing the perimeter.
Ronan's glowing purple eyes locked solely onto Darken. There was no thought left in his mind, only the total, merciless destruction of the monster who had harmed his family.
Watching Ronan march toward him like a god of death, panic seized Darken's heart. He had never anticipated that the main power could be fully channeled through Ronan's body.
Desperate and cornered, a sinister thought crossed Darken's mind.
Looking at Ronan with a twisted grin, Darken lunged sideways, grabbing the weak, glowing Liora by her hair and dragging her up by her neck. Before Ronan's blade could reach him, Darken activated his dark spatial rift, vanishing into thin air with Liora in his grasp.
"DARKEN!!!!!!"
Ronan's bloodcurdling scream echoed across the desolate lands of Simaya, shattering the sky above.