Days passed after Luke's first silent victory against Lilith and Azael's corruption streams, but the infernal realm did not forget humiliation easily.
Whispers had begun spreading across dark kingdoms and hidden sanctuaries alike.
The heir of Balance was no longer merely a child protected by prophecy.
He was becoming dangerous.
And for the first time in centuries, fear had entered infernal politics.
The neutral realm remained calm on the surface, but Luke's training intensified.
At seven years old, his control over the threads had grown frighteningly precise. He no longer needed to close his eyes fully to sense disturbances across realms. Sometimes, while walking through the crystal forests, he could hear the currents whispering naturally around him voices carried through energy itself.
The Spirit Guide watched carefully as Luke sat cross-legged near the floating waterfalls of the eastern sanctuary. Golden threads danced around the boy's fingertips like living strings of sunlight.
Again, the dragon instructed.
Luke inhaled slowly before extending his consciousness outward.
Immediately, countless threads appeared before him. Mortal lives. Neutral spirits. Infernal movements. Celestial currents.
But this time, something changed.
Luke frowned.
I feel… fear, he whispered internally.
The dragon's ancient eyes narrowed.
From where?
Luke concentrated harder.
Far within the infernal realm, hidden beneath layers of darkness and fire, demons whispered his name cautiously. Infernal generals reinforced barriers around their territories. Smaller demons avoided corrupted regions he had previously repaired.
Even ancient infernal creatures hesitated whenever his golden influence approached nearby currents.
Luke slowly opened his eyes.
"They're scared."
The Spirit Guide remained silent for a moment before answering.
Good.
Luke blinked.
Good?
Fear prevents foolish actions, the dragon explained. Your enemies once viewed you as helpless. Now they hesitate. Hesitation creates openings.
Luke looked uncertain.
"But I don't want the realms to fear me."
The dragon moved closer.
There is a difference between being feared and being respected. You do not spread terror, Luke. Your power simply reminds darkness that consequences exist.
Before Luke could respond, a ripple shook the sanctuary.
Golden currents trembled violently.
The Spirit Guide instantly rose protectively.
Someone is forcing entry into the neutral barriers.
Luke stood immediately. His aura exploded outward instinctively, illuminating the waterfalls and crystal trees around him. Ancient guardian spirits emerged from the shadows, alarmed.
Then suddenly..... ...
BOOM.
A dark crack tore open in the air above the sanctuary.
Infernal energy spilled outward like black smoke.
Several neutral spirits recoiled in fear as three massive infernal beasts crawled through the rift, their bodies covered in molten armor and burning crimson eyes.
Luke's breathing slowed.
The Spirit Guide stared upward coldly.
A test, it growled. Lilith is testing your reaction speed.
The infernal beasts roared violently before charging toward the sanctuary.
The neutral spirits prepared for battle immediately.
but Luke stepped forward first.
"Wait."
The entire sanctuary paused.
Even the Spirit Guide turned toward him carefully.
Luke's golden aura intensified.
He extended one hand forward calmly.
The beasts lunged.
Then the world froze.
Golden threads erupted across the battlefield like chains of sunlight, wrapping around the infernal creatures midair. The beasts roared furiously, struggling violently, but Luke's expression never changed.
At only seven years old… he was holding three ancient infernal war beasts completely still.
The neutral spirits stared in shock.
Luke's eyes glowed brighter.
Instead of destroying them, he touched the corruption infecting their energy directly.
The Spirit Guide's eyes widened slightly.
Luke…
Golden currents flowed gently into the beasts. Not violently. Not forcefully. Carefully. Like repairing broken threads.
The infernal corruption began dissolving.
Slowly… the beasts stopped roaring.
Their eyes lost the crimson glow.
The sanctuary fell silent.
Then, unbelievably, the creatures lowered themselves before Luke submissively.
The neutral spirits gasped collectively.
Even the Spirit Guide looked stunned.
You purified them…
Luke breathed heavily.
"They weren't born evil," he whispered. "They were corrupted."
The dragon stared at the boy for a long moment.
Then, quietly:
The First Balance truly lives within you.
Far away in the infernal realm, Lilith rose abruptly from her throne.
"What happened?" she hissed.
A trembling demon fell to his knees.
"The heir… he purified the war beasts."
Silence.
Even Azael looked disturbed now.
"That should be impossible," he muttered.
Lilith's expression darkened dangerously.
"No," she whispered slowly. "It is worse."
She turned toward the infernal windows overlooking endless darkness.
"He is becoming exactly what the prophecy feared."
Back in the neutral sanctuary, Luke sat exhausted beside the purified beasts while ancient spirits gathered around him cautiously.
One elderly neutral guardian stepped forward slowly.
"In all our existence," the spirit whispered, "we have never witnessed infernal corruption reversed so purely."
Luke looked down at his glowing hands uncertainly.
"I just… listened to the threads."
The Spirit Guide chuckled softly.
And that is precisely why you succeeded.
Suddenly, another familiar presence entered the sanctuary.
Lucien.
Dark flames flickered harmlessly behind him as he stepped forward, eyes immediately searching for his son.
When he saw Luke unharmed, relief crossed his face briefly before disappearing behind composure.
But then he noticed the purified infernal beasts kneeling quietly nearby.
Lucien froze.
"…Luke."
The boy looked up nervously.
"Dad?"
Lucien stared at the creatures again.
"You did this?"
Luke nodded slowly.
"I didn't want to kill them."
For several seconds, Lucien said nothing.
Then unexpectedly, a small smile appeared on his face.
A real one.
"You truly are your mother's son."
Luke's eyes widened slightly.
Nearby, Celestia's mother quietly wiped tears from her eyes while remembering her daughter whom she spent little or no time with.
And high above them all, unseen currents shifted across every realm.
Because on that day, the heir of Balance did something no being had accomplished since before the First War.
He brought peace to corrupted darkness.
And the realms had finally begun to understand exactly what Luke was becoming.