[Salvos] 655. The Return To The Expanse (Patreon)

655. The Return To The Expanse

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This was it. I had finally arrived. I heard the words resound in my mind. Familiar words. I had only heard them twice before. The first was when I had still been with Haec, wandering aimlessly around the Netherworld. I had no plan in mind. No goals. No aspirations.

All I wanted back then was to become more. To evolve.

It was like I had just been a wild Demon. Except, I didn’t kill senselessly. I fought to preserve my life, and in doing so, I became more me.

Anyway, that was the first time I entered the Demon King’s Domain. The second time was right after I had left, when I had returned to pursue Haec. He had been captured by a terrifying Greater Demon by the name of Lucerna.

I went back to save Haec. Because he was my companion. And in doing so, I trapped myself in the Mortal Realm with Lucerna. It had been a long journey since then. But now, I was back here again.

Now Entering [Demon King’s Domain].

I closed my eyes as I heard the words come and went. It was the same emotionless voice that echoed in my mind whenever I leveled up or entered a Dungeon. There was no difference in the intonation when it spoke right now, and when I did literally anything else. But for whatever reason, the words sent a shiver up my spine. Like it was said with a sense of looming dread.

Shaking my head, I focused on the task at hand. I opened my eyes and looked down as the two Deathsquad Hunters leading the way began to descend. They made their way down to the very edge of the undulating mountain range, and I landed with them. As soon as our feet touched the ground, I turned to Ultis and asked the question that had been lingering in my mind.

“So, um, how did you know this was the… Expanse-place, anyway?”

I frowned at her, and she looked back at me as she explained.

“These mountains— they were not created by the natural shift of the terrain in the Netherworld. They are special. That is why they are unaffected by the destruction of Revelation. That is why they aren’t impacted by the shifting of Reconstruction. They are entirely artificial, made by Regnorex the Demon King himself.”

Ultis spoke as she gestured at the mountainscape. I frowned as I swept my gaze over my surroundings.

“Huh. I didn’t think that Regnorex would specialize in earth magic.”

Certainly, this terrain looked very much different from the other mountains I had seen both here in the Netherworld and the Mortal Realm. It was like the ground had been pinched up, molded methodically to create a barrier surrounding the Demon King’s Domain.

“The Demon King is said to be capable of all types of magic.”

Aliq said, drawing my attention to the side. I was caught by surprise when he spoke up. He hadn’t said a word for at least a full day. He shook his head as he turned to me.

“How do you hope to oppose the Demon King if you don't even have the slightest clue about his power?”

Aliq’s piercing gaze bore into me, and I placed a hand on my chin. For a moment, I looked through the eyes of my clones as they scattered across the Netherworld. But I said nothing. There was no reason for me to clue in either of these Deathsquad Hunters on my plan.

“I’ll figure it out.”

I answered simply, before clapping my hands together. Both Aliq and Ultis blinked as there was a flash of light. A rift seemed to tear itself open before me, and I took a step back as my pocket space poured out.

It barely squeezed through the rift— like a glass house. And inside were Haec, Taburas, Bertrugil, and Aemula. A pair of my clones accompanied them, having remained behind in [The World Of My Mind].

The rift closed behind the pocket space, and an invisible door swung open at the front of my pocket space. Haec stepped out, but the others stayed inside. My companion took a single step onto the rocky ground and he took in a deep breath.

“I’m back. This time, to save them all.”

He whispered to himself as I walked up to him. I looked into my pocket space as Taburas, Bertrugil, and Aemula didn’t budge.

“Are they coming?”

I asked, tilting my head. But Haec shook his head in response.

“They aren’t— they’ll be detected if they exit your pocket space. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves as soon as we arrive.”

He explained, and I nodded.

“I see. That’s smart. Well, if they’re going to stay in there—”

I clapped my hands together, and the pocket space vanished. It was no longer visible. But it was still here— in a way, at the very least. It wasn’t in the exact same plane as Haec and I, but they could see us.

“So what happens now?”

Ultis spoke up as she looked between Haec and I. Her lips were pressed together into a thin line, and she wore a nervous look on her face.

“We did as you asked, now what?”

“You stay put, of course.”

I wagged a finger at her.

“I’m not letting you run off to warn Regnorex about us.”

She paled as she backed away.

“I had no such thought!”

Ultis tried to protest, but Aliq didn’t say a word. I looked to Haec as I shrugged.

“But other than that— I have no idea. It’s up to Haec what happens now.”

The former Heir of the Netherworld strode forward as he cast his gaze over the mountainous terrain. He narrowed his eyes as he spotted something in the far distance, and he pointed.

“The first thing we must do is find the Third Legion.”

I blinked, looking in the same direction as my companion. I concentrated on the strands of mana that pervaded the Netherworld, and I sensed small disturbances coming from afar. There was… fighting up ahead? Or not fighting— but magic being cast. And I wasn’t sure what it was.

But Haec knew. He lowered his gaze as he spoke in a low voice.

“We need to kill the Ruler of the Border. We need to kill Hartia.”

“Huh.”

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Author's Notes:

What thonk? Sorry for the short chapter. I rushed to finish it because I'll be flying out for my family holidays in the next few hours, so I tried to get it out. Also, because I'll be traveling, Amelia and Salvos chapters will be a bit slower. I'll also try to write Kara once in a while. I'll probably write it in the plane since it's the only novel I can probably write outside on my phone.

Also. just so you guys know, Tapas is currently holding a coloring and drawing competition which includes Salvos in it too! So if you're interested in participating, check it out here:

TapasArtChallenge2023 | Publish on Tapas

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