Chapter 399: Successful Vacation

"I am home and brought souvenirs!" Maria shouted as Bernard also came with her carrying dozens of bags.

"Someone's happy. I get that you enjoyed your vacation?" Richard asked.

"It was great. It really put my mind off some things. I will cook lunch then. You can just place the bags here in the living room, Bernard. Thank you for your help." Maria stated as she went straight to the kitchen.

Bernard however had a strained expression because he witnessed Maria's supposed vacation. He definitely thinks that the Madame's vacation is not really what one would call a vacation. He would never believe that a woman would be able to do movements like that if he never witnessed it himself.

"Son, you really married well but it seems that you are the less dominant one in your relationship." Gerard teased Richard.

"You talk like that, but I remember that you could not even rebuke mother when she was alive. You even have it worse than me. At least, my wife lets me have an opinion." Richard rebutted and Gerard could not make a reply as he just sipped his tea.

Bernard then relayed how Maria moved like those in realistic martial arts movies and how the pained screams of the bastard echoed through the night. He would probably have nightmares for the next days. The fact that the woman who tortured…taught the bastard a lesson is beaming wit joy makes one think that something might be wrong with her.

Even Gerard became shocked about Maria's true identity as he never really felt digging on her daughter in law's family background. Her true identity only made him like Maria even more as he never really liked passive women.

"Honey, why don't we try that game that our children keep been raving about?" Maria stated as he gave them cut up fruit as a snack.

"What made you suddenly come to that idea?" Richard asked as he knows that his wife is more of a traditionalist and rarely even uses technology.

"Getting some exercise from my vacation suddenly ignited a passion that I long lost. Watching our son do all those fighting stances made me want to suddenly play. I could also personally train Adrian and Mina in that Virtual Reality thingy without them getting muscle cramps and strains. It is a win-win situation." Maria stated with absolute joy.

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"Why do I suddenly have the urge to jump to a canyon or hide in a desolate cave somewhere faraway?" Adrian muttered as he just arrived back in Arkadia.

Mina told him that they have yet to receive the reward from the quest because he did not come back with them. He teleported to the castle where Solstice and Lycan were waiting for him. The three of them entered the office of the Duke of Arkadia.

"Your group is finally complete. I thought that one of you will no longer want the reward but the two of them insisted to wait for you. Congratulations on getting twenty-five young werewolves back to Arkadia. I heard from the Shadow Wolves that it was not an easy task. I will end this quest here for now as we gather more intel." Duke Lycaon stated.

[Congratulations! You have succeeded on clearing the Save the Young Ones quest.]

[You have been awarded with 250% experience points.]

[You have leveled up twice.]

"I thank you for your help with this quest, but I am sure that the demons are now short staffed due to the sudden disturbances in the spatial integrity of the world. It must be up to the werewolves on how we must proceed. I have already concluded a meeting with the Vampire Princess to discuss how we will approach this problem." Duke Lycan stated but Adrian became surprised.

"Did the fragment of the God Chaos activate because it felt the disturbance in the spatial integrity of the main world?" Adrian thought as it makes sense. The will left on the fragment told Adrian that he was not ready which means something triggered it.

"If you do not mind, I would like to leave." Adrian asked Duke Lycaon and the latter nodded. Adrian ripped a teleportation scroll so that he arrives back to the Paradox Planes immediately.

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Adrian arrived at Ascalor's house as he needed to ask the old man what is currently happening but the atmosphere around him is heavy. He went to the garden to see if the old man is there, but he was not. He then saw Jianna exiting Ascalor's private quarters with Aernas. The two had a solemn expression when Adrian saw them.

"Did something bad happen?" Adrian asked as he did not come back for quite some time. The two siblings looked at each other before Aernas answered.

"Ascalor was attacked while he was fixing a large spatial rift from the main world. He is currently in a critical condition. He is safe from death, but his wound is continuously eating away at his strength like a parasite. I will look for a possible cure to his condition as he is mainly the one who maintains large spatial rifts." Aernas stated.

"I tried using all my prized potions, but nothing worked. His injury is foreign from this universe and only a handful of items could cure something like that." Jianna stated as she and Aernas walked out after.

Adrian did not know how to feel about the news he suddenly received. He always thought the Daemos to be infallible, but it seems that is not the case. Adrian then knocked before he entered Ascalor's private quarters.

Inside the room, he saw Ascalor receiving the same treatment that Elder Willow. The Elder Dryad Danaya is also present inside the room and is nursing Ascalor back to health, but his complexion does not change.

"It seems you are here, little one. I would have wanted to greet you with a smile, but the present condition does not warrant such joy." Elder Danaya stated in a dispirited tone.

"Can you please tell me what happened?" Adrian asked as he must do everything in his power to help Ascalor.