I fell on the floor of a room as soon as I entered the yellow light. In that instant, I felt a different atmosphere from my world's. I hastily stood up, ignoring the pain I felt from the impact.
This is Ayre's lab. The tables that were there were very familiar to me.
"Welcome home, my lord." Phisovia spread her arms. "Welcome back to your empire."
I held back my overflowing emotions so I wouldn't cry. Finally, I'm back after a long torturous wait.
I will be able to achieve my dream again.
Ayre slightly brought her shining hand to my forehead. She also seemed to be holding back tears. "As I expected, your body has started to adapt to this world. There have been changes in your body that will make you very similar to your avatar. But it will take a very long time to be fully transformed."
After looking at my women, who had started to cry, I opened up my game UI, which was surprisingly still there.
However, this time I saw a lot of different things. There is no log-out button, and the fast-forward button is also missing.
However, I can still use the remote communication feature. I immediately contacted Xenora.
"Hey, Xenora. Long time no see." My heartbeat soared just by imagining her face.
There is a long pause. "This…."
"Ah, maybe you are surprised by my different voice. But it's me. I'm back."
The succubus was silent again for a moment. "Where are you, my lord!?"
"In Ayre's Lab." I smiled. "Where are you?"
"I'm going to do the trial, and that can wait!" There was the sound of the wind indicating she had flown. "I'll be there as soon as I can!"
"I hope your co-workers won't be mad at you."
She started to sob. "I don't care about that… Ah, welcome back, my lord."
"She will be very pleased to see you, my lord." Phisovia wiped away a drop of her tears.
I didn't answer and just looked up, desperately holding back my emotions.
Not long after, the door to the room burst open. Instead of coming straight to me, Xenora froze, looking at me, who was surrounded by my other women.
"He is the real Lord Vorn, Xen." Ayre smiled. "I've confirmed it."
The black-haired succubus walked to me. I have to look up a bit because she is taller than me now.
With trembling hands, she rubbed my cheek.
"What is it, Xenora?" I chuckled and kept looking at her beautiful face. "You still can't believe it's me?"
The succubus then hugged me and cried. I rubbed her back.
"I think about you every day, my lord." She just kept on crying. "It's a torment that I can't enjoy."
"And now I'm here, Xenora. In that world, I also always think about you."
We let go of our hug, exchanged glances with a smile, then linked our lips together.
I will savor this moment.
***
I'm sitting in the conference room at the base, facing Velvet, Lexi, Karl, Jude, and my generals, minus Ritor, who has to watch something somewhere.
"I see." I leaned back against the chair, just hearing their explanation about the state of my empire. "This is much better than I imagined. You all did your job well."
I looked at them one by one. Szur, Ozig, Karl, and Jude kept a close eye on me.
"It's natural that you guys don't believe I'm Vorn," I smirked, not caring what they thought. "But I still want to ask for your cooperation."
"I'm sure, sooner or later, he will regain his Vorn form that we know," Ayre explained. "You could say his soul adjusts his body to match his old self. It would be too long if I explained in detail."
Karl sighed and flashed a smile. "Okay, I believe you, Ayre." He then slightly leaned his body toward me. "Let's talk about the most important thing. It's about that foreign object that we suspect contains Hiana. Scientists say that if it hatches, Hiana's strength will be multiplied. That thing holds absurd energy fluctuations."
"And from the data I skimmed through, I conclude that the mind control blocking serum won't necessarily work if Hiana gets stronger," Lexi added. "And maybe Hiana will be able to control demons with a higher level…. After reading her energy fluctuations, I suspect she will probably be able to control our troops in no time."
"Does anyone know when she will hatch?" I asked again.
Karl shook his head. "Scientists can't figure that out."
"What about Velvet's prophet ability?"
"We must examine her thoroughly, my lord." Lexi Gulped. "But I think Velvet also needs time to reach Hiana's power."
Before Velvet's powers were at their full potential, Hiana could have done a lot of damage.
"So, there's no other choice but to use that infusion of ragmonuk metal into my body, huh?"
Ayre closed her eyes. "Again, that method is unproven, and we have absolutely no idea what effect it will have."
"Could you do it to me instead?" Velvet gave her opinion, and it caused the others to turn their heads at her.
"It's the same." Ayre took a deep breath.
The dragon woman continued. "But, Lord Vorn as the emperor doesn't need…."
"Let me do it." Emily interrupted. Her left eye was wrapped in a fairly thick bandage. "I have become a high being, after all."
I looked at the two women, then said. "No, I'll still do it. This wasn't just to defeat Hiana. But I also want to become much stronger. There might be new, stronger enemies in the future."
My brain remembers the strange-eyed thing in that tunnel of light.
Before the others could argue, I resumed. "You guys know. I won't change my decision no matter what."
Everyone in my room looked down. No one dared to oppose me. I was pretty surprised because they still respected my authority even though I looked like this.
"I hope you haven't forgotten, my lord." Emily lowered her head even more. "I sacrificed my left eye for you, my lord. I don't want to lose you again."
I knew how the supreme undead felt, but I turned to Ayre and Lexi instead. "Prepare everything immediately."
My emotions were still running wild, but this wasn't the right time for something sentimental like that.