Eve guided Rio back to the wondrous realm, where she then arranged his path to the interior of the Empress Villa.
With her spatial power, she seamlessly altered the scenery outside the barrier of her wonderous forest realm, transforming it into the luxurious furnishings and decor of Empress Villa's familiar bedroom.
As Rio stepped into Lia's bedroom, he cast one last lingering glance at Eve, who had been with the boy in aiding him throughout his journey in the Death Realm. The barrier behind him closed as he took a step further into the room.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Rio finally felt at ease, back in his world, surrounded by his loving wives rather than the constant perils he had faced. His eyes swept the room, but it appeared to be empty.
As soon as he stepped into the Empress Villa, his presence caught the attention of two girls from a distance.
Nyla, who was currently on Earth, immediately sensed Rio's return, His presence had been previously hidden due to the Death Realm.
Similarly, Lia, who had been attending a summit outside the city to discuss important matters related to the Shamor Empire, also sensed Rio's return.
Upon discovering Rio's presence, Lia's face displayed a serene smile, while Nyla's expression radiated pure joy and cheerfulness.
The white-haired beauty had been preoccupied with pressing matters outside the city when she felt his sudden presence, indicating Rio's arrival at the Empress Villa.
Without any delay, she excused herself from the important summit she was in and quickly informed her loyal subordinates that she had to leave immediately.
"I have to go now. Something urgent has come up," she said, trying to keep her voice steady and composed as she made her way to the exit.
Her loyal subordinates looked at her with concern and surprise, knowing how rare it was for Lia to leave in the middle of an important summit.
Lia knew she couldn't delay any longer. Her yearning for her husband was too deep, and she had to meet Rio as soon as possible.
As she stepped out of the building, Lia took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze on her face. She closed her eyes for a moment, and without wasting another second, she cast the [Astral Recall].
***
While Lia was informing her subordinates about her sudden departure, Nyla was engaged in a telepathic conversation with Rio.
"Sweetie, I missed you so much!" Nyla exclaimed in a cheerful and merry tone, "Wait for me, I'll be there as soon as possible," she added with excitement, eager to be reunited with the boy.
"Are you not participating in the international tournament? Has it already ended?" Rio asked in a calm tone.
"Yeah, I'm in it, but who cares about some tournament when you're back?" the girl spoke, her merry tone filled with delight at Rio's return.
"Has the top eight battle already ended?" he asked, wondering if he was running late and had missed the opportunity to participate.
"Not yet. It's going to happen in a few hours, and I was on my way there. But as soon as I sensed your presence, I turned my car back towards the school because I can't wait to see my darling again and give him a big kiss!" she said, her voice showing her eagerness to have her sweetie.
"Wait for me there. I'll be there soon," Rio said in a casual tone.
After being dead for six months, today was the perfect day for his return to the human world, as he was set to compete in the international tournament.
"No... I don't want to wait. I want to meet you right now." Nyla said with a hint of reluctance and her voice filled with longing
"I can't wait to see you either, but I need to do something first. Please wait for me and don't give up on the tournament," Rio tried to persuade Nyla.
With a reluctant sigh, the girl conceded to Rio's request and agreed to wait for him.
As she spun the wheel, the car's tires screeched against the pavement with a piercing squeal, leaving a trail of rubber behind.
*Vroom!!*
The engine roared as the vehicle swiftly changed direction, vrooming toward the location where the top eight battle was set to unfold. The excitement of their reunion bubbled within her, even as she focused on the road ahead.
As Rio finished talking to Nyla, he was already aware of a new connection he sensed in his surroundings.
While still in the conversation with the girl, he knew that attending to this new connection was crucial before anything else, so he asked Nyla to wait for him.
Along with the familiar bonds he shared with the three girls he was close to, there was an additional connection, one that was different from the rest. This connection felt similar to the bond he had with his beast souls - a powerful, almost unbreakable link that compelled them to fulfill his orders or commands.
Though he couldn't quite identify the nature of this bond, it made him feel as if the person on the other end would have to heed his call and appear before him.
Sensing that something wasn't right, Rio left the Empress Villa and marched towards the castle, hoping that the situation wasn't as dire as the uneasy feeling in his heart suggested.
Standing before the door, Rio's eyes narrowed. He channeled mana into his fist to enchant it and, with a swift, powerful punch, the sound of shattering metal filled the air as he broke the lock. The door groaned and creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hallway beyond.
Without hesitation, he darted inside, his footsteps echoing on the cold stone floor. He followed the persistent, nagging sensation that led him to a specific room.
He pushed open the door to the room, and his breath caught in his throat, revealing a sight that left him reeling in shock.
====////====
[SnowNote]
While it could have been a good cliffhanger, many of you have already guessed what it is since it was discussed previously.
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