Grievous Return

Klaus' eyes fluttered open as he arrived in Under World, his gaze sweeping across the familiar surroundings. He quickly recognized the location; he spawned in the same place he had arrived months ago during his first visit. 

Above him, the vast expanse of Nyxia's night sky stretched endlessly, its presence surging through him, amplifying his power to its peak. He inhaled deeply, memories of his last visit resurfacing. Back then, he had not been in the right state of mind, and this time was no different. 

Before he could linger too long in his thoughts, movement from the corner of the alleyway caught his attention. A group of demons emerged, their strides deliberate as they closed the distance between them and Klaus. 

"Hello, Klaus Walker," one greeted, bowing respectfully. 

Klaus merely lowered his head slightly, not out of acknowledgment, but to avoid offering even a hint of kindness. His previous experience had taught him better than to extend goodwill so freely. 

It wasn't that he resented the demon race as a whole because of Xhin's actions, but his last visit had made one thing clear: most of them looked down upon humans. Previously, he had been willing to engage, to challenge their prejudices. Now, he simply didn't care anymore. 

The demons began to relay information, but Klaus barely listened. Instead, he walked past them, his voice devoid of patience. 

"Let's just go," he said, exiting the alleyway. 

The demons hesitated momentarily before following him. 

As they traversed the streets, Klaus realized that he was unfamiliar with the exact location of the facility from his current position. During his last visit, they had relied on the teleportation device at the hotel they had stayed in. He had a vague sense of where to go, but not enough to confidently head there himself. That was the only reason he hadn't simply used Burst Speed to reach his destination immediately. Instead, he gradually slowed his pace, allowing the demons to overtake him and lead the way. 

Minutes passed before they finally arrived at the facility. Klaus came to a halt before the entrance, staring at the door as conflicting emotions churned inside him. He had never expected to return to this place, not after what had happened.

After stepping inside, the demons ushered Klaus into a secluded room. "Lord Nekro will be with you shortly," one of them informed him. 

With synchronized bows, the guides departed, leaving Klaus alone in the silent chamber. 

Klaus sat still, his mind refusing to settle. Though he was physically in Under World, his thoughts remained tethered to Main World, back to Ace and the others. Time was slipping away from them, and every passing moment felt like another lost opportunity. But at this moment, there was nothing more he could do. Finally, after a bit of patience, the door creaked open.

Klaus instinctively lifted his head, his gaze locking onto the figure stepping inside. Immediately they locked eyes, his breath caught. It was Jhin, Xhin's twin brother. 

Shock flickered across Klaus' face as his mind raced with a flood of emotions. But as quickly as his surprise came, it twisted into something darker. Rage. 

The memories of his encounters with Jhin resurfaced: the demon's unwavering hatred for humanity, akin to his sister's. And if Xhin had been capable of orchestrating something as catastrophic as the Human Extinction crisis, who was to say her twin brother hadn't played a role as well?

"You," Klaus seethed, his voice laced with fury as he pushed himself up from his chair. 

Jhin stepped further into the room, his expression unreadable. But Klaus had already closed the distance between them, his anger burning hotter with each step. However, before he could say another word, Jhin's eyes changed. 

Tears welled upon the demon's eyes, brimming at the edges before spilling down his face. In one swift motion, Jhin dropped to his knees before Klaus. 

Klaus froze in slight confusion as Jhin bowed his head low, shame and regret evident in the way his shoulders trembled. 

"Klaus Walker…" Jhin's voice was barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I… I… I'm so sorry… for my sister's actions." 

Klaus remained still, caught off guard by the raw anguish in Jhin's voice. 

"She acted completely on her own," Jhin continued, his words dripping with pain. "I don't know what came over her. She never told me anything, never once mentioned anything about such monstrous plans. And yet… she still had so much anger inside her. And despite being her brother, I failed to see it. I failed to stop her." 

Klaus listened, his mind processing every word. Jhin's sorrow was real, his regret tangible. If he truly hadn't known about Xhin's plans beforehand, then it made sense why he wasn't in chains right now. And perhaps, contrary to what Klaus had assumed, Jhin had never stood by his sister's side in the first place, despite his hatred for humanity. And yet, the rage inside Klaus refused to dissipate.

A weighted silence settled between them, stretching out before Jhin finally spoke again. 

"I know my words must mean little to you," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "And I will never ask you to forgive Xhin for what she did. But what I can say, with everything I am, is that I am truly sorry." 

The silence thickened, pressing against the walls of the room. Then, at last, Klaus broke it. 

"I don't care," he said, his voice sharp with restrained anger. He had no patience to entertain the discussion anymore. "Where is Nekro?" 

Jhin hesitated for a brief moment, his gaze still cast downward before he finally answered. "His majesty sent me to retrieve you," he said, rising to his feet and composing himself. "Please, follow me." 

Without another word, Klaus followed as they made their way out of the room, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridors where demons moved around in scarcity. Eventually, they arrived before an imposing, massive door, one that Klaus immediately recognized. This was the very room where he had first met Nekro. 

The doors opened, revealing the god of Fire seated upon the grand throne at the center of the chamber. His divine presence filled the space, pressing against the very air as if the room itself acknowledged his authority. As Klaus and Jhin stepped inside, Nekro stirred, rising to his feet.

Jhin immediately dropped to his knees in reverence for the god's action.

"He is here, your majesty," Jhin announced, his head bowed low. "The son of Sol, the god of Light, Klaus Walker." 

Nekro's piercing gaze fell upon Klaus, his voice carrying its usual weight of authority. "Welcome back, nephew," the god finally muttered.

The moment the words left Nekro's lips, an unseen force pressed down upon Klaus, driving him to his knees. His muscles tensed as he fought against the overwhelming presence, a power he hadn't experienced in a long time. 

Realizing what had happened, Nekro immediately eased his aura. "My apologies," he said, his tone calm but sincere. "I still seem to struggle with softening my power around you. I keep maintaining the same level of presence that I do with my son." 

Klaus slowly rose to his feet, Nekro's words lingering in his mind. If the force he had just felt was what Nekro typically exerted in Ash's presence, then the gap between them might have been even greater than he had assumed despite all his training.

Pushing the thought aside, he watched as Nekro turned to Jhin. "You may leave us," the god commanded.

Jhin stood, offering one final bow before taking his leave. As the doors shut behind him, Nekro's expression softened, his gaze meeting Klaus'.

"I regret that we must meet under such somber circumstances," Nekro began. "The actions of my former assistant have brought great shame, and my absence from the Facility created the opportunity for such a heinous act to take place. Humanity suffered such terrors once again because of it, and for that, I am ashamed." 

Klaus remained silent, though he knew that Nekro was not entirely to blame. "You don't have to say all that to me," he said at last. "Your role as a god takes precedence. I know that your absence was likely warranted. And from what my brother told me, the only reason the crisis was even averted was because of you and your son's interference." 

Klaus knew he wasn't the only one who had suffered from Xhin's actions, a truth he had realized after speaking with Tyler. In truth, he felt undeserving of Nekro's apology. 

"You couldn't have known something like this would happen," Klaus continued. "And I can imagine how it must feel to see someone you trusted betray you like that. It just… sucks that this is the reality we live in." 

Klaus' words were carefully chosen, and they rang with sincerity. Nekro was momentarily surprised by his assessment before his lips curved into a small smile.

"I am still truly sorry for everything," he said again. "But I am glad to see you no longer harbor resentment toward us gods." 

Klaus didn't respond. He wasn't sure how to. Nekro was right that he no longer held hatred in his heart. But at the same time, he wasn't sure if that was his own doing or something dictated by Dominion-over-Creation. The gods' very existence had the power to influence those beneath them, and Klaus had long since stopped questioning if his emotions were truly his own. There was no answer to that question, so there was no point dwelling on it anymore. 

After a moment, Nekro shifted the conversation, filling Klaus in on the developments regarding Xhin's case. He explained that she had been charged with multiple felonies under both Nyxian and Earthly law, doubling the weight of her crimes. The ones handling the case were taking it with the utmost seriousness, ensuring that justice would be served. 

This was not a simple matter. The trial had taken longer than expected because of the complexities surrounding it, and efforts had been made to keep it out of the public eye. 

Nekro was well aware of the tensions between demons and humans. The former had long resented the latter, seeing them as the gods' favored creation. If news of the crisis spread too widely, it could stir unnecessary controversy among the masses. His wife and the Queen, Shynx, had advised him to keep the situation contained for now. 

Finally, Nekro revealed that the judge was in the final stages of making a decision and that there would be one last meeting to deliver the verdict later in the day. 

"If you wish to be involved in the final proceedings, I will ensure that you are present," Nekro offered. 

Klaus appreciated Nekro's gesture of making sure he was involved. "I'd like that," he replied. 

"Excellent," Nekro nodded. "I will inform my son and wife to meet us here before the meeting begins."

At the mention of Nekro's son, Klaus muttered under his breath, "Ash, huh…" 

Ash Brimstone. The son of Nekro and widely regarded as the most powerful demigod among them all. Even among the elites, his power was both feared and respected. 

Klaus hadn't seen Ash or Drake since the Cosmic League. He had no idea how much stronger Ash had grown since then. But regardless of time and distance, that respect remained.

As the silence stretched between them, Nekro began to sense the thoughts stirring within Klaus, recognizing the curiosity in him on the unspoken questions about Ash, someone Klaus had barely exchanged words with. A bit of silent shock persisted upon the god briefly, but he immediately turned it into a smile.

"You know what?" Nekro spoke suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Would you be willing to head over to the house yourself to inform and retrieve them, Klaus Walker?" 

The suggestion caught Klaus off guard. It wasn't that he was opposed to the idea of interacting with them, but he had never been one to go out of his way to engage with others. His descent to Under World was already not something he had been particularly eager about, and this only added another layer to it. 

After a brief pause, he gave a small shrug. "I guess," he replied, recognizing there was no real harm in it. 

"Excellent," Nekro said, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction. "Then I will have Jhin accompany you to the residence."

Klaus' expression soured slightly at the mention of Jhin, and Nekro immediately took notice. 

"Or would you prefer to abstain from his presence?" the god asked gently. 

Klaus exhaled, shaking his head. "No, it's fine," he muttered. "It's just… hard not to associate him with his sister after everything I know about them." 

"I understand," Nekro said, his voice calm. "But I assure you, Jhin is not his sister. I know that he harbored resentment toward humanity in the past, but he has changed." 

Klaus remained silent as Nekro continued. 

"After the incident," the god explained, "I personally reviewed every single individual working at the Facility, anyone who might have shared a similar mindset regarding harming humanity. I made sure to remove those who had the potential to even so much as entertain the thought, whether they realized it or not. And despite his past words, despite his connection to his sister, Jhin was not among them."

A moment passed before Klaus finally spoke. "Sure," he muttered. "I believe you." 

Without another word, Klaus turned toward the door, preparing to leave. "I'll let him know about your assignment," he added before he began to head out. 

As Klaus moved to depart, Nekro watched him with quiet satisfaction. Though Klaus' words carried little emotion, his actions spoke differently from the last time he had been in Under World. He was listening to the gods now; trusting them, even if only slightly. It was a change Nekro was glad to see. 

Just before Klaus reached the door, Nekro called out one final time. 

"One more thing," the god began, causing Klaus to halt and glance back. "My son is a person of few words," Nekro said. "But please, make sure to get along with him." 

Klaus hesitated before giving a simple response. "I'll try," he muttered.

With that, Klaus stepped through the doorway, the massive doors shutting behind him on their own.

For a brief moment, Nekro smiled at his nephew's departure, but then, slowly, that smile faded. His expression darkened as he reached a hand beneath the armor he wore, his fingers brushing against the pendant around his neck. His mind swirled with thoughts left unspoken. 

Klaus turned the corner shortly after leaving and found Jhin seated in silence, awaiting further instructions. The sight of him stirred a flicker of annoyance, but Klaus quickly pushed the feeling aside. Nekro's words were true, Jhin did not deserve to bear the weight of his sister's sins. 

Wasting no time, Klaus relayed Nekro's orders. Jhin acknowledged them, and without another word, the two set off toward the Queen's residence. 

The walk was long, and the silence between them was heavier than the air around them. They didn't glance at each other, their steps measured and distant. Jhin led the way, but his posture was rigid, his face portraying the toll the situation had taken on him. 

"I just want to say that I'm not mad at you," Klaus suddenly said.

Jhin glanced at him, his expression unreadable as they continued to walk. 

"If I am to trust Nekro's words, which I'm trying to, then I'd say I was more to blame for Xhin's actions than you were," Klaus admitted. "And considering that she's your twin, I would say you were betrayed by her more than I was. So… I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you earlier." 

Jhin stilled for a moment, the weight of those words settling over him. Then, he bowed his head slightly. 

"Your words move me deeply, Klaus Walker," he said, his voice carrying a sense of emotion. "And I promise to assist you to the best of my abilities while you remain in Nyxia." 

There were no words that could fully express Jhin's sorrow. Even if Klaus was right, even if he truly wasn't responsible for Xhin's crimes, the love he had for his sister remained. Knowing what she had done, knowing that the person he had cherished most had committed such an act, left a wound that nothing could ever mend, and he felt responsible because of that.

After several minutes of silent walking, Klaus and Jhin finally reached the sprawling estate. The towering gates loomed over them, and as they stepped through, the path to the main house stretched ahead. It was then that a certain memory, or rather a certain presence, resurfaced in Klaus' mind, striking with undeniable urgency. 

Klaus' heart lurched as the ground beneath them rumbled. Then, from the distance, a massive shape surged forward, closing in with terrifying speed. A goliath of a creature, a dragon, raced toward them, its presence unmistakable. Klaus had met this beast before, during his last visit to the Queen's residence. 

Its deep red scales shimmered beneath the dim Under World sky, its powerful wings partially unfurling as it charged. The creature's jaws parted, revealing rows of fangs, each nearly the size of Klaus himself. 

Instinct took over and Klaus flinched, his body tensing as he dropped into a defensive stance. His heart pounded in his ears. He had no desire to find out whether he was strong enough to fight a dragon of this magnitude, especially one that exuded such raw hostility. 

"Easy, Droxys," Jhin finally called out, his voice calm but firm. He lifted a hand in a slow, deliberate motion as the dragon loomed over them, flames simmering in the depths of its maw. "Easy."

The dragon hesitated, his massive golden eyes locking onto Jhin. Recognition flickered across the beast's face, and gradually, his aggressive posture eased. The fire in his throat dimmed. 

A long exhale left the dragon's nostrils, sending a wave of scorching air over them. Then, without another sound, he turned away. His heavy steps shook the ground as he moved back toward the main house, settling himself beside the entrance with a low, grumbling huff.

As Klaus and Jhin finally passed the dragon, Klaus couldn't help but notice the way the creature watched him. The beast's sharp gaze followed his every step, filled with suspicion, as though waiting for an excuse to strike. 

"It hates me, doesn't it?" Klaus muttered, his own stare unwavering as he moved past. 

"I doubt it's personal," Jhin replied. "It's possible he just isn't used to seeing another being who looks like Prince Ash."

"'Prince Ash,' huh," Klaus mumbled under his breath, the title still settling strangely in his mind despite his awareness.

The thought lingered as they reached the entrance and without hesitation, Jhin knocked once.

Almost immediately, the large doors swung open. A group of housemaidens stepped forward, bowing their heads in greeting.

"Welcome, demigod," one of them said, a hand directed into the house. "The Queen awaits your presence."