Chapter 20. A New Beginning.

Everyone was worried about Ignis. The dark light faded away, leaving no trace of the Apex. Ignis lay in a terrible state, his body battered and broken.

However, his blue flames had protected him, preventing his existence from being erased like the Apex.

Suddenly, a powerful presence appeared before Ignis—it was Asmodeus. He declared to the gathering, "Those who are still inside the celestial cage, I would advise you all to exit. You can do so by chanting, 'Teleport Back.'"

Confusion rippled through the crowd. Alina turned to Kael, urgency lacing her voice. "Sir Kael, he's going to kill him. We have to act!" Without hesitation, Kael charged at Asmodeus, drawing his weapon, while Alina began healing Ignis.

Asmodeus, unbothered by Kael's assault, coldly warned them, "You two are our special guests. It would not be wise to intervene and heal the enemy of our realm."

Alina, indignant, shot back, "What enemy? What has Ignis even done to deserve this?"

Asmodeus smirked. "A fair question. This devil wields the Hellfire sword, a weapon of unimaginable destruction. That alone makes him a threat to Nethralis. I trust I need not explain further."

Kael stepped forward, his eyes fierce. "Even so, I see no reason to abandon him. Your actions reek of fear, Asmodeus. You're scared Ignis might transform into something you cannot control—a devil that could spell the end of Nethralis. If that happens, we dragons will protect him to our last breath.

Everyone knows about your dark schemes, Asmodeus."

Kharos, unable to hold back, asked, "Lord Asmodeus, why did you attack Ignis? He has done nothing wrong to us. What reason do you have for declaring him an enemy?"

Asmodeus sighed, his tone sharp. "Very well, I'll explain. Over 120 years ago, long before your generation was born, a devil lived in Nethralis who also wielded Hellfire and the legendary blue flame. He became our greatest enemy. I see no reason to elaborate further, but know this: Ignis carries that same power, and his presence is a threat I cannot ignore. From this moment on, Ignis is the enemy of Nethralis and is officially suspended from the Infernal Legion."

Gasps echoed through the crowd. Shadow Reapers murmured in disbelief.

Asmodeus continued, his voice grim. "For those of you who doubt my words, you must have heard of the calamity known as Ifrit. The devil who nearly destroyed Nethralis for his own selfish reasons. Ifrit possessed Hellfire, and his actions led to countless deaths and unspeakable destruction. We were fortunate to kill him back then. But this devil, Ignis—I suspect he is Ifrit reincarnated."

The crowd's fear was palpable. The name Ifrit was a nightmare etched in the hearts of all who had lived through his wrath. Devils lost their families, their homes—Ifrit had massacred without mercy.

Kharos, shaken, turned to Ignis. "Is it true? Are you the reincarnation of Ifrit?"

Ignis, still too wounded to respond, lay silent. Indraksha interrupted, glaring at Kharos. "What the hell are you saying, Kharos? If Ignis were Ifrit reborn, he would have killed us already."

But Kharos, haunted by the loss of his family in the war Ifrit had started, refused to believe. Consumed by rage, he attacked Ignis. Kael, swift and strong, intercepted him, knocking him unconscious with a single punch.

Asmodeus seized the opportunity and launched an attack on Ignis, but Kael blocked every strike. At that moment, the Shadow Reapers formed a protective circle around Ignis.

Lilithra spoke firmly. "Ignis is not a traitor. Don't you dare compare him to Ifrit."

Asmodeus glared at her. "Devil, move aside. You have no right to question me.

Look around—can't you see how terrified everyone is? They demand his destruction."

Kael, Alina, and the Shadow Reapers glanced at the crowd. Indeed, the spectators, trembling with fear, were pleading for Asmodeus to kill Ignis.

Alina whispered to Kael, "Sir Kael, if we stay here, they'll kill him. We need to take him to Dragoon." She then turned to the Shadow Reapers. "I can take you all to Dragoon too, but know that it means betraying Nethralis. Decide now—what do you want to do?"

The Shadow Reapers hesitated. Indraksha broke the silence. "I know Ignis is not Ifrit. He poses no threat to Nethralis. I'll go with you, even if it means betraying this realm."

Lilithra, shocked by his decision, eventually said, "If my man is going, then I see no reason to stay either."

Fiora nodded. "If my master is leaving, I will follow him."

Nyxara also agreed to go. Kharos remained unconscious, but they knew he would never agree.

Meanwhile, Kael and Asmodeus continued their intense battle. Suddenly, the celestial cage collapsed, and the enraged spectators surged toward Ignis.

Alina shouted, "Sir Kael, we're out of time! I'm opening the portal—hurry!"

She opened the portal and carried Ignis through.

The Shadow Reapers and Fiora followed. Kael, with one last blow, sent Asmodeus flying before leaping into the portal. It closed behind them, leaving Asmodeus furious.

They arrived in Dragoon. Ignis was still unconscious. Kael turned to Alina. "Princess, we must take him to the queen at the royal palace. Her power can heal him."

Alina hesitated but eventually agreed. She then asked Kael, "You saw it too, didn't you? Despite everything happening in Nethralis, Luciferal didn't lift a finger."

Kael nodded grimly.

They made their way to the Drake's Palace. Nyxara asked Alina, "Princess, may I ask you something?"

Alina smiled warmly. "Of course. Treat me as a friend."

Nyxara hesitated. "Why do you call Dragoon a planet, but refer to Nethralis as a realm?"

Alina explained, "Nethralis wasn't formed naturally—it was created by someone. Dragoon, on the other hand, is a natural planet. But I don't know who created Nethralis."

When they reached the throne room, they were greeted by the breathtakingly beautiful Queen Syrentha Draconis, Alina's mother.

Alina explained everything to her and requested her to heal Ignis. Syrentha's expression darkened. "Hellfire... I haven't heard that name in decades."

She paused before saying, "Very well. I'll heal him. If he is truly the wielder of Hellfire... never mind."

She took Ignis to her private chambers, leaving everyone puzzled.

Kael explained, "The Queen's healing technique is unique. She has never performed it in front of anyone, not even her late husband, King Drake Draconis."

To ease everyone's worry, Alina invited them to explore Dragoon's capital, Hydra.

As they walked, she shared the history of their planet.

"Dragoon was once uninhabitable," Alina began. "Our ancestors—Lord Hydra, Lord Wyvern, and Lord Dragoon—arrived and made it livable. Lord Dragoon became the first king, with the planet named after him. Lord Wyvern became queen, and Lord Hydra, the supreme commander. Sir Kael is the son of Lord Hydra and was already born when they came here."

She continued, "Lord Wyvern and Lord Dragoon's first child was my father, Drake Draconis. But the war Asmodeus mentioned claimed the lives of Lord Wyvern, Lord Dragoon, Lord Hydra, and my father."

Indraksha interrupted, "What war? What happened?"

Alina frowned. "I don't know. I was just a child then."

Dragons, Devils, Chimerids, and Aetherians are known for their extraordinarily long lifespans.

Devils and Aetherians, in particular, are immortal—they can only die if someone kills them or if they willingly choose to end their existence. Alina, currently 123 years old, appears to be no older than 18. This youthful appearance is due to her unique genetic makeup and her species' distinct growth rate.

Indraksha, intrigued by the unfolding mystery, questioned her further, "Then, do you know anything about this Ifrit guy?"

Alina's expression turned serious as she responded, "I don't know his real name, but I do know he was someone who understood things that we couldn't even begin to comprehend.

He shared his knowledge and ideals with my father and our three ancestors. Somehow, he managed to convince them to join forces against Nethralis in their fight.

It should've been nearly impossible for Luciferal and Asmodeus to defeat my father and our three ancestors. Yet, they succeeded. How they achieved that remains a mystery."

The weight of her words deepened the sense of uncertainty among the group. While they desperately sought answers, it became clear that the truth behind Ifrit and the fall of Alina's lineage was shrouded in an ever-growing enigma.

Several hours later...

Ignis opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurry. As his senses adjusted, he froze in shock. Sitting atop him was a woman in her undergarments, her flawless figure illuminated by the soft light of the room. Her body was mesmerizing, far surpassing even that of a succubus in its perfection.

Blushing furiously, Ignis stammered, "W-Who are you? And what the hell are you doing with me!?"

The woman smiled, a playful glint in her eyes, and replied, "I'm the one who saved your life, darling."

"Saved my life?" Ignis echoed, his mind racing to piece things together. "Oh, yeah, I remember... I was in the tournament, and suddenly something fell on m—"

Before he could finish, an intense headache overtook him. He winced, clutching his head in pain. The woman leaned closer, her tone soft yet teasing. "Honey, don't push yourself too hard. You've just recovered."

Ignis's face flushed crimson as her ample chest came dangerously close to his face. Flustered, he scrambled backward, trying to put some distance between them. "S-Stay back! Why are you coming so close to me?" he sputtered.

The woman giggled, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Oh my, but judging by that reaction down there..." she glanced pointedly towards Ignis boner, "...your body seems to want me closer."

Ignis glanced down and immediately turned redder, realizing the awkward situation he was in. The woman's teasing smile only deepened his embarrassment.

Her beauty was overwhelming—so much so that any man would undoubtedly find himself having falling for her and her body was so much sexy that any man would get a boner even if he saw her in full clothes. Even in her undergarments, her figure was enough to leave anyone spellbound. Her allure was undeniable, a captivating presence that seemed almost otherworldly.

Ignis stammered, "Y-Yo... Who are you, woman!?"

The woman smirked, her expression mischievously lewd.

"I am the Queen of all dragons and the mother of the girl who saved you—Syrentha Draconis."

Ignis froze, his eyes wide in disbelief. He never imagined that he would meet Alina's mother, let alone in such a compromising situation. Still stunned, he asked, "What happened to me? How did I get here? And what about my injuries?"

Syrentha gave him a sultry smile and replied, "Don't worry. I healed all your wounds—and in a sexy way, of course. My daughter was the one who brought you here."

Suspicious and flustered, Ignis demanded, "What do you mean by 'in a sexy way'? What did you do to my body?"

Her lips curved into an enticing grin. "Relax, honey. I just healed you, nothing more."

"Don't call me 'honey,'" Ignis retorted, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

But Syrentha ignored his protest and continued to call him "honey," clearly enjoying his discomfort. As she picked up her clothes and walked toward the dressing room within her bedroom, she paused at the doorway. Glancing over her shoulder, she teased, "By the way, your sperm tasted quite good."

With a wicked smirk, she disappeared into the dressing room, leaving Ignis blushing furiously.

He collapsed back onto the bed, overwhelmed, but something caught his attention. Checking himself, he noticed faint traces of saliva. His face burned red as the realization hit him.

Hurriedly grabbing his clothes, Ignis bolted from the room. Just as he reached the door, Syrentha's voice echoed from the dressing room.

"Oh, honey," she called playfully, "don't tell anyone about what we did. If you do, I might not do it for you again."

Ignoring her words, Ignis fled, his heart pounding.

Once outside, he encountered his friends, who were anxiously waiting for him.

The moment Alina saw Ignis alive and well, she ran to him, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "I thought I was going to lose you! I was so scared!"

Ignis gently patted her back to calm her down. "I'm okay, Alina. Don't cry."

After a moment, he pulled away and asked, "Where's Kharos?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances, and an uncomfortable silence filled the air. Finally, Syrentha emerged from the bedroom and explained everything to Ignis.

His face fell as he processed her words. "I… I can't believe this."

Syrentha placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry," she said cryptically. "You'll understand everything when the time comes."

Ignis frowned but chose not to press further. Lilithra, however, wasn't satisfied. She turned to Syrentha and asked, "Do you know about this Ifrit guy and the war of Nethralis?"

Syrentha nodded, her expression somber. "Yes, I know. But I can't reveal everything now. When the time is right, you'll discover the truth for yourselves."

Suddenly, Syrentha's tone shifted as she addressed Lilithra with a sly smile. "By the way, are you Ignis's girlfriend?"

"HELL NO!" Lilithra exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room. She pointed at Indraksha and declared, "I already belong to this guy!"

As if on cue, Fiora chimed in, "Me too! I belong to Master Indraksha as well."

The two girls immediately started bickering, their argument escalating over who had more claim to Indraksha. Syrentha chuckled at their antics and proposed, "Oh my, how adorable. Why don't you both become his girlfriends? I mean, I don't think there's a rule saying a guy can't have two girls, especially for non-human races like dragons, Aetherians, Chimerids, or Devils."

Author's note: Just to clarify, I'm not endorsing polygamy in real life. This concept applies only to the dynamics of non-human races in this fictional universe. Okay? Moving on!

Lilithra and Fiora paused, considering Syrentha's words. They exchanged hesitant glances, realizing she had a point.

Syrentha then turned her attention to Indraksha. "So, young man, what do you think?" she asked playfully.

Indraksha, still stunned by Syrentha's beauty, could only stammer, "You… you're so beautiful."

Before he could say more, Fiora and Lilithra, both fuming, delivered a synchronized punch to his arm.

Syrentha giggled. "Oh my, thank you for the compliment." Her gaze shifted to Ignis, and her expression turned lewd once more. "But you know, I already belong to someone," she said with a teasing smile.

Everyone assumed she was referring to King Drake, but Ignis knew exactly who that "someone" was—and it left him both blushed and his heart pounding.