After years of waiting, Hades sat serenely on a dark throne, sipping her coffee with a calm expression. Suddenly, the air trembled.
She felt an immense wave of dark energy descend from above—dense, profound, and terrifying, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Hades smiled faintly and said, "Finally… he's completed the absorption."
She rose from her chair and strode confidently toward a private chamber. She entered, and as soon as the door closed, the room began to rise like a celestial platform, ascending at breakneck speed to the upper floors. Moments later, she reached the top.
She stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the cocoon that held Saruto captive all those years. She stood before it. The cocoon glowed with a pulsating purple light. Tiny cracks began to appear on its surface, widening little by little. "And now… we shall witness the birth of a demigod," Hades said, her voice heavy with the weight of the moment.
The cracks widened, spreading in every direction.
Then the cocoon burst silently, releasing a thick cloud of black smoke. From the smoke emerged a hand, like a dragon's claw, black and sharp, grasping the shattered edge of the cocoon. From it sprang Saruto. He stood firmly amidst the scattered debris and said with a serene smile, "Hello, Hades."
She returned his smile with a similar one. "Welcome back, Saruto."
But Saruto was no longer the same. His body had been reconstructed, stronger and more imposing. His muscles were taut, and his bare chest was clad in shattered black armor. Dark chains wound around his shoulders and arms. His black hair hung wildly over his eyes, while his pupils glowed a terrifying purple.
Behind him, a thick, shifting halo of shadows stretched out, taking the form of a cloak of darkness. His hands and feet were encased in sharp, black formations resembling dragon claws. "You've changed a lot, Saruto," Hades said, clearly impressed.
Saruto looked at his hands, his body, the reflection of his newfound power, then remembered something important. He closed his eyes and entered his inner consciousness. Inside his mind, he stood in the middle of a dark world with the Tree of Memories at its center. He raced toward it, calling out longingly, "Void!"
Then he heard a familiar voice reply lazily and mockingly, "Stop shouting… You woke me up."
Void appeared, noticeably larger, the darkness around him thicker and more ominous. Saruto smiled. "You've grown, Void," he said.
Void laughed. "And you've changed shape… You've even gotten taller."
The two laughed, clapping their hands in brotherly harmony. "I missed you, brother," Saruto said warmly.
"I missed you too," Void replied with a smile.
Then Saruto snapped back to reality. He looked at Hades and said, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."
"No need to apologize," she replied calmly. "Come on... your parents are waiting for you."
Saruto smiled at this, then asked, "How long have I been inside the cocoon?"
"Five years," Hades said.
Saruto eyes widened in surprise. "Even though I did everything I could to finish the absorption sooner... it still took five years!"
"Don't blame yourself," Hades said reassuringly. "You should be proud... it usually takes ten years or more. You finished it in half."
Saruto calmed down, convinced by her words. They descended to the ground, where Morvan and Carmelina were waiting for him. As soon as his parents saw him, they embraced him warmly. "You've grown so much, Saruto, since I last saw you," Morvan said admiringly.
"You've grown so much, my boy… even taller," Carmelina said with a proud smile.
"But you two… you haven't changed at all," Saruto laughed.
"Didn't I tell you?" Morvan smiled. "Those in the realm of the dead don't age."
They went to the palace and celebrated Saruto return, insisting that Hades stay with them. Several days passed before Hades called him again. He stood before her and said with deep sincerity, "Hades… thank you for everything you've done for me. You allowed me to meet my parents, you trained me and Void, you made us demigods… you even allowed me to communicate with those I love. Whatever I do, I can never repay you."
Then he said firmly, "I have one last request… Return me to the world where the Emperor resides. I will defeat him, then travel between worlds to rescue my friends… and after that, I will destroy Umbra."
Hades rose from her throne and approached him with measured steps. She said with a mysterious smile, "Saruto… do you truly believe you can kill Umbra?"
He was taken aback and said confidently, "Yes… why do you ask?"
Hades smiled even more deeply and said decisively, "Because… you cannot kill him."
Then she added with majestic coolness, "We rulers… do not die."