CHAPTER 35: FORWARD

With a silent apology, he injected the elixir into his mother’s cold skin.

And just like that—cold and dead turned into warm and alive.

At first, only silence. Then came the power, surging through Isabell’s body. A dim white light—moonlike—pulsed through her veins. Air returned to her lungs. Dead cells revived under the divine presence coursing through her form.

She gasped.

Her chest rose sharply—and then it truly began. A radiant glow burst from her body, warm and holy, so bright Allen had to shield his eyes, even as the heat wrapped around him like a loving memory.

Then, the light dimmed—slowly.

When it finally settled, Allen lowered his hand, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

There she was—Isabell. Not in her casket, but hovering midair. Angelic wings unfolded from her back. Luminous light haloed her form—so pure and powerful that even the coffin she had risen from seemed to bow in reverence.

Her soul was restored.

But she was no longer merely human.

She was now... a demi-human.

Despite the transformation—despite the wings and the divine glow—she was still the same woman Allen had lived with nearly his entire life.

"M–mum..." he stammered, his voice trembling—not from fear, not from shock—but from overwhelming redemption.

Isabell’s eyelids fluttered open. The last wisps of light converged back into her body, illuminating her flawless curves—even beneath the white burial gown she wore. Her vision was a blur at first, but with each blink, her senses sharpened, and the heartbeat thumping in her chest told her she was truly alive.

Memories came back.

The blade strikes to her heart. Natasha’s death in her apartment. Allen’s disappearance. Each memory pierced her soul once again.

Then—she saw him.

"Allen!" she cried, her voice cracking like a newborn’s first cry—pure, raw, unfiltered emotion. Without hesitation, she flew into his arms. Her wings fluttered as she embraced him, feathers glowing faintly, otherworldly.

No words passed. Just the warmth between them. The shared heartbeat. The unbroken bond.

"You made mummy worry..." she whispered into his shoulder, tears slipping down her cheek. Her arms wrapped around him like chains of divine joy.

"I’m sorry, mum... it won’t happen again," Allen said with a soft sob, her chest pressed tightly against his. But that was the least of what he noticed now.

Even in this celestial moment, the mother within her remained.

"You owe me a lot of explanation. But first... promise me you’re not leaving again."

Allen pulled back, his knees on the earth, his hands gently resting on her shoulders. His eyes shimmered with unshakable sincerity.

"Not in this world. Not in the next," he whispered. "I’ll be with you, Mum."

"Good boy," Isabell smiled softly, kneeling before him as well. But the flood of questions couldn’t be held back any longer.

The questions came—one after the other. And Allen, though nervous, answered each with brutal honesty. His words were heavy, but they were true.

What happened to Natasha?

Where have you been?

Why did you leave?

How did you bring me back?

And finally—why are you naked?

He answered everything, his tone a mixture of calm and strain. It felt less like recounting tragedy and more like telling a story—his truth, laid bare.

"So you’re saying this Tamara person gave you..."

A sudden coughing sound—dry, cracked, and real—ripped through the night like a divine interruption.

Both Allen and Isabell snapped their heads to the left.

Their eyes widened.

There stood Natasha.

Although Allen knew she would return, her sudden presence still stole his breath. Overwhelmed, he rushed forward and embraced her tightly.

"Soulmate," he whispered with a trembling smile, his arms wrapping around her like she was the last light in the world.

Natasha blinked, memories flooding in like cold water rushing through the cracks of her mind. Slowly, she pieced it all together.

"You outmatched Hadas? How?" she asked, her voice faint—barely more than a whisper.

"I promised you a better gift, didn’t I?" Allen said, tears sliding down his cheeks—tears of joy.

Natasha’s arms found their way around him, and they held each other, warmth returning fully to her body.

Isabell joined them, her heart pounding as she processed everything Allen had revealed. She didn’t understand how he had gotten a divine tool powerful enough to reverse death—but she was living proof that he had.

Still, some questions lingered.

Especially about a world where clothes were apparently "forbidden."

"Mum..."

Natasha’s brow furrowed the moment her gaze met Isabell’s. But the past few days had been a spiritual journey through the Underworld. She’d seen enough to know—anything was possible.

Noticing Natasha’s discomfort, Isabell pulled both of them into a warm embrace.

"You two are about the same age. Let it out of the shadows. I was beginning to worry why Allen never brought a girl home."

Natasha chuckled lightly, still shaken by the afterlife—but grateful.

Still, she knew a private talk with Allen was overdue.

Sirens screamed in the distance. From where they stood in the cemetery, it was obvious who the target was.

They light from Isabell had told them off.

"The cops..." Allen muttered. "We have to leave."

"Where do three dead humans—now alive—run to, under this same sky?" Isabell murmured, her voice troubled.

Allen took a breath. "Let’s go back to the planet I was summoned to. This time—together."

"Didn’t you say it was dangerous?" Isabell asked.

Flashing lights were already casting over tombstones. Police were surrounding the cemetery, voices barking orders, flashlights darting over the terrain.

"We have no choice now," Allen said firmly.

"I couldn’t agree more," Natasha added, rising to her feet.

"Mum, are you in?" Allen asked.

"You said we’re going together," Isabell replied calmly. "So, I’m waiting for the magic trick. Do your little—sccaa-dooshh!" she exclaimed, waving her hands dramatically.

Allen laughed, extending his hand as a swirling portal formed in the air in front of them.

"If we’re going back, we might as well follow their customs before becoming fugitives too," he smirked.

Whoosh.

Their white burial linens dropped to the ground, moonlight glinting off their bare bodies. They stood confidently, smiling without shame.

"We’re ready when you are."

Allen’s gaze twitched as he took in the perfection of their curves—but what truly stunned him was their instant adaptation.

They hadn’t even arrived—and they were already so badass compared to how novice he was on his own first day.

"So be it," he said.

As they stepped into the portal, the roars of approaching officers echoed behind them—screaming for surrender.

But it was the last sound they heard.

Before the way back closed.

Thus ended Allen’s journey in the earth zues himself gained his worship.

---

Seconds later, the darkness that swirled around them vanished, immediately replaced by the scorching heat of the sun.

Not only had the temperature shifted, but even the wind current was lighter. Now they stood—Allen at the front, Isabell to his right, and his very own Natasha to his left.

The elven palace loomed just ahead, as if it had predicted their arrival.

"Lord Allen...!"

An emotion-filled voice sliced through the air from behind.

Allen turned with a knowing smile, but before he could even fix his gaze on her, she had already leapt into his arms—as if they hadn’t seen each other in twelve years.

He stumbled slightly under Elven Natasha’s weight, her body pressed tightly against his as she cried over his disappearance, practically rubbing herself against him in every possible way, tears pouring freely down her cheeks.

"Natasha," Allen chuckled, "my mom is right behind you."

Elven Natasha’s eyes widened instantly. She turned to see two very shocked faces—gazing at them with expressions that clearly said, "There’s more we don’t know."

She quickly stood upright, regaining a composed and regal stance, and bowed slightly to both Human Natasha and Isabell.

"Good day, my ladies."

Words hadn’t yet broken through the shock in either of their eyes. First, the naked truth was confirmed. Second, Allen had just realistically transported them across dimensions—something they’d once only pretended to believe. And finally, the way Natasha so comfortably mingled her body with his made it obvious they’d done it countless times. That sight stirred something uneasy in Human Natasha’s eyes, though she still managed to hide it behind a smile—for now.

"Mum, this is Natasha... an elf," Allen introduced.

Isabell smiled so wide it barely contained the amusement in her heart.

"I didn’t raise you to start a polygamous family, Allen—"

"Oh, Mum, please. I’m not grooming a family here," he cut in quickly, though the nervousness was written all over his face.

Isabell chuckled lightly. He did say his original ability was copying other abilities, mostly through sex... so he’ll probably need a lot of asses to survive if this world is as cruel as he claims, she mused inwardly as she gave Elven Natasha a brief, welcoming hug.

But Natasha... Isabell added silently, catching the slight tension in Human Natasha despite her forced composure.

"Natasha," Allen continued, gesturing to Human Natasha

"This is..." he paused deliberately, narrowing his eyes. "Na...ta...sha..."

Human Natasha gave a small chuckle, even though the eerily identical names pushed the rivalry in her heart even deeper.

"How come you never told me about them, Lord Allen? They’re so beautiful," Elven Natasha rasped with playful excitement.

"Thanks," Human Natasha replied with a giggle. "It’s a pleasure to share the same name with someone as beautiful as you."

But did those words truly come from her heart?

"Yeah, about the names—"

"Don’t worry," Human Natasha quickly interrupted. "You can just call me Tasha. That should be different enough."

Allen’s gaze shifted far beyond them, and a subtle unease settled in his chest.

"What happened while I was gone?"

Natasha turned toward Allen as if she’d been anticipating that very question—her expression matching his concern.

"When you disappeared, we sent out a search party. We joined them, scanning everywhere within the walls. But while the search was still ongoing, the city was suddenly overrun by beings Amaterasu called Demon-Ranked Infernals. She claimed they came from Hell. Luckily, backed by her abilities, she summoned double their number and overwhelmed them... but not long after, a werewolf arrived—more panicked than dangerous. At first, we suspected it was Zarynth’s werewolf personality. But after his explanation, he was found innocent. The real problem is that his entire clan is under torment... by the werewolf personality of Zarynth, who now works under the name of Hadas.

"Wow," Allen exhaled. That god moves faster than he looks. But the infernal attack... it must’ve been a contingency after his master plan failed. Still, the fact he could do that just with words...

"How do you know the werewolf that came wasn’t lying?"

"He surrendered himself to us—said prison would be better than returning home."

"That convincing?" Allen murmured, but deep in thought, he knew Zarynth’s werewolf personality wasn’t the real threat. It was Hadas—the one who grew stronger with every torment inflicted.

"Back to business, right?" Isabell purred from the corner, a well-carved smile on her lips.

Allen gave her a simple smile in reply, then turned back to Natasha.

"What steps has the Elven Clan taken?"

"None for now, my lord. But the king has called a meeting that’s happening right now. As an elder, you have a seat in that gathering."