RD 3 Ch 1

Chapter 1

I had finished my story, or at least the salient points, by the time we completed our transatlantic flight back to Vein City. My three servants, Circe, and everyone else on the plane sat in stunned silence as I concluded. 

"And then what happened?" Circe asked. 

"Then humanity died, and I went back, or at least I assume humanity died. As far as I knew, I was in the last stronghold of humanity. We had just been overrun. Demons were pounding down my own doors deep within the residential area of the fortress by the time I left."

"And your old body?" one of my servants asked. 

"Most likely crumbled to dust. When a demon uses possession, their earlier body is destroyed. Technically, I have possessed my past self."

They were all still stunned as the jet landed on the tarmac with a bounce that shook them out of their stupor.

I patted my knees and stood up.  "Well then, let's get going," I said, not wanting to sit around and talk about a future that I was adamantly going to prevent.

I had already caused so many changes to the present. I'd saved Simone, Gloria, from certain death.

Hopefully, Circe would avoid dying in the future as well. Nyx had likely been among Tartarus before it fell. All four of the ladies would be saved along with so much more of humanity.

This time, I was standing opposite the Demon Lord, who had been working quietly in the background, maneuvering demons and slowly infecting Earth for when the rapture would come. The barrier around Earth would be removed, and the First Demon War would begin in earnest.

Though, there would be my own forces ready to counterbalance him. 

The jet's engines wound down as it rolled into the private hangar.

Circe was already getting to her feet, ensuring we were ready to disembark the second the door opened.

I did not need to grab much. Anything of value was held in my spatial rings. I now wore several that were extraordinarily spacious inside, including the one I had found in the leech's hideout.

Nyx had the other one from what I presume was the first clear of the instance used for initiation into the clan.

I stepped forward a bit, eager to disembark the plane, not solely due to my enhanced physique making the seating uncomfortable, but also because I knew Gloria would be waiting for me.

It had been clear during our communications that a hint of jealousy had been brewing, particularly over the topic of Nyx. So, when the plane came to a halt and the door opened, I practically leapt out, landing with a heavy thud beside my beautiful mob princess.

Gloria was a fit woman, packed with firm curves. Her silver hair shimmered lavender in the light. Initially, I had assumed it was a modern style choice, only to later discover it was due to a rare Magnamalo bloodline.

I scooped her up, careful not to dislodge the jacket that always rested on her shoulders, and cradled her in my arms, pressing her close to me. "I know you missed me," I said into her hair.

"Get off, you lug," she grumbled, pushing me away. When I leaned in to kiss her, she turned her cheek. "Don't think just because you're back everything is as it was. You left me for six months." She jabbed a finger into my chest.

Sensing her anger, I set her down, wary of her fiery temper. Gloria was dangerous. Not just because she was a mobster's daughter, but also because she was just generally fierce in nature.

Gloria had a unique ability that allowed her to wield a ferocious purple fire.

[Gloria Nester

Level: 104 (Not yet improved stats)

Class: Twilight Flamecaller SS

Status: Elated, Scored, Confused

Strength: 441

Agility: 435

Vitality: 444

Intelligence: 455

Spirit: 442

Skills:

Inspect- D

Flame Mastery C - Duh

Twilight Ember B - Skill to be upgraded, fire ability

Twilight Shroud C - Barrier

Fire Ball B - Duh

Magic Resistance - C

Blaze of Dusk - C

Flarewarp - D

Eclipse Pyre - F

Management - A

Magnamalo Queen Bloodline SS (Awakened)

Shimmering Violet Physique E]

I inspected her briefly, noting significant progress. While some of it was in her levels, the most impressive aspect was her improved physique and resistance. I knew such things were difficult to achieve, especially under the training of Thorin, my father, who I'd only recently discovered was my blood relative.

In my previous life, I had known Thorin as a terror who had nearly destroyed the Hero's Clan, leaving it a shell of its former self.

Thorin ‘Clankiller’ Aegis, as he was known, was standing not far behind Gloria, towering over everyone except me. He still had a good half a foot over me, but with my own enhanced physique, he no longer seemed as imposing.

My mother emerged from the plane behind me, and Thorin's attention immediately shifted. He took a hesitant step forward before stopping, watching my mother for her reaction.

She was far more lively than I remembered, nearly skipping the last couple of steps off the plane and rushing into my father's arms.

I watched the two of them, feeling quite strange. I was seeing a side of them I had never known before.

"They are cute, aren't they?" Simone slid under my arm, pressing her head into my chest. "Gloria, no need to be cold, you could have greeted Bran like that."

"I've been left out in the cold. I'm a little chilly, that's all," Gloria retorted, frowning at Simone. "Also, your little worship order is getting out of hand. I had to actually sneak away from them. They heard you were coming back and they've been doing everything they can to be here to greet you."

Gloria cast a glance over at the two drivers who were leaning against the Rolls-Royces.

Both of whom were members of the Mul’Branova, even the system recognized it and shifted their last names. Amanda and Jenny shrugged. The leggy blonde and brunette wore professional but well-fitting attire for drivers. Yet, with their physiques, it was hard for them to look anything but distracting.

"Speaking of distracting," I began, watching as Nyx held onto the railing, working her way down the steps from the plane. With her serpentine lower body, the gorgon commanded everyone's attention.

Nyx's hair was a spectacle in itself, bunched up into over a dozen serpents. If her ability wasn't active, her hair would drag along the ground. By the time they reached the end, her locks had twisted into the form of serpents.

They shifted around, curious about their new environment, while Nyx focused on navigating the steps.

From my experience, her serpents were less individual beings and more expressions of her subconscious, outing her on several occasions during our beach date. Nyx was a classic beauty once you pulled your eyes away from the serpentine parts.

"Wow," Gloria said, turning to me. "You know how to pick them."

"They know how to pick our man," Simone retorted, patting me on the chest. "Now, if you're done being grumpy, Gloria, let's get back to the situation at hand and help you out."

Gloria grunted, but apparently those words were enough to shake her out of her current mood and act.

Gloria waved at the rest of the group. "There are limousines coming for you. I've got this one." She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Simone, towards her Rolls-Royce. It was an electric vehicle and I had made several inscriptions that produced a low-level charge, recharging it constantly.

That would make them far more useful once the whole world’s electric grid collapsed.

Gloria’s car was black with gold trim, while mine was slightly less ostentatious, a flat silver. The inside of hers was even more intense, studded with diamonds and actual gold trim lining two plush leather seats that made up the back.

"After you," I waved towards the door as Jenny opened it. My personal driver, Amanda, shrugged and opened her door for Simone and Nyx. Circe and her entourage, as well as my three servants, frowned at us getting pulled away.

Gloria leaned out the door. "The limousines will come and pick you up. I am going to have some time with my man. I'll see you all there." She nodded at Jenny, who closed the door with a smirk, most likely used to Gloria's attitude after their time together.

Gloria did what she wanted, and she got what she wanted. Most people were treated as a hindrance to her overall plan. That said, it turned out she was an excellent manager. I was interested to see the fort that she and the rest of the Nestor family, had been building.

"Sir, how was your trip?" Jenny asked with a smug smile on her face as she got in the car and started it. No doubt she was happy Gloria had chosen her card.

"Wonderful. Thank you, Jenny," I replied, hitting her with the soul gaze to see how she had progressed while I had been gone. What I found was that the Mul'Branova had been hard at work with the instances that I had left for them. They had plenty of opportunity, but it seemed no lack of drive. "You've become stronger," I observed.

The smug smile on her face grew even wider. "Yes, my lord," she said again. I suppressed a groan, only for Gloria to reach over and pat my leg.

"Just deal with it. Their worship for you has only gotten more fervent since you've been gone. I'll have you know that the Mul'Branova have accumulated quite the number of ladies for you to initiate once we get back."

I frowned, not wanting to use that cursed artifact more than was required.

However, the expansion of our fortress within Vein City was my top priority. Initiating these people to the system ahead of the rapture was giving them a massive leg up. Not to mention, the Mul'Branova were intercepting bloodline holders that had been bound for demons to possess only to add them to their own number.

"We'll deal with it when the time comes," I said, turning to Gloria. "For now, you are my top priority." That ‘Scorned’ status of hers had me very worried.

Gloria looked forward. "Good, then you'll make time for a date with me tomorrow night."

"Not tonight?" I asked.

"No, you won't be fresh enough tonight. We have too much to catch you up." She sat in her seat with her legs crossed, her arms out wide on the arm rests, like a ruler in their domain. "We are throwing so much money at the fortress.”

“The money will become useless as soon as the rapture hits. It doesn't matter how many people I save. The systems today are too intertwined. Five percent of it being destroyed is all it’ll take for the whole thing to come crumbling down. Not to mention, the value of system gold is already so much more than cash. There's just no reason for us to hold on to it."

"I believe you, and most importantly, my father believes you. Which is why he's thrown the full company resources at this. My older brother is hard at work, trying to make the fortress self-sustainable, as well as even building outlying structures beyond the structure. We anticipate more residential needs than we had built in so far. It will be the first bastion of humanity against the demons," she hesitated. "But aren't you planning on taking care of the Hell Gates?" she asked. “Do we need all of this if the demons are stopped swiftly?”

I shrugged. "They’re good experience for the newly initiated. I would like to build up the forces around Vein City and let them deal with the Hell Gate near here. The one in Antarctica will be swiftly taken care of by the Borson clan. And I will personally head to one in Denmark."

Besides, I couldn’t be there for every battle. War wasn’t won so swiftly.

"Oh," Gloria pursed her lips. "Is there someone there?" Annoyance flashed in her eyes.

"Gloria, what's really going wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. My boyfriend, fiancé, whatever you want to call yourself, got to know me for a few short weeks and then went off for six months." Her lips made a flat line as she stared me down.

"And now I'm back." I offered.

"And now you're back," she agreed. "And you have work to do."

I nodded slowly, understanding more about Gloria's personality. She wouldn't be the first woman I've encountered where distance did not make the heart grow fonder. Instead, distance made the heart grow much colder. She put up walls to deal with the hurt of having me further away.

But that was okay. For me, the distance only made me long for her more. And now that I was here, I would just have to remind her how great a couple we were together. And why her body should always crave me.

"So then," I rubbed my hands together, "what's first on the agenda?"