Deep within the vast abyss of eternal darkness, a lone silhouette sat upon a throne of gnarled, blackened bone.

The figure, unmistakably regal yet ominous, exuded a presence that twisted the very void around her.

Shadows writhed and swirled like living phantoms, creatures of darkness birthed from the depths of her being.

They danced in an eerie, rhythmic waltz—an extension of her will, a reflection of her emotions.

It had been so long since she had felt something like this.

A flicker of amusement.

A taste of intrigue. Erebil, the primordial goddess of darkness—the root of all evil—felt an unfamiliar excitement creeping into her existence.

All because of one young man.

“Ah… Riley Hell.”

She uttered the name like a sacred whisper, the very sound of it sending ripples through the void.

He was something worth waiting for.

Even with only a glimpse, a mere taste, the sensation he had given her was intoxicating.

He was not yet the beacon of light she had hoped he would become, not yet the perfect counterpart to her abyss.

And yet, it was precisely his unyielding resolve, that unwarranted, foolish determination to defy reason—to even compromise with her, the very embodiment of darkness—all for the sake of a single human…

It was laughable.

And yet, it was exhilarating.

She felt something more than mere satisfaction.

A rare and insatiable hunger.

If Riley had once been an exquisite dessert to be savored, now he was evolving into something far greater—something luxurious, something divine, a delicacy meant to be consumed at its peak.

A slow smile crept onto her lips, her dark eyes gleaming in the endless dark.

Now that her deal with Riley was technically over, her hold over him had ended.

Yet, their interactions weren’t quite finished—not yet.

He still had to fulfill his end of the bargain.

She raised her hand, palm open, and a faint, white light flickered into existence.

The fiery visage of a soul took form, its delicate glow pulsating with a fragile energy.

The transition from the mortal realm to her domain was never seamless, especially for a human soul.

Some adjustments would be necessary.

Her dark eyes flicked toward her minions, and with a simple snap of her fingers, they obeyed.

The endless abyss of her realm began to shift.

The deep void twisted, stretched, and reformed, morphing into something more… familiar.

A vast expanse of soft, emerald-green grass spread beneath her, swaying gently under the breath of an artificial breeze.

A golden sun now loomed in the sky, casting its warm glow upon the newly forged plains.

The air carried the crisp scent of nature, blending with the soft rustling of leaves.

Her throne, once an imposing monument of darkness, dissolved and reshaped itself into a simple wooden chair.

In front of her, a modest table materialized, followed by a delicate porcelain teapot and two cups.

Every detail was meticulously crafted to reflect the human perception of normalcy.

Everything was set.

Now, all she had to do was wait.

The soul’s recovery would take time—perhaps days.

A mere blink for an immortal such as herself. And yet, as she watched the flickering essence before her, a peculiar sensation stirred within.

Time moved differently when it involved him.

She let out a quiet sigh, resting her chin on her hand.

For the first time in a long while, waiting felt like an eternity.

….

Deep into the night, I found myself wandering through the vast expanse of a white forest—an ever-familiar yet strangely unfamiliar place.

The trees, the flowers, the ground beneath my feet, even the creatures that stirred within the undergrowth—all were bathed in a pristine whiteness, untouched by color.

Everything was white, except for the sky above.

I squinted at the crescent moon hanging in the heavens, its soft glow illuminating the endless sea of pale foliage.

This wasn’t the world I knew. Not the one I had come from, nor the one I had adapted to.

No, this was something else entirely—the domain of the White Queen.

But why was I here?

My footsteps pressed into the frost-like ground, leaving faint imprints that barely lingered before vanishing.

Was this a dream?

A lucid dream, perhaps?

The sensation of cool air against my skin, the rustling of the pale leaves as my fingers brushed against them—I could feel it all, real and tangible.

Yet, when I pinched my own arm, expecting a sharp sting, there was nothing.

No pain, no resistance.

“I guess this really is a dream,” I muttered under my breath.

Not knowing what else to do, I kept moving, drawn deeper into the unknown.

The further I walked, the more I saw—things that I had never encountered before, even in the game.

Strange plants with luminous petals, small creatures that scurried between the roots, leaving trails of glowing dust in their wake.

Hidden alcoves, tiny waterfalls reflecting the moonlight, whispering trees whose branches swayed even in the absence of wind.

The usual divine and regal aura of this place was softened under the moon’s silver embrace, turning the white expanse into something almost… tranquil.

It felt different from the overwhelming presence I had always associated with the White Queen’s domain.

Instead of suffocating majesty, there was an almost dreamlike serenity.

As I wandered through the unfamiliar landscape, my feet carried me toward an unexpected discovery—a vast, bluish-clear lake that stretched endlessly before me.

The surface was so still and pristine that it perfectly mirrored the night sky above, creating the illusion that the stars were suspended within its depths.

It was breathtaking.

The sight of it left me momentarily speechless, a stark contrast to the rest of this strange realm where even water was supposed to be white.

Yet, this lake alone defied that rule, standing apart as a solitary anomaly alongside the boundless night sky.

Curious, I crouched down and reached out, dipping my fingers into the water.

It felt just like any ordinary lake—cool, smooth, and fluid, without any hint of the otherworldly qualities that had set it apart visually.

A quiet ripple spread outward from where I touched, disturbing the lake’s mirrored illusion, and for a moment, it felt as if I had disrupted the stars themselves.

Rising to my feet, I continued my exploration, following the lake’s edge.

It was enormous—circling its entirety would likely take a great deal of time—but as I pressed forward, something caught my attention in the distance.

At the very center of the lake, surrounded by the shimmering water, was a small island.

A lone tree stood proudly at its core, unlike anything else in this realm.

Its bark was an ordinary brown, grounding it in familiarity, yet its leaves glowed with a soft white luminescence, blending in with the surreal nature of this world.

Tiny, glowing flowers bloomed at its roots, their radiance harmonizing with the tree’s ethereal glow.

I stood there, captivated by the sight.

Curiosity gnawed at me until I finally gave in. With a single leap, I soared through the air and landed effortlessly on the island.

My S-rank strength made the jump trivial, but the landing?

Not so much.

The impact sent a small tremor through the ground, scattering petals and bending delicate stems beneath my weight.

I exhaled, glancing at the tiny crushed flowers beneath my feet. “It’ll take some time before these bloom again,” I muttered, feeling a small pang of guilt before shaking it off.

Turning my attention back to the island, I approached the tree at its center.

It stood there, eerily ethereal, its presence strangely out of place yet entirely natural.

Reaching out, I ran my fingers along the bark, expecting… something.

A reaction, a shift—anything. But just like every other time, nothing happened.

I sighed, half-expecting a mystical response and half-knowing better.

Resigning myself to leave, I bent my knees slightly, preparing to leap off the floating landmass—until something caught my eye.

Beyond the other side of the tree, a young woman knelt on the soft grass, carefully placing a flower crown atop a small, white rock.

The gentle breeze played with a few loose strands of her soft pink hair, swaying them in the air.

Then, I heard her voice—soft, familiar, laced with quiet sorrow.

“Sorry for being late, Mother…”

Alice.

There was no mistaking it. It was Alice—the same Alice I knew.

And yet, something was different. She was taller, more refined… more mature.

She looked like a vision of what Alice would become in the future, her presence radiating a quiet elegance that took my breath away.

She hadn’t noticed me yet.

Her fingers lightly traced the surface of the white stone, her expression solemn, lost in a moment I felt like I was intruding upon.

I remained still, watching.

It was clear now—whatever I was witnessing wasn’t reality as I knew it.

It was likely a visage, a lingering memory from another world.

A world I had failed.

Or at least… that’s what I told myself.

But as I looked at Alice, at the warmth in her expression, at the way she smiled so gently—this world didn’t feel broken.

It didn’t have the telltale cracks of a shattered reality.

It felt… whole.

Alice let out a soft chuckle, her voice carrying a familiar warmth, tinged with something nostalgic.

“Hehe… a lot happened while I was gone, you see,” she murmured, her fingers absentmindedly brushing over the white stone. “I ended up being late for our reunion. We were all supposed to come together, the others and I… but I wanted to come here first. I hope you don’t mind.”

She smiled, her laughter soft but carrying a weight beyond mere words. Then, her expression shifted—more serious, yet still brimming with emotion.

“Actually… I wanted some advice. No, not advice—” she hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, correcting herself. “Since you’re not exactly here anymore, I just wanted you to hear me out.” She paused again, a quiet breath escaping her lips before she added with a soft nod, “No… I wanted you to hear it first.”

With that, Alice leaned in closer to the small, white rock, her voice dropping to a whisper.

Although there was a bit of distance between us, my enhanced hearing allowed me to catch every word.

“You’re going to be a grandma soon…”

She smiled, a soft blush dusting her cheeks.

“Hehe… I haven’t told Riley or the others yet, so you’re the first to know, okay?”

Pride shone in her golden eyes as she gently rested a hand over her stomach, her fingers tracing slow, careful circles.

It was such a small gesture, but it held a quiet reverence—an unspoken promise.

Alice is pregnant with my child….?

A part of me was in disbelief. A whirlwind of emotions—joy, surprise, and something indescribably warm—swelled within me as I listened to her soft, affectionate voice.

“I wonder… what should I name our child?” Alice mused, her fingers tracing absentmindedly over the surface of the white stone. “If it’s a boy… is it alright if I name him Shirley? No, that’s a girl’s name, isn’t it? Then what about Lux? That has a nice ring to it, right?”

She chuckled lightly, the sound carrying a tenderness that made my chest tighten.

“And if it’s a girl… I’m planning to name her after you, Mother. Mirana is a pretty name, don’t you think?” She smiled softly before adding, “Of course, I’m going to ask Riley’s opinion—and the others too. Hehe~”

As she continued her one-sided conversation with the white rock—presumably the grave of her mother, the White Queen—it became clear to me that this place, this moment, wasn’t just some illusion or fleeting memory.

No, this was likely a glimpse into the near future.

Alice sighed before leaning back slightly, her expression shifting into something a little more mischievous.

“You know, Riley’s been a bit too lenient lately,” she murmured, her voice laced with amused exasperation. “I get it, really. But there are limits, right? Being too lenient with Rose and the others can only go so far… Even though he’s just as lenient with me, he can’t keep putting babies in them all the time just because they ask for it, right?”

I froze.

“And Snow—oh my gosh, don’t even get me started on Snow. She keeps making excuses about needing heirs, but honestly? She’s just horny as heck, I swear. Even Seo’s gotten mixed up in their whole mess—”

I tuned out the rest, my face heating up as I processed what she had just said.

Hearing about the things I’d supposedly do with my future lovers… even if this was just a dream, an illusion, or a vision of what was to come—it still felt weird.

I shifted uncomfortably, torn between curiosity and embarrassment, all while Alice continued her candid rant as if none of this was out of the ordinary.

Alice sat before the grave, the cold air brushing against her skin as she absentmindedly traced a pattern.

The stone before her was worn, standing tall yet silent, as if waiting for her words.

She had made a habit of visiting, though she never truly knew what to say.

Life had been hectic—perhaps too much so—but still, she found herself here, seeking some kind of peace in the quiet company of the past.

She had changed a lot since the days when fear and doubt clouded her thoughts.

The girl who once second-guessed every choice was now someone who stood firm, facing dangers she never would have imagined.

Responsibilities weighed on her shoulders, but she bore them with a quiet determination, just as her mother once did.

Alice sighed, closing her eyes as memories played through her mind—moments of struggle, laughter, fleeting happiness, and ever-looming conflict.

There were so many things she could say, so many complaints, so many victories she wished she could share. But there was no rush.

“Hehe, I want to tell you a lot more things, but… that can be done once we’re all here,” she murmured with a soft smile. Her voice carried a quiet fondness, a whisper of something she rarely let herself express.

“That’s all from me for now, Mother… and as always, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m doing fine. Everybody’s doing fine.”

She paused, glancing up at the sky before adding with a small, knowing smirk, “And also… my beloved is always right there to protect me. Right, dear?”

Her golden eyes flickered with amusement as she turned, locking eyes with me.

“You can see me?” I asked, surprised.

Alice tilted her head slightly, as if I had just stated the obvious.

Before I could take another step forward to ask her something, my body suddenly halted.

No—it wasn’t just me.

Everything paused.

A heavy pressure descended upon the space, thick and suffocating, as if unseen hands were pressing down on my chest.

It was a familiar sensation—one I couldn’t quite place.

My heartbeat pounded against my ribs, aching, warning me of something beyond my understanding.

Then, without warning, black chains erupted from the ground, piercing through my chest.

The cold bite of the metal wrapped around my heart, squeezing, pulling—

What… what was happening?

“Do you like what you’re seeing, darling~?”

A voice, ever-familiar and dreadful, whispered into my ear.

It sent an icy chill down my spine, and every hair on my body stood on end.

I turned my head slightly, my breath hitching as I met those unmistakable draconic red eyes—burning with amusement, deep and haunting.

Her lips curled into a smile, sharp and knowing, like a predator toying with its prey.

The wind danced through her flowing white hair, strands flickering across her face, but her gaze… her gaze had already shifted.

She wasn’t looking at me anymore.

She was looking at Alice and her belly.

“L-Liyana…?” My voice came out hoarse, disbelief choking me as I took a step back.

“You’ve been a very naughty boy, darling~” she purred, her tone dripping with something sickly sweet. “Did you really think sealing me away was enough? Keke~ You even made some mistakes along the way… Allow me to heal you from that, okay~?”

A pit formed in my stomach.

Before I could react—before I could even breathe properly—Liyana moved.

Faster than I could process.

Her figure blurred, and in the next instant, she was already dashing toward Alice.

No—

I reached out, fingers grasping at nothing but air. My entire body lurched forward in desperation.

“STOP!!!!!”

The scream tore from my throat.

My vision snapped into focus.

My breath was ragged, sweat dripping down my forehead as my heartbeat slammed against my ribs.

What… what just happened?

I sat up abruptly, my hands trembling as I darted my gaze around the unfamiliar space.

This wasn’t the graveyard.

It wasn’t the battlefield.

It was a room.

A grand, beautifully furnished room.

The windows were slightly ajar, allowing the soft rays of morning sunlight to seep in.

The gentle scent of fresh air and linen lingered.

Huff…

A short, quiet breath reached my ears.

I turned, my body still tense, only to find Alice sleeping peacefully beside me.

Her face was serene, warm, untouched by the horrors I had just witnessed.

The tension in my chest loosened as I watched her, my breathing slowly evening out.

It was just a dream.

“That was a fucking nightmare….”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep