>>5851933“Wh-What's going on? Where am I?” a woman's voice calls, you all turning towards the gate to see a familiar woman standing where Demongo had been when he disappeared, her body pitch black except for her face. “Where is that bastard, Demongo?”
“We've got a lot to catch up on. Come, we'll tell you everything on the way.” you tell her, trying to raise your right arm. But it is too badly damaged from the blast, so instead you simply turn back towards the hall. “But first, what was that thing Chilli?”
“That was the Gate Guardian, or rather Guardians. Elemental beings tasked with preserving order by preventing unauthorized travel between realms.” he says as you still hold him, the now-five of you walking through the hallway back towards the Demon King's throne room. “Their strength is quite impressive, necessary to defend the gates. Long ago, the Demon Realm tried to conquer the mortal world. And while they were beaten back, many lives on both sides were lost so the gods put defenses in place, defenders strong enough to prevent such a thing ever again.”
“But if that's true, then how'd we get through?” Leyas asks, pointing with a thumb over his shoulder back at Ashi. “Does her dad have permission to travel through the realms or something?”
“Not quite. Aku is, well... Different.” your son says, clearly unsure how to formulate his thoughts. You hearing a hint of nervousness, no doubt not wanting to upset the so-called 'Master of Masters' daughter. “Speaking of, your dad asked us to come get you. Or, rather he asked my dad.”
“And my wife and I gathered everyone here to retrieve you.” you tell her, glancing back to Ashi. Noticing that her gaze is transfixed on your arm, on the damage the Guardians Chilli summoned had done to you. “It was one hell of a fight, but it's over now.”
“I see. Thank you all, for defeating that traitorous bastard.” Ashi says, bowing her head as she walks. “I was arrogant and thought I could absorb him, to take his powers for my own. But, instead he absorbed me, and used my power to escape my father's eternal prison. If I hadn't been so foolish, none of this would have happened.”
“Cheer up, it's not all bad.” your son says, yawning before continuing. “At least we got to come down here into the underworld and erase several problems. With Babidi and Carnival Forever Requiem killed in the underworld, their very souls are now dead. We won't have to deal with them ever again.”
Yet, despite your son's assertion, as he says this you get the feeling you're not done. Despite their souls being erased, you still have a gut feeling that you're not truly finished with either of them.
cont
