Chapter 12: Blistering World

The black flames on Ty's back burned even brighter than ever as he proclaimed his readiness for any trial that he would have to face for the Demon King.

Bowing his skeletal body in the Demon King's direction, Ty thanked him for giving him a chance, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

Still bowed, he confessed, "I have so many questions and I could spend hours just asking them but I don't want to spend any other moment away from my loved ones. Hence, I will do whatever it takes to get back home!"

The Demon King responded with a warm smile, acknowledging Ty's determination, "Good, you will need that attitude when you will be heading down to Alexira. It used to be a prized possession of mine, one that I was proud to visit every few decades. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible."

Suddenly, the Demon King's demeanor shifted, and he continued, "But it's no longer the same place it used to be, and with the hundreds of other worlds I maintain, I can't afford to sacrifice any of them."

"I want you to understand that sending you down there could just end up with early death for you, and when that happens, your soul will naturally be recycled, and you will never achieve what you desire."

Ty crossed his arms, unfazed by what the Demon King just said, "That's fine then. Nothing ventured, nothing gained in the world of hell. To be honest, things have been too easy so far anyway. I will do whatever it takes to complete this task."

"So, where is the relic, anyway? All I have to do is retrieve it and get out, right? Is it in a broken tomb or hidden in a treasure room?"

The Demon King scratched his chin, giving a quick and honest answer, "I don't know for sure," he then shrugged his shoulders, which got quite a reaction out of Ty, as the guy yelled back at him, "I thought you had eyes everywhere! What's the deal with that?"

"Well, when the world fell, so did most of the animals and my resources to focus on the planet also faded in no time. I do plan to restore the world one day when I have finished my mission and regained my ability to leave this place. But for the time being, this is all I can do."

"The sudden appearance of a skeletal creature will probably attract unwanted attention, so take this watch. It will act as a disguise, and using some marvelous technologies my other daughter has been working on, it will also be able to simulate blood and other fun gory details but make sure the watch itself doesn't break, or the illusion will fall apart."

Ty tightened it around his bony wrist as it conformed and adjusted itself on his wrist before transforming his body into that of a young 19-year-old with long black hair, wearing a throw-over black jacket and a white shirt underneath.

The watch also changed with the icon of a skeleton on it before disappearing.

"And why can't I just use this and go to the Mortal Realm?"

"It won't conceal your energy, only your appearance, which is next to useless in the latter event."

"Well, time for you to –"

Suddenly, Elithira spoke up with her cheeks flushed red, yelling, "I will be going too!"

However, the Demon King swiftly rejected her.

"No, Elithira, I will not risk –"

"If he is going, I will also. You've barred me from going there for too long! I don't care if it's dangerous or not. I need to know how he's doing, and if he's still alive, I have to know."

"No, and I won't –"

Just as the Demon King was about to raise his voice in annoyance, he was interjected as Ty placed a hand on his shoulder, "It could be of benefit to the planet if it is in as bad shape as you say. We could, at the very least, provide a thorough data report, and with someone as strong as Elithira, I should have a bit of a better time down there, right?"

The Demon King relented, "Why do I feel like I have two kids begging to go on a trip? Fine. But if anything happens to her, that will be on you, and you will have to accept the responsibility for it."

"Wh-what, but I can't even –" He was cut off as the Demon King snapped his fingers, and an energy of blue aura enveloped the two. Elithira stood there, arms crossed under her chest, saying, "See you later, Father. Sorry for making you worry."

Within an instant, she vanished, and Ty found himself staring down at his hands.

Everything around him faded into darkness as he felt his body being hurtled through a vast black space at an incredible speed. Initially, the sensations were chaotic, and he tumbled helplessly through the abyss. However, as if being guided by some unseen force, he gradually began to regain his balance amidst the swirling darkness which seemed to be stretching and contorting the time itself.

As Ty steadied himself, he witnessed an awe-inspiring transformation occurring around him. The darkness morphed into a breathtaking celestial display. It was as though he had been transported to the front row of the universe's grandest theater.

Expanding galaxies, just like brilliant fireworks, were frozen in time, painting the cosmic canvas. Nebulas swirled and danced in an intricate ballet of colors, creating luminous clouds that stretched across the cosmic expanse.

Stars, which were clusters that were simply too many to count, shimmered with an ethereal glow. The entire spectacle was beyond comprehension, forming a mesmerizing symphony of light and color.

Ty's mind struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of what he was witnessing. He marveled at the infinite complexity and beauty of the cosmos, which left him feeling both insignificant and profoundly connected to the universe all at once. It was a sight that could not be described just with some words, leaving him with a sense of wonder and a single, persistent question: "How?"

Before his gaze could dwell on the cosmic marvels for too long, his attention was shifted to a colossal celestial body that was looming before him. It was a planet, but not just like any planet he had ever seen before.

It was a massive orb with a stunning mixture of vibrant greens and deep blues, just like a gemstone that was suspended right in the cosmos.

The planet's surface boasted a sprawling, circular landmass surrounded by crystal-clear oceans which glistened like liquid sapphires.

The sight of this breathtaking world held Ty in a state of reverence as if he had stumbled upon a paradise among the stars.

As he marveled at the planet's beauty, something like gravity began to exert its pull on him, like a gentle yet irresistible force. Panic briefly surged within him as he realized he was hurtling towards this celestial marvel, drawn by an unseen power.

With a sudden burst of realization, Ty frantically ignited the black flames on his back which erupted into a brilliant green and black spiral, resembling an over-the-top cosmic light show.

This caused his skeletal form to be contorted, with his green eyes flashing in time with the chaotic display.

As he careened through the cosmic void, a sense of utter helplessness washed over him. The spiraling flames seemed more like a malfunctioning firework display than what could be considered as a controlled descent. Panic clenched his nonexistent heart as he tumbled uncontrollably towards the planet's surface.

Moments later, with a crash that was more of a slapstick than awe-inspiring, Ty plummeted onto the planet's surface, his landing resulting in the formation of a comically oversized crater that was both astonishing and, oddly enough, quite amusing in its absurdity.

Lying amidst the scorched earth of the impact zone, Ty gazed up at the sky, which to him resembled Earth's blue and white expanse.

He couldn't help but muse, 'I feel like I should be in more pain. Haha, I guess having a skeleton body has some benefits, eh?'

He contemplated lying there a moment longer to take in the splendor of the alien world that lay before him. But his reverie was interrupted by the voice of a vibrant purple-haired woman, who stood nearby, gazing down at him.

"Elithira?" Ty uttered in astonishment.

The woman nodded and spoke with a hint of urgency, "Yeah, it's me. I'll explain on the way to town. Let's get moving on. We have to be quick because your cute little light show is bound to have attracted attention of some kind or the other."