Read Novel Full Chapter 594: Back to life 1
Chapter 594: Back to life 1
The immense pressure filling the throne room receded until only the quiet dignity of the palace remained.
Lucas stood silently, still absorbing everything that had transpired.
His death.
His journey through the Underworld.
The truth about the escaped Keeper.
The mission.
The power now resting within his soul.
Everything had changed.
The Lord of the Underworld slowly returned to his obsidian throne.
As he sat, the vast chamber seemed to settle once more into timeless stillness.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then the Lord’s ancient voice echoed gently through the hall.
“Our audience has come to an end.”
Lucas immediately lowered his head respectfully.
“My Lord.”
The Lord turned his hidden gaze toward the radiant Keeper standing quietly nearby.
“This Keeper shall occasionally descend to the mortal realm.”
The Keeper bowed deeply.
“I obey.”
The Lord continued.
“She shall guide you when guidance is permitted.”
“She shall answer questions when answers do not disturb the balance.”
“She shall observe.”
“But understand this, Lucas.”
The crimson lights beneath the dark shroud seemed to intensify.
“She is not your shield.”
“She is not your weapon.”
“She will not fight your battles.”
“The path you now walk is yours alone.”
Lucas nodded solemnly.
“I understand.”
The Keeper smiled faintly.
“When the time is right…”
she said softly,
“…I shall find you.”
Lucas looked toward her and returned the smile.
“Then I will be grateful for your guidance.”
The Keeper inclined her head gracefully.
The Lord spoke once more.
“You now possess knowledge that no living mortal should.”
“You have stood before the Throne of the Dead.”
“You have learned truths hidden from kingdoms.”
“Reveal them carelessly…”
“…and the balance you seek to preserve may itself be endangered.”
Lucas’s expression became serious.
“I will guard these secrets.”
The Lord regarded him silently for a moment before giving a slight nod.
“I know.”
Another silence followed.
Lucas slowly drew a deep breath.
Then he knelt upon one knee before the throne.
“My Lord.”
The immense chamber echoed with his voice.
“I accept the duty you have entrusted to me.”
“I will hunt the rebel.”
“I will bring justice to the Keeper who abandoned his sacred office.”
“I will uncover the truth behind the usurpers.”
“And I will do everything within my power to restore balance to the world of the living.”
The Keeper watched him with quiet approval.
The Lord remained motionless.
“You swear this of your own will?”
“I do.”
“You understand that success does not free you from death?”
Lucas answered without hesitation.
“I do.”
“You understand that when your appointed time arrives…”
“…your soul shall return to this realm?”
Lucas lowered his head further.
“I understand.”
“I have already died twice.”
“If my remaining time can save countless others…”
“Then I accept that fate.”
The throne room became perfectly silent.
Then the Lord spoke one final time on the matter.
“So witnessed.”
Lucas slowly rose.
A warmth spread through his heart.
For the first time since awakening in the Underworld…
Hope returned.
Not merely because he had been given a mission.
But because he was going home.
He thought of Valerion and Lechia.
Of the people mourning him.
Of the Empress blaming herself.
Of King Highmoor.
Of Elder Gideon and Lady Mariana.
Most of all…
He thought of Lira.
Selene.
Princess Nyx.
Henrietta.
And the Ice Belle.
He pictured them weeping beside his lifeless body.
A quiet determination filled his heart.
Wait for me.
I’m coming back.
Then another thought entered his mind.
Khan.
The man who had broken his neck before the eyes of an empire.
The one who believed he had won.
Lucas slowly closed his hand into a fist.
There was no blind rage in his heart.
Only resolve.
“When I return…”
he said quietly,
“I will bring Khan to justice.”
“He will answer for what he has done.”
“And the usurpers…”
His eyes hardened.
“They believe they have removed the greatest obstacle in their path.”
“They believe the world has already mourned its defender.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“They are wrong.”
The Lord of the Underworld listened in silence.
Lucas looked once more toward the great throne.
“My Lord…”
“Thank you.”
“Not merely for returning me…”
“But for entrusting me with a purpose greater than my own life.”
The Lord answered simply.
“Purpose is not given.”
“It is accepted.”
Lucas nodded.
He understood.
The Keeper stepped beside him.
“The path back to the living has already been prepared.”
She extended one graceful hand toward him.
Before following her, Lucas cast one last look at the vast throne room.
The palace.
The endless blue flames.
The ancient throne.
And the mysterious Lord whose face remained forever hidden beneath a veil of darkness.
He knew this was not a farewell.
One day…
Whether triumphant or defeated…
Whether after years or decades…
He would stand in this hall again.
Because death had already claimed him.
His return to the mortal realm was only a borrowed chapter.
And when that chapter finally reached its end…
The Underworld would welcome him.
The Keeper led Lucas away from the throne room.
Neither of them spoke.
There was nothing more that needed to be said.
They walked through the endless corridors of the Palace of the Underworld, past towering obsidian pillars and silent blue flames that burned without heat. Every soul they encountered immediately stepped aside, lowering their heads before the Keeper as she passed.
Eventually, they arrived before a vast circular platform suspended over an endless abyss.
Its surface was covered in countless ancient runes that pulsed with silver light.
Lucas instinctively knew what it was.
“The passage…”
The Keeper nodded.
“It is.”
She turned to face him.
For the first time since they had met, her serene smile carried a trace of warmth.
“You are fortunate, Lucas.”
He looked at her curiously.
“Very few souls are ever granted a second journey.”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“I won’t waste it.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
Raising one delicate hand, she gently touched the center of his forehead.
Immediately, the silver markings hidden within his soul answered her.
They glowed brilliantly.
“When you awaken…”
she said softly,
“everything will feel different.”
“The authority bestowed upon you will require time to settle.”
“Do not rush to understand it.”
“It will reveal itself when needed.”
Lucas nodded.
“And…”
He hesitated.
“The people I left behind…”
“They’re suffering.”
A shadow of sadness crossed the Keeper’s beautiful face.
“They are.”
“But suffering is the price the living pay for love.”
She smiled gently.
“Perhaps that suffering is nearing its end.”
Lucas drew a deep breath.
“Thank you.”
The Keeper lowered her hand.
“Our paths will cross again.”
“When balance requires it.”
Lucas bowed respectfully.
“I’ll be waiting.”
The Keeper stepped backward.
She slowly raised both hands.
The countless runes beneath Lucas’s feet awakened one after another until the entire platform shone like a field of stars.
The surrounding darkness began to tremble.
Space itself distorted.
A brilliant column of silver light descended from the crimson heavens of the Underworld.
It completely enveloped Lucas.
His body gradually became translucent.
The Keeper watched him calmly.
“The living still believe they have buried their hope.”
Her voice echoed gently through the light.
“Go.”
“And remind them…”
“…that justice has not yet finished its work.”
The light erupted.
Lucas disappeared.
…
…
…
Back in the Imperial Palace of Lechia…
The chamber remained cloaked in sorrow.
Heavy curtains had been drawn across the windows, dimming the afternoon light until only dozens of candles illuminated the room with a soft golden glow.
Lucas lay peacefully upon the stone table.
His body had been carefully prepared.
Fresh white robes covered him.
His hands remained folded neatly upon his chest.
His face had been washed clean of every trace of blood.
He looked almost peaceful.
As though he had merely fallen asleep.
The white cloth that had covered him earlier had now been folded back as attendants quietly completed the final preparations before wrapping his body for the funeral rites.
Every servant present worked with trembling hands.
Many secretly wiped tears from their eyes.
No one wished to believe this would be the final time they looked upon the young hero.
Lira remained beside the table.
She refused to move.
One hand gently rested upon Lucas’s arm.
She stared at his peaceful face without blinking.
“…Wake up…”
she whispered.
Her voice was barely audible.
“You’ve slept long enough…”
Nothing answered her.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Selene stood beside her.
She carefully adjusted a fold in Lucas’s robe, as though worried he might somehow be uncomfortable.
Then she smiled weakly.
“You always hated sleeping in formal clothes…”
Her smile broke.
Fresh tears rolled down her face.
“…so please…”
“…complain.”
“Say something.”
Her words dissolved into sobs.
Princess Nyx gently brushed several loose strands of hair away from Lucas’s forehead.
She had done it countless times before.
This time…
There was no teasing remark.
No embarrassed smile from him.
Only silence.
Henrietta stood at the foot of the table.
She kept shaking her head.
“No…”
she whispered repeatedly.
“This isn’t real.”
“It can’t be.”
Every few moments she expected Lucas to suddenly open one eye and laugh, telling everyone it had been some elaborate joke.
He never did.
Even the Ice Belle stood quietly beside the table.
She looked down at Lucas for a long time.
Then, with trembling fingers, she gently tucked the white cloth around him as though shielding him from the cold.
“He always worried…”
she whispered softly.
“…about everyone else.”
Her voice almost disappeared.
“I wish…”
“…someone could have protected him.”
The room fell silent once more.
The attendants finally approached with the ceremonial burial cloth.
Their movements were painfully slow.
One elderly attendant wiped away his tears before speaking.
“Forgive us…”
His voice trembled.
“It is time.”
With the greatest reverence, they prepared to wrap Lucas’s body according to the ancient rites of Lechia.
None of the girls moved away.
They remained gathered around him, tears falling freely as they watched the heartbreaking ritual begin, each silently praying for the impossible miracle they had longed for ever since the arena.
A miracle that, to all who stood within that chamber…
Seemed destined never to come.