Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss

The two of them struggled hard, but their bodies couldn't move. The shadows were too strong. Their mana flared, but even that wasn't enough. They were being buried alive by darkness.

Then, like a gust of hope— A bright gold light flew down from the sky.

It was Alexa.

Her eyes sharp, her weapon still glowing from earlier, she landed between them with a hard stomp, slashing her merged golden blade through the shadow tendrils that wrapped around Daewon and Gideon.

The dark vines screeched like they were alive, breaking apart as her blade cut them with light magic. Daewon and Gideon breathed heavily, finally free, but Alexa didn't stop.

She ran forward, her blade held tight.

The tendrils came after her next, striking like snakes, but she dodged low, rolled under one, slashed upward to cut the next, and leapt onto the side of the dragon's massive shoulder, climbing fast toward the head.

She had only one thing in her mind. She had to get to Seoha and Ji-eun.

Alexa jumped high into the air, her golden weapon glowing bright like a shooting star, and with all her strength, she aimed straight for the dragon's massive head.

The wind howled in her ears as she closed the distance, her body cutting through the sky, and then with a fierce yell she drove her blade straight down into the top of the shadow dragon's head.

The blade pierced through the thick dark scales with a flash of golden light, and the massive dragon let out a painful roar that echoed across the entire battlefield.

Its wings shook, and the sky trembled as the sound waves hit everything below. Alexa gritted her teeth, trying to push the blade even deeper, using both hands, her body glowing from the mana she poured into it.

But then something shot out of the dragon's neck, a large shadow tendril moving faster than a whip, and it struck Alexa hard in the side of her waist.

The force was so strong that before she could hold on, the impact sent her flying.

Her weapon was knocked from her hands in the air.

The golden blade split apart in midair back into the two swords it was made of both falling far below toward the broken battlefield.

"Aaah!" Alexa cried out as she spun through the air, her body tumbling, the pain in her side burning hot. Blood dripped from her waist as she tried to catch herself, arms out, trying to slow her fall.

The dragon roared again, this time angrier, its head shaking side to side to throw off the pain from the earlier strike.

Her body spinning, a shadow tendril suddenly shot up toward her again, aiming to strike her while able to hold on.

Her eyes widened, knowing she couldn't block it in time. Gritting her teeth, she let go of everything, stopped resisting, and allowed herself to fall freely, faster, hoping to avoid the tendril's reach.

Then suddenly arms caught her midair.

She gasped.

Alexa looked up, surprised, and saw a young boy, maybe around ten or twelve, with messy dark hair and a wide grin on his face.

He was floating in the air with ease, holding her gently in his arms like she weighed nothing. His eyes sparkled with playful mischief as he tilted his head.

"You okay, pretty lady?" he asked with a wink.

Alexa was too shocked and exhausted to answer. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

The boy glanced below them and then made a silly face. "Oh-oh. He's angry," he said in a sing-song voice, "We have to move away!"

With that, he floated away from the battle zone, moving smoothly through the air with his own power, avoiding falling debris and shadow tendrils that chased them for a moment before giving up.

He headed toward the kingdom walls and gently landed beside a large piece of stone near the main gate, setting Alexa down carefully.

"There," he said, crouching beside her, his hand glowing slightly as he reached for her side, where she had been hit.

He winked again. "Don't worry, my lady. I don't have healing powers—but I can give you some mana to help speed up your own healing. Pretty cool, right?"

Alexa winced but managed a small nod as she felt a warm wave of energy flow into her body, easing some of the pain in her waist. Her breathing slowed a little.

Then her eyes widened again. "Auntie…" she muttered weakly.

She turned her head, searching. "Where's Auntie Lauren?"

Her eyes darted around until she finally saw Lauren below, standing near some rubble, looking worried and tense.

Alexa followed Lauren's gaze and saw that she was staring straight into the sky… at the dragon… or at something else.

Alexa flinched when she tried to stand up, pain shooting through her side again. She clutched the ground, sweat forming on her forehead.

"Seojun!" Alexa whispered, heart pounding again.

The boy beside her tilted his head and looked in the same direction, his grin fading just a little.

"Looks like something big is about to happen," he said softly.

Lauren stood still, her body now fully healed, the green glow from earlier fading from her fingertips. But her heart wasn't calm. Her eyes were fixed upward, and her lips parted slightly in both awe and concern as she whispered, "Seojun…"

It was her first time seeing her son like this—angry, and that anger showed in the sky, in the heavy air, in the strange silence that followed.

Then suddenly, a cheerful voice chirped from beside her, pulling her attention away.

"Hiiiiii~ So you're my prince's mother?" said a small girl with long hair that shimmered like moonlight, eyes that sparkled with star-like light, and a smile so wide it made her look innocent… and yet, something about her presence made the ground feel lighter.

Lauren blinked and looked down at the girl who was now holding the edge of her dress like a child introducing herself. "I'll call you 'Mom' from now on!" the girl said happily, hugging Lauren's side like a long-lost daughter.

Lauren was surprised, her body stiffening a bit. "Wait—who are you, little one?"

Before the girl could answer, fast footsteps approached from behind, and the Crown Prince, Callan, came into view.

He was rushing, his armor scratched, his cape fluttering, his sword at his side, clearly running over to check on Lauren's condition after seeing her earlier injury.

"Lady Lauren, are you—!"

He stopped mid-sentence the moment he laid eyes on the girl standing beside her.

His golden eyes widened, and he froze for a moment before dropping to one knee, head bowed deeply.

"Y-Your Grace," he said with a trembling voice, one hand pressed to the ground. "It is truly you…"

Lauren blinked, confused. "Huh? You know her?"

The girl giggled. "Oh? You remember me, little prince? I missed you!"

Callan's voice shook as he replied, "You… you vanished three years ago. The spirit who guarded our kingdom… the one who whispered to the royal bloodline and shielded the palace with blessings…"

He looked up, eyes still wide. "You finally returned! But where have you been?"

The girl tilted her head playfully and looked up at the sky, her smile fading just slightly.

"Because my prince came and saved me from that Cursed forest," she said softly. "And he's very, very angry."

Lauren's eyes widened again as the sky began to shimmer slightly with energy dark and golden swirling together.

She tightened her grip on her staff, her voice low.

"Seojun… what are you going to do?"