Arthur stood alone for a moment after arriving back in Thyrandel, his surroundings were quiet, the familiar flow of mana in the air was a stark contrast to the dense spiritual energy of the Immortal Realm.
The shift was immediate and the sense of danger that was always present in the immortal world was gone, replaced by a safe haven for someone of his power level as he was the strongest being on the planet at the moment.
His previous conjecture was correct, as long as he didn't use powerlevel exceeding what a demigod was capable of, he wouldn't be thrown out of the world. But then a question arose, won't the gods of this world be able to roam this world free if they restrained their power. Was he an exception since he didn't belong to this world or there was a different reason behind it.
He shook his head to remove these thoughts for now, he would understand everything when the time is right. Because currently he needed to pay attention to something else, to the Obelisk that was still in his hands.
He released it and it enlarged as it hovered before him. The structure remained as imposing as ever, its dark surface etched with faint, shifting patterns that glowed intermittently. Yet for the first time since he had begun using it, something felt… different.
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly as his perception extended toward it, analyzing the internal systems that powered the artifact. The Obelisk had always functioned with near-limitless efficiency, its energy reserves were seemingly inexhaustible.
It drew power from two primary sources, the Quantum Black Hole Generator and the Dark Energy Harvester, both of which continuously supplied it with vast amounts of energy. Until now, every time he opened an interdimensional gate, the consumed energy would replenish almost instantly, as if the cost had never existed in the first place.
But this time… Arthur could clearly sense it. A portion of the Obelisk's energy reserves had been drained, and it was not by a trivial amount.
After he used it to return to Thyranel from the immortal cultivation world, nearly a tenth of the energy was consumed in the process of creating the interdimensional bridge.
His gaze sharpened as he studied the energy level more carefully, tracing the residual signatures left behind by the recent activation.
"The laws of that world…" he muttered under his breath.
The Immortal Realm was fundamentally different from other dimensions. Its spatial stability, its dimensional integrity, even the resistance of its laws were far stronger than the worlds he had previously traversed. Creating a bridge between that world and Thyrandel required significantly more power, enough that even the Obelisk could not instantly compensate for the expenditure.
Arthur exhaled slowly, his thoughts settling into clarity. "So it's not limitless after all."
But it wasn't a problem, yet. The Obelisk was already replenishing its energy at a steady rate, the Quantum Black Hole Generator and Dark Energy Harvester working continuously to restore what had been consumed. But even with those systems, he estimated it would take close to a month to fully recover the energy lost from that single jump.
That changed things. Until now, he had treated interdimensional travel as something he could use freely, and without consequence. But if he continued to rely on it recklessly, there was a real possibility of exhausting its reserves entirely.
And that… was not a risk he was willing to take. Arthur waved his hand, and the Obelisk vanished into his storage.
"Guess I'll have to be a bit more careful from now on."
With that thought, he teleported above Avalon, and his senses expanded across its cities.
And it didn't take him long to find Selene. A faint smile appeared on his face as he locked onto her presence, and the next moment, his figure blurred and vanished from the sky.
…
The shopping district of Avalon was filled with positive energy as people were happily chatting and shopping.
Bright lights illuminated the massive structure at its center, a sprawling mall that had become one of the busiest places in the city. Rows upon rows of shops displayed everything from elegant clothing to advanced equipment, from exotic food items to handcrafted accessories. People moved through the wide corridors in steady streams, their voices blending into a lively chatter that filled the space.
Inside one of the luxurious clothing stores, a group of familiar figures stood near a display rack.
"Oh my god, Selene, look at this!" Lisa exclaimed, her eyes practically sparkling as she held up a ruby-colored one piece dress. "This would look so good on you."
The dress flowed smoothly in her hands, its deep ruby color fabric was smooth to the touch and was eye-catching.
Selene stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly against the material. The texture was soft, and undeniably luxurious. She hesitated for a moment before asking quietly, "Do you think Arthur would like it?"
Sophia immediately smirked. "Like it? Any man would fall flat seeing you in that."
Eva nodded without hesitation. "She's not wrong."
Natalya gave an approving thumbs up. "Buy it."
Selene's cheeks warmed slightly at their reactions, though she didn't deny it. After a brief moment, she nodded softly, allowing Lisa to drag her toward the counter with clear excitement.
The group continued shopping for a while, moving from store to store, their conversations were light and filled with casual laughter. It was only when they finally stepped out of the mall that things changed.
Selene was the first to notice him.
Arthur stood a short distance away, leaning casually against a pillar, his posture relaxed as if he had been waiting there for a while. He also noticed them, he didn't want to interrupt their shopping so he waited for them to come outside.
Lisa blinked. "Since when was he there?"
Arthur pushed himself off the pillar and walked toward them as they approached.
"So," he said casually, his gaze flicking briefly toward the shopping bags in their hands, "what's the occasion?"
Sophia snorted. "Why do we need an occasion to shop?"
Arthur shrugged. "Fair point."
The others quickly exchanged knowing glances before quietly making themselves scarce, leaving Selene alone with him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Selene hesitated slightly, then said, "My great-grandfather wants to meet you."
Arthur raised a brow. "Was that why he called you back a few days ago?"
Selene shook her head, her expression shifting into mild frustration. "No… that's not the only reason. My father was trying to arrange another marriage for me."
Arthur blinked once, then let out a quiet sigh. "Again?"
She nodded. "Some prince this time."
Arthur rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Didn't he already have some arrangement with Vaelrond, Dragon King of Ashenfang?"
Selene's expression darkened slightly. "He did, but after you killed Roderic… and scared off Vaelrond, their relationship was strained."
Arthur tilted his head in confusion. "Why is he so determined to marry you off?"
Selene sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she answered. "Probably politics, he's next in line for the throne, so he wants to expand his influence by creating new connections."
Arthur hummed softly. "Makes sense."
There was a brief pause before he asked, "When does your great-grandfather want to meet?"
"Anytime you're free," she replied. "We can go tomorrow."
Arthur nodded. "Alright."
Their hands brushed lightly as they began walking back, and after a moment, he reached out and held hers as they reached their residence.
…
The next morning arrived quietly.
Arthur and Selene prepared for the meeting, both dressed more formally than usual. When they stepped outside, Selene teleported them.
And the next moment, they stood in Eldraheim. They appeared in front of a grand mansion, it was Selene's residence whenever she returned to the capital. Without wasting time, she led him forward, and soon they were airborne, crossing the distance to the royal castle in less than a minute.
The castle stood tall and imposing, its structure radiating authority and history.
Inside, Selene guided him through wide corridors until they reached the dining hall. It was still early, and several maids were finishing preparations, placing dishes and arranging the table with practiced precision.
Eveline was already seated.
She looked up as they entered and smiled faintly. "You're here. Sit, father will be here shortly."
Arthur and Selene took their seats side by side. Just as Selene was about to speak, the doors opened again.
A middle-aged man walked in with an easy stride. The moment his eyes landed on Arthur, his face broke into a wide grin.
"So," he said, laughing heartily, "I finally get to meet the man who scared off Vaelrond!"
Everyone stood out of respect, but he waved it off immediately as he walked forward, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"No need for that," he said. "I'm not about to make someone stronger than me stand on ceremony."
Arthur still gave a slight bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, Your Highness."
King Theros sighed dramatically. "Again with the formalities…"
He took his seat at the head of the table, then glanced at Selene and Arthur sitting close together. A knowing smile spread across his face.
"So," he said casually, "when are you planning to marry my precious Selene?"
Selene froze and a heavy blush rushed to her face instantly, and she instinctively glanced at Arthur from the corner of her eye. Arthur simply smiled and gently squeezed her hand.
From the side, Eveline immediately intervened. "Father! They're still young. Let them decide that themselves."
Theros chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, yes… I was just asking."
He shifted the topic smoothly, his tone becoming more serious. "I heard you've established something near the human continent. An island was it?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes, my intention was to provide a refuge to people affected by the war with the demons. But it has developed quite a bit in just a few decades."
Theros leaned back slightly, considering. "Hmm, say are you open for trade with us? I heard you recently had an agreement with the Elven kingdom."
Arthur didn't hesitate. "I have no problem with that, actually the more kingdoms we trade with the better it is for us."
Theros grinned. "Good, I like that answer."
The conversation shifted naturally as food was served. Between bites, they discussed trade routes, resources, and potential exchanges.
And through it all, Selene remained seated beside Arthur, her hand still in his, as if quietly confirming something she didn't need to say out loud.
***
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