"I have laid out the entirety of my story," I declared, directing my gaze towards Gary.

Seated around a table in Gary’s office, we sat side by side while he occupied the head of the table. Cheryl was also present, adding to the tension that permeated the air. I had recounted and shared with Gary every detail of our journey—from the encounter with the tarantula in Robhurst Grove, our adventure in Kipduff Mountain, our imprisonment in Avylrath, the revelation of Elsie being a dweller, to the battle in Niafell.

"I received word from Davy and Cliff, those kids, that you had reached the first respite zone. I was worried when you didn’t return promptly, but I’m relieved you finally made it," Gary began in a raspy tone.

"But under what circumstances..." Gary’s voice trailed off, and his face creased with a frown.

"Did you already know about the state of the Limbos and the plans of the Void Order?" I asked, hoping to find the answers I sought from the beginning.

He paused, taking a moment to choose his words carefully before responding.

"It pains me to admit that I was aware of it, but I couldn’t prevent it. We at H.A.D.E.S. are doing our best to protect the Venturers from the malevolence of that wretched order. Four of the compounds have indeed collapsed, but we managed to evacuate most of the Venturers before the incidents. Since then, the entrances to those limbos were sealed forever, and the realms began to crumble, with their dwellers, settings, and wildlife gradually disintegrating," he concluded.

Despair settled upon us as we contemplated the loss of those beautiful realms, their inhabitants, and everything else wiped away from the face of the Earth.

"What should I do now?" I implored Gary, feeling lost amidst the multitude of paths that lay before me.

I could continue the will of Baek, the Herald, and strive to become a Herald myself while protecting Limbo. However, that would mean sacrificing my chance to return to Earth. I embarked on this journey to explore the unknown with unbridled freedom, and that "freedom" would be stripped away from me.

Alternatively, I could disregard the responsibility and proceed at my own pace, but that would leave the fate of Compound 009 in the hands of others.

I didn’t consider myself strong. Compared to the countless paladins of Limbo, I was weak, and they could fulfil the role better than I could. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I didn’t take on this responsibility, something terrible would occur.

Gary paused, lost in deep contemplation. After a moment, he continued, his voice filled with somberness.

"Wall, I granted you permission to enter that place because of Baek Hyun, the Ninth Herald. He was one of the most powerful Heralds to have ever existed, and I believed that while he was alive, no one would dare to touch Compound 009," he began.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"And my belief proved true. He managed to incapacitate Indikar, and, despite exhausting himself, he succeeded in killing the leader of the Voidshades with some assistance. He will forever be remembered as the greatest hero of the 9th Limbo. Gary’s voice grew louder, signalling the impending declaration of something significant.

"But now that he is gone... I cannot bear to let you continue any further. There seems to be a connection between you and the Void Order, and who knows what might go wrong? How will I face your grandfather in the afterword if I allow you to perish there?" The authoritative and intimidating figure of Gary seemed to diminish, revealing a worried old man concerned for his grandson-like figure.

"But…" Before I could interject, he stood up, signalling something with his gesture.

"You don’t have to carry this burden. Live the rest of your life with happiness. I will take care of everything. You don’t need to put yourself in danger anymore." A faint smile appeared on his face, concealing his true emotions. Behind that gentle smile, there seemed to be a heavy burden he had shouldered.

"Wallace Garret, I hereby revoke your title as a Venturer," he concluded, his smile fading, replaced by a look of determination.

"No… I have to…" I stood there, surrounded by guards who had closed in, ready to escort me out.

Determined to escape, I attempted to make a run for it, but a guard with a broad chest blocked my path. Strangely, I felt lighter, and his movements appeared to slow down. I managed to dodge him before he could halt me, but the exit was now guarded by a line of larger guards.

"The effects of honing sol... Gary’s voice came from behind me.

Elsie and Kei were also trapped, surrounded by guards, and unable to take any action.

Please listen to me!" I pleaded, about to make my final appeal, but before I could finish, something struck me from behind, and I lost consciousness.

***

As my consciousness returned, I found myself lying on my bed, recollecting what had transpired.

"I’m… back!" I surveyed my surroundings and confirmed that I was indeed back at my place on Earth.

I searched my house but found nothing out of the ordinary. Everything was exactly as I had left it. Moreover, not a speck of dust could be seen on anything, as if someone had taken care of the house while I was away.

The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

"Elsie…" I uttered this as I laid eyes on Elsie, dressed in one of my t-shirts and shorts.

"Ah… Your clothes caught my attention, so I borrowed them from your wardrobe. Earth is truly amazing. I have never seen such a densely populated place before," she responded.

"What happened?" I inquired, uncertain of the events following my loss of consciousness at the lakefront.

"They gave Kei and me a choice: to live on Earth or to return to Limbo. We decided to stay on earth for a while before deciding our course of action. Kei was escorted to his homeland, and I was given the option to stay with either of you. You need someone by your side during this phase, and I still owe you for allowing me to become a Venturer. So, I decided to stay with you for now." She started.

"They escorted us to a flying artefact called a ‘jet.’ We arrived here just a day ago. Since then, you’ve been asleep. Surprisingly, knowledge of Earth’s items has been ingrained in my mind, and I also have some knowledge from my father, so I have managed to adjust here." She finished.

"Help me escape!" Without hesitation, I reached for my belongings, preparing to flee this place and reenter Limbo. However, this was not a path I had willingly chosen, as I was currently powerless and unable to take action.

"It’s no use. They have surveillance and guards in place to prevent you from doing that," she replied, shattering my hopes.

"By the way, I’m not staying in this house. They assigned me to the house next door," she added, revealing the arrangement made by H.A.D.E.S.

The neighbouring house had always been empty. H.A.D.E.S. must have purchased it for Elsie.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Worry and displeasure reflected on my face, making me unsure of the path that lay ahead.