Numerous creatures were flying through space, they fly in tight formation in one direction.

Almost all of them were Insectoid, a creature that not came from this universe. They are invaders that feast on any creature to reproduce in their body as a host.

And the rest of them, which is only one creature, have a massive elongated body, his structure similar to an eel, he has four sail-like pectoral fins and a silverly black horn, with 7500ft in length 50ft diameter, his elongated body covered with indigo scale.

He flew at the back of this march with the Queen of the swarm, her height is 8ft, her body somewhat humanoid with dragonfly wings and a wasp stinger on her back, she has a monolid eye but her iris covered in black she also has a bright yellow compound jewel on her forehead, her whole body covered in ashen's exoskeleton. She sits on a throne carried by her knight.

The eel stares at the swarm, thinking they’re his meal “Do. Not. Test my patient, Argmam!” the Queen stares coldly. “My children are not your food!” Argmam laughs at her cold stare.

“They sure look edible!”, the Queen summoned her gears and hit Argmam “I Warned You!”

Argmam body's was bent by her hit, his scales were destroyed, and yet he still laughed “It’s been years since I eat after all, ” Argamam smirked at her, his wound rapidly close and regenerating.

They see three giant gates from afar. The Queen stopped her children's march and stationed them nearby, she and Argmam investigate closer to the gates. In front of the gates was the statue of astrand in assemble surrounded by three giant gates.

As they move closer a voice greets them “We, are the Realm Gates. Only those who carry our blood may open these gates!”

Argmam open his mouth and bit the statue, but nothing happened, not a scratch.

“Surprising….” he look at the queen “Seran, hit it with your staff,” she nod at his request and summoned her staff, she jump and slam the statue with her staff, not a single dent was seen on the statue.

“We, are the Realm Gates. Only those who carry our blood may open these gates!” she frown hearing this, she felt insulted for not being able to destroy them, and this weak astrand dared to mock her!

Both of them listen carefully to those words and tries to open the gates but the gate won't open at all.

They kept trying, yet the result was still the same. After witnessing these gates does not get destroyed, the feeling of them getting sealed surfaces, knowing they might spend another eon in here.

“You do not carry our blood! You shall stay!”

Seran sends her minions to stay with every corner of this realm to find a way to other realms.

Argmam coils his body he empowers it with chaos element, he then slams his body against the gates and the statues, yet it is still not destroyed.

“You do not carry our blood! You shall stay!” Seran hit the statues “Shut up! I’ve freed myself from your prison once, this won’t be much different!” she also hit those gates.

“You do not carry our blood! Leave!” As if reacting to their hit, the statue's eyes glow and stare at them. “This realm shall be your prison, it will remain until we crumble!”

“Astrand! Your trickery won’t last this time! We’ll find a way to destroy these damned gates!” Argmam cursed as both of them kept on hitting the gates and statues.

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Both of them concluded to keep an eye on these gates, knowing they can’t destroy these gates for now. Even if they get sealed again, this time will be easier since there is tons of land to consume.

Yomi.

The Prince opens his eyes brown ceiling greets his eyes, currently, he’s lying on a futon. He pushes his hand against the bed trying to sit.

He was weak. opening the gate took a huge amount of his element.

He looks around him. The room was simple almost no furniture except his futon a vase on the corner of the room and a painting on the wall, the room was painted white, and several lanterns were hanging from the brown ceiling.

He kept on looking and noticed someone sitting a few feet away from him, he thought it was a painting. He got up and took his fist out “Don’t be afraid…. I…. am Shikome…. You….?” as her voice soothe him, he was still alerted by her presence but lowered his guard.

Her hair covers her face down to her body, hiding her face completely and most of her physique. He really thought it was just a painting, yet the second time he look at it again, it moved from the previous position.

She then slides the door beside her. A big eye peak into the room “Tell…. Izanami-sama… Her guest…. awake….” the big eye goes along with footsteps accompanying it, she then slides back the door.

The Prince moved to her front and then sit. he looks up at her head “I have no name….“ his expression look sour, ”I am the second Prince of Astrand.”

“Astrand….?” Shikome asked.

“It’s our species, we live in the fourth realm,” he answers looking at her.

The Prince looks at Shikome “Where is this?”

“Yomi…. Izanami-sama Castle….” Shikome answer.

“Yomi? That’s might the name of this realm,” he mumbles.

“So, what are you?” he asked.

“I…?” Shikome asked while pointing her finger at herself.

Before she could answer footsteps were heard outside the room, and the doors behind her were slid open.

A woman enters the room, she looks at Shikome “Shikome, Well done” Shikome bows to her.

“I… gratefull… for… your word… Matron…” as she said that, she went into the woman's shadow.

The woman look at the prince, she gracefully sits in front of him “Now I will ask you” she points at the prince with her hand fan.

“What are you? And why you are here?” she said sternly, leaving no room for excuses.

On the other hand, the Prince still looking at the woman confused. He sure met her before he lost consciousness, but he didn’t look at her face closely.

Now that he had seen her, he can't stop admiring her beauty. With her slender figure and ivory-white skin, she wore a beautiful black kimono decorated with a mix of white, red, and gold pattern, her long black hair reaching her knee.

“Beautiful… ” he mutter.

The women show a tiny smile, she stops pointing at him but looks straight into his eyes “let me repeat. My name is Izanami, and you are in my domain. Who are you?”

The Prince snape back at reality, “I’m Astrand. I mean no harm to you” he glances down as her red iris captive him.

“I still have questions for you. But,” she claps her hand. A servant with no facial features except her red lips and blackened teeth, her faceless face filled with thick white makeup. She enters the room carrying a tea set.

She sits in between Izanami and the Prince. She started burning the charcoal along with burning the incense, heating the room they were in fills it with pleasant smells.

She then handed a cup of sake and several colorful dumplings to each Izanami and the Prince.

Izanami drinks the sake gracefully. Seeing her drinking it the Prince also took a sip. his eyes wide, he asked for another sake to fill his cup.

Izanami assumes that he might never have any drink “Your kind don’t drink?”

“No, this is the first time,” he answers drinking his third cup.

“Your name?” she handed the cup to the servant.

“Don't have…” he mutters.

Izanami rise her eyebrow “Hmm….Does that mean your kind doesn’t have names?”

He put down his cake cup, “For my kind, any novice guardian who ran from a battle was considered as a disgrace and won’t be named. I’m not worthy to be named.”

“What are those gates?”

“I don’t know, the priests build them.” Izanami listens closely.

“Does your realm come from those gates?”

“Yes.” he reluctantly answers.

The servant pour hot water into the kettle and started kneading the bowls with the tea.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“Because I survive.” he grip his hand.

“Survive? From what?”

“….” he didn’t say anything.

Izanami frowned, “No wonder, I sense something unpleasant from that door.”

He looks at her beautiful face “I mean no harm to you and your people. What I need now, is to master my element and sealed those bastards back,” he tightens his grip.

He can’t run anymore now, he has to face them.

His mistake of running away from a battle.

His mistake thinking that his father and brother will win.

His mistake thinking he will not have to fight against them again.

His mistake was being saved by others at the cost of their life. He had enough of running. This time he will come prepared.

She look into his eyes, “Understood. I will call you by name, Kenji. “ he felt confused at her words, as she suddenly named him.

“If those creatures you said are a threat, that means you mastering your element will be the key.” she continue unbothered by his response.

The servant pour the hot water into the bowls, then served it to Izanami and Kenji.

“Kenji, I welcome you into my domain,” she drinks her bowls of green tea.

He responds smiling and drinking his tea.