Abyss Draconis

"Let me guess, you saw in the vision that the end battle would happen in Grade E, right?" Ryuk asked as Old Jack nodded his head.

"So you evacuated them? Or were they all slaughtered by the Knulls that descended on Grade E?" he asked, and he replied.

"They were evacuated. All of them," he said, and Ryuk unconsciously exhaled a sigh of relief.

When he had arrived in Grade E back then, he had not sensed a single different soul apart from the Knulls, and he had thought they had probably all been slaughtered by them.

But to hear they had been evacuated was quite the relief.

"But aren't they all prisoners? Where are they now?" he asked, as Old Jack shrugged.

"The ones that aren't human among them have returned to their worlds, and the humans are being given a new chance at life—although under very strict watchings..." he said, as Ryuk nodded, though his brow lifted slightly at the words.

"Returned to their world? I don't understand. Like, returned to their cities or something?" he asked, but Old Jack shook his head,

"No. They have been—" he was saying when,

VROOOOOOOOOOOM

Suddenly, a bright wave of light shot into the distant sky, seizing Ryuk's attention as he turned toward the northern horizon.

His gaze shimmered with astonished light as he noticed Endearthians rising within the billowing pillar of energy, disappearing into what seemed to be a crack that had opened in the sky.

"What is that?"He muttered aloud, as Old Jack turned his attention too, though with noticeably less surprise.

"That is the portal to their worlds. I don't know how, but just after you defeated Zar'kul, a rift tore out through the entire world, appearing in all the skies."

"Then the footage of a figure concealed in milky white light that hid his features appeared."

"His words summarized that anyone of any race who wished to return to their true world could do so through one of the seven Runic Portals situated across all the grades."

"You do know, apart from the humans, the other races don't belong to Endearth, right?" he asked, and Ryuk nodded.

"Yes. I heard they were all brought here. And according to Aster, she stated something similar—something along the lines of them being transported back once they completed their mission."

"I... I just never thought it would actually happen," he said, slowly nodding.

"All of the other races in Grade E have already left for their true worlds."

"And most people are deciding to return back as well, instead of staying here on Endearth..." he added, as Ryuk's gaze gleamed thoughtfully.

'Finally, the control of Endearth will return to the humans. Just what MadWhite was fighting for...' he thought silently to himself, before his mind turned again.

'That reminds me of him. MadWhite. I wonder if he's still in his castle...' he pondered inwardly before voicing it.

"So... it's all over now? The war, the deaths, the lower races' subjugation by the Ten Families?"

"Everyone's returning, and it's all... over?" he asked, as Old Jack nodded slowly.

"It's over, Ryuk. The chaos is all over. The death of Zar'kul brought an end to it all."

"And you never have to worry about the Knulls reappearing. Because two months ago, they descended once again onto Endearth."

"They called themselves emissaries of the Celestial Races and marked Endearth to under their watch now."

"You could say, the humans can finally get a breather..." he muttered, as Ryuk stood in reflective silence for a long moment before smiling faintly.

"It was worth it... It was worth it once more," he mused to himself, before Old Jack's attention turned to him.

"When will you be leaving, Ryuk?" he asked, as Ryuk turned to him before replying.

"Now," he replied, locking eyes with him before he was asked,

"Can I ask you for just one more favor? Please remain with Morgaine... for just a while." He begged, but Ryuk's eyes only furrowed.

"Did you ever tell her that all the love we shared was a set-up ploy of yours?"

"Yes, I did. Two months ago."

"And what did she say about that?" he asked, as he turned away.

"Nothing. She said nothing."

"But her actions were louder. For the four months you remained in slumber, she had been by your side every single day."

"She never stepped out of that room, not even once..."

"It might all be fake. You might feel it's all fake, since it was essentially set up."

"But right now, it's more real to Morgaine than I ever could be."

"If you leave now, I'm afraid... I'm afraid she would never be the same," he said, as Ryuk's eyes narrowed with a mix of conflict and pain.

"I thought she was never there when I needed her the most..." he muttered, as Old Jack shook his head.

"All that happened was never her choice. Many times she tried to leave the castle, but was held back by her mother. She was essentially imprisoned there, never allowed to leave."

"It was never because she didn't want to help, or just coldly watched from the throne as you suffered and did nothing. She just couldn't do anything... even when she tried to."

"If anything, I should be the one to be blamed for it all..." he whispered.

"So please, remain for some time at least..."

"One last meeting, if you will..." he pleaded, as Ryuk looked on quietly before rising to his feet.

"I guess she deserves some explanation too..." he said, and Old Jack watched him stand before rising as well.

"Then come. Be my guest..." he said, as they both floated up into the sky, turning into beams of light that pierced the air, moving back toward the direction of the Eclipsed Citadel.

______

"I am sorry, Half-Fallen One..."The words rang out in a dining room that pulsed with warmth.

At a golden marble table built to seat a family, four seats were occupied by four individuals.

They were none other than Old Jack seated at one end, with the Half-Fallen One directly opposite him.

Ryuk sat beside Old Jack, across from Morgaine, who was seated next to the Half-Fallen One.

Dishes were arranged neatly before the group, who ate in solemn silence, until finally, he decided to break the faint pressure in the room.