Conquering the underworld with my beautiful dragon wives-Chapter 32: the key to the path ahead

Everything felt like it had frozen. In that hall filled with raw energy, Ethan stood still, the green light from the crystal now flowing toward him like a river. His sword started shaking in his grip—like it was getting ready. Ready for whatever was coming.

A drop of sweat rolled down Ethan’s temple. The voices came back. His father’s voice. Fayra’s screams. Selena’s laughter.

"I was never special... never powerful..."

But then—

A new voice.

"You still don’t know who you are, Ethan. But this... this is the beginning."

That voice... came from the sword.

Ethan’s eyes widened. The blade was glowing now like a star. Bright lines of light stretched from the hilt to the edge. And the moment he stepped into the circle of light, the ground beneath him started shaking.

The crystal suddenly shattered, and a wave of pure energy burst out. It shot straight into Ethan’s chest. His whole body lit up. It was like green light was flowing through his veins. In that moment, something inside him snapped—some barrier... some wall...

And then—

Boom.

Everything went white. The whole chamber exploded with light. Ethan floated in the center of it, barely breathing. But he felt stronger. Like something had woken up. Something real.

A strange symbol formed on his hand. A glowing green mark that seemed to move on its own.

"What... is this?!"

The voice returned.

"This is your power. The power of the Soul Blade. You’ve awakened... but this is only the beginning."

Meanwhile, outside the cave...

Fayra sat on a rock, her chin resting in her hand.

"How much longer do we have to wait? I’m losing it..."

Luna was standing by a tree, angrily messing with the leaves.

"What if something happened? That guy’s just standing there watching. I can’t just sit here!"

Selena, eyes closed, was reaching out with her senses.

"I feel something... something in the world has changed."

Alice, who’d been quiet the whole time, softly said,

"I just hope... when he comes back, he’s still our Ethan."

Right then, a surge of energy burst out from the cave. Like a silent explosion, a green light lit up the entire area. Leaves shook. The air got warmer. And from deep underground, the hum of a sword echoed.

Everyone stood up. The cloaked man gave a small smile.

"It’s done."

The second he said that, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel. At first just brightness... then a shadow in the middle of it. A figure... holding a glowing sword... with green light shining in his eyes.

It was Ethan.

His clothes were torn, his face tired, but his body... it looked different. He walked with confidence. Like someone reborn.

Fayra jumped up.

"Ethan?!"

He smiled.

"Hey... I’m back."

But just as he stepped forward, the cloaked man blocked his path again. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"The next path is just beginning. Now that you have your power, the real enemies are waiting."

Ethan frowned.

"I’m so sick of riddles. Someone needs to start telling me what the hell is going on!"

The man calmly said,

"The answers lie ahead. But you have to choose—to chase them... or go back and live like before."

Fayra walked up and grabbed his hand.

"We’re with you. Wherever you go."

Selena and Luna came closer too. Alice stood beside him, wearing her usual calm smile.

Ethan looked at them... and raised his sword.

"Then let’s start the path. Together."

Silence fell over the hall again. Ethan, still holding his glowing sword, was breathing hard as he glared at the cloaked man. Fayra and the others stood behind him, all eyes locked on the two of them.

"Well?" Ethan said harshly. "Now that this damn power is awake—tell me. What the hell is this sword? What am I supposed to do with it?"

The man clasped his hands behind his back. His voice was soft and full of mystery.

"You... hold the key."

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

"The key? That’s your answer?! More vague crap? Just tell me—what is this sword? Whose power is this? Where am I supposed to go?!"

The man just smiled.

"The answers will come... when you’re ready."

That was the moment Ethan snapped. He shouted,

"Shut up with your cryptic bullsh*t!"

He raised his sword and charged.

The blade lit up mid-air—and just as it was about to strike the man’s cloak—he vanished. Gone. Like he was never there. Only one thing remained... a small metallic object that hit the ground with a soft clink.

A key.

Fayra stepped closer, whispering in shock,

"What was that...?"

Selena scratched her head.

"So that’s what he meant by ’the key’? Really?"

Ethan was still breathing hard. He lowered his sword and muttered,

"I just... wanted to know what the hell I’m doing. All these half-truths... they’re driving me insane."

Luna picked up the key. A small green piece of metal with intricate designs. Like some encrypted map.

Alice knelt to get a better look, then turned to the others.

"I read something once. In an old, old book. There’s a place... in another city. A secret, ancient library. They say you can find any magical or ancient answer there."

Fayra was quick to respond.

"Then what the hell are we waiting for? Let’s go!"

Selena muttered under her breath,

"Can we at least get outta this cave first? I’m suffocating here."

Ethan, still staring at the key in his hand, just sighed.

"Alright... but this time, I’m not letting anyone else decide things for me. I want to know everything. All of it."

Fayra smiled and gently put a hand on his shoulder.

"We’ve got your back. All the way."

Luna, Selena, and Alice nodded in agreement.

And as they walked out of the chamber, a faint light behind them dimmed to nothing. A new path—full of mysteries they couldn’t even imagine—was just beginning

The sky was just starting to fade into twilight when the group finally stepped out from the heart of the mountain. Soft rays of sunlight slipped through the tall trees, painting the silver leaves of the forest in gold. Ethan took a deep breath, held it in his chest for a second, then let it out slowly.

After all that pressure... he was finally seeing the sky again.

Fayra was walking next to him. She kept glancing his way, but didn’t say anything. It was like she still couldn’t quite believe how much he’d changed.

Selena was walking a little off to the side, whisper-arguing with Luna.

"I’m telling you, that key’s some kind of tracking magic. Not for unlocking stuff. I can feel it—it points the way."

Luna rolled her eyes. "And you know that how? Just ’cause it’s green?"

Selena smacked her arm. "Hey, I’ve got a brain too, okay?"

Alice, though, was leading them in silence. Her hand was in her bag, fingers wrapped around that small metal key. She muttered to herself, "If I remember right... that ancient library should be in the city of Virasa. It’s an old place, hidden deep in the eastern forests. They say it holds books even time has forgotten."

Ethan, now a bit calmer, asked, "Virasa... how far is that?"

Alice paused. "On foot? Maybe three days... if nothing gets in our way."

Fayra stepped forward. "Then let’s stop talking and start walking."

Selena bent down, picked up a dried leaf, and muttered, "Just once... I’d love to go on a trip without running into monsters."

Luna smirked. "The day Selena gives up hope is the day I know the world’s ending."

They all laughed.

Ethan’s laugh, though, was short. Then he said softly, "Guys... I’ve got this feeling. That key... it’s not just a piece of metal. It feels like part of me now. Since my power awakened, I’ve felt connected to it. Like it’s calling me."

Fayra looked at him, concerned. "Calling you? You mean like that voice in the chamber?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. But this time... it’s clearer. Like a whisper, showing me the way."

Alice stopped. "If that’s true, maybe the key can guide us. We might not have to search the whole city."

Selena whispered, "Told you... tracker key."

Luna, teasing, said, "Alright, miss big brain—what now?"

Alice studied the key carefully. The lines carved into it had started glowing faint green. "Maybe we just follow it..."

Ethan, steady now, said, "Then we go. Wherever this key leads us, that’s where we’ll find our answers."

And so, they walked again. The path was long.

But this time... every step smelled like truth.