"The only place left for now is this forbidden Dark Forest." Sitting on the back of his black horse, Chen Zeng, the leader of the Chen Long Sect, spoke while staring at the vast forest before him.
"Shouldn't we capture them alive?" Elder Mu asked, his voice carrying a hint of interest.
However, the moment Chen Zeng cast him a cold glance, Elder Mu immediately fell silent. Even though he wanted the two women dead, he had no interest in cruel experiments or torture methods that others preferred.
"Let's not waste time. What if they escape from our hands? Charge!" Elder Mu said awkwardly, quickly changing his tone.
With that command, the group rode into the forest.
The Dark Forest was enormous, so the group decided to split up and search separately. What Chen Zeng never expected was in the middle of the search, he encounters his younger brother, Chen Zeon.
Riding one of the fastest horses in the sect, Chen Zeon had rushed here after hearing that Zoe's condition had suddenly worsened. Remembering Zoe's desperate request to see his father, Zeon had decided to bring Chen Zeng back—no matter the cost.
"What are you doing here—"
Before Chen Zeng could finish his question, Zeon cut him off. "Zoe's condition isn't good. Return to the sect."
"Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?" Chen Zeng replied coldly, speaking as the sect leader rather than a father. He gestured for his men to continue the search instead of wasting time standing there.
"Is it really more important than your own son?" Zeon shouted.
"He can wait," Chen Zeng replied firmly. "But I can't abandon these men who came here believing in me."
Hearing that excuse, Zeon let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah… he can wait." His voice grew heavier. "Isn't that what you said back then too… when you left your wife and children behind?"
Chen Zeng paused for a moment.
"The dragon who caused all this chaos is already dead," Zeon continued. "So, what's the meaning of doing all these?" His voice softened, though the frustration remained.
"Brother… he regained consciousness after a week. And the first thing he asks was about you. The people may praise you as a good leader... but in my eyes, you are failure both as a father and a husband.
You saved hundreds of lives, while leaving behind the ones who loved you." Blaming Chen Zeng, Zeon intends to return.
"Do you think, I don't want to..." Chen Zeng's voice suddenly stopped him. "I also want to see his face," he admitted quietly. "But Zeon… I can't return leaving everything behind."
A man who had been raised and trained his entire life as a leader, couldn't break free from the invisible wall he had built around himself.
Zeon sighed.
"I'll stay behind for you," he said at last. "So don't waste time. Go."
...
Meanwhile, deep inside the Dark Forest.
"Your Highness, we're almost there. Just a little further." Leading the way toward the waterfall where the secret entrance to the Demon Realm was hidden, Mia spoke urgently.
"...Mia, I don't think I can go any further," the woman replied weakly. "Take my child and escape from here." Understanding her physical condition well, the woman made the only reasonable decision she could.
"Your Highness, I can't leave you behind!" Mia protested, her voice trembling with emotion. "We'll survive together. Please don't say something like that."
"I've already reached my limit," the woman said softly. "I'll only slow you down."
She gently looked at the baby in her arms. "From now on… he is your responsibility. Protect him."
Before handing the child to Mia, she used her magic. The golden scales on the baby's body slowly faded away, and his golden pupils turned green.
Seeing Mia's confused expression, she explained. "Until he reaches his father's hands, hiding his identity is very important. No one is trustworthy..."
Then she spoke one final word. "Go."
Mia hesitated for a moment. But having no other choice, she ran toward the waterfall while holding the baby tightly and wiping the tears running down.
The woman silently watched her child disappear from her sight. She tried to hold back her tears, but they still slipped down her cheeks.
Then she slowly stood up. With a determined expression, she walked in the opposite direction. At the very least… she wanted to buy some time for Mia and her child to escape.
However, this time the fate had other plans.
Instead of meeting Chen Zeng like the past, she encountered Chen Zeon.
Seeing her weakened state, Zeon immediately understood he can win her without much struggle. However, instead of drawing his sword, he calmly said. "You're going the wrong direction."
She looked at him in confusion. She had expected him to attack the moment they met but this man seemed different from those, who came after her life.
Seeing her weak condition, Zeon took out a small bottle and tossed it toward her.
"It's water. Drink it."
She hesitated for a moment but eventually drank it, not caring whether it was poison or water.
"Never thought I'd see Hua Long, the Queen of Dragons, in such a miserable state," Zeon said bluntly.
Seeing the way, she looked at him, he scoffed. "Don't stare at me like that. Right now, every human in this realm treats you worse than this."
"I admit, the mistake was made by someone from our race. That is the only reason I came here personally — to apologize on behalf of the entire Dragon Realm." She replied calmly.
"After taking hundreds of lives… you think an apology is enough?" Zeon mocked as he stepped closer.
She closed her eyes, ready to die. But instead of striking her down, Zeon suddenly lifted her into his arms.
"What are you doing?" Being surprised, she asks.
"I may hate your race," he said coldly, "but I'm not heartless enough to kill someone who came here genuinely caring for others pain."
He began walking toward the waterfall being cautious. So she can leave the human realm unharmed.
"Once you escape, don't ever think about coming back for revenge. Then I be the one cutting you down.
Also, everything that happened to you was an aftereffect of what your race has done to us."
Hua Long had no voice to argue after hearing the claims. As they approached the waterfall, the sound of clashing swords suddenly echoed nearby.
"Mia!" Hua Long instantly realized who was in danger. "Please help her!" she begged.
Placing Hua Long on the ground, Zeon stepped forward cautiously, observing the situation first. Hidden from view, he saw junior disciples from his sect participate in the hunt surrounding Mia.
The situation was already out of control. Acting recklessly could put him in a difficult position. Saving one person was already pushing his limits.
So, Zeon turned away, deciding not to get involved. But just then— He heard the cry of a baby.
Turning back, he saw Mia fighting while holding a newborn in one arm. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to ignore that sight.
"Stay here," he told Hua Long quietly. "And don't make a sound."
Then he rushed forward.
With a swift movement, his sword blocked Mia's attack just as she was about to strike one of the disciples.
Everyone turned in shock. Seeing Chen Zeon step forward, hope appeared in their eyes.
After Chen Zeng, the second strongest person in the Chen Long Sect was Chen Zeon.
"I'll handle this fight," Zeon said coldly. "You all go search for the queen." His voice carried absolute authority. "Don't let her escape the human realm."
The disciples quickly obeyed and retreated.
Zeon began fighting Mia, while controlling his strength. So, he won't harm the newborn. Once he sensed that no one else from the sect remained nearby, he suddenly stopped.
"Come out," he said.
Mia anxiously looked toward the direction he was watching.
Seeing Hua Long slowly stepped out from the darkness, tears filled Mia's eyes. "Your highness..."
"Stop this drama and leave," Zeon snapped impatiently. "Before someone comes back."
They hurried toward the waterfall. Mia began casting the spell to open the gate between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm.
As the portal opened, they prepared to leave. After showing their gratitude for saving three lives, as they about to leave, Mia suddenly stopped.
"Because of you, I succeeded in safely bringing back our queen and crown prince," she said quietly.
"The only thing I can offer in return… is a small token of gratitude." Without hesitation, she cut off her right arm and handed it to Zeon.
"Mia!" Hua Long cried in shock.
Mia then cast an illusion spell over the severed arm, transforming it into the appearance of her own head.
"This will be enough to prove others that you killed me." With that, she stepped through the portal with Hua Long and the child, thinking she repaid her savior within her limits.
Watching them disappear, Zeon scoffed. "Are all demons this foolish? Who will dare argue with me if I say I killed her?"
A smug smile appeared on his face. But the next moment, his expression turned cold.
With his precise movement, his sword moved through the air and suddenly pierced through the chest of a disciple who had been hiding nearby, secretly watching everything.
"This is why the elders always say…" Zeon muttered calmly while cleaning his sword. "When you receive a command, you must follow it blindly. Otherwise… no one can predict what might happen."
Leaving the fake head and the dying disciple behind, Chen Zeon quietly walked away from the forest.