Divine Emperor of Death

Nadia knew that Davis had lost connection with his counterparts when he began cursing the crap out of this place, so she didn't say anything about her doppelganger to make him panic even more. She wanted him to calm down first, but a ninth stage powerhouse suddenly appeared, causing her to almost show herself. However, since the crimson flames didn't seem to be aimed towards them, she delayed her move.

After that, things happened, and she finally opened her mouth from inside his soul sea as she replied and informed him of the presumable situation. She had two identical dark tails, and since one hadn't returned even now, it should mean that it was still with Sophie.

"At least, according to my bloodline memories, it should be the case..." She additionally uttered.

"No, it's okay. Even if you weren't there with Sophie, you don't need to worry as Starcy is together with her, and as long as Sophie stays in the outer region of the Dark Thunder Island, it should be difficult for any magical beast there to kill her. Nevertheless, I'm rather relieved that your doppelganger is still with her."

"Mhmm..." An echo of satisfaction came from Nadia, "Should I come out, Master?"

"No, it seems safe for the time being..." Davis looked around while being carried by the ninth stage powerhouse. He saw that the trees have begun to appear in his sight in the distance while they have seemed to have grown into a dense forest, unlike the sceneries he had seen except for the Purple Thunderflame Island. 

There seemed to be no random bursts of lightning that seemed to fall down here as far as he could see, "Stay hidden. I'll need you later."

"Understood..."

Nadia echoed, and at the same time, Davis saw that the surface below them began to elevate while a prominent mountain appeared in the distance. The mountain peaks were vaguely aligned like a snake's slithering body that he couldn't help but recall the popular Chinese dragon from folklore in his past life. 

They soon appeared in front of a cave entrance and stopped as the wind began to be pushed back from the momentum. 

Davis felt the essence energy that was wrapped around him fade away before the black-robed ninth stage powerhouse took a step forward and started to walk towards the cave. He felt that he should follow and took a step forward as well.

"What is this place?" He began to ask questions.

"You finally asked, I see..." The man chuckled, "I'm pretty sure you have another question in mind as to why there is another ninth stage powerhouse of our family here but nevermind. I don't like speaking about myself."

"This is the base, also a safe haven for the Alstreim Family in this forsaken island."

"Safe haven...?" Davis's voice sounded confused before his eyes widened, "That man who attacked us with that strange red-lightning? Could it be that they are from the Infernal Lightning Palace?"

"Oh...?" The man's eyes became wide as he turned to look at Davis in astonishment, "How perceptive and knowledgeable for you to know about them... The Alstreim Family hides their existence from almost all the youths as it might impede the trust and confidence they have in the family, but since you seem to know it, your elders must trust you enough to tell you about them."

"Yes, they are powerful vermin who invade our Territory to seize resources, but they don't harm us as long as we don't bother them, but you see, the situation here is quite differe-"

"Ah! You're back! Where did you go suddenly like a breeze, grandpa?"

A melodious young voice of a woman echoed, sounding full of happiness. The man stopped talking with Davis as his gaze fell on the young woman who flew towards them, that his face instantly blossomed into a smile.

"Ahahaha! Niera, you cheeky little brat! I told you to always stay safe within the formations, didn't I!?" His words were one of berating, but his tone sounded like he was praising her courage.

"Hehe..." Niera was draped in white robes specific to the Alstreim Family. 

Her lips were wide in smiles, displaying her charming enthusiasm when she suddenly noticed the young man beside her grandpa. Her expression receded, replaced with shock as she screamed, "Ah! Is he... he..."

"Yes, Niera. He is from our glorious Alstreim Family who had also fell prey to the spatial cracks to enter this wretched place, although I haven't asked his name yet. Hahaha!" 

He laughed and patted her head before he continued walking towards the distance. 

Davis stopped as he couldn't help but widen his eyes as he stared at her.

She possessed fair skin that was slightly pale and appeared naive with her naive-looking purple pupils. Her blonde hair reached her waist while she had an ample and eye-catching delectable figure, and combined with her remarkably gorgeous facial features, she was extremely charming.

Niera blinked as if to verify that he was still staring at her before her cheeks flushed red. She turned around and escaped, "Grandpa, wait for me!"

Davis saw her rush towards her grandpa before she held his sleeves. She kept walking but shot a glance at Davis before she turned her head to the front again, her cheeks becoming more crimson as if thinking why he was still staring at her.

He blinked before he shook his head, 'I didn't expect this, but I guess it is safe to think that those two are alive as well...'

He followed them to the end before the narrow cave widened into a spacious cave structure with a dome above that revealed the clear skies. Yes, unlike the entire island that was filled with dark clouds, it was clear here, except it was the view of the night sky all day long.

Numerous people who wore dirty white robes were walking to and fro and most of them were seen to be giving him the undulations of the eighth stage while a few were giving off seventh stage undulations. Most of them turned to watch Davis in curiosity, causing him to return a look at them.

Most of them wore the Alstreim Family's white robes, but they were all more or less dirty, causing him to be taken aback. Only a few who seemed to be worried about cleanliness, like the women present, took care of their own cleanliness. The area here was lit up with flaming sticks, and there were tents around instead of houses as if it were a tribal civilization.

This made Davis feel taken aback as if he had arrived at a post-apocalyptic world of the Alstreim Family Territory when in truth, this was nothing but that mysterious island that barred even ninth stage powerhouses from entering, so why under the heavens were there so many people here!?

At a glance of a full sweep, he could see three hundred people, and perhaps, there were more!

'How exactly did they all end up here!? Could it be that swallowing void or spatial cracks that man spoke about!?'

As Davis pondered, he finally arrived at a certain particularly huge and striking tent that seemed to be cleaner than anything present here. At the same time, a handsome blonde-haired man and a gorgeously mature woman exited the tent as they possessed satisfied smiles on their faces.

"Grandpa, you are back. I thought something big happened for you to rush out like that..."

"Ha! It's not like that. My soul sense picked up a strange anomaly, so I rushed towards it and saw this young man almost about to be devoured by the Lightning Sea. Fortunately, I made it in time. Otherwise, this little guy who lucked out would've ended up dying by those vir-"

"Excuse me... but are you all who I think you all are...?" Davis's expression trembled as if he could no longer keep his excitement suppressed.

Hearing Davis's question, everyone other than Niera  had their lips widen into a smile as if they couldn't help but feel deep sentiments behind his statement.

"Child, what's your name?" The blonde-haired woman who came out of the tent spoke at this moment.

"Davis... Alstreim..."

"Davis... I don't recall a name like that in this hundred years among the elites, but there should be new ones born while it is also possible for me to forget some, so pardon my rudeness..." The woman's melodious voice echoed as she smiled before she continued.

"It is indeed as you expected. You may think we have all died, and we thought that the ones here had all died too before we fell into this place as well. However, as you can see, we are all alive, well, and a bit good, so if you think this is the afterlife, I suggest you abandon that misunderstanding." 

She chuckled, her bosoms quivering, "I am called Keira Alstreim, the mother of Niera Alstreim."

"I'm Niera's father, Nero Alstreim!" The handsome blonde-haired man smiled wide as he gave a thumbs up while the ninth stage powerhouse deeply smirked.

"Hehe, I'm Ezekiel Alstreim, the powerful and mighty grandpa of these two and their precious gem, Niera, so you can think of us as one real close family in this desolate space."

"Why are you all introducing yourselves while pointing to me!?" Niera  couldn't help but scream.

"Because look at how shy you have become all of a sudden. Where did your constant yapping go in front of this good-looking young man?" Keira Alstreim giggled.

"Mother!!!"

Niera's expression flushed crimson as she instantly ran into the tent all by herself. The other three all laughed at her while looking at Davis, but Davis himself was quite a bit dumbfounded. 

He definitely didn't expect this twist to happen, much less meet these three people be together and alive because not only were they Niera  Alstreim's parents, they were Nora Alstreim's parents too! Her real biological parents, whom everyone, even Nora herself, thought they had died during an expedition in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago!

As for the only visible Ninth Stage Powerhouse here, Ezekiel Alstreim, he was none other than Grand Elder Elise Alstreim's husband, who was also said to have died in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago!

'Haha... I definitely can't let these people know that I've screwed over their family back in the Grand Alstreim City...' Davis began to inwardly sweat while he acted as if he couldn't be any happier to see them alive!