Ash stood in front of Ancestor Sealing, the old manâs ancient face pale and strained under the weight of his presence.
Ash released Auroraâs and Ritaâs hands, then placed a single hand on the Ancestorâs shoulder.
The simple gesture nearly made the old man faint.
As his knees buckled, his breath hitched sharply, and his body trembled as an overwhelming pressure crashed down on his soul.
It wasnât anything Ash had done in specific but... it was the full, unfiltered weight of Ashâs existence pressing against him like an entire verse of Realities.
"What... do you plan to do?" He asked as his ancient eyes widened in raw terror for a brief second before he forced them back into composure, sweat beading on his brow.
Ash chuckled softly but ultimately ignored him.
He turned toward his family, speaking clearly so the entire hall could hear.
"Make sure you guys see everything out to the end within this Reality." He said as they already knew what to do.
From this point it was a full onward conquest, not just for Reality Nine, but across all existence.
"Iâll be gone for a while, you all do what you do, just make sure every thing begins to crumble."
Hearing this several of his wives playfully pouted at once.
Thud!
Vaeloria stepped forward first, tossing Ancestor Sealing aside with casual strength. The old man stumbled several meters away, barely catching himself.
Vaeloria pulled Ash into a tight, loving hug, pressing her body flush against his as she gave him a deep, passionate, and very naughty kiss â full of heat, tongue, and promise.
She broke it with a soft bite to his lower lip.
"You have a decade at the most," she murmured, voice husky. "Or weâll come find you."
And the others agreed as they moved forward as well.
Mmh~
Sonna wrapped her arms around him from the side, kissing his cheek tenderly while whispering something sweet in his ear.
Sandra claimed his mouth next, her kiss fierce and possessive, her hand sliding down his chest.
Lysa nipped at his neck playfully before pulling him into a heated kiss, her thicker figure pressing close.
Madison, Persephone, and the rest each took their turn â hugs, kisses, teasing words, and loving touches â showing their affection openly in front of all those left in the hall.
Ash smiled warmly, embracing each of them in turn, taking a moment to savor the comforting closeness before finally stepping back.
"Oh, rightâtell Kagami," he said, glancing at Sylvie, Lithia, Mira, and Diana.
"When this Reality fades away, a rift will open that will lead him straight to Kaguya."
With a grin, he added, "And be sure to let her know that daddy will be arriving soon."
Sylvie perked up with interest, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Oh? At last. I wonder what that fox has been up to," she mused, recalling how long it had been since the events in the Lower Dimension.
"At this point... wouldnât she be too far behind us to even be on a stage like True Reality?" Mira asked, tilting her head.
"Not quite," Ash replied, as he never sent people away without reasonâespecially women he intended to claim.
Like all his wives and children, Kaguya, Eve, and Eliya each had unique stories intertwined with their lives.
Back when Ash wielded the Codex to ensure his people would become legends through their journeys, he eventually extended that same destiny to these women as well.
"In the beginning, I couldnât fully see what their fates held," he admitted, acknowledging how much had changed since then.
This was long before he had ever encountered the fourth wall or ascended beyond it with the inclusion of the Watcherâs race.
[A/N: I will reveal the upgrades in a few Chapters with a status screen. Another addition is coming soon which is why it will come later.]
---
"Letâs just say sheâs become something truly remarkable... even managing to surpass the limits of Mirror Foxes Origins," he said, leaving more than a few of them visibly surprised.
"Uh... and who exactly is Kaguya?" Quell asked, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Seraphiel chuckled hearing her son.
"Oh Quell, even as the God of Harems, you still have a long way to go." She said, "Kaguya, she is... Mother Kaguya to you."
The group shared a few more light comments and teasing remarks â some of the children playfully questioning how many more "remarkable women" he had hidden away, while the daughters in specific bantered about whether theyâd have to share their father even more.
Ash laughed along with them, pulling a few into quick hugs before finally stepping back.
"Alright. Iâll see you all soon."
He turned toward Ancestor Sealing, who still stood frozen in place, and placed a hand on the old manâs shoulder.
In that instant, both of them vanished.
----
BOOOM!
BOOOOM!
Ash reappeared high in the skies of Reality Nine, the vast battlefield of destruction still unfolding far below him.
His battalions continued their rampageâlegions of Unus warriors and his wivesâ forces cutting through domains, sects, and strongholds with ruthless precision.
Explosions flared like dark blossoms across the land, the distant cries of the doomed drifting faintly up to this height.
Ash floated calmly, hands in his pockets, as Elysia, Creara, and Unara appeared around him.
"Minxâs aura just disappeared," he said, his tone casual but carrying a hint of mild surprise.
"She was one of the ones I wanted to clean up before leaving."
Creara drifted closer, settling on his shoulder, her black-and-red hair swaying as she smirked.
"Sheâs clearly not simple," she said. "That link to the Treasury of Existence... sheâs been playing a deeper game than we realized."
Elysia nodded from his other shoulder, golden eyes thoughtful.
"Someone like her doesnât disappear without a reason," she mused. "Sheâll turn up again... in the meantime, we use her the same way weâre using Maleâfor information."
Unara, perched atop his head, gave a soft giggle.
"I agree. Let them get far enough to reveal their bigger bads... then we crush them all."
Ash gave a small chuckle, then turned his attention to Ancestor Sealing, who still stood frozen beside him, the old manâs face pale and strained.
"Alright Old man, give up the Lost Reality you have sealed," Ash said simply.
Ancestor Sealingâs ancient eyes flickered with conflict. He tried to negotiate, his voice hoarse.
"Will thisâ"
Ash cut him off, leaving no room for any negotiating. It was nothing this man could offer or do to save himself.
At the very least though, he would be able to see the Reality heâd been so scared to venture into.
"I wonât ask again."
The old man hesitated for a few more seconds, but then...
Finally, with a heavy sigh, he raised a trembling hand and released the seal.
HUMMM!
A dark, swirling rift opened before them â the entrance to the Long Lost Reality he had kept hidden for cycles.
And.... Ash stepped forward without hesitation