After Arthur Valentine left, the silence of the Aldric house returned to its usual warmth. Noah stood by the window for a moment, watching the sky where the golden gate had once flickered. He had three months. Three months to finish his business on Earth and prepare his family for a future he might not be part of for a while.

The next morning, Noah found his father, Eric, in the kitchen. Eric was humming a tune, covered in flour, and kneading dough with a smile that could light up a dark cave.

"Dad, come with me for a second," Noah said.

Eric wiped his hands on his apron and followed Noah into the backyard. "What is it, son? Another press conference?"

Noah laughed. "Not quite. I want to help you with your cultivation."

Noah placed a hand on Eric's shoulder. He didn't just give his father energy. He used his mastery of the laws to reshape Eric's foundation. He removed the impurities and strengthened the bone marrow. Within minutes, the air around Eric began to vibrate.

A soft blue light erupted from Eric's chest. With a sudden surge of power, Eric's aura climbed. He bypassed the lower ranks instantly and smashed through the barriers.

Boom!

A shockwave of energy pushed back the grass. Eric's eyes snapped open. He felt light, strong, and younger. He had reached the Diamond Realm.

"I feel... incredible!" Eric shouted, punching the air. A small crack appeared in the space where his fist landed.

"You are now a Diamond Realm expert, Dad," Noah explained. "To reach the Legendary Realm, you will need to understand the laws of the world yourself. I can't do that part for you. But for now, you are strong enough to live for hundreds of years in perfect health."

"Diamond Realm..." Eric whispered. "Does this mean I can knead dough even faster?"

Noah smiled. "Yes, Dad. Among other things."

Noah decided that the next few weeks should be spent on something he had never done. Family time. Martha and Eric had spent their whole lives inside their small house or the bakery. They had never seen the wonders of the world they lived in.

Noah didn't want to use portals for everything. He wanted them to see the road. He bought a massive, luxurious car. It was painted a deep metallic silver, with leather seats that felt like clouds and windows that could turn into screens.

"We're going on a tour," Noah announced.

The family packed their bags. Martha was so excited she packed enough snacks to feed an army. Naomi sat in the back with her headphones on, but Noah could see the small smile on her face.

As they drove through the major cities, Noah realized just how famous his father had become. Ever since the news broke that the legendary "Anomaly" was a person who was a master baker, Eric Aldric had become a global celebrity.

When they stopped at a busy rest station in the Central City, a group of teenagers spotted Eric.

"Wait! Is that the Baker King?" one girl screamed.

Within seconds, a crowd surrounded the car. People were holding out their phones, shouting for photos.

"Mr. Aldric! Can we get a selfie?"

"Master Eric, what's the secret to the perfect crust?"

Eric didn't hide. He stepped out of the car with a big grin, throwing peace signs and laughing. He took photos with everyone, shaking hands like a professional politician.

"The secret is love and a bit of Diamond Realm pressure!" Eric joked, making the crowd roar with laughter.

Noah leaned against the car, watching his father. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Seeing his father enjoy such a simple, happy moment was worth more than any treasure.

They traveled across the green plains, through the snowy mountains, and finally reached the edge of the great ocean. The water was a brilliant turquoise, stretching out until it touched the sky.

Noah waved his hand, and the car floated across the water, landing on a small, uninhabited island filled with palm trees and white sand.

"This is our spot for the week," Noah said.

The vacation was perfect. Noah took them diving deep into the ocean. He created a bubble of air around his family so they could walk on the seabed. They saw glowing coral forests and giant sea creatures that looked like floating islands. Eric tried to race a dolphin and surprisingly, thanks to his Diamond Realm strength, he won.

In the afternoons, they caught fresh fish. Noah didn't use his powers to hunt. He used a simple fishing rod, enjoying the patience it required. They barbecued the fish on the beach as the sun went down. The smell of grilled sea bass and lemon filled the air.

"I never knew the world was this big," Martha said, leaning her head on Eric's shoulder as they watched the waves. "Thank you, Noah."

"It's going to get even bigger, Mom," Noah replied softly.

On their last day, the family was walking along the beach, collecting shells. The sun was just beginning to set, turning the water into liquid gold.

Suddenly, Naomi stopped. "Brother, look over there!"

Noah looked toward a cluster of jagged rocks where the tide was coming in. A figure was draped over the stones, half-submerged in the salty water.

They ran over and found a girl. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long hair that looked like spun silver, now tangled with seaweed. Her skin was as pale as marble, but she was covered in deep, jagged wounds that glowed with a faint, poisonous purple light. Her clothes were torn, and she was barely breathing.

"She's dying!" Martha cried, kneeling in the sand. "Noah, we have to do something!"

"She looks like she fell from the sky," Naomi whispered, sensing the strange energy coming from the girl.

Noah looked at the girl. His eyes pierced through her physical form. He saw that her internal organs were failing and a strange, dark curse was eating at her soul. She wasn't from Earth. Her energy was too pure, too high-level.

"We're taking her back," Noah said.

He didn't wait. He didn't want to waste a second. With a simple wave of his hand, the space around them twisted. In a blink, the beach was gone, and they were standing in the living room of their house.

Martha and Naomi immediately took action. They carried the unconscious girl upstairs to the guest room. Naomi carefully changed the girl out of her wet, ruined clothes and into a soft nightgown, while Martha prepared warm water and clean bandages.

Noah stepped into the room once they were finished. He stood by the bed, looking down at the girl.

"Everyone, step back," Noah said.

He placed his hand a few inches above the girl's chest. He didn't use a system or a potion. He simply commanded the laws of the universe.

"Life," Noah whispered.

A brilliant green light filled the room. The purple glow in the girl's wounds began to hiss and evaporate like steam. The jagged cuts on her skin closed up, leaving no scars behind. The color returned to her cheeks, and her heartbeat, which had been a faint drum, became strong and steady.

"She is stable now," Noah said, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. Even for him, removing a curse from a higher plane of existence required some effort. "She needs to rest. Her soul was tired."

"Who do you think she is, Noah?" Martha asked, looking at the girl with motherly pity.

"I don't know," Noah replied. "But whoever sent her here must be very powerful. She was running from something."

Noah walked to the window and looked out at the moon. The peace of the vacation had ended. He knew that by saving this girl, he had opened a new door.

"Sleep well," Noah murmured toward the bed. "When you wake up, we will have a lot to talk about."

He left the room, leaving Naomi to watch over their mysterious guest.

Night settled quietly over the Aldric house. The moonlight filtered through the curtains of the guest room, casting pale patterns across the bed where the mysterious girl lay. Naomi sat on a chair beside her, chin resting on her knees, eyes never leaving the girl's face. She could feel it even now. A faint pressure in the air, like the calm before a storm.

The girl stirred.

Her fingers twitched first, then her brows furrowed as if she were trapped in a bad dream. A soft gasp escaped her lips, and her silver eyes snapped open.

Naomi straightened instantly. "Brother," she called softly but urgently.

Noah appeared at the doorway in the same instant, as if he had been waiting for that call. He stepped inside, his gaze calm but sharp.

The girl tried to sit up, panic flashing across her face. She looked around wildly, her breath quickening. When her eyes landed on Noah, she froze.

"You…" she whispered, her voice hoarse. "You carry authority."

"You are safe," Noah said evenly. "You are on Earth. No one here will harm you."

The girl clenched the blanket with trembling hands. For a moment, she seemed to struggle with herself. Then she bowed her head slightly, an action that carried a weight far beyond simple gratitude.

"My name is Lyrien," she said. "I am a messenger of the Chaos Temple."

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