Chapter 536: The Lord of the Underworld
Ethan’s memories flooded back, and in them rose the figure from his dreams—the one who, beneath an umbrella, had left him at the orphanage gates. It was the very woman standing before him now. And those two women who had quarreled in his visions? Their faces were the same.
Most importantly, Ethan recalled a particular fragment of the dream: it had taken place within the Gates of the Underworld. That was where he had learned the truth, that he had a mother—the Lord of the Underworld herself. Yet she was only the Second Avatar of the true Lord. At last, he understood why he had been abandoned at the orphanage and the impossible circumstances that had driven her to it. He understood the story of her life, all of it, and it seemed that now her hardships had finally come to an end.
"Mom..." The word caught in his throat, heavy and unfamiliar. He had never spoken it in two lifetimes. How many times had he longed for a mother, only to find it was always an unreachable dream? But now that dream had taken form before him—and his mother was none other than the Lord of the Underworld. It felt unreal, like waking into another dream.
That single word carried all his bitterness, all his longing. The Lord of the Underworld’s eyes brimmed with tears, spilling down her face as if they would never cease. She spread her arms and drew Ethan against her, pulling his strong frame close into her embrace.
"My child... you’ve suffered."
The words were simple, but behind them stretched a thousand unspoken sentiments. Ethan’s eyes grew wet, and his tears fell freely.
Inside the Shatterstar mech, silence lingered. Uncle Jed shrank into himself, shoulders hunched, standing behind the others. The Lord of the Underworld’s earlier display had nearly knocked the air from his lungs. He grumbled in secret, ’That brat, with such a mother, and he still puts on that humble act with me?’
He thought back to the first time he’d met Ethan, when the boy had claimed to be nothing more than an exile, chased down like a stray dog by Deathstalker Scorpions.
[Beep, beep, beep... Detecting anomalous biological activity approaching...]
Shatterstar, blunt as ever, had no care for reunions or human emotion; it simply issued the alarm.
Mother and son parted reluctantly. Ethan’s expression sharpened, a flicker of caution lighting his gaze as he peered into the distance.
"It’s alright, Ethan... with Mom here, there is no danger," the Lord of the Underworld assured him.
"Mmm." Ethan nodded with a faint smile. What could there be to fear, safe within the Shatterstar mech and with his mother, the Lord of the Underworld, standing at his side? Yet his instincts, sharpened by two lifetimes of struggle, never allowed him to relax completely.
Even as they spoke, ranks of black-armored soldiers began to manifest all around the mech.
"My Lord, there are no Blood Clan creatures left on this planet. Where shall we proceed next?"
From among the mass of armored warriors, one figure stepped forward. His armor differed from the rest. He dropped to one knee in midair, bowing toward the Shatterstar, and put forth the question.
"What—what?"
Inside the mech, every mouth fell open except for Ethan’s and his mother’s. They stared, dumbfounded, jaws practically unhinged.
No wonder she had kept threatening to send people to Hell! They had thought it was no more than a boast, or maybe arrogance born of strength. But now... there was no room left for doubt. She truly was the Lord of the Underworld.
Sending them to the Underworld was nothing to her. Choosing not to condemn them to an eternity of reincarnation as beasts was already mercy enough.
"Go scout. Find the nearest Blood Clan star system," the Lord of the Underworld said, her voice even, without emotion.
"Understood."
The soldier straightened, raised his hand, and in an instant the countless black-armored figures dissolved into the void.
"Mom... did I just kill a lot of your subordinates?" Ethan asked, his expression carrying an awkward edge.
"Silly child, Mom has plenty of everything—especially soldiers. As long as the Underworld exists, I can summon as many as I need," she said, reaching out to stroke his hair.
The gesture turned Ethan’s face crimson.
"But..." Ethan began again.
"No buts. To become a soldier of the Underworld means they are destined to turn to ash. Every one of them is a soul steeped in sin."
As she spoke, her eyes shifted toward Uncle Jed—whether by accident or intent, no one could tell.
Uncle Jed stiffened. Terrified, he hunched his shoulders and ducked behind Dragon Child’s, unwilling to show his face.
The Lord of the Underworld, however, had no intention of sparing him. She extended her hand, her voice a command.
"You. Come here."
Dragon Child instinctively moved aside, leaving Uncle Jed exposed. The big man shot Ethan a desperate look, his face twisted with bitterness. Ethan, seeing his silent plea, was about to intercede. But before he could speak, Uncle Jed’s body lurched forward, pulled as though by invisible chains, and her hand pressed firmly against the crown of his head.
"Mom..." Ethan stepped forward quickly, only to be forced back two paces by a surge of her power.
"Don’t worry, I won’t take his life," she said, her voice calm, her hand unmoving. Then she sighed, half to herself. "To forcefully refine the Blood Clan’s essence with a mortal body... you truly are an odd one." Her tone hardened again, meant only for Uncle Jed. "If you don’t want to drop dead one day, don’t resist."
Uncle Jed’s body swelled, trembling with the raw intent of self-destruction. Ethan froze mid-step, torn, but her words reached both of them. Jed hesitated, then stopped struggling. He went still.
Moments later, dark-grey streams of energy poured from his mouth, spilling into the air.
"The Blood Clan’s power itself is not terrifying," the Lord of the Underworld explained, her eyes glinting as she guided the process. "On the contrary, it strengthens flesh and blood. What is truly terrifying are the resentful souls bound within it. The Blood Clan plunders countless realms, killing and seizing souls, intercepting those that should rightfully return to my Underworld. The so-called corruption is nothing more than those twisted thoughts taking root, mingling with their power."
As she spoke, the last of the foul energy bled out of Uncle Jed. She released her hand, and his body dropped heavily to the floor. This time, he wasn’t convulsing. His face contorted only for a moment before he drew a deep breath, clasped his hands, and bowed to the dazzling figure before him.
Unexpectedly, she flicked her wrist, and his bent frame straightened against his will.
"Thank you for taking care of Ethan. I should be bowing to you. But for your own sake, I won’t—your body would not withstand it. As a token of my gratitude, I have purged the chaotic souls from your vessel, leaving only the Blood Clan’s essence. You’ve absorbed quite a lot. Once you refine it fully, you will certainly step into an extraordinary realm."
For anyone else, her words would have sounded unbearably arrogant. But here, no one questioned her. They knew who she was.
Uncle Jed’s thoughts, however, ran in a very different direction: ’No, no thanks, don’t bow to me, I’d like to keep living a few more years!’
The others shared his unease. They feared that if Uncle Jed actually received her bow, he might die on the spot. He dared not say a word. Her temper was unreadable. Just moments earlier she had been threatening to drag him to the Underworld, and now she had healed him and cleared away hidden dangers in his body. It was safest to say nothing, safest not even to let his gaze linger on her longer than a heartbeat.
Ethan, watching, finally exhaled. He had genuinely feared that his mother, formidable beyond measure, might truly clash with Uncle Jed.
"Mom... from what you just said to that man, does that mean... the Blood Clan has other strongholds?" Ethan asked suddenly, recalling the exchange between the black-armored commander and his mother.