Leon stepped inside the shimmering silver-white portal along with Seraphine.

Once inside, the same scene greeted them—the ever-stretching grassland beneath a sky that held only the color blue.

Mountains of supplies stood before them. Aside from his essential treasures, everything else had been placed neatly in front of him, including the massive stacks of goods he had just brought in.

He didn't return any of the treasure to his inventory. Instead, he collected a portion of the supplies—wood, nails, pre-built furniture, and other tools needed to build proper houses.

That wasn't all. He gathered tools necessary for various professions, including blacksmiths, carpenters, doctors, and more. Seeing the relevant books that accompanied the equipment, he was pleasantly reminded of just how capable his wife was. He might have forgotten to mention everything before leaving, yet she had taken care of everything flawlessly.

And lastly, he added seeds for new plants and vegetables. He didn't know whether they would grow in this environment or not. And how could he forget about their new clothes? Along with weapons and armor—which he had in abundance—he wanted to surprise them with those as well.

It had been six years for them.

Once he was done collecting what he needed, along with a few other things, Leon gently took Seraphine's hand.

She didn't even react as both of them vanished from their spot and teleported somewhere else.

——

In the next moment, Leon and Seraphine appeared several meters above the ground, in a location kilometers away from where they had been—on the opposite side of the river that had surprised Seraphine the first time she'd seen it.

But she remembered how dismissively he had said he'd taken care of the water supply for the people inside the dimensional space. She had believed him, of course, but seeing an actual, flowing river was shocking to say the least.

She would have been even more shocked if she had known how the river had been created.

Once they materialized, they were greeted by a sight that took even Leon by surprise. Spread out before them were hundreds of houses made entirely from mud and clay, their earthy brown walls rising from the ground like they had grown from the soil itself. The structures were crude but sturdy, exhibiting clear signs of the immense effort and dedication that had gone into their construction.

It looked like a proper village now.

The houses varied in size—some small and compact for individuals, others larger for families. What struck Leon most was how the endless grassland he remembered was now completely gone in this area. Six years of foot traffic had worn away every blade of grass, leaving only packed dirt pathways between the dwellings and bare earth where people had walked, worked, and lived.

Six years, Leon thought, taking in the transformation. They've built an entire settlement from nothing.

It was not much of a surprise to him, even then, he felt a bit weird seeing it all happen. happenhe village was basic but functional—simple mud walls, thatched roofs, and doorways were not covered by anything. There were no gardens, no decorative elements, just a practical shelter that had clearly been built for survival rather than comfort.

But as they took in the village, they couldn't see much beyond the immediate cluster of houses. The settlement seemed to end where their view of crude houses ends.

However, they could hear something else entirely—loud voices and cheering echoing from somewhere deeper in the village.

"Come on, Rudy! Don't let him get the better of you!"

"Max's got this one in the bag!"

"Hit him harder!"

The shouting was enthusiastic, almost festive, accompanied by the distinct sounds of a crowd gathered for entertainment.

Looking toward the source of the noise, both Leon and Seraphine could make out a circular area in the distance where even the packed dirt had been cleared away, leaving only smooth ground. People were gathered around it in a tight ring, their backs turned as they focused intently on whatever was happening in the center.

An arena, Leon realized. They've made themselves a fighting ring.

Seraphine glanced at him with raised eyebrows, clearly hearing the same thing he was.

The cheers grew louder as Max and Rudy—whoever they were—apparently escalated their bout.

Seraphine might not know much about them, but Leon, hearing the name Rudy, clearly remembered the brave little body, so he was excited to see what was going on.

Leon teleported both himself and Seraphine directly next to the arena, their forms materializing in the packed dirt just outside the circle of onlookers.

Their presence was immediately noticed by James—his first slave—who had been watching the fight from the crowd. The moment James's eyes landed on Leon, his face crumpled, and tears began streaming down his cheeks. Without hesitation, he threw himself to the ground, prostrating completely.

"My Lord, you are back!" James cried out, his voice breaking with emotion.

His reaction caused an immediate ripple effect through the crowd. Everyone turned to see where James was looking, and suddenly all eyes were on Leon's ethereal figure—the same godlike appearance they remembered from six years ago. His silver-white hair caught the light, his otherworldly beauty unchanged, his confident bearing unmistakable. Though his eyes seemed slightly different, they appeared even more divine than before.

The effect was instantaneous and absolute.

The fight halted instantly. Rudy and Max froze, then dropped to the dirt with their heads bowed. Around them, the crowd followed in perfect unison, the clatter of metal echoing through the air as hundreds of armored figures fell to their knees. The sight struck Seraphine with a chill—the same armor Leon had once given them, once pristine, was now worn smooth by years of use, patched with leather and cloth, yet carried like sacred relics. These were no longer ragged refugees. They looked like a disciplined force bowing to their god.

The entire settlement had recognized the one they believed to be their god.

Silence fell over the makeshift arena as hundreds of people knelt in the dirt, heads bowed, awaiting their deity's words. The only sound was the quiet sobbing of James, overwhelmed by the return of the figure who had saved them all those years ago.

Leon stood there, taking in the scene of absolute devotion. At the same time, Seraphine observed quietly beside him, witnessing firsthand the reverence these people held for her companion.

For a moment, even Seraphine was caught off guard. The sight of all of them kneeling—sweat dripping, bodies trembling, yet still bowing as if nothing else mattered—sent a small chill down her spine. This… this goes beyond loyalty. A flicker of pride stirred in her chest, mingling with something almost unsettling. They would burn themselves out completely just for me.

Leon felt the immediate surge of Holy energy coursing through his divine heart, a powerful reminder of their unwavering devotion. The energy had remained relatively stable during his absence, but simply appearing before them caused it to spike dramatically. The pure faith radiating from hundreds of kneeling figures fed directly into his divine core.

"Stand up, all of you," Leon commanded calmly, his voice carrying clearly across the arena. "Continue what you were doing."

His order was absolute. The crowd rose to their feet in unison, though their eyes remained fixed on him with reverence. The presence of Seraphine was recognized by many—the fierce purple-haired lady they remembered from the day their lives had changed forever. But none paid her any attention; their complete focus was reserved for Leon alone.

As the crowd began to settle back into their previous positions, James broke away from the group and approached Leon directly. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees again right beside Leon, positioning himself like a devoted servant awaiting orders.

But who can tell Leon that James, a psychopath, was more than devotion was holding himself from his murderous tendencies, he really wanted to go somewhere where he could kill something.

There wasn't even a rat for him to kill in his dimensional space; it had been torturous for him for the past six years.

Leon said nothing to the peculiar man and let him do as he pleased. He could see the fervent intensity burning in James's eyes—a kind of religious madness that had only grown stronger over the years of separation.

At the referee's signal, the fight resumed in the center of the arena. But the atmosphere had completely transformed. Gone was the previous sporting mood; now the air was thick with deadly seriousness. Both fighters understood they were no longer performing for entertainment—they were displaying their skills before their god.

Rudy gripped his great sword with both hands, his knuckles white from the force of his hold. The massive blade gleamed as he raised it, his entire body tense with determination. Every muscle in his frame was coiled, ready to unleash devastating strikes that would prove his worth.

Meanwhile, Max wielded two swords with practiced ease, twirling them in his hands with fluid motions that drew appreciative cheers from several young women in the crowd. His movements were smooth and confident, each gesture calculated to demonstrate both skill and showmanship. The twin blades caught the light as they spun, creating an almost hypnotic display.

Both fighters circled each other warily, their previous casual approach replaced by the focused intensity of warriors trying to impress their deity. The crowd pressed closer, their excitement palpable as they anticipated witnessing combat elevated by divine presence.

Leon observed the scene with calm interest, while Seraphine stood silently beside him, taking in this glimpse of the society that had developed in his absence. James remained kneeling at Leon's side, trembling slightly with the overwhelming joy of his lord's return.

The arena had become a sacred space where mortal skill would be tested under the watchful gaze of the one they worshipped.

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