HPDBC Chapter 271: Clingy!
Chapter 271: Clingy!
The chamber didn’t stay quiet for long as various tremors continued to happen throughout the facilities.
Jax could hear movement, and senses divine energy shifting towards their location.
"...They’re mobilizing," Nulissa said calmly, her crimson eyes flicking toward the far end of the corridor.
Jax nodded once, "I know,"
But his focus remained on the people in front of him.
The Merfolk were still gathering themselves, helping one another up, supporting those too weak to stand on their own.
The Demons Alexi had freed from the earlier sections were beginning to converge as well, some limping, some barely conscious, but all moving with the same fragile, desperate hope.
Hope that they were getting out of this immense hell they had been in.
Jax exhaled slowly, "Everyone close in."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried his authority, and everyone listened.
Jax looked down at the little Merfolk Princess who was already clinging to him. Her small fingers curled into his coat, her face pressed firmly against his chest as if letting go, even for a second, would make everything disappear.
Jax glanced down at her briefly, "...You good?"
She didn’t answer. Her grip just tightened on his clothes and Jax took that as a yes.
"...Alright," he muttered.
Nulissa watched the interaction for a brief moment, then looked away, her attention returning to the approaching pressure.
"We’re running out of time."
Jax didn’t argue, nodding as he began to cast his magic spell. His aura shifted inward as the space around everyone began to distort with overwhelming precision.
The air folded in on itself, layers of reality bending as his control extended outward to encompass every single person present.
Demons and Merfolk. Dozens of weakened, injured individuals, all of them drawn into his range.
Some of them flinched at the mysterious magic that was being cast, but none of them resisted, knowing Jax was doing this to help them.
Jax’s golden eyes gleamed faintly, "Hold on."
And then, reality peeled away around everyone.
~WHUM!~
Just a brief moment of weightlessness, and then warmth.
The group reappeared in a wide, open courtyard within the Demon Capital. The contrast was immediate.
Where the facility had been cold, suffocating, and oppressive, this place was alive and much more welcoming.
Mana flowed freely through the air, rich and stable.
The architecture rose around them in elegant, dark stone structures infused with subtle enchantments—not oppressive, but supportive.
The ground beneath them was smooth and steady. The moment they appeared, nearby personnel reacted instantly.
"Your Majesty!"
Guards and attendants snapped to attention, but their focus quickly shifted beyond Jax to the group behind him, spotting the injured and malnourished civilians that he saved.
"...Get medical units here for these people," Jax said immediately without any hesitation in his tone.
"No delays." Jax reaffirmed.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
They moved instantly.
Within seconds, healers began arriving, Demons trained in restoration magic, accompanied by support staff carrying supplies, stretchers, and enchanted tools.
The reaction from the rescued group was... mixed. Some of the Demons relaxed immediately, recognizing their surroundings.
Others dropped to their knees, overwhelmed.
The Merfolk, however, still slightly hesitated as they still had some influence of the Church affecting their thoughts on the Demons, especially as they knew he was the Demon King.
The older Merfolk stepped forward again, placing himself slightly between the others and the surrounding activity, a protective stance worthy of a leader.
"...This is... your capital?" he asked carefully.
Jax nodded once.
"Yeah."
The man’s gaze lingered on everything—the order, the structure, the absence of chaos.
"...It’s... not what we were told."
Nulissa let out a faint, quiet breath beside him.
"Of course it isn’t."
Before the man could respond, a group of healers approached.
"Your Majesty, we’re ready."
Jax gestured lightly.
"Start with the worst cases."
They moved in immediately, working with practiced efficiency.
Healing magic flared softly, wounds closing, exhaustion easing, though deeper damage would take time.
"Everyone will be taken care of," Jax said, his voice steady, "You’re safe here."
Some of the Merfolk exchanged uncertain glances, but eventually all of them accepted the healing, thanking Jax and the Demons for their assistance.
One by one, they allowed themselves to be guided toward the medical facilities. All except one.
Jax didn’t even need to look down to know.
"...You’re not going, are you?" he muttered.
The little Princess shook her head immediately.
Her grip tightened again.
"...No..."
It was barely more than a whisper, but Jax heard the melodic voice of the Princess perfectly
Jax exhaled quietly. Nulissa glanced at him, a faint hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.
"...Seems you’ve been claimed."
He gave her a look, "Not helping."
She smirked faintly, "Not trying to."
Jax looked back toward the Merfolk group.
The older man hesitated, then stepped forward again.
"...She won’t leave you," he said quietly.
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"...That obvious?"
The man gave a tired, knowing smile.
"She’s been through... a lot."
His gaze softened as he looked at the girl.
"...More than she should have."
There was a brief silence and then Jax made a decision, "...Fine," Jax said.
He adjusted his stance slightly, making it easier for her to stay where she was.
"I’ll come with you."
The man blinked.
"...You will?"
Jax nodded.
"Yeah."
His eyes flicked toward the medical wing.
"I want details anyway."
Nulissa crossed her arms lightly.
"I’ll oversee things here."
Jax glanced at her.
"Handle the rest?"
She nodded once.
"Of course."
There was no need for further discussion.
Jax turned.
"Lead the way."
The older Merfolk didn’t hesitate this time.
"...This way."
The medical wing of the Demon Capital was already active by the time they arrived.
Rows of chambers lined the interior, each equipped with advanced healing arrays, enchanted beds, and support systems designed to stabilize even the worst conditions.
The Merfolk were guided carefully inside, placed under immediate care.
The atmosphere here was calm and welcoming.
Jax ignored the murmurs of the Merfolk and moved deeper into the facility, following the older man into a quieter chamber set aside for higher-priority cases.
The little Princess still hadn’t let go, not once.
Jax sat down on the edge of one of the beds, adjusting slightly so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable.
"...You can relax," he said quietly.
She shook her head again.
"...No..."
He didn’t push it.
Instead, his gaze shifted to the older man.
"Start talking."
The man nodded slowly, "As you probably know, the Mermaid Kingdom lies deep beneath the Western Seas, and we control most of the Oceanic territory across the world, with some exceptions like the Abyssal Sea,"
His voice was steady, but heavy as he thought about what happened in the past to lead them to this situation.
"We’ve remained neutral in this war, protected by the Goddess of the Sea Alura. Everything was going fine until...."
Jax’s eyes narrowed slightly, "...The Church attacked you,"
The man nodded.
"Yes."
His hands clenched slightly, "They came without warning."
His voice darkened.
"Light-wielding forces. Angels among them."
Jax’s gaze sharpened.
"...Angels."
"Yes."
The word lingered.
"They bypassed our defenses. We were out on a trip in the NorthWest, outside of the core Kingdom area and they attacked, targeting the Princess directly,"
His eyes flicked toward the girl, "They took her and all of us who were alongside her,"
Silence filled the room.
"We tried to fight back," he continued.
"...We failed."
Jax leaned back slightly.
"...And they’ve been harvesting her power."
The man’s jaw tightened.
"...Yes."
Another pause.
"...We don’t know why."
Jax’s eyes gleamed faintly.
"...I do."
The man looked at him.
"Her bloodline," Jax said simply, "Blessed by the Goddess of the Sea, they’re probably trying to harvest her Divinity,"