Chapter 232: The Glasswater Fortress

Her delicate form nestled against his chest, her head resting on him, and her arms wrapped around his neck.

As Rio closed his eyes, the aromatic rose-sweet fragrance of Lia enveloped his senses, He wanted to remember everything about this moment, from the softness of her skin to the sound of her breathing.

Rio was going to depart tomorrow, but for now, he just wanted to cherish this moment with his Wifey. He could feel her heart beating against his chest, and he knew that his own heart was beating in a similar rhythm as hers, as they were both peaceful in each other's hug.

At that moment, all of their worries and fears disappeared, they knew that they would face many hurdles in the days to come, but for now, they were content to just hold each other's close.

Rio and Lia's bodies were intertwined as they lay in bed, wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and love. He gently ran his fingers through Lia's silky hair, feeling the soft strands between his fingertips. Her breathing was slow and steady, and the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest were soothing to him.

He held her close, their bodies entwined and watched as the moonlight filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow over the room, creating a dreamlike atmosphere in their bedroom.

Eventually, Rio's eyelids grew heavy, and he too began to drift off to sleep, still holding Lia in his embrace.

As the night passed by, the two remained entangled, their bodies a perfect fit for each other, as if they were made to be together. The moon continued its journey across the sky, the darkness slowly giving way to the first rays of dawn.

As the first light of day filtered through the windows, tickling the boy's face, Rio stirred and opened his eyes.

He gazed down at Lia, who was peacefully in her slumber. He knew he had to leave soon, but the thought of leaving her side was almost unbearable.

The boy had one more matter that he needed to solve for his next destination.

"Eve, do you know where I will find this next monarch beast?" Rio thought to ask about the monarch beast's exact location so he could teleport to the nearest location using the Teleporter tower.

"Mm, it's inside a river near the Asura's Glasswater Fortress," Eve murmured, her voice heavy with sleepiness, she was also resting in her wonderous forest realm.

The boy disturbed her serene sleep but she didn't complain about it.

After a moment passed, Lia slowly fluttered open her eyes, discovering their bodies hugging each other as they enjoyed the comfort of one another's touch.

As they sat down for breakfast, the reality of Rio's departure began to sink in. Lia's eyes became misty as she watched him eat, her heart heavy with the knowledge that their time together was limited.

Rio finished his breakfast quickly, not wanting to prolong the goodbye any longer than necessary.

Gently, he leaned down to press a soft kiss on her plumpy lips, leaving a lingering feeling on hers for a moment longer than usual.

"I'll be back soon, Wifey," he whispered, before getting up and preparing for his departure.

With a last hug from Lia, Rio turned and made his way out of the Empress Villa to the Teleporter Tower, as he cast [Ancient Disguise] to get in his blonde-haired form.

From the old man, he took [Teleport Glyph] to his destination, Glasswater Fortress, where he would deal with the next monarch beast.

***

The Glasswater Fortress stood proud in the middle of the grassy field, its towering walls shone in the moonlight.

Surrounded by vast expanses of lush grasslands, the fortress looked like a sentinel, guarding the land against any intruders.

As Rio come out of the Glasswater Fortress, he could see the walls of the fortress towering above him. The walls were made of a translucent material that seemed to reflect the light, giving the fortress an ethereal quality.

Despite the darkness of the night, he could make out the intricate details of the fortress. There were arches and columns, spiraling towers, all made of the same glass-like material. The fortress was an actual work of art, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and engineering.

The gate was guarded by Asura soldiers, as they were standing to defend the shelter from unknown dangers.

As he walked out of the shelter, Rio realized that he was on the other side of the Shamor Empire since it was morning there, but here it was night.

The air was crisp and refreshing, and he took a deep breath, savoring the coolness of the grassland's breeze.

The moon shone brightly above, emitting a soft silver glow over the vast expanse of grass, and in the distance, he could see the long grassy river from which the Monarch beast's location came.

With a calm look on his face, Rio took a bend his knees and launched himself ahead like a rocket.

He soared across the grassland, his speed increased, and his body transformed into a blur of blue light as he streaked across the land like a comet, his form traveling with an incredible speed.

The journey ahead was long and filled with unknown dangers, but Rio was resolute in his determination to embrace it head-on.

With the wind whipping through his hair and the moon lighting his path, he raced toward his destination, ready to overcome any hurdle that lay ahead.