I chuckled. "Nothing big. Just want to see a new civilization, that’s all."
Primus gave me a look that said he didn’t believe a single word of that. I ignored him and turned toward his daughter instead.
"So, how did you end up kidnapped?" I asked Lara.
She glanced at her father, then back at me, but stayed quiet. It was Primus who finally sighed and answered.
"It’s a personal matter. But I’ll tell you. And I’ll also help you reach my homeworld... if you help me with something first."
That caught my attention.
"What kind of help? And just letting me step foot on your world isn’t enough. What else can you offer me?"
He stared at me for a long moment before speaking.
"In my homeworld, three families rule. I belong to one of them, the Bloodreavers. To be exact, I was one of the candidates to inherit the Bloodreaver throne."
"Oh, so you’re royalty," Steve cut in.
"Sort of," Primus nodded, then went on. "But I fell in love with Lara’s mother. She was from another great family, the Del Rey clan. She too was a candidate for her family’s throne. When both sides realized we were together, neither agreed. The Del Reys thought it was our ploy to steal away their most talented heir. My family thought the same thing. They tried everything to stop us."
He paused, his voice softer for a moment.
"But we were strong. In the end, we married and had Lara. For a while, things were good."
His expression darkened.
"Then, a few years ago, the race to inherit the thrones intensified as our ancestors grew older. Chaos followed, assassinations, kidnappings, betrayal at every corner.
In that chaos, someone decided to target us. They kidnapped Lara. I went to rescue her, but the ones behind it were waiting.
They knew I was coming. I fell into their trap and was captured myself. My wife... she was heading toward another location we suspected they might’ve taken Lara. I don’t know what became of her."
His voice grew sharp with anger, his eyes burning with hatred.
"To this day, I don’t know who orchestrated it, or why. I don’t know where my wife is. I only know that after being captured, I ended up in an underground trade hub. From there, they shipped me here with Lara."
He straightened and looked me in the eye.
"So here’s what I can offer you: I’ll take you to Armus, my homeworld. And I’ll grant you the most valuable thing in our world—the Blood and Fire Ritual."
My brow furrowed. "What’s that?"
Primus’s tone grew reverent.
"It’s a ritual tied to our world since ancient times. One of our ancestors nearly reached the Saint rank and elevated Armus’s world core to a high level.
Because of him, the core itself can fuel the Blood and Fire Ritual. When performed, it can enhance your evolution, and in some rare cases, even awaken or strengthen talents. Not just rumors, the system itself recognizes it."
He kept talking, his voice calm but heavy with meaning.
"Of course, the biggest benefit is the chance to comprehend the Laws of Fire and Blood. No other demon world even comes close to us in understanding blood laws. Only the demon headquarters can rival what we’ve achieved, and even that’s because of the ritual we practice."
Steve leaned forward, curious. "So... can humans take part in this ritual too?"
Primus nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Many other races have taken part before. There’s no reason humans can’t."
I leaned back in my chair, thinking for a moment. "Interesting. What else?"
Primus blinked at me and gave a small scoff. "I just offered you the most valuable thing we have."
I smiled faintly and nodded. "I know. But there has to be more, right? You see, I’m not exactly lacking in comprehension or abilities. Blood laws sound useful, sure, but I’m not desperate for them."
He stayed quiet for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing as if deciding how much to tell me. Finally, he spoke again.
"There is one more thing. Access to the demon headquarters. I have connections there. They hold far more resources than any other world, and there are Transcendent-rank individuals among them as well."
"Okay, that sounds good," I said slowly, "but I already have connections with the Nagas. Why would I waste time with the demons when I can go directly to the Nagas—the strongest race in the galaxy?"
Primus’s eyes widened in surprise. "You... know someone from the Nagas?"
"Yes, I do," I answered with a small nod.
For a moment he just stared at me, then leaned back in his seat, his body loosening as if some hidden weight had been lifted. His sudden shift in posture caught my attention.
"Can I assume," he asked carefully, "that the one you know is someone... powerful?"
I didn’t bother hiding it. I nodded, watching him closely, curious why he seemed so relieved.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Then you should definitely come with me. You see, the demons have an alliance with the Nagas. I can use my connections to help you reach them as well.
The Elementals and Ferans stand together on the other side, of course... and several other races have tied themselves into both camps. But our alliance with the Nagas is strong."
"Why can’t we just go directly to the Nagas?" Steve asked beside me.
Primus let out a low chuckle. "Well, you can go ahead and try."
Steve frowned. "So there’s a problem?"
Primus leaned forward, his tone turning more serious.
"The Nagas are the spear of our galaxy. They’re always on the front lines, fighting the Eternals. Because of that, their homeworld is under layers of security.
Every entry and exit is watched, every stranger questioned.
They have to defend not only against external threats like the Eternals, but also internal ones, the Ferans, for example. You won’t be able to just stroll into their world as if it were an open house. Without the right connections, you wouldn’t even get past the first barrier."
"So we understand your story now," I said, narrowing my eyes at him, "but what kind of help do you actually need?"
Primus met my gaze, his expression turning firm. "Nothing complicated. Just help me find my wife or free her if she’s still being held and act as my escort to make sure I can return safely to my homeworld."