RESONANCE

Irene lay on the grass in a fetal position, tears glistening in her eyes as she gazed into the distance, lost in the serene beauty of the crystal lake before her, surrounded by vibrant flowers and towering trees. She knew she was in the familiar embrace of her recurring dream, a place of unparalleled tranquility where she sought solace during her slumber.

Despite the beautiful surroundings, turmoil brewed within her. Each breath felt heavy, as if weighted by the burden of her emotions. She couldn't shake the pain gnawing at her heart, the ache aggravated by thoughts of her daughter.

Why did her daughter seem to hate her?

The mere contemplation of their strained relationship sent waves of anguish crashing over her, threatening to engulf her in despair.

As Irene wavered on the brink of surrender, a familiar voice cut through the silence, pulling her back from the abyss.

“Hello, my love...” The words, like a lifeline, were uttered by a voice she had yearned for, one that held a special place in her heart.

Irene's tear-filled eyes lifted to meet his gaze, and as she beheld the man she loved, her tears flowed uncontrollably.

“M–my love,” Irene whispered, her voice catching in as she struggled to draw breath. She felt his reassuring touch, his arms encircling her, gently coaxing her to rise from her fetal position and enveloping her in a tight embrace.

In his embrace, Irene found solace amidst the storm of her emotions. She cried harder, her tears now mingling with a sense of warmth and love that enveloped her as she clung to him, finding strength in his presence.

“I miss you..” Irene's voice trembled with longing as she whispered, her words carrying the weight of years apart.

Her man chuckled softly, his hand tenderly cupping her face as he sought to comfort her, gently wiping away her tears.

“I miss you too,” he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, his lips a balm to her wounded soul.

During her slumber, Irene had constructed a world within her dreams, a sanctuary where she and her beloved could exist in eternal harmony. For twenty-two years, she had found solace and happiness in this dream realm, each moment spent in his embrace a precious gift she treasured dearly. Now, faced with the prospect of waking to a world without him, she clung to this fleeting bliss with all her strength.

“You've returned to me once again, my love,” her man's voice carried a note of concern, his worry palpable in the air.

Irene met his gaze, memorizing every line of his handsome face, etching this moment into her memory for eternity.

With a tender caress, she traced the contours of his cheek, her lips finding his in a kiss filled with all the passion and longing of their years apart. And in that fleeting moment, she felt him respond, his love a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of her uncertainty.

She missed him so intensely that it felt like she never wanted to leave this place again. As they savored the sweetness of their shared kisses, minutes slipped by, leaving them both breathless when they finally parted, his forehead resting against hers as he smiled tenderly.

“I love you, Irene Bae, to the hell and back,” her man whispered, his words sending a surge of emotion through Irene.

Memories of her daughter uttering those same words flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Her man's confusion was evident as he gazed at her, her arms around his neck as she caressed his hair, her fingers tracing the contours of his nape, her gaze locked with his mesmerizing eyes, the same eyes her daughter had inherited.

“Why are you laughing, my love?” her man asked, a smile gracing his lips.

“I just remembered our daughter. She also said those exact words to me,” Irene explained, a smile playing on her lips as she watched her man's laughter join hers.

“Well, it seems she inherited that from me, then,” he remarked, his laughter mingling with hers in the tranquil embrace of their shared world.

But in this world, Irene had forgotten the daughter she left behind, lost in the bliss of her peaceful slumber. However, her tranquility shattered when she suddenly felt her daughter's presence, a stirring in her soul that jolted her awake from her dreamlike state.

With a surge of longing and urgency, Irene felt an overwhelming desire to awaken, to be reunited with her daughter. But she found herself powerless, as if her ability to rouse herself had been weakened by the enchantment of her dreams.

Throughout her dormant state, Irene felt her daughter's presence like a gentle breeze, a whisper in the depths of her consciousness. Each visit brought with it random stories and shared moments, each one tugging at Irene's heartstrings until tears flowed freely, a testament to the depth of her love for her daughter.

And then, in a moment of divine intervention, the kiss happened—a kiss that transcended time and space, enveloping Irene in a torrent of emotion. In that fleeting instant, her entire being felt as though it were bursting with energy, her power surging forth with newfound strength.

With a gasp, Irene's eyes fluttered open, the veil of sleep lifting as she emerged from her slumber. In that moment of awakening, she knew that her daughter's kiss had bestowed upon her the strength to break free from the confines of her dream world, to finally return to the reality where her daughter awaited her embrace.

“You want me to tell you about our daughter?” Irene suddenly asked her man, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. Her heart swelled with tenderness as she met his gaze, seeing the love reflected in his eyes at the mere mention of their daughter.

Her man nodded as a response and Irene's smile widened at him, her gaze unwavering, fearful of losing him in this ephemeral moment.

“You have the same eyes as our daughter, and she's absolutely beautiful, but also incredibly cute,” Irene began, her voice tinged with warmth and fondness. “Yet, she can be quite stubborn and mischievous. When she sets her mind to something, there's no stopping her.”

As Irene spoke, she noticed a spark ignite in her man's eyes, mirroring her own affection for their daughter. However, beneath the joy of reminiscing lay a pang of sorrow, knowing that her man could never share these moments with their beloved child.

“She's also incredibly sweet, just like you,” Irene continued, her fingers tenderly tracing his features. “She's a deeply loving person who will fiercely defend those she cares about.”

Memories flooded her mind, including the times her daughter had stood up for Seungwan, Sooyoung especially her Seulgi unnie, even when it meant challenging her.

Despite the joy of reminiscing about their daughter, Irene couldn't shake the bittersweet realization that their family would never be whole in the waking world.

“I wish you could be with us,” Irene whispered, her voice heavy with longing.

Her man smiled tenderly, leaning close until their noses touched. “I'm always with you and our daughter,” he murmured sweetly. “You just have to look thoroughly, my love. I'm always here, watching over you both, loving you endlessly.”

Confusion etched across Irene's face as she searched his eyes for understanding.

“What do you mean—” Irene's words were cut off as her man silenced her with a kiss, their passion igniting as they lost themselves in each other's embrace.

“I love you so much, my love,” he whispered between their kisses.

“I love you too, so much,” Irene responded, clinging to him desperately, unwilling to let go.

But their intense moment was abruptly interrupted by her daughter's frantic screams, calling out to her.

Breaking away from the kiss, Irene's heart raced as she searched for her daughter, her mind torn between her love for her man and her maternal instincts.

“Mom, wake up!” her daughter's voice echoed, urging Irene into action.

“Yerim, my baby,” Irene smiled, relief flooding her as she heard her daughter's voice.

“Go to our daughter now, my love,” her man suddenly said, his voice filled with understanding.

Irene hesitated, torn between her desire to stay with him and her duty to her daughter.

“Our daughter needs you. Go now. Don't worry about me,” he reassured her with a smile, his expression conveying understanding and acceptance.

With a heavy heart, Irene nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks, and raced towards her daughter's voice. But as she cast one final glance back at her man, her heart seized at the sight of a startling transformation—the figure of her beloved gradually shifting into Seulgi's form.

Frozen in disbelief, Irene stood rooted to the spot, her mind swirling with confusion as she struggled to comprehend the inexplicable turn of events.

Why had her beloved taken on the appearance of Seulgi? What deeper significance lay behind this mysterious transformation?

As Irene's gaze remained fixed on the mesmerizing transformation before her, a whirlwind of scenes played out behind her like a rapid montage from a film, revealing the intricate connections between her beloved and Seulgi.

Each fleeting moment offered glimpses into their shared history, their intertwined fates, and the profound bond that linked them together.

Irene's entire being trembled with emotion as she struggled to process the overwhelming revelation unfolding before her eyes.

Breath caught in , tears streaming down her cheeks once more, she watched in rapt attention, unable to tear her gaze away from the captivating spectacle. In that fleeting moment, the pieces of the puzzle seemed to align, offering a glimpse into the deeper mysteries of their intertwined destinies.

As Irene's resolve wavered, her daughter's anguished cry pierced through the haze of confusion, jolting her back to reality with a sudden rush of urgency.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Irene's consciousness snapped back into focus, yanking her from the depths of her troubled slumber.

Gasping for breath, she found herself once again in the familiar confines of her room, the serene tranquility of her dream world shattered by the harsh reality of her surroundings.

The scene before her was one of chaos and disarray, with objects strewn about and broken—a stark reflection of the turmoil that had gripped her subconscious mind.

With trembling hands, Irene pushed herself upright, her body still trembling from the disorienting shift between dreams and reality. Her gaze swept across the room, frantically searching for her daughter until her eyes settled on the figure lying motionless on the floor.

A gasp escaped Irene's lips as her breath caught in , her heart pounding against her chest with a frantic urgency. The sight of her daughter's still form sent a surge of panic coursing through her veins, paralyzing her with fear and uncertainty.

Choked with emotion, Irene struggled to find her voice amidst the turmoil raging within her. Tears welled in her eyes as she grappled with a flood of conflicting thoughts and emotions, her mind racing to comprehend the gravity of the situation before her.

“Your majesty are you okay in there?!” Azazel shouted on the outside of her room.

As Azazel's panicked voice echoed through the door, Irene's mind flashed back to a time long ago—the last time she had heard such urgency in his tone, when her world had shattered with the news of her father's passing.

“I'm going to open the door now, Your Majesty!” Azazel's voice grew louder, filled with a sense of urgency.

The door slammed open, but Irene remained fixated on her daughter, her heart pounding in her chest as fear gripped her soul.

“Your Majesty—” Azazel entered her room, followed by the other devils, their expressions a mix of shock and concern as they laid eyes on the young royal highness lying on the floor.

...

Yerim continued to cry into her mother's neck, her emotions swirling in a tumultuous storm of fear, pain, and self–blame. The weight of the possibility of losing her mother forever pressed down on her like a suffocating blanket, driving her to the brink of despair.

With a gut-wrenching cry, she unleashed her anguish, her screams echoing through the room.

“Mom, p-please...” Yerim's plea trembled in the air, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached out to her mother, her eyes b with tears.

As she stared at her mother's sleeping form, consumed by desperation, Yerim felt something within her snap. A surge of raw power coursed through her veins, an overwhelming force that threatened to consume her from within. Her entire being seemed to radiate with a dangerously intense light, her eyes glowing red with unbridled emotion.

Lost in the grip of this overwhelming power, Yerim found herself compelled to move, her body moving of its own accord. With each step, her surroundings blurred into a haze of insignificance, until all that remained was the grand window beckoning to her like a siren's call. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her resolve as unyielding as the force propelling her forward.

As Yerim remained transfixed, her eyes blazing with fiery red intensity, the consequences of her unleashed power rippled across realms, reaching even the human world.

...

In the hell realm, chaos reigned supreme as the once beautiful but infernal paradise descended into catastrophe. Storms ravaged the landscape, fires raged uncontrollably, and earthquakes shook the very foundations of the realm. The inhabitants, typically formidable and unyielding, now fled for their lives, their once-proud strongholds reduced to rubble by the force of Yerim's unbridled power.

Despite their demonic resilience, many succumbed to the overwhelming onslaught, unable to withstand the magnitude of the devastation wrought by the daughter of their queen.

Meanwhile, Yerim remained still, her gaze fixed on the unknown beyond their realm. Unbeknownst to her, her very presence exerted a gravitational pull on the fabric of reality, her power extending far beyond what she could comprehend. It was as though she existed in a state of detached observation, her consciousness unavoidably linked to the chaos she had unleashed.

Joy and Seulgi fled the house as the intense earthquake shook their surroundings. Confusion clouded their minds as they emerged into chaos, witnessing the devastation before them—dead devils littered the ground, and the once-familiar landscape lay in ruins.

“What's happening, Joy?!” Seulgi's voice trembled with fear as she clung to Joy for support.

“I really don't know, Seulgi,” Joy whispered, her own fear palpable as she tightened her grip on Seulgi's hand.

As panic threatened to overwhelm them, Joy's thoughts raced to Wendy, realizing she was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Wendy?!” Joy's voice rose in panic as she frantically scanned their surroundings.

“She said she was going to check something outside, but she hasn't come back!” Seulgi's words mirrored Joy's growing alarm as they hurriedly searched for their missing friend.

However, their frantic efforts were cut short by a sudden explosion nearby, sending them crashing to the ground in shock and terror.

“Seulgi!” Joy screamed, scrambling to reach her friend amidst the chaos. When she finally reached Seulgi's side, she enveloped her in a tight hug, as if shielding her from the devastation around them.

“Seulgi, use your teleportation power. We'll be safe at the queen's palace,” Joy urged, her voice laced with urgency. Seulgi nodded in response, but hesitated, her thoughts consumed by their missing friend, Wendy.

Sensing Seulgi's concern, Joy offered a glimmer of hope. “Maybe Wendy is already at the queen's palace,” she suggested, hoping to alleviate some of Seulgi's worry. With a nod from Seulgi, they activated the teleportation power, vanishing from the chaos in an instant.

As they materialized in the safety of the queen's palace, Joy's heart pounded with anticipation, hoping to find Wendy there and unharmed. Meanwhile, Seulgi's thoughts were consumed by concern for her sister, praying for her safety and well-being.

In the celestial expanse of the heaven realm, Michael, a being accustomed to tranquility and serenity, found himself gripped by an unfamiliar sensation—fear. It clawed at his heart with icy tendrils, leaving him unsettled and uncertain.

For the first time in his existence, Michael bore witness to a power unlike any he had ever encountered. It swept through the realms with devastating force, leaving chaos and destruction in its wake. As he beheld the magnitude of its influence, he struggled to comprehend the nature of this unknown force.

With a sense of urgency gripping his being, Michael knew that he could not stand idly by while his realm faced the threat of catastrophe. Drawing upon his celestial powers, he resolved to take action, to safeguard his realm and its inhabitants from the ravages of this mysterious power.

Though fear gnawed at his resolve, Michael pressed forward, determined to confront the unknown and protect his realm from the impending storm. In the face of uncertainty, he would stand as a beacon of hope, a guardian of light amidst the encroaching darkness.

As chaos engulfed the human world,