A decade had passed since the war ended. Ten long, agonizing years since Sophia had stood on the edge of the world and cast Mike into a space between Heaven and Hell, sealing him away to stop him from destroying everything they had fought for. Ten years since the gods had been banished, since she had walked away from the unimaginable power that had once defined her. Now, she was just Sophia, the innkeeper of the Red Wolf Inn.

The sun dipped low over the horizon, its fading light casting a soft glow over the island as the ocean stretched endlessly before her. She leaned back in the steaming outdoor bath, her body sunk deep into the heat, the water rippling around her naked form. She let out a sigh, taking another long swig from the bottle of rum at her side—the third one of the day. The burn was a comfort, numbing the sharp edges of her thoughts. She welcomed the numbness. She craved it.

Her hair, once a blend of red and blue, had symbolized her and Mike’s intertwined souls. But as Mike’s soul changed—empowered by dragons like her and Ignial, touched by Anna Sha, and reshaped by his own journey—his aura had shifted to a deep purple. With Mike gone, Sophia allowed the blue to fade, replacing it with black while keeping a single red highlight. The red was a nod to their past, but the black served a dual purpose: concealing her identity and reflecting her own subconscious struggle. It was her way of distancing herself from the dark roles she had played as Solaria and Valicar, yet a quiet reminder that she could never fully escape them.

Her wings, tail, and horns were gone—concealed under the polymorph spell she maintained, even in the privacy of her balcony. She didn’t know why she still hid them. There was no one here to see her, no one to judge. The island remained untouched by modernity, a primitive tourist haven on the other side, while her end remained wild, isolated—just the way she liked it. It kept her separate. It kept her alone.

Her gaze drifted to the ocean, to the vastness of the horizon where water met sky, and for a moment, she let herself imagine a different life. A life where she hadn’t sent Mike away again for a second time. A life where Altheack still laughed at her side, where the weight of her sins didn’t drag her down, where the guilt didn’t crawl beneath her skin, whispering every moment of every day. But those were fleeting fantasies, slipping away with the tides.

For the last ten years, she had tried to forget. She had devoured every indulgence that came her way—rich food from across the world, bodies that filled her bed but never touched her soul. She had slept with so many lovers, nameless, faceless, fleeting. Each one a distraction, a way to drown the love she still felt for Altheack. But none of it worked. She could still see her silver hair gleaming in the moonlight, hear her fierce laughter as they fought together, side by side.

Now, Altheack was gone. Distant. Silent. She had retreated to Minerva, rebuilding her ancestral home and leading a new druidic order. The last time they had spoken, it had been brief and bitter—too many words left unsaid. Altheack had wanted to follow Mike, had been furious when Raz stopped her, and now she was untouchable, her grief and anger locking her away from everything they once had.

Sophia lifted the bottle of rum to her lips again, letting the burn sear its way down her throat as she stared out at the ocean, the same ocean that had once carried her and Mike away from this island. The same island where they had met James for the second time, where they had run from the Templars. It felt like another lifetime, like someone else’s life. She wasn’t that woman anymore—the Grand General, the Archmage, the Hero of the Empire. The world had known her by so many names: The World Cracker, the Last Dragon Lord, the commander of Dragon Tooth, her elite order of warriors.

Now, she was just Sophia. Alone. Broken. Naked in more ways than one.

The rum wasn’t working fast enough tonight. She could feel the gnawing, the hollow emptiness that no amount of food, drink, or meaningless pleasure could fill. It was always there, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for moments like this, when she had nothing left to distract her.

She had sent Mike to Hell.

She had destroyed everything. Torn him away from the world, from Altheack, from herself. And for what? To save the world? Maybe. But it didn’t feel like salvation. It felt like destruction.

The waves crashed softly in the distance, their rhythm usually soothing, but tonight, even they felt like a reminder of how far away everything was. Everything she had loved. Everything she had lost.

She closed her eyes, her head tipping back against the edge of the bath as the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky. She felt the water against her skin, hot and welcoming, but it couldn’t touch the cold that had settled inside her a long time ago.

She was alone.

And then, she heard it.

“Sophia.”

Her eyes snapped open, her heart skipping a beat. It was so faint she thought she had imagined it, but then it came again, clearer this time.

“Sophia.”

She sat up, the water sloshing around her, her breath catching in her throat. “Mike?”

Her voice sounded foreign, like she hadn’t spoken in days. The heat of the bath clung to her skin, but she felt cold now, exposed. She searched the horizon, but there was nothing. Just the endless ocean, the sky, and the stars. No sign of him.

“Yeah,” came the reply, a low, tired hum that cut through the night air like a blade. “It’s me.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and for a moment, she thought she might break. She hadn’t heard his voice in ten years. Ten long, aching years. She had convinced herself she never would again. She had tried to forget him, to drown the memory of his laugh, his touch, his love. But now, hearing his voice again, it felt like everything she had buried was being ripped open.

“You’re... alive?” Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with the weight of everything she couldn’t say.

There was a pause. A long, heavy silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of the waves and her uneven breath.

“Alive’s a strong word,” Mike said, his voice lighter now, though weariness weighed heavily in it. “I’m stuck between Heaven and Hell. It’s complicated. Higher dimension stuff—your little 3D brain wouldn’t get it,” he added with a faint chuckle.

Sophia closed her eyes, her head sinking into her hands as the familiar ache of guilt tightened around her chest. She had done this. She had put him there. She had sealed him away.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever hear from you again, smartass,” she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of it all. She had spent years telling herself she had made the right choice, that she had saved the world. But now, hearing his voice, all of that felt like a lie.

“Well,” Mike chuckled softly, though there was an edge to it now, a bitterness that hadn’t been there before. “Turns out Heaven’s gates don’t siege themselves.”

Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile, but it faded as quickly as it had come. His wit was still sharp, still able to get under her skin. It should have been comforting, but all it did was remind her of how much had changed. Of how far they had fallen.

“How’s the war?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

“Fucking brutal,” he replied, his tone darkening. “Easton and James… they’re stronger than I ever imagined. Easton’s pulling from both sides—divine and demonic. He’s stronger than most gods I’ve faced. And James… well, he’s tapping into both like me. The crazy part? He’s got a halo above his horns now. Can you believe that?”

Sophia let out a shaky breath, her chest tightening as she leaned back against the edge of the bath. The thought of James with a halo was almost laughable, but she couldn’t laugh. Not now. Not after everything.

“The student became the master, huh,” she said quietly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Mike’s voice softened, the sharpness gone. “Maybe. But we learned from them first. Easton—he was the one who figured it out first, tapping into both Heaven and Hell, being Anna Sha’s grandson and all. I wouldn’t have even known how to make a pact with a demon if it wasn’t for him. And James—being his uncle, he started pulling from both sides too. Hell… Hell taught me more than I ever wanted to know.”

There was a pause, a weight to his silence that even through the telepathic link, she could feel. When he spoke again, his voice held a hard edge. “After the fight to get here, Hell’s legions saw what I could do and accepted me as their new lord. Now, I command every demon that survived, Sophia. They follow me against Heaven’s angels, against the gods themselves. They know I’m the only thing between them and oblivion.”

Sophia’s heart pounded as she absorbed his words, the image of demonic forces marching behind Mike against celestial armies filling her mind, even though she couldn’t physically see him. She could only imagine what he looked like now, leading Hell’s armies with the same relentless drive that once burned through their shared soul.

“Hell taught me more than I wanted to know,” he repeated, his tone quieter now, “but everything that really mattered, Sophia, I learned from you. Everything we did as Valicar… I’m just using it now. You made me a master mage, whether I realized it or not, just by being in your head.”

Her chest tightened as memories flooded back—of their time as Valicar, two souls entwined in one body, fighting, loving, destroying together. She had shaped him into the warrior he was now. And then, she had torn him away from it all.

The guilt rose up again, choking her. “Mike, I—”

“Don’t,” he cut in, his voice firm but gentle. “I’m paying for my sins down here. I know what I did. But you... you’ve paid your price, Sophia. You need to live now. You deserve that much.”

Her hand trembled as she reached for the rum bottle, but she stopped, her fingers brushing against the glass. She couldn’t drown it this time. Not with him here, not with his voice filling the empty spaces inside her that had haunted her for so long.

“What about my sins?” she whispered, her voice shaking. “What about everything I did to you? To Altheack? I tore everything apart. How can I ever live with that?”

The silence between them felt heavy, suffocating, before Mike spoke again, softer this time. “You did what you had to do. You saved the universe.”

“I sent you to Hell,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “And before that, I sent you back to Earth. I tore you away from everything, from her…”

Sophia’s voice faltered as the memories rushed back—the moment she had banished him to Earth to stop him from destroying Caldera, when Anna Sha had twisted him into a monster after Altheack’s death. And later, with them reuniting on Earth, only to lose Altheack again as she was pulled into Hell. Mike had followed, invaded Hell to find her, but the reunion came with a price—his power had grown too immense. Staying would have destroyed everything.

“And I tore us apart again when you found me,” she continued, her voice breaking. “We merged, Mike. We became one again, but your power... it would’ve destroyed me. Destroyed everything. I had to send you away. Back to that endless war.”

Mike’s voice softened further, his tone full of understanding. “I asked you to, remember …You’ve been living in your own Hell ever since, haven’t you? But you’ve carried that weight long enough, Sophia. You need to let it go. You saved the universe. Twice. All of it—Caldera, Earth, Hell... It all survived because of you.”

Her chest felt tight, suffocated by the weight of her actions. “I sent you away, even though I knew I might never see you again. I took you away from everything, from Altheack. I never gave you a chance at peace.”

Mike’s voice was steady, full of certainty. “I chose this. You sent me to Earth because it was the only way to stop me from becoming a monster. And when I found Altheack in Hell, and fought my way back out it was you that saved Alth’s soul. But I had to leave again—because my power would’ve destroyed her or ripped the Veil apart. You didn’t tear us apart, Sophia. You saved us.”

Sophia clenched her fists, trying to hold back the tears. “But you’ve been trapped ever since. I did this to you.”

“I’m where I need to be,” Mike said quietly. “Holding the line between Heaven and Hell. But you? You need to live. For her. For me.”

The tears finally spilled over. She wanted to argue, to tell him it wasn’t that simple, but the words wouldn’t come. For the first time in a decade, she felt something other than guilt.

“Mike,” she whispered, “I don’t know how to let go. I’ve killed so many, both of us have, but it’s never seemed to bother you. Now... all I want is to be numb.”

There was another silence, but Mike’s voice, when it came, was soft but unyielding. “You can rest, Soph. You’ve earned it. We’ve both changed, and that’s fine. I’ve changed a lot since my first time on Earth. Having good parents for once and losing my memories—it taught me what really matters. I’m done with power and greed—that’s not who I am anymore. I’m doing this for you and Altheack. Conquering Heaven? It's not about control; it's about freeing us from the gods and demons that have used us for so long. Fuck the gods and demons that fucked us over, over and over. Altheack forgave us when we didn’t deserve it. Do it for her. Hell, do it for me. I’m saving the universe because you live in it, not for anyone else. So stop crying.”

At the mention of Altheack's forgiveness, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t spoken to her in years, hadn’t dared to, not after everything that had happened. They had been so close once, inseparable, bound by love. But she had torn them apart the moment she had sealed Mike away.

“She hates me,” Sophia whispered, barely able to speak the words.

Mike was quiet for a moment, then said, “She doesn’t hate you. She’s angry, and she’s grieving. But she doesn’t hate you.”

Sophia shook her head. “I sent you to Hell. I took you away from her.”

“You saved the universe,” Mike repeated. “She knows that, deep down. She just needs time.”

Sophia’s throat tightened, her hands trembling. Time. It had been years since she last spoke to Altheack, but the pain of their separation still felt raw, like a wound that refused to heal. She had tried to move on, tried to lose herself in fleeting distractions—strangers, drinks, anything to escape the gnawing ache inside her. But it never worked. Altheack was always there, in the back of her mind. A constant reminder of what she had lost.

“I miss her,” Sophia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” Mike replied, his voice softer now, filled with a deep sadness that cut through her like a blade. “But we can’t change what happened. We can’t go back.”

Sophia closed her eyes, the weight of those words crashing over her like a tidal wave. We can’t go back. No matter how much she wished for it, no matter how much she longed to undo everything, they couldn’t. The past was set, and it wasn’t going to change. But moving forward? That was something different.

“I’ve spent so long trying to atone for what I did... for what I was as Solaria,” she began, her voice a fragile whisper. “I thought I could build something better after Easton’s empire fell. I formed the Republic. I handed it off to Raz after the first year, thinking it would flourish without me. And it did. Maybe that’s how it should stay—me in the shadows, letting it grow on its own. Maybe... I’m not meant to lead anymore.”

Mike’s voice was steady, filled with understanding. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit, Sophia. You built that Republic. It stands because of you. Raz may be running it now, but you laid the foundation. Altheack doesn’t hate you. She’s hurt, like you. You both need time.”

Sophia laughed, but it was hollow, bitter. “Time hasn’t helped. I’ve tried to numb the pain. I’ve fought for centuries, saved lives, but it never feels like enough. The more I try to atone, the more I fuck things up. I left the Republic because I thought it was better off without me. And I was right. Maybe I don’t belong anywhere.”

Mike’s voice softened, his warmth seeping into her icy thoughts. “You’re not done, Soph. You’re just tired. You let the Republic stand on its own, and it did. But that doesn’t mean there’s no place for you. You don’t have to carry the weight of the universe alone. Don’t disappear. We still need you. Raz, Altheack, me... we all do.”

Sophia’s heart twisted painfully, guilt and self-loathing crashing over her in waves she couldn’t suppress. “I’ve done so much damage, Mike. What if all I do is hurt the people I care about? What if stepping back is the right thing to do?” Her voice cracked, bitterness seeping through as she added, “Maybe a fucked-up, broken dragon is better left on the beach, getting drunk, spreading her legs for strangers, because that’s the only way I can numb it all. That’s all I’m good for now.”

“You’re not broken,” Mike said, his voice firm but gentle, steady as always. “You’ve made mistakes, sure. We all have. But you’re not broken, Soph. You’re different, yeah, and so am I. I’m still me, but after everything I’ve been through, after Earth, I see things differently now. It’s not about power or fixing every mistake. It’s about the people who matter—the two people I’ve got left. You and Altheack. That’s what matters to me.”

Sophia’s heart surged with anger, her voice cutting through his calm words like a knife. “And you, Mike? The things you’ve done—who are you to tell me I can be forgiven?” She lashed out, her voice rising with the weight of her unresolved rage. “You ended lives! You nearly destroyed Caldera! You killed billions, Mike. You turned into something so evil, I had no choice but to separate us, to send you away and save the world from you. You think I’ve forgotten that?”

Her voice trembled, her hands shaking as she spoke. The memory of what Mike had become, the horror of watching him go down that dark path, still burned inside her. She hated the venom, the anger pouring out of her, but it was all she had left to fight the crushing guilt and her anger at his past.

Mike didn’t flinch. He let her words hang in the air between them, the silence thick with tension. His expression softened, not defensive, but filled with a kind of quiet understanding. He had carried his own burden from those days, and he knew her anger was justified. But he wasn’t going to let it push her further away.

He sighed, a faint, tired smile creeping onto his face as he tried to lighten the mood, offering her something familiar instead of fueling the fire. “Well… you’ll get a kick out of this—I watched your anime.”

Sophia blinked, her anger disarmed for a moment by the sudden shift. She had expected him to snap back, to argue, to throw her words back in her face. But instead, he smiled.

“You always said I was like Itachi Uchiha as a brother,” he continued, his violet eyes glinting with a bit of mischief. “But I’m not. I didn’t kill my family to prevent a civil war. Hell, I’m more of an Eren Yeager—ending the world to save my family.”

She couldn’t help it—a small, bitter laugh escaped her, caught off guard by the absurdity. Mike had never been into her hobbies, especially not anime. They’d argued about it back on Earth, with her teasing him about being too serious to enjoy something like that. And here he was, using it to break the tension.

Mike’s smile softened. “You don’t have to hold the Republic on your shoulders forever, Soph. You can rest, be whoever you want for a while. Just don’t lose yourself. Don’t let everything you’ve built slip away.”

His words pierced through her, and she felt he meant more than just the Republic—he meant her. She’d spent so long trying to make up for the damage they’d both caused. Was stepping back the right answer, or just a way to run from it all?

“I don’t know if I can keep going,” she said, her voice cracking. “Not like this.”

Mike’s voice was gentle. “You don’t have to. Take the time you need; you’ve earned it. Just don’t disappear. When you’re ready, we’ll be here—Altheack, Raz, and me. You’ll find your way back.”

Sophia closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. For the first time in years, the weight of her choices felt lighter. Maybe there was a future where she could rest and still be part of their world.

“I’ll try,” she whispered, fragile but hopeful. “For you. For her.”

Her voice trembled. “I don’t deserve it, though.”

“You do,” Mike said, unwavering. “You’ve paid your price, Sophia. You deserve to live.”

Her heart twisted, his words touching something deep inside her she thought had long gone numb. She wanted to argue, to tell him it wasn’t that simple, but his voice held her steady, like a lifeline.

Through tears, she stared at the darkening horizon. “How can I forgive myself? I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

“You’re stronger than you think,” he said softly. “You always were. We both deserve a chance to keep going.”

A bitter laugh escaped her. “You’re in Hell, Mike.”

“Yeah, and closer to Heaven’s gates every day,” he chuckled. “But I’m still here, aren’t I?”

They sat in silence, the weight of their shared history settling between them. She leaned back, the warmth of the bath sinking into her bones, and for the first time in years, she felt something other than emptiness.

Then Mike’s tone lightened. “By the way, keep your eyes off my girl.”

A sudden, raw laugh escaped her. “I would never take her from you.”

“As if you could... but I know,” Mike replied, his voice softening. “I know you wouldn’t.”

The silence between them grew comfortable, the unspoken understanding hanging in the air. Then, Sophia’s voice broke it, teasing and light.

"Hey, you went to Hell and, even worse, back to Earth for her," she said, her lips curving into a smirk despite herself. "I’ll definitely be there at your wedding."

Mike chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. “You better be. Wouldn’t be the same without you... and you are kind of my ride.”

Sophia’s smile widened, but the weight of the next part hung between them. “It’s gonna suck, though, going back to being Valicar.”

Mike laughed, full of affection and shared memories. “Yeah... but it’ll be worth it.”

Sophia leaned back, sighing. "Actually, I’ve been thinking. I’ve got an idea—what if I puppeted a golem-human hybrid? You could just polymorph me into whatever form you want. No need for Valicar."

There was a pause, and then Mike’s laughter filled the air, full and genuine. “You always have a plan, don’t you?”

“Of course. And besides, I look great as a golem.”

For the first time in years, the weight of the past didn’t feel quite so heavy. The stars above them twinkled in the deepening sky, and Sophia felt... lighter.

It wasn’t much. But it was a start.

“Take care of yourself, Mike,” she whispered, her voice soft, the words hanging between them like a promise. “And give them hell.”

Mike chuckled, his voice warm. “I will.”

And then, just like that, he was gone.

Five hundred years had passed, and the universe had shifted and reshaped in ways Sophia could never have fully imagined. The Caldera Republic, once a fledgling government emerging from the ashes of war, had grown into a formidable power. While the galaxy around it seethed with conflict, the Republic stood strong, a bastion of peace and stability in a chaotic universe.

The Republic’s expansion had inevitably brought it into conflict with the Han Empire—an ancient, formidable civilization from another galaxy. The Han were a Type 4 civilization, their empire spanning entire galaxies, their technology so advanced it nearly mirrored magic. Centuries ago, during one of her far-reaching journeys beyond Caldera, Sophia had encountered the Han when she had been teleported to the far side of the universe. At the time, they had been locked in a relentless battle for survival against the Hive Mind known as Eve.

When Sophia defeated Eve, it shattered the hive’s hold and left a power vacuum in its wake. The Han, no longer needing to fight purely for survival, quickly shifted their massive war machine toward expansion and conquest. With Eve’s destruction, they no longer had a natural barrier hemming in their empire. This allowed them to focus on new territories, including, now, the galaxy that Caldera called home. Sophia had anticipated that the Han’s reach would someday extend here but hadn’t realized just how swiftly they would press forward, their machinery of war now refined and sharpened for unchallenged domination.

Their military power had turned into a full-scale invasion. The Han’s technology rivaled that of the ancient Celestials, and their ability to harness both magic and tech had made them a force capable of threatening even the dragons. Sophia couldn’t help but wonder if Jim and Qu, the people who had helped her find her way home all those centuries ago, were still alive, fighting in the midst of this galactic turmoil. The thought lingered as she recalled their kindness, their strength. They had been her allies during one of the most uncertain times of her life, and though they were worlds apart now, their memories had stayed with her.

Yet, despite the wars that raged between the Republic and the Han, Caldera itself remained untouched. A sanctuary, preserved by the legacy of its founders, by the sheer force of those who had built it. While the galaxy burned, Caldera stood as a bastion of peace, a beacon of stability amidst the chaos.

Sophia had long since stepped away from leadership, her days as a general, an admiral, and the head of the arcane order behind her. Raz, her former lieutenant and now the leader of Dragon Tooth, had taken on the responsibility of guiding the Republic’s expansion. Raz’s task was monumental—not only to steer the Republic through its wars with the Han but to ensure that the use of holy and demonic magic was purged from the galaxy. Dragon Tooth had transformed into a new inquisition, hunting down anyone who dared to wield divine or infernal powers. It was the opposite of what the Templars had once done to mages, and Raz led the charge with unwavering resolve.

The galaxy itself had fractured, entire races and colonies splintering away from former empires, forging their own paths. The Faluians, a bug-like species, and the Ja'ias, a slug-like race, had declared their independence. Planets filled with magical races—gnomes, dwarves, elves—had formed entire systems of their own, while orc warbands wreaked havoc on the outer rim. Raz’s role was to bring these disparate factions into the fold of the Republic or eliminate those who posed a threat to its stability. Her job had become that of a protector and enforcer, ensuring the Republic’s dominance while stamping out the dangerous remnants of the past.

Sophia no longer concerned herself with the galaxy's wars, its conflicts, or the delicate politics that Raz and the Republic’s leaders navigated daily. Those days were long behind her. She had spent centuries indulging in the freedoms she had once used only to numb herself—drinking, smoking, and finding fleeting comfort in the arms of strangers. Back then, these pleasures had been a means of escape, a way to dull the sharp edges of guilt and loss. Now, however, she embraced them with a new sense of purpose.

No longer seeking to forget, she indulged to savor life, to revel in the tastes, sights, and touches she had once distanced herself from. But even with the world at her feet, her mind would often drift back to Mike, to the memories they shared, and to the paths that had led her here, finally unburdened and free to enjoy what she had once taken for granted.

Yet, His return was finally at hand.

Altheack and Sophia had been preparing for this day for centuries. Together, they had not only rebuilt Minerva into a sanctuary of druidic magic and wisdom—a floating island where nature and arcane energy intertwined harmoniously—but they had also refounded Helmhold. Centuries ago, after finally reconciling, they brought back the ancient order as a place of learning and protection. Helmhold, like Minerva, had become a refuge: a place where the past could be remembered, and where young mages, druids, and scholars could hone their skills in peace.

Minerva had grown into a sanctuary amidst the galaxy’s storms, a bastion of balance and harmony in a world often defined by conflict. Here, memories of the past endured, and the present thrived. But more than anything, Minerva had become the place where they would reunite with Mike—not just as a visitor, but as a husband, as the man they had both loved and lost so many times before.

Sophia reflected on the last conversation she had with Altheack about Mike’s return. It had been a quiet, intimate moment, both of them speaking softly as they walked through the ancient groves of Minerva. The island was alive with magic, the air thick with the scent of blossoms and the hum of druidic energy. It felt like a sanctuary, far removed from the wars that raged in the galaxy beyond.

“Are you ready?” Altheack had asked, her silver hair catching the dappled sunlight as they strolled side by side.

Sophia had smiled, a quiet, knowing smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be. You?”

Altheack’s gaze had softened, her eyes drifting toward the horizon where the floating trees of Minerva swayed in the breeze. “I’ve waited centuries for this. I just wish it didn’t have to be so fleeting.”

They both knew the truth—Mike couldn’t stay for more than a few days. His power was too immense. Even after centuries of battle, holding the line between Heaven and Hell, Mike’s presence in the mortal realm threatened to tear apart the Veil between worlds. If he stayed too long, reality itself could unravel. Sophia’s body, however, was the only vessel that could temporarily contain his power, allowing him this brief return.

They had discovered this solution centuries ago, using her form to stabilize his presence, but even then, it came at a cost. The longer he remained within her body, the more strain it took, pushing it toward its limits. And if he dared to use his powers while inhabiting her form, the damage would be so great that he’d have to wait even longer for her body to heal before he could return. For now, his presence was bound by these constraints, making his time here precious—and fleeting.

But for now, they had this. They had his return. And they had their wedding.

“I suppose none of that matters,” Sophia said, her voice quiet, lost in thought. She wasn’t worried about the Veil, about the wars, or the balance of the universe. That wasn’t her problem anymore. She had given up leadership, and with it, she had let go of the burdens that had weighed on her for so long. Now, all that remained was this moment—this fleeting chance to summon her brother, to see him again, and to watch as he finally married the woman they both loved.

Her new golem waited for her, hidden away in one of Minerva’s workshops. It had taken her centuries to perfect the craft, creating a puppet body that resembled her former self—human-like, with familiar features, though nothing compared to her true form. The red and blue hair, the unmistakable eyes—anyone from the old empire, or the Republic now, would recognize the resemblance to Valicar immediately. But it wasn’t Valicar. Not exactly.

This body wasn’t meant to channel the immense power she once had. It was just enough to be present, to be there for Mike and Altheack’s wedding. After all, she couldn’t risk merging with Mike and becoming Valicar again. The potential destruction it could bring, the tearing of the Veil between worlds, wasn’t something she wanted to deal with, especially not today. Today wasn’t about any of that.

Sophia took a breath, standing in front of the golem, already feeling the tinge of awkwardness rising in the back of her mind. There was something undeniably weird about the situation. Not just the wedding—she was happy for Mike and Altheack. No, the weird part was Mike.

Mike was going to wear her body today.

Even if he transformed into his form, black-and-gold horns and wings included, it didn’t change the fact that it was still her body underneath. The body they had once shared as Valicar. The body she had been so connected to for so long. Now, here he was, about to get married, and it would be in that form. Yeah, that was definitely weird.

She couldn’t stop the smirk that spread across her face as the thought lingered. Well, at least I don’t have to share it this time. That was something, at least.

Still, the whole situation was strange enough that she decided the best way to handle it was to simply not think about it too much. And if that didn’t work? Well, there was always alcohol. After all, this golem could still get drunk, and she fully intended to make use of that particular feature.

Sophia slid the familiar mask over the golem’s face, completing the transformation. The mask was beautiful, regal even, and it brought back memories of battles fought and victories earned. But today, it was just a way to cover the awkwardness of everything. She was no longer the general, the admiral, or the commander of Dragon Tooth. She was just Sophia.

And she was here to support Mike.

With a final glance at her reflection in the golem, she stepped inside, letting her consciousness fully settle into the puppet body. It felt strange at first, but then... familiar. Not as comfortable as her true self, but close enough.

She stretched her arms, testing the limits of her movements, then turned toward the door. The wedding was fast approaching, and soon she would have to face it all—the ceremony, the celebration, the strange feeling of seeing Mike in her body.

She smirked again. Yeah, I’m definitely going to get drunk.

With that, Sophia walked out of the workshop, her thoughts already on the inevitable glass of wine that would be waiting for her at the reception. Best not to think about the weirdness too much. Today wasn’t about her. It was about Mike, Altheack, and the future they were building together.

And, with any luck, a lot of drinks to help her through it.

Sophia let out a long breath, feeling the weight of centuries lift off her shoulders. She had spent so long worrying, so long holding onto the responsibilities of the Republic, of Caldera, of the universe itself. But here, in Minerva, she was free. Free to simply be Sophia, without the burdens of her past.

As the preparations for the wedding continued, Sophia took a quiet moment, closing her eyes and reaching out to her brother across the vast divide between realms with words full of draconic power. “Well, Mike, it’s all yours.”

There was a brief pause before his voice brushed against her thoughts, a mixture of focus and warmth. “One second,” he replied, and she could sense the tension of distant battles in his tone. “Easton and I are securing the lines—give me a few.”

Sophia allowed herself a small smile, waiting with the patience honed by centuries. “Don’t keep your bride waiting,” she teased gently.

A chuckle echoed through the link, warm and filled with eagerness. “Trust me, Soph. Heaven nor Hell could keep me from her—I can’t wait to see her.”

Sophia glanced at Altheack, radiant and serene in her final preparations. “You’re missing out,” she said with a smile. “She’s as beautiful as ever.”

“Not for a second did I doubt that,” Mike replied, his voice softening with reverence, and before she even registered the passage of time, she felt his presence arriving, filling the air around her.

Mike emerged from Sophia’s workshop, fully transformed into his true form—his black-and-gold horns gleaming and his purple hair flowing around his face, looking every bit as imposing as the god he’d become. He stretched, rolling his shoulders as he took in his surroundings, a satisfied smile on his lips. “Now this is more like it,” he said, his voice powerful enough that the very ground seemed to tremble at his words.

Sophia shot him a look, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Easy there, big guy,” she teased. “Contain that power before you end up rattling the whole place apart. You’re going to make love, not war, remember?”

Mike’s grin turned sheepish as he focused, visibly working to hold back the immense energy contained within him. With a bit of concentration, his voice dropped to something more human. “Better?” he asked, managing a normal tone with only the slightest shimmer of power left.

“Almost,” she replied, raising an eyebrow. “Now ditch the armor. This is a wedding, not a battlefield.”

Mike let out a quiet chuckle, snapping his fingers as the dark plates shifted into a perfectly tailored tuxedo. His hair and beard trimmed themselves, leaving him looking clean and polished. “Happy?” he asked, holding his arms out.

Sophia gave him an approving nod, smirking. “Good enough, I guess. Poor Alth will just have to make do with that ugly mug.” She grinned, nudging him.

Mike laughed, rolling his eyes as he stepped forward. “Just you wait; I’m pretty sure she’ll be thrilled.”

“If you say so,” she replied, grinning. “Now, don’t keep your bride-to-be waiting.”

“Trust me,” he chuckled, his voice warm with anticipation. “Neither Heaven nor Hell could keep me from her.” He paused, his gaze softening as he looked toward the ceremony site. “Can’t wait to see her.”

Sophia’s smirk softened, her eyes glinting as she nudged him. “Well, you’re in for a treat—she’s as beautiful as ever.”

He didn’t miss a beat, his voice low and filled with affection. “Not for a second did I doubt that.”

Together, Sophia and Mike made their way to the ceremony, where Altheack awaited, her half-elven beauty shining like the dawn. She stood adorned in a traditional gown woven from the leaves and textures of the forest, an elegant tribute to her druidic roots. Her silver hair cascaded in soft waves around her face, her green eyes shimmering with both strength and vulnerability as she looked up at him, reflecting the love and journey they’d shared across lifetimes.

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A government official from Caldera and a prominent member of Altheack’s druidic order presided over the ceremony, offering words of blessing and tradition as they joined hands, with the Grove’s members gathered around as witnesses. The glowing trees of Minerva stood tall and radiant, watching over the union like ancient guardians. And as Mike and Altheack exchanged their vows, it was not merely a ceremony—it was a promise, a renewal of love and commitment that had endured through trials and across ages, filling the quiet with a sense of peace and rightness that was rare.

When they finally kissed, the Grove erupted in cheers, and the celebration began, filled with warmth and laughter. Sophia lingered at the edge, content to let them bask in their happiness, observing with a quiet smile. Hours passed in a blur of joy, and as the festivities continued, she slipped away, finding solace on the balcony overlooking the peaceful expanse of Minerva. She breathed in the cool night air, letting herself savor the quiet moment, her heart full.

After the ceremony hours later, Mike found her, still in Valicar’s form, but with his true essence dimmed beneath it. His smile was warm, teasing as he approached. In this mortal form, his voice was just that—a voice, steady and grounded, free of the resonant power it once held. Containing his immense strength in Sophia’s vessel required him to quiet his presence, the vastness of his energy tempered down to a fraction.

"Guess I won the princess, huh?" he said, his tone relaxed, stripped of the divine edge it had beyond the Veil.

Sophia had laughed, the sound bubbling up despite the weight of emotions swirling inside her. She placed a hand on his arm, feeling the solid reality of him, a reminder of everything they’d been through. The weight of their shared history pressed between them, unspoken but ever-present.

"Someone had to take the L so you two could tie the knot," she replied, her voice playful, though the familiarity of the moment brought a flicker of bittersweetness to her chest.

Mike’s grin widened, a flash of their old banter lighting up his eyes. "Well, you always were the sacrificial one," he said with a wink, but the softness in his gaze betrayed the deeper meaning behind his words.

Sophia just smiled, squeezing his arm a little tighter. "Always for you two."

Her smile faded slightly, her eyes softening as she gazed at Mike. "No, Mike... you're the one who sacrificed everything. For me, for her. You deserve her more than anyone." She paused, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Not that she's an item to be fought over."

Mike’s grin widened, his violet eyes gleaming with mischief as he leaned in. "Oh, come on, Sophia," he said, his voice light but carrying an edge of truth. "Everyone’s mine now. I am the Demon Lord, after all."

He laughed, the sound rich and deep, but with only half-joking intent.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, a chuckle escaping her lips despite herself. "Half-joking?"

Mike winked, the grin never fading. "Maybe a little less than half."

They both chuckled, the sound carrying the echo of their past lives, of everything they had been through together. For a brief moment, it felt like they were back in the days when they shared one body, two souls intertwined as Valicar—fighting, loving, and destroying in equal measure. But things had changed. Sophia had changed.

She had grown beyond the warrior she once was. She had learned to let go of the past, to live in the present, to find meaning in her freedom rather than being shackled by guilt and responsibility. She wasn’t just a warrior or commander anymore; she had embraced the life she had denied herself for millennia. She taught at the newly reformed Helmhold on Minerva, holding the title of Archmage, though she only appeared occasionally, preferring the open stars and distant worlds. Her days were spent exploring, indulging in the pleasures she had once used merely to numb herself—food, drink, laughter, and even the company of others. And now, here she was, standing in the twilight of a galaxy that had shifted and grown alongside her, watching Mike and Altheack begin their eternity together.

Mike’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. “You know, it’s not the same without you in my head,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, though there was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

Sophia smiled, warmth spreading through her at his words. “I can’t say I miss you rattling around in here,” she teased, tapping her temple, “but I’ll always be close. Besides, I’m okay letting you run the show alone... for now.”

Mike chuckled, shaking his head. “Just don’t get lazy on me. Don’t think I’ll let you keep this ‘retired’ thing up forever.” His expression softened, and a trace of melancholy lingered in his eyes. “Next time, though, I don’t want you on the sidelines. Altheack and I… we’ll need you. You’re still part of us, you know?”

Sophia felt the weight of his words settle over her, memories of past battles and shared burdens flooding back. “You don’t have to tell me,” she replied softly. “And when that time comes, you know I’ll be there. Both of you mean everything to me.”

They stood in silence for a moment, each feeling the significance of their words. Then Mike spoke, his tone lighter but sincere. “And don’t worry about her. She’s as happy as I’ve ever seen her, and that’s because of you, Sophia. You kept her safe, kept her spirit alive through everything.” He paused, then added with a grin, “Now, just don’t let her start thinking you’ve gone soft.”

Sophia laughed, crossing her arms. “Soft? Not a chance. Besides, someone’s got to remind you both to keep your heads on straight.”

His grin broadened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady. “Good. Because one way or another, we’re all in this together. But for now…” He glanced back toward the quiet festivities beyond. “For now, I want you to enjoy yourself. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you smile like this.”

Her heart warmed further, and she nodded, feeling, for the first time in ages, a sense of peace. “I’ll be here, Mike. And whenever you come back, you’ll find us waiting.”

As they exchanged a final look, she realized she didn’t feel like an observer in their story anymore. She was part of their future—just as she had been part of their past.

And as the stars above Minerva shimmered brighter in the sky, Sophia allowed herself to believe, just for a moment, that they could have this—these fleeting moments of peace. That maybe, just maybe, there was a future where they could all be together without the constant pull of war or the threat of destruction hanging over them.

For now, though, the universe was at peace. Caldera was safe. The Republic had expanded beyond Caldera, forming alliances with civilizations across the galaxy through the ancient wormholes Sophia had discovered. Even as the war with the Han Empire continued, Caldera remained untouched and semi independent, a sanctuary of strength and magic in a galaxy teetering on the edge of chaos.

Mike would have to return to his war soon. James was leading the charge on Heaven’s gates, Easton covering their flanks as they continued to fight the gods, and Mike’s presence was needed. But before that, they had this. The wedding. The promise of more moments like this, even if they were separated by centuries. They would have their love, their shared history, and the belief that one day, they could all be together—free from the battles, free from the burdens of power.

As the celebration moved indoors, Sophia, Mike, and Altheack found their way back inside to the head table, where they sat with a view of the vibrant festivities. Around them, druids and mage students from Helm Hold drank and danced, their laughter and joy filling the grand hall. The air was thick with warmth and the energy of celebration, as if the very walls of Minerva’s sanctuary were alive with magic.

Leaning back in his chair with an easy smile, Mike glanced over at Altheack, his voice low and affectionate. “By the way,” he said casually, as if it were an afterthought, “I kept my promise to Riko. Her father’s back.”

Altheack’s face lit up with a soft smile, admiration in her eyes. “You really did it. I knew you would, but… it’s incredible.”

Sophia, who had been observing the exchange with quiet interest, finally spoke up, her brow furrowing slightly. “Who’s Riko?”

Both Mike and Altheack turned to her, and Altheack offered a warm, patient explanation. “Riko is a necromancer we met on Earth. She became something of an ally to us, helping when we needed it most. Her father’s soul had been shattered when Zaltheral possessed him to kill you and Mike.”

At the mention of Zaltheral, Sophia’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening. The memories of her and Mike’s first deaths at his hands were not ones she easily set aside. “Zaltheral?” she echoed, her voice tinged with old resentment. “That bastard still causes problems…”

Mike nodded solemnly, recognizing the weight of those memories. “Yeah, Zaltheral left a lot of damage behind, even after he was gone. But Riko’s father… I pieced him back together. After learning from you when you saved Altheack’s soul from Anna Sha, I managed to apply what I learned. I’m still getting the hang of splitting my mind, but I’ve figured out how to manage it for short bursts. It’s hard, but worth it.”

Altheack’s gaze softened as she looked at him, pride shining in her eyes. “I knew you’d find a way, Mike.”

Mike grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “One day, I’ll figure out how to come back here with just an avatar, a fraction of my power. Then maybe I can stay longer without shaking everything around me.”

Sophia, still absorbing the story of Riko and her father, offered a faint smile, though a trace of melancholy lingered. “I’m glad you kept your promise, Mike. Earth… it feels so distant now, but Riko deserved that. Even if the bitch's possessed kin killed us, I suppose.”

Mike nodded, leaning back with his arm still around Altheack. “Yeah, Earth’s become her own kind of kingdom. Necromancers rule there now—the dead walk, and the living know who’s in charge. It’s exactly the world Riko wanted.”

Altheack chuckled softly, resting her hand on his. “And what’s next for you? Are you adding ‘Lord of the Dead’ to your list of titles?”

Mike shrugged with a grin. “Demon Lord, necromancer… whatever fits. I’m getting pretty good at it.”

Altheack laughed, her hand tightening around his. “Just promise you’ll keep finding your way back to us, no matter how many centuries it takes.”

Mike’s expression softened, his gaze flicking between her and Sophia. “I will. One day, I’ll learn how to stay a bit longer without tearing things apart. And maybe I’ll even get that mind-splitting trick down, Sophia.”

Sophia allowed herself a small smile, feeling a warmth she hadn’t known in ages. She glanced out at the druids and mages dancing under the sparkling lights, their laughter blending with the music, and felt the faintest tug of hope.

The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences hanging between them. As the stars twinkled above Minerva, they found a rare moment of peace—a reprieve from the battles, the gods, and the demons that had shaped their lives.

But eventually, Mike stood, his expression bittersweet. “I can’t stay much longer,” he said softly, his voice filled with regret. “But I’ll be back. Always.”

Altheack squeezed his hand one last time. "We’ll be waiting."

And with that, Mike turned back to face whatever came next, knowing that, no matter where he went, they would always be there, waiting for his return.

Altheack had looked up at him, her green eyes glowing with unshed tears. “Promise me it won’t be another five hundred years.”

Mike had smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I promise.”

And then he had turned to Sophia, his eyes filled with affection. “Take care of things while I’m gone, alright?”

Sophia had laughed, her heart light despite the sadness of his departure. “Always.”

As Mike prepared to return to the war, to the endless battle between Heaven and Hell, Sophia and Altheack watched him go, knowing that this wouldn’t be the last time. They had waited five hundred years for his return, and they would wait again if they had to. But for now, they had this moment, this fleeting peace, and it was enough.

As the dawn broke over Minerva, casting the floating islands in golden light, Sophia and Altheack stood together, their hands intertwined. They had built something beautiful here, something worth protecting. And no matter what the future held—no matter how long they had to wait—they knew that Mike would always return.

Thousands of years had passed since the Republic first rose and fell, and Sophia now stood on the balcony of the towering arcane spire, her gaze drifting over the endless expanse of the floating islands of Minerva. The sun was setting, casting hues of gold and pink across the vast ocean below, illuminating the islands in an otherworldly glow—a testament to the immense power and history woven into this sanctuary.

Over the centuries, mortals had squandered their potential, plunging the galaxy into an endless cycle of wars fueled by greed, magic, and ambition. Yet Caldera had remained untouched by the chaos. It had become the last safe harbor in a sea of destruction—a neutral ground where no empire dared to tread, not after the hard-won lessons learned from the Han descendants. They all remembered the Scourge of Divinity, that day when Mike’s wrath had swept across worlds with precision so devastating that billions had perished in an instant, yet only his chosen targets fell. It was a controlled annihilation, a single act that razed entire armies, obliterating the unchecked expansion of those who had dared to challenge the sanctity of Caldera. The galaxy had not forgotten the force of his warning, and now, even in whispers, his legend kept Caldera inviolate.

In the fading light, Sophia felt the weight of time settle over her—a bittersweet peace that Caldera offered, a place that endured despite the turmoil raging beyond its borders. This sanctuary remained, unwavering and inviolate, thanks to her brother’s shadowed legacy, his might and sacrifice woven into its very existence.

Sophia sighed, taking a deep breath of the cool evening air. It had been too long since she allowed herself to reflect like this. She stood in her golem form, an echo of her former self. Every few decades, she willingly vacated her true body to allow Mike to possess it, so that he could return from his endless war between Heaven and Hell, if only briefly. Though her golem was durable and familiar, it felt like a strange facsimile, one layer removed from who she truly was.

The spire rose around her, an ancient monument of arcane architecture, its very walls humming with magical energy. She could feel it thrumming through her, as if reminding her of her past—a past she had tried to leave behind. Standing here in this form, she felt both tethered to that history and distanced from it, as if her golem could bear the memories she herself could not fully carry.

Even though Caldera’s peace persisted, Sophia knew the same couldn’t be said for the universe beyond.

Behind her, the faint sound of footsteps echoed, and she knew without looking that Raz had arrived in her human form.

“Well, look who’s deep in thought,” Raz’s voice chimed in, carrying a light, playful tone that contrasted sharply with the stern marshal Sophia remembered from ages past. Over centuries, Raz had softened, evolving from the unwavering lieutenant Sophia once commanded to one of her closest friends.

Sophia turned, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she raised an eyebrow. “Neither, actually. Just… thinking.”

Raz smirked, crossing her arms. “A rare sight, I’d say. Here I thought you’d be planning your next thousand-year project or reminiscing about the good old days when you ruled half the galaxy.”

Sophia let out a small chuckle, a warmth in her tone she reserved for only a few. “Not this time,” she replied, her gaze drifting back toward the horizon. “Just… thinking about everything we’ve survived. And everything that’s still left to do.”

Raz grinned as she stepped onto the balcony beside her. “Oh? Left to do, like what? Perhaps finally settling down? I mean, you still don’t have any kids yet.”

Sophia rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “Are you seriously still on about that?”

“Of course,” Raz said, leaning against the stone railing, her gold-scaled wings flaring slightly as she stretched. “The dragon race is dying out, Sophia. We’ve got to do something about it.”

“You’ve got kids,” Sophia shot back. “You’re doing more than enough for the both of us.”

Raz smirked, a playful glint in her eye. “Yeah, but you’re still the strongest mage around, and with Mike taking over your body every so often…him and Altheack could at least help keep the family line going.”

Sophia pulled a face, nearly choking on her drink. “Oh, absolutely not! Mike might take the wheel once in a while, but there are limits, Raz. Hard, unbreakable, ‘never-gonna-happen’ limits. He’s my brother, and the thought of him using this body for that—just no. I’d rather wrestle a kraken. Twice.”

Raz laughed, clearly amused. “Alright, alright, I’m just saying! If I can juggle a brood of dragonlings and keep the most powerful arcane order in line, surely you could manage one or two.”

Sophia rolled her eyes, grinning despite herself. “Yeah, well, my experience with kids is ‘one Holvor too many.’ That bloodthirsty lunatic treated combat like it was a sport, and we both know how that turned out.”

Raz shook her head, still chuckling. “Fine, fine. I’ll give you Holvor. He counts for at least ten.”

Their laughter faded into a comfortable silence as they both gazed out over the islands. Sophia’s thoughts began to drift once again, back to the wars that had torn the galaxy apart, the rise and fall of empires, the times when they had stood on the front lines. She had fought so many battles, seen so many worlds burn, but Caldera had always stood firm—her last refuge, their sanctuary.

“What about Mike?” Raz asked suddenly, breaking the silence. “You think he’s gonna be surprised one day when he gets back to a few nieces and nephews?”

Sophia shrugged, her lips curling into a small smile. “He’s always surprised by something. Last time, it was the planetary defense system. But it sure as hell will never be my kids that surprise him!”

Raz laughed, giving her a playful nudge. “Oh, come on, you say that now. With Mike’s luck, one day he’ll be back for a quick visit, only to find the place crawling with little dragonlings!”

Sophia rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smirk tugging at her lips. “Yeah, not unless they’re adopted—preferably fully grown and self-sufficient.”

Raz grinned. “Still, I’m jealous of that defense system you whipped up. It’s flawless, you know.”

Sophia’s smile widened slightly. “Thanks, I had to do something after the Han bastards almost broke through. I couldn’t do anything back then... stuck in that damn golem. Not this time. Next time, I won’t even need to move a muscle.”

The memory of the attack—the fleet of Han descendants who had tried to conquer Caldera—flickered through Sophia's mind. It had been a terrifying assault, the Han using advanced technology and defected mages to challenge the Republic’s sovereignty. Their empire had spread from distant galaxies, bringing military might that rivaled even the ancient Celestials. Despite Dragon Tooth’s efforts under Raz's leadership, they had struggled to hold the line against the relentless onslaught.

Sophia had been trapped in her golem body then, unable to use her full magic. She had watched helplessly as the Republic's defenses faltered, her frustration growing as she realized the limitations of the form she inhabited. But in the end, it was Mike who saved them.

With a single, cataclysmic attack, Mike had unleashed his power. Purple flames, terrifying in their destructive beauty, engulfed entire fleets, burning ships, stations, and even planets across a hundred galaxies. His strike had wiped out thousands of strategic targets, and with them, the souls of billions were torn from their bodies, swirling into the void only to be drawn to Mike. It was unlike anything Sophia had seen since their days as Valicar—an unholy display of power that left nothing but silence in its wake.

But that victory had come at a cost. Mike hadn’t returned for a hundred years after that battle, too drained by the effort and the ceaseless war between Heaven and Hell. Each time he visited after, Sophia could see the toll it was taking on him—the endless fighting, the burden of holding the line between the realms. Worse yet, her own body—the one they had once shared—had been left weakened by the sheer magnitude of the power channeled through it. It had taken decades for her to fully recover, a constant reminder of the price they both paid.

Sophia’s thoughts drifted to a darker conversation they had not long after that battle. She had confronted Mike about the souls he had taken, questioning why they were not going to the afterlife, as they should have. He had avoided her gaze, his expression unusually tight, and finally, when he spoke, it was with a cryptic tone that unsettled her.

“What are you using those souls for, Mike?” she had asked, her voice heavy with concern. "You're not letting them pass on or be reincarnated. Where are they going?"

Mike’s reply had been evasive. “Where they go with me… it’s better than the afterlife they were headed for, Sophia. Trust me.”

Sophia had pressed, trying to understand. “Better? How? What are you using them for?”

Mike had paused, his eyes darkening as he gave her a look she couldn’t quite read. “It’s... horrible. Or really amazing. Depends how you look at it.” He had offered a half-smile, but it hadn’t reached his eyes, leaving her even more unsettled.

“What does that mean? How bad can the afterlife be that they're better off being used as fuel?” she had demanded, feeling a knot form in her chest.

Mike had only shaken his head. “I can’t tell you more. You wouldn’t want to know. Not yet.”

And that had been the end of it. No matter how much she had pushed, he refused to explain further. The souls he collected, those that should have gone to the afterlife or been reincarnated, were now his to command—or worse, part of something far beyond her understanding.

Even now, as she thought of it, Sophia felt a chill run down her spine. Mike had always been dark, even when they shared the same body, but this—this secret, this unknown fate for the souls he took—made her uneasy. She didn’t know if she could trust him with it. But she had no choice. He was fighting a war on a scale she could barely comprehend, and every time he returned, he was more distant, more burdened.

Sophia pushed the thought from her mind, grounding herself in the present. Today wasn’t about dark questions or the weight of the universe. She was just happy to have her brother back, morally questionable actions or not. After all, she had learned to walk the grey line, forced to live in it, and had finally started forgiving herself where she could.

But despite everything, he always came back.

A gentle nudge pulled her from her thoughts. “Lost in that head of yours again?” Raz’s voice cut in, carrying a rare hint of softness beneath her usual edge. Her gaze shifted to Sophia, something more serious in her eyes. “You really did it, didn’t you? Perfected the golem.”

Sophia nodded. “Yeah. It’s more than just a shell now. It can handle my magic, my power. I don’t need to worry about losing control.”

Raz tilted her head, a wry smile forming. “And you’re sure you don’t want to start a family? You’ve got everything else figured out.”

Sophia gave her a flat look. “I’m sure. You handle the family business. I’ll stick to teaching the next generation once a century.”

Raz chuckled. “Ok, Ok. But someday, you’ll have to admit I was right.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Sophia shot back with a grin.

Just as they shared another laugh, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed up the stone stairwell. Both women turned to see Mike in Sophia's real body and Altheack walking in, their presence immediately filling the room with warmth.

“Talking shit about me again?” Mike’s voice rumbled with humor as he stepped out onto the balcony. His violet eyes gleamed in the fading light, and despite the centuries of war that weighed on him, he looked just as vibrant as always.

Altheack, ever regal and graceful, smiled warmly as she took her place beside him, wrapping her arms around him. "What else would they talk about?" she teased, her voice soft but filled with a warmth that spoke of centuries of shared memories and understanding.

The four of them gathered on the balcony of the ancient arcane spire, the soft glow of the setting sun casting long shadows over their faces. Sophia’s thoughts drifted, her mind replaying the events that had shaped the current state of the galaxy. As they settled around a small table, Mike poured glasses of aged wine from Caldera’s finest vineyard. The weight of centuries hung in the air, unspoken but ever-present between them.

Raz leaned back in her chair, stretching her golden wings lazily before taking a sip. “So, Mike, what’s the latest on the war? Or are you just here to remind us you still exist?”

Mike chuckled, shaking his head. “War’s still dragging on. James is holding Heaven’s gates, keeping those angelic bastards pinned, and Easton’s got the celestial legions tangled up while leading Hell’s demons in a counterattack. We’re close—closer than ever—but gods don’t go down easy.”

Altheack’s hand slipped into Mike’s, a gesture both comforting and familiar after millennia together. “You’ll win. You always do.”

Mike smiled softly, his gaze meeting hers before glancing toward Sophia and Raz. “It’s not over yet, but we’re getting there.”

Sophia watched them, taking a slow sip of her wine. "You’ve been saying that for a while now, Mike. ‘We’re close,’ ‘it’s almost done,’ yet here we are, thousands of years later, still fighting the same damn war.”

Mike sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Trust me, I know. But this time, it’s different. I’ve learned from Sophia... and mastered how to split my mind into different avatars. I’m fighting on several fronts at once. Someday soon, I’ll be able to visit like this as just a fraction of my power.”

Raz raised an eyebrow. “That’s impressive. Splitting your consciousness across multiple fronts while keeping each one fully functional? No wonder you’re always exhausted.”

Mike’s voice held a mix of weariness and pride. “It’s a pain in the ass, honestly, even after all these years of trying to learn it,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But it’s necessary. The gods are endless cunts, relentless. I’ve had to adapt… and now, I’ve surpassed even Sophia.”

Sophia’s eyebrow shot up, a smirk curving her lips as she gave him a skeptical look. “Surpassed, huh?” she drawled, crossing her arms. “Is that so?”

Mike simply smiled, his eyes glinting with quiet confidence, before turning back to Altheack.

Altheack squeezed his hand gently, her green eyes reflecting the fading light. “You’re doing everything you can, and that’s what matters. Even if the Republic’s barely standing, Caldera’s still here—our unbreakable stronghold. We might be more of a city-state than a nation in the Republic, but we endure.”

Raz raised her glass with a wry smile. “Calling it ‘barely standing’ is generous. The Republic’s more like a ghost now. After the Han invasion, everything splintered. It’s smaller than ever, while the Faluians and Ja'ias keep growing in the stars.” She glanced at Mike with a hint of pride. “But even they know better than to mess with Caldera. With you watching over it, they wouldn’t dare.”

She winked. “Caldera’s protector. No one wants you showing up on their doorstep.”

Mike chuckled, a weariness edging his voice. “They know better than to test my wife’s home. Altheack may rule Caldera as ‘Beloved of the Sky,’ but Caldera’s my turf to defend.”

Sophia smirked. “Let’s hope no one’s that foolish. With Minerva flourishing as the magical capital and Helmhold training the next generation, druidic magic is thriving, blending with new technologies. We’re stronger than ever.”

They sat quietly for a moment, the stars brightening above as night deepened. The sound of the ocean below filled the silence, a reminder of the peace they had built in Caldera while the rest of the galaxy tore itself apart.

After a beat, Raz broke the stillness with her usual grin. “Sophia, you know, you really should think about having kids.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Here we go again…”

“I’m serious!” Raz insisted, her grin widening. “You’re still the strongest mage alive. Think of the legacy.”

Sophia scoffed. “I did my part by adopting you and your siblings,” she teased with a faint frown. “That’s enough chaos for one lifetime.”

Raz laughed, raising her glass in a mock toast. “Fair enough. But you’ll regret not adding to the dragon race one day.”

Sophia snorted. “Don’t hold your breath, Raz. I’m perfectly content being the galaxy’s laziest ‘retired’ mage.”

Mike laughed, shaking his head. “I think we’ve all done more than enough for this universe.”

The stars gleamed brighter as they settled, glancing at one another in shared understanding. Thousands of years had passed since the days of constant battle, and despite the galaxy’s upheaval, Caldera had remained a sanctuary—a bastion of peace, neutrality, and magic, protected from the chaos outside.

Sophia let her gaze wander over her companions, feeling the weight of their shared history. She couldn’t help but feel pride in what they’d built. Caldera was more than a sanctuary; it was proof of what could be achieved when divine and demonic forces were kept in balance. Beyond Caldera, mortals continued waging their wars, driven by greed and the desire for control over forces that only led to ruin.

Raz, now head of Dragon Tooth, one of the galaxy’s most formidable arcane orders, sipped her drink, her gaze distant. “The Republic’s neutrality really is poetic, in a way. All this time, and they still don’t understand what real power is.”

Sophia chuckled. “Some things never change. Let them fight over scraps. We’re done propping up worlds that can’t handle themselves.”

Raz nodded. “True. But it was close when the Han remnants came. Their tech and mages were a real threat, even to Dragon Tooth.”

Sophia’s gaze softened as she recalled the battle. She’d been trapped in her golem form then, unable to wield her full power, and was forced to watch helplessly as Caldera’s defenses strained. The limitations were maddening, leaving her to depend on others to protect what she cherished most.

“I couldn’t do anything,” she murmured, a touch of regret in her voice. “Stuck in that fucking golem while Mike had to handle the mess.”

Mike met her gaze, offering a sympathetic half-smile. “You did what you could, Sophia. And that defense system you set up afterward? Flawless. Next time, no one will get close.”

Sophia returned his smile, the pride in her creation easing the edges of her regret. “That’s the idea. I learned my lesson. Last time we got lucky, but now—well, now it’s built to keep us safe.”

Raz raised her glass. “Here’s to that. Let the rest of the galaxy burn; we’ve got Caldera.”

Sophia shook her head at Raz, letting the comfort of the moment settle around them. This small corner of the universe, untouched by the galaxy’s conflict, had become a sanctuary they’d built together. Caldera remained steadfast and strong, a place where they could exist freely, bound by a bond they had fought so hard to preserve.

Sophia let her gaze drift to the horizon. The new Helmhold, nestled on one of Minerva’s islands, had become a sanctuary for mages from across the galaxy. Every few decades, she’d take a break from her wandering life to teach there, her lectures drawing archmages and students from all over.

“Let’s be real,” Sophia said, a glint of humor in her eyes, “they’ll always come to hear from the strongest mage in the universe.”

Mike grinned. “They’re not wrong. No one out there can touch you, Sophia.”

Sophia felt a warmth in her chest, though she brushed it off with a wave of her hand. “I do what I can. But honestly, I’m content just being a bum and teaching classes when I feel like it.”

Altheack’s voice softened with affection. “And you deserve that. After everything we’ve been through, we all deserve peace.”

As the stars gleamed brighter, casting a soft light over their gathering, Sophia looked around at her friends, each of them part of the foundation that had built Caldera into what it was. They had survived and thrived, even as the universe beyond them tore itself apart.

Caldera had become a refuge, a place of peace and learning, untouched by the turmoil beyond. It wasn’t weakness that kept them isolated—it was a choice. The Republic, though fractured, was still powerful, thanks to Altheack, Raz, and Mike.

Sophia’s voice softened as she glanced at her friends, memories flickering in her eyes. “We’ve built something lasting, something they’ll never understand.”

Raz raised her glass, a smirk on her lips. “Then here’s to us. May the rest of the galaxy keep guessing.”

They clinked glasses, a silent toast to their hard-won peace. And for this moment, with the galaxy far away, they had everything they needed.

As the conversation ebbed and flowed, the weight of what lay ahead settled on them all, unspoken yet palpable. Sophia gazed out from the tower balcony, her eyes sweeping across the horizon, where the sky bled into the cosmos. Caldera, the heart of everything, their sanctuary—so much had happened here, and yet, so much still remained unwritten as time marched on.

Ten thousand years had passed, yet here, beneath the stars with old friends gathered around her, time felt as if it had collapsed, merging past and present. They sat in a quiet circle, a final dinner before the last war, each of them acutely aware of the fate pulling them forward. The weight of countless battles, victories, and sacrifices filled the air, casting a solemn, unspoken tension over their words.

Mike leaned back in his chair, his violet hair catching the glow of arcane candles, the tips of his black-and-gold horns gleaming faintly. His gaze drifted across the room, his mind already on the coming war, the next step beyond the gods. Yet, tonight, he was here, anchored by their presence.

“I’ve been fighting for so long,” he murmured, his voice steady, the words heavy with the burden of centuries. “Blood, war… gods falling, gods rising. And now, Merik. Once he’s gone, there’ll be nothing left to fight.”

Altheack, her silver hair shimmering in the candlelight, reached across the table, taking his hand. Her gaze held sympathy, a touch of fear. “There’s always been another battle, another god after each one, Mike. Do you really believe this is the end?” Her voice softened. “Do you want it to be?”

A flicker of intensity deepened in his eyes, but his smile softened just slightly. “I do. Merik and his lesser gods have kept Caldera isolated for so long—but not just them. It was us, the Calderans, who built the Veil, the wall to keep both divine and infernal forces at bay, so they couldn’t interfere, couldn’t wreak havoc on our world. But by doing so, we cut ourselves off from the entire multiverse. Once the gods are gone, and the Veil falls, we’ll finally see what lies beyond.”

He paused, his gaze distant, the weight of possibility filling the silence. “We know Earth exists, so there could be anything out there… worlds, dimensions we’ve only glimpsed. The only way I found Riko was because we’d been there once before. But even now, I can barely stand here in Caldera, held within Valicar’s form as an avatar. Truly, the possibilities are endless.”

His voice softened, conviction tightening in his expression. “I can catch glimpses, fragments of what lies beyond. But to truly go there, to finally break through… we have to finish the gods.”

Sophia had listened in silence, feeling the weight of her past—every battle, every regret, every moment of triumph that had left her emptier and emptier over the years. The whole “teacher” thing was a half-hearted excuse, a patch for a wound she never managed to close. She’d watched the Caldera Republic grow, saw it stretch across galaxies, but the Republic wasn’t her heart—Caldera itself was. The rest of the stars, the strange worlds and empires, they were just stops along the way, just a means to keep moving.

She’d traveled, endlessly, jumping between planets like a ghost. She spent time among colonies where every magical race tried to recreate the old ways of Caldera, as though they could recapture some lost magic. She'd seen backwater worlds still clinging to stone and iron, and others, blindingly advanced, where empires and republics and oligarchies blurred together into something alien. There were even places ruled by ideologies she didn’t have the context to understand. It was all one big, beautiful mess she kept wading through, an endless blur of new faces, new chaos.

In between, she drifted through life, sampling the galaxies like a traveler with nothing left to anchor her, yet something had shifted—she had forgiven herself, at least in part. She lived with her past rather than reliving it, letting it settle into a quiet ache instead of a constant torment. She lived, truly lived, embracing the chaos and thrill of life as a bored immortal, yet one who still managed to love life.

She threw herself into every vice she could find, trying to feel something potent enough to shake the timelessness that had crept over her existence, all while her power grew, as dragons do, with age. She took up gambling, craving the rush of uncertainty, the thrill of losing control. But even those games dulled when she found herself twisting the odds with a flick of thought, the thrill gone as soon as she tampered with it.

Drinks were her steadier companion, alien brews that burned and numbed her in equal measure, each sip a small rebellion against the immortal haze. Exotic herbs followed, spiraling her into strange memories, hazy worlds, and moments long buried. She drifted back from each with a bittersweet ache, each encounter leaving her further from the pain and closer to something like peace.

Her love life was no different—a carousel of beings as varied as the galaxies, human, alien, male, female, and beyond. She craved the rawness of fleeting touch, those ephemeral moments of surrender. She explored curiosities, letting her instincts guide her to lovers who shimmered in strange hues, who spoke in voices as alien as their forms. They were thrilling, fascinating, but always temporary; she left before dawn, leaving the ghostly emptiness to settle back in.

Yet, when Mike appeared, it was different. He stirred something she hadn’t felt in eons—a reminder of the fire she once carried, that unyielding hunger she tried to bury. He reminded her of who she was, beneath all the distractions, all the vices. He pulled her from the timeless drift and reminded her that she hadn’t finished her story. Despite the centuries, despite everything, there was something real still waiting for her—a purpose, a pull she couldn’t ignore, no matter how deeply she tried to bury it.

But here they were, gathered together for one last night, one final meal before the end. The gnawing certainty in Sophia’s chest told her that whatever lay ahead would demand every ounce of what she was—everything she’d tried to bury. This was it, the moment all the running and drifting had been leading toward. She didn’t know if she’d walk away from it, and for the first time in ages, she didn’t care. There was a thrill in the unknown, in finally facing what lay on the other side of the Veil, and she felt alive with the weight of that choice.

She leaned forward, her voice carrying a shadow of her old fire. “The Veil wasn’t only theirs,” she murmured, almost as if reminding herself. “The magical races made it to protect mortals, to shield them from gods, demons, and their endless power struggles. But once it’s gone… do you think Caldera’s ready for what’s on the other side, Mike? For the other worlds again?”

Mike’s smile faltered, his gaze sharpening with that familiar spark of conviction. “Maybe it’s time we find out. The other realms… they’re waiting, Sophia. And this time, we go on our terms. No gods, no demons, no walls dictating how far we go.”

His words carried a resonance, a reminder of how they had reached this moment—fueled by a victory that felt like destiny. Just a few decades ago, James and Easton had faced off against a formidable foe, Eckheart, in the fierce advance on Heaven’s gates. Eckheart, a half-god, had been James’ brother and Easton’s father, binding them both in blood and a complicated legacy. As the Pillar of the North, Eckheart had wielded divine power with an iron grip, his influence cemented by years of battle and an almost mythic aura that surrounded him.

In the heat of the battle for Heaven’s gates, James and Easton took on Eckheart, knowing it would be a fight to the death. With all of Heaven watching, they unleashed everything they had, the fury of their shared history boiling over into raw power. When they finally struck the fatal blow, seizing Eckheart’s divine essence for themselves, it turned the tide of war. Heaven’s gates shuddered under the power of their combined might, and their victory against Eckheart became the rallying point that made this final push into Heaven possible.

Now, the last fight awaited them—a clash that would either reshape their universe or end it entirely. They knew what they’d risked, what they’d sacrificed, and now, they would finish what they had started, taking their fate fully into their own hands.

Raz raised an eyebrow, a wry smirk on her lips as she lifted her glass. “All this talk of breaking down barriers,” she drawled, her tone amused. “For someone who claims to be a ‘peaceful teacher,’ Sophia, you sure know how to find a fight.”

Sophia chuckled, though her gaze held a fierce intensity she hadn’t felt in centuries. “Old habits die hard, I guess.” She raised her own glass to Raz, who would stay behind to defend Caldera and the Republic as she always had, loyal to the end. Beside her, Altheack met Sophia’s eyes with a calm, steady resolve. No longer a girl but the Beloved of the Sky and Queen of Caldera, Altheack had grown into a force that rivaled any god’s, her power and wisdom shaped by millennia. This time, she’d be at Sophia’s side.

As Mike’s gaze swept over them, his voice quiet with the weight of their years together, he said, “One last adventure. To see what’s beyond Merik, beyond these fucking gods. To finally see what they tried to keep from us.”

A silence fell over them, each taking in the gravity of his words. Sophia glanced at Altheack, who met her gaze with a calm, steady resolve; she had no intention of turning back. Raz let out a dramatic sigh, though a smile broke through. This would be her final farewell, her commitment to protect Caldera as they ascended to a destiny that was entirely their own.

Mike extended his hand, first to Sophia, and she took it, feeling an old surge of strength and anticipation for the battle ahead. Then he reached for Altheack, whose grip was strong, her green eyes blazing with intensity.

“You’re not staying behind,” he said, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in his voice.

“Not this time,” Altheack replied firmly, her tone brimming with conviction. “I’m not watching you go where I can’t follow anymore. Not after everything we’ve fought for.” Her gaze softened as she looked at him. “And now that I have the power to go with you… I’m not letting you go alone.”

Mike’s smile broadened, pride and warmth in his eyes as he squeezed her hand. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He paused, his tone shifting as he added, “Your strength’s finally grown enough to bear what I’m about to give you.”

Sophia watched as he poured the necromantic energy into Altheack, the power shifting and growing in her. The souls and ancient forces surged through Altheack and Sophia alike, igniting the very essence of what they would become. Sophia’s expression darkened slightly as she felt the souls weaving into her, binding them to this new path.

She shot Mike a wary look. “I don’t know how I feel about using these souls like this, Mike. They’ve done their time. It doesn’t feel right.”

He turned to her, his gaze somber, holding a knowledge that seemed both infinite and ominous. “Trust me, Sophia. When you see what I’ve seen out there, beyond the universe… you’ll understand.” His voice softened, a shadow crossing his face. “For them, this is better than the afterlife they’d otherwise face.”

A shiver ran through her, but she didn’t protest. Mike’s tone left no room for argument; he had seen things, faced horrors she could only begin to fathom, and he was guiding her into that reality now.

As the power surged through them, Mike’s essence began to slip from Sophia’s form. The runes she’d meticulously crafted flared to life around them, ancient and powerful, holding the universe steady against his immense presence as he left her body. She’d created these glyphs to give Mike and Altheack privacy, a rare space where they could be alone together outside her vessel. Here, magic shielded them from outside influence, allowing them a sanctuary for a final, undisturbed moment.

The world trembled with his release, a force as old as the stars, but the runes bound space and time just enough to contain him, anchoring reality itself around them. Within this sphere of raw magic, Sophia’s golem form collapsed to the floor, dissolving away in a cascade of silvery dust, leaving her true self exposed. Valicar stood in her place—fierce, unbound, and radiant, her hair blazing in red and blue flames, like the mingling memories of all they’d once been together and all they could never be again.

Sophia took a moment, feeling the weight of the decision she’d made. She knew she’d miss this place—its familiar magic, the echoes of their shared battles, the quietness of reflection. But she had served her time here, and now something greater called to her, something beyond the walls of duty and sacrifice. Ever since Mike had asked her to come with him, she had felt the answer rise within her. She would go, even if it meant letting go of everything she knew, for there was no place left for her here in a world that had moved beyond her.

With her mortal form shed, Sophia felt the familiar, electrifying rush of power flooding her veins. Altheack, too, transformed with druidic magic, stepping into her adopted half-dragon form. Her green scales shimmered, silver wings unfurling as her aura merged with Sophia’s. They both felt Mike’s necromantic power pulsing through them, binding their ascension and amplifying their strength beyond anything they’d ever felt.

Across from them, Mike’s true form emerged in a swirl of darkened, celestial energy—his figure towering, encased in a spectral armor that gleamed with deadly resolve. His wings stretched out, vast and shadowed, radiating an aura of godlike rebellion. His eyes glowed with fierce determination, a haunting presence filled with the power of someone who had fought through every realm. He raised a hand, opening a portal, and the world quaked in response, the very fabric of existence straining to contain him.

Raz watched them, her smirk fading into something almost reverent. Her gaze lingered on the celestial figures of her friends, now blazing with transcendent might. She raised a hand in farewell, her voice carrying a blend of humor and weight. “Take care of those gods for me. Keep them out of Caldera, or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

Sophia returned the smirk, her gaze softening as she looked at Raz one last time. “Keep Caldera safe for us, Raz. You’re the last line now.”

Raz nodded, her golden scales glinting under the ethereal glow. “I’ll hold it, even if the whole galaxy goes dark.”

With a surge of power, they began their ascension, stepping beyond mortal comprehension into the raw, unfathomable core of creation. As they crossed the Veil, Sophia felt her spirit unravel and expand, becoming interwoven with the fabric of reality itself. The atoms that comprised the galaxies, the delicate threads of the light spectrum, gravity, even the strands of time—all of it pulsed around her, and she understood it all with a clarity so pure it almost hurt. A current of boundless energy filled her being, power drawn from the essence of trillions, the divine energy that had forged and sustained realms. Every sensation felt heightened, every emotion magnified beyond mortal limits.

“This is… so beautiful,” Sophia whispered, her voice trembling as the power coursed through her, elevating her to a new existence. Her gaze caught Altheack’s, whose own form shimmered in an unearthly light, her green scales glowing, silver wings casting shimmering light as her soul melded seamlessly into Sophia’s, making them one and yet distinct.

Altheack whispered back, her voice filled with awe. “This is amazing. I’m glad we could come with you, my love.”

Mike’s grin flashed with both fire and affection, his eyes reflecting the same boundless energy. “I love you both more than you could ever imagine. Welcome to godhood, my family.”

They felt their souls infused, not just with power but with purpose, the weight and magnitude of their transformation binding them to something far greater. They had become something more, creatures of divine origin on a plane of existence where mortality had no foothold. This was a one-way passage, a final crossing that had stripped them of their former selves, forging them into something new and eternal.

Together, they stepped forward, their hands clasped, their forms blazing with celestial light as they left their world behind. On the other side, they were met with a vision of Heaven transformed—a vast battlefield stretched across a celestial plane, woven from holy fire and starlight. Towering spires glinted in the distance, and legions of Heaven’s defenders filled the skies above, their wings ablaze with divine fire as they soared through the heavens, hymns of war echoing in an endless crescendo.

From behind, the Veil tore open, unleashing the unrestrained force of Hell itself. Mike’s legions, infernal and defiant, poured forth like a storm, dark figures wreathed in shadow and flame as they cascaded into the battlefield. The clash of divine and infernal forces erupted in a cataclysmic maelstrom, light and darkness colliding in arcs of fire and radiant bursts, tearing across the heavens with primal fury.

At the heart of the battlefield, a figure emerged from the storm of light and fire—a towering form ablaze with an ancient, golden aura. Merik stood, wielding a spear crackling with raw lightning, his gaze fixed and unyielding. Sophia’s eyes widened as she took in his godlike form, awe and resolve hardening in her chest. He looks like Zeus, she thought, a fierce smile curving her lips despite the enormity of the battle.

Merik’s gaze bore down on them with calm yet overwhelming authority, his voice resonating through the heavens like distant, rolling thunder. “I was the one who gave you the strength when no one else would, Michael,” he declared, each word charged with righteous conviction. “You have killed my son and brought ruin to my kingdom of Heaven.”

Easton let out a furious roar, his form a towering figure of darkness and light, his body wreathed in a fierce aura that merged the raw forces of Heaven and Hell. His sword, shimmering with shadow and flame, dripped with lethal energy as he swung it toward Merik. “I killed my old man, you bastard!” he bellowed. With a swift strike, Easton unleashed a torrent of darkness that cascaded through the air, tearing through Heaven’s ranks as divine and infernal energies swirled around him, amplifying his power to a level unseen by mortal eyes.

Merik, radiant with ancient authority, stood unmoved. His massive form shone with an aura of golden light, and his expression remained calm and resolute. Wielding a spear crackling with raw lightning, he raised it with practiced ease, deflecting Easton’s blow in a blinding arc of light. His gaze was steely, his voice carrying the weight of millennia as he intoned, “You know not what you will release if you dare to look beyond Heaven. The realms have been kept in balance by powers that you cannot hope to comprehend.”

James stepped forward beside Easton, his presence imposing and unwavering. Clad in dark armor adorned with faint glimmers of starlight, he radiated an unyielding strength, a figure who embodied defiance against the divine. A dark halo crowned his head, symbolizing his bond with both light and shadow, his form blending the echoes of fallen gods and infernal spirits. His voice cut through the chaos around them like a blade. “It was never your choice, Father. Mortals may not have the power to challenge you directly, but they gave rise to champions who could.” His piercing gaze locked onto Merik’s, a spark of revelation dawning, even if the full scope of the truth remained elusive. “Now, the sons and daughters of Caldera will free this universe from those of you who have plagued it since the creation wars.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, bringing back memories that clicked together, a revelation that struck Sophia with startling clarity. The ancient legends hinted at it, but this truth was stranger still. The gods and demons had not created this world; they had found it, seizing elements from neighboring realms, shaping it to their will. The dragons—her own kind—were descendants of both divine and infernal beings, a legacy hidden deep in their very bones. James’s words reminded her of a conversation they’d shared long ago, his insights now echoing with newfound resonance in the face of Merik’s authority.

As they steadied themselves, Sophia cast a quick, fierce glance at Mike and Altheack, a rare softness flashing in her eyes beneath the intensity. “No matter what happens,” she said, her voice steady yet carrying a depth of feeling, “we’re walking through this together. All the way.”

Mike met her gaze, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “All the way,” he echoed, his eyes glinting with that familiar fire, tempered by something deeper—a gratitude he could never fully express. He turned to Altheack, the weight of their journey etched in his look. “There’s no one else I’d want by my side for this.”

Altheack’s silver wings spread wide as she nodded, her green scales shimmering with an ethereal light. “We’ve already walked through hell together,” she said, her tone resolute but tender. “What’s one more battle if it means we stand by each other?”

For a moment, the clash around them seemed to fade, their shared purpose eclipsing the chaos. Then, as Merik raised his spear and the forces of Heaven thundered forward, they each gripped their weapons, their shared resolve binding them tighter than any vow.

Together, they surged forward, hearts and fates intertwined, ready to face whatever lay beyond Heaven's Gates.