The Liege of Wishes gazed down at Vayu, eyes cold and unyielding. “Vayu, why didn’t you kill Leon?” he demanded.
Vayu's shoulders slumped as he bowed his head lower, shame burning in his eyes. “It was my mistake, Liege. I... I failed. He bested me in battle. I had him pinned to the ground, and when I stabbed his leg, I was certain the final blow would be mine. But before I could end it, the Mirage Vanguard appeared and attacked me. I was forced to fight his companion.”
He paused before continuing. “And then... a gray-skinned boy intervened. He was unlike anyone I’ve ever faced. He shattered my weapon with ease. I had no choice but to retreat.”
The Liege of Wishes narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp and unforgiving. “This won’t do, Vayu. Do you truly wish to see your master revived?”
Vayu nodded fervently. “Of course I do. I... I just need to become stronger.”
“Then you’d better get stronger, and quickly,” the Liege retorted. “I won’t wait forever.”
“I will,” Vayu vowed.
The Liege of Wishes turned away with a huff of frustration. “Now, on top of everything else, I have to figure out how to free Jasra from prison. Unbelievable... the two of you are nothing but disappointments.”
The Liege of Wishes soared into the sky, his mind racing with thoughts and schemes. He muttered to himself, frustration and ambition swirling within.
“All right,” he began, addressing himself, “how are you going to prove to Mercury that you're the superior god and deserve a higher rank?”
He reviewed his original plan in his mind, ticking off each step:
“Step one: Kill Commander Hasbo to instill fear in the city... Well, Jasra accomplished that. Step two: Have Jasra kill Leon to weaken the city’s defenses. If Jasra were captured or killed, Vayu was supposed to eliminate Leon as a backup. But that plan fell apart too.”
He clenched his fists, eyes blazing with determination as he considered his final resort. “It seems I have no choice but to move on to step three,” he decided, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “I will kill the ruler myself, strike terror into the city, and force it into submission. Once I conquer it and expand my influence, the city will become greater than ever. Mercury will have no choice but to acknowledge me.”
As the Liege of Wishes flew higher, the winds whipping around him, his thoughts darkened further.
“But there’s still one obstacle that I must eliminate... that gray-skinned boy,” the Liege of Wishes muttered, his eyes narrowing with irritation. “If he managed to shatter Vayu’s weapon—crafted from the hardest steel and infused with my divine power—then he’s no ordinary foe. That blade was forged to withstand even the mightiest opponents, yet this boy broke it as if it were nothing.”
His jaw tightened, fists clenching at his sides. “Who is he, and where did he come from? If he can destroy my finest weapon with such ease, then he may pose a greater threat to my plans than I anticipated. I cannot afford any unforeseen challenges. I may need to deal with him first... before I can take down the ruler.”
A twisted grin crept across his lips as he thought of what came next. “And then there’s Leon... and the rest of that pitiful city. Weak, fragile mortals—all of them. Once I set my sights on them, they won’t stand a chance.”
In the realm bathed in the glow of Mercury’s light inquiring about Aerolios' whereabouts. His first stop was with Venus.
"Venus, have you seen Aerolios? That fool hasn’t returned yet," Mercury asked, impatience clear in his voice.
Venus bowed respectfully. "I have not seen him, my lord. May I ask why you seek him?"
Mercury sighed, his expression softening slightly. “I... I might’ve been too harsh on him before. I wanted to apologize and offer him a gift. A palace of his own.”
"A palace? What sort of palace, my lord?" Venus asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Take my hand, sweetheart,” Mercury said, extending his hand towards her. Venus hesitated briefly, then placed her delicate fingers in his. In an instant, they vanished, reappearing in a land with a warm, pleasant climate. They stood atop a hill bathed in sunlight.
“Now, follow me,” Mercury said, still holding her hand.
As they walked, Venus's eyes widened in amazement. Before them stood a grand palace. The palace before them was a breathtaking spectacle, unlike anything Venus had ever seen. It was a grand, sprawling structure that seemed to shimmer as if it were crafted from the very elements of the realm itself.
“It’s magnificent...” Venus breathed, her voice barely a whisper
"Yep, I made it with my powers," Mercury said with a proud smile, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he admired the palace.
Venus gazed at the magnificent structure, her excitement evident. "Aerolios is going to love it," she said, her voice full of anticipation.
Mercury placed a hand gently on her head, his smile softening. "Of course he will, my Venus. He’ll appreciate the gesture."
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Venus hesitated, her eyes flickering with a thought. "Um, my lord... can my other sister and my two brothers come and see it too?"
Mercury’s gaze shifted for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "They can, but make sure they don’t tell anyone about it, understand?"
Venus bowed deeply, her voice sincere. "Yes, my lord. I’ll make sure."
In the realm divine trooper trained they were being watched by The dragon lord Jupiter A tall, commanding figure with sharp, confident features and piercing golden eyes. He wears a striking ensemble: half armor made of dark, etched metal that protects his chest and shoulders, leaving his arms exposed. A regal, flowing robe trails behind him, adorned with celestial patterns.
The dragon lord Jupiter said “ Keep going soldiers!” until he heard a loud noise from outside he went out there and saw The Great Musician, Mars she A graceful, fiery-haired woman with a strong yet elegant presence. Her attire is both functional and artistic, fitting for a great musician. She wears a form-fitting tunic in deep red and gold. Over her tunic, a light, billowing cloak of midnight blue flows behind her, embroidered with musical notes and symbols.
Mars played her trombone with passion, her notes soaring through the air, a beautiful symphony of sound. But to Jupiter, it was a distraction.
"Sister, could you please tone down that noise?" Jupiter called out, his voice tinged with frustration as he tried to keep his focus. His troops were gathered around, waiting for his commands, but Mars's music was a constant interference.
Mars paused, lowering the trombone with a smirk. "Why? I'm making beautiful sounds and music with my instrument. I can’t help it if it’s loud."
Jupiter’s patience thinned. "Yes, you can. Please stop playing. I’m trying to train the troops, as Lord Mercury instructed. I can’t focus on the task with all this noise."
Mars raised an eyebrow, her posture proud and defiant. "I won’t stop playing. Besides, the task Mercury gave you doesn’t need focus," she teased, her tone light but firm. "It’s just a training session, after all."
Jupiter's patience snapped. "Just stop playing! Can't you take a break?" he shouted, his frustration evident in his voice.
"I’m not going to stop just because you said so!" Mars retorted, her tone defiant and playful. She lifted the trombone to her lips once more, blasting a powerful note that echoed through the air.
Without warning, Jupiter lunged toward her, hands outstretched, aiming to grab the instrument. But Mars, with swift grace, sidestepped his reach, her laughter ringing out as she danced away.
"You’re going to have to catch me!" she taunted, her eyes gleaming mischievously. In a flash, she transformed into a magnificent phoenix, her fiery feathers blazing as she soared into the sky, leaving a trail of vibrant flame behind her.
Jupiter’s eyes narrowed in determination. Without a second thought, he shifted into his true form— a massive, teal-colored dragon, the deep ocean hues of his scales shimmering in the sunlight. His powerful wings beat the air, propelling him swiftly after his sister.
The divine troops, watching the spectacle, cheered in unison, eager for the chase. Their voices filled the air with excitement.
"That’s it! Get her instrument, Lord Jupiter!" one of the soldiers called, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Catch her, Jupiter!" another shouted, clenching his fists in support.
"Go, Lord Jupiter! Get Queen Mars!" they chanted, rallying behind their commander as the high-speed chase took to the skies.
Jupiter and Mars soared through the skies, chasing each other at incredible speeds. They flew over towering summits, deep valleys, and vast oceans, their movements a blur of grace and power. As they passed over a massive monastery, the sound of monks praying and worshiping echoed below. The monks looked up and saw the dragon and phoenix streaking through the sky.
"Look, Father, there's a dragon and a phoenix!" a young boy exclaimed.
The elder monk, his eyes wide with awe, replied, "Wow, I've never seen anything like that in my lifetime... Oh, I almost forgot! Son, could you fetch Zhao? He should be finishing his prayers. It's time for him to come home and eat."
"Of course, Father! I'll get Zhao!" the boy shouted eagerly, running off.
Jupiter and Mars both landed on a towering mountain, the air around them crackling with the remnants of their chase. As they transformed back into their true forms, the tension between them still hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.
"Damn it, Mars, just give it up!" Jupiter's frustration was palpable, his voice sharp as he glared at her.
"No! You mean I won’t!" Mars retorted firmly, her fiery spirit not backing down.
Jupiter exhaled sharply, his posture tense. "Why can't you just put it down for once?" His tone softened.
"Because music makes me happy," Mars answered.
"Happy?" Jupiter asked.
"Yes," Mars continued, her eyes bright as she spoke about her passion. "I love music—the sounds, the melodies I can create, and all the instruments I can listen to. They bring me peace. It makes me happy when I play my songs... Maybe I do get a little carried away with my talent," she admitted.
Jupiter looked down, a wave of realization washing over him. He had been so focused on the noise and the disruption that he hadn’t considered why it meant so much to her. In trying to take away her instrument, he had been trying to take away her happiness. His shoulders sagged with shame.
"I'm sorry, sister. I didn’t realize... you know I have a short temper," he muttered.
Mars smiled softly, her eyes warm. "I know that," she replied.
Jupiter said “You know what? Keep playing your song. I won’t try to take away what you love,"
"Really? That’s great, brother!" Mars exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement. "Hey, want to hear the song I made?"
Jupiter gave a small smile, his irritation completely forgotten. "Sure," he replied, his voice calm and open. "I’d love to hear it."
Mars summoned a harp, her hands gliding over the strings as she began to play. The melody was elegant, and her voice blended beautifully with the music. Jupiter sat down, letting the soothing sounds wash over him, feeling the music’s smooth embrace.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, Mars summoned a violin and tossed it toward him.
"Why are you passing me a violin?" Jupiter asked, puzzled.
"I want you to play with me," Mars replied with a smile.
"Really? But I don’t know how to play," Jupiter said, unsure.
Mars just laughed softly. "It’s fine. Just play."
Jupiter started to play, but the sound was awful—he had never played an instrument in his life. Yet Mars didn’t stop encouraging him, her words warm and motivating. "Keep going, you’re doing great!"
They played together for five minutes, the music still rough but slowly coming together. Then, suddenly, a flash of light appeared between them.
They both looked up in surprise. "Lord Mercury," Mars whispered.