"This is my choice, Grandfather. I hope you can respect my decision." Mikaela's tone was firm, reflecting her growing frustration with Arudiba's attempts to shield her from the battle.
"Mikaela accompanying me into this fight shouldn't be much of a problem." Seeing that his Titan grandfather, Arkemond, was on the verge of clashing with Arudiba, and realizing he had no real means to stop Mikaela, Muria decided to shift tactics.
Since Mikaela was determined to join the battle, and Arkemond had already agreed, what could he do? Lock his wife up? That was absurd.
Moreover, when elders started to argue, it was customary for the younger generation to mediate, even if their intervention wouldn't necessarily prevent the clash. It was about showing respect and making the attempt.
"You brat..." Arudiba was momentarily stunned by Muria's sudden change of stance, then quickly grew furious. How could his position change so quickly? Within a matter of seconds, Muria had effectively betrayed their side.
"Grandfather," Muria addressed Arkemond, attempting to steer the conversation, "you mentioned earlier that once someone surpasses the initial threshold of the epic level, their life shouldn't be in grave danger during these battles. Is that correct?"
But as soon as he asked, Muria realized it was naive to expect his Titan grandfather to soften his position or adjust his approach.
"If an opponent couldn't pose a mortal threat to you, why would I bother finding such an enemy for you? For entertainment?" Arkemond's tone was blunt, making it clear he had no intention of giving Muria an easy challenge.
Hearing this, Arudiba's expression grew even graver. From Arkemond's words, it was evident the heretic god Muria would face was a true threat, one capable of endangering even his life. That meant Mikaela's involvement would be exponentially riskier.
"I absolutely will not let you participate in this battle," Arudiba declared with finality, his tone brooking no argument.
The Seraphic God's approach was fundamentally different from the Titans'. While the Titans embraced battle as a path to strength, the Seraphic Gods were far more conservative. They chose to become epic-level beings by relying on their inherent longevity, gradually accumulating power over vast stretches of time.
In essence, the Seraphic Gods' philosophy was closer to that of deities. Unlike gods, they did not tie themselves to a single world, but their approach to power was no less patient and methodical. This difference in ideology made Mikaela, who actively sought out challenges and combat, a peculiar outlier among her kin.
"Forcing me to comply because of your worries? I won't accept that, Grandfather," Mikaela retorted, her resolve unwavering. "I will follow my own will. Not even you can stop me from pursuing the path I've chosen."
"I won't force you to change your mind," Arudiba responded, his tone softening slightly. "But as your grandfather, it's my right—and my duty—to protect you. I will not allow you to put yourself in unnecessary danger."
"Perhaps things won't be as dangerous as you fear," Muria interjected, sensing the tension rising to a boiling point once again. It was time to de-escalate the situation.
"This fight isn't about Mikaela. It's about me. I'm the one who'll face the heretic god directly." Muria reminded Arudiba, attempting to redirect the elder's focus.
"You're being far too hasty," Dimos, the golden Dragon King, finally weighed in, his burning golden eyes fixed on Muria. "What is it with your Titan clan and constantly pushing your younglings into peril? My grandson has barely explored a handful of worlds, and now you want him to face a heretic god? Do you really think that's appropriate for him at this stage?"
"Muria has the potential to triumph," Arkemond answered, unfazed by Dimos's criticism. "As long as he can fully integrate the foreign power he's absorbed, he'll have no trouble defeating a heretic god."
"At best, he'll manage to defeat the weakest heretic god. Anything stronger, and his life is at serious risk," Dimos countered, his concern evident.
"The opponent I've chosen isn't particularly strong," Arkemond replied confidently. He extended his hand, conjuring a beam of light that flew into Muria's palm.
"What is this?" Muria asked, the light dissipating to reveal a set of coordinates etched into his mind.
"Those are the coordinates of a world currently being corrupted by a heretic god. So far, only its followers have invaded. The true body of the heretic god hasn't yet manifested in the world."
"And how do I draw out the god's true body?" Muria asked curiously, relieved that he wouldn't be thrown directly into a confrontation with the god just yet.
"It's simple—eradicate its followers. Once you've destroyed enough of them, the heretic god will have no choice but to appear." Arkemond's reply was matter-of-fact, as if the solution was obvious.
"Wait a moment," Arudiba interjected, seizing on a key detail. "Are you saying you haven't even located the heretic god yet? You've only identified a world where its influence is spreading?"
"What of it?" Arkemond's tone grew slightly impatient, his golden eyes narrowing.
"Doesn't that mean there's no guarantee the heretic god's true form will appear, even if all its followers are defeated?" Arudiba pressed further, searching for reassurance.
"The world in question is on the brink of destruction. A heretic god of this level—at most a second-tier—would never abandon such a valuable opportunity."
"I see," Arudiba mused aloud, his tense expression easing somewhat. "And the world being invaded—is it a small world?"
"What other kind of world would be vulnerable to a heretic god of this level?" Arkemond shot back, clearly unimpressed by the question.
"Understood," Arudiba nodded, his mind turning toward the specifics.
"Muria, the coordinates are yours. When you're ready, you may proceed," Arkemond said, his tone finally shifting to one of patience.
Muria blinked, momentarily taken aback. He remembered how his Titan grandfather had previously urged him to hurry. Yet now, there was no urgency in his voice.
"I'll head out after spending some time with my children," Muria replied. He wasn't planning on delaying for centuries, but he did want to have some meaningful moments with his family first.
"That's reasonable." Arkemond nodded approvingly before preparing to leave.
"Wait," Arudiba called out, stopping him mid-step.
"What is it?" Arkemond asked, his tone cool.
"Can you share the coordinates with me as well?" Arudiba asked somewhat hesitantly, knowing his request was a bit presumptuous. "Name your price."
Arkemond gave him a long, appraising look before shaking his head. "You coddle your descendants too much, Arudiba."
Without another word, Arkemond tore open a rift in the void and stepped through, disappearing from sight.
"Hey, don't just leave! We can talk about this! It's just a set of coordinates. Surely we can negotiate!" Arudiba protested, his voice trailing after the Titan. Undeterred by the dismissal, the Seraphic God flared his twelve wings and took off, determined to pursue Arkemond all the way back to his domain if necessary.
"Muria," Dimos said, his tone serious as he turned back to his grandson. "Since you've made your decision, I won't say more. Just be careful and do your best."
"Understood, Grandfather." Muria bowed his head respectfully, watching as the golden Dragon King disappeared into the void.
Once Dimos had left, Muria turned to Mikaela. "Are you absolutely sure you want to come with me?"
"I'm certain," Mikaela replied, her voice resolute.
"You once told me you'd stand by me, no matter what. Do you remember that?" Muria asked, his tone tinged with both frustration and resignation.
"I remember," Mikaela affirmed.
"Fine," Muria sighed, realizing he couldn't change her mind.
"Good," Mikaela said, her determination unwavering. "Now go spend time with our children before we leave."
"Of course," Muria replied, his expression softening as he spotted their daughters approaching.
Welcoming his three radiant daughters, Muria's face lit up with a smile. He sat with them, discussing lighthearted topics like relationships and future prospects, asking questions like, "Have you found someone yet?" and "If you have, bring them over—I promise I won't bite."
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on perspective), none of his daughters had chosen partners yet, much to Muria's disappointment. He had been looking forward to testing their suitors.
Meanwhile, Mikaela rolled her eyes at her husband's antics, deciding to leave the conversation and instead focus on their son, Aeolos, who had arrived a bit later. Her questions revolved around his recent endeavors and—more importantly—potential grandchildren.
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