A Titan wielding a battle axe stood tall in the center of a divine kingdom filled with endless corpses. Streams of golden divine blood, radiant with godly brilliance, flowed at his feet. His battle axe bore a fresh, gleaming trace of golden blood.
Rivers of blood flowed, and mountains of bodies piled high—not an exaggerated description, but rather a stark portrayal of the current scene within this divine realm.
The faithful followers of the fallen deity, who had accumulated since the day he ascended to godhood, had been utterly annihilated by the savage beast army under the command of the Titan Lord, Archimonde.
The once radiant divine kingdom, where eternal light had held dominion and no shadow could intrude, now seemed dim. The blood of gods had been shed, signifying the crumbling of the foundation that sustained this sacred realm.
"Foreign god, even if you have defeated me, you won't have a good end. This is not a place where you can act recklessly!"
The decapitated head of the deity, crushed beneath the Titan's foot, struggled to speak. Endless humiliation churned within his chest—this was his final display of defiance.
"Your power is average, but your willpower isn't bad," Archimonde remarked as he pressed the severed head deeper into the ground. To be honest, he had anticipated a more challenging battle, but the reality left him thoroughly disappointed.
This god, who wielded the divine authority of war, possessed destructive power but was otherwise incompetent. His combat skills and mastery of laws were pitifully weak.
"Don't think that defeating me allows you to act without restraint. There are many gods stronger than me. Even if you kill me, other deities will soon come to avenge me. They will cut off your head and cast it into the blazing sun, condemning you to eternal torment."
"Oh? Other gods will avenge you? It seems you have some powerful allies," Archimonde mused, a new idea forming in his mind. This battle had been a mere warm-up, far too brief and unsatisfying for him.
"Since you have such connections, I'll give you a chance to live. Call every god you know to come here," he commanded.
"What... what are you planning?" the war god asked, his decapitated head trembling as his ruined body failed to heal.
"Nothing much—I just want a fight. Summon the gods you know. As for a reason? Just tell them about your current predicament."
"You arrogant foreigner! Do you know who my father is?"
"Yes."
"Then you should understand how foolish your words are. What makes you think that defeating me qualifies you to challenge my father, the mighty King of the Gods?"
"I can't find his dwelling atop the Peak of Ten Thousand Mountains. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wasted my time with you."
"You—!"
"Call the gods you know. If you can bring your father here, I'll let you live."
"Fine! Just you wait. I hope when you face my father, you won't beg for mercy or regret this decision."
"I'll be waiting."
…
Amidst a vast and ancient forest, a massive emerald dragon soared across the sky. Riding on its back, a black-haired, golden-eyed child wore a troubled expression as he spoke to a young girl beside him.
"Tell me, what will it take for you to awaken?" he asked with a sigh.
"Why do you insist that I awaken? I'm fine the way I am now," the girl replied.
"Of course, it's nice for you to travel with me and see new sights. But as your son, this situation is... difficult for me."
"What's so difficult about it?"
"You can't help me with anything. If my mother's consciousness were to awaken, the burden on my shoulders would be cut in half. But with you like this, my stress only grows. It's really tough!"
"Didn't your father's consciousness already awaken? Why not ask him for help? Why must it be me?" the girl, named Arina, countered. She seemed reluctant to give up her current life.
"My father is busy seeking revenge. He doesn't have time for me. And even if he did, I wouldn't expect much from him. In anything other than combat, my mother far surpasses him."
"I still don't want to awaken," Arina whispered, revealing a softer side of herself. Her once-proud and heroic demeanor faded as a hint of vulnerability appeared in her eyes.
"Tell me the truth, Muria. If your mother's consciousness awakens, will I disappear?"
Muria clasped his hands behind his back and gazed silently at the landscape below.
"Answer me! Is that what will happen?" Her voice quivered with emotion.
"Yes," Muria finally said, turning to meet the teary-eyed girl's gaze. "Once my mother awakens, your consciousness will inevitably merge with hers. Your memories and experiences will become part of hers, and your existence will cease."
"I knew it," Arina muttered, hugging her knees as her eyes reddened. "How is that any different from dying?"
"It's not the same."
"Really? How? You tell me! My consciousness will vanish, and my memories will belong to someone else. How is that not like death?"
"If you think of it that way, there's no difference. But in another sense, you'll gain a form of immortality that countless beings crave."
"I don't want that kind of immortality," she whispered bitterly.
…
After a long silence, Arina finally spoke again. "Muria, can you send me home? I miss it. I don't want to become part of someone else."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," Muria replied, his voice laced with regret. Though he felt guilty, he remained unwavering in his decision.
"I figured as much," Arina sighed. "Then can I ask for something else? Could you at least wait until I'm old before awakening your mother? Time probably doesn't mean much to someone like you, right?"
"…I'll try."
"Thanks, Muria. You're really sweet!" She smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up with joy. "By the way, what are you looking for?"
"I'm just giving you a tour, ensuring you have no regrets," he answered evasively.
"Don't give me that! For almost half a year, you've been flying me around everywhere. You're clearly searching for something."
"Let me guess—you, your parents, and even I have all been reincarnated due to some event. We lost our consciousnesses in the process, which led to many dangers. Now that you've awakened, you're trying to find your loved ones as quickly as possible. You've already found your parents, so now you're searching for either your spouse or your children, right?"
"You're right. I'm looking for my wife."
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