The War of the Fractured Thrones continued across endless layers of reality.
Broken stars drifted through cosmic skies.
Outer armies still clashed with the forces of the Veyris Empire.
Yet somehow
the battlefield around the Veyris family felt strangely controlled.
Almost unfair.Athena floated above the battlefield, her six celestial shield-wings rotating around her.
Thousands of divine symbols moved beneath her feet.
She watched the battlefield carefully.
Enemy movements.
Energy flow.
Weakness points.
Everything.
Then her eyes shifted toward Kael Veyris.
He stood calmly while war unfolded around him.
No tension.
No strain.
No concern.
Just watching.
Athena narrowed her eyes slightly.
...He's standing in the center of reality-scale warfare...
A pause.
...Why does he look like he's taking a walk?
She looked away immediately afterward.
Completely normal.
Absolutely normal.
Nearby, Wukong slowly looked at her.
Then looked at Kael.
Then back at Athena.
...Hmm.
Athena immediately looked toward him.
...Don't start.
...I didn't say anything.
...You were thinking loudly. Meanwhile, Kaelignis Veyris descended from the battlefield.
Tiny particles of cosmic flame drifted from her wings.
Despite fighting armies moments ago
she looked perfectly fine.
Without warning
she walked over and hugged Kael.
For a moment
everything around them felt quiet.
Even the battlefield noise seemed distant.
Kael looked down at his daughter.
Then placed a hand gently on her head.
...You fought well.
Kaelignis smiled.
...Really?
...Yes.
...Power matters.
...But protecting others matters more.
Kaelignis blinked slightly.
Then smiled wider.
...Okay.
Nearby, Ignisia crossed her arms proudly.
...That's my daughter. Far beyond battlefields...
Far beyond dimensions...
Far beyond the movement of time itself...
A throne realm existed.
A place where celestial rivers flowed through stars.
Golden skies stretched endlessly.
Ancient dragon constellations drifted overhead.
Upon a throne of condensed cosmic crystal sat a dragon sovereign.
Hoshina Kurotsuki
Her long black dress flowed around her like ink mixed with starlight.
Golden-yellow hair cascaded down her shoulders like radiant solar threads.
Her piercing blue eyes resembled calm endless skies.
Elegant earrings made from condensed star fragments glowed softly.
Curved white-yellow dragon horns extended from her head, shining like celestial ivory.
Even while sitting
she carried the aura of a ruler.
As though authority itself naturally surrounded her.
She watched the war through floating cosmic mirrors.
Her blue eyes narrowed slightly.
...Kael Veyris...
She watched Kael standing calmly while reality-scale warfare unfolded around him.
Then watched Kaelignis.
Then Ignisia.
A small smile formed.
...Interesting.
Ancient celestial dragons nearby lowered their heads.
One spoke carefully:
...Lady Hoshina... should we intervene?
Hoshina quietly rested her head against one hand.
...No.
...Not yet.
Her eyes continued watching the battlefield.I want to see how this story unfolds.
And far away
for reasons unknown
Kael Veyris suddenly looked toward the distant sky.
As if he had noticed someone watching.