A Grandfather's Farewell
Several peaceful days passed.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Nora simply lived as an ordinary daughter.
She spent mornings eating breakfast with her parents.
Afternoons discussing cultivation with Rylan.
Evenings helping Seraphine prepare dinner while quietly listening to stories from their Sovereign Trials.
The warmth of home almost made her forget that the world beyond NTOEL was still fighting endless battles.
Eventually...
The day arrived.
Nora trained with her sword and prepared to return to the Spiritual Realm.
Awakened Rose's expedition would begin soon, and she still needed to make final preparations before leaving for Misty Mountain.
Just as she stepped outside the house—
Space rippled.
Countless tiny stars gathered before her.
The stars slowly condensed into the figure of an elderly man wearing a simple white robe.
Asterion.
Nora's eyes widened.
"Grandpa!"
Without thinking, she rushed forward and wrapped both arms around him.
Asterion laughed warmly as he gently patted her head.
"My little Nora."
"You've grown again."
Nora refused to let go.
"I heard you were leaving."
"I heard you're becoming a god."
Asterion smiled.
"So the rumors reached you as well."
Nora stepped back and looked directly into his eyes.
"Is it true?"
He nodded slowly.
"As a matter of fact..."
"I'm leaving today."
Those simple words suddenly made the atmosphere heavy.
Nora lowered her head.
"So soon..."
Asterion looked toward the clear blue sky.
"There are some journeys that cannot wait forever."
"But before I leave..."
He smiled gently.
"I promised someone I would finish a little project."
Nora blinked.
"My project?"
"The robots."
She immediately shook her head.
"Grandpa, there's no need."
"I've already tried everything."
"The problem isn't the design."
"It's the energy source."
"They need a stable supply powerful enough to operate for years."
"I couldn't find one."
She sighed softly.
"So I abandoned it."
Asterion simply chuckled.
"Take me to there."
Nora hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"If you insist."
---
Several minutes later...
The two entered the underground laboratory beneath Nora parents residence.
The enormous chamber remained exactly as Nora had left it.
Rows upon rows of humanoid machines stood silently.
Each possessed a sleek silver body reinforced with dark alloys.
None had active eyes.
None moved.
They looked more like lifeless statues than machines.
Nora folded her arms.
"I told you."
"They're complete."
"They simply can't function."
Asterion slowly walked between them.
He examined each one carefully.
Occasionally tapping their armor.
Occasionally smiling.
Finally...
He stopped.
"Excellent craftsmanship."
Nora looked embarrassed.
"They're still useless."
"We'll see."
Asterion slowly raised his right hand.
Golden essence gathered around his fingertips.
Unlike ordinary essence...
His carried overwhelming authority.
It felt ancient.
Peaceful.
Yet unimaginably powerful.
Nora instinctively stepped backward.
Even after becoming an Initiate, simply standing near her grandfather's essence made her breathing difficult.
The golden liquid slowly condensed into dozens...
Then hundreds...
Of tiny glowing droplets.
Nora stared.
"...Essence?"
Asterion nodded.
"One drop is enough."
With a gentle wave of his hand—
The droplets scattered.
Each one entered the chest of a different robot.
Silence followed.
Nothing happened.
For one second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Then—
Click.
Click.
Click.
One after another...
Pairs of crimson eyes ignited throughout the underground laboratory.
The robots slowly raised their heads.
Metal joints moved smoothly.
Artificial hearts hidden deep inside their bodies began beating.
Life.
Artificial life.
The entire laboratory awakened simultaneously.
Nora stood frozen.
The first robot slowly stepped forward.
It knelt before her.
Its mechanical voice echoed softly.
"What are your orders..."
"...Master?"
The remaining robots immediately followed.
One after another...
Hundreds of machines lowered themselves before Nora.
The underground laboratory suddenly looked like an army awaiting its queen's command.
Nora's mouth slowly fell open.
"...You..."
"...You actually did it."
She immediately turned toward Asterion.
"Grandpa!"
"You actually finished them!"
Asterion smiled proudly.
"Of course."
"Anything for my granddaughter."
Nora looked around the laboratory.
Every robot moved naturally.
Their movements were smooth.
Perfect.
Nothing like the lifeless machines she had spent months trying to activate.
She looked back at Asterion.
"Wait..."
"Was that your essence?"
He nodded.
"One drop for each machine."
Nora's eyes widened.
"Then..."
"Does that mean..."
"They possess the power of a Transcendent?"
Asterion laughed.
"If that were true..."
"I would've accidentally created the strongest army humanity has ever seen."
He shook his head.
"No."
"My essence simply serves as their heart."
"They should possess strength roughly equivalent to a Master."
"Perhaps slightly stronger."
"But nowhere near my true power."
Nora finally relaxed.
Even so...
An entire army of Master-ranked guardians.
That alone was enough to protect countless cities.
She looked toward the robots again.
Then back at her grandfather.
"...Thank you."
Asterion gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I worried."
Nora tilted her head.
"Worried?"
He nodded.
"I don't know what lies beyond God's Trial."
"I don't know if I'll return."
"So..."
"I wanted to leave something behind."
"Something that could protect you..."
"...when I no longer can."
Those words pierced Nora's heart.
She immediately hugged him again.
This time...
Much tighter.
Asterion closed his eyes.
For several long moments...
Neither spoke.
Eventually...
He gently separated from her.
"It's time."
The stars surrounding his body slowly reappeared.
His figure began dissolving into countless tiny points of light.
Nora desperately tried smiling.
"Goodbye..."
"...Grandpa."
Asterion smiled one final time.
"Continue searching for answers."
"But don't forget to live while searching."
Then—
His body completely dissolved into starlight.
The lights rose into the heavens before disappearing beyond the clouds.
Silence returned.
Nora remained standing there for a very long time.
Eventually...
She wiped away the tears gathering in her eyes.
"I won't disappoint you."
She looked toward the rows of silent robots.
"Power down."
Immediately, every crimson eye faded.
The entire underground laboratory returned to silence.
As Nora turned to leave...
A sudden chill passed through her body.
Her vision blurred.
A vision.
Far beyond the stars...
A mighty figure wrapped in holy radiance slowly walked through endless light.
Though his face remained hidden...
Nora instinctively knew who it was.
Asterion.
He was alive.
Relief flooded her heart.
The vision ended almost instantly.
Nora smiled softly.
"Thank you..."
"...Fate."
Far beyond reality...
Within an endless sea of holy light...
A single figure quietly watched the countless threads of destiny.
A gentle smile appeared upon his face.
He said nothing.
Yet somehow...
It felt as though he had heard her gratitude.