"Father, why did you ask for a million demons? Isn''t one of me enough?"


    niel grumbled beside me, her discontent palpable. I couldn''t me her; the idea of relying on a horde of lesser beings instead of her prowess likely chafed at her pride.


    But as much as I valued her strength, there were certain situations where brute force alone wouldn''t suffice.


    As powerful as niel might be, I knew that facing a legion of angels would be her undoing.


    Unlike Annabeth, who was perfectly suited to counter the celestial beings, nielcked the finesse and strategic advantage necessary for such a battle.


    She was a formidable force, no doubt, but in the face of celestial beings, she was just a monster, adapting to the world around her while wielding the darkness—my darkness—and the powers bestowed upon her by Aunt.


    Recalling Aunt''s words from ourst conversation, I remembered that niel was meant to be on par with Siena, a grandmaster in terms of both strength and skill, now.


    However, niel''s new expertise as a celestial swordsman doesn''t mean it gave her a distinct advantage against angelic foes—a distinction that nielcked.


    In the end, while niel possessed immense power, a million soldiers offered a more versatile and tactically advantageous approach to our impending conflict with the angels, and I was nning on rescuing Elena on my won in the first ce… that damn angel shall die by my hands.


    Sure, in terms of sheer firepower, niel might be stronger. But that doesn''t mean anything in front of those angels blessed by the goddess herself.


    Even with her adaptive abilities, the risk of her falling in battle is significant.


    And the thought of losing such a powerhouse due to recklessness is foolish, especially given the current unpredictable situation.


    As we walked side by side, contemting how to lighten niel''s mood, I decided to be honest.


    "Right now, you''re too important to lose, niel. That''s why I need you to prioritize your safety above all else for the time being."


    niel seemed to take my words to heart, her demeanor softening slightly as she absorbed my exnation.


    It wasn''t easy for her to step back from the frontline, but she understood the gravity of the situation and the necessity of preserving her strength for the battles toe.


    With a nod of understanding, she continued walking alongside me.


    Entering the dimly lit room, I issued mymand to niel with a stern tone, emphasizing the importance of keeping intruders at bay until my work wasplete.


    "Yes, father," niel responded obediently, her voice carrying a hint of reverence, and a mix of curiosity.


    As the heavy doors sealed shut behind her, a sense of foreboding descended upon me.


    My heart pounded with apprehension, and my skin prickled with a chill as darkness enveloped my surroundings.


    With each passing moment, the weight of whaty ahead grew heavier, casting a pall over my senses.


    Before me, a ck portal materialized, a gateway to the depths of darkness and power. It was time to shed every vestige of my humanity, to embrace the depths of my true nature.


    Pressing a hand to my chest, I focused my will, ensuring that a fragment of my human soul remained safeguarded within me.


    No matter what horrors awaited on the other side, I vowed to preserve the essence of who I was—the core of my being that defined me as Adrian.


    Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for whaty ahead.


    With a resigned sigh, I stepped forward, my body trembling as it sumbed to the transformation.


    In an instant, my physical form shattered, and my soul surged forth, ready to confront the darkness that awaited beyond the portal.


    As I ventured deeper into the darkness, I couldn''t help but marvel at how my sister had managed to make this ce feel oddly cozy, despite its overwhelming aura of darkness.


    It was as though I had been submerged underwater, the sensation both familiar andforting.


    "Haah... This feeling, this sensation... as expected, I missed this," I murmured to myself, a hint of nostalgia tugging at my soul.


    The absence of interference from thews of causality signaled that a direct portal through my mother''s realm wasn''t a problem, as long as it was only my soul traversing the void.


    Clearly, the goddess had orchestrated something grander than I had anticipated, given theck of resistance I encountered here.


    Step by step, I pressed onward into the depths of the abyss, shadows writhing and twisting around me in an eerie dance.


    Though I couldn''t see them, I felt their presence keenly, guiding me toward my destination with an otherworldly intuition.


    While this wasn''t my first time journeying into this realm, it was the first asion I had done so without a physical form.


    The experience was both exhrating and disconcerting, my consciousness navigating the darkness with a newfound sense of freedom and vulnerability.


    Then, like a puff of smoke dissipating into the air, the darkness receded, revealing a breathtaking sight above.


    The night sky stretched out before me, adorned with three luminous moons that cast their ethereal, blue-tinged light upon the ckened ground below.


    In front of me stood our family''s log cabin, nestled amidst the tranquil surroundings of towering trees and a sprawlingke. No matter how many times I visited, the sight never failed to evoke a sense of surreal wonder.


    This was our family''s vacation retreat, as well as one of the many domains Mother held sway over.


    Seeing the warm glow of lights within, I surmised that Mother was already inside, likely awaiting my arrival.


    I couldn''t help but wonder if Dad and the others were present as well, but given the need to maintain bnce, it was probably just Mother.


    As I approached the door, my heart quickened with nervous anticipation at the thought of facing Mother once more.


    Ourst conversation hadn''t ended on the best of terms, but I trusted that she understood the challenges I was currently facing.


    With a deep breath, I pushed open the door, stepping into the weing embrace of the cabin''s interior.


    Bright light flooded the dimness outside, illuminating the cozy space within. A sizzling noise reached my ears, drawing me towards the kitchen.


    There, standing before me, was the woman whose beautiful face I had missed dearly—Mother.


    She was engrossed in the task of cooking, the tantalizing aroma of steak wafting through the air.


    Despite the tension that lingered between us, in this moment, her presence felt like aforting embrace, easing the weight of my worries and uncertainties.


    As expected, Mother had prepared my favorite meal. Did she do so after learning about what happened? And why was she dressed so perfectly? Mother was as awkward as ever.


    d in a ck dress that shimmered like dying stars, her hair cascading like the realization of space itself, and a figure that exuded allure, she was as attractive as always.


    Despite the wholesome moment, her seductive attire left me questioning her intentions for a brief moment.


    But I sighed, knowing it was just Mother being her usual self—ying her entric games and keeping me on my toes.


    I didn''t say a word as I approached her from behind, enveloping her in a tight embrace.


    "I missed you, Mom," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.


    Without a word, she turned around and returned the embrace, her silent acknowledgment speaking volumes. "Baby... I missed you," she murmured softly, her voice filled with warmth and affection.


    Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of joy and relief washing over me. Though I wasn''t in a physical form, with a being like Mother, touching souls posed no obstacle.


    In that moment, it seemed like we both desired the same thing—a moment of connection and understanding. But before we could proceed, there was something I needed to do.


    "Mom, can you help me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly with anticipation.


    "Of course, baby,"


    "Then crush my soul...."


    "GLADLY"


    As the sound of shattering ss filled the air, Mother gripped my soul tightly, extracting a small egg-like object—the nucleus of my soul. Within ity the heart I had long dyed epting until now.


    "How long will it take?" I inquired, anxiety gnawing at my insides.


    "Ten days... but don''t worry, only ten minutes will pass in the mortal realm," Mother reassured me, her voice a calming presence amidst my turmoil.


    While she kept patting my head.


    Sighing in relief, I nodded, knowing that this was the necessary sacrifice for whaty ahead.


    With a steady hand, I reached out for the ck circr object, opening my mouth to consume it.


    As the essence of my soul began to merge with the nucleus, a wave of dizziness washed over me.


    Slowly, my strength waned, and the world around me faded into darkness.


    Thest thing I saw was my mother''s face drawing near, a reassuring presence guiding me into the unknown.