The entire meeting hall fell silent.
Every god and goddess turned their attention toward the woman standing beside Nike.
For decades, the seat belonging to the Elder Twin Lightning Sky God had remained empty.
Many believed he had abandoned the divine realm forever.
Yet now...
He had returned.
And he had brought someone with him.
Farat, the God of Wind and Thunderstorms, stared at Nina with curiosity.
"Who is she?"
Before anyone else could speak, Nike smiled.
"She is my wife."
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The gods looked at Nike.
Then at Nina.
Then back at Nike.
Even the strongest beings in the room seemed unable to process what they had just heard.
His wife?
The Elder Twin had returned after decades...
And he had returned married?
The goddesses exchanged glances.
Whispers slowly spread throughout the hall.
"A mortal?"
"Impossible."
"How could an existence with such weak origins stand beside Nike?"
"Could he really have chosen someone like that?"
Some of the goddesses looked at Nina with disappointment.
Others looked at her with suspicion.
But Nike ignored them.
His hand remained firmly around Nina's.
A clear message.
She belonged beside him.
Rosalia, the Goddess of Regeneration and Growth, stepped forward.
Unlike the others, her eyes contained no arrogance.
Only curiosity.
"Child."
Nina looked at her.
"Whose daughter are you?"
The entire hall became quiet.
Every god waited.
The question seemed simple.
But the answer carried a weight none of them expected.
Nina took a deep breath.
"My name is Nina."
She looked toward the throne.
"I am the daughter of Cronac."
The room froze.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Even the gods who had lived for countless ages revealed shock.
But what surprised Nina was not their disbelief.
It was their fear.
The arrogance disappeared.
The judgment vanished.
They were afraid.
Nike noticed.
His expression became slightly serious.
A cold voice broke the silence.
"Everyone leave."
The voice belonged to Cronac.
The God of the Skies.
The ruler of the divine realm.
The one who sat above countless gods.
His gaze moved toward Nike and Nina.
"Nike."
The Elder Twin smiled.
"Little brother."
Some gods immediately looked surprised.
Even after decades apart, Nike still called him little brother.
Cronac ignored everyone else.
His eyes remained on Nina.
"Your name is Nina."
She nodded.
"And you claim to be my daughter."
Another nod.
Cronac stepped down from his throne.
The pressure released from his body caused the entire hall to tremble.
"Tell me..."
His voice became softer.
"Who was your mother?"
Nina's expression changed.
"My mother's name..."
Her voice became quiet.
"Lara Lexina of Bhulhid."
The moment the name was spoken—
Cronac stopped.
His eyes widened.
For the first time in countless years, the God of the Skies showed emotion.
Pain.
Regret.
Memories.
He slowly approached Nina.
Then...
He embraced her.
"You are indeed my daughter."
Nina froze.
She had imagined this moment countless times.
But she never expected it to happen so easily.
Cronac closed his eyes.
"Lara..."
A painful smile appeared.
"She really kept her promise."
The hall remained silent.
Then Cronac looked at Nike.
A strange expression appeared on his face.
"Brother."
Nike raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
Cronac sighed.
"Care to explain how you ended up marrying your own niece?"
The room exploded.
Everyone turned toward Nike.
Nina's face became slightly red.
Nike looked away awkwardly.
"Well..."
He cleared his throat.
"Technically, I did not know."
Cronac crossed his arms.
"Explain."
Nike sighed.
"I was summoned."
The room became quiet again.
"Someone requested my help to save her."
He looked at Nina.
"She was supposed to be someone I protected."
Nina smiled softly.
"But she decided to stay."
Nike nodded.
"She served beside me for many days."
A small smile appeared.
"And somewhere along the way..."
He looked at her.
"We fell in love."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Cronac sighed.
"Strange."
Everyone looked at him.
"But..."
He smiled.
"She chose you."
His expression softened.
"You are already married, and she is happy."
He looked back at Nina.
"So I have no reason to object."
Then his expression changed.
"But..."
His voice became quieter.
"What happened to Lara?"
The moment her mother's name was mentioned, Nina's eyes trembled.
The memories returned.
The loneliness.
The pain.
The years without her.
Tears slowly formed.
Cronac understood immediately.
He closed his eyes.
"Lara..."
He already knew.
She was gone.
Nina lowered her head.
Nike stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
"Don't cry."
His voice was gentle.
"Your mother would be happy."
Nina held onto him.
"She would be glad that you are here."
"She would be proud of the goddess you became."
Nina wiped her tears.
Cronac watched silently.
Something about Nike felt different.
The powerful god who once shook entire worlds...
The warrior feared by enemies...
Was now standing there comforting someone.
Not as a god.
But as a husband.
Cronac smiled.
A mischievous thought appeared.
"Everyone."
The room turned toward him.
"The meeting will officially begin."
He paused.
"But first..."
His smile widened.
"We will have a small sparring match."
Nike immediately looked at him.
"Cronac..."
The God of the Skies smiled innocently.
"Yes, brother?"
"I know that expression."
Outside the meeting hall...
"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!"
Leona's voice shook the courtyard.
Her fist struck Vegan.
BOOM!
The giant werewolf was thrown several meters away.
He crashed into the ground.
Vegan struggled to stand.
Fear filled his eyes.
Not fear of Leona.
Fear of failure.
Fear that he had disgraced the Royal Guard.
Leona appeared before him.
"You attacked the person you were meant to protect."
Her aura became darker.
Her left arm transformed.
Scarlet fur covered her skin.
Her claws grew longer.
"Your life ends today."
Before she could strike—
"Leona."
She stopped.
Kelvin stood behind her.
She immediately bowed.
"My lord."
Kelvin looked at Vegan.
"Enough."
Leona clenched her fists.
"He nearly caused the death of my clan's protector."
Kelvin stepped closer.
"Your anger is understandable."
"But Nike already forgave him."
Leona lowered her head.
A single tear fell from her eye.
"Yes, my lord."
She walked away.
Kelvin watched her leave.
Then he heard voices from the guards.
"Nike is powerful."
"Of course. He is Cronac's brother."
"But he survived the sword and hammer."
"Not only survived..."
"He spoke to them."
The guards whispered.
Kelvin's smile disappeared.
Then—
"ROOOAAAR!"
His crimson aura exploded.
"GET BACK TO WORK!"
The guards instantly returned to their positions.
Inside the palace...
Nike looked at Cronac.
"Where is Raqual?"
The God of Mischief.
The King of the Underworld.
Cronac laughed.
"He said he had something important to do."
He paused.
Then thought:
'If I told Nike that Raqual told me to leave him alone, he would probably beat him.'
Cronac smiled.
'Perhaps I should test him later.'
He turned toward the gathered gods.
"Before the meeting..."
Everyone sighed.
They already knew.
"No."
"We refuse."
"Brother, your tricks won't work."
"You only want to fight Nike."
Cronac looked disappointed.
"My own family understands me too well."
Nike laughed.
And for the first time in decades...
The divine palace felt alive again.