"Father, why did you ask for a million demons? Isn't one of enough?"
Elaniel grumbled beside , her discontent palpable. I couldn't bla 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 Elaniel 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, Elaniel lacked 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 our last conversation, I rembered that Elaniel was ant to be on par with Siena, a grandmaster in terms of both strength and skill, now.
However, Elaniel's new expertise as a celestial swordsman doesn't an it gave her a distinct advantage against angelic foes—a distinction that Elaniel lacked.
In the end, while Elaniel possessed imnse power, a million soldiers offered a more versatile and tactically advantageous approach to our impending conflict with the angels, and I was planning on rescuing Elena on my won in the first place… that damn angel shall die by my hands.
Sure, in terms of sheer firepower, Elaniel might be stronger. But that doesn't an 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, contemplating how to lighten Elaniel's mood, I decided to be honest.
"Right now, you're too important to lose, Elaniel. That's why I need you to prioritize your safety above all else for the ti being."
Elaniel seed to take my words to heart, her deanor softening slightly as she absorbed my explanation.
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 to co.
With a nod of understanding, she continued walking alongside .
Entering the dimly lit room, I issued my command to Elaniel with a stern tone, emphasizing the importance of keeping intruders at bay until my work was complete.
"Yes, father," Elaniel 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 .
My heart pounded with apprehension, and my skin prickled with a chill as darkness enveloped my surroundings.
With each passing mont, the weight of what lay ahead grew heavier, casting a pall over my senses.
Before , a black portal materialized, a gateway to the depths of darkness and power. It was ti 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 fragnt of my human soul remained safeguarded within .
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 as Adrian.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for what lay ahead.
With a resigned sigh, I stepped forward, my body trembling as it succumbed 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 place feel oddly cozy, despite its overwhelming aura of darkness.
It was as though I had been subrged underwater, the sensation both familiar and comforting.
"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 the laws 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 sothing grander than I had anticipated, given the lack of resistance I encountered here.
Step by step, I pressed onward into the depths of the abyss, shadows writhing and twisting around in an eerie dance.
Though I couldn't see them, I felt their presence keenly, guiding toward my destination with an otherworldly intuition.
While this wasn't my first ti journeying into this realm, it was the first occasion I had done so without a physical form.
The experience was both exhilarating 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 , adorned with three luminous moons that cast their ethereal, blue-tinged light upon the blackened ground below.
In front of stood our family's log cabin, nestled amidst the tranquil surroundings of towering trees and a sprawling lake. No matter how many tis 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 balance, it was probably just Mother.
As I approached the door, my heart quickened with nervous anticipation at the thought of facing Mother once more.
Our last 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 welcoming embrace of the cabin's interior.
Bright light flooded the dimness outside, illuminating the cozy space within. A sizzling noise reached my ears, drawing towards the kitchen.
There, standing before , 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 mont, her presence felt like a comforting embrace, easing the weight of my worries and uncertainties.
As expected, Mother had prepared my favorite al. Did she do so after learning about what happened? And why was she dressed so perfectly? Mother was as awkward as ever.
Clad in a black dress that shimred 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 wholeso mont, her seductive attire left questioning her intentions for a brief mont.
But I sighed, knowing it was just Mother being her usual self—playing her eccentric gas and keeping 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 acknowledgnt speaking volus. "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 . Though I wasn't in a physical form, with a being like Mother, touching souls posed no obstacle.
In that mont, it seed like we both desired the sa thing—a mont of connection and understanding. But before we could proceed, there was sothing I needed to do.
"Mom, can you help ?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
"Of course, baby,"
"Then crush my soul...."
"GLADLY"
As the sound of shattering glass filled the air, Mother gripped my soul tightly, extracting a small egg-like object—the nucleus of my soul. Within it lay the heart I had long delayed accepting 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 , 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 what lay ahead.
With a steady hand, I reached out for the black circular object, opening my mouth to consu it.
As the essence of my soul began to rge with the nucleus, a wave of dizziness washed over .
Slowly, my strength waned, and the world around faded into darkness.
The last thing I saw was my mother's face drawing near, a reassuring presence guiding into the unknown.
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