We'd been traveling for a month already when we finally saw the Horned Owl Tribe, and once again, we were surrounded by an armed group as soon as we stepped foot on their territory. We had no choice but to calmly ask for the presence of their alpha. Dylan walked forward and said, "We would like to talk to your alpha." "Alpha of the Sirens, what is your reason for stepping on this land?" one of the Horned Owls asked. "Greetings, old friend! I wish to request a place our people could stay before we can talk about the reason for our visit. We've traveled quite far, and one of our females has just given birth," Dylan greeted. "Have you lost your mind, Dylan? Why would I accept regular beastmen in my tribe? They don't belong here in the North," he responded. "They are not just regular beastmen, Aquil," Dylan replied, then extended his hand to me and pulled me near. "Let me introduce myself," I whispered while pulling his arm. He smiled and nodded. "I am Ari, goddess of the sun. Heed
The sky and the land blackened as the moon covered the sun, causing chaos in the land of mortals. There were strange movements of the land, causing earthquakes and huge tidal waves. The male beastmen suddenly lost their control, causing them to transform into their aggressive forms. Females and young ones ran to save their lives as the goddesses fused together. Just a moment ago, before our fusion, me and my group went to the abandoned temple and entered from above since it had no ceiling. I could see the statues of all the Immortals in the center of the huge temple. The Horned Owls kneeled down as I walked toward the center. The sight was exactly the same as the dream I had years ago. I looked back and saw everyone kneeling except Dylan. They had already started praying but didn't dare walk to the center. We were suddenly taken aback when darkness slowly covered the land—the eclipse was already starting. We felt the ground shake as they all transformed into their aggressive forms.
[Flashback] Our loving father, who was always busy lately due to the rebellion and attacks of the forces of the descendants of Immortals, ran towards me covered in blood and tainted with dark energy from the Abyss. I gasped and cried in shock. The battle had been recurring ever since the execution of the old alpha of the Sirens, but I never saw him in such a dire state. Also, none of those races have power from the Abyss. "F-Father... W-Why..." I stammered in disbelief. "We don't have much time. We need to run away. He's coming after you," he said in a hoarse and worried voice. "What about Ayla and Mother?" I asked. He didn't respond and lifted me into his arms. "Gurion! Please protect Ayla and Mother!" I hurriedly shouted as my father spread his wings, and then fled from Nirvana. "He won't hurt them arbitrarily, and it was your mother's will to prioritize your safety. I have to save you at all costs," he answered while holding me tightly as I glided in the sky, evading every cl
My consciousness came back and I realized that Ayla was flying into the sky at a fast pace. "You finally got your memories back? I know you hate this, but I need to confront your mother," she mumbled upon realizing that my consciousness had come back. "She's also your mother. What are you planning to do?" I asked nervously. "Keep calm, my dear sister. I just want to play and see how she will react," she answered with malice in her tone. "You know I can feel your emotions. Don't do anything you might regret. I'll do my best to stop you if ever you go overboard," I responded. She opened a portal in the clouds and entered it while smirking in excitement. She masked her energy to transform our form into my passive form and went towards the palace gate. The guards opened the gate upon seeing us and bowed down while greeting us, "Welcome back, dear light of Nirvana, goddess of the sun." I was surprised that they didn't notice that it was Ayla whom they were greeting. Ayla felt extreme
My father's core was slowly fading as time passed by. Ayla and I tried to pour our energy into regenerating his core, but it only slowed down the process. The only way to dispel the curse was either to enter the bridge of trial or defeat Sephtis.We were distraught to see him fading slowly despite the efforts of all the Immortals in Nirvana."The Gate of the Abyss was securely sealed after Arie's death. Even Ayla won't be able to open it anymore unless you both combine your powers," our mother said while looking at Ayla, who suddenly looked guilty."Is there something I didn't know, Mother?" I asked."The day Sephtis attacked Nirvana, Ayla opened the gate of the Abyss, saying she wanted to see her real father. Your father just got back from a long war in the land of mortals due to the descendants of the Immortals and tried to help me stop her from opening the gate, but it was already too late. She fainted after using her power, and Sephtis suddenly entered Nirvana and fought with your
"Did you forget, my dear? Ayla's power is reliant on yours," she answered. "It's true, Arie. If not for the Stone of Oath you left with Dylan, my power should have already vanished. I wasn't entirely restricted in the South. Our mother placed me there to reserve my remaining power until your return and to stop the calamities in the mortal land," Ayla added. I was surprised because I didn't know... Or rather, I forgot that the strongest goddess was reliant on the power of the sun. I do remember my mother telling me once about Ayla's power, but we were both still too young to understand what it meant. "Dylan, descendant of the water god, lend us your power and protect the world at the cost of your life," my mother ordered. He knelt in front of my mother with his head lowered, then answered, "I will adhere to your command." "Rise and skip the formalities from now on because you are already a member of our family. I appreciate your loyalty since the beginning, so I trust you the most
We were transported inside a familiar palace with a familiar throne made of bones and skulls. Walls were made of dark marble, surrounded by eternal flaming torches and glistening crystals that brightened up with our presence. There's a huge cauldron beside the throne that allows one to oversee the world of the beastmen, and the ceiling is too high and dark as if it were covered by the shadow of the Abyss. "Welcome back, my dear children. I've long been waiting for you. Oh! Interesting! Are you looking down on me?" he growled as he stood up from his throne and walked towards us wearing black chained armor with the mark of the Winged Black Wolf. We were kept down by the shadows controlled by the god of death, but Ayla broke free as she transformed into her passive-aggressive form and ran in front of me to block her father's path. "You won't be able to touch Arie as long as I'm still alive, Father," she snarled while holding a sword against him. "Hah! So, you will only call me 'Father
A moment before a near-death experience felt like an eternity, but my mind couldn't grasp what to do. My heart was pounding fast as I saw everything in slow motion. I can only leave everything to fate as I close my eyes. "Arie!" Ayla screamed as soon as she regained consciousness from my call and pulled her father with her power, then released herself from the chains of restrictions. She dashed toward me and hugged me. She tried to heal my wounds as she kissed my forehead. "Ayla! Let me kill her and complete your power!" Sephtis howled. "No! She's the source of my existence! You will go over me before you can kill her!" she ticked off as she attacked him with a spear. He kept evading our attacks and threw us away a few times. "You don't need her! Your power will be greater once she's gone!" he growled. "You're wrong! She can, but not me!" she retorted furiously. I placed a restraint on him, similar to what I did before, and placed multiple layers of restrictions, but his shado