The shrine’s old sliding door rattled shut behind me, and a punch of icy mountain air nearly stole my breath. Talk about a greeting.

  Sora stiffened beside me, and I squeezed her arm to reassure her.

  Out in the courtyard, seven people—no, seven demigods—turned to stare, each of their auras smming against my Demonic Sphere like tsunami waves. My heartbeat spiked. I forced myself to breathe steadily and not pass out.

  Their levels hovered above them in gring text, reminding me how badly outcssed I was. It also had their titles beside their name, a signature for 9th Ascension entities so far.

  [Yueling, the Celestial Fox, Level 203]

  Fox ears, nine tails, a curvy woman who was dangerously pretty. She lounged on a mist cushion, flipping a moonlight fan. “Oh, he’s cute. Can I keep him, aunty Vargathrian?” Her eyes said she wasn’t kidding.

  [Kurotsuki, the Tengu Lord, Level 205]

  “He’s strong for his Ascension,” said the next demigod. He perched on some bent pine branch like it was the most natural seat in the world, wearing a wide-brimmed hat over a crimson mask. His raven wings rustled with tension. And he had a naginata in his hand that shrieked whenever he sharpened it like it was in pain.

  [Vysara, the Tatzelwurm Queen, Level 207]

  A serpentine-woman with shimmering coils and six arms folded across her chest. She flicked a forked tongue my way, hissing, “Still a thief, no matter his strength.” Great.

  [Spirit of the Depths – Marishka, Level 204]

  A figure made of gcial water, constantly shifting and rippling. Frost spread wherever her fingers touched the ground.

  [Lianhua, the Dokkaebi Sovereign, Level 208]

  “Don’t be rude,” said the woman who looked somewhat simir to Bai Xiuying, with her antlers like frosted coral, wearing jade robes embroidered with flowing rivers. Her teacup kept refilling itself while her cool stare just about sliced me in half.

  [Borrak, the Great Mountain Giant, Level 209]

  He looked carved out of living granite, moss along his shoulders. His expression was hard as he chewed on a boulder—an actual boulder—like it was a sugar cube, his deep breathing rattling loose stones from the cliff.

  [Zephyra, the Thunderbird Matriarch, Level 206]

  Lastly, it was a woman with feathers crackling in an electric arc, silent except for that hum of ozone. Even blinking felt risky under her gaze.

  Behind the seven of them stood Vargathrian, her rge tail flicking in that half-amused, half-warning way. “Py nice, children. Don’t forget he’s under my protection.”

  She said that so casually—like they were a bunch of rowdy cousins. But the tension rolling off them suggested otherwise. Regardless, her words made the ones with a negative gaze turn away from me.

  Kurotsuki slowly sharpened his sword, the bde ringing slowly. “This is the whelp who slew Azrath? Smells like a back-alley brawler wearing noble clothes.” He tilted his mask. “Did you trip him to death, boy?”

  There was some humor at least.

  Borrak let out a snort-ugh, spitting gravel but staying quiet otherwise.

  Yueling snapped her fan shut with a cck. “He looks pretty, but his body’s too clean. Some scars would suit him.” She let her tails swish in zy arcs. “So tell me, little thief—do you bleed as prettily as you fight?”

  “I’d think so,” I said, raising my Phantom Hand and letting it vanish. My stump became clear for all to see, and she blinked in surprise. Somehow, she hadn’t noticed it earlier, despite being so strong, but now she did.

  When she went to reply, Lilian growled beside me. “He’s not here for your games, Aunty. Stop eyeing him.” The ‘aunty’ part made me curious. How were they reted?

  Vargathrian’s chuckle rumbled like distant thunder. “Enough, you two. The boy’s here for an audience, so if you have something serious to ask, do it. Otherwise, keep your beaks and tails to yourselves.”

  Lianhua delicately set down her teacup, which instantly refilled itself in a faint glow of magic. “You reek of borrowed power, young man. That technique you used on Ao’kai… it was too dark to come from you. What was it?”

  I forced my voice steady, ignoring the dryness in my mouth. “It’s earned.”

  Marishka’s watery silhouette rippled, voice echoing like shards of ice. “Through pain, I suspect. Your soul feels… frayed.” She paused, leaning in. “Like a puppet snagged in its own strings.”

  Sora bristled at my side, wings fring. “He’s no puppet.”

  Zephyra’s eyes sparked, lightning flicking across her plumage. “And the phoenix defends him. How adorable.”

  Vysara uncoiled her six arms, jeweled bracelets cttering. “Actually, you interest me more than he does, little phoenix. Feng Huang’s Essence sits within you... perfectly, somehow.” Her tongue flicked, tasting the air. “Let’s hope they never break you.”

  Sora’s fists clenched. “I’ll mend them. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  I was surprised to see that Sora had it in her to argue with Gods. While they talked, I noticed Ha-Yun hovering near the edge of the courtyard, lips pressed tight. She gave me a shaky wave, one hand fidgeting on her sword hilt. Probably not used to dealing with so many apex beings. Same, princess, same.

  – Shing!

  Kurotsuki hopped down from the pine with unsettling grace, his naginata’s bde a hair from my throat before I could blink. “Prove your worth, boy,” he rasped. “Draw blood.”

  I didn’t flinch. I waited for Vargathrian’s low snarl to shake snow from the rooftops. “Try it, crow, and see what happens.”

  The tengu withdrew the bde with a disgusted snort. “Tch. No fun.”

  From behind a swirl of fox tails, Yueling sighed, fanning herself. “So dramatic. Why not celebrate? The phoenix did well. Feng Huang’s fmes were wasted in that lovesick dragon’s backyard anyway. At least she’ll do something interesting with them.”

  Lianhua’s frosted antlers took on a faint glow as she regarded Sora. “Might be a hollow victory if you rely on essence alone.”

  Sora squared her shoulders. “No. But it’s a start,” she said. “My family… the Fenixia Family are descendants of a Phoenix, so we have many ways to use Phoenix abilities to their fullest.” Although she didn’t know the process of how to use them, now that she held a real Phoenix's power inside her, she could bruteforce her way to achieve what she’d seen her family do.

  Vargathrian’s tail whipped once, scattering snow over the cobbles. “Alright, enough. The girl’s earned her due. Either congratute her or leave.”

  Zephyra spread her wings, thunder crackling overhead. “Adequate.”

  Marishka formed a delicate flower of ice with her hand, each petal shimmering. “For you, child. Remember—ice can cut as deep as fire. I’m saying never underestimate your enemies even if you think you have an edge over them.” She extended it, water swirling around Sora’s palm.

  Sora accepted the frosty bloom. “...Thanks.”

  Yueling flicked her fan again, turning it into moonlit strands that wrapped around Sora’s wrist like a glowing bracelet. “A gift. Try not to die before paying me back.”

  Vysara rolled all six of her eyes. “Sentiments, blegh.” But she peeled a scale from one coil and flicked it at Sora. It embedded lightly in her palm. “Use it if the Essence ever acts up. If you can figure out how.”

  Kurotsuki spat. “Weak.” Still, he tossed a single raven feather at her feet. “Next time, shoot higher.”

  Lianhua sipped her tea again. “Grow stronger, or that fme will gutter.”

  Vargathrian let out an amused huff. “See? That wasn’t so hard. Show’s over.”

  Lilian poked me in the ribs, voice low. “You’re lucky they find you impressive, or they’d have roasted you alive. You and your phoenix.”

  “Um, well…” I gnced over to Sora, noticing the little ‘gifts’ glowing faintly around her. She shot me a smug look, making me scoff back a comment.

  Ha-Yun finally stepped forward, managing a stiff nod. “I apologize for my stiffness, but you should understand this is too pressuring for me. Congratutions, Junior Sora.”

  Vargathrian’s golden gaze fell to my arm stump, and her ears flicked. “Why haven’t you fixed that, Iskandaar? I smelled that you’ve regrown your flesh through Phoenix Fmes, so why not regrow that arm?”

  I was surprised she was interested. “There’s a reason,” I said, letting my Phantom Hand flicker back into being—translucent fingers crackling with Qi at the severed joint. “I can just pull this out, so it’s not a handicap. Rather, the stump lets me channel Qi directly. So I can do stuff like this—” I turned off the Phantom Hand, and ignited my Starlight Sword from the severed elbow, the bde fring bright in the shrine’s dimness. Some demigods leaned forward in interest, one or two squinting.

  “No scabbard. No wasted motion. Just efficiency,” I added. “So I decided to keep the stump for now. I pn to regrow it in a few months, though.”

  Yueling paused mid-fan. “Oh. So the mutition’s by choice. You’re a peculiar one, hmm?”

  I was about to reply, but my throat trembled as I sensed a change in the air.

  “More than that, boy,” rumbled a massive voice from behind the demigods. Borrak, the great Mountain Giant who’d kept quiet until now, was eyeing me with open questioning and curiosity. The tension kicked up a notch as his gaze went cold. “...The Demon Bde of Kurayami. I heard you want it. Why?”

  That shut down the conversation. The air went frosty as if the shrine itself was bracing for drama. I forced a casual tone, though my heart hammered. “Power. Isn’t that why anyone hunts a cursed relic?”

  Borrak shook his head. “A weak answer. I want the real reason”

  Vargathrian’s tail flicked again. “He’s earned the right to try holding it, at least. Trust me on this, he won’t use it for anything bad,” she said coldly. As one of the Heroes who had sealed that sword here, she must have some saying over this.

  The giant blew out a dismissive snort but raised a hand. “I know. That’s why I brought it with me,” he said, and space itself tore open, revealing a curved bde in an obsidian scabbard. Golden runes coiled over its hilt, glowing like trapped lightning. A slow, menacing hiss filled the air as the demonic aura spilled out.

  “Kurayami,” Borrak expined, voice rolling like avanches. “Last wielded by an idiot who thought he could handle the Demon King’s sword. It took three centuries of constant pain for that fool to finally die under its curse.” He turned that granite gre on me. “Show me you’re not another corpse waiting to happen.”

  My lips felt dry. I forced a slow exhale, letting my Stelr Qi vanish so I could channel the Demonic energy from my core. The demigods narrowed their eyes at me as the air turned thick with scarlet malice. Kurotsuki’s naginata twitched. But I just closed my hand around the scabbard.

  Immediately, the sword screamed in my head—like a living hurricane of rage. It reminded me of the Heavenly Demon’s own sword, a sentient cursed bde called Voidrend. It killed all its owners until it submitted to the Chun Ma.

  Domination’s not pure brute force, the memory told me, it’s forging a conversation.

  I sank a pulse of my Demonic Qi – the Chaos Qi in other words – into the sword’s aura. You want chaos? I muttered in my head, feeling that the sword could hear me. I’ll give you all of it.

  The entire space rumbled with power. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the demigods straightened as if to step in. I clenched my jaw, feeling demonic energy try to twist my insides. Until Kurayami shuddered once, twice, and… then quieted. The swirling darkness slowed to an obedient spiral around the steel.

  Lianhua’s eyes flickered with intrigue as she sipped her tea again. “...Impressive,” she murmured.

  “Apologize, but I want to test it out,” I said, deciding to skip their shock or whatever. I turned toward a stand of pines across the courtyard, feeling my pulsing nerves. I released one clean arc, no wasted motion. The bde’s edge seemed to vanish in a bck fsh. Half a heartbeat ter, a swath of forest colpsed—maybe half a mile’s worth of trunks severed so smoothly you’d think a cosmic ser did it.

  The hush that followed felt like everyone there forgot to breathe.

  I sheathed Kurayami at my belt, letting it rest like it’d always belonged. “Good bde,” I said, stepping back.

  “That is shocking,” Borrak grunted, stone lips twisting in a grudging nod. “Yes, I am satisfied for now. Still curious what you pn to do with it, but we shall see.”

  Vargathrian chuckled. “What did I tell you?”

  I dipped my head slightly, trying not to look too smug. “I appreciate the gift. And the audience. However, I’d appreciate it further if you guys allow some space. I need to return now that I’ve received what I came here for.”

  Yueling giggled behind her fox fan, tails swishing in excitement. “Ooo, I do like him. Unfortunate that we can’t spend some time together…”

  The other Mountain Gods shook their heads at her, and slowly the tension broke.

  ****

  Soon after, the mountain gods saw themselves out, vanishing in bursts of light or melting into the ndscape like morning mist. I watched Yueling blow me a kiss before dissolving into moonlight. Borrak’s rumbling ughter echoed long after his granite form sank into the earth.

  Only the scent of ozone and the faint hum of residual power lingered.

  Vargathrian waited until the st demigod’s aura faded before turning to me. “Lilian told me about the…” Her golden eyes flicked to Ha-Yun, then Sora, who lingered near the shrine’s edge. She cleared her throat. “Ahem. Apologies, children—can you leave us? You too, Lilian. We’ve private matters to discuss.”

  Lilian’s ears fttened. “Grandmother, whatever you’re plotting—”

  “Plotting? Me?” The Matriarch’s tail swished innocently. “Shoo, pup. Go bother the shrine keepers for mochi. You look peaky.”

  Sora smiled, looping an arm around Lilian’s shoulders. “Come on, cutie. Let’s see if these monks stock decent sake. I think our Princess here will appreciate it, she looks beat.”

  Ha-Yun bowed stiffly at Vargathrian, and then led the grumbling Lilian away. When the courtyard emptied, Vargathrian flicked a paw. The air thickened and the sound died mid-breeze. A bubble of silence sealed us in, muffling even the distant avanche’s roar.

  She settled onto her haunches, suddenly more grandmother than demigod. “My little Lilian’s changed, I noticed. Stronger, yes—but sly. Tried hiding things from me.” A chuckle. “Had to pry it out. Turns out she’s joined a… cult?”

  Shit. I kept my face neutral. “I, uh. It's complicated."

  "Oh, tell me about it, I have the time of the world."

  I stared at her, wondering what lie to share, but then I sighed. "I'm sorry, but I can't give you the details. It's a method for achieving a certain goal.”

  “Goals you’re unwilling to share…” Her cws tapped stone. “Dangerous game, boy.”

  “Life’s dangerous.”

  Her stare lost the grandmotherly touch for a bit, and it looked like it could’ve frozen magma. “What’s Lilian’s role in this?”

  “First Star.” The title slipped out before I could soften it. “There will be Seven Stars who'll be the direct in command after me, and she's the first. Sora’s Second.”

  Vargathrian’s muzzle twitched—almost a smile. “First, hm? That makes me happy.” The smile faded. “And the Obsidian girl?”

  “…Nebu’s the third,” I said, realizing Lilian had told her about Nebu too. This part wasn't surprising. “Although I think I haven’t told her officially yet.”

  “Ah, I see. I thought she’d be worth more given how Lilian seemed… invested in her.”

  I shifted. “Nebu is Munera Obsidian’s daughter, probably that’s why. Did Lilian vent?”

  “Profanely about that Munera.” The Matriarch snorted. “It made me decide that I shall be visiting Waybound soon. Chatting with Munera. Diplomatically. Hm, I might send Ralian instead since my presence in Waybound will attract attention.”

  “No bloodbaths, I hope," I said. "Nebu’s my fiancée. I care for her, and I think Lilian’s starting to do the same too. I know this sounds crazy since you sent your granddaughter with me to someday become my ‘mate,’ as you call it, but then you hear about me being with other girls, but… Trust me, they're alright with it.”

  “I heard as much,” she said. “I told her about that child, Sora, and she didn’t look too mad.”

  “...Oh.” No wonder she didn’t look surprised. “Anyhow. I was saying that if the old fme between your tribe and the Obsidian Family reignites, these two girls will lose whatever development they've had so far. So I really wish you won't cause trouble now that the Vampiric Father is dead."

  “Hmph. Fine, I’ll attempt civility.” She leaned closer, her breath frosting my hair. “By the way, I don’t think it’s necessary to say this, but…Lilian’s my blood. Your cult’s survival hinges on her safety. Understood?”

  “I think she'd hate you if you hurt me, grandmother-in-w.”

  "…."

  "But I understand."

  She leaned back, the pressure lifting. “*I’ve just made another decision. Since my lovely granddaughter’s your ‘First Star,’ and I’m curious to see what chaos you’ll brew…” Her tail flicked toward the horizon. “The Lunewolf Tribe will send recruits for your cult. Not yet, give me some time. But Ralian will brief you at the academy.”

  "That... is a great idea," I said, mind already racing with possibilities. Having more members would mean better chances of survival, more resources to draw from. The Lunewolf Tribe's warriors were no joke either — they'd make excellent additions to our ranks. "I do need members, a lot of them, rather than just the few of us. Having actual trained fighters would help immensely. Thank you."

  “No worries. Treat it as a gift for keeping my granddaughter happy,” her grandmotherly tone returned, and she dissolved the silence bubble with a cw-snap. Distant ughter flooded back—Lilian’s mock-outraged yelp, Sora’s teasing retort. Vargathrian’s gaze softened. “And please, be sure to keep her shining. After all, even stars die when neglected.”

  I absorbed her words carefully, nodding in respect.

  The girls noticed the bubble was gone and approached, Lilian bounding ahead with Sora and Ha-Yun trailing behind. "What were you two talking about?" Lilian demanded, her silver hair catching the morning light. Her ruby eyes narrowed suspiciously between us.

  Vargathrian's massive form shifted, snow crunching under her paws. "Nothing that concerns nosy pups."

  "Grandmother!" Lilian's ears fttened in annoyance. Then her shoulders slumped, a wistful look crossing her face. "I just... I wish Mother was here. She'd not have hid information from me like you. And I’d have also loved to see her after so long."

  The ancient wolf's expression softened. She leaned down, touching her cold nose to Lilian's. "Actually, I pn to send Ralian to Waybound soon. You can meet her there."

  "Really?!" Lilian's tail started wagging despite her attempt to look sad earlier. She was really a bad actor.

  "Yes, little one." Vargathrian's golden eyes crinkled. "She misses you terribly. Keeps asking about your progress, your friends..."

  While they chatted about Ralian's upcoming visit, I moved to where Ha-Yun stood awkwardly at the shrine's edge. "Thanks for waiting through all this. Must be quite a scene for you."

  She smiled weakly. "All this is beyond me, Junior. I have to reach my home to accept that all this wasn't some dream."

  "What, you mean mountain-splitting fights and tea with demigods isn't your typical Tuesday? I’d have thought otherwise since they blessed you." I said, earning a small ugh.

  “It’s true they treated me well when you were unconscious since I have that blessing,” she said. “Although you entirely stole the light earlier.”

  Her posture rexed slightly as I joked with her for a minute. When the atmosphere was more rexed, though, I had to ask something important. "And, uh, can you not tell your father about the Demon Sword? I know it's a big request given you carry the weight of a nation on your shoulders and are obliged to report to your father, but..."

  "Please, that is perfectly alright," she said with a smile. "Can I tell him about Sora's Phoenix Essence though?"

  "Actually, yeah. That should be fine," I nodded. Just then, a warm weight suddenly draped over my left arm. Sora was at my side, her fingers cing through mine.

  “Plotting without me, dear?”

  “....”

  I shot her a look, making her smile grow, while Ha-Yun’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought you had a fiancée, Junior. How scandalous, oh my…” she gasped dramatically.

  “It’s… complicated. And Sora, please, we're in public?”

  “Complicated, he says,” Sora scoffed, resting her chin on my shoulder. “After all we did together, my dear? You wound me.”

  Ha-Yun giggled from the side, "Anyhow, I understand. A man this fine, having killed the Vampiric Father, of course girls are all over you."

  "...Can you hide that too, please?"

  Her giggles turned into full ughter. "About you being a scandalous man?” She teased, making me sigh. “I’m jesting. Yes, sure thing. I'll hide the Vampiric Father part too. I'll just tell my father that the mountain gods were impressed by you."

  "Thank you," I sighed in relief.

  The quiet moment between us ended as Vargathrian padded closer, her massive form casting long shadows across the shrine's courtyard. "It's time for me to leave, so–" she started, but her words were cut short as the sky suddenly brightened.

  Two streaks of light – one jade, one emerald – carved through the clouds. My Demonic Sphere pulsed as Ao'kai and Bai Xiuying nded near us with surprising grace.

  The shrine keepers immediately prostrated themselves, and Ha-Yun stiffened beside me for what felt like the hundredth time today. I couldn't help but notice the changes in their appearance. Both wore different clothes now, and... My eyes snagged on the faint bruises peeking above her colr—hickeys, unmistakably fresh.

  Oh. So that’s where they vanished to. The situation made me want to ugh, but I held it in.

  "It is good to see you two have taken my suggestion," Vargathrian's smile was practically predatory as she watched their change. "But what is it, Ao'kai?"

  The dragon ignored her and his scaled face turned toward us, or more specifically, toward Sora. "I have something to say to the new phoenix." He approached with measured steps.

  I shifted closer to Sora's side, protective instinct kicking in, but Ao'kai ignored me entirely. He just looked at her. "You... you hold my dear wife's essence in you. She is living through you. So… I've decided to take you as my goddaughter," he decred.

  The shock hit me like a physical force. Around us, even the wind seemed to still. Stunned silence rippled across the courtyard, the shrine keeper’s startled murmurs bouncing between weathered rocks as Ha-Yun's mouth gaped in disbelief.

  I understood their reaction – having a 9th Ascension Dragon adopt someone was about as common as snow in summer. The impact of the situation also had to be counted.

  "I support it~" Bai Xiuying's cheerful voice rang out as she waved from where she stood. It was almost as if the idea was hers initially. Perhaps she thought she’d help her new lover move on from his dead wife?

  "I- uh, this is-" Sora stumbled over her words, but Ao'kai cut her off with a shake of his head.

  "I will not take no for an answer, and don't worry, being my goddaughter doesn't mean you have to stay here or something. You can wander the world with your mate." His golden eyes softened. "Bai told me your entire family line is gone, so I had this idea. Please accept my offer. Here-"

  He reached up to his throat, to the reverse scale near his colrbone, and simply... tore it out. Blood welled up as he extended the scale toward Sora. "Take this. It will take me a lot to become a proper father, but this gift should be a good start. You can summon me once using this, and I'll come to aid no matter the situation."

  Sora's wide eyes met mine, seeking guidance. I pondered over it.

  This was an incredible opportunity – having a Ninth Ascension dragon as a backup could mean the difference between life and death someday. Plus, the way Sora was trembling I could tell how much it meant to her for someone to call her ‘daughter’ again.

  Right, what was there to ponder about? “Take it.” I nodded, offering an encouraging smile.

  She accepted the scale with trembling fingers. The moment she touched it, it bzed with light and shot toward her throat, embedding itself where an adam's apple would be on a man. The skin there darkened into what looked like an intricate tattoo.

  "I'm happy that you've accepted," Ao'kai said, his smile warm before he turned to me with a scowl. "You, brat, be sure to take care of my daughter. Am I understood?"

  “Oh. Oh, yes,” I said quickly, while sighing internally at this development.

  Between Vargathrian's granddaughter-in-w, the st phoenix who was now a dragon's goddaughter, and a vampire noble family's daughter... the women in my life certainly came with heavy backgrounds. Staying sane might prove challenging.

  "Then, um," Sora's voice was soft as she smiled at Ao'kai. It was a soft smile, where she looked like she was asking candy from her father. "Can I request something...?"

  Minutes ter, a massive Azure Dragon carried us through the clouds, its scales catching the sunlight as it departed the Highnds toward Goryeo.

  TheVeiledMan