When Leo stepped through the portal, the change struck him at once. This place was not what he remembered.
Before, Lilith's domain had been broken and drowned in darkness, its space fractured and unstable. Now, a faint but steady light filled the air, enough to reveal its true form. The domain stretched endlessly in every direction, transformed into a vast garden. Red and blue flowers covered the ground like a living carpet, their colors vivid against the soft glow that hung above them. The air felt calm, heavy with quiet power rather than decay.
Lilith was before them.
She no longer appeared old or worn. Her form was young, graceful, and undeniably beautiful, more so even than Ilandra standing at Leo's side. A long dark dress flowed around her, its fabric blending into the ground beneath her throne as though it were part of the domain itself. The dress did not simply rest on the land; it was connected to it. One curtain of her long black hair fell over her shoulder, framing her face.
Leo froze for a brief moment. 'Her hair… wasn't it silver before?'
The thought crossed his mind before he quickly pushed it away. Questioning a goddess about such things did not feel wise.
Now that he stood here as an S-rank, he could see her clearly, her features sharp and defined, no longer hidden by shadow. Her face was striking, with smooth pale skin, a small curved nose, and soft, well-shaped lips whose color stood out vividly. Her large blue eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, calm but unfathomably deep.
Leo lowered his head in a respectful bow. "I kept my promise."
Lilith inclined her head in return. "You did."
Her voice carried less strain than before, as though a great weight had been lifted from her.
Her gaze shifted to Ilandra. "Sister. It has been a long time."
Ilandra smiled and nodded. "It has. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, but the time Selvanna spoke of has finally come."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Then I think it's time you explain that part to me as well."
Lilith closed her eyes for a brief moment, gathering her thoughts. When she opened them again, her expression turned serious.
"Selvanna was the main force opposing the Betrayer. Her power was not limited to seeing the future," she said calmly. "She could weave the destiny of someone… and force them onto that path."
Leo's eyes widened. That ability went far beyond foresight. It was the power to force a future into existence, a terrifying authority in the divination path.
"Then even with that," Leo said slowly, "you still failed?"
Ilandra nodded. "We did."
Lilith spoke next, her voice steady. "Before Selvanna fell, she told the betrayer that she had already set him on a path of ruin. That one day, he would lose his godhood just as she had."
Leo exhaled and nodded once. "That was when she brought me here."
Lilith turned to him in surprise. "That part… even I didn't know."
"It doesn't matter," Leo said. "I already know what I need to do."
Lilith studied him for a moment before asking, "And how do you plan to defeat the betrayer? You are stronger now, but even so, you still stand no chance against a god and I cannot help you directly."
Leo smiled faintly. "The same way you fought the God of Magic. I'll gather help, from the three remaining guardians."
Both Ilandra and Lilith stiffened.
"They will not answer anyone that easily," Ilandra said. "And you only have three months."
Leo's smile widened. "They'll answer me."
He then turned to Lilith. "And even if you could help, I wouldn't accept it. The moment I challenge him, the other gods will interfere. You're the only one who can stop them. If they support him, my chances drop to nothing."
"Even without them, your chances are almost nonexistent," Lilith replied calmly. "Do not underestimate a god."
"Almost," Leo said. "But not zero."
Ilandra let out a quiet sigh while Lilith smiled.
"Then I will wait for that moment," Lilith said.
Leo nodded, then asked, "Are the Shadowlands stable now?"
"They are," Lilith answered. "With the source of corruption destroyed and Ilandra's tree restoring balance, only one thing remains, the main body of Bahamut. It must stay sealed. If it is disturbed, the gate to hell will open again, and everything will be lost."
Leo nodded. "I'll leave the Shadowlands to you. Time is short, and I still have much to do."
He gave a brief bow, then turned away.
Lilith raised her hand, and a portal opened behind them. She watched Leo and Ilandra step through and disappear from her domain. When the portal closed, silence returned.
A small smile appeared on Lilith's lips.
"This was your doing, wasn't it?" she said, her voice calm but firm. "Bringing him into our world."
The space beside her darkened. From the shadows, a tall figure slowly took shape.
His body never fully settled into one form. It shifted like ink suspended in water, edges blurring and reforming as if reality itself struggled to define him. His arms stretched and contracted with no fixed length, while his lower body dissolved into rolling darkness that hovered just above the ground, never touching it.
In his hand rested a long, hooked staff. The metal head reflected the dim light of the domain, sharp and ceremonial, more a symbol of authority than a weapon. He leaned on it lightly, as though the staff anchored him to a world that resisted his presence. Around him, currents of shadow moved like slow, circling wings, restrained power held in perfect balance.
A hood of living darkness concealed his head. No face showed beneath it, only depth, as if the absence itself watched. He did not turn toward Lilith, yet his attention rested fully on her.
Lilith sighed. "If only you had intervened during the great war…"
A sound like distant wind through a graveyard followed, thin, hollow, and final.
"I do not interfere with the fate of this world," the figure said. "That rule cannot be broken."
"One day," Lilith replied quietly, "the void may consume you as well."
The figure began to fade, his form unraveling into shadow.
"If that is what must happen," he said, "then so be it."
A moment later, nothing remained.
…
When Leo returned to his domain, he turned toward Ilandra and spoke in a calm, decisive tone. "We'll have a meeting in a few minutes."
Before she could respond, his figure faded, and he reappeared on the throne at the heart of his domain.
He did not summon the others immediately. First, he needed to organize his thoughts and reassess everyone's current situation.
The weakest among them were still Alina, Marco, and Liam. Their biggest weakness was not raw power, but control. Their transformation abilities were unstable, and mastering them was the first priority. Once they achieved that, their growth would accelerate rapidly. Ranking up below A rank was far easier, especially with them partially connected to his domain. If everything went smoothly, reaching A– rank would not take long.
Next were Elna and Briva. Both had already stabilized their transformations, though Briva still struggled at times. Even so, Briva was close to A1 and had already taken her first step toward forming a domain. Elna, on the other hand, was firmly at A2. Her connection with Ethereon was complete, and she had begun the process of building her own domain. That stage was critical, and also one where no one else could directly assist her.
Luciana stood at A5, still far from S rank. Her performance in the last battle worried Leo the most. Using the orb within the structure of her domain had pushed her close to collapse. The conclusion was clear, until every core member reached S rank, that power could not be used again. The risk was simply too high.
Ilandra was a special case. Her growth was no longer independent; everything about her power now depended on Leo. Even so, she was already S2 and, without question, the strongest among them.
Paul was S1, but Leo was certain that once Paul completed his domain, his strength would rise sharply. Years of combat experience had given him a foundation that most lacked. S2 was well within reach.
Then there was Arthur.
Arthur had reached A5 after Leo empowered with the staff from the City of the Future. In just three months, he had not only mastered his transformation but fused it perfectly with his existing abilities. That alone had carried him into S rank. During the final battle they had, when he drew upon the sword tied to Leo's domain, his power briefly surged to the peak of S1, perhaps even touching S2.
Leo allowed himself a small smile.
It had taken him twelve long years to reach S rank, even with advantages others never had. Arthur had done it in a fraction of that time.
A true genius.
With his assessment complete, Leo vanished once more, ready to call the others and set their next steps in motion.
…
One by one, the members appeared above in Leo's domain. Each of them bowed toward the distant throne of the Creator that loomed far above, its presence pressing against their senses even without words. After bowing, they moved to their seats.
When everyone had settled, Leo leaned forward slightly and spoke, his voice calm but carrying authority.
"From now on, we will begin the separation we discussed earlier."
The atmosphere tightened at once.
"Paul and Alina will remain in the Shadowland," he continued. "You have two responsibilities. First, keep constant watch on Mr. Sage. Do not provoke him, but do not trust him either. Second, begin attacking the orcs from behind. Disrupt their supply lines and commanders, but act carefully. Do not overextend."
Paul nodded without hesitation. Alina followed, her expression serious despite the weight of the task.
"Arthur and Briva," Leo said, turning his gaze toward them, "you will regroup with Marco. Together, head north and strike the Prince's forces directly. Your goal is pressure, not annihilation. Force them to divide their attention."
Arthur placed a fist over his chest in acknowledgment. Briva straightened and nodded.
"Luciana," Leo went on, "you will travel to the Kingdom of Light and assist Liam. The two of you have two objectives. First, spread the name of the Creator. Let the people understand who truly stands against the coming destruction. Second, support the ongoing conflict with the Prince's faction and prevent further losses."
Luciana inclined her head, her red eyes sharp with focus.
He paused briefly, then added, "All higher-ranked members will assist the lower-ranked ones. Your priority over the next three months is helping them fully grasp their transformation abilities."
Marco stiffened. "Why three months?" he asked, unable to hide his unease.
Leo answered without hesitation. "In three months, the Creator will challenge the God of Light."
Silence fell over the domain like a physical weight. No one spoke. No one even breathed loudly.
"And what will you be doing during those three months?" Luciana finally asked.
Leo smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it.
"I have duties assigned directly by the Creator. Preparations that must be completed before the war begins. The outcome of that battle will decide the fate of this world."
Liam swallowed before speaking. "And if we fail to fully grasp our transformations by then?"
Leo's expression did not change. "When the Creator wins, he will reclaim a large portion of his power. That surge will affect everyone bound to him. If your transformation is incomplete when that happens, the power will corrupt you."
"Corrupt… and kill you," he added flatly.
Marco, Liam, and Alina all swallowed at the same time, the sound loud in the silence.
"Don't worry," Arthur said, breaking the tension. "We won't let that happen. We'll help you."
Luciana exhaled slowly. "Even so, reaching the Kingdom of Light will take time. At least a month if I travel normally."
"You won't be traveling on foot," Leo replied. "Tomorrow, all of you will pass through a portal from here."
Luciana's eyes widened. "But we're only consciousnesses in this place."
Leo looked at her steadily. "Tomorrow, you won't be."