But before Alfia and the others could react, something shifted behind them.
"BOOM!!!!"
The thunderous crash made their ears ring in pain.
They turned to look and saw a strange image projected onto a floating screen.
A towering pillar of light stretched into the heavens, enclosing a white cocoon of light. The surroundings had been washed pale by the pillar, making it difficult to see anything else. Yet the cocoon at its center stood out with striking clarity.
"Empress" and "Hero" stared in confusion, completely unsure of what they were looking at.
But someone among the crowd already understood. Still, out of habit, he matched the expressions of everyone else so as not to stand out.
Loki paused as she looked at the cocoon in the projection, then her expression relaxed, tinged with relief.
"Is it finished?"
KKKK...
The cocoon throbbed with a heartbeat-like rhythm, cracks slowly spreading along its surface.
The pillar of light surged toward the cocoon as if pulled in, pouring into it with overwhelming force.
Within just a few dozen seconds, the massive pillar was completely absorbed. The cocoon then began to fade, revealing the silhouette of a young boy at its center.
The boy slowly opened his crimson eyes, a flicker of emotion and excitement passing through them before he concealed it once more.
"It's complete."
"But the result exceeded what I originally expected. As I thought, the simulated Star Creation Chart's effects far surpass anything I imagined."
"Mother, was this also within your calculations?"
He already knew the answer. Even without a reply, he understood perfectly.
He simply smiled and lifted his head.
"Mother, your gaze arrived too early."
After making this complaint toward the Mother who always remained hidden, the boy turned his gaze outward.
"And the other gaze has arrived as well. I told you—the timing is a bit too early."
"But I also need to deal with Artemis's matter. And right now, I'm still not in my perfect state. I have to return certain things before I can reach completion."
These words left the resurrected members of Zeus's and Hera's familias completely confused.
But many of the gods understood.
Even so, the moment members of Zeus's or Hera's familias saw the boy's face, everything clicked. Hera's followers immediately thought of Alfia and Meteria, while Zeus's followers instantly thought of that black rabbit in their own ranks.
"Abel, that child… he couldn't be your and Meteria's son, could he?"
Those bright red eyes were clearly inherited from Abel, and that silver-white hair unmistakably came from Meteria.
Abel—Zeus Familia's Level 5 adventurer. Black hair, blood-red eyes, and a face that looked like Bell grown up. A notorious flirt, popular with the familia, always easy to get along with, and the one closest to Zeus.
And years ago, Abel had done something that shocked both familias—
He got Meteria, Hera Familia's most beloved child, pregnant.
Which was why every Zeus Familia member, upon seeing Bell for the first time, assumed he must be Abel's.
Now called out directly, Abel could no longer pretend. With a troubled, uncertain expression, he gave a small nod.
"I think so."
Everyone saw how unsure he was.
But they also understood—he had died before ever seeing his child. It wasn't strange that he couldn't confirm anything based on looks alone. After all, no one could guarantee their child would perfectly inherit their traits.
"Abel, there's no point hiding it anymore."
Ever since learning Bell's personality, Zeus had wondered how the kid grew up like that. But now, seeing this dead rabbit acting so properly, it was obvious—much of the past had been an act. Abel had been hiding a lot.
But now there was no longer a need to hide Bell's origins.
"Bell's mother, Meteria… she isn't actually related to you, is she?"
Abel's brow twitched.
"Meteria made a deal with you, didn't she? The reason all of you were resurrected… it was part of the condition you proposed, wasn't it?"
Zeus laid everything bare, and all eyes turned toward the silent black rabbit.
"Wait… so you mean Meteria isn't…?"
Meteria made a pact with Abel, and now people who should have remained dead had returned to life. Yet even the gods of the Genkai couldn't revive the dead. So what exactly was Meteria that she could?
Abel chose to answer none of this. He simply stood quietly, lips sealed.
Seeing his silence, all eyes shifted to Zeus.
"The world." Meteria was the very existence that created this world, the gods, and humanity. She is the world itself.
The answer was so overwhelming that both Zeus's and Hera's familias felt faint. This was far beyond anything they could have imagined. And knowing Meteria was the creator of the world—why had she descended?
…
To have a child?
Zeus understood their unspoken question, so he continued.
"Her appearance was, of course, for Bell."
"Bell's birth was always part of Meteria's design. She personally crafted the circumstances of his creation. She also made an agreement with Abel beforehand—the condition was that after Bell achieved her intended purpose, she would resurrect all of you."
"As for why Abel—this was likely predetermined. Without Abel, no amount of manipulation from Meteria could result in the Bell we have now."
"That's why Abel was necessary."
Only after saying this did Zeus look at Abel seriously.
"So that's why you kept silent about everything involving Meteria. That was part of the pact too, wasn't it?"
"And afterward, just to fulfill your contract with Meteria, you never pursued a woman again. You even volunteered for the front lines during the Black Dragon subjugation."
"You were deliberately throwing your life away."
Others might not have known the Black Dragon campaign would end in total annihilation, but Zeus was certain Abel had known long before. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made that pact with Meteria.
Even Zeus had to admit—Abel hid deeply.
And in more ways than one… he truly was similar to Bell.