Ash and golden light lingered in the air as silence fell across the ruins of Olympus.
The gods—once symbols of power and cruelty—rose slowly to their feet, breathless, confused, alive… and changed.
Their divinity pulsed beneath their skin, yet something within them felt different. The distance they had once felt from mortals—gone.
And then—
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO US?!"
Zeus's thunderous voice cracked through the silence as he staggered toward Megumi, raw emotion burning in his immortal eyes. "We're… different. I feel things—guilt, fear, pain. I remember what I did. I regret it!"
Megumi, bruised and finally weary, turned to face him, wings folding back into his body. The crimson lightning around his aura had faded. He looked… calm.
"You're still gods. Still titans," Megumi said, his voice no longer divine but human. "You have all your strength, your gifts, your immortality. But now—" he placed a hand over his heart "—I gave you what mortals have… the capacity to feel."
Zeus stumbled back a step, overwhelmed.
Then, Cronos—stoic and regal—stood among the broken pillars and slowly walked forward. He stopped in front of Megumi and did something that once would've been unthinkable.
He knelt.
His golden eyes looked up with a glimmer of peace. "Thank you," Cronos said sincerely, the words heavy with centuries of pride and pain. "You could have destroyed us, left us dead and forgotten. But you didn't. You gave us… new life."
The gods watched, wide-eyed and silent.
Cronos continued, "From this moment on, Olympus will no longer interfere in mortal affairs. You will not be hunted, Megumi Valentine. We will let you live—and love—in peace."
Megumi closed his eyes. A soft smile formed on his lips.
"That's all I ever wanted," he said quietly. "I didn't want your thrones. I never wanted to rule Olympus. I just wanted you all to care. About us. About mortals."
He looked at the shattered court of gods.
"And now… you finally do."
Just then, Ava stepped beside him, her hand in his. Her voice was gentle, like wind brushing through clouds.
"Someone's waiting for you, Megumi," she said. "Leonidas, Nyx, Medusa… they're all waiting."
Megumi turned to her and nodded. His halo disappeared. His body no longer shone with godlike fury.
The magic of the River Styx had worn off.
And he was still standing.
SIX MONTHS LATER…
The sun rose over a quiet valley where gods once waged war.
At a peaceful cottage nestled on the cliffs near the edge of the mortal realm, laughter echoed like music.
Inside, Leonidas and Medusa sat by the fire, Nyx polishing her blade in silence—still deadly, still loyal, but softer now.
Megumi walked into the room with Ava in his arms.
She held a tiny, swaddled infant, her dark hair soft as silk, her little eyes closed and content.
Megumi looked down at her with awe.
Ava smiled and whispered, "She has your eyes…"
"What should we name her?" she asked, brushing a kiss on the baby's head.
Megumi looked up, eyes damp but proud.
"How about…"
He took a deep breath.
"…Chloe Valentine."
Everyone smiled. Even Nyx.
Even Medusa.
Leonidas placed a hand on Megumi's shoulder, nodding with approval.
In that moment, there were no gods. No thrones. No wars.
Just peace.
And a new beginning.
End of volume 3