Three days later....
The winds of Nyramith Island whispered through the the colossal obelisk at the island's southern area.
All ten of the Sentina Erideae, plus Phaenora, Asenane, Shimmer, and Runner, stood in a loose circle around the towering black obelisk, the exact spot where, nearly a year ago, they had stood as mere Divines about to take on the First Sacred Trial. Vastarael stood slightly apart from the group as he watched the others talk, laugh, and banter. It felt like the end of a season. Something was shifting. They were all heading to different directions not away from each other, just toward the next arc in their stories.
He had already told them everything.
The Dynasty Meeting was set. In a few weeks, they would all regroup at the Richinaria Palace. For now, each one was to return to their Dynasty, prepare for what was to come and reflect on what they were becoming. The first to speak was Peroncerea. She leaned against Eldrigan's shoulder with a coy grin.
"Guess it's time for me to prepare chaos down in Wisterix. I have to remind the Demon Council I don't need their approval to breathe."
She turned to Eldrigan, who quirked an amused brow. Without warning, she tugged his collar and kissed him. It was not a soft goodbye kiss but a demonic, darkly flirtatious one that made Shimmer let out a half-horrified whistle.
"Blegh," Runner groaned. "Do you two not have a private setting?"
"I'm a succubus. I am the private setting."
"Gods help us," Elyonari muttered, smiling.
Peroncerea gave the group a small two-fingered wave.
"Nyramith."
In a flash of crimson, she vanished, teleporting straight to Hell. Eldrigan exhaled dramatically as he turned toward the group
"Well, she always did know how to make a dramatic exit. When we meet again, just don't act too surprised when my Eldritch bride joins us. She's polite, I swear. Mostly."
Farrynelle squinted. "Wait, another woman? I thought you and Succubus Duchess over there had a thing?"
"My love life defies conventional taxonomy."
"You defy basic logic, Eldritch Man," Xander replied with a smirk.
With that, Eldrigan offered a lazy wave and looked away.
"Nyramith."
He was gone, leaving behind a faint trace of darkness that made the air feel a touch colder.
"Alright, angels, you're up," Xander grinned at Natalis and Denisia.
Denisia rolled her eyes. "Try not to cry."
"I'm emotionally evolved," Xander said, placing a hand to his chest. "I only cry when Farrynelle abuses me."
Natalis laughed lightly.
"Well, you all better prepare yourselves. We'll be glowing at the Dynasty Meeting. Don't be surprised if the clouds part just to show off our entrance."
They both turned in sync and spoke the word.
"Nyramith."
A golden radiance engulfed them and they vanished in streaks of divine white and feathers.
"Okay, can I just say everyone's teleportation looks so cool," Shimmer pouted, arms crossed. "Dad, ours better not be lame."
"It's not lame. Teleportation works on the race and Dynasty."
"Sister, what even does that mean—"
Before another sibling squabble could start, Farrynelle crossed her arms and gave Vastarael a long, assessing look.
"So you're really going through with this. Dynasty Meeting and god-slaying business. All of it."
"I am."
"Good. We didn't get all badass just to relax while some Mopherian psychos erase our home world."
Xander clapped him on the back hard enough to make Shimmer wince on his behalf.
"Just don't forget to breathe. You're doing good, but don't go exhausting yourself."
"I'll try."
Xander grinned, then lifted two fingers in mock salute. "Nyramith."
"See ya," Farrynelle added as they vanished, electricity crackling around them. And just like that, silence returned to the obelisk.
Only Vastarael, Adelasta, Phaenora, Narisva, Elyonari, Asenane, and the sisters remained.
Vastarael glanced at Elyonari and Narisva. He tilted his head.
"You two heading back to your Dynasties?"
Elyonari exhaled softly, her serene expression dimmed by fatigue.
"No. Mintherenia will inform my brother of the Dynasty Meeting. I'd rather not carry the message myself. Not this time."
Narisva scoffed, her arms crossed.
"Went yesterday. Told my brother and left. Politics is not my department."
Vastarael chuckled under his breath.
"In that case, we will be heading back to Richinaria Palace. I've got a pile of work waiting. Knowing my siblings, they've been saving the worst parts for me."
Adelasta, who had been silent until then, nodded.
"I'll help."
Elyonari smiled softly. "I'll help too. I was raised in a Dynasty. I can navigate palace nonsense."
Asenane's fingers flexed in a loose rhythm.
"I'll find a way."
Vastarael smiled genuinely at them all as he raised his hand.
"Thanks. Alright then, Nyramith."
In an instant, the air shimmered, fracturing like glass. Their bodies dissolved into golden particles, scattering like dust. And just like that, they were gone. Only the wind remained. And Sireth.
The Seventh Hydrangea stood alone. He looked down at his trembling hand, then coughed. Blood touched his palm. Eldrigan's strike had gone deeper than he admitted. Divine blood leaked slowly, staining the edges of his sash. The shame stung more than the wound.
"They're advancing… too fast."
Behind him, a figure emerged from the haze.
Annierouge Plenituse, the First Hydrangea, stepped forward. Her gaze fell upon the towering obelisk that still pulsed with faint resonance. She didn't look at Sireth when she spoke.
"Sentina Erideae already has two in the Third Enlightenment. The rest are already over seventy-five percent into the Second. Give it a little time. By the next convening, they'll all cross over."
Sireth grit his teeth. "They've surpassed projections."
Annierouge finally looked at him.
"They've surpassed design. The Divine System was meant to contain but they weren't shaped by it. They're bending it to them."
Sireth straightened despite the pain.
"Then why haven't the Aquatic Goddesses acted? This much deviation should have drawn their hand."
"They can't interfere."
His eyes widened slightly.
"They've all been chosen by the Primordials themselves. Whatever path they take, the ocean must watch in silence."
And for the first time in an age, the unshakable First Hydrangea looked uncertain.
"They really are the ones the prophecy spoke about. They're the Third Generation Divines who will change the balance of all realms."
She closed her eyes.
"I should really be on their good graces by the time they reach their mark onto the world. For now, we should focus on trying to unite the ocean once more before the Mopherian Pantheon decides to destroy us."
"Agreed."
°°°°
{And done!}
{Part One of Volume Four, The First Sacred Trial Arc is finally over. With more than 100 plus chapters for part one, I am officially bummed by this and will be taking a month hiatus.}
{In the meantime, I will be focusing on my new novel, Masquerade of Dreams: Shattered. The second part of the Divine Enlightenment Arc will be released on January 5th, 2026. So, if you're too bored to wait, you can read my new other novel if you want. See you soon!}
{"May you find your way to the embrace of Naranq."}