The morning began like any other.
Aizen stirred awake, a strange heaviness lifting from his chest. Beside him, Lyra slept soundly, her silver hair spilling across the sheets like starlight. The warmth of her presence calmed him, if only for a moment.
By the time they rose, the palace maids were already preparing the day. Two of them gently knocked at the door.
"Lord Aizen, Lady Lyra—breakfast is ready."
The pair joined the others in the grand dining hall. Soon the children trickled in, yawning and rubbing their eyes. The table filled with laughter, stories, and playful chatter. For a short while, the world felt safe. Aizen listened, smiled, and even teased the twins about stealing all the sweets. It was a rare moment of peace, as though destiny itself had paused to let them breathe.
But peace never lasts.
After the meal, Aizen stepped out into the courtyard. The wind was still. The air, heavy. Above, the sky had taken on a strange, violet hue.
"Mark," Aizen called sharply. "Why is the sky… almost purple? The light—it's gone."
Mark's expression darkened. "It's too late. I already contacted the gods, even my lady, about the third appearance of the Destroyer God. Every time she is sealed within the Realm of Reincarnation, her strength grows. This time… she may rival even the Creator God who was once reborn."
Aizen's heart pounded.
Mark continued grimly. "The gods will need ten minutes to descend. But ten minutes may be too long."
All across the world, panic spread. Angels looked up in horror. Vampires halted in fear. Even demons froze in silence.
And then it came.
A piercing roar shook the heavens as a blinding purple light descended from the skies. From its brilliance emerged a colossal dragon, scales shimmering like amethyst fire, wings blotting out the sun.
The Destroyer God had returned.
---
"Aizen!" Lyra's voice rang out as she rushed to his side. "I'll fight with you!" Her eyes burned with courage.
He turned, jaw tight. "No, Lyra. I won't allow the person I love to be used in this battle."
Her fists clenched. "I don't care! Even if you don't want me to—I will fight with you!"
Aizen's heart ached, but before he could answer, the gods finally arrived. Chains of divine light cracked open the sky as their presence pressed upon the battlefield.
And with them came two more titans—Leviatharion the Leviathan, and Naris Nia, the Bakunawa. Both had transformed into their full, monstrous forms, their sanity intact, their power greater than ever. Their very existence shook the earth.
Together, gods and titans prepared to bind the Destroyer God once more.
But then—betrayal.
In a flash of movement, a spear of celestial light pierced through Lyra's chest. Her eyes widened in shock as crimson stained her lips.
"A-Aizen…" Her voice broke as her form began to fade.
"LYRA!" Aizen screamed, rushing forward, arms outstretched—but her body dissolved into shards of light before he could catch her. Only her essence remained… until a single roar from the Destroyer God shattered even that.
Laughter erupted. Twisted, cruel.
"HAHAHAHA! The Creator God has been reborn in another world!" A celestial figure, cloaked in shifting light, sneered. "Now nothing will stop the Dragon God's rise!"
"Loki…!" one of the gods snarled. "You traitor!"
The assembled divinities turned upon him, their fury burning, but the Fourth Strongest Celestial only smiled before vanishing into nothingness.
Olivierr struck, but too late.
Aizen fell to his knees, his vision blurring. His most beloved, gone before his eyes. His roar of despair mingled with the gods' as they summoned chains of eternity to bind the colossal dragon. Leviatharion and Naris Nia rose with thunderous defiance, their forms blotting out the heavens as they prepared to wrestle the Destroyer God into submission.
But in Aizen's heart—only grief remained.
And grief has always been the spark of something greater.
(End of chapter 73)