40 years after the confrontation. 

(Goddess Aselia’s Pov) 

The winds howl over the endless expanse of the celestial battlefield, where stars flicker in the distance like dying embers and the sky bleeds twilight hues. I’m clad in golden armor that shimmers with divine energy, as I stand atop a jagged cliff overlooking the war-torn landscape of Aetheris, the sacred center realm of the gods. My sapphire eyes reflect the carnage below—my troops, loyal to my rebellion, fighting valiantly against the seemingly endless waves of Idon’s forces.

“Your Majesty,” comes the voice of Melena, my top general, stepping forward from the shadows. Her silver hair gleams brilliantly, and her ruby-red eyes are focused with steely determination. “Our forces are being pushed back. The five generals of Idon are leading the charge themselves. We won’t hold much longer.” 

My heart clenches, but my face remains impassive. I cannot afford to show weakness now. Not to my soldiers, not to my enemies, and especially not to myself. “We knew this would come,” I say quietly. My voice, though soft, carries the weight of the heavens. 

“Idon’s greed has poisoned this realm for too long. If we don't stop him now, every realm will falter completely."  

Melena nods but hesitates. “Your Majesty, will the plan work? Are you certain of this?” 

I raise a hand to silence her. “It has to. I have no other choice, Melena. If I fall, Idon will crush all resistance. This is the only way.” 

Her eyes darken with worry, as if I’ve just sentenced myself to death, but she doesn’t argue. I’ve always been firm in my decisions, yet today, the weight of those decisions feels heavier than ever. 

I turn to survey the battlefield once more. In the distance looms a massive golden fortress—Idon’s heart of power and a dark shadow on the horizon. His generals are brutal, ruthless, and efficient. The five of them—a deadly mix of raw power, cunning, and unwavering loyalty to their king—cut through my forces with terrifying ease. I sense their movements like pulses in the ether, their devastation visible even without seeing it. 

“It’s only a matter of time before they reach us,” I whisper. 

A thunderous explosion shakes the ground as another wave of Idon’s soldiers surges forward. Columns of celestial light and fire erupt across the battlefield as my soldiers fight valiantly to hold their ground. But I know it won’t be enough. Even now, as I stand at the front lines, my mind is elsewhere—on the final act I must take to preserve what little hope remains. 

“The chamber is ready, Your Majesty,” Melena says, her voice tense. 

I nod. “Prepare the others for retreat. I will meet you at the Sanctuary.” 

Melena salutes, bowing deeply in respect before vanishing into the shadows, her presence as silent as a whisper. I take a deep breath and steel myself. The time has come. The plan was set in motion long ago, when I first realized that my husband, Idon, had fallen too far into his thirst for absolute power. Once, we ruled Aetheris together in harmony, but that harmony has shattered, and now I must break the universe further to save it. 

As I descend from the cliff, my aura radiates outward, lighting the path ahead. My soldiers—those still fighting—turn to me, their faces alight with hope, desperation, and awe. I am their queen, their goddess of creation, and I will not let them fall without a fight. 

With swift movements, I raise my hand, and the ground trembles beneath me. A wall of shimmering golden light rises from the earth, forming a barrier between my forces and the advancing troops of Idon. It will hold them off for a while, but not long enough. I need to hurry. 

As I make my way to the secluded chamber deep within the heart of our hidden sanctuary, my thoughts drift back to Idon. How did it come to this? How had the love we once shared turned into a war of gods and blood? He was once a ruler of balance and wisdom, but his hunger for control has twisted him into something monstrous. His lust for power has torn our world apart. 

But now isn’t the time for regret. 

I enter the chamber, its walls glowing faintly with the remnants of ancient magic. The air is thick with the hum of divine energy, pulsing like the heartbeat of the world itself. Three altars stand in the center of the room, each marked with intricate runes that shimmer in anticipation. The ritual awaits. 

My generals—Melena, Avion, and Asmos—stand around the chamber, each silently acknowledging my arrival. I see the strain in their eyes, the battle wearing on their spirits, but they remain ready, loyal to the end.