After a few more questions, Orion returned to his home.

  The long year of opportunity that had opened to everyone rapidly went by.

  Everyone, without exception, trained their hardest, supervised by Orion or someone more experienced.

  An intense regiment that allowed them to bring out the potential that was sleeping inside their soul.

  While unnecessary in normal circumstances, they had to protect themselves.

  But to fight the horrors awaiting them, it had to be done.

  —

  As the dawn of the fateful day greeted Horizon, Orion stepped out of his home with Amelia.

  "Your expression has been stuck on a frown since you woke up. Are you alright?"

  As both stretched their arms to remove the fatigue in their muscles, Amelia couldn't help but ask.

  Taking a few seconds to adjust his posture, Orion stared into the distance.

  "Time is starting to flow back to its original speed."

  "In a few hours, everything will be back to normal."

  Pondering, Amelia brought a finger to her mouth while tilting her head.

  "I never asked because I didn't care, but aren't we aging while we stay in Horizon?"

  With a smile, he turned his head and looked at her.

  "The flow of time works the same for everyone. Immortality is a thing for monsters like me."

  "A monster, you say..."

  While she would rather not admit it, there wasn't much she could say to counter. He was really that monstrously strong.

  Orion's healing abilities worked on a dangerously perfect level, causing his body to forever return to its optimum condition, never aging nor changing.

  This only concerned his physiology. A deadly wound to the heart or the head would still bring him down like any other being.

  "Still, I would rather not live eternity alone. Unless you ask me to let you go, I will freeze your time forever."

  His gaze was lost in her as he spoke, showing the intense love he had for her.

  "I suppose I'll have to thank Tetra for this."

  Smiling lightly, she shrugged and observed Orion finishing his stretching.

  "Well, I can only control the void element, not space and time itself. There is very little matter I can affect with this magic."

  A small light of blinking color, akin to a shooting star, spun around him before disappearing into thin air.

  "You say that, but you have perfect control over it."

  He chuckled.

  "It doesn't mean I can do everything with it. Aren't you the same?"

  Realizing her mistake, she scratched the back of her head.

  "Well, you're the only one who hadn't asked this question. Everyone else knows."

  "I see."

  Nodding, she seemed to care very little about that fact.

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  Suddenly, the door behind them creaked open.

  "Morning."

  One by one, the other residents of the home followed them.

  "Hi, everyone."

  The whole family united on this fateful morning, staring at the rising sun in the distance.

  Staring at the blazing ball of fire, tension built in their minds.

  "So... This is it?"

  May asked while walking next to Amelia.

  "Indeed. Time is returning to its natural flow."

  "What about Nature?"

  "Her presence is stable. Unless something happens to the machine, she should be able to stay."

  Stella answered Nia's inquiry with a firm nod.

  "We had time to analyze that machine completely. Nothing was missed. You can trust our observations."

  Slamming her fist lightly on her chest, she smiled.

  "You've proven time and again how dependable you are. We won't doubt your claims."

  Olivia placed her hand above Stella's head and began patting her. Both were almost the same height, with Stella being taller by a few centimeters.

  "Then, what do we do?"

  As silent as a hunting beast, Senia floated above Orion with a frown. Not even a drop of water fell downward as she used water magic perpetually to stay in motion over the ground.

  "For now, nothing. Amelia and I need to confirm we have what it takes to open the way to their world."

  "We'll need everyone's help and the input of the Remnants to localize the energy source they are most familiar with."

  With great pragmatism, Mia stepped in front of her with her arms crossed.

  "Can you really depend on them to recall something that happened so long ago?"

  Orion smiled and closed his eyes, possessing the perfect answer for this question.

  "Have you forgotten what happened between us in the past?"

  Her right eyebrow twitched, and with a pouting expression, she walked away while grumbling, joining her sister.

  (Damn it... It's obvious I would remember that.)

  Genuinely finding her beautiful even in this bitter state, he followed her figure, only to let his eyes fall on a fairy.

  "Karteira? You're unusually quiet."

  Noticing the tense expression on her face and the slight movement of her scorpion tail, Orion faced her.

  "I'm fine... It's what I would say if it were true."

  "You're nervous?"

  Tetra approached her and leaned forward, making her head pop out past her side.

  "I don't understand how you're not. We're talking about fighting overworldly beings. Am I even ready for that?"

  A drop of sweat fell down her right cheek as she doubted herself.

  "The great Karteira, throwing the towel before it even began."

  "What a tragedy!"

  Amelia and May began to joke along behind Orion. Hearing those words, she came around quicker than both expected.

  "Who are you calling weak?!"

  Stepping forward, she walked around Orion and playfully argued with the two women.

  "That's how she should be."

  Stopping next to Orion's left arm, Tetra softly spoke.

  Taking this chance, she grabbed his arm and hugged it with care, rubbing her cheek on his shoulder.

  "..."

  Orion felt great joy in his heart. Stretching his right arm, he caressed her pink hair with the same care she gave him.

  He noticed the slight trembling of her hands around his arm and took it upon himself to calm her down.

  These moments of affection were given to anyone who needed it, with no one shaming the other for taking a moment with Orion.

  "It feels so much better."

  With a big smile, she released him and took a step back. The trembling had stopped, and her smile was genuine.

  "Deveralna. How was it?"

  Turning to the lamia, Orion's expression became serious.

  "It went fine. I know I haven't been showing my progress for most of the year, but I can assure you I am in peak condition."

  Flexing her arm with Ophion wrapped around it, she smiled.

  Two large white scales covered the back of her hands, which were the crystallization of her constant training.

  He gave her an approving nod and looked her up and down.

  The Queen of the lamias looked as beautiful as ever, gowning the aura of her authority as she stood on her long tail.

  They exchanged a quick smile before Orion looked upward at Senia.

  "What about you?"

  "Me?"

  Pointing at herself, the Lorelei stared baffled.

  "Weren't you training with Amelia and Layla? Have you found the answer you were looking for?"

  Swimming downward, she moved in front of Orion gracefully. Her gorgeous figure, capable of ensnaring any man who gave her a glance, lightly moved around him.

  "I want to keep it a secret, but... Yes. I've mastered this element."

  Again, Orion nodded.

  "While I have been focused on my training and helping the maids and Amelia, I failed to take time and see your progress."

  Olivia, her hands behind her back, stepped carefully but gracefully past him, next to Senia.

  "He avoided being nosy. If he wanted to, he could have watched over us even while training."

  "..."

  Lifting his face upward, he averted his gaze. He took a deep breath and kept the air packed inside his lungs until everyone laughed at his reaction.

  "I... didn't want to spoil the result of your progress."

  Lowering his face, he stared at Olivia.

  "You all promised me..."

  His gaze fell on everyone, even those behind him.

  "That you would show me your strength at the right time. What better time than the war against the 'Devourers of Purity' for that?"

  As if united by the same power, they all nodded with a serious frown.

  "My trust in you is unbreakable. I'm impatient to see what you've been going through this past year."

  Orion faced forward, staring into the distance.

  Closing his eyes, he felt the energy of the planet slowly feed Triazils once again.

  "Orion."

  Feeling a faint tug on his sleeve, he turned around and faced his daughter.

  "What is it, Stella?"

  "How do I say this?"

  Having lost her word now that she was facing him, she frantically eyed the ground before taking the first step.

  "H-Here."

  Pulling out a large item from behind her back, she presented it to Orion with both hands stretched out toward him.

  "!"

  A gleaming light traveled through his pupils at the sight of the object.

  It was a precious partner to him, which had followed him in his youth until the day he awakened the lost elements.

  Orion's physical crossbow, the one that killed his first corrupt beast and witnessed the blazing inferno that started this entire tale, reflected in his eyes.

  "It's... different."

  Placing his left hand on the weapon, he could notice the various parts that were changed.

  Even as a modern and advanced weapon, he could recognize the item with perfection. The weapon itself seemed to murmur something to him.

  As he picked it up, his fingers gently touched the five encrusted jewels on the foregrip.

  Four were on the left side, while the remaining one delicately rested on the opposite side.

  'It's a perfect match with my fingers.'

  With one light press of his fourth finger, he pushed the blue crystal, which clicked from the pressure.

  "..."

  Turning blue, the crossbow felt overwhelmingly wet. As a damp texture covered his hands, it stabilized and turned into a full-fledged weapon.

  "Is that... Celeano?"

  Surprised, Orion couldn't contain the smile on his face.

  "Everyone helped to create the most perfect crystals possible. We've decided to gift you this as our way to thank you."

  An overwhelming feeling of gratitude flowed inside Orion as he released the pressure on the crystallized button.

  Reverting to its normal state, the crossbow returned to its dormant state.

  Orion faced Amelia and, carefully, gave her the crossbow.

  With lightning-fast movements, Orion's arms wrapped around his daughter and pulled her closer to his chest.

  "Thank you..."

  A single tear of happiness and appreciation trickled down the corner of his right eye.

  To him, this was more than a gift. It was everything.

  As he straightened, he kept his hands on the abashed Stella and looked at his wives.

  "I received your gift. I will bring victory, not through my own power, but with everyone's combined."

  With a stronger resolve than ever, Orion's eyes drifted toward his crossbow.

  'Welcome back, partner.'