CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 257 - “HE’S FINALLY ADOPTED SOMEONE.”

Divinity.

It was something only gods could sense.

Omni, the god-slaying sword, was an exception.

Raven was aware of this, so the moment he knew that they had to enter the ruins no matter what, he contacted Smoke_Trader on the trade channel and bought some divinity bombs.

They were no different from mana bombs, but since they blasted into an explosion of divinity, which is a higher power source than mana, no being that used mana could survive its blast.

Of course, only those who are touched by the bomb at the third blink would experience the burn of divinity.

Still, Raven had feared that the entity they were facing could be a god, and if it were, then it would be able to sense the divinity bombs.

But when he heard that she had kept him in the cave because he was too strong for the first level of the trial, while leaving Graye to take the trial, Raven had realized something.

This being couldn’t sense anything related to divinity.

Because if she could, then there was no way she would’ve let Graye take the trial.

After all, in a way, Graye was the strongest in their group.

Now, the monstrous creature she was fighting crashed into the maze’s wall, its limbs twitching erratically before falling limp.

A scorched line of violet fire trailed behind it—Graye’s blade now glowing hotter than ever.

Graye stood amidst the rising dust, panting softly. Her purple hair fluttered with the heat waves rising from her sword.

"So long," she huffed at the creature as it disintegrated into particles.

Then, she smirked, lifting her sword to her shoulder. "It would’ve been faster if I didn’t have to grow into it. Literally."

Her power—her terrifying, beautiful power—was the ability to evolve during battle.

Every strike she endured and every motion she learned made her faster and stronger.

After ten straight minutes of trading blows with the cavern beast, she had finally caught up.

The ability that made it possible was the divine tale she had.

However, it couldn’t be sensed by the entity that ruled over this ruin.

So, as that scene played out on the screen before Raven, silence fell in the cavern.

Even the cracked stones seemed to hold their breath.

Then, the voice echoed, disembodied and laced with surprise.

"...Impossible. That... creature was supposed to be her nemesis. What... happened? How did she win?"

"Dunno," Raven shrugged. "She was built like that."

Then, before the voice could ask anything else, Raven stepped forward from the shadows, brushing ash off his shoulder.

His golden eyes narrowed toward the void from which the voice came.

"Let’s not talk about what has already happened," he said coolly. "Do you remember your promise?"

A pause.

Silence thicker than smoke.

"...So it has come to this." The voice exhaled, more amused than defeated.

"You said if all my teammates passed the first trial," Raven continued, "you’d let us meet the little princess."

For a few moments, nothing happened.

Then, as if the cavern itself sighed in resignation, a ripple formed in the air—magic bending space with divine precision.

A small girl appeared midair, seemingly unconscious, her petite form drifting like a feather.

She hovered above the stone floor—too high for a child to land safely.

But Raven was already moving.

In a blur of dark afterimages and a rush of wind, he whooshed below her, arms outstretched.

He caught the girl softly, cradling her against his chest as he landed gracefully, knees bent to absorb the impact.

He looked up sharply. "Couldn’t you have... lowered her down gently?"

The voice replied, completely unapologetic.

"I knew you’d catch her."

Raven grumbled. "Still. She’s a kid, not a loot drop."

The girl stirred.

Raven looked down just in time to see her blink open her eyes—wide, glowing pink irises that sparkled like spring dew.

She gazed at him in sleepy wonder, her arms gently curled against his chest.

"...Mister Angel?" She whispered.

Raven froze.

His lips parted slightly before he let out a small, surprised chuckle. "Wow. That’s a new one."

She reached up, booping his nose with a tiny finger. "You feel warm... like a hug."

He softened, sitting down on a nearby rock chair that shaped itself from the floor at his command. Still holding her, he let her settle comfortably onto his lap.

"Well," he smiled, "I do have a five-star rating in lap comfort. Nibbles confirmed it with a sign."

At the mention of the name, Myria tilted her head. "Nibbles?"

Raven leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was revealing a big secret. "He’s a telekinetic squirrel general with anger issues and a tiny helmet. Don’t worry—he only yells at adults."

Myria giggled.

"I also have a chicken that talks in third person," Raven added proudly. "He says things like ’Cluckles acknowledges the fluffiness of your hair.’"

More giggles.

"Do you like silly stories?" He asked.

The princess nodded, pink hair bouncing.

’She looks like mini Lia,’ he chuckled inwardly.

"Well, once upon a time," Raven began, "there was a magical sword that wouldn’t stop singing opera every time it was unsheathed."

"You’re lying," she grinned.

"Am I?" He gasped theatrically. "Then why do I hear ’LAAAAA—’ every time I pull out Omni?"

"Who’s Omni now?" Myria raised a curious brow.

"Well, he’s a sword who thinks that he’s a gangster," Raven hummed.

Myria squinted at Raven. "I’m not an eight-year-old, you know?"

"Damn, you are so little that I thought you were eight," Raven pretended to be surprised.

The little princess puffed her cheek in mock anger, punching Raven with her soft fists, nearly slipping off his lap, but Raven held her steady, chuckling at her antics.

’She sure is her sister,’ he mused.

Both of them smiled, and for a while, there was a calm silence in the cave.

"So, are you really an angel?" Myria finally asked.

Raven shook his head, but before he could reply—

WHOOSH!

In flashes of light, the rest of the group appeared, scattered across the corners of the vast cavern.

Selena blinked as her surroundings disappeared and a new scenery came into view.

Clara spun to check for danger.

Jessy unsheathed half her sword out of reflex. Graye landed beside Rufus, brushing dust off herself.

Alex stepped forward with a confused look. "Where the hell are we now—?"

Even Nibbles was confused.

But then, they paused.

Their eyes slowly turned toward the center of the room.

Where Raven sat comfortably on a conjured stone throne, legs crossed, a pink-haired girl resting peacefully on his lap—both of them giggling.

"Oh my god," Jessy muttered. "He’s finally adopted someone."

Clara blinked. "Is that... the Princess of the Hector Kingdom?"

Graye raised an eyebrow. "Is she calling him Mister Angel?"

Alex looked between the group and the throne. "I mean... she’s not wrong."

Selena, however, didn’t say anything. She just smiled softly, walking up and sitting beside the throne as if she belonged there. Myria instinctively leaned toward her, peeking curiously.

Rufus elbowed Jake. "I think we missed something important."

Soon, everyone turned toward Lia, who stood frozen in her spot.

Her leafy disguise was long gone, so one could see her expression—filled with relief, joy, shock, and some other emotions—as her breath was caught in her throat.

The small pink-haired girl was no illusion—those bright eyes, that soft round face—it was really her.

Myria.

The moment their eyes met, the air shifted.

"Big sis?" The little princess whispered, stepping off Raven’s lap.

"Myria!" Lia gasped.

In an instant, both sisters were running—one covered head-to-toe in enchanted foliage, the other barefoot with tears in her eyes.

They collided halfway, arms wrapping around each other like vines on stone.

"I-I thought—" Lia stammered, falling to her knees to hold Myria tighter, "—I thought maybe they... maybe I was too late—!"

"I knew you were alive," Myria sobbed softly, her little fists grabbing Lia’s dress. "I knew you’d come! You always do!"

Lia laughed, choking on tears as she brushed Myria’s hair from her face. "You’ve grown so much, I almost didn’t recognize you..."

"You dumbo. It’s not even been a year since we last met," Myria muttered with a wobbly smile.

"Hey!" Lia pulled back with a mock glare.

The group watched quietly from the background, warmth blooming even in the cold stone cavern.

Jessy wiped at her eye. "Damn dust..."

Alex sniffled beside her. "Yeah. Dust."

Selena and Clara stood on either side of Raven, each holding one of his hands gently. Raven just exhaled slowly, watching the sisters with a soft smile that was rare for him.

But then—

BOOM.

A low hum rolled through the cavern.

The voice returned, now cold and distant.

"The reunion is over. The next trial begins now."

The stone beneath their feet began to shift.

Myria’s arms clung tighter to Lia.

The calm was now gone.