His eyes glimmered, filled with anticipation rather than arrogance. With his decision made, he summoned the guardian, who was busy creating buildings and various halls on different islands.

"Prepare to depart. Before anything else, we return to the Eastern Continent. It is time I meet my sister."

With that said, he and the guardian left the secret realm after doing what needed to be done on various islands. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the horizon, where the vast, boundless sea stretched endlessly.

They quickly returned to the eastern continent, crossing the boundless sea. And arrived at the Fletcher castle, which was guarded by his people.

True God realm guards, handpicked and stationed by him, patrolled the skies and ground alike, their presence ensuring unshakeable peace and order.

As Apollo approached, the guards immediately recognised their young master. They bowed in unison, their voices echoing with reverence:

"Welcome back, Young Lord!"

They quickly then enter the Fletcher castle and go to the hall, where already his grandpa, parents and eldest sister are waiting for him.

Seated at the head was his grandfather, his expression solemn yet filled with pride. His parents sat nearby, their faces lit with joy at his return. But what truly drew Apollo's gaze was none other than the beautiful lady, his elder sister.

Her aura was unlike anything he had ever encountered before—subtle yet vast, concealed yet unshakably sovereign. It did not roar like a storm nor burn like a flame, but instead pressed down upon the soul like the endless starry sky.

And this time, with his sharpened senses, Apollo was finally able to pierce through the veil of her strength.

His heart gave a subtle tremor.

Peak of the True God Realm.

The realisation struck him harder than any battle. She was not merely strong—her cultivation had already surpassed his own.

What made it even more staggering was the truth behind it: the age difference between them was less than a decade. Yet Astraea had reached a height that countless so-called geniuses across the universe would need thousands, even tens of thousands, of years to even dream of attaining.

And she wasn't an ordinary true god; even he felt a hint of danger from her, meaning she at least had the strength of an eternal god.

For the first time in a long while, Apollo felt a spark of genuine pressure and curiosity about her identity.

Not only that, but the other four beside her weren't weak; three of them had reached the true god realm, and the last one seemed to have reached the eternal god realm.

It was clear the force behind her also wasn't simple, as it can send an eternal god-level person casually.

A faint smile curved Astraea's lips as her gaze met Apollo's. "My little brother… you truly surprise me."

For a brief instant, the calm brilliance in her eyes flickered with shock. She had expected much from Apollo, but even she had not imagined this. The aura he did not bother to conceal surged like a rising tide, causing even her companions—beings accustomed to seeing the heights of heaven and earth—to exchange startled glances.

"This…" murmured one of the True Gods behind her, unable to hide his astonishment. "He's… at this level already?"

The Eternal God at her side remained silent, but the faint tightening of his brows revealed his surprise as well.

Brother and sister, both cloaked in brilliance, now faced each other openly for the first time.

Apollo's lips curved into a faint smile. "Sister, you're also not bad," he said lightly, though his eyes betrayed a spark of genuine admiration. Then, without lingering on the subject of strength, he leaned back slightly, his gaze sharpening as he changed the topic.

"When did you arrive on Rion? And…" his voice lowered, carrying a weight that silenced the hall, "…do you know why Rion has changed so much?"

His words were not casual curiosity. Apollo's instincts told him her sudden return at such a precise moment was no coincidence.

The surge of anomalies across the continent, the shifting of ancient forces, the rise of hidden dangers—all of it felt interconnected. And if anyone could peel back the veil, it was this sister who had always been beyond his understanding.

The atmosphere in the hall thickened. Even their parents and grandfather unconsciously leaned forward, waiting.

All eyes turned to Astraea, the woman cloaked in starlight.

"Hmm." Hearing his words, she seemed to sigh in relief. "It seems you aren't among them." She murmured in a low voice, making others confused, but she continued.

"You misunderstand, all of you. Rion is not changing—"her voice was calm, steady, yet heavy with meaning—"it is merely reverting to its original state."

Gasps rippled through the chamber.

"This is only the beginning. In time, the secret realms will fully merge with Rion, expanding its breadth countless times. And with it, terrifying beings—long sealed away—will awaken. This cycle will not end until everything has returned to its origin."

Her words hung in the air like a prophecy, chilling and profound, leaving even the most seasoned among them at a loss for words.

"How strong Rion was at the beginning, and why haven't I heard about Rion in the universe if it was this strong?" Apollo asked the main question, as he already guessed the first part.

Astraea turned her gaze toward him, her expression soft yet carrying the weight of endless secrets. For a moment, she remained silent, as if thinking how much she should tell.

Finally, she spoke.

"Rion… was once a world that stood at the very peak. In ancient times, countless mighty beings were born here—so many that the very laws of the universe bent around this land. Its strength was not something to be measured by realms or titles—it was a foundation, a root, from which many of the universe's greatest powers once came."

She paused, her lips curving into the faintest, almost bitter smile. "As for why you have not heard of it… That is simple. The universe you see isn't the original universe but a shadow—one of many. What you call 'existence' has already ended nine times before, shattered into nothingness, only to be born anew."

Her gaze deepened, as if she were peering through endless ages. "This… is the tenth new universe, and we called it the tenth epoch."

Her words fell like thunder in the silent hall, leaving a chill in the air.