A grand feast was being prepared to celebrate the awakening of the Chaos Heir.

Since no one had known when Hades would awaken, they hadn't dared to plan anything beforehand—but now, the entire castle was alive with excitement and movement.

Kaelith was grinning from ear to ear as she made her way to the kitchen, eager to cook her son's favorite meal herself.

Averis was there too, helping with the preparations. Like everyone else in Aethernox, she couldn't hide her smile.

It was a rare and joyous day for them all.

Meanwhile, Hades walked toward his chambers with Luna and Peri at his side.

"How's Marilyn doing?" Luna asked, realizing she hadn't seen the girl since earlier.

Hades gave a wry smile. "She'll need a few days to recover."

She had been utterly exhausted after… countless sessions of supporting him—day and night.

Not to mention, she was still adapting to the new traits she had gained from him, and her body had yet to fully synchronize with the mating mark.

Luna and Peri could only silently thank that girl for being there when no one else could.

It had been the first time Hades suffered such unbearable pain—and Luna had been completely powerless to help.

She could still recall how she sat helplessly away from him, restless for an entire day, until the faint warmth of their bond finally told her that he was recovering.

So yes—it was thanks to Marilyn that Hades now stood beside them, alive, strong, and smiling once again.

As they entered the room, Hades said, "Give me a few minutes. I'll take a bath."

Luna smiled softly. "Want me to help you?"

Hades chuckled. "As much as I'd love that, I can't. Mother and the others are waiting—we shouldn't take too long."

Luna's cheeks turned pink as she caught his meaning.

Hades leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But tonight… we won't have any rush. We can take our time—to make up for everything we missed."

This time, even Peri blushed as Hades turned and disappeared into the bathroom.

Peri and Luna both stood staring at the bathroom door when the elf muttered, "Is it just me, or has he… gotten bigger?"

Luna hummed softly. "Yes…in more than one way."

Peri shot her a sharp look. "Where exactly were you looking, you shameless Saintess?"

Luna only giggled, walking toward the cupboard. "Well, you heard him. He didn't look tired at all, so I'm guessing he'll be in high spirits tonight."

Peri snorted. "You make it sound like you wouldn't run into his arms tonight,

if he had been tired."

Luna arched an eyebrow. "And you wouldn't?"

Peri grunted and turned away, pretending to be busy.

Luna chuckled, taking out a fresh set of clothes for Hades while Peri fetched a few towels.

A voice called from the bathroom, "Can I get a towel?"

Peri quickly went over and handed it to him through the door.

Moments later, Hades stepped out. A towel was wrapped around his waist, and faint trails of steam still clung to his skin.

Both women froze for a second.

Water trickled down his crimson hair and along the sharp lines of his face before sliding over his neck and shoulders. His chest and arms were sculpted like marble—each movement subtle yet heavy with power.

The dragon mark on his left chest glowed faintly beneath the soft light, blending with the faded scars that crossed his body—scars that didn't mar his beauty but made him look even more formidable.

There was something untamed about him, a quiet intensity in the way he moved—commanding, calm, and effortlessly magnetic.

Both women could only stare, their hearts caught between admiration and awe.

Why did he have to look that good?

Hades grinned as he stepped forward and pulled both his wives into his arms.

The warmth of his skin pressed against theirs made them shiver, their hearts racing as his scent—faintly smoky and familiar—filled the air.

In his embrace, they seemed so small.

His arms tightened around their slender waists as he murmured, "Maybe a little delay won't hurt after all."

Peri's cheeks flushed crimson; she could feel exactly what Hades was feeling—and denying that she wanted the same would've been a lie.

Luna, meanwhile, could only stare up at him, completely captivated.

But before Hades could move, a knock echoed at the door.

"Hades? How long?" came a gentle, teasing voice—it was his mother.

Hades exhaled, half in frustration, half in amusement. "Just a minute, Mother."

Kaelith's voice followed, lilting with humor. "There's someone who wants to meet you. Don't make them wait~"

Hades tilted his head, puzzled. "Someone who wants to meet me?" he muttered.

Luna, regaining her composure, stepped forward and handed him his outfit. "Here—wear this."

Hades arched an eyebrow. "A bit too formal, isn't it?"

Luna giggled softly. "Once in a while, it's not bad to look a little elegant. And besides… I'm sure you'll look amazing in it."

Hades sighed but nodded, taking the clothes from her.

Peri slipped away to bathe, leaving Hades to dress. She was too dirty after the training.

He put on the suit—a rich red-wine shade, the blazer tailored perfectly to his build, with matching pants and a black shirt beneath. He left the top two buttons undone, giving a glimpse of his collarbone and the faint mark of his dragon sigil.

Running a hand through his hair, he left it slightly tousled.

Luna couldn't help but smile. "As I thought… You look handsome."

And she was right—he looked devastatingly so. The deep colors only emphasized his sharp features and regal presence, making him appear every bit the ruler he was born to be.

Hades smiled fondly at her. "Well, thanks for choosing this for me… though it's a bit stuffy." He flexed his shoulders, realizing he couldn't even move his arms properly. Fighting in this outfit was out of the question.

For a warrior, it was far from comfortable. But—

"Just for today. Please?" Luna's voice was soft, her eyes glimmering with quiet expectation.

Hades exhaled through his nose, giving a small nod. "So… are you coming along, or—"

Luna raised her arms helplessly, showing her dirt-stained clothes and the faint marks along her arms and face. "Do you really think I look even remotely presentable?"

Hades blinked and, without a hint of hesitation, replied, "But you look beautiful to me."

Luna's lips curved and a faint blush colored her cheeks. "Stop flirting and go see who's waiting for you."

Hades chuckled under his breath, leaned forward, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before heading out.

A quiet Luna stood there for a moment, her heart fluttering. A soft sigh escaped her lips, yet the smile never faded.

God… I love him so soooo much.

....

Hades stepped out of the room and walked leisurely toward the base floor, his hands tucked into his pockets.

'So?' he asked the beast within. 'What do you say? How strong am I now?'

[Hmm~ You did defeat a Duke-ranked back in the forest, but that was a young one. To truly know your strength, you'll need to take on a veteran warrior.]

Hades smiled wryly. 'You can never be satisfied with me, can you?'

[I will be—when you stand at the very peak of mortality. The seat where I once sat. Only then will I stop nagging you.]

Hades let out a dry laugh. 'Won't that take… a long time?'

[What's the rush?]

Hades exhaled softly, his expression darkening. He was patient by nature—but his enemies weren't. Somewhere out there, they were already plotting how to strike Aethernox and erase his name from existence.

That's why he couldn't stop. He had to keep growing—stronger, and more cunning—with each passing day.

Not just for himself, but for those he loved.

Suddenly, Hades remembered something and asked, 'System? How does my stats look now?'

{Ding!}

{The host has now entered the Beginner phase of his first core.}

{Now, the system would track the progress host makes with every battle, every experience.}

{Based on those experiences, the host would gain better control over his spells and techniques.}

{The system would help the Host to learn better about his skills and techniques by listing them here and suggesting ways to improve them.}

Hades hummed, this was new.

He asked, 'And what new skill have I unlocked?'

{Ding!}

{One of the primary skills associated with Host's first Core:

Reversal: This ability allows the user to invert or rewrite the natural flow of phenomena — not just time, but the very logic that defines cause and effect, existence and negation. It's an advanced form of chaos manipulation that touches the boundary between creation and nullification.}

Hades paused…doesn't that sound a bit too overpowered?

He read it twice before asking, 'System..are you sure I can do this?'

{This is just the beginning, Host. That's the first primary skill of your first core. There are more to come~}

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.