With a roar of pure, unrelenting fury, she brought her scythe crashing down onto the Maw. The blade, charged with her godly power, slashed through the rows of teeth as if they were mere stone. The Maw convulsed in agony, its form warping and bending as Arpious continued to hack away at it with savage abandon.

The Nameless Horror, its form existing partially beyond reality, lashed out with its chaotic appendages. Its tendrils phased in and out of existence, attacking from multiple dimensions at once. But Arpious, her senses heightened to a godly level, moved faster than the eye could see. She dodged the attacks with ease, her scythe cutting through the appendages as they appeared in her reality.

The battlefield was now a chaotic display of divine power and cosmic destruction. Arpious tore through the outer gods with a savage grace, each swing of her scythe leaving devastation in its wake. The weaker gods that still remained cowered in the distance, too afraid to approach, while the stronger ones began to falter under her relentless assault.

Though the fight was far from over, it was clear that the tide had shifted in Arpious's favor. Her overwhelming power, her unyielding will, and her savage, predatory nature had turned this cosmic battle into a massacre. The gods, once so sure of their dominance, were now beginning to fear the goddess who stood before them, tearing their very existence apart with each savage strike.

And yet, Arpious's smile only grew wider as she prepared for what would come next.

…

(Back to Earth)

In the serene, tranquil halls of Lucy's castle in Japan, peace had settled like a warm blanket over the trio. The grand castle, perched on a misty hillside overlooking the cherry blossom trees that swayed in the breeze, felt like a refuge from the chaos of the world. The outside world was shifting, but here, in this moment, there was only family.

Inside the dining hall, the early morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a gentle glow over the room. The wooden table was adorned with a simple breakfast spread—steaming rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and fresh vegetables, all carefully prepared by the staff.

Lucy, dressed in a light, flowing robe, sat at the head of the table, her silver hair cascading down her shoulders. Across from her, Mia was leaning back in her chair, her dark hair a little messy from sleep but her eyes soft with contentment. Their daughter, Ada, sat between them, still groggy from the early hour, but her cheeks rosy and bright as she looked between her mothers.

The warmth of family was palpable, and for a brief moment, the weight of their responsibilities seemed distant.

"Eat up, Ada," Lucy said with a soft smile, gently nudging the bowl of rice toward her daughter. "You need to regain your strength after everything."

Ada yawned and nodded, her hand gripping the chopsticks as she slowly picked at the food. "I know, Mom… but I'm still tired."

Mia chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Ada's hair. "That's because you've been worrying too much. No more staying up late trying to figure out what we're up to," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I wasn't that worried," Ada muttered, though her blush betrayed her. "Okay… maybe I was. But I couldn't help it. You two… you're always out there, doing all these dangerous things."

Lucy's smile softened, and she leaned forward, resting her hand gently over Ada's. "That's why we're taking this time with you now. We're here, and we're safe. All of us. We need this break just as much as you do."

Mia nodded in agreement, taking a sip of her tea. "And besides, everything outside is under control. Our underlings have things handled for now. We're not going anywhere this week, promise."

Ada glanced between them, her expression still a bit hesitant. "I just… I couldn't stop thinking about it. What if something happened? What if you didn't come back?"

Lucy and Mia exchanged a glance, and Mia was the one to speak next, her voice gentle but firm. "Nothing is going to happen to us, Ada. We've fought through worse before, and we'll fight through whatever comes next. But for now, we're home. With you. So let's just focus on being here, together, okay?"

Although, the two women both thought to themselves, 'This was definitely the hardest fight we've ever gone through.'

Ada finally smiled, a soft, genuine smile as she nodded. "Okay… I just… I love you both so much."

"We love you too," Lucy said, squeezing her hand. "More than anything."

The three of them continued their meal in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sounds being the soft clink of chopsticks and the rustle of the wind outside the castle. The world might be shifting, and there would be battles ahead, but for now, in the peace of their home, they could simply be a family.

After breakfast, as the plates were cleared and the warmth of their shared meal lingered in the air, Lucy and Mia exchanged a knowing glance. They could sense Ada's lingering worry, even through her smiles, and they knew exactly how to lift her spirits.

"How about we spar a little?" Mia said casually, leaning back in her chair, a playful glint in her eye. "It's been a while since we've had a proper match."

Lucy smirked, her silver eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sounds like a good idea. What do you say, Ada?"

Ada, who had been quietly sipping her tea, nearly choked in surprise. Her eyes widened with joy, the dark clouds of concern from earlier instantly evaporating. "Really? You're gonna spar? Like, right now?"

Lucy chuckled, watching the spark in her daughter's eyes. "Of course. I've already recovered and I don't want to lose my skills. Want to watch?"

Ada shot up from her chair, her excitement palpable. "Watch? I'm not just going to watch, I'm going to cheer you both on!" She practically beamed, her worries forgotten for the moment. Without waiting for a response, she bolted from the dining room, her feet barely touching the ground as she dashed toward the training room.

Mia laughed softly, watching her daughter's eager exit. "I think that worked."

Lucy stood, stretching her arms above her head, the muscles in her body relaxing and shifting, readying for the spar. "She needed it. We all did. It'll be good to just have some fun for a bit."

The two of them made their way to the training room at a leisurely pace, the air between them relaxed and light. When they arrived, they found Ada already waiting, practically bouncing on her toes with excitement. The spacious training room, adorned with various weapons and padded mats, echoed slightly with each step, but Ada's energy filled the room as if it was alive.

"This is going to be amazing!" Ada exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I've missed watching you two spar. It's always so intense!"

Lucy smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm before turning to Mia, the air between them shifting slightly as they prepared for the spar. "Ready?" Lucy asked, her eyes narrowing, the competitive spark returning.

Mia cracked her knuckles and rolled her shoulders, grinning. "Always."

The two women stepped into the center of the training room, the atmosphere shifting with their presence. The floor beneath them was a ring of packed dirt, worn smooth by countless matches over the years. Ada stood off to the side, her hands raised as if she were about to start an official competition, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice almost shaking with excitement. When both Lucy and Mia nodded, Ada smiled and brought her hand down. "Begin!"

Immediately, both women dropped into a fighting stance. Lucy, always the more aggressive in close combat, surged forward with speed that betrayed the relaxed aura she had earlier. Her fists moved like a blur as she threw a rapid one-two punch combination aimed at Mia's midsection.

Mia sidestepped the first punch, her body twisting gracefully as she swayed just out of reach. The second punch grazed her ribs, but she absorbed the impact with a soft grunt, her feet already shifting to counter. Her left arm snapped up to block Lucy's follow-up jab, and with a fluid turn of her body, Mia brought her knee up, aiming it toward Lucy's torso.

Lucy saw it coming. She dropped her hips, swaying just under the arc of Mia's knee, and as Mia's leg came down, Lucy grabbed it, her grip firm and precise. In one swift movement, Lucy twisted, using Mia's momentum to sweep her other leg out from under her. Mia fell backward, but even as she was falling, she reacted, twisting her body midair to land in a controlled roll across the dirt.

Before Mia could fully recover, Lucy closed the distance again. This time, she went lower, attempting to tackle Mia and bring her fully to the ground. Mia planted her feet just in time and pivoted, grabbing Lucy's shoulder with one hand while her other hand locked onto Lucy's wrist. In a swift motion, Mia yanked Lucy toward her, attempting to throw her off balance, but Lucy's footing was solid. She turned the motion into a counter by stepping inside Mia's guard, her elbow slamming into Mia's ribs.

"You're doing pretty good, Mia," Lucy smirked.

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