The rain hadn't stopped. It painted the world in silver streaks as Kaelron and Rio stared at each other in silence, the storm's echo lingering between them.
Kaelron suddenly spoke, his tone sharp.
"Hey Rio… If I kill your grandmother, you won't be against it, right?"
Rio remained calm, not even blinking. His voice was quiet, yet heavy.
"Kaelron, we need to stay calm, dude. We still don't even know what they're talking about," he sighed. "I'm pretty sure my grandmother died a long time ago. But… I still don't understand one thing."
Kaelron narrowed his eyes. "And what's that?"
"I know my brother is special somehow," Rio admitted, tapping his foot. "But I'm pretty sure he's not a recreation of the Supreme GOD. I just… don't feel right. My best friend Rayan is almost dying… and we're talking about demons. How are we even supposed to defeat them?"
Kaelron looked down. His voice softened."Rio, I know what it feels like to lose someone you care about."
A memory flashed in Kaelron's mind.
A younger Kaelron, smiling brightly."Mom…" he whispered.
Back in the present, Kaelron stared at the ceiling, his eyes tinged with sadness.
"Hey Rio," he said quietly, "do you know why my mom died? One of my own family members killed her… for money. I managed to save my father, but…"
He turned to face Rio.
"Luceniel isn't here now. He gave you the responsibility of protecting your family. If you want to save them… you need to take serious steps."
Rio clenched his jaw, his foot tapping harder. A serious expression formed on his face.
"Kaelron," he said at last, "I have a plan. To find out if my grandmother is a demon or not… but I'll need your help."
Kaelron raised an eyebrow. "What's the plan?"
"Tell your people to set my house on fire—on the day I tell you. I'll take my family to the temple that day. If my grandmother really is a demon… she won't come with us."
Kaelron nodded slowly. "I can tell my people to do it… but how will you convince your entire family to go with you? Your parents might, but your uncles, aunts, cousins?"
Rio stood up straight. "You don't have to worry about that. Just do what I say. We'll find the truth."
Thunder cracked loudly outside.
"You should stay here tonight," Kaelron said. "You don't need to go back in this weather."
Rio nodded. After a pause, he asked, "Hey Kaelron… when you met my brother for the first time, how did you feel?"
Kaelron smiled faintly. "When someone told me Elunara had a boyfriend in college, I got so angry I rushed there, ready to kill the guy," he laughed. "But when I talked to Luceniel… I was happy. Happy that Elunara found someone who made her feel safe. Luceniel is capable. He might really be a recreation of a god."
He paused, then looked directly at Rio.
"What do you think I am?"
Kaelron's eyes glowed light blue.
Rio's eyes widened in shock. "Wait… your eyes… when did they change color?"
Kaelron gave a small chuckle."Ha ha ha… Rio, you still have a lot to learn."He placed a hand on Rio's shoulder."Don't worry. I'm not a god or a demon or anything like that. Just follow what I say… and maybe, one day, you'll awaken your power too."
With that, Kaelron walked upstairs to his room.
Rio stood alone in the hallway, staring out the window. Thunder rumbled outside, lightning dancing across the sky.
In Kaelron's room, a woman was sitting on the bed, reading a book.
Kaelron smiled. "Hey Mira, I'm home. What are you reading this time?"
"Ah, Kaelron, you're back," she said, smiling up at him. "How was your day?"
He walked over and hugged her gently in bed. "Sorry I came home late tonight," he whispered sweetly.
Downstairs, Rio sat on the couch, staring at the badge Luceniel had given him. Memories surfaced.
Flashback.His uncle's voice: "We don't accept her—she is a…"
Luceniel shouting: "Don't you dare!"His eyes—burning dark red.
Rio jolted out of the memory and stood up from the couch.
A maid approached and bowed."Sir, please follow me. I'll show you to your room."
She led him down the hallway.
"Dinner is served at 9 PM. Please wash up. We've already prepared some clothes for you."
Meanwhile, in the 7th Heaven…
Kaelion stood outside a breathtaking palace. As the gates opened, countless guards bowed before him.
He entered the throne room. Six gods were already seated. One of them, Lord Devrajya, sat at the center on a divine throne.
"Lord Kaelion," Devrajya said calmly, "why have you come late?"
Kaelion bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Lord Devrajya. My son… went missing. I was worried about him."
"What happened to Viridion?" asked Lord Orienyx. "He's never disappeared like this before. I told you not to force him to stay only in the 6th Heaven. Let him explore more. Let him understand life."
"Yes," Lord Elyndor added. "Viridion has already broken through once. He became a 10th-dimensional being. He could enter the 7th Heaven without your help. He's more capable than you think. Don't waste his potential."
"Thank you, Lords Orienyx and Elyndor," Kaelion said with humility. "I know I shouldn't have restricted Viridion. But… something feels off. The entire galaxy seems unstable."
"You're right," Devrajya agreed. "Lord Elyndor, Lord Vaelus, go to the Supreme Heaven. Ask Goddess Vedanya what's happening."
The two gods bowed.
"But Lord Devrajya," Elyndor said, "Goddess Vedanya is currently in deep meditation. And even if we all wish to go… we can't. Our powers are still weak after the war with the demons. Only you can enter Supreme Heaven now."
"Indeed," Devrajya muttered. "One must reach the 11th Dimension to do so. If no one in our heaven breaks through, we risk losing the Aetherwine."
Suddenly, a terrified servant rushed into the hall and dropped to his knees.
"What is it?" Devrajya asked.
"Lord Devrajya… in the 7th Heaven, we have discovered something…"The servant gulped."The Demon King's son… has become an 11th-dimensional being."
The entire room fell silent. Eyes widened. Mouths fell open in disbelief.
Elsewhere, in a forgotten galaxy…
On a distant, forsaken Earth, deep within the mountains, a titan-like creature with the head of a goat and pitch-black eyes sat alone, surrounded by thousands of ancient books. He wrote in one, his massive fingers scratching across the pages.
Suddenly, he felt something… a presence.
He walked out of his cave and looked up at the stars.
"It's impossible," he whispered. "No living being should exist on this Earth… this galaxy is forbidden to gods and demons alike."
Then he noticed a shift in the stars. A strange pattern. He smiled faintly and whispered again.
"My time… has finally come. I am going to be free from this curse. I only hope… in my next life, I can be a good human."
A dark shadow watched him from afar.
The monster returned to his cave and began writing once more.
"I still remember my human life," he whispered. "My child… I'm sorry. My arrogance gave me knowledge, but I never understood the value of other lives. I destroyed so many… and now, I am all alone. Surrounded by the universe's knowledge… with no one to share it with."
He remembered his final human memory…
"Please forgive me… I'll never do it again."
A figure in white approached—sword in hand, burning with divine fury.
It did not come to forgive.
It came to punish.
A swift strike—and his head fell.
Back in the present, the monster touched his neck, blood still dripping.
"I still don't remember… who put this goat head on me. I've searched for my head, so I could end this life. But I've lost count how many times I've tried. No god… no demon… listens to my prayers anymore."
Suddenly, the cave door creaked open.
A shadowy figure stepped inside.
On his head… was a familiar human head.