While all of the fighting was happening, I was busy navigating Ruth’s mind. I entered her consciousness, just like I did with Komraad before, in hopes that I could reach the human host Ruth was possessing in time and save her.

 

Fortunately, I managed to find it, but before I could even communicate and lend a helping hand, my consciousness was forcefully kicked out of her mind. I was clueless as to why.

 

The moment my mind returned inside my body, exactly ten minutes had passed. When I regained awareness, the solar eclipse had finally begun, shrouding the entire clear sky in darkness.

 

Seeing the solar eclipse immediately sparked worry. The terrifying vision I had seen through Raya was starting to unfold. I didn't know if our actions, stopping the invading demons from reaching the titans and defeating the demon generals, had changed the awful future regarding the great catastrophe, but I knew we would eventually find the answer.

 

I was clueless about what happened while I was inside Ruth's mind, but thankfully, Zayke witnessed everything that unfolded and relayed the information. He said the solar eclipse happened seconds after I woke up, and immediately after, Ruth's body was engulfed in a thick, dark mist. When the mist dispersed, her body was gone. My guess was that she was teleported by Saro’s curse technique, just like the other defeated demon generals.

 

“I see… that’s probably the reason why my consciousness got kicked out from Ruth’s mind,” I deduced.

 

Zayke also added that after Ruth’s body was teleported, the enormous demon portal above the sky disappeared as well, which was obvious since the energy source was inside her. The other portals that appeared in the Great Races’ kingdoms and cities disappeared too.

 

Those were the only things I missed out on while I was inside Ruth’s mind.

 

Our allies gathered together to rest and tend to the wounded after defeating all the remaining demons. Lou, who was leading the Featherlight army, approached me with a huge smile. “We did it, Ms. Ina! We managed to stop the demons from reaching the titans! The great catastrophe you saw won’t be happening anymore.”

 

Our allies were jumping in joy and celebrating, believing we were completely victorious. I was the only one who wasn’t celebrating. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something critical.

 

I was praying and hoping that nothing bad would happen anymore, but I guess that was just too good to be true.

 

Everyone’s celebration halted when, suddenly, a mysterious voice entered our heads.

 

“What a spectacular show! It was quite entertaining, and it was exhilarating to watch your efforts and struggles… I sure hope my demons and generals gave you all a good time,” the mysterious voice said.

 

“Ms. Ina, did you hear that?” Zayke asked, his face pale.

 

“Y-yeah, loud and clear,” I responded.

 

The voice was being transmitted telepathically. It could be heard not just by me and all our Featherlight allies, but by all the other Great Races as well. It was easy to guess that the voice belonged to the mastermind behind all the chaos, the boss the demon generals had referred to.

 

“E-ehem… I wish I could say more, but I must bid my farewell for now. You see, I have this great plan that will only work during the solar eclipse so… Toodealoo!” The mysterious voice added.

 

I was confused about what plan she was referring to, but that confusion was immediately answered by a horrible sight that followed her words. It had been so long, but once again, my cat instincts were on high alert.

 

Out of nowhere, the life force of all the defeated demons, including our fallen allies, began gathering above the sky, forming a thick, cloud-like appearance. It wasn’t only happening to us, it was happening above the other Great Races' territories as well.

 

Everyone was clueless that something monumental was already happening, including the Chosen Ones. I was the only one aware, as I'm the only one who can see a living thing's life force in the form of a tiny flame.

 

There was only one reason for someone to gather this much life force, and it was something the demons were well-known for, especially since their abilities peak during the solar eclipse. I thought that for demons to cast their cursed techniques, they were required to use their own life force. I didn’t know it was possible for them to use others’ life force instead. With this much life force gathered, it was safe to assume someone was about to cast a powerful curse technique. I believed this was the plan the mysterious voice referred to.

 

As soon as enough life force was gathered, the mysterious voice finally started her great plan.

 

“It’s time to get to work,” the mysterious voice said in a menacing tone.

 

Using all the life force gathered from the demons and our fallen allies, the mysterious voice used a technique that was beyond our comprehension.

 

[Forbidden Cursed Technique: Corpse Marionette]

 

The whole world fell still, and moments later, chaos unraveled. The mysterious voice controlled the colossal titans like they were mere puppets on strings.

 

The colossal titans finally started moving. Their mountain-sized bodies rose up after a millennium, and the world answered with havoc. Their movement shattered the earth, unleashing devastating earthquakes. Oceans rose in violent waves, storms howled across the skies, and volcanoes erupted as if the planet itself was breaking apart. The ground rumbled without end, dust and ash darkened the heavens, and all living things trembled beneath the return of these ancient beasts.

 

“It’s over… there’s nothing we can do anymore. The great catastrophe has finally begun,” I whispered, watching in horror.

 

I thought we did well. I didn’t realize we were being played since the beginning. I couldn’t help but blame myself as I watched helplessly while the world was thrown into chaos.

 

We tried our best to stop the titans from moving to prevent them from causing more destruction, using all the magic in our arsenal, but it was useless. Not only were they enormous in size, but their bodies were also immune to any form of magic. After all, the titans' bodies were made from magic itself, courtesy of the Witch of Creation.

 

Even in the face of despair, we didn’t lose hope. We prioritized evacuating everyone to a safer place, far from the titans' reach. We tried our best to minimize the destruction they were causing, and thankfully, after minutes of wreaking havoc, they finally stopped.

 

The titans then left, heading in a certain direction, specifically to the north.

 

“You’re all probably confused and thinking… What's the point of all of these? Well, if you want your questions to be answered, then follow where the titans are heading. I’ll be there waiting,” the mysterious voice said for the final time before finally cutting her telepathic link in our heads.

 

The invitation was an obvious trap, but it didn’t matter. If it gave us the chance to meet the mastermind behind the great catastrophe, then we might be able to turn things around for the better.

 

With no other choice left, Zayke and I decided to follow the Titan of Light. We left Lou and the other elite guards in charge for the meantime and entrusted the well-being of our allies to their care.

 

All the other Chosen Ones decided to follow their respective titans as well, including my daughters who insisted on joining them. Since Komraad wasn’t in Kurrbryde, it was Erica and Raya who followed the Titan of Beast instead.

 

Three days passed as we followed the titans, and finally, we arrived at our destination. The seven titans stopped in the middle of the sea and surrounded an island with an enormous obsidian fortress built in the middle. Moments after arriving, the titans finally stopped moving, and the cursed technique used on them had finally ended.

 

It was clear as day that the island and fortress held importance, but my priorities suddenly shifted when I felt multiple presences nearby that arrived at the same time as us. Some of them were very powerful, the same level or higher than Zayke, but the ones that caught my attention were the most familiar to me. I didn’t even have to see them to know. I knew the familiar presence I felt from afar came from my family.

 

The moment I felt their presence, a rush of different emotions hit me. I completely forgot the entire reason why we came here. All I could think about was finally meeting them again.

 

I didn’t waste a second and rushed toward their location. Upon arriving, I saw the three of them standing on top of one of the titans. They had arrived first and met with each other so they could surprise me, but I was so excited to meet them again that I ended up ruining their plan.

 

I flew as fast as I could, and they saw me approaching. Just like me, the three couldn’t contain their emotions any longer and ran toward me, tears and snot covering their faces. I also couldn’t help but cry tears of joy after finally seeing their faces again.

 

Without further ado, the four of us hugged each other tightly, savoring every second that passed.

 

After months of being separated, I finally reunited with my daughters.

 

We were lost for words as we savored our heartfelt hug as much as we could. The warmth of their embrace brightened my dull face, and their warm smiles took all my worries away. After the hug, I confronted my daughters, crying emotionally.

 

“I… I missed you all so, so much. The thought of not meeting you girls again was so unbearable, and it hurt so much every single day I wasn’t by your side,” I said.

 

“We missed you too, Mom. Not a single day passed that I didn’t think about you and my sisters,” Fae responded emotionally, crying as well.

 

“She’s right, Mom. Meeting you again was the only thing that kept me from losing hope,” Rein said.

 

“If only we were strong enough back then, we wouldn’t have made you worry this much, Mom,” Astrid chimed in, feeling guilty.

 

“It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad to have my daughters back,” I said genuinely, holding them tighter.

 

While the girls and I were having our emotional conversation, another very familiar presence approached us. It was our other family member and dear friend, Komraad.

 

“H-hey, you still have room for one?” He asked, looking slightly embarrassed. He was trying to act cool and nonchalant, but deep inside, he missed us so much he was already on the verge of crying.

 

Upon hearing his voice, the girls and I didn’t hesitate and threw ourselves at him for a hug, and the next thing we knew, we were all lying on the floor.

 

“G-gah! G-get off of me! You girls are too heavy!” Komraad complained, but the warmth in his voice betrayed him.

 

Our tears were then replaced by laughter, and moments after, we stood up to face each other.

 

I always believed I’d be meeting them again one day. I just didn’t know when or where. I had been practicing what to say to them once we reunited, preparing so many lines just for this moment. But the one that entered my mind first was the shortest and most familiar to all of us…

 

“Welcome back,” I said with a warm, genuine smile on my face.

 

They looked at each other and responded in unison. “We’re glad to be back.”

 

We had so much to say to each other, but we knew it wasn’t the right time, so we saved it for later. We remembered the reason why we came here, and now that we were together again, we could finally move forward and rise against all odds as a family.

 

Moments after our short reunion, Erica and Raya entered the scene and showed us how much they missed us as well by giving all of us a tight hug and welcoming us back. Erica couldn’t help but cry after seeing my daughters, whom she treats as her nieces, come back safely, including her beloved big brother, Komraad. Raya cried as well after seeing the girls once again, whom she treats as her best friends.

 

Our reunion with the two was cut short after the multiple strong presences I felt earlier finally appeared and showed themselves. They were the Chosen Ones who decided to follow the titans all the way here, and the ones Komraad and my daughters had met and befriended in their unexpected journey during the nine months we were separated.

 

I was wary when they arrived because each of them carried a strong presence around them that was on a whole different level. I also remembered from the book I read back in the library in the Vermine Kingdom that the Chosen Ones weren’t typically on good terms with each other, and it made me very nervous about what was about to happen now that they were together in one place.

 

I was expecting things to get chaotic quickly and out of hand. I thought each of them would have a clash of pride, ego, and ideals, but for some reason, they were very calm and collected. They had this very relaxed vibe around them that was enough to put even me, a very protective mother, at ease.

 

This exact moment marked the very first time where all the Chosen Ones had gathered in one place. A scene no one could ever imagine becoming possible, but because the Chosen Ones had met Komraad and my daughters, they were able to put their differences aside. After all, they’d been through a lot these past couple of months, and the bonds they made together united them as one, something more important than their individual ego or pride.

 

Seeing how none of them were showing any signs of disharmony or aggression toward one another, I was finally able to relax and calm down.

 

The girls showed a whole new level of excitement the moment the Chosen Ones arrived. Each of my daughters approached them individually and started to introduce them to me one by one, starting from Fae. She pulled me by my hand and introduced me to one of the Chosen Ones.

 

“Mom, I want you to meet my fairy friend, Iris. She’s the reason why I survived this long and why I managed to come all the way here,” she introduced.

 

Iris couldn't contain her emotions any longer and started speaking, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I-it’s an honor to finally meet you, Ms. Ina. Y-your daughter told me a lot of stories about your adventures together, and listening to it inspired me,” she stammered.

 

Before I could even respond, another Chosen One interrupted our conversation. “So you’re Rein’s mother. I see now why she deeply respects and adores you.”

 

“Mom, this is Queen Allura of the Lazuli Kingdom and the Chosen One of the Seafolks. I’m her apprentice at the moment, and she helped me further advance my understanding of magic,” Rein explained proudly.

 

Astrid also chimed in and introduced another Chosen One. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Ms. Coney as well. She’s really, really awesome, and she’s currently mentoring me to become a full-fledged warrior,” she said very excitedly.

 

“Y-your daughter is exaggerating, Ma’am. I’m not really that great,” Coney said humbly, looking very embarrassed.

 

Not a single word had even escaped my lips yet, and another Chosen One chimed in. It was the woman with scarlet hair and draconic features, Princess Cyrene. She stared at me with so much passion and smiled genuinely before speaking. “I knew it, I’m no match against you. No wonder Komraad really, really likes y-”

 

Before she could even finish her sentence, Komraad covered her mouth and dragged her away.

 

The final Chosen One with the strongest presence was the last to speak. He approached me with such charisma before speaking.

 

“Hmm… So you're the companion Komraad told me about,” King Hervis said. He then held my hand and kissed it with passion before continuing. “You have such exquisite beauty, and you exude a presence that’s on par with a Chosen One. You’re exactly my type of woman. Are you perhaps interested in becoming my bride?” He offered in a very compelling voice.

 

Komraad got flustered after hearing his offer. Princess Cyrene giggled after seeing his reaction.

 

I took his offer as a huge compliment but politely refused it. “S-sorry, but I’ll have to pass.”

 

“A woman who knows her worth. Now I like you even more,” he responded, unfazed.

 

Before the conversation could get more awkward, I decided to ignore him by gathering everyone’s attention. I knew I didn’t have time to respond to each and every one of them individually, so I bowed my head and showed my gratitude instead.

 

“Everyone, thank you for taking care of my family. I will never forget your kindness, and I will forever be in your debt,” I said genuinely.

 

Each of them let out a huge, genuine smile as a response.

 

“Lift your head, you owe us nothing,” Queen Allura responded warmly.

 

“She’s right. We’re only doing our roles as the Chosen Ones,” Princess Cyrene added.

 

“We’re the ones who should thank you instead. We wouldn’t even be here in the first place if we didn’t meet your family,” Coney chimed in. All the other Chosen Ones agreed.

 

Their response was so heartwarming that it immediately put me at ease.

 

I wanted to catch up with my daughters and ask them about all the adventures they had. I was also interested in getting to know the Chosen Ones better through their stories, but before I could even ask them, something unexpected happened. A powerful barrier suddenly formed and enveloped the entire place, trapping us and the titans' bodies inside.

 

“This barrier… it’s the same as the dome protecting Lazuli Kingdom,” Rein noticed, recognizing the magic.

 

“No, this is even more advanced,” Queen Allura explained, her tone serious.

 

After the barrier formed, it was followed by someone’s sudden appearance and this someone was the sole reason we came here in the first place. Finally, the mastermind behind the great catastrophe and the one commanding the demons revealed her identity.

 

Our attention shifted when we heard someone clapping its hands above us. It was the mastermind, floating carelessly in the air while looking down on all of us.

 

The mastermind was a mysterious woman with a bright, almost misleading vibe. Her insanely long cyan hair and deep lavender eyes made her impossible to ignore. She wore a classic witch’s robe, topped with a tall hat that sat perfectly on her head, and carried a staff that practically hummed with power. On the surface, she radiated cheerful, theatrical warmth, but it was all an act, a shiny mask hiding the cold, cruel darkness buried in her soul.

 

She finally stopped clapping after she was able to gather all of our attention. “Aaah… what a touching reunion! The family is back together again, and they brought some very special guests. What a blissful moment indeed!” She said with a cheerful voice and a hint of sarcasm.

 

We immediately recognized her voice as the one who had invaded our minds earlier using telepathy. Everyone immediately became wary, knowing that she was not someone to belittle. After all, she was the one behind all of the chaos that had happened.

 

The fact that she showed up alone meant she was confident in her power and ability. She didn’t show any signs of fear, even though she was facing all the Chosen Ones together.

 

She then decided to land on top of the titan and introduced herself. “I am Claudia, just your average humble witch,” she said while bowing her head. “Let me start by thanking all of you for accepting my invitation. Truly, it is my greatest honor to finally meet the legendary Chosen Ones! Who would have thought that such prideful and egoistic people would one day unite to do good. It’s such a rare occasion worth celebrating!” She said cheerfully.

 

“Enough with your euphemisms! You’ve done enough damage already! We won’t allow you to disrupt the peace that the Witch of Creation gave for this world any longer!” Queen Allura said with determination.

 

“Not only did you threaten the lives of our people, but you also disrespected the sacred bodies of the Titans we revere. What you did is unforgivable,” Coney added, her voice low.

 

“Why don’t we just kick her butt and call it a day?” Komraad chimed in while cracking his neck, already itching for a fight.

 

“I agree with you for once,” King Hervis responded, a rare moment of camaraderie.

 

“Now, now, everyone… Don’t be impatient. It won’t be fun if we just start fighting. I promised I’d be answering all your queries if you accepted my invitation, and I never take back my words. Now that you’re here, why don’t we start with that first?” Claudia suggested, waving a dismissive hand.

 

“You think we’d believe a conniving fox like you? You can answer our questions after we pay you back for what you’ve done,” Zayke said, stepping forward.

 

“W-wait, maybe there’s a way for us to resolve this peacefully without resorting to violence,” Princess Cyrene suggested, trying to mediate.

 

“Y-yeah, I think that’s a better idea,” Iris agreed softly.

 

“Nah! My fist will do the talking for me,” Komraad disagreed.

 

Things were getting out of hand. The Chosen Ones were arguing with each other, and most of them were ready to engage in a fight at any moment. But my curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to do things my way first. After all, I still had lots of unanswered questions, and Claudia had promised to answer all of them if we came here, I wouldn’t waste that opportunity.

 

Before things could escalate, I shouted to get everyone’s attention. “Enough! I’m not leaving this place empty-handed, so if you guys don’t have any questions to ask, then at least let me ask mine!”

 

Everyone finally stopped arguing and calmed down after hearing what I said.

 

“Fine, do what you want… but if she tries anything funny or suspicious, I ain’t hesitating to use brute force,” Komraad responded, channeling his aggression into focus. The others agreed and went on standby until I got the answers I wanted.

 

I then approached Claudia carefully, without letting my guard down.

 

“Finally, someone sensible. Now… where do you want to start?” Claudia asked, a sly smile gracing her lips.

 

“What’s the point of all of this? I’ve been trying to figure out your goal ever since I learned that the demons were behind the great catastrophe, but I still haven’t come up with a conclusion. I thought what you wanted was the destruction of the world, but you could’ve done it at any time. You had to wait until the solar eclipse, and you’re only specifically targeting the Great Races. Tell me… what is it that you really want to achieve?” I asked directly.

 

“Okay then, I’ll tell you everything from the start as a sign of respect to you for making it this far. You see, all of this is rooted in something that happened a thousand years ago. It was after the hero and the Witch of Creation defeated the Demon King and locked him up forever in the Realm of the Gods. After that, they banished all the remaining demons back to the Demon Realm, and the only way they could enter the mortal realm was by possessing a human or opening a portal. The remaining demons laid low for a very long time until some of them came knocking through my door one day, asking for my help. They wanted to free the Demon King, and I’m the only person who knows how to do it. I felt pity for them, so I ended up agreeing,” Claudia revealed, her voice taking on a narrative quality.

 

“In exchange for my assistance, they gave me their undying loyalty. They’d do anything, even sacrifice their lives, just to bring their beloved king back. It was so beautiful and awe-inspiring that I felt obligated to see it through to the end and see their goal come to fruition,” she added.

 

“If that’s your goal, then why are you only doing it now?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

 

“Who said we’re only doing our plan now? We’ve been enacting our plan for many years already. For it to work, we need an enormous amount of energy. By energy, I meant life force, and by enormous, I meant near infinite. We’ve been collecting energy from different human kingdoms as secretly as possible so we don’t get the attention of the Chosen Ones. Once they find out what we’re doing, they’d surely intervene, and we don’t want that to happen. They’re the epitome of power, after all, and they’re too powerful for us to face head-on. We’ve been keeping up with our plan for the last couple of years, but we’ve never come close enough to the amount we needed to free the Demon King, not until you showed up and ruined one of our locations,” Claudia answered, her tone shifting toward me.

 

“Wait… are you referring to the Vermine Kingdom?” I asked, realization dawning.

 

“That’s right! Saro reported everything that happened to me. Just your energy alone was enough to open up a portal to the Demon Realm, something five years' worth of energy collection can’t even do. Because of what you did, we managed to come up with a very bright idea. Something we should have realized from the start,” Claudia responded, beaming.

 

“I see now… is that why you attacked the Great Races and targeted the titans this time?” I asked, sweating as the pieces connected.

 

“Bravo! You’re right again!” She said while clapping enthusiastically.

 

I thought I was finally starting to piece everything together, but I suddenly realized something that didn’t fit in her story.

 

“W-wait, something still doesn’t add up. If all you needed were the energy of the titans, then you didn’t have to wage an all-out war against the Great Races. Not when you already know that you stand little chance against them. You said it yourself, you didn’t want the Chosen Ones to intervene in your plan because they’re too powerful, so why did you start a battle you knew you’d never win? You could’ve just collected the titans' energy secretly, like you’ve always been doing, but you didn’t. You could’ve been discreet with your plan, unless… the titans’ bodies aren’t your real goal,” I realized, my voice dropping as the true, horrifying possibility struck me.

 

After what I said, her face and demeanor suddenly changed, finally revealing her true, cold color.

 

“Tsk… you really are a pain in my butt. That’s right… the titans were just a bait,” Claudia revealed, her menacing look finally emerging.

 

“N-no, d-don’t tell me…” I stammered.

 

“That’s right. The titans' bodies are just empty shells, they don’t have a single drop of energy. What we were really after are the Chosen Ones. Lucky us, you just gave us what we exactly wanted,” she answered, her voice dripping with venom.

 

I already knew the answer, but I was too scared to hear it. The thought left me frozen in place.

 

“Just so you know, all of this wouldn’t be possible without you and your family’s help, so allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I knew from the start that it was near impossible to gather all of the Chosen Ones together in one place, knowing how prideful and egotistical they are. But after learning how you managed to destroy one of our locations and how you were able to liberate everyone and have them fight by your side, I thought maybe there’s actually a way to tame those monsters, and the solution I found to that was you. I gambled everything on your family, and would you look at that? It paid off. I implanted the fake vision in one of your allies to give you the idea of uniting the Chosen Ones, and fortunately for us, you fell for it. I even sent Saro to help you accelerate your plan of uniting the Great Races and Chosen Ones by sending each of you to their respective locations. The invasion we did to the Great Races during the solar eclipse was just an act to make the vision I showed you look more realistic,” Claudia revealed, her expression triumphant.

 

“I-It can’t be… are you telling me that the vision I saw wasn’t part of my clairvoyance magic?” Raya said with a trembling voice, clutching her head.

 

“T-there’s no way…” I said in disbelief, feeling a wave of nausea.

 

“Are you finally piecing everything together, cat? It’s quite obvious, really. I can’t believe you didn’t figure it out sooner. I thought you were smarter than this, but I guess I overestimated you,” Claudia mocked.

 

I couldn’t help but blame myself for everything that had happened. I didn’t want to believe what she said, but all of it made horrible sense. I didn’t realize that we were dancing on their palm this entire time. If only I hadn’t played hero and focused on my family instead, none of this would have happened. I was basically their accomplice, and I was the reason why they were able to enact their grand scheme.

 

“N-no. This… this is all my fault,” I said in despair as my knees gave up on me, forcing me to kneel.

 

“M-mom! Don’t listen to her! She’s just trying to mess with your head!” Astrid shouted, rushing to my side.

 

“She’s right, Mom. Don’t fall for her taunts! She’s clearly lying,” Rein added, Fae nodding in agreement.

 

“Am I now? I’m sure your mom has already realized by now that everything I said was true,” Claudia said, her smile broadening.

 

“Okay, that’s it! I’ve had enough of your blabbering!” Komraad shouted angrily, charging forward.

 

“You just read my mind, big brother,” Erica added, following close behind.

 

The two attacked Claudia together with their techniques filled with aura, but she managed to block their attacks instantly by creating a barrier of light around her without even chanting the name of her spell, something I didn’t know was possible. She then retaliated using offensive wind magic, pushing Komraad and Erica as far away as possible.

 

After witnessing how strong and capable Claudia was, the Chosen Ones prepared to counterattack. They were about to launch an assault when Claudia stopped them in their tracks by bringing out an item she’d been hiding all this time.

 

“Sorry, but I’m not here to fight a losing battle,” she said. She then revealed an artifact in the form of a glowing orb, flickering like a trapped flame. She raised it with her right hand, and it pulsed. The air around it grew heavy, and one by one, the Titans in spirit form that were residing inside the Chosen Ones were forcefully drawn out without permission. The orb absorbed them, pulling the Titans like a magnet.

 

Claudia grinned as the last one was absorbed inside the orb, which now glowed brighter than ever, confining the seven Titans like prisoners. The Titans tried escaping, but it was no use. The orb artifact was specifically modeled to keep such powerful beings in check.

 

“Hey there, little fellas. I’ll make sure not to waste a single drop of your energy,” Claudia said to the Titans with a wide smirk and viscous look.

 

The Titans within the orb reacted immediately:

 

“Let me out and fight me fair and square!” Cinder shouted.

 

“This is no fun! I don’t want to play this game!” Dot complained.

 

“We’re doomed!” Puff exclaimed in worry.

 

“H-help us! I don’t want to get stuck with these dummies!” Willow begged while banging her tiny hands inside the orb.

 

“Is it okay if I sleep this one out?” Dawn asked while yawning, ever languid.

 

“Calm down, everyone. I’m confident my liege will get us out in no time,” Sai assured the others.

 

“I bet my queen will be the one to free us,” Naia wagered with confidence.

 

The Chosen Ones felt significantly weaker after Claudia captured the Titans. Most of their energy was drained, and they were noticeably weakened. With the Titans captured, they couldn't access their Awakened Forms any longer, but even so, their determination didn’t waver.

 

With the Titans facing danger, the Chosen Ones didn't hesitate to attack with everything they had to try and take them back. Even Erica, Raya, and my daughters were prepared to offer their assistance, but unfortunately, their attack was halted by the sudden appearance of a horde of demons, protecting Claudia and preventing them from reaching her.

 

Claudia managed to walk away freely with the Titans in her hands. No one could stop her from leaving because everyone was busy dealing with the demons.

 

While the others were busy fighting, I was just frozen in place and standing the whole time, watching everything unfold while I was busy blaming myself for everything that happened, but thankfully, I managed to come back to my senses with the help of my daughters.

 

“M-mom, snap out of it! We need you now, more than ever!” Fae cried, her voice breaking as she hugged me tightly. Astrid and Rein were hugging me as well, their warmth pulling me back from the brink of despair.

 

After hearing the voices of my daughters, I was finally able to think straight again. Now that my mind was clear, I could focus on what was truly important: preventing Claudia and the demons from achieving their goal.

 

Without hesitation, I attacked Claudia with my signature spell, the dark energy beam, to stop her in her tracks. “You’re not going anywhere,” I said with fierce determination.

 

My attack hit her, but she easily defended against it using her barrier. She turned around to respond, a theatrical bow mocking my effort. “I told you earlier, didn’t I? I’m not here to fight. Now that I got what I came here for, it’s finally time to proceed to the final step of our plan. It was an honor meeting you all, really, but it’s time to bid my farewell. Toodeloo!”

 

With a final, sickeningly cheerful wave, she flew inside their hideout: the enormous obsidian fortress located in the middle of the island.

 

“W-wait, come back here!” I shouted.

 

I was going to chase after her, but demons suddenly surged forward, attacking us. We had no choice but to retaliate, as they were aggressively blocking our path. My daughters and I were giving our all to push the demons out of our way, but there seemed to be no end to their numbers. We couldn’t find any opening until our allies created one for us.

 

King Hervis, leading from the front, wiped out all the demons blocking our immediate path in one powerful strike using his devastating storm magic. Komraad, Erica, and the other Chosen Ones cleaned up the remaining demons, with Raya and Princess Cyrene assisting them with their vital support magic.

 

Everyone had come together for one purpose: to save the Titans that they cared for. Their unified action motivated me to finally move forward, instead of letting self-blame paralyze me.

 

“There’s no time to waste. Go after the witch before the next wave of demons comes,” King Hervis commanded, his voice booming with authority.

 

“B-but what about all of you?” I asked worriedly.

 

“Don’t underestimate us. We’re plenty strong even without the Titans at our side,” Coney assured me, brandishing her weapon.

 

“She’s right, Ms. Ina. We’ll hold off the demons as long as we can so you can focus on saving the Titans from that wretched witch,” Zayke added, already engaging the next wave.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll try my best to support everyone with my magic!” Princess Cyrene said, her eyes glowing with resolved determination. “Me as well!” Raya added.

 

“You heard them, now go!” Queen Allura urged us.

 

I could see that the fierce determination in their eyes hadn't faded yet. They were all counting on me, and I would not betray the trust they had given. “Everyone, thank you,” I said with deep gratitude.

 

“Ms. Ina, please save Willow. She’s my only family, I can’t afford to lose her too,” Iris begged, her voice filled with heartache.

 

“Rest assured, I’ll bring all of them back safely in no time,” I responded, giving her a reassuring nod.

 

I was about to leave when my daughters stopped me by blocking my path.

 

“Mom, we’re coming with you whether you like it or not,” Fae said, her own determination unwavering.

 

“Sis is right. You don’t have to do this alone. Let us fight by your side!” Rein insisted, her magical aura already humming.

 

“We’ve gotten stronger now. You can count on us to watch your back,” Astrid assured, her hand resting confidently on the hilt of her dagger.

 

“Girls, I…”

 

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see this coming. If this was months ago, I would have immediately turned them down because of how dangerous the current situation was. But I could see how determined they were, and they had grown so much since the last time I saw them that it just wasn’t right to say no. Additionally, the safest place for them to be right now was by my side, where I could protect them properly if something unexpected happened.

 

I looked at the girls with so much pride and reached out my hand. “Okay then, let’s go save the Titans.”

 

Without delay, the girls took my hand and smiled in unison.

 

Before we could leave, Komraad approached me and gave me the most serious look I’d ever seen from him. “Hey, Ina. There’s still lots of adventures we haven’t done together yet, so make sure the four of you make it back in one piece, got it?” He said, looking directly into my eyes, his tone gravelly.

 

“Got it,” I responded, meeting his gaze with my own promise.

 

Time was running out, so without further delay, my daughters and I immediately left to fulfill our agenda.

 

“Would you look at that? You’re getting good with this family stuff now, aren’t you, big bro?” Erica teased, flashing him a knowing smile.

 

Komraad was speechless, his face turning red from the embarrassment and fluster caused by his sister’s comment.

 

After talking with our allies and taking advantage of the opening they created for us, my daughters and I proceeded inside the enemy’s hideout, the obsidian fortress, in order to save the Titans and stop Claudia from freeing the Demon King, so we could prevent more tragedies from happening in the future.