"F-father?" Nymeria and Taranis murmured, their eyes widening.

"He is your father?"

Both of them gasped simultaneously, turning to stare at each other.

"D-does that mean he is…"

"The King—"

"Lord Aurelion—"

The duo exclaimed in perfect synchronization.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing, Aurelion?" Voltrex asked, thoroughly amused by the situation.

"I–I can clearly see it, Voltrex," Aurelion replied, a frown forming on his face. "Your son has just made my daughter cry."

"But did you see the way he apologized to her—like a real man?" Voltrex countered, his smile growing uncontrollably.

Aurelion wanted to object, but he couldn't find a proper retort and could only groan, standing stiffly in place.

"Father, weren't you supposed to arrive tomorrow? How are you already here?" Taranis asked, confused.

He could feel a strange, suppressive pressure radiating from Aurelion, yet he forced himself to maintain his composure as best as he could. In truth, Aurelion and Voltrex had arrived at the Mountain of Ten Thousand Beasts half an hour earlier. From a distance, they silently observed Nymeria and Taranis, watching their growth unfold before their eyes.

Aurelion had nearly revealed himself to beat the hell out of Taranis when the boy lashed out at poor Nymeria. However, Voltrex held him back, insisting that they continue watching.

Voltrex had complete faith in the upbringing that he and his beloved wife, Aestra, had given Taranis. He was certain the young prince would recognize his mistake and correct it—and Taranis did not disappoint him in the slightest.

"Why? Aren't you happy I returned early? Or are you disappointed that we interrupted your little romance?" Voltrex teased, chuckling.

"What's romance?" Taranis asked, genuinely puzzled.

Despite their appearances and mental development, Taranis was only two and a half years old, while Nymeria was merely one and a half. They knew little of romance—ignoring the fact that they already felt a vague attraction toward one another.

Before Voltrex could respond, Nymeria rushed toward her father with open arms.

"Father! I missed you so much!" Nymeria cried, leaping into his embrace.

Aurelion reacted instantly, extending his arms for the long-awaited hug. The cold, untouchable expression he usually wore melted the moment Nymeria's small arms wrapped around his neck.

"You've grown so much, Nymeria," Aurelion murmured, gently brushing her head.

"Aren't you going to embrace your father as well?" Voltrex asked, spreading his arms toward Taranis.

"Of course I will," Taranis replied, rushing forward with a wide smile.

But just as he reached his father, the smile twisted into a mischievous smirk as he shouted—

"Divine Lightning: Thunderbolt!"

A sharp bolt of golden lightning materialized in Taranis's hand. In the next instant, he hurled it at his father from point-blank range, striking Voltrex squarely in the chest.

A booming explosion echoed through the area, smoke and dust erupting outward.

When the dust finally settled, Voltrex stood unfazed in his place, while Taranis lay on the ground nearby, gasping heavily—utterly exhausted after pouring every ounce of his divine Soulforce into the attack.

"Hahaha, I finally did it!" Taranis laughed, his tired golden eyes fixed on Voltrex's hand.

The thunderbolt had been stopped by a single finger.

That finger, however, was enveloped in shimmering blue energy.

Taranis had finally forced his father to use Soulforce to defend himself—the very condition Voltrex had set for allowing Taranis to accompany him to the frontlines.

"I expect nothing less from you, Taranis," Voltrex replied with a smirk, dispersing Taranis's thunderbolt with a mere flick of his finger.

"F-father, is that how Thunderbanes greet each other?" Nymeria asked from her father's arms, staring at the strange exchange between father and son.

"It's only how these two greet each other," Aurelion replied, letting out a weary sigh.

After his energetic reunion with Voltrex, Taranis turned toward Aurelion and offered a slight bow of respect.

"Greetings, Lord Aurelion. I am honored to finally meet you."

"You are aware that your status as the Prince of the Seven Banes far surpasses mine, who is merely the leader of the Snowbanes," Aurelion said, his voice calm yet cold, as though stripped of emotion.

"Why would you bow before me?"

"Lord Aurelion, not only do your deeds and reputation place you above me, but as the father of my dearest friend, you are like a father to me as well," Taranis replied, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

"Father…?" Aurelion muttered inwardly, his brows knitting together. Hearing that word from the young man who had wrapped his beloved daughter in his arms just moments ago deeply unsettled him.

Still, he couldn't deny how mature, respectful, and grounded Taranis was despite his overwhelming status. Unlike the heirs of other Banes—or the spoiled princes and princesses of the empire—Taranis stood completely apart.

"Cheeky brat," Aurelion muttered before vanishing in a blur along with Nymeria.

"Huh!? Father, did I somehow offend Lord Aurelion?" Taranis asked, turning toward Voltrex after Aurelion's abrupt departure.

"What do you think?" Voltrex laughed, slinging an arm around Taranis's neck.

"Not only did you make his beloved daughter cry in front of him, but you also embraced her."

A faint blush of embarrassment spread across Taranis's face as he realized that both his father and Aurelion had been watching them from the very beginning.

"He must definitely hate me," Taranis sighed, facepalming himself.

"Hahaha, that's the real reason for his irritation," Voltrex laughed.

"Despite everything, he doesn't hate you. On the contrary—he likes you."

"He likes me? But his reaction says otherwise."

"Don't worry. He's just like that," Voltrex replied, gripping Taranis's wrist.

Before Taranis could respond, the duo vanished in a blur, reappearing inside the grand hall of Heaven's Last Step. Aestra was already waiting, seated before an enormous dining table surrounded by six chairs. Servants hurried about, filling the table with the finest delicacies the Eastern Continent had to offer.

"Huh!? Are we expecting guests, Mother?" Taranis asked, confused by the extravagant setup and the extra chairs.

"Voltrex, you didn't tell him?" Aestra asked, sighing as she glanced at her husband—already knowing the answer.

"Taranis, go and change into proper attire," Aestra said, turning toward her son.

"Lord Aurelion, Lady Lunaria, and precious Nymeria will be joining us for dinner tonight."

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