Percival greeted them with an unsettling warmth, his smile wide and welcoming. "Ah, welcome back home, my niece and nephews. How was the Day of Heroes? Was it as amazing as always?" His tone dripped with mockery.
Aleksander, seething with fury, cut him off. "Why is our home in ruins? And where is our Father?" he demanded, his voice trembling with anger.
Percival greeted them with an unsettling warmth, his smile wide and welcoming. "Ah, welcome back home, my niece and nephews. How was the Day of Heroes? Was it as amazing as always?" His tone dripped with mockery.
Aleksander, seething with fury, cut him off. "Why is our home burning? Where is Father?" he demanded, his voice trembling with anger.
Percival's sinister grin widened. "Oh, your father, Jonathan?" He casually lifted a see-through container, revealing Jonathan's heart inside. "He's right here."
At that moment, a storm of rage surged through Aleksander. His body unleashed a violent red burst of energy, the force of which swept across the entire landscape, tearing through the air and shaking the ground. The farms around them shook under the oppressive energy.
Percival, unfazed, responded by activating his own dark aura. It clashed fiercely with Aleksander's power, the pressure of their energies cracking the earth beneath them. Percival laughed maniacally, reveling in the chaos and mocking the siblings with every word.
But Aleksander knew he was outmatched. With sheer determination, he redirected his aura to shield Violet and Xavier, enduring the brutal onslaught of Percival's power, the force of it leaving him severely injured.
"You know," Percival said with a smirk, "I would love to continue this game, but I have more important matters to attend to. Besides, you might want to check on your father before he breathes his last."
As Percival's black-and-gold aura overwhelmed Aleksander, he deactivated his power and looked up. The sky above began to crack open as if splitting apart. A bright beam of light illuminated the heavens.
In an instant, a massive golden city, larger than anything they'd ever seen, descended from the heavens. The flying city, made entirely of gold, cast a massive shadow over the land.
"Ah, there they are," Percival remarked with a pleased smile, turning his head toward the golden marvel in the sky.
Raven, finally seeing Heinrich and Sage's arrival, sighed in relief, her stress evaporating. She glanced up at the grand spectacle, thankful they had arrived before Percival's patience ran thin.
Through worm portals, legions of soldiers poured into the sky. Ships followed in waves, filling the air as Grande Valhalla, the golden city, extended a long and massive staircase made of pure gold. It descended majestically for Percival.
He and his henchmen ascended the staircase, greeted at the top by Heinrich and Sage, who knelt and bowed deeply. "Welcome back, my Lord," they said in unison.
Before stepping into the grandeur of the golden city, Percival turned his head one last time toward Xavier, his smile twisting into something more wicked. "See you soon, my dear Novus," he whispered with venom.
Xavier could only stare, speechless, as the weight of everything crashed down on him, his mind struggling to process the nightmare unfolding before his eyes.
As Percival and his army vanished in the blink of an eye, Aleksander and Violet sprinted towards the ruins of their now-razed home, Xavier trailing close behind.
When they reached the charred remains, horror gripped them as they saw the condition of their father.
Somehow still alive without his heart, Jonathan managed a bright smile as he saw his children, even through the agony wracking his body.
Xavier and Violet rushed to embrace him. Despite the unbearable pain, Jonathan gently stroked their heads and asked, "How was the Day of Heroes this year? Was it as wonderful as always?"
But his children could not respond. They only wept, their hearts torn with pain and sorrow.
Seeing their anguish, Jonathan tried to comfort them. "Don't cry, my beloved children," he whispered. "Daddy's alright."
Aleksander, choking back tears, knelt beside his father. "I'm sorry, Father," he said. "I wasn't there to protect you. I should have been stronger."
Jonathan placed a trembling hand on Aleksander's cheek. "Never say that, my son. You're not weak—you're strong. I am proud of you, of Violet, of Xavier. You are my greatest joy, the reason I still have hope in this world."
As the sky darkened and rain began to fall, Jonathan turned to Aleksander. "Take care of them," he urged. "Be the man your siblings need. Be strong, be good. Be the kind of people others can look up to—people who will bring light to this dark world."
With death looming closer, Jonathan smiled through tears. "Always remember, my beloved children," he said, his voice growing faint, "Daddy loves you... so much."
With his final breath, Jonathan drifted into peace, greeted by a radiant light. He awoke in a lush, beautiful field, confused but tranquil. As he lay on the soft grass, Fyodora's familiar face appeared, looking down at him with a smile like an angel.
"Long time, no see, darling," Fyodora said, her voice soft and warm. "How have you been?"
Jonathan, speechless and overwhelmed, pulled her into a sudden, tight embrace. Fyodora blushed, startled by the intensity of his hug.
"I missed you so much," Jonathan whispered, holding her tighter.
Fyodora smiled gently. "I missed you too, darling."
Meanwhile, back in the ruins, Aleksander and Violet grieved over their father's lifeless body. Violet refused to let go, her sobs tearing through the silence, while Xavier sat in stunned disbelief, the light in his eyes slowly dimming into despair.
Rage and sorrow surged within Xavier, his cosmic eyes glowing fiercely. The Visor of Time struggled to contain the energy building inside him, but it was futile. The power erupted from Xavier in a blinding burst, splitting the heavens and tearing through the clouds.
Aleksander and Violet were thrown back by the force, but they quickly scrambled to their brother's side.
Violet, despite the searing heat radiating from Xavier, wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay, Xavier. Big sis is here."
Aleksander joined the embrace, his voice trembling. "We're with you, Xavier. Always."
As Xavier regained control, he collapsed into sobs, unable to accept their father's death. Aleksander and Violet held him close, offering silent comfort amidst the devastation.
Far away, in the grandeur of the floating Valhalla, Percival sat upon his immense golden throne. Feeling the surge of power from Xavier, he smiled to himself. "Ah, it seems the Visor of Time couldn't suppress the power of Xavier's Eyes of New Genesis."
"What an interesting boy that Astrion Vessel is."
One of his loyal henchmen, Sage, approached and bowed deeply. "My Lord, forgive my impertinence, but why didn't you kill Aleksander when you had the chance?"
Percival raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
Sage hesitated before replying, "You once said Aleksander was the most dangerous being alive, with the potential to disrupt your plans. If he reaches his full power and removes the limiters, he could become an unstoppable force."
Percival chuckled. "You're not wrong, Sage. Aleksander's potential is... vast. If he ever fully awakens it, he could easily surpass even the Seven Heroes, becoming the most powerful Herrscher in history—second only to Grand Emperor Julius."
"But I'm not concerned," he continued with a smirk. "I have my own way of dealing with that boy. Besides, wouldn't it be far more satisfying to break him first—destroy him from the inside out before I end him?"
He leaned back on his throne. "Killing him outright would be boring. Breaking him will be... much more fun."
Pointing a finger at Sage, Percival teased, "You should learn to play with your food before devouring it."
Sage smirked and bowed his head. "Understood, my Lord. I'll set aside my concerns about Aleksander."
"I trust completely in your judgment, Lord Percival."
Percival chuckled, pleased. "That's the spirit!"