"So to answer your question, Julia. The reason I don’t want to rely on my mother all the time doesn’t stem from some masculine insecurity. I know she’s stronger, more influential, more experienced, everything. She’s the full package, so to speak. If depending on Mother meant giving me and my girls a better shot at survival—at gaining immense power and freedom—I’d do it without hesitation."
Julia swallowed, listening with wide eyes.
"But as I explained, this system," Kaiden continued, "was created by the Heavenly Demon. A galactic terrorist who once rebelled against the universe itself. As his potential successor, what do you reckon he’d think if I ran crying to mommy to hide under her skirt every time something went wrong?"
"He would think you’re a failure, unworthy of the heritage," it was Vespera who replied in Julia’s stead. Her eyes gleamed with understanding now.
"Exactly. I’ve got to solve things myself. That’s what I believe. That’s the price of keeping this power. That’s why I only ask for your help when there’s no other way."
A heavy silence followed his words.
Julia gulped again. Hard.
Then nodded slowly. "I... I understand."
Vespera’s gaze had a tranquil sharpness to it as she asked:
"Then tell me, why are you here now?"
Kaiden didn’t hesitate this time around. He materialized the newest screen hovering above his palm.
[New System Quest: Fangirl Bottleneck]
[Quest Objective]: Demonstrate the ability to cultivate deep, lasting admiration from those who are merely intrigued. The Successor must display proficiency in converting fleeting interest into genuine, unwavering devotion.
He let the message linger for a few seconds before dismissing it with a swipe and turning to face his Valkyries.
"I haven’t shown this to any of you yet. It popped up a few hours ago. The bunker we were given by the government is perfect in most ways. Safe. Durable. Secure. The twins are also very capable bodyguards."
"But... There’s zero privacy in those walls. Microphones, cameras, artifacts... We can’t speak freely. That being said, I can navigate that. So can you girls. But when something extra happens—like a new quest—we need to think, talk, and plan together."
His eyes flicked to Vespera. "That’s why we came here. Not for protection. Not for backup. Just to speak in private."
For a few seconds, no one responded.
Then Alice perked up, her eyes lighting. "I could help! If fangirls are what you need, then I think-"
Kaiden silenced her.
"Alice. This isn’t something we will try to solve together. This is not a family homework assignment."
She blinked, brows drawing together in confusion and a heavily brewing taste of utter dislike.
Kaiden ignored the confused girl on his thighs and instead turned his gaze slowly to his Valkyries. "You three are different. The system recognizes you. You’re part of this, tied to me through awakening, combat, resonance, everything. You are my system-recognized partners in crime."
Then he looked at Julia and Alice in turn.
"But my family, or any of yours, isn’t. This system... if I let anyone outside the system influence it too much, the line gets blurry. I might not notice when I start leaning too hard."
He turned toward his mother, posture straightening
"And I know you’ve been protecting me from the shadows all this while."
Vespera didn’t deny it at all. Instead, she just kept observing her son mutely.
"But that also needs to stop," Kaiden said quietly.
"I appreciate it, Mother. I really do. But I can’t become the man I need to be if I always have a shadow of your caliber ready to clean up my messes for me. The Heavenly Demon isn’t looking for a pampered brat. He wants a worthy successor who can inherit his life’s work."
With finality, he concluded:
"This system—this chance I’ve been given—it doesn’t allow me to be carried. It requires that I earn everything."
A silence followed.
No one moved. Not even the shadows.
And then Vespera’s lips curved upwards.
It wasn’t a smile of mockery or amusement.
It was something quieter.
Pride.
Motherly pride for her son, who had grown into such a decisive, clear-eyed young man. A man who stood on the edge of a cosmic storm and chose to walk through it with open eyes and a steady hand.
She rose silently. Her eyes landed on Julia. "Can you stand?"
Julia nodded without hesitation, rising to her feet.
Then Vespera’s gaze turned to Alice.
The girl flinched, heart skipping a beat. Instinct screamed in her bones. Alarms rang in her mind like sirens.
"No!" she cried, reaching out and grabbing tightly onto Kaiden’s sleeve. "No!"
"Yes."
*SHHHRRKT!*
A hundred black tendrils surged out from Vespera’s shadow like coiled vipers.
In the blink of an eye, shadows enveloped Alice from every angle, grasping her wrists, her ankles, her waist, even curling around her throat.
"No! NO! I REFUSE TO LET GO!" she shrieked, writhing with all her might, tears stinging her wide, furious eyes. "I WON’T LEAVE MY BIG BROTHER’S SIDE EVER AGAIN! YOU’LL HAVE TO KILL ME, YOU HEAR ME?!"
Vespera’s calm, cold voice came down on the girl like falling dusk.
"You’re wrong."
Alice blinked.
"I have to kill you? Why?"
Her steps were slow as she approached the girl, but her presence was impossibly vast.
"I don’t."
She paused in front of the bound girl.
"To force me to either let you do as you want or kill you... You’d need to be strong enough to force my hand in the first place."
Vespera’s dark eyes narrowed.
"Only the wishes of the strong matter."
Alice’s mouth opened to scream again, but no sound came. The shadows tightened around her body, restricting her.
"And you are not strong enough to impose your will upon me."
The three Valkyries watched in stony silence the demonstration of the ’Ashborn-style parenting.’ Even Bastet narrowed her golden eyes at the sight, uncertain how to feel or think about what her eyes were showing her.
True to her word, Vespera didn’t have to kill Alice.
She simply peeled her off Kaiden, one inch at a time.
Alice kicked, thrashed, even bit the shadows, her wild limbs flailing at Kaiden.
Kaiden chuckled, shaking his head.
"I’ll come pay you a visit once this strategy meeting’s over."
The rage in Alice’s eyes cracked.
She froze mid-thrash. For a second, only the soft sound of her rapid breathing filled the room.
"Y-You mean it?" she breathed, her voice trembling.
Kaiden smiled gently. "Of course."
And for a moment, joy shone in Alice’s face. Pure, unfiltered joy. She stopped struggling, let the shadows lift her off the floor...
Then realization struck.
Wait.
If she stayed here, she could spend even more time with her beloved big brother. She could sit beside him, hold his arm, maybe even get petted again...
"NO! THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH! LET ME GO! I’M STAYING!!!"
Too late.
The shadows pulled her back, whether she consented or not, getting vacuumed like a ghost, thrashing and whining, the sound of her muffled curses echoing into the distance as she was dragged from the room.
Vespera paused before leaving and turned halfway back.
"I’ll maintain the shadow field. Speak freely."
And with that, the door clicked softly shut behind them, leaving Kaiden and his Valkyries alone in a blackened world of absolute privacy.