The final echoes of cheers still hung in the air like smoke after a battle. Dust settled, weapons were laid down, and in the middle of it all, Raiden, Zohar, Kaito, and Connor stood together—worn, bruised, but victorious in more ways than one. The Coliseum began to empty, but not with silence. The sound of clapping, whistling, and chanting followed them as they walked out, flanked by other Chosen. Some offered nods of respect. Others clapped them on the shoulder. Even Feiyu and Zofia, though silent, gave a parting glance—less cold now, touched by something close to mutual respect.
Athena gently took Kirashi's hand and whispered, "Come. They'll need time to recover. We'll meet them soon."
Raiden lingered for a moment, watching Kirashi disappear into golden light before turning back to his brothers.
"Let's go," Zohar said, nodding toward the outer gates. "We've earned some answers. Maybe even some peace."
They walked together, shoulder to shoulder, their footsteps slow and heavy. Around them, the other Chosen—dozens of them—moved as a loose group. Some were still energized, trading battle stories. Others limped quietly, eyes down, carrying the weight of what they'd just survived.
The gods descended from the viewing platforms, walking among them for the first time in what felt like forever. Their presence brought a reverent hush—like walking through a temple.
Not far beyond the edge of the arena stood a towering white structure carved into the mountain—a mass infirmary designed by the divine themselves. Its marble surface shimmered in the sunlight, windows shaped like angel wings, its halls filled with soft light and the scent of healing herbs carried on the wind.
Inside, soft beds and floating healers waited.
Raiden, Kaito, Zohar, and Connor were the last to enter, slowing their pace near the entrance.
Connor stretched his shoulder with a groan. "Feel like I got hit by a freight train wrapped in fire."
"You kinda did," Kaito muttered, chuckling through the pain. "At least three times."
Zohar gave a light laugh. "And you still look better than Feiyu."
"Don't get me started on that guy," Connor replied, exhaling hard. "I can't even tell if I respect him or want to dropkick him."
As they settled into the wide hall, small clusters of Chosen broke off—some sitting together, others being seen by the healers floating between beds. Gods began making their rounds, speaking one-on-one with their chosen warriors.
A familiar wind swept through the room, and soon the trio stood face to face with their patrons.
Poseidon and Neptune approached Kaito, arms crossed, faces half-smiling.
"You held the sea's honor," Neptune said. "Fourth rank in navy defense. You'll be among the Atlanteans now."
Kaito nodded, eyes narrowing in thought. "I'll keep them safe. And I want to be near the coasts. If Lucifer returns… the sea will feel it first."
Zeus stood before Raiden, crackles of lightning flickering in his beard.
"You chose mercy over pride. That's rare."
Raiden looked him in the eye. "I didn't become strong just to crush people."
Zeus raised a brow and muttered, "Good answer," before fading into static and wind.
Thor and Odin both placed a hand on Zohar's shoulder.
"You fought like a storm," Odin said.
"But you chose to listen like a king," Thor added.
Zohar nodded slowly. "I want to protect. Not rule. But if I must lead… I'll do it right."
Connor stood quietly until the Morrigan stepped forward, her cloak dark as a raven's wing.
"You survived your anger," she said. "That's more than most can say. You'll run with the Fianna. Warriors. Hunters. Guardians."
Connor's expression didn't change much, but his voice softened. "Yeah. That feels right."
As the gods drifted away, the boys regrouped around a low table with bowls of water and soft cloths. They sat, cleaned up their wounds quietly, and finally began talking again—not as soldiers, but as people.
Zohar leaned back, wiping sweat from his brow. "So what now? We hit Earth again with our new squads and try to act like normal teens who fought in a divine tournament?"
Raiden gave a half-laugh. "I doubt normal is ever coming back."
Kaito looked down at his hands. "I want to see the coast again. I want to see people smiling and not worried about death in the sky."
Connor exhaled, long and low. "I want to see my little sister. Then I want to fight."
They looked at each other and nodded. No dramatic declarations. Just quiet understanding.
From the corner of the room, Athena entered with Kirashi, who rushed to Raiden's side. The boys gave them space, watching with warm eyes.
Zohar turned to Kaito and muttered, "You think we'll make it out of this whole thing with all our pieces still in place?"
Kaito shrugged. "I think we'll lose a few. But we'll gain a few too."
The camera of the moment pulls back—dozens of Chosen speaking softly, gods walking among them, and in the background, healers attending to warriors who risked it all.
Above it all, from the highest balcony of the infirmary, the All Mighty watched. Silent. Studying. And just behind him, once more, the shadowy figure stood.
"Everything is falling into place," the All Mighty said under his breath.
"Piece by piece," the figure whispered back.
The light in the infirmary softened to a gentle gold as the healers finally made their way to the group. They glided across the floor in silence, draped in flowing cloth that shimmered like moonlight. Each one carried an orb of healing energy between their palms, a soft hum vibrating from their presence.
One of them stopped in front of Raiden and held a hand out.
"You've endured much," she said in a voice like wind over water.
He nodded quietly, barely flinching as her energy soaked into his chest and shoulder. The wounds from his last clash slowly sealed, leaving only ghost-like marks—memories more than scars.
Another healer turned to Zohar, who was half-leaning, half-slouching against the bench.
"Lightning dances through your veins," she murmured, almost amused. "You burn from both inside and out."
"Story of my life," he replied with a half-smirk, though his eyes were tired. As her hands hovered over his cracked skin and bruised ribs, he exhaled deeply, letting the pain melt.
Kaito hissed as his side was tended to, the healer kneeling beside him with a knowing look.
"You're carrying the ocean," she said. "You're not supposed to hold that much weight alone."
He didn't answer, but he met her eyes. There was no anger, just a calm depth. She smiled gently, finishing her work.
Connor's healer didn't speak—just locked eyes with him. She touched the claw marks down his arm, the bite of fire across his collarbone, and shook her head slightly, almost with reverence.
"Fought a god's trickster," he muttered. "Didn't die. Not bad."
The healer didn't respond—just pressed her palm over his chest and poured in the quiet strength of the old world.
As the boys looked around, breathing easier now, they noticed the change in the room. There was still laughter, still small moments of relief—but something else hung in the air now. A new phase was approaching.
Above them, at the far side of the infirmary, in a chamber high above the clouds…
The All Mighty sat once again upon his vast throne, carved from the bones of fallen titans and wrapped in threads of fate. The sky behind him churned, but inside, it was still.
The shadowy figure emerged from the corner, walking slowly, calmly—its form still unclear, as if darkness itself refused to let it be seen fully.
"When do the tests on the boy begin?" the figure asked, voice low and rippling like smoke in water.
The All Mighty's eyes never left the view of the world below. "As soon as possible," he replied. "His case is… unsettling."
The figure took a step closer. "He is stable. But his body is not winning. It's… adapting. Every second he fights the poison, he becomes more tainted. Yet somehow… he resists death. Normally, even a micro dose would've reduced a human to ash in minutes."
"That's exactly why I requested to have him," the All Mighty snapped, his voice briefly like thunder before it calmed again. "He doesn't just resist. He rewrites the rules of survival. He has great purpose in this war. One that not even he is aware of yet."
The shadow moved closer, almost behind the throne now. "And the girl?"
The All Mighty's voice lowered. "The girl will stay close to the others. Her presence is important. Not just emotionally. She's a trigger… and a tether."
The chamber fell silent for a long moment, the only sound being the distant rumble of clouds far above heaven.
"And Lucifer?" the shadowy figure asked, almost too quietly.
The All Mighty smiled, but it wasn't warm.
"He's watching… But let him. It'll make the trap sweeter."