Alex calmly looked at Handsome Jack’s lifeless body — the man who had chosen a bullet over a trip to the Red City, where a faint hope of liberation awaited him. For several seconds, he said nothing, simply watching the smoke from his cigarette rise slowly into the air.

“Shame,” he said quietly, shaking his head. “I expected more from the man who deceived everyone.”

Once, Jack had ruled an entire corporation, manipulating people and killing for power and influence. And now… he was just a frightened man, stripped of everything he once called his own. At first, Alex had planned to throw him into the Red City himself, but upon seeing the pitiful sight before him, he decided to offer a choice — death, or hell with the illusion of freedom.

Exhaling smoke, Alex snapped his fingers. Jack’s body slowly began to crumble into ash until not a trace remained. The blood and brain matter splattered around the office vanished as if they had never existed. The office itself began to change — Jack’s golden statues, tasteless decorations, all that gaudy luxury — disappeared, as though swept away by the wind.

Moments later, the director’s office had transformed completely. It was now restrained yet majestic — just the way Alex preferred it.

He sat down behind the desk once belonging to the former director, placed his hands on the keyboard, and connected to Hyperion’s main system. The first thing he did after taking over the orbital station Helios was activate the repair and cargo robots. They were to clear the station of all traces of the massacre caused by the creatures from the Red City. Alex didn’t want the bodies of Hyperion’s staff, who had died in agony, left scattered through the corridors.

“Clean everything down to the last stain,” he said quietly into the microphone. “No blood, no flesh, no smell.”

The robots were already at work, coming to life one after another. The rhythmic hum of their steps and the mechanical sounds of cleaning echoed through Helios’s halls.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ya sat on the couch beside the desk, still holding a balloon shaped like a flower — a gift from the ghost clown. Her marble-like face remained calm, her gaze steady. For her, this was a typical kind of date: just sitting beside Alex, watching him work.

To an outsider, it might have looked ordinary, but for Alex, it was one of those quiet moments when the world almost seemed peaceful. Almost.

He felt her gaze and turned toward her. A soft, warm smile lit up his face — a smile that held love, calm, and acceptance.

A faint blush appeared on Zhang Ya’s cheeks. She knew she wasn’t very talkative, that her nature was dark and bloody. But Alex loved her all the same — no less than the other women in his family.

Zhang Ya pulled a thin book from the air and opened it to the first page. Alex noticed her reading and instinctively glanced at the cover. A romance novel. He quietly chuckled but said nothing. Let her read — she’d earned it.

He turned back to the monitors. Helios was gradually returning to order.

Meanwhile, on Pandora.

Lilith had returned to Sanctuary, where, after Alex’s departure, she discussed with the townsfolk the idea of relocating to his world. Long talks ended with a refusal — the people didn’t want to leave Pandora. For them, the planet, with all its madness and danger, had long become home.

“Handsome Jack is dead,” someone said. “Hyperion no longer threatens us. Why leave?”

Lilith didn’t argue. She simply nodded, saying she would still leave with those willing to follow her. Only a few Crimson Raiders agreed to go.

She didn’t mention the gods, the other worlds, or the fantastical beings. People simply wouldn’t have believed her.

Meanwhile, Moxxi headed to her son Scooter’s workshop. When she walked in, she saw him hugging a brand-new vehicle, whispering words of love to it.

“Not even gonna ask,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Ma, I just… found the true love of my life,” Scooter replied, still clutching the hood.

After a short talk, Moxxi explained the reason for her visit. Scooter just shrugged and smirked — news about his mother’s new lover didn’t surprise him in the slightest. But the idea of a new garage and a ton of vehicles instantly lit up his face.

“So I’m gonna be the head mechanic there, right?” he asked, his enthusiasm flaring.

“Yes, sugar,” Moxxi replied with a soft smile. “The head of them all.”

The conversation with Ellie was bound to be similar to the one with Scooter. But to reach her daughter, Moxxi had to travel to The Dust — a scorching, dusty wasteland where Ellie’s auto shop stood.

Using a fast travel station, Moxxi appeared right in front of the garage. Stepping inside, she immediately noticed that her daughter wasn’t there. But when she listened closely, she could hear the sound of grinding metal and a muffled voice coming from behind the building.

Walking on tiptoe, Moxxi slipped out the back door and found a typical Pandora scene: Ellie stood by a massive car crusher, and inside it was some unlucky thief. The man was babbling desperate excuses, but Ellie, her face calm and cold, simply pulled the lever. The metal plates came together with a sickening crunch, crushing both the car and the thief.

Moxxi couldn’t help but smile — not out of horror, but out of pride. Her daughter had clearly learned the most important lesson: on Pandora, only those who don’t forgive fools survive.

Ellie, as always, looked striking — a large, confident woman with a powerful frame she proudly called her “curvy beauty.” Her mechanic’s jumpsuit was unzipped halfway down, revealing a heart tattoo identical to her mother’s. Her skin was dusted with grime and oil stains, her short dark hair was messy, and her eyes shone with vitality.

“Hello, darling. I see someone tried to rob you again. I told you not to build your shop in a place like this,” said Moxxi as she approached.

“Oh, Mom! You’re the last person I expected to see. Usually you’re busy — your bar, the drunks, the admirers…” Ellie replied with a grin, wiping her hands on a rag.

“Oh, darling, so much has happened in the last few days,” Moxxi sighed, pressing a hand to her cheek.

“Yeah, I heard. Hyperion, Helios, a flying city… Scooter did good, but he could’ve done better,” Ellie replied lazily.

“It’s not just that. I came to talk,” Moxxi said with a slight smile.

“Go ahead. If you came all the way out here, it’s not just for small talk,” Ellie said, shrugging as she walked back into the workshop.

They settled inside. Moxxi sat down on an old, greasy chair, not caring about the oil stains, while Ellie poured them a drink. After just a few sentences, Ellie started noticing that something was different about her mother. Her skin looked cleaner, her eyes brighter, her movements lighter. Even her face seemed younger.

“Mom… you look like you’ve gotten younger,” Ellie said suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.Moxxi smiled faintly and, without hiding anything, explained the reason. Her new lover wasn’t human — he was a demon who had changed her body and restored her youth. Ellie stared at her in disbelief.

“Mom, maybe you should see a doctor? That’s complete nonsense! I mean, I know your taste in men, but a demon? Seriously?” Ellie said, shaking her head.

“Sweetheart, why would I lie to you? You think I’ve got nothing better to do than prank you? I’d much rather still be in Alex’s arms,” Moxxi replied lazily, resting her elbow on the table. “Or do you need more proof than the blood-red sky over Pandora?!”

Ellie fell silent, processing what she’d just heard.

“Alright. Let’s say — ancient races, experiments, an evil god, demon lover… all sounds like total bull, but fine. So what’s the point of all this?” she finally asked.

“My sweet wants to offer you a job. He’s got an entire organization — and he needs a mechanic to handle the vehicles. Safe world, no psychos, no monsters, no raiders. And Scooter’s already agreed,” Moxxi said, leaning back in her chair.

“Hmm… So a job, a garage, and my brother nearby? And no one messes with me?” Ellie clarified, crossing her arms.

“Exactly,” Moxxi nodded.

“Then I’m in,” Ellie said firmly. “Just as long as no one touches my workshop.”

“Perfect! Pack your things, we’re heading to Sanctuary. Your new father’s just finishing up taking over Helios and killing Jack,” Moxxi said cheerfully, clapping her hands.

Ellie blinked, staring at her mother in surprise.

“You’re telling me your new boyfriend’s storming Helios to kill Jack?”

“That’s right, darling,” Moxxi confirmed with a pleased smile.

Ellie burst out laughing, slapping her thigh.

“Ha! Alright, Mom — I already like the guy!”

Moxxi just smiled mysteriously. After Ellie packed her things and tools, they headed to the fast travel station to go to Sanctuary.

A flash of light — and they were standing in the familiar streets of the city. Moxxi expected to see the chaos of an evacuation, but the residents of Sanctuary seemed in no hurry. Someone was fixing weapons, someone chatting, children running — a normal day. It puzzled her a bit: she had assumed everyone would happily agree to move to a safer world, far from Pandora’s madness.

Reaching the headquarters of the Scarlet Raiders, Moxxi and Ellie went up to the second floor. Almost everyone was already there — some packing their things, others checking gear.

Ellie was the first to spot her brother and, wasting no time, approached him, patting Scooter on the back so hard he nearly dropped a box of tools.

“Well, little brother, back to work together? Like the good old days,” she said, smirking.

“Just as long as we don’t repeat what happened last time,” Scooter laughed, rubbing his shoulder.

“Oh, stop it. I only asked you not to touch my tools. Your fault for being left without a wrench back then… and almost losing a hand,” Ellie replied, folding her arms triumphantly.

They both laughed, recalling the past.

Meanwhile, Moxxi approached Lilith to find out what was going on.

“Why is everyone so calm? I thought you were all ready to leave,” she asked, frowning slightly.

“No one wants to go,” Lilith replied, shrugging. “People think that if Hyperion and Jack disappear, the danger disappears too. So why abandon home?”

“Hmm. Logic and Pandora’s people — incompatible things,” Moxxi muttered quietly.

Soon, Brick and Mordecai entered the headquarters, carrying their bags.

“And how much longer do we have to wait?” Brick grumbled, sitting down and crossing his arms.

“How should I know?” Lilith sighed, rolling her eyes. “Alex cut the broadcast, and no one knows what’s happening on Helios right now.”

“The girls from the family chat said even the Valkyries can’t see anything,” Maya added, waving her phone.

A light tension filled the room. Brick muttered under his breath, Mordecai poured some alcohol, and Maya and Lilith exchanged glances. Everyone was tired of waiting, and curiosity grew with each passing minute.

Then the air on the second floor trembled. The space before them cracked like glass, and a shimmering portal appeared in the middle of the room.

“Oh, looks like our transport has arrived,” Mordecai said, placing a bottle on the table.

Everyone immediately turned toward the portal. But instead of Alex, a child about eight years old stepped out — neatly dressed in a school uniform: black shorts, a white shirt, a black blazer, and a red bow tie. He stood, looking at them with a serious, almost adult gaze.

The first thing everyone noticed — the boy looked exactly like a miniature Alex.

“Um… kid, who are you?” Lilith asked cautiously.

“It’s me. Well, not exactly me… another me,” the boy replied in a childish voice, hands clasped behind his back.

“Wait… Alex? Why are you a kid?” Maya asked, surprised, crouching down in front of him.

“I said, I’m not him. I’m a clone,” the boy answered, crossing his arms. “And I look like this because the original has a terrible sense of humor. The other clones decided to play a joke on him, and now I’m the one paying for it.”

Brick snorted, leaning over him from above:

“Heh. And here I thought you were Alex’s son. Well, fine, a clone it is. So you’re here to take us to another world, huh?”

“Something like that,” the boy nodded, smiling innocently. “And I advise you, Brick, don’t stand so close. You think being taller makes you stronger? Wrong. Don’t forget, I’m exactly at the level of your… balls.”

Brick hadn’t had time to fully understand what Alex’s clone meant when he suddenly doubled over, clutching his groin. Sweat appeared on his face, his breathing hitched, and his eyes filled with agony. He slid to the floor, writhing in pain. Lifting his head, Brick met the gaze of mini-Alex standing before him with a mocking smirk.

The clone lazily waved at the others, as if nothing unusual had happened, then grabbed Brick by the collar and dragged him into the open portal. The others barely contained their laughter, exchanging glances before following them.

Passing through the portal, they found themselves in a spacious office decorated in an expensive style. A huge panoramic window offered a stunning view of Pandora. Behind a massive desk sat Alex — his hair neatly slicked back, glasses on his nose, his face calm and cold. He looked every bit the director of a major corporation, and this restrained authority only enhanced his allure.

Moxxi couldn’t help but flash a seductive smile and lightly lick her lips. Alex in this form looked devilishly attractive. Beside him sat Zhang Ya — her presence filled the room with icy calm. Lilith, Maya, and Moxxi immediately recognized her from the memories Alex had shared, but seeing her in person was a completely different experience — the girl radiated strength and silent menace.

Alex tore his gaze from the monitors and looked at his little clone.

“Good job, mini-me,” he said with a slight smirk.

“Damn it, don’t call me that!” the clone protested, folding his arms angrily. “It’s not my fault the other clones decided to play a joke on you! Why should I pay for their stupidity? Where’s the justice, huh? I’m filing a complaint with the Clone Rights Organization! Freedom for clones! Clones are people too!”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Alex smirked and snapped his fingers. The mini-clone instantly vanished in a puff of white smoke.

Everyone exchanged stunned glances, not quite understanding what had just happened. Only Brick continued to groan, clutching his groin and glancing sideways.

Alex turned off the monitors, stretched, and looked at those who had arrived. His gaze quickly scanned the familiar faces — Lilith, Maya, Moxxi, Angel, Tannis, Ellie, Scooter, Axton, Zer0, Salvador, and Mordecai, who had already opened a bottle and poured himself a drink. Behind them stood five people in crimson helmets — apparently, all those who had agreed to leave Pandora.

“We’re leaving soon,” Alex said calmly, leaning on the desk. “I just need to finish a few things first, then it’s simple. By the way, what’s up with Brick?”

“He got hit in the balls by your clone,” Lilith snorted, sitting on the edge of the desk. “So, what do you need to finish?”

“Cleaning Helios,” Alex replied with a slight smile. “And a piece of advice — don’t leave this office until it’s done. Even for Pandora’s residents, it’s… a lot.”

“Oh, come on, how bad can it be?” Moxxi asked, sprawling on the couch.

“Imagine your worst nightmare,” Alex said, resting his cheek on his hand. “Now multiply it by ten. That’s roughly what’s happening behind that door.”

Some tried to imagine it but quickly changed their minds. Alex then called Angel over to tell her about her father’s fate. She stepped closer, and as Alex spoke quietly, her face paled and her eyes dimmed. She only let out a heavy sigh, unable to find words.

While everyone discussed what they had just heard, Brick, having not caught the warning, finally got to his feet. Still angry from the blow, he decided to step out and “take a look around.”

As soon as he opened the door, a sharp, squeaky sound rang right in front of his face — a toy horn. Irritated, Brick pushed it aside, lifted his gaze… and froze. Standing in the doorway was a man in a blood-stained suit, with a mad smile and dead eyes.

Even a brute like Brick felt a chill run down his spine. He stepped back in fear, and Art seized the opportunity to enter the office. As Art stepped inside, everyone got a better look at the horrifying clown, carrying a black bag on his back that rattled as if filled with metal objects.

“Art,” Alex said hoarsely, lifting his gaze from the desk and frowning. “What did I tell you?”

The moment the clown crossed the threshold, a wave of unpleasant cold seemed to sweep through the room. The air grew heavier, and everyone inside felt goosebumps prickling their skin. Art tried to smile with crazy innocence, but it only made him look even creepier.

He carelessly dropped his black bag onto the floor — thick crimson liquid immediately began to seep from it, spreading across the floor. Alex exhaled wearily, his eye twitching nervously.

“Darling, take this idiot back. Not only does he not listen, but he’s covered the whole floor,” he said, glancing at Zhang Ya.

She quietly set her book aside and cast a cold look at Art. The clown immediately sensed trouble and tried to retreat — but it was too late. Zhang Ya’s shadow shot out sharply, as if alive, and long, pale arms covered in bulging crimson veins burst forth.

They grabbed Art by the legs and dragged him into the darkness. Defiantly, Art didn’t lose his nerve: he grabbed his bag and, before disappearing, pressed the horn, releasing a disgusting, shrill squeak. In an instant, the clown was completely engulfed by darkness, and everything returned to normal — silence, calm, and the steady rustle of pages as Zhang Ya returned to her reading.

A grave silence hung over the room. Even Moxxi, usually quick to joke, looked shaken. Ellie and Scooter exchanged glances — now they truly believed their mother’s words about who Alex really was. After all, you don’t see every day something emerge from the darkness to drag a living person into what seemed like a hellish abyss.

“What the hell was that?” Brick muttered, still staring at the spot where Art had disappeared. “That bastard made my skin crawl…”

“That was the clown Art,” Alex said calmly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “In short — a spawn of evil. The embodiment of cruelty and sadism. Where he went? You’d better not know. And, I remind you, I asked… not to open the door.”

“I don’t even want to know what else is wandering out there,” Lilith said, covering her eyes with her hand.

“Good choice,” Alex smirked. “Now just sit quietly until the Helios cleanup is finished. Then we’ll continue.”

Gradually, everyone settled down, and the tension began to ease. Wasting no time on long explanations, Alex handed out updated Orario guides to everyone — a revised version reflecting all the changes he had caused.

While the others flipped through the pages with curiosity, asked questions, and discussed what they saw, Alex answered calmly, occasionally glancing at the monitors. About an hour later, a message arrived: the cleanup was complete, and there were no traces of the slaughter left. Alex rose from the desk and walked to the panoramic window.

“And how exactly are you planning to transfer an entire orbital station to another universe?” Lilith asked, approaching him.

Alex turned, the corners of his mouth lifting in a mysterious smile.

“Heh… You’ll see for yourselves soon. This kind of thing only happens once in a lifetime. Trust me — it’s a sight worth seeing.”

Everyone put their guides aside, focusing their attention on him. Alex closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and raised his hands. Pale-black flames ignited on his fingers.

In the void before Helios, enormous ethereal skeletal hands began to form, burning with the same black flames as Alex’s. They moved in sync with him, like a mirrored reflection.

Alex slowly spread his arms to the sides — and the space in front of the station trembled, like glass being pressed from within. Then it cracked. The fissure widened, opening a portal through which another world peeked, alluring with its unknown mysteries.

A few minutes before Alex opened the spatial rift to transfer an entire orbital station into the fantasy world, life in Orario continued as usual. Some people were rushing to work, some were returning from the dungeon, and others simply idled, enjoying the rare quiet.

At the same time, a group of men in military uniforms stepped out of the Guild of Guardians — Lehm, Price, Ghost, Soap, and the other guys, freshly returned from a mission in another world. They stopped at the entrance, lit cigarettes, and decided to take a short break before heading home.

“Ugh, that mission was something else,” Lehm sighed, holding the cigarette between his teeth and stretching his shoulders. “I’m too old for this kind of strain.”

“Come on, Lehm,” Lutz laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “It was fun! But who would’ve thought that guy would survive a bullet to the head?”

“Yeah,” R smirked. “And yet he turned out to be the head of an entire organization. Only an idiot like him would work as a guard while being the boss of the largest structure in the country.”

“Especially with his drama!” Soap added, shaking his head. “‘How dare you humiliate my woman and make her marry that bastard!'” He mimicked the actor, making the others laugh. “A secret organization boss acting like a teenager in a cheap melodrama.”

The guys kept chatting when suddenly a sharp crack cut through the air — like a giant pane of glass shattering. Everyone lifted their heads at once. The sky… had cracked. Right above Orario.

And you didn’t need to be a genius to know who could pull off something like that.

Curious guild members ran out, passersby stopped, and all eyes turned upward, to the spot where a massive rift had opened in the sky, revealing a colossal golden orbital station.

“Don’t tell me,” Lehm exhaled, blowing smoke tiredly, “that our boss stole an entire orbital station… and brought it here.”

“Looks like that’s exactly what happened,” Price said with a smirk, holding a cigar between his teeth. “Our little guy pulled off something grand again. Though, on the plus side, our organization now has its own orbital station.”

“I wonder how the gods will react,” R grinned. “They’ll probably crap their pants when they see it.”

“Let them figure it out themselves,” Lehm said lazily, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “It wasn’t us who dragged a space behemoth here. Let Alex decide what to do with it. I’m going home.”

The others just laughed and, swinging their backpacks over their shoulders, followed his lead.

Meanwhile, Alex’s girls working in the guild stepped outside and also lifted their eyes to the sky. There wasn’t a trace of surprise on their faces. After all — Alex had done something crazy again. What concerned them more were the consequences of an orbital station appearing over their world.

Brunhilda was already feeling a headache coming on. She knew perfectly well how all of this would end: a wave of rumors, delegations from various kingdoms, and endless questions.

“Why didn’t he just make it invisible?” she muttered, rubbing her forehead.

“Because, as usual, he forgot we live in a fantasy world, not a sci-fi one,” Saya said, adjusting her glasses and folding her arms across her chest.

“Darling, even in the modern world, the appearance of something like this would cause an uproar,” Yuriko remarked gently.

“Pft, whatever,” Koko said lazily, stretching. “Now our family has its own orbital station. Everything else is minor.”

“Koko, don’t forget,” Göndul said calmly. “In a couple of weeks, ambassadors from across the continent will surely arrive in Orario. And I’m afraid this is only the beginning.”

Such conversations weren’t limited to the Guild. All of Orario froze, looking up at the sky with a mix of awe and concern. Through the cracked sky gaped a spatial rift, and on the other side loomed a massive orbital station. No one understood whether it was a miracle or a threat, but one thing was clear — the city’s peace had been disrupted once again.

Near the “Mistress of Fertility” restaurant, the waitresses and the formidable owner, Mia, gathered. They all silently stared at the celestial rift until their eyes inevitably shifted to Syr and Ryu — the only ones closest to Alex. No one doubted that he was behind this. After all, no one else in this world could have created something like it.

Meanwhile, through the streets of Orario, a short elderly man in traditional Chinese clothing dashed desperately. With one hand, he held his hat, and with the other, skillfully pushed past passersby. This was Ma Kensei, fleeing from his own wife. She had recently discovered that her husband had reopened an underground club for men with very… specific interests.

Unfortunately for Kensei, the rumble of the rift made him stumble — and he fell onto the pavement. That meant only one thing: Ma Ju had caught up with him.

“Wait, darling, look! There’s something in the sky!” Kensei blurted, pointing upward with a trembling finger.

“Nothing unusual,” Ma Ju replied calmly, not even looking up. “Your son-in-law is up to something again. Now, come on, let’s have a heart-to-heart. I warned you — no more underground clubs. All your friends have been caught, including your chatty pal Hermes. Only you are left.”

With that, she grabbed her husband by the collar and dragged him through the crowd, while he muttered plaintively, as passersby with open mouths stared at the sky, unable to look away from the rift.

In another part of the city, on the roof of the clinic, two pranksters — Sasaki and Sogetsu — were perched. Having finished another mission, they decided to “relax in their own way”: they pulled out a bottle and made themselves comfortable, enjoying the view. Akisame stepped out of his clinic and leapt onto the roof, landing right next to Sasaki and Sogetsu, who were drinking up there.

“So, did Alex pull something off again?” came Akisame’s calm voice from behind them.

“What does it matter?” Sogetsu laughed, taking a sip. “Look at these people’s faces — they think the world’s ending!”

“Hahaha!” Sasaki chimed in. “Alex outdid himself again. He scared the entire world just by existing!”

Akisame shook his head and smirked, stroking his mustache. These two could vanish for a week on a mission, and the moment they returned, they’d sit down to drink.

A moment later, Hayato, Elder Kwon, and several elders of the Sun-Woo clan appeared on the roof. All of them silently stared at the sky, where the orbital station shone through the tear in space.

Meanwhile, at the Voldigoad family mansion, boredom reigned in the spacious etiquette lesson room. On the chairs sat Anya, Nyaruko, Jinx, and Tina — their faces so dull it seemed they were about to fall asleep. Before them stood Alcina, tirelessly explaining the basics of refined manners.

But as soon as a sound resembling shattering glass echoed, all four gremlins leapt to their feet and rushed to the window. Outside, they saw a rift in the sky and the enormous Helios orbital station. Recognizing it, the girls cried out in unison, their eyes sparkling with excitement — none of them had ever been on a station before.

Alcina, noticing her students no longer paid attention, sighed deeply and approached the window herself. With a mouthpiece in hand and a cigarette she hadn’t managed to light, she looked up at the sky.

“What has my foolish husband gotten up to this time?” she muttered wearily, a twitch in her eyelid betraying her tension. “Why can’t he ever act cautiously just once?”

“Mommy Alcina, can we go take a look?” Anya asked, her eyes pleading.

“Please!” Nyaruko, Jynx, and Tina shouted in unison, giving her puppy-dog eyes. Thıs content belongs to novel•fire.net

“Alright,” Alcina gave in with a sigh. “You weren’t listening anyway. But tomorrow, the lesson will be twice as long.”

“We love you, Mommy Dracula!” the gremlins cried joyfully, hugging her legs tightly.

A second later, they were already leaping out the window and racing down the street toward the Guild, laughing loudly. Alcina watched them go, smiling. Her movements remained flawlessly graceful, even as she held the mouthpiece between her fingers. These girls weren’t her biological daughters, but she loved them as if they were. Even Tina — mischievous, crazy, but still her own. Everyone in the family knew what she had been through and understood that beneath her madness lay something much more fragile.

Meanwhile, the Denatus was underway, with the gods animatedly discussing the upcoming tournament that was to take place between their families. However, this time, the discussion was far more heated than usual — the idea of holding such an event in Orario itself seemed revolutionary to many.

The tournament could give families with weaker adventurers a chance to make a name for themselves, and it could be an excellent opportunity for some heroes to gain fame. But most of the conversation centered on the fact that the sponsor was the Guild of Guardians — the guild founded by Alex. Everyone understood perfectly well that this organization was fabulously wealthy and possessed resources no one else had.

Loki, Freya, Hestia, and Hephaestus weren’t involved in preparing the tournament, but they attended the Denatus as representatives of their families and also as delegates from the Guild of Guardians. No one was planning to change the old rules — only gods could attend the assembly — so no matter how much they wanted to skip the meeting and relax at home, Loki and Hestia had to come.

However, the session was abruptly interrupted when a panting elderly elf burst into the hall — Royman Mardil, the executive director of the Adventurers’ Guild. His face was pale, and he was struggling to catch his breath.

Uran, seated at the head of the table, immediately cut off the speech and frowned.

“Royman, what happened?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Lord Uran… the… sky… it cracked,” the dwarf managed to gasp out, barely breathing.

A deadly silence fell over the hall. Uran slowly turned his head and looked at Freya, Loki, Hestia, and Hephaestus. His first thought was clear: the husbands of these four goddesses had pulled some stunt again. In his eyes, the thought was unmistakable — only one madman was capable of such a feat. And of course, that madman was Alex.

Within moments, all the gods rushed outside to see what had happened with their own eyes. Freya, Loki, Hestia, and Hephaestus exchanged glances — there was no fear, only quiet understanding and slight weariness. They knew perfectly well who was responsible. Alex had recently warned that he was planning to “hijack” an orbital station. But no one expected him to do it so spectacularly — right in front of everyone.

“Let me guess…” Uran began, glaring gloomily at the four goddesses. “This is your husband’s doing again?”

“Maybe,” Loki replied, innocently shrugging her shoulders. “But who knows, maybe something else happened?”

“Loki, don’t think your words will calm me,” Uran said, narrowing his eyes. “Shall I remind you of what your husband has already done in this city?”

“Oh, Uran,” Freya said softly, covering her lips with her hand and smiling faintly. “Don’t be upset. Yes, our husband pulled another foolish stunt — it happens. After all, the mortal world has long needed a change. And Alex is just… helping it move forward. Even if in his own, slightly unorthodox way.”

“I’d agree with you,” Uran muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “if I hadn’t just heard that the sky cracked like glass…”

Freya let out a quiet laugh, and Loki just squinted slyly. Hestia and Hephaestus also couldn’t hide their smiles — they were already used to their husband’s antics. Uran, finally weary of the situation, just sighed and shook his head. Since he had stopped managing the dungeon personally, he had more free time, and now Denatus assemblies were held almost every week. But the more Alex pushed progress forward, the more headaches Uran got.

Stepping outside, the gods saw a massive spatial rift cutting across the sky like a shattered mirror. Hestia and Loki exchanged glances and smirked — the anticipation of getting to the orbital station was clear in their eyes. Hephaestus sighed wearily, while Freya smiled softly, looking forward to reuniting with Alex.

The other gods stood frozen, unable to find words for what they saw. Uran, the last to step outside, lifted his gaze to the heavens, letting out a tired, resigned sigh.

“I’m too old for this shit,” he muttered, staring at the cracked sky.

To be continued…

(So the Pandora mini-arc has come to a final end. Alex will resolve some issues in Orario, and then it’s back to Twilight.)

Early access to chapters on my patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep