"What?"
The shocking revelation left Muria utterly stunned. He had already sensed through his bloodline resonance that something was amiss with Aeolos, his eldest son. However, he hadn't been worried in the slightest, confident that the elders watching over his son would intervene if necessary.
But now, his grandmother, Alysta, had arrived in a state of urgency, bringing news that both of his grandfathers had gone missing in their attempts to find Aeolos.
His Titan grandfather, Arckmond, the Wild Lord, was a being brave enough to storm into divine realms and battle deities of great power. Though not yet capable of defeating such gods, his youthful vigor as an epic-tier being attested to his immense strength.
As for his Dragon King grandfather, Deimos, Muria wasn't entirely sure of his combat abilities, but he was certain Deimos operated at the pseudo-world level. Moreover, Deimos lacked no resources thanks to his partner, Alysta.
For these two colossal figures to vanish while searching for his son was beyond absurd. Muria was certain Alysta hadn't traveled all this way to joke about such a serious matter.
"Don't panic. They might have encountered a special situation that's cut off communication, but that doesn't necessarily mean they've been harmed," Alysta said, attempting to comfort him as she noticed his shock.
"I'm not panicking. I'm confident they haven't been harmed," Muria replied as he stood. The other three epic beings around him instinctively stepped back, giving him space.
"In terms of power, my son Aeolos is definitely the weakest and the most vulnerable. But I'm certain he's not in mortal danger right now."
"That's not guaranteed," Alysta countered, her expression full of worry. "If he's suddenly sealed, that wouldn't technically count as life-threatening."
"As long as his life isn't in danger, everything else can be resolved," Muria said firmly. He noticed his grandmother's visible anxiety, a stark contrast to her earlier advice for him to stay calm. Her frantic use of source energy to enhance her physical body served as proof of her internal turmoil.
"I understand. As long as they're alive, we'll resolve whatever issues arise," Alysta agreed, though her unease remained palpable.
"Besides my son and my grandfathers, who else is missing?" Muria asked, suddenly struck by another crucial thought.
Though he was closely related to Alysta, others had deeper emotional connections with her, including Deimos and Muria's mother, Atris. Her absence now could only mean one thing: Atris was also caught up in this crisis. And since she was always with his father, their entire family was implicated.
"Your parents," Alysta confirmed.
"And?" Muria frowned, already bracing himself for worse news.
"Your partner."
"Mikaela, too?" Muria's expression darkened.
"And Mikaela's grandfather, the Seraph. He was the first to investigate."
"What about the Mecha Emperor, the Abyss Lord, and the Warden of the Ancient Prison? Aren't they intervening?" Muria's tone grew grim. His parents, his wife, and his son—essentially his entire family—were missing. This situation left him on the verge of becoming an orphan overnight.
"The Ten Overseers of the Titan race have already set out to investigate," Alysta replied.
"The Ten Overseers!" Muria's eyes lit up, and his restless mood finally eased. "Then there shouldn't be much to worry about."
"That's not certain. The world where Aeolos reincarnated has significant issues," Alysta said with a sigh.
"What can I do, then, Grandmother?" Muria asked, forcing a chuckle.
As Aeolos's father, he had a duty to be informed and involved in the situation. However, from what he could tell, this crisis far exceeded his current capabilities, rendering any direct intervention on his part largely irrelevant.
"Wait for the Ten Overseers to conclude their investigation. When the time comes, as a father, a husband, and a son, you'll be expected to take action," Alysta stated.
"It's my responsibility, of course," Muria agreed with a nod.
"Do you have any unfinished matters here?" Alysta turned her gaze to the three other epic beings nearby. Her mere presence caused them to instinctively step back.
"If necessary, I can help you. You need to stay ready at all times."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Grandmother," Muria said with a warm smile. His eyes swept over the three epic beings before settling on the Evil God, shrouded in the world's cursed mist.
Pointing directly at the entity he found most repugnant, Muria made a startling request: "Grandmother, please assist me in eliminating this god."
"That one?" Alysta's blazing dragon eyes locked onto the Evil God.
"Simple!" Having amplified her physical power with source energy, Alysta was eager to test her enhanced might.
The Evil God's escape began instantly.
"Dragon God, why? I've never wronged you! Even in the world below, when an unfortunate conflict occurred, I offered my apologies and full compensation. Why are you targeting me now?"
As it fled, the Evil God's spirit rang with distress, broadcasting its grievances to Muria.
"Why?" Muria replied, his smile growing brighter. "Because you're an Evil God. That alone is reason enough for your demise."
"What does it matter to you if I'm an Evil God?" the entity retorted, its voice tinged with frustration and disbelief.
"You're correct that your actions in other worlds have no direct impact on me. But I despise what you represent," Muria explained.
"No need for words," Alysta interrupted. "Evil Gods don't need to exist. Killing them is always the right choice."
With a swipe of her massive dragon claw, Alysta unleashed radiant golden light, reinforcing the surrounding void to prevent the Evil God from escaping through spatial tears.
Despite this, the fleeing deity poured its full strength into its escape, vanishing from sight in an instant.
"Wait a moment." Alysta spread her radiant dragon wings, each beat unleashing a torrent of wind and light. Though Muria's perception couldn't keep up with her speed, the traces of light left in her wake made her direction clear.
"Just how powerful has her body become?" Muria marveled. For epic beings, augmenting one's physical form with source energy was the most efficient way to enhance combat power. While this tactic had diminishing returns at higher levels, it was immensely effective at Alysta's stage.
"Dragon God, I've just remembered some unfinished business. I'll take my leave now," the Whale God interjected, seizing the moment to retreat.
"Indeed, I, too, have matters to attend to. Farewell!" the Mecha God added, following suit.
Both beings understood the gravity of the situation. Staying longer would only risk entanglement with the Dragon God's power.
"Don't be in such a hurry!" Muria called after them, his smile exuding warmth. "Your avatars and minions are still in this world. Leaving them behind would be quite a loss."
"No need. I can always create new avatars later," the Whale God replied, its sense of urgency intensifying.
"Mecha God, stay a little longer. Our earlier sparring was enlightening. Let's exchange insights again," Muria said, addressing the second deity.
"No, thank you!" the Mecha God snapped as spatial fissures formed around it. Without a second thought, it prepared to tear through space and flee.
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