Chapter 1643: Chapter 1643

"I have to admit, you're not weak…"

The entity behind this manifestation revealed itself. The trident had pierced Maria's chest, its divine power and destructive energy surging through her body, attempting to annihilate her from within.

And yet… she remained standing.

"W-What…! Who…?! Who are you?!"

The King gasped, his hands trembling in disbelief and fear as he recognized the figure before him.

"I am Maria, that boy's stepmother. You tortured him because you believed he was your daughter. You even ripped his soul from his body, thinking it would somehow bring her back, didn't you?"

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"That boy's name is Celes. He is not Naiad. His soul may have belonged to her, but your daughter is dead. She died hundreds of years ago, protecting those she loved. Her soul rested for ages before reincarnating into that boy."

Thalassa and Oceanus gasped, their eyes wide with horror and grief as the truth sank in.

Their youngest daughter… was truly gone.

"Our youngest…" Thalassa whispered, the pain of her daughter's death overwhelming even her physical suffering.

"Naiad…" Oceanus murmured, his voice cracking.

Maria watched them in silence as the two great spirits broke down, weeping in agony over the loss of their beloved child.

She had been ready to tear them apart, to torture them before devouring their essence. But something made her pause.

Maria clenched her teeth, her eyes shimmering with tears.

No, she couldn't afford to be soft now.

She was an Outer God of immense power. She couldn't afford to show mercy.

If she kept hesitating, no one would ever respect her.

Despite her inner turmoil, Maria extended her hand toward the grieving couple. Even if their sorrow was genuine, they had still hurt her daughter and her stepson.

She couldn't forgive them.

She would kill them. She would make them suffer. She would—

"Mom… don't kill them!"

The voice stopped her cold.

Consumed by grief and resentment, Maria had been on the verge of abandoning her last shred of humanity. But that voice pulled her back.

It was her daughter's voice—the last person she expected to intervene.

Maria tore the trident from her chest and hurled it into the black sea. Then she looked up at the dark, starless sky.

"They hurt you. They hurt Celes. They deserve nothing but death. And you're defending them?"

"Mom, don't say that! You're a good person. Don't do this!"

"Just listen to me! These people did all those terrible things because they missed their daughter. Think about it. What would you do if I died and came back as someone completely different? If my soul returned, but I didn't remember you or who I used to be?"

Maria was stunned by her daughter's words.

She would lose her mind if that ever happened.

"I know you're angry. But no matter how much you make them suffer, it won't compare to the pain they're feeling right now."

Her void was devouring them, and yet they cried not for themselves, but for their daughter.

They weren't like the selfish, egotistical beings she had destroyed before. These two were mourning someone else.

If anything… weren't they a lot like her?

"Damn it, Nyx… Fine. Fine…"

Maria sighed. The darkness vanished, and the void stopped consuming the King and Queen.

They could have fought back, but once they learned the truth, they had surrendered, awaiting death in the black abyss.

"You two are fools! Naiad died doing what she loved. Now she's reincarnated. Isn't that the best ending she could have had? She lives on in Celes, and that boy… he's wonderful! He went along with all your nonsense just because he didn't want to see you sad. Don't you get it? You have two other children out there. Were you really going to die and leave them behind just because Naiad is gone?"

"N-No! Of course… not…"

"I… Brontys… Coraleia… I… completely forgot. Why would I forget? What… what have I done?"

Thalassa and Oceanus were shattered, barely able to comprehend the gravity of their actions.

"That boy…" Thalassa whispered. "Oh… by the holy spirits… what have I done? To a little boy…"

"To… our daughter's reincarnation… Oh no… No…!" Oceanus gasped, guilt finally overtaking him. "Thalassa, we have to do something! That boy will die!"

"I know… I-I…" Thalassa stammered, unable to find the words.

"At least you show some remorse," Maria said, her voice heavy. "You owe my daughter everything. She just saved your lives."

Maria's Dominion faded completely. The King and Queen reappeared in the castle hall, wounded but still powerful.

Maria had spared their strength. If she was going to let them live, she wanted them strong—perhaps to force them into becoming her allies later.

Maria, Thalassa, and Oceanus arrived to find Nyx and Nia crying beside Celes' lifeless body. His soul hovered nearby, trying to return, but unable to reenter. It was like trying to move a puppet without strings.

Behind them, the King and Queen saw Brontys and Coraleia, bruised and impaled by red and white stakes that kept them immobilized.

Lucifer and Partner sat atop their bodies, preventing any movement. They too bore bruises—it had not been an easy fight, even with Nyx's help. The girl had insisted they didn't deserve to die, while Lucifer and Partner had tried to kill them regardless.

"Celes… was that his name?"

Thalassa knelt beside the boy, glancing at Nyx and Nia.

"A-Ahhh! Y-You monster! Why are you here?! You killed my son!"

Nia screamed, her voice filled with anguish.

Oceanus stepped forward as Nyx looked up at them.

"Auntie, please calm down…"

"I know how you feel… I'm sorry. I asked Mom not to kill them…"

"What?! But they… they…"

Nia's hands trembled as she sobbed, staring at her son's body.

"What do you mean he's not dead?" she asked.