"Thank you, Your Highness," Sylvaris said with a bow as the colored veins retracted to my forehead from hers.

She was the last one to have the ban lifted. The method was more exhausting than I had expected. Almost all of my Sea of Soulforce was depleted, and I could barely keep myself standing due to the strain of using Heart of the Fallen for several minutes.

"All of you need to manifest your blood, bones, and skin to a certain extent to be able to use the transformation I employed in the battle," I informed them, keeping my voice steady.

"Unbelievable," Barbatos gasped, staring at his own body with widened eyes. "I feel as though a massive restriction within me has been lifted."

"I can’t wait to test these newly found powers," Titan said, clenching his fists. "It feels as if I have returned to my youth."

"I believe I will be able to break through to the Demi-God realm after manifesting my body," Aethon murmured, opening his eyes as he sat cross-legged, examining his inner world.

I could clearly see the excitement on the faces of these old monsters. All of them wanted to return to their sects immediately and begin cultivation. It was as if an infant had just learned to walk and now wished to explore the entire world.

Even Father and Aurelion were no different. They were barely restraining themselves from starting their cultivation then and there.

"You didn’t need to push yourself so far," Ume mumbled, brushing the sweat-soaked strands of hair from my face with her sleeve.

"Sister Ume is right. Or do you want to be unconscious for another ten days?" Nymeria retorted, fastening the buttons of my shirt.

"Hehe, I’m not worried about that," I replied with a playful smile. "I have two goddesses looking after me."

I stood at the center of the courtroom, with Ume and Nymeria on either side of me.

"I know he is a prince, but that’s too much," Tartaglia muttered, clenching his hand fan. "At least have some courtesy before your single seniors."

"Ahem, Taranis, I am grateful on behalf of the entire Hundred Sky Mountains for such a magnificent gift," Father said, his tone slightly awkward as I openly flirted with Ume and Nymeria. "I understand that you must be exhausted, but there is still one matter that must be addressed and cannot be postponed any longer."

"You need not thank me, Father. The Hundred Sky Mountains is my home, and its sect members are my family," I replied in a polite tone. "I only did what was expected of me as a prince. Please say what you wish to discuss."

Father’s demeanor turned serious, his eyes narrowing at me, Nymeria, and Ume as he declared,

"I do not acknowledge your relationship."

The entire courtroom fell silent at his declaration. Nymeria was slightly taken aback, while Ume merely clenched her fists, her mind already filling with countless unnecessary thoughts.

’Was I being too casual about my relationship with two women?’ I thought inwardly. Polygamy was never common in the Hundred Sky Mountains. Not even Father, who was a king and the strongest in the Western Continent, loved any woman other than Mother.

Still, it was not going to change anything for me.

"What do you not acknowledge about my relationship?" I asked, my voice serious.

"You are seriously asking that?" Father said, his voice rising slightly, his eyebrows furrowed. "You are the Prince of the Hundred Sky Mountains. Do you have any idea what message would be sent to the citizens when their prince behaves like this?"

My body glowed with a crimson aura. From my shoulders, two crimson arms, formed purely of lightning, materialized. I grabbed Nymeria’s and Ume’s hands and declared,

"I will never choose between Goddess Gumiho and the Snow Goddess."

My control over Soulforce had increased to such an extent that even though I held their hands with my artificial arms, the lightning did not affect them in the slightest.

"Wh-what? I am not forcing you to make a choice," Father said, flinching under the glares of both Ume and Nymeria. "Do not twist my words and make my daughters-in-law hate me."

"Ehh?" Nymeria, Ume, and I mumbled in confusion.

Father facepalmed before continuing, "What I meant was that it is unbecoming of the future king of the Hundred Sky Mountains to be in an unofficial relationship."

After a brief pause and a faint smile, he declared,

"Marry already and succeed the throne."

He turned to Mother, seated beside him on her throne. "Your mother and I want to retire and spend some time together."

"Your Highness, we have not had a grand occasion like a marriage for a long time," Barbatos said with a smile. "Do not make us wait any longer."

"Marry already, Your Highness," the other Sect Masters chanted in unison.

"I’m sorry, everyone, but I cannot marry," I answered with a bow. Before both Father and Aurelion could beat me to a pulp, I continued,

"You must be aware that you were not the only ones who sensed the beating of my heart. Unlike last time, the location of my beating heart was revealed. From how deeply our true form is hidden and the strange requirements to unlock it, I am certain of one thing. The only reason our ancestors went to such lengths to conceal our identities must be because someone did not want us to rise again, and they must be dangerous enough for our ancestors to be so cautious.

I cannot marry and settle down under such circumstances."

No one could deny my claims. They were all aware of how vast and dangerous Vyoman truly was.

"What do you mean by your last sentence?" Father demanded, his eyes narrowing.

"Father, the one who does not wish for our rise will soon come looking for me," I said, clenching my fists. "I can no longer remain in the Hundred Sky Mountains and endanger the lives of my people."

"Stop speaking nonsense, Taranis," Mother shouted, speaking for the first time since the meeting had begun. "If your words are true, you will be in even greater danger if you leave the Hundred Sky Mountains. Stay here. Your father, I, and all the Sect Masters will protect you with our lives."

"We will protect you with our lives, Your Highness," the Sect Masters said in a loud, resolute tone.

"That is exactly what I am afraid of, Mother," I replied with a sigh. "You must understand that the enemy coming for me will be unlike any we have faced before. Father still needs time to recover his strength, and the other Sect Masters must also unlock their true potential. It is time for the Hundred Sky Mountains to flourish.

We will be ruined if I remain here. The only way for all of us to survive is for me to leave this place and seek out other artifacts to regain my true form before I am hunted down."

"No, it is too dangerous," Mother shook her head, her eyes beginning to moisten. She understood that my reasoning was logical, yet how could any mother send her child away instead of protecting them when they were in danger?

I stepped forward, ascended the stairs, and stood before the throne where Mother sat.

Bending my knees, I took her hand and placed it against my face before saying,

"Do not worry, Mother. I promise that I will return once this crisis ends. Besides, I will not be alone."

I turned toward Jambavan, Vyaghra, Ume, and Nymeria and revealed,

"There will be four gods supporting me on my journey."