Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine - Chapter 251

Chapter 251: Chapter 250- Victory
Solaris had become a burden—at least when it came to his role as a god.

He was the second-eldest child of the King of the Gods, and most of his strength came directly from his father. On top of that, he had more worshippers than any other deity, which only made him stronger, so strong, in fact, that no one dared question him. Let alone oppose him.

In the Upper Realm, Solaris stood above everyone, second only to two. And while the other gods saw how unfair things had become—how favoritism shaped the order of their world—they kept silent. No one dared speak out.

Over time, his pride swelled. His confidence turned to arrogance.

And that’s why, when the time came, Solaris didn’t think twice about sealing away Veyra—the only god born of both Primogenitors. He even called upon three other gods to help him, just to make sure Veyra would never rise again, never challenge the order, never threaten Solaris’ place at the top.

That act alone was enough to seal Solaris’ fate.

Today, in the very first hour of the Celestial Trials, a being worshipped by millions vanished. Gone. Reduced to ash and silence.

His absence would shake every realm. His followers would weep, rage, and question everything. But Thalor, the one who watched it all, couldn’t bother to step in.

If the world began to crumble because of Solaris’ fall? Thalor would do what he must.

He would create a new universe.

And erase Solaris’ name from memory.

“The rest of you…” Thalor turned to the three gods who had helped banish his son. His voice was calm, but the stillness in the air was suffocating. “I am tempted to hand down the same punishment to each of you. But your absence would bring the Upper Realm to ruin. And that… would be inconvenient.”

They were the administrators—the watchers of life across both the Upper and Lower Worlds. Replacing gods wasn’t as simple as snapping fingers. Not because there weren’t other candidates, but because so few could bear the weight of divinity without crumbling.

The three gods bowed their heads, silent, ready to accept whatever sentence the Allfather chose.

Thalor’s judgment came like a hammer. “You will spend the next ten thousand years in the Punisher’s Den. I will speak with him. He will prepare the Altar of the Brave for you.”

Alex would never forget the sight that followed.

One god trembled, unable to stand straight. Another dropped to his knees, despair carved deep into his face. And the last—a goddess—broke into sobs that shook her whole body.

Absolute cinema.

None of them got a chance to speak, to plead, to argue. In a flash, their forms turned white. And then—gone.

Alex stared, stunned. Then asked the being inside him.

“What exactly does the Punisher do,” he asked quietly, “that scared them that much?”

Veyra’s expression didn’t shift. “You’d lose your mind just by looking at him. So let it go.”

Alex swallowed hard. Somehow, that answer only made him more curious. But he wasn’t about to ask the Allfather for a guided tour.

Once the judgment was done, Thalor turned back to the remaining gods.

“The Celestial Trials will continue,” he declared, “but Veyra will not be participating.”

“Father,” a voice called out. It was Alex—the Curse speaking now. “The person who saved my life is a resident of Nebula. If the Trials go on, I have to take part.”

Gaia’s lips curved into a quiet smile. Her eyes glistened. Her child had grown.

Then Eldorin stepped forward. “But Father… if he—if a Godslayer—joins the Trials, then we already know how this ends.”

Thalor hummed, deep in thought. He understood both sides, but a decision wouldn’t come easily. Not yet.

That was when Gaia stepped forward, her voice calm but resolute.

“Then… since my child loves that world and its people, how about this—we allow them to ascend. Let the other realms fight for the right to stand beside them.”

Eldorin gave a short, almost playful laugh. “That’s blatant bias—” He stopped mid-word the moment Thalor’s glare met his. Clearing his throat, the God of Wisdom quickly corrected himself. “Ahem. Yes, yes… we can do that.”

Thalor’s sternness faded as he turned to his wife. His gaze softened, the weight of millennia briefly lifting from his features.

“Is that what you truly want, dear?” he asked gently.

Gaia narrowed her eyes and turned away from Thalor, refusing to meet his gaze.

Without a word, she stepped beside her child and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Her voice was soft, but it carried a quiet fury as she spoke into the open air.

“I don’t want my child to suffer anymore. He won’t fight any battles now—not for us, not for anyone.”

Thalor gave a firm nod, accepting her decision.

“You heard her, Eldorin. In Solaris’s absence, you will oversee the Trials. And this time… you’re making an exception.”

Eldorin nodded rapidly, like a scolded child too scared to do anything but agree.

The instructions were clear. After a short pause, the God of Wisdom spoke, “I will make the announcement to Nebula once the Trials begin. The residents who came here to compete… I’ll make sure they’re returned safely.”

Thalor looked at him with measured calm.

“Depending on how well you carry this out,” he said, “I might reconsider your punishment. Don’t disappoint me.”

Eldorin froze.

So… he did know.

He had thought, perhaps, that with Solaris gone and silent, his role in the betrayal had been buried. If no one spoke, he could walk away untouched.

But there was nothing the Allfather didn’t see.

Gaia gently cupped her son’s cheeks, her touch as soft as her voice.

“My child… let’s go home now.”

Veyra let out a quiet sigh.

“I want to, truly. But first, I have to return to Nebula. My friends need to know I’m okay. They need to hear it from me.”

“Then I’ll come too—” Gaia began, stepping forward.

“It’s impossible, Mother.”

The interruption came sharply and firmly. Lumiera, ever the voice of reason, stepped in.

Even she had to descend to the mortal world using an apostle—just a fragment of her divine self—so as not to tear reality apart. And here stood the Mother of Gods, prepared to walk directly into the lower realm?

That would do the very thing Veyra was trying to avoid.

It would destroy Nebula.

Gaia pouted like a child as she hugged Veyra tightly, her voice soft and full of longing.

“I don’t want to part from my child right after reuniting with him…”

Veyra gave her a wry smile, gently patting her back.

“It’s only for a few weeks, Mother. Until then, why not spend some time with your other children? They need your warmth, too, don’t they?”

It was a kind suggestion, but one rooted in truth.

Because of Veyra’s disappearance, Gaia had never allowed herself to grow close to her other children. Always distant, always composed. That’s why, now, even the Goddess of Spiritual Beings was still frozen in disbelief.

Was this truly the same serene, untouchable mother she had worshipped all her life? This animated, emotional woman holding Veyra so dearly?

Gaia took a deep breath and nodded.

“You’re right… I’ll stay here in the Upper Realm for now.”

Then, her voice dipped—quiet, heavy.

“I… don’t want to go back home. Not yet.”

Those words pierced Thalor’s heart like a blade.

His wife… no longer wished to return to their home.

Veyra glanced at his father with a sense of helplessness. He doesn’t know how things would turn out, or whether he would ever be able to forgive his father. But as of now, Veyra wanted to spend his time with his mother, so he promised her, “I will make sure to return to you as soon as I can. I promise.”

Gaia fondly smiled at him. Kissing his forehead, she said, “I will be waiting for you.”

….

After that, Eldorin did what he promised.

Once the two primogentiros returned to their thrones, he resumed the battle but only after transporting the residents of Nebula back to their home world.

“Huh?!” Exclaimed Edric, who found himself teleported away.

For others as well, it appeared as if they were in the arena a moment ago….and they were…back in their world…for some unknown reasons.

“What the…!”

“Huh?”

“The hell!”

The rulers of the four realms, the close relatives of the candidates, were all still present at the venue from which they were taken. After all, only twenty or so minutes had passed.

And upon noticing them, they were baffled.

The first thought that came to every mind was—”You…lost?”

“I don’t know….” Rebecca muttered in confusion as she looked around, trying to find Alex.

It was then,

“Kneel before the one who has blessed this planet and has given you another chance.” From the sky descended the angel… no, devil with black wings behind him and a smirk on his face.

Everyone watched in bafflement as Alex came to a pause at a height where he could be seen by everyone, and told them,

“Congratulations, Nebula has passed the Trials. Let’s celebrate!”

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.