Chapter 256: Meeting The Asuras

The hug between Sandra and Nia lingered, even with the tension in the war room. Shia watched it all, her heart pounding.

She didn’t have a bad relationship with Nia, but it wasn’t close—certainly not the kind of bond she wished for with her younger sister.

It was more a situation where she loved and supported from a distance, all because she didn’t know how to express her feelings.

As she sat there watching them, a thought crossed her mind.

’To prove it, huh?’ She wasn’t exactly sure what Ash meant about proving her redemption to him, but in that moment her body moved almost on its own.

Before she knew it, she had wrapped her arms around Nia too.

Feeling the extra presence, Nia looked up, her eyes widening.

"Um, is the world ending or something?" she asked, causing Shia’s cheeks to flush as she turned away, though she didn’t let go.

"Hmph, it’s not like I missed you or anything," Shia muttered just before Katherine’s voice cut in.

"Not to be rude or anything... but," she said, gesturing toward the watchful eyes of Tylor, Lirael, and the others.

Sandra stepped back slightly, giving Nia a good look before speaking.

"You’ve grown into a fine woman, Nia," she said warmly, clasping both her and Shia’s hands before guiding them toward Tylor and Lirael.

The Asura Patriarch’s eyes lit up with pride, and the Matriarch’s smile was full of approval as they took in Nia’s presence, sensing her strength.

"Mother, Father," she began, "this is my second daughter—Nia Originat..."

The surname felt odd on her tongue, but before she could say more, Tylor chuckled—deep, rolling thunder that echoed through the chamber.

"Strength like yours should not bear a borrowed name. You have the heart of an Asura, and the spirit worthy of Narakava."

Lirael nodded in agreement, adding softly but firmly,

"You should claim your rightful bloodline, child. Become one of us in body as you already are in spirit."

Even Sandra’s eyes flickered with longing at the thought.

At those words, the allies of the Narakava broke into wide smiles—how could they not?

One of their strongest had just gained another heir, one radiating power enough to turn the tide of whole battlefields.

If the Narakava grew stronger, so did their alliance—and that was reason enough to celebrate.

Ignis’s molten-gold feathers shifted as his booming laugh rattled the table.

"A new flame in the mix! Welcome, little sister. With your fire, we’ll turn the Tyrannus to ash before fifty years are through."

Sola’s solar plasma flared bright, her voice warm but edged with pride.

"Beautiful. Another daughter of war. The final battle will be something to behold."

Ebon Reven’s velvet tone followed, smooth and certain.

"A fine addition indeed. Their end will be all the sweeter for it."

Crystalveil’s diamond skin caught the light as she smiled, sharp and sure.

"Haha, fifty years is starting to feel generous. With this, we’ve got them outmatched in top Cosmic Overlord strength. Forget the troops—take the head, and the body falls."

Temporal Echo’s layered whispers overlapped, phasing in and out of futures.

"Her arrival brightens the timelines. It seems like the war tilts further in our favor."

The war room buzzed with hearty laughter and murmured congratulations—back-slaps, raised fists, the clink of armor as allies shared glances charged with fresh anticipation for the end ahead.

’Are all of these people fools?’ was the only thought running through her mind.

She couldn’t entirely fault them; they’d never heard the budding legend of the Obsidian Devourer.

They’d simply been too caught up in other matters, and how could they have guessed the Race she now possessed was something she would never relinquish?

Even if it meant gaining a much stronger one, this was Ash’s race—so it would always be hers.

Simple logic, really.

Katherine watched it all with glee, knowing full well Nia wasn’t buying into it. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder how she’d respond—until the answer came moments later.

She tuned out all the nonsense being said, offering only a smile and a nod to Tylor and Lirael.

"Mother, what exactly is going to happen in fifty years?"

Sandra’s gaze softened as it met Nia’s, the quiet weight of centuries and unspoken longing hanging between them.

She stepped forward, her voice low but steady, carrying the easy authority of someone who had fought—and won—across countless battlefields.

"Fifty years," she began, glancing toward the war room while keeping her eyes on her daughter.

"That’s the window the seers have given us. The Tyrannus are pulling everything into their Core Citadel. Rune’s shoring up the outer defenses, Zion and Nyx are rallying strike teams. They’re gearing up for the endgame."

She nodded toward the central hologram—battle lines glowing crimson and black, contested universes throbbing like open wounds.

"The final strike will come from three main vectors. We hit them where they’re strongest and weakest at the same time."

Sandra pointed to the first cluster of markers.

"Shia will handle Zion. He’s unpredictable and dangerous, but she knows his moves well after their recent fight—something you should be aware of. She’ll slice through his chaotic bindings and finish him. No mercy, no games."

Shia’s crooked smile spread at the mention, her eyes sparking with wild anticipation, though she kept quiet, letting her mother continue.

Sandra’s finger traced to another point—deeper into the map, where red lines twisted and converged like veins.

"I’ll take Nyx... She falls by my hand, and mine alone."

Her voice carried no anger, only a steady, deliberate resolve. She gestured to the broader front.

"And simply put...the rest of our leaders will face theirs. Every allied clan has a target. We match strength with strength."

She tapped a few shifting markers—pulsing red dots scattered across the map.

"However, the attack points keep moving. The Tyrannus are patching up their weak spots, trying to bait us into stretching too far. We’re focused on finding the real cracks—hidden gaps in their outer lines or supply routes. The seers update the routes every day. Fifty years gives us time to break them open."

Sandra’s gaze settled back on Nia, gentler now.

"That’s the plan. No wasted moves. No do-overs. When we hit, it’s done."

The war room fell silent, every ally absorbing the details as the weight of the looming battle grew heavier. Katherine leaned toward Nia, her voice low.

"Sounds like a family reunion with extra steps."

Nia’s lips twitched, a spark of obsession in her eyes softened by a hint of warmth.

"Yeah... steps we’re not taking. Creara did say to do something Primavus-like." She spoke loud enough for others to hear, earning puzzled looks, but simply smiled and stepped to the center of the room.

"Not to be rude, Mother, but I’m not changing races," she said flatly, casting a glance at Shia.

"Big sister, you should know how powerful we are... but just to be clear, we’ll give a little demonstration." She pulled out a watch-like artifact, tapped the screen, and Thalion appeared.

She smiled when she saw him.

"Old man, how’s it going?"