[: 3rd POV :]

As the echoes of battle faded into the silence of eternity, Daniel hovered in the air, his silver diamond eyes gleaming faintly beneath the ashen sky.

The bodies of the Apostles or what was left of them had already vanished, erased completely from existence by his decree of [: Absolute Death :.

Their power, their essence, their very connection to their Lord had been severed beyond repair.

With a wave of his hand, Daniel erased the remnants of the Apocalypse forces that lingered across the world.

Their armies disintegrated into dust, the rift they had torn between realms closing as if it had never existed.

Reality knitted itself back together, calm and harmonious under his command.

The earth mended its wounds, the skies cleared, and the world could finally breathed again.

And then, the both the will of the universe and the system spoke.

[: What a spectacular fight! You have achieved the Impossible without breaking the universe laws and have obtained the title: Rise of Time Conqueror :]

[: Your limits know no bounds and you have slain the Apostles unexpectedly. You have obtained the title: Slayer of the Chosen :]

[: You have shattered reality and manipulated it at will despite still being mortal. Title obtained: Reality Maker :]

[: Your fight against the Apostles of the Apocalypse Sovereign deserves rewards :]

[: Congratulations, the Will of the Universe has rewarded you with — 1 Pill of Supreme Unification, 1 Gem of Strength, 5 Crystals of Elemental Laws, and 1 Essence of Mania :]

[: Congratulations, you have cleared the mission and obtained 1,000,000 Points :]

[: Congratulations, due to killing Apostles for the first time, you have obtained 1 Gift Pack :]

The words echoed like celestial hymns, resonating through the void of space and the folds of reality itself.

Daniel’s lips curved into a faint smile, one not born of arrogance, but quiet satisfaction.

His silver-white aura shimmered as the rewards appeared on his hand.

It wasn’t only because of this that he was delighted.

As he had consumed and devour the apostles stats, all of his stats had increased tremendously.

His stats skyrocketed, and each of his stats had increased by 500 Trillion.

Not only that, as he had killed the Apostles and remnants of their armies, his level soared past every known boundary.

In total, his level was now 150,000.

Daniel looked up toward the endless expanse of the cosmos, the faint echo of the Apostles’ final curse lingering in his memory.

"Even in death, all of you wouldn’t understand," he murmured, his voice calm, resolute.

"This world will not fall... not while I still stand."

And with that, he turned away, the winds bending around him as he stepped forward whose very existence redefined what it meant to be absolute.

A few days had passed since Daniel had annihilated the Apostles.

Yet, beneath that peace, unease lingered ad some still glanced nervously at the sky, wary that the light which once split the dimension might return.

Still, life moved on.

The world was quick to adapt and forget.

The Human Continent, in particular, had regained its peace.

The streets bustled once more, merchants called out prices with renewed enthusiasm, and laughter echoed between the city walls.

Banners and ribbons adorned the air, fluttering gently under the warm morning sun.

Today was a special day, the 5th of August, a day of celebration and reverence.

It was the birthday of Melira, the Empress of the Human Continent.

Every year, this day was marked by festivals that stretched from dawn until night.

Nobles arrived from distant provinces bearing gifts, while commoners gathered in the plazas to sing, dance, and offer prayers for their Empress’s long life.

The grand capital, Lunaria, was at its most beautiful.

Golden petals were scattered through the streets, lanterns floated above the canals, and musicians played songs that told tales of Melira’s rise.

From a young princess who united the fractured kingdoms to an empress who now ruled with unwavering grace.

Inside the imperial palace, servants hurried through the vast marble halls, preparing the final touches for the evening’s banquet.

The air was filled with the scent of flowers, incense, and roasted delicacies from every region of the continent.

The Empress’s loyal guards stood at attention in ceremonial armor, their expressions stern yet proud.

Yet amidst all the splendor, Melira herself sat quietly within her private garden, away from the noise of the preparations.

Surrounded by the tranquil hum of nature, she gazed at the horizon, her mind distant, her heart heavier than usual.

Though the world saw this day as a celebration of her reign, for her, it was also a day of remembrance.

Every year, no matter how many smiles she forced, she couldn’t escape the ache that accompanied this date, the memory of the child she had lost long ago.

Her fingers brushed against her chest.

Her expression softened, though her eyes glistened faintly.

"Another year..." she murmured to herself. "If only you were here."

Little did she know, fate and the reunion with her son was closer than she could ever imagine.

Not only the nobles of her own empire had gathered, but even the Emperors and Empresses from the Elf, Dwarf, Demi-Human, Demon, and Dragon Continents had come to honor her.

The great courtyard shimmered with the presence of powerful rulers, their attendants and guards forming a spectacle of color and pride.

Although Melira knew this day was important for her people, she herself found little joy in it.

To her, birthdays had long since lost their meaning.

Still, she had decided to let the celebration continue, for her people’s sake, not her own.

She sat quietly in her royal garden, the faint murmur of music from the grand hall reaching her ears.

Her fingers traced the rim of her cup absentmindedly as she gazed into the sky, her mind drifting elsewhere.

"Aunty Melira, what’s wrong...?" a soft voice asked.

Melira turned slightly and saw Rika, the daughter of the Demi-Human King, standing beside her with gentle eyes.

Rika had grown into a beautiful young woman, yet her heart remained pure.

To Melira, she was like family and to Rika, Melira was more than an Empress.

Melira smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Nothing, my dear... I’m just thinking about... my son."

Rika fell silent.

The words struck her heart deeply.

She wanted to say something, anything but no words came.

Her hands clenched slightly as she lowered her gaze.

Memories resurfaced of when she and Caelira had once been slaves, and how Daniel, barely a child, had given them hope.

She could still see that small boy smiling through pain, still hear his laughter despite the chains around them.

"I... miss him too," Rika whispered softly.

Melira’s eyes trembled, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips.

At that moment, Caelira, the Empress of the Elf Continent, stepped forward.

Her long hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her eyes carried the same sadness that reflected in Melira’s.

"Don’t worry, Melira,"

Caelira said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We all know he’s out there somewhere. The news of the Zero Organization’s destruction... it could only be him. He’s alive strong, and fighting for what’s right."

Melira nodded faintly, though her heart ached even more.

Caelira’s voice softened.

"As far as I know, he always have been brave, Even as a child, he protected others before himself..."

"I could tell and I’m quite jealous that you could see him grow up"

Melira whispered and she did not have any hatred for Caelira for being able to see her son.

"But... I just wanted my son, the boy I never got to hold to be by my side today..."

Her voice cracked slightly, her eyes glistening with restrained tears.

From behind, Lilith, the Demon Queen and wife of the Demon King, approached.

Her eyes carried sympathy, and her tone was steady yet warm.

"Caelira’s right, Melira. Even now, our scouts are searching for him. We won’t stop until he’s found."

Melira looked up, meeting Lilith’s determined gaze.

"For everything Daniel did for my son, Kiel," Lilith continued, "for saving him when no one else could... I owe him a debt that I can never repay"

"I will find him, even if it takes my entire life."

The words filled the air with quiet resolve, but also sorrow.

Rika looked away, biting her lip, her eyes watering.

Caelira clenched her hands together, trying to hold back her emotions.

Melira could no longer contain her tears.

They slipped silently down her cheeks as she whispered.

"It’s been so many years... and still, I’ve never once seen his face as a grown man. Every day feels... emptier than the last."

"Daniel... my son... just where are you?"

The garden fell silent.

Only the sound of the wind brushing through the flowers filled the air.

Each of them, Rika, Caelira, and Lilith, shared the same pain, the same longing.

Except for Lilith, they had all once been part of Daniel’s life, and now, they all carried the same emptiness of his absence.

Despite all their strength and power as rulers, they were helpless in the face of fate unable to breach the seal of the Forbidden Continent, unable to follow the trail of the one boy who had changed their lives.

And so, beneath the laughter of the distant festivities, four hearts mourned quietly holding onto a fragile hope that one day, Daniel would return.