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Raiden landed softly within the grand halls of his castle, the towering structure standing as a testament to his dominion over the world. The weight of the battle still clung to him—his body battered, his strength drained. He walked through the vast chamber, each step heavier than the last, and reached his throne. Without ceremony, Raiden collapsed onto it, his body sinking into the luxurious cushions. His head tilted back, eyes tracing the intricate patterns on the ceiling above him. The beauty of it should have brought him some peace, but his mind was elsewhere.
His thoughts wandered to Gaia. It had been so long since he'd heard from her. After everything he had done—freeing and uniting the world, gathering strength for the ultimate battle to save it—she had gone silent. He had expected guidance, a word of acknowledgment, but there was nothing. He clenched his fist, feeling a familiar ache deep within his core. It wasn't from the fight. No, this was something far worse. The more he used his power, the deeper the scar etched itself toward his very soul. He could feel it growing with each moment of exertion, threatening to consume him.
But before he could dwell on it any longer, a soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Raiden…"
He looked up to see Raven entering the room, cradling their son, Zephyr, in her arms. As soon as Raiden's eyes met his son's, a small but genuine smile tugged at his lips. No matter how heavy his burdens, seeing Zephyr's smile always made the world feel lighter. Raven, with a knowing glance, approached him, her steps graceful as ever.
"I felt you could use some down time," she said gently, her dark eyes showing both concern and understanding. She handed Zephyr over to him, the young boy wriggling happily in his father's arms.
"Dad!" Zephyr exclaimed, his voice full of childish glee. The boy, now almost two years old, climbed into Raiden's lap with ease, his small hands tugging at Raiden's robes. "I'm happy we can hang out, dad!"
Raiden's heart ached at the sound of his son's innocent voice, the weight of his responsibilities momentarily forgotten. For a brief moment, there was no battle, no world to save—just the simple joy of holding his son.
Raven smiled softly, watching the two interact. "He's missed you. We both have," she said quietly, though there was no accusation in her tone—only love. "But your father is busy, Zephyr."
Raiden looked down at his son, feeling the warmth of the boy against his chest. He smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, little one," he said softly. "I've been working so hard, but I promise you, once my work is done, I'll give you all the time in the world. That's a promise."
Zephyr's eyes widened with delight, his little hands patting his father's chest. "Okay, dad! I'll wait! But… I still want to play more!"
Before Raiden could respond, the door to the throne room opened once more. Kori entered, her fiery hair glowing under the castle's light, followed by Merlin and Da Vinci. The sight of the three made Zephyr's smile falter slightly, his small shoulders slumping. He knew what it meant when they all appeared together—it was time for serious matters, and serious matters meant that he had to leave.
Zephyr pouted, looking up at his father with wide, disappointed eyes. Raiden could almost hear the boy's thoughts 'why did grown-ups always have to spoil the fun?'
Raiden sighed, feeling the ache in his heart deepen as he looked at his son. How could someone so young, so innocent, be so perceptive? It was astonishing how intelligent Zephyr was, able to speak and understand situations far beyond his age. But Raiden couldn't bear to send him away, not this time. Not after everything.
"Stay, Zephyr," Raiden said softly, surprising both his son and the others. "You don't have to leave today. You can stay with me."
Zephyr's face lit up in an instant, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Really, dad? I can stay?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief and joy.
Raiden smiled and nodded, watching as his son practically bounced in his lap. "Yes, you can stay."
"Thank you, dad!" Zephyr squealed, wrapping his tiny arms around Raiden's neck in a hug so full of love it almost brought tears to the king's eyes
Koriand'r walked up to Raiden, her warm presence immediately softening the tension in the room. She leaned down, giving him a gentle kiss before placing one on Zephyr's cheek. Zephyr giggled, wriggling slightly in his father's lap.
"Not in front of everyone, mommy Kori," Zephyr said with a playful smile, his cheeks turning a slight shade of red.
The light-hearted exchange brought smiles to everyone present. Even Raiden, despite the weight of his responsibilities, felt a sense of peace as he chuckled quietly. Merlin and Da Vinci both stepped forward to greet Raiden and the young prince.
"My little intelligent friend!" Da Vinci greeted, her eyes twinkling as she bent down to ruffle Zephyr's hair. Zephyr beamed, always happy to see her.
"Aunty Da Vinci!" Zephyr exclaimed with delight before sticking his tongue out playfully at Merlin, causing the room to erupt in laughter. Merlin sighed dramatically, pretending to be offended by the child's teasing, though there was a subtle smile tugging at his lips.
"I'll get you back for that someday, young prince," Merlin joked with a wink, earning more giggles from Zephyr.
As the laughter subsided, Da Vinci's expression turned more serious, though she maintained her usual warmth. "Raiden, you're giving me more work now, you know," she said with mock exasperation. "The damage you caused at the North Pole... it's going to take some time to fix."
Raiden merely shrugged, his tone casual as he replied, "I summoned you for this kind of thing. Besides, you love a good challenge." His eyes flickered with amusement.
Da Vinci sighed, shaking her head before bringing up a holographic projection in front of the group. "Speaking of challenges, the project is progressing well. Let me show you the new updated Gaia Cores."
The projection shifted, displaying a series of spherical devices, each humming with energy. "These will handle more advanced tasks, like maintaining the environment, managing waste disposal, and other essential duties. They're designed to support the world on a larger scale."
Raiden studied the image for a moment, nodding in approval before Da Vinci swiped to reveal another projection—a massive army of drones. Sleek, powerful, and brimming with the latest technology. "These are the Gaia Drone Army, designed specifically for warfare. I've made some improvements since the last batch."
Raiden's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Impressive work. These will be useful," he said, his mind already strategizing their deployment. "What about Semiramis? How's she doing?"
Merlin groaned, shaking his head. "She's been doing PR work for you, going from nation to nation, singing your praises as the great 'King' and, of course, her 'husband.'" His words carried an undertone of irritation, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Raven and Kori exchanged sharp glances, both clearly annoyed by the mention of Semiramis. Raiden sighed, rubbing his temples. At first, he had been ready to shut down Semiramis's public claims, but Da Vinci had advised against it, saying it was good for public relations. Ultimately, Raiden had let it slide—if she wanted to parade around and call herself his wife, it was more of a distraction than anything else. And if it helped his image, all the better.
"As long as she's distracted, it's good for me," Raiden muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Raiden then shifted his gaze to his son, who was still content in his lap, before looking at Merlin with a more serious expression. "When are we expecting the war to start?" he asked, his voice heavy with anticipation.
Merlin frowned in thought, stroking his beard. "I don't have an exact estimate yet, but I'd say within the next three to six months."
Da Vinci chimed in, "I still need to run more tests on the Gaia War Drones before they're ready for full deployment."
Raiden leaned back in his throne, glancing at Kori, an idea forming in his mind. A small, knowing smile crept across his face as he looked at her. "I think I know where we can test them."
Da Vinci raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? And where might that be?"
Raiden's smile widened as he spoke. "Contact the Green Lantern Corps and inform them that Gaia will be starting a war with the Citadel." His eyes gleamed with determination as he continued. "We will claim the planet Tamaran as our property, in the name of its rightful queen."
He turned to Kori, his smile softening as he added, "Queen Koriand'r Kagawa."
Kori's eyes filled with tears, her voice soft as she whispered, "Raiden…" She gave him a knowing look, her heart full of gratitude. In that moment, it was clear to her that he hadn't forgotten his promise—to free her world, to bring her people out from under the Citadel's oppression.
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story! One Piece: Elden Lord!
and
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
Don't forget to change "é" to "e"