Once, there was a pure and easygoing goddess.
She looked like a young girl, lively in spirit, and occasionally a little mischievous.
She was the Goddess of Beauty. Despite possessing the power of charm, she longed for concepts that ran counter to her own domain: purity and innocence.
The first time she came to Orario, she lost.
Naive and inexperienced, she had simply wanted to befriend the goddess who had led the Strongest familia for a thousand years.
For that, she wore her favorite gown when meeting her, excited and hopeful.
But…
That day, she was left battered and broken.
In front of the true "Tyrant Goddess," her former pride vanished.
Everything shattered.
After that…
She changed.
The girl became mature.
Having recognized the truth and darkness of the world, she began to fully wield her charm and her eyes, amassing power with almost reckless intensity.
Gradually, the legend resurfaced.
By the Goddess of Beauty's side appeared the King, the Twin Cats, the White and Black Knights, and the Gulliver Brothers.
At that time, she knew she was still not ready and had to wait.
But…
Without warning, the tyrant goddess leading the Strongest familia was also defeated.
Defeated by a more powerful existence.
She too was left battered, stripped of her former pride…
Unexpectedly, the very target she had once chased with all her might found her that day—
"I think that if anyone could surpass the old me, it's probably you."
A short, secret meeting. Though they were sworn enemies, they cooperated with an unprecedented understanding.
The Strongest familia was driven away, and a new Queen arrived in the Labyrinth City.
She stepped into her own spotlight.
Along with it came the heavy burden of leadership.
Yes, the title of "Strongest" carries immense weight.
To wear the crown, you must bear its weight.
"If you don't truly recognize the truth (and darkness) of the world, you will never become the 'strongest.'"
"Those 'high walls' lie ahead. If you cannot even see them, how can you hope to overcome them?"
…
This lesson was taught to her by her opponent.
So…
"If one day I feel ready, I will wear that gown again and face the 'strongest' properly, openly, and without fear."
Knowing she was not yet fully prepared… knowing she was still unworthy, the Goddess of Beauty did not consider herself victorious.
Seven years ago, from the ashes of the Strongest familia, that talented monster returned to Orario.
Alongside him came another strongest.
He and she had entered the final countdown of their lives.
They only wished, in their remaining time, to burn brightly like kindling, to become stepping stones for the next generation, allowing them to reach heights from which they could look down upon all others.
That day, the Goddess of Beauty donned her favorite gown… though she still did not feel ready.
Yet she knew she had to witness a proper battle firsthand.
That day, Ottar surpassed his limits, avoiding the fate of being devoured by Gluttony.
That day, amidst the ruins of a city rebuilt through destruction, people truly acknowledged the successor to the Strongest.
"The Freya familia and Loki familia still aren't enough. If only the Zeus or Hera familias from back then were still around…"
Comments like these grew fewer and fewer.
Undoubtedly, the Goddess of Beauty could have silenced the gossipers through public opinion… or even directly through charm.
But she wanted to see the truth.
From that time on, even as her familia was increasingly seen as a corner of madness, feared by many…
The title of Strongest remained firmly hers.
Still, the proud goddess knew she was not yet worthy.
For that reason, she refused to stop moving forward.
One day, by chance…
She encountered an interesting child.
Clearly the weakest, an ordinary human, yet speaking the most irreverent words with a carefree attitude.
That was the moment they met and formed a bond.
The child always brought her unexpected surprises.
He carried too much unknown potential.
At first, she believed she had found her Od (Divine Companion).
But gradually, she realized that what she wanted was the pure one, not the chaotic all.
Such brilliance would remain forever out of reach.
At first, she sensed distance and caution from the child.
But as days passed, that distance gradually closed.
Until today…
"Welcome home."
"My Valkyrie."
Even though only a fragment of her soul's radiance was revealed, that dazzling golden light still mesmerized her, still felt unattainable.
Now, TA was the undisputed strongest.
Yes, the kind of monster that even the former strongest could not defeat.
But TA not only defeated them, but also displayed miracles bordering on blasphemy.
Now, what the gods awaited was a hero capable of defying even the divine… the unknown.
"No matter the time, it is always a human who can bring down the stars."
The radiant light was so close that the Goddess of Beauty instinctively stepped forward to greet it… yet she found herself wanting to step back, too afraid to approach too closely.
But…
"Hmm, I'm back."
"And…"
A half-step back was drawn forward by the golden girl.
TA smiled, no longer harboring even the smallest trace of past estrangement.
The corners of her lips curved slightly, like a child still innocent at heart, silently saying: "See? I'm amazing, right!"
After all…
"I won."
Under the moonlight, shadows always exist.
But people do not forever rely on nature alone.
If they find a light worth following, they begin to gather fuel for it…
"W-what kind of monster is that~"
Arachnia, once the nightmare of countless people years ago, fled in terror tonight.
She was like a self-satisfied jester—no one noticed her arrival… and no one knew she fled again.
The golden strike that shattered the Arrow of Orion, even as mere afterglow, nearly drove this already insane woman completely insane.
To others, it was a symbol of reliability worthy of admiration.
But to her, only fear remained.
"Never, ever provoke that one."
The madwoman trembled uncontrollably, chattering her teeth.
She fled in disgrace back to her lair.
For now, she would dare not cause trouble again.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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