Hina flexed her fingers, watching red-and-purple flames curl from her palms like living fire spirits — wild, elegant, and powerful. The mixture swirled molten red at the core, bleeding into royal violet at the edges, a perfect fusion of her old strength and Serafina's divine darkness.
Her eyes widened with childlike wonder.
"I… I feel so close to both of you," she whispered.
Her aura surged outward — Champion-level, dense and scorching, yet smooth as silk. Anyone below a Lesser God would buckle under its weight. Even some Greater Gods would hesitate to face her now.
Zumi felt the pressure and grinned.
"You're incredible, Hina. Stronger than you've ever been."
He crossed his arms. "In the future… we should spar again."
Hina's eyes sparked. "I'd like that."
Serafina leaned forward, chin resting on her hand.
"Oh, I definitely want to see that.
My new little Goddess vs. my Monkey King reincarnate?
That will be fun."
The kitchen doors burst open and Ethan emerged carrying a massive steaming platter with both hands, golden cooking aura shimmering around him.
Ethan smiled brightly.
"To celebrate Lady Hina's ascension… I prepared my finest creation."
He placed the platter on the table.
And the aroma hit them like heaven itself cracked open.
THE DISH — Masterpiece of a Chef God
Perfectly glazed Peking duck, the skin lacquered to a crisp golden sheen, glistening under the lights.
Honey-char siu pork, caramelized until the edges were smoky and sweet, melting at the slightest touch.
A mountain of hand-pulled noodles drenched in sesame-garlic broth, steam rising like fragrant incense.
Bowls of mapo tofu, spicy red oil shimmering like rubies, the scent numbing and addictive.
And in the center:
Crystal shrimp dumplings, translucent, stuffed with herbs and divine Qi — glowing faintly.
Serafina's eyes widened.
"This… mortal food is this delicious?"
Ethan placed his hands together respectfully.
"Mortal food made by a Lesser God of cuisine."
Hina inhaled deeply, her newly divine senses overwhelmed.
"I… I've never smelled something this good in my life."
Serafina smirked.
Hina reached for her first bite.
And once she tasted it—
Her pupils dilated.
"This… THIS is incredible!"
Serafina nodded, eyes softened.
"Yeah. Mortal food might actually be dangerous… I can get addicted to this."
Zumi laughed and patted Ethan's back warmly.
"You never disappoint, brother."
Ethan chuckled proudly.
"Of course not. I've been waiting three-thousand years to cook for you again."
Once they began eating, Ethan lowered his voice.
"There is… something you should know."
Zumi and Serafina both looked up.
Ethan continued:
"The Supreme God of Force and Strength… Bia's original creator…
he is distraught."
Serafina's smile faded instantly.
Hina swallowed her food slowly.
"Why?" Zumi asked.
Ethan leaned closer.
"He has completely lost track of Bia's divine signature."
Serafina's brows rose.
"He can't sense her?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No. Her aura vanished. Entirely. And… he suspects Sun Wukong is involved."
Zumi's eyes narrowed slightly.
So they're already looking for me…
Ethan added:
"But he cannot sense you either, Zumi. Not even a flicker of your energy.
That confuses him more than anything."
Zumi thought quietly.
The system must be blocking them.
Celestia… we will talk later.
And immediately, in his mind:
Ethan continued, voice heavy.
"After your… last death, Sun Wukong… Serafina lost all control."
Serafina froze, eyes lowering.
"She went on a rampage in Hell. A destructive, devastating one."
Zumi glanced at her.
Hina looked worried.
Serafina swallowed, cheeks flushing with guilt.
"I… didn't take your loss well," she admitted softly.
"I was angry. I was grieving. I didn't know when you'd return… if you'd return."
Ethan nodded grimly.
"The Supreme God of the Void — a branch domain of Darkness — took action.
He bound Serafina, erased her memories of you, and sealed her in Hell."
Hina gasped.
Zumi felt his blood simmer.
Ethan continued:
"She was meant to be a silent prisoner for eternity…
But Serafina's soul rebelled. She kept calling out — centuries, millennia — until finally…"
He looked directly at Zumi.
"…until you heard her.
Her call reached your reincarnated soul."
Serafina's voice trembled.
"I was waiting for you… even when I didn't remember why."
Zumi reached across the table and grabbed her hand.
"And I came for you."
Her lips quivered into a smile.
Ethan finished:
"The bindings broke. The seal shattered. Olympus felt everything.
They now know Sun Wukong is back."
Serafina smirked dangerously.
"But they still can't sense us."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "They are furious… confused… and worried."
Zumi leaned back, calm.
Good.
Let them worry.
Hina hesitated before asking:
"What about Athena?"
Ethan sighed softly.
"She is not on Olympus.
She hasn't been for a long time."
Serafina looked surprised.
"Why?"
Ethan's expression softened.
"When Sun Wukong fell… Athena took it the hardest.
She… broke."
He looked at Zumi gently.
"She threw herself into mortal wars across multiple universes…
fighting endless battles… protecting people… trying to fill the void you left."
Serafina whispered:
"She loved you too deeply."
Zumi's expression hardened with quiet resolve.
"Then I'll bring her home."
Zumi leaned back in his chair and let out a slow breath.
"Ethan… thank you. For everything."
The Lesser God smiled warmly. "Always, my friend. My kitchen is yours — now and forever."
Zumi stood, Hina and Serafina rising beside him.
He pulled out his phone and typed quickly into the My Loves chat — but this time, he sent a private message to Bia:
Zumi: Bia, gather the Kogane Dragons. I'll be arriving in a couple minutes. All of them. Prepare the main base.
Bia saw the message instantly.
Her reply came less than a second later, exactly like someone who had been waiting breathlessly for his return:
Bia: YES! Right away, my love!! I'll gather everyone!!
Zumi smiled. He knew she was already on the move.
In the ruined underbelly of New York, deep within the massive sewer fortress that once belonged to the Blood Rats…
Two hundred thousand members of the new Kogane Dragons gathered.
The largest underground chamber shook with the sound of voices. Torchlight flickered across rusted metal plates, old banners, and makeshift thrones.
Reina stood at the front, arms crossed, golden braids glowing faintly — the Black Flame herself.
Behind her, the four former gang leaders knelt in absolute respect.
All around them, murmurs rippled like waves:
"Why are we gathered?"
"I heard the Boss of Commander Bia is coming…"
"Boss? She's a Goddess! Someone above her?!"
"That means… he must be… what kind of monster is he?"
Reina's lips curved into a grin she rarely let anyone see.
She remembered that little boy she saved. Weak. Hungry. Scared. Too kind for the slums.
Now he was returning as something far beyond mortal.
"I finally get to see what you've become, Zumi…" she whispered, fire gleaming in her eyes.
Back in China, Zumi clasped Ethan's shoulder one last time.
"I'll contact you soon," he said.
Ethan bowed slightly — the bow of one God greeting another. "May your path be victorious."
Zumi stepped outside with Serafina and Hina, the cool air brushing against them.
Hina was still glowing faintly from her ascension. Serafina looked like a crimson queen walking beside him, her darkness trailing behind like silk.
Zumi stretched his arm out.
"Alright," he said with a grin, "let's travel the old-school way."
Hina blinked. Serafina raised a brow.
"And what way is that?" Serafina asked.
Zumi smirked.
"One of the Monkey King's best modes of transportation… I haven't used it yet."
He snapped his fingers and yelled, "Nimbus!"
Clouds in the sky trembled.
The wind spun in circles.
And then—
WHOOSH!
A golden cloud shot downward from the heavens, swirling with sunlight and divine Qi. It hovered before Zumi like an excited puppy.
THE NIMBUS CLOUD.
Serafina's eyes shone with nostalgia. "It's been… so long since I've seen that cloud."
Hina gasped. "We're… riding that?"
Zumi hopped onto it effortlessly.
"Come on," he said, extending a hand to both of them. "Let's go home."
Serafina stepped on gracefully. Hina climbed on, clinging tightly to Zumi's arm.
Zumi whispered the command.
"Fly."
The golden cloud exploded upward with a sonic boom—
SHOOOOOOOM!!
They shot through the clouds, past mountains, past cities, the world a blur of color below them.
Hina screamed with excitement. Serafina laughed freely — a rare sound — enjoying the wind whipping through her midnight hair.
Zumi's aura flared around them like a crown of gold.
They crossed entire continents in seconds.
And then—
The golden cloud dipped downward toward New York…
Where two hundred thousand Kogane Dragons waited.
Where Reina waited.
Where an empire was about to take its next breath.