Chapter 92: A Gathering of Shadows

The grand hall of World Guidance was quiet, a stillness hanging in the air, almost suffocating in its tension. Around the long, oval table sat representatives from each celestial family, their faces etched with concern, but also a certain coldness—a calculated calm before the storm. Each of them had felt the tremor of Jin's fall from grace, his power now shattered, his position now vacant. No longer the Supreme Commander, no longer the unstoppable force he once was.

The atmosphere was thick with a sense of anticipation. Every eye was on the seat that Jin had once occupied, every mind already calculating the next move. The question on everyone's lips was the same: Who would rise to take his place?

At the table sat Park Hae In, her eyes cool and unreadable, a quiet storm hidden beneath her composed demeanor. Beside her, Chris Walker sat, his arms crossed tightly as if trying to contain his emotions. Mr. Singh, ever the silent observer, leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. Liliian, sitting across from them, wore a carefully neutral expression, though the uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her inner conflict.

Park Hae In glanced at each of them, her gaze lingering longest on Liliian, who was the most uncertain among them all. Now, the seat of Supreme Commander was up for grabs, and the factions were beginning to stir.

"I suppose we must all agree that with Jin's loss, the leadership needs to be addressed," Mr. Singh spoke softly, his deep voice carrying the weight of authority. "This world cannot be left in uncertainty. We need a new leader, one capable of stepping into Jin's shoes."

The room fell into a hush as all eyes turned to Park Hae In. The Celestial family, being the most powerful, had the right to choose who would take the mantle of Supreme Commander. All were waiting for her decision, and though Hae In appeared calm, she could feel the weight of the room's expectations pressing down on her.

She glanced at her father for a moment, his gaze stern, yet resigned. There was no question in his mind about who should take the seat. Her brother.

Her father's voice, deep and firm, broke the silence. "Hae In, you know it should be your brother. He has the strength, the discipline. He has always been the better candidate for this position."

The others in the room nodded in agreement, but Hae In's response was swift, her voice laced with an undeniable conviction.

"No," she said, her eyes locking with her father's. "It cannot be him. Jin was perfect for this position. Better than any of us, including you and me."

A murmur of surprise spread through the room. Hae In had always been the pragmatic one, the one who understood the rules of power. For her to deny her family's claim to the seat was unheard of. Her father's brows furrowed, but she continued, her voice unwavering.

"You all seek excuses to press Jin down," she continued, her tone bitter. "And now you have succeeded. You want to forget all he has done, all the battles he fought, simply because of his fall? I won't allow it. My brother can't even handle a woman. How will he handle the weight of this? No, it must be someone capable, someone who can hold the power and responsibility that Jin once did."

Hae In's gaze shifted, and her eyes fell on Liliian. She took a deep breath before speaking again, the words coming out with a sharp edge. "Liliian. You should be the one to take this seat."

A tense silence followed her declaration. No one spoke for a moment, and Liliian's eyes widened, her mind racing as she processed Hae In's words. The pressure was now on her—she had been thrust into a position she was not entirely prepared for, and yet, somehow, it felt like the right thing to do.

The tension in the room was palpable as Hae In continued, "Jin was the only one who could have truly led us through the chaos that awaits. He was the only one who could navigate the power struggles, the politics, the battles. But you… You have the same heart, the same fire. You're the only one left who can do what needs to be done."

Liliian's lips parted, but no words came out. She wasn't sure whether to accept or reject Hae In's offer. A part of her knew that, in truth, this was a chance for her to prove herself. But the weight of the responsibility felt suffocating.

Her father's voice sliced through the tension. "Hae In, your logic is flawed. Liliian has not proven herself in this arena. We are talking about the future of the entire world here."

But Hae In was unyielding. "You misunderstand," she said quietly. "It is not about proving herself. It's about choosing the person who can carry the burden of what's coming. Jin was our leader. Liliian can be the one to hold this world together. She is the one who understands the stakes—she will not be swayed by petty politics and also she is Beyonder."

With those words, Hae In leaned back in her chair, the matter seemingly settled. But Liliian's heart pounded in her chest. She knew the decision was final, and yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something far deeper was at play here.

The meeting drew to a close with the decision made. Liliian had been chosen. As she left the hall, the weight of the conversation lingered in her mind.

Later, as Liliian walked through the quiet halls of Olympus, a letter was handed to her by a servant. She glanced at the seal and knew instantly who it was from. Zeus.

Opening it, she read the words carefully:

"You were right. Jin's heart cannot be bound by destiny. His fate was never his own. But the world will always have a way of drawing us back, no matter how far we try to escape. The weight of the divine hierarchy cannot be ignored."

Liliian closed her eyes for a moment, contemplating the truth behind those words. The letter spoke of Lia's father, and the conversation he had shared with Jin. The reason why he couldn't save her daughter—because of the limitations of the divine order. Jin had tried, but he was bound by the very laws that governed the gods.

But Liliian knew that she could not give up. Not yet. Not while there was still a chance.

As she left the room, she couldn't help but think of Jin—where he was, what he was doing. His absence had left a void in her, a feeling of profound loss. But there was no time to dwell on that. The chaos was coming, and she had no choice but to face it head-on.

Outside, in the darkened streets of the city, a figure moved through the shadows, unseen by all but the wind.

Hae In stood there, watching Liliian from a distance.