Chapter 173: Shock After Shock

Velena nodded, her calm expression remaining unchanged.

"They are truly beautiful. Although they still lack in strength... that is understandable given their age." She then turned her gaze back to Nova and added in the same composed tone,

"But the Princess is even more beautiful than them."

Everyone exchanged glances. None of them knew which princess Velena was referring to.

They were all aware that Rieka and Asia were already exceptional beauties — anyone considered more beautiful than them would have to be truly extraordinary.

Nova chuckled lightly at Velena’s words. He couldn’t help but feel she was subtly reminding him that Nyxara was still out there, upset because of him, and that he should not forget about her. Still, he simply replied,

"Ah... of course she is."

Rieka and Asia both pouted at his answer. They couldn’t help but wonder who this princess was that their husband considered more beautiful than them.

However, they did not press the matter. They could already sense that he was answering a little awkwardly.

Nova then spoke again.

"Alright. Now that the introductions are over, let’s take our seats. I’ll start answering your questions."

Everyone returned to their seats. No one dared sit too close to Velena. She simply sat down beside Nova on the long sofa.

Asia and Rieka had wanted to sit next to him as well, but for now Nova gave them a small nod, and they returned to their previous seats beside Jenna.

Nova had thought carefully about this moment. After considering everything, he reached a clear conclusion. Everyone present here was an ally — including Velena. Nyxara was as well, even though she was not here at the moment.

He had decided to reveal his secrets to them. He also intended to help them grow stronger using the demonic beasts he had brought back from the Abyss. He trusted the people in this room.

{ I understand what you’re thinking about Velena and Nyxara, } Liya said. { But if either of them had wanted to, they could have killed or kidnapped you long before this — and even after you revealed the truth. You don’t need to worry about Velena right now.}

{ This will work out in your favor. }

Nova looked toward Asia and said,

"Asia, could you please instruct all the maids to leave the hall for now?"

Asia and the others looked puzzled, but she still followed his request and ordered every maid present to leave the room.

Once they were alone, Nova spoke again.

"Everyone, please hold the hand of the person beside you until we are all connected."

Once more, everyone looked confused by the strange instruction. However, seeing the serious expression on his face, they complied without question.

Nova took Velena’s hand with his left and his father’s hand with his right. Velena held Rieka’s hand in turn, and soon everyone in the room was linked together.

"Now close your eyes," Nova said.

Everyone did as instructed.

A moment later, his voice rang out again.

"Now open them."

When they opened their eyes, a clear blue sky stretched above them. A bright sun shone overhead, and an endless grassland spread out in every direction, with large mountains visible in the far distance. A gentle, cool breeze brushed against their skin, refreshing their senses.

Everyone looked completely baffled. How had they suddenly appeared in such a place?

Only Rieka and Asia had a faint idea of where they might be. Even Velena, whose expression was usually calm, now showed clear shock and surprise.

"What is this place?" she asked. "Did you teleport us somewhere else?"

She quickly realized that should not have been possible. Nova did not possess the ability to teleport an entire group like this. The same question lingered in everyone else’s mind.

Nova simply smiled. In the next second, eight soft chairs appeared on the grass — one for each person present.

They were all inside the system training space now Rieka, Asia, Velena, Jenna, Edward, Theodore, and even Rodrick.

"Alright, everyone," Nova said. "Please take your seats. I’ll explain everything."

As they looked at him, most of them felt that something about Nova seemed strangely different — with the exception of his wives and his mother, who were simply surprised.

Once everyone was seated, Nova began.

"All of you have a status panel, don’t you? The one that shows your rank, affinities, and attributes."

Everyone nodded. In this world, every living being was born with a default system, regardless of race.

"That is called a system window," Nova continued. "As you all know, everyone in this world has one. But its only function is exactly what I just mentioned — displaying basic information."

"Mine is a little different. I don’t want to call myself some kind of chosen one, but when I awakened, I also awakened a unique system. It is multifunctional."

He gestured around them.

"Right now, we are inside the system’s training space — a separate space where I usually train. It has endless space."

Everyone took in his words carefully. Even though they were still having a hard time fully believing it, they were currently witnessing the proof with their own eyes.

Nova continued,

"This place has something that completely breaks common sense. If you train for one year inside here... only one day will pass in the real world."

Their eyes widened, and their jaws dropped. Wasn’t that essentially a god-like power? Was this the reason Nova was so much stronger than others of his age?

Velena suddenly asked,

"Are you really telling the truth?"

Nova smiled.

"Why would I lie about something like this?"

Velena quickly understood that he was not lying. The others reached the same conclusion.

Theodore then asked in a serious tone,

"Why are you telling us this, Nova? Isn’t this something that should be completely hidden from others? This kind of power completely defies the natural order."

Nova nodded.

"You’re right. The only reason I’m revealing it to all of you is because I consider everyone here my family... and because all of you have good characters."

He turned toward Rieka.

"My wife Rieka already confirmed it for me. Even now, she can see that all of you are worthy of my trust. She has a special ability that allows her to see through a person’s character."

Nova then looked at Theodore.

"And my main reason for revealing this... is to help all of you grow stronger. My parents and you will be staying in Frost City, so you need to become stronger."

Soft smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. They were genuinely happy that Nova trusted them this much. As for his parents, they already knew a fair amount about his unusual circumstances.

In truth, Nova’s main targets for this explanation were Theodore and Rodrick. As for Velena, he had already asked Rieka to check her character earlier — and the result had been positive.

Nova continued,

"Now let’s move on to the second topic — where I was all this time. I’ll be honest with all of you... I was in the Abyss."

At first, everyone thought they must have misheard him. But when Nova calmly repeated the word, the shock hit them all over again. It felt as though they were going to die from pure surprise multiple times in a single day.

Edward stood up abruptly and exclaimed,

"You were really in the Abyss?!"

Everyone present had at least some knowledge of the Abyss, even if it was only superficial.

It was known as the place where demons lived — a powerful and extremely dangerous realm. Of course, their understanding of it was far from complete.

Nova nodded.

"Calm down, Father. There’s nothing to worry about now. I’m already back."

Meanwhile, Velena had been thinking deeply for a while. For a moment, a certain question almost slipped her mind. If Nova’s parents were human... then was he also human? And if so, how had he been able to transform into a demon?

Humans did not possess that kind of power. Still, she reasoned that since he had already revealed such important secrets to her and placed this much trust in her, he would eventually tell her the truth about himself — whether now or later.

Edward slowly sat back down after hearing his son’s words.

Nova continued,

"I was teleported there due to an accident during the battle that took place two days ago. In a way, that accident saved my life."

"I won’t go into the entire story right now. Just know this — I only survived there because of Nyxara and Velena. Nyxara is a Demon Princess."

Everyone’s eyes widened once more as they all turned to look at Velena. The same unspoken question was written on their faces. She understood it immediately and answered calmly,

"Yes. I am a demon. And don’t worry — I have no interest in harming any of you. I am only here under my Princess’s orders."

Everyone nodded and chose not to press the matter further. None of them wanted to risk offending a powerhouse of her level.

Still, deep inside, they were screaming at the realization that they were currently sitting next to an actual demon.

And that this demon happened to be extraordinarily beautiful.

Nova let out a quiet sigh and went on to explain a few simple things about demons and the Aby

ss — how, in many ways, they were not so different from humans.

Although the others did not fully believe him yet, his words still managed to ease some of their fear.

**

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