Chapter 703: Women.... or Monsters?
Irene’s eyes turned into a vivid, glowing blue, and in that instant, all color drained from her face.
"W-what... what are you...?" she murmured, her voice trembling and breaking under the weight of sheer disbelief.
Her hands quivered as she kept her gaze locked on Nia, unable to tear herself away from the infinite, consuming depths of obsessive love she saw there — a boundless abyss that felt as though it could engulf entire existences just to hold on to what it craved.
She dragged her gaze over to Vaeloria, and her legs almost gave way beneath her.
In that moment, she didn’t see the fox—she saw a dazzling, ever-shifting light forming into shapes of swords, spears, and bows that made her stomach churn.
It wasn’t just raw power she was seeing—it was the embodiment of weaponry itself, as instinctive and unyielding as drawing breath.
When her eyes landed on Kaguya, she let out a shaky, horrified breath.
The massive mirror surrounded by twelve swaying tails, each reflection showing countless versions of herself watching back with cold, knowing eyes, made her skin crawl.
It felt like being stared at by infinite versions of the same predator.
And then Sonna.
Irene’s blue eyes fixed on her, and for a heartbeat, all the air seemed to vanish from her lungs.
There was something about the way she carried herself — pure, limitless calm, the kind of peace that could exist even when the world was crumbling into dust.
And somehow, that was more terrifying than anything she’d faced before.
Her knees wavered, and she stumbled, steadying herself against the edge of a nearby table as her breath came in quick, shallow bursts.
"You’re not... side characters..." she rasped, her voice barely more than a tremor. "You are all monsters... wrapped in the skin of women..."
The wives obviously noticed the use of her power... and didn’t try to block it.
However still one by one, they arched their brows in mild surprise as they felt her power and its similarities to their own Codex or Divine Powers.
Nia was the first to speak, her black eyes narrowing slightly.
"...She’s actually forcing how true forms before her eyes.... ," she said, her voice low and intrigued.
Vaeloria let out a short laugh, though her eyes remained sharp.
"You know.... this makes things a whole lot more interesting."
Kaguya’s smile was small and cold.
"Well, it would at least explain why they felt so confident in taking control over Sylvie."
In that moment, they all felt it—whatever power Irene had tapped into was absolute.
Much like the Codex Powers, if it was declared to do something, it simply would.
The only way to counter such a force was through an even higher power or by being outright stronger than the one wielding it.
Yet it was obvious to them that Irene had no formal rank; she simply existed at the very peak of the Dimensional Level of existence, much like the Ineffable at this point.
This wasn’t about strength in the usual sense—it was more about whose very existence carried greater weight.
In other words, who had the most powers tucked away in their metaphorical bookbag.
Sonna simply watched Irene with quiet interest, her expression unreadable.
Irene took a shaky step back, her blue eyes still wide with shock. She could feel it now — the sheer, terrifying depth of the beings standing in front of her.
These women weren’t just powerful.
They were beyond anything her clan had ever prepared for.
And the worst part?
They were smiling.
Nia tilted her head, her voice carrying a dark amusement.
"This might not be so bad after all," she said. "If she can do something like this... then what could the others do?"
Vaeloria chuckled, resting her chin on her hand.
"Exactly." She said, "Since they obviously sent this one to die."
Irene steadied herself with visible effort, her legs shaking as she forced her body into a defensive stance.
Her purple and white battle dress clung to her sweat-dampened skin, her breathing ragged and uneven.
However.... the doors to the pavilion opened.
In that moment, more wives and heirs walked in casually, chatting and laughing among themselves as if they had simply returned from a leisurely walk.
Layla entered with her usual regal poise, her long pastel purple hair swaying as she glanced at the newcomer with mild interest.
Lirael followed, her athletic build and ancient aura radiating quiet strength.
Madison strolled in with a predatory smile, her toned body still showing faint traces of sparring. While Elara and Lucy lingered near the back, watching with curious eyes.
A few heirs trailed behind — Riona with her elegant grace, Emily with quiet intensity, and Rita with a confident stride.
Irene’s eyes widened even further as she looked at them.
"There’s.... even more?"
Her raised hands dropped slowly to her sides.
Her glowing blue eyes trembled violently as she tried to process the overwhelming aura radiating from every single one of them — the same terrifying depth she had glimpsed moments ago, now multiplied by dozens.
In that moment, her knees gave way beneath her.
She tried to form words, but only a faint, fractured sound slipped past her lips.
Her vision swam, the edges fading into darkness as the overwhelming, unfathomable presence of the Ineffable Pantheon bore down on her mind with crushing force.
Thud!
With a soft, almost pitiful thud, Irene collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
The wives and heirs paused for a moment, looking down at her limp form with mild curiosity and amusement.
Nia tilted her head, a small, dangerous smile playing on her lips.
"Well... that was quick."
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Back in the Source of Expansion
The Oracle stood frozen in the middle of the laboratory, her hand still hovering near the now-empty pod that had held Irene.
A small, folded note slipped from inside the pod and fell to the floor with a soft tap.
The sound was barely audible, yet it echoed like thunder in the sudden silence.
She stared down at it, slowly, almost fearfully, she crouched and picked it up.
The paper felt unnaturally heavy in her fingers, warm to the touch as if it had just been written.
She unfolded it.
Glowing golden script shimmered on the page, elegant and unmistakable:
"We’re coming.... love, Fatality."