My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 205: Eris Interlude

Advancing step by step, Adrian ensured his gaze swept over the assembly of gods surrounding him.

While Eris appeared hesitant to inflict harm, Adrian couldn't make the same assumption for the others.

Observing them carefully, their reactions ranged from passive interest to a somewhat sinister curiosity.

Valeria, the goddess of love, stood out among them.

Her piercing gaze held an intensity that betrayed her desire, and it wasn't one filled with affection.

The dance continued – a repeated process of approaching and being pushed back by Eris's luminous spheres. It almost resembled a child's game, yet the potential consequences were far from juvenile.

The scene unfolded in a surreal manner, a juxtaposition of divine power and seemingly trivial interactions.

Adrian sensed the need to halt the charade; teasing her further might lead to unforeseen consequences.

"This is getting pointless..." Eris's voice echoed through the celestial palace.

Her eyes met Adrian's, revealing a hint of frustration.

The initial intention behind summoning Adrian here had been twofold – to rescue the blessed child of her sister and to assess his capabilities.

She had even prepared for the gods of her pantheon to intervene and potentially cripple him, but as expected, he was well-protected against their attempts.

Adrian's demeanor, though ostensibly normal, concealed an unsettling intensity in his gaze.

His eyes bore into hers, and as she felt the weight of that scrutiny, an involuntary shiver coursed through her.

The eyes that stared right back at her as she peered into his soul was both disgusting and dreadful.

There was an unspoken force within him, a presence that transcended the mundane, and it prompted her to send a silent message to every god present, a wordless plea for restraint.

In the silent exchange between divine beings, a tacit agreement emerged – do not harm him.

The gravity of the situation became evident, and the urgency to prevent any unintended consequences hung in the air.

Whatever entity resided within Adrian seemed to be linked to the rift above, a disturbance in the cosmic fabric that threatened to unravel the carefully woven threads of causality.

The goddess, realizing the potential havoc that could be unleashed, understood the imperative to deny this mysterious force the causality it sought.

The damage already inflicted by the rift above was considerable, and introducing more variables into the equation would only hasten their demise.

Above all, the reinforcements she had called upon had yet to arrive, leaving them vulnerable and without the added support needed to contain the unforeseen threat.

The looming threat of the demon king's imminent rampage cast a shadow over the continent, and the primordial goddess found herself torn between preventing otherworldly beings from invading her realm and the impending devastation that awaited her world.

In this delicate balance, she saw an opportunity in Adrian, an anomaly that could be wielded to ensure the providence followed its intended path despite the ongoing alterations.

The grand providence she meticulously crafted was crucial for her imminent rebirth, yet chaos seemed to be seeping into every facet of her divine plans.

The anticipated invasion by the demon king, the catalyst for her orchestrated events, remained conspicuously absent. The approaching harvest, a moment she had meticulously prepared for, was met with an eerie stillness, devoid of the expected movements and upheavals.

A sense of disquiet settled over the goddess as she scrutinized the unfolding events. Adrian, standing as the unknown variable, became the focus of her suspicions.

She sought to gather intel through her divine sight, but her attempts were thwarted by a watchful crow, meticulously monitoring her every movement.

Further complicating matters was a formidable wolf and a foreign god, that almost killed her sister, and was now aligned with Adrian.

The multitude of beings safeguarding him created an impenetrable fortress.

She grappled with the realization that surrender might be the pragmatic choice.

Divine lightning crackled around her form, and the gods present braced themselves for the inevitable tempest, bearing witness to the wrath of their primordial ruler.

.,..

When the surroundings in front of Adrian changed once again, he found himself back at the temple. The statues, now devoid of their divine glow, signaled that the causality and balance expended had failed to achieve their intended purpose.

Frustratingly, the answers he sought remained elusive, the purpose behind the celestial beings' actions still a perplexing mystery.

Nevertheless, the experience hadn't been entirely fruitless. Amid the enigma of their intentions, Adrian had gleaned valuable information.

The revelation that a direct assault on him required an all-out war provided a newfound sense of liberation.

It meant his future actions could be more overt, unburdened by the need for excessive caution.

The anticipated restrictions for the upcoming act, once considered inevitable, now seemed unnecessary.

A smirk played on Adrian's lips as the memory of the goddess's infuriated expression surfaced.

It seemed she was likely throwing a tantrum, a reaction more childish than one would expect from a primordial deity.

Yet, in the midst of his mockery, Adrian couldn't help but acknowledge the unexpected allure of her lips. The kiss, initiated to spite her, lingered in his thoughts.

She had transported him to that celestial realm without proper information, unwilling to discuss their circumstances.

'Well, she wasn't even willing to surrender, despite the odds stacked against her'

Perhaps provoking her served as fitting retribution for the wasted time and the arrogance she exuded.

Adrian surveyed the temple's surroundings, his gaze ultimately landing on the unconscious form of Isabella. The question echoed in his mind – what should he do with her?

"Should I just leave her here, or perhaps use my sister's authority to control her?" he pondered.

However, the potential repercussions of such actions weighed heavily on him.

Manipulating Isabella using his sister's powers could inadvertently fuel the goddess's machinations, and it became apparent that Valeria, the goddess of love, held a certain fondness for the young woman. Direct harm was not an option.

With a shake of his head, Adrian made a decision.

He gently lifted Isabella into his arms, treating her with an unexpected tenderness given the circumstances. Carrying her like a princess, he contemplated his next move.

The passage of time, unnoticed in the chaos of events, now caught up with him, and weariness settled in.

Yawning, Adrian made his way out of the cursed temple, Isabella cradled in his arms.

....

After navigating the mist-shrouded corridors of the temple, Adrian finally reached his room, the echoes of uncertainty lingering in his mind.

The hazy surroundings seemed to have concealed the path, adding an extra layer of disorientation to his journey.

As he entered his room, the fog dissipated, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the unconscious Isabella.

Carefully, he placed Isabella on the bed, her form appearing delicate against the sheets.

Her serene sleeping face, framed by tousled hair, lay before him, a stark contrast to the tumultuous events that had transpired.

Adrian stood there, contemplating the next course of action. The air in the room hung heavy with unspoken possibilities.

"Now then, how should I punish you?"

Adrian smirked as he unbuttoned his shirt.