Kurapika descended gracefully, landing just in front of Eris. Though he stood tall, easily looking down at her due to the difference in their height, Eris refused to be dwarfed. With a flicker of irritation, she levitated slightly higher, still seated cross-legged in the air—unbothered and regal.
"Eris Onee-chan, what are you supposed to be telling me?" he asked, crossing his arms with the air of a disapproving sibling.
"Don't know. Why don't you indulge me?" she replied coolly.
"Apologize."
"Hah?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Repeat that. I think my ears are malfunctioning."
"You heard me just fine," he said, his voice firm and unwavering.
"Are you getting cocky with me?" she asked, her tone deceptively calm but laced with venom.
"No. I'm being reasonable," Kurapika replied, unmoving.
Something inside Eris snapped.
"Seems like you need a re-education," she growled.
A thick red mist erupted at her feet, swirling around her like a living storm. When it cleared, her true form stood revealed. Her six horns curled like a jagged crown atop her head. Her once-white irises were now pitch black, and the tips of her fingers were stained with shadow, like they'd been dipped in ink.
"Then tell me—why did you remove my blessing from the platinum-haired hero, Sora?" Kurapika asked, standing his ground.
Eris blinked, genuinely confused.
"That's what this is about?"
"Yes."
"You little—" Her teeth clenched, fists curling as she visibly restrained herself, biting her lip in frustration.
Just then, a soft amethyst light shimmered from the statue of Aria, and the petite goddess burst forth, clearly agitated.
"Why do you keep dragging us into your pointless tantrums?!" she scolded as she landed between them, arms crossed, eyes locked on Kurapika with a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"But I wanted to hear it from her!" Kurapika retorted.
"And we've all told you—Eris Onee-sama never does anything without a reason!" Aria snapped.
"At least you understand, Aria," Eris said, patting the smaller goddess's head. Aria softened slightly at the praise, though she continued to shoot daggers at Kurapika.
From the statue bathed in an emerald glow, Gelena emerged, serene and radiant. Her ankle-length hair shimmered in soft hues of nature green, and a halo glowing with soothing jade floated above her head.
"Are you still sulking over that, Pika?" she asked gently, her voice like a calming breeze.
"Hello, Lexie," she added with a warm smile.
"Hello, Mother," Lexie replied respectfully.
"Gelena?" Eris raised an eyebrow. "Penelope said you were busy."
"I wasn't that busy." Gelena stood beside Eris with an affectionate glance.
A shadow twisted above Kurapika's statue, and from the void, Evrin appeared, his very presence echoing starlight. His short, silky galaxy-patterned hair glimmered like the night sky, and topaz eyes gleamed playfully.
"Are we having a family meeting? And if so, why wasn't I invited?"
"Evrin!" Aria squealed in delight. "Novaria said you were on vacation with your wife!" She flew at him and hugged him mid-air, causing him to flail and nearly lose his balance.
"Nice to see you too, Ria. And—uh—Isabel and I never really had a proper honeymoon," he mumbled, cheeks flushing.
A sudden burst of rainbow light exploded from Asta's statue.
"What's up!!" Asta bellowed, landing with flair. His magic hair shimmered in swirling hues, and his eyes were like prisms. "And hello, our beloved priestess."
He took Lexie's hand and kissed it, sending a flush across her cheeks.
"I don't recall scheduling a family meeting," Eris muttered as she nonchalantly kicked Asta away from Lexie. "Aren't you all supposed to be busy?"
"Nope, but hey—it's nice to catch up, right?" Asta chuckled, dusting himself off and floating lazily upward.
"Agreed," Monica said, stepping from her statue through a scroll-shaped portal at its base. Her mocha-colored hair was tied into a charming heart-shaped twist. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, brown eyes twinkling with exasperated intelligence.
"Besides, Kurapika's whining is making it impossible to get any work done."
"Argh, are you serious?!" Eris glared at Kurapika.
"I told you two centuries ago that he'd be a problem—but nooo, you didn't listen! And that mo—" Her voice cut off as her body surged with dark power, growing more monstrous with every word.
"Eris!! Calm down!!" Asta and Gelena shouted in unison, rushing to shield the others.
But Eris wasn't listening.
Her gaze shifted.
Suddenly, her eyes locked onto the great gate.
Her expression changed from fury to cold calculation.
"What is it, Nee-sama?" Aria asked, peeking out from behind Asta's back.
Eris stared at the gate, her voice low and filled with disdain.
"Something's coming... something annoying... and familiar."
Before anyone could react, the majestic gate shattered into pieces.