The dice clattered across the wooden table as Reynolds started talking. One hand was unconsciously tracing the edge of a crystal token he had placed beside the board.
"Alright, here's what we saw. There are at least fifty thousand Voidborn ahead of us. Probably more, but that's the lowest count I'm comfortable saying without lying to myself. Most of them are standard combat units but there are a lot of mage-type Voidborn and giants."
That got everyone's attention.
"Giants?"
"Same size as Luke. Maybe a little smaller, but not by much."
Miranda leaned back in her chair, tipping it onto two legs.
"Even with Luke carryin' us sugar, we ain't gettin' through that without takin' hits."
Asenane's eyes narrowed. "Why do you sound so resigned? You're both at the Sixth Enlightenment."
Reynolds sighed and set his piece down. "I'm an Impure Aeterium. Even at Sixth, I'm not built for combat. I'm an architect and a mechanic. I design systems and structures. I don't fight wars."
Miranda raised her hand like she was confessing to a crime. "And I'm a Sixth Enlightenment human with Fauna Bondin'. I talk to animals real good. That's about it."
Every single person at the table stared at them. Disappointed wasn't even strong enough. It was the kind of look someone gave who just admitted they brought a spoon to a sword fight. Miranda felt it immediately and scowled.
"I'm sorry for bein' 'weak,' but some of us don't got time to be combat maniacs. I do just fine with a shotgun and common sense."
Asenane crossed her arms. "Then how did you survive out there?"
Miranda pointed her thumb over her shoulder.
"Luke eats the ones that get too close. And Reynolds' crystals keep the Void from turnin' us inside out."
Shimmer scoffed, barely looking up from the board.
"That's still weak. Even the Divines in Richinaria are Immortal Humans, and they would kill you you."
Miranda slammed her chair legs back down.
"Oh yeah? Then how you gonna kill over fifty thousand Voidborn if y'all are so powerful?"
That finally made Vastarael look up from arranging his property cards.
"I'll handle the majority of the army."
"Dad?"
"Yes, Runner. The rest of you focus on the giants and protect Luke. Keep the formation intact."
Miranda stared at him. "You're serious?"
Reynolds frowned. "I appreciate the confidence but you're only a Fourth Enlightenment Divine. Even now, you can't stop Voidborn that are technically Second Enlightenment, much less tens of thousands."
Vastarael waved a hand dismissively. "I won't need to."
"I can fight with you."
"No, Asenane. I want to pulverize them."
That smile made Miranda uncomfortable in a way she couldn't explain.
"It's been a while since I went all out."
Miranda swallowed. "At least take a weapon. You can't use your glaive anymore, right?"
Shimmer looked up sharply. "That's not true."
Everyone turned to her.
"Dad can use the glaive just fine. It's not the prosthetic arms that stop him. It's the Plenituse Techniques. They're harder to channel with his new structure."
Vastarael chuckled. "See? My daughter knows."
Runner stared at him. "You're really going to fight fifty thousand Voidborn with martial arts?"
"And my arms. And I won't be holding back so it can really show how good I am."
Asenane studied him for a long moment, then sighed.
"You're terrifying."
Miranda muttered, "I'm startin' to see why."
Vastarael picked up the dice again and slid them across the board.
"I already have it planned out. I'm literally the second strongest Divine of the Third Generation after my beloved. Obviously."
He said that last part with absolute sincerity, like there was no universe where that ranking was debatable.
"I've been ruling Richinaria for six years. I've been training every single day, fighting, governing, rebuilding and correcting ancient systems that were held together by tradition and bad decisions. If anything, the only times I've struggled are when circumstances actively counter my Divinities since I came here."
Then he reached out, calmly collected rent from Asenane, wiped out Shimmer's remaining funds in one move, and announced.
"Also, I won. I am now the king of Monopoly."
There was a long silence. Miranda stared at the board. Then at him. Then back at the board.
"You... you're tellin' me you're an actual leader? Cause I'm gonna be honest with you, sugar, you do not look like one."
Asenane sighed immediately. "He's not usually like this."
Phaenora, floating lazily upside-down nearby, smiled far too knowingly.
"He actually is."
Everyone looked at her.
"When he's not acting like a Dynasty Monarch, this is exactly how he is."
"See? She understands me. Oh. By the way. I'll need to transform into a woman tomorrow."
Miranda slowly turned her head. "I'm sorry what?"
"A woman's body is more agile. It's more flexible with better Soul Energy circulation. It's objectively superior for mage-style combat. Reynolds, the arms will morph too, right?"
Reynolds, still processing the sudden information, nodded automatically.
"They're bound to your soul, so... yes. If you transform, they'll adapt."
"Perfect."
Asenane immediately frowned. "Do you have to do that?"
"Yes," Vastarael replied without hesitation. "I also happen to be standing in the perfect training ground to test it. Being a woman is optimal. I can use Soul Energy more efficiently that way than I ever could in a male body. So, I'll be female whenever I fight like a mage and male for weapons."
Phaenora's eyes lit up like she had just been handed a gift wrapped in destiny itself. She clasped her hands together
"A female mage Vastarael? I love this."
Asenane looked like she wanted to argue but she clearly did not want to open whatever door that conversation led to. Last time this conservation was last brought, Phaenora won.
Reynolds cleared his throat. "You... you can really just... do that?"
Instead of answering, Vastarael's face shifted. It did not happen violently or grotesquely. It was smooth, fluid and almost elegant. Bone structure softened and his eyes subtly reshaped themselves. His hair was the same but the presence changed entirely. When he spoke again, his voice was unmistakably feminine.
"Yes. I can also decide which body parts to morph."
Miranda staggered back a step. "What the fuck-"
"Royal Aeterium physiology is rare. Runner can't do it since she's a Pure Aeterium, not a Royal one."
Runner, who had been watching with a mixture of horror and fascination, crossed her arms.
"I'm actually really glad I can't."
Vastarael's face shifted back, returning to its original masculine, unfairly beautiful form like nothing had happened at all.
"So, I'll handle the army. You all focus on the giants."
Asenane stared at him for a long moment.
"You really are different when you're not serious. I suppose I'll have to get used to it after I marry him."
Miranda looked between them, the battlefield below, the Monopoly board and the looming Voidborn threat in the distance.
"I need a fuckin' drink."