Luke was familiar with nearly every Aspect present. From left to right, they were:
Leona, the Radiant Dawn.
Pantheon, the Unbreakable Spear.
Diana, the Scorn of the Moon.
Kayle, the Righteous, the legendary Winged Protector of Demacia and daughter of Mihira, the Aspect of Justice.
She was also Morgana's older sister.
Including Taric and Zoe, a full seven Aspects had gathered at the summit of Mount Targon.
And amid the starlight of the heavens above, an unknown number of eyes were also watching. Some were furious, some curious, some indifferent, and some merely amused.
At this moment, nearly every gaze in the Celestial Realm had gathered upon Luke, this mortal who apparently didn't know his place.
Mihira looked at Luke, her overwhelming presence filling the entire temple before she spoke in a deep voice.
"Mortal, where do you come from?"
"Demacia."
Luke looked directly into her eyes and answered calmly, his presence utterly steady.
Hearing that he came from Demacia, the gathered Aspects showed various reactions.
Mihira and Kayle both began reevaluating Luke.
Meanwhile, a phrase flashed through Zoe's mind.
The Boring Forest.
She remembered visiting Demacia before. Everything there had felt so dreary.
Luke didn't seem like someone who had come from a place like that at all.
In her impression, the people of that country weren't capable of causing this kind of earth-shaking commotion.
"You came from Demacia and climbed step by step to the summit. You had already earned the gods' favor, so why did you reject the divine gift?"
Mihira's eyes carried an imposing authority even without anger, and her powerful voice echoed through the temple.
"Your actions have provoked the wrath of the gods of the Celestial Realm. Now answer me. Why did you do it?"
"Because you were the ones who made the rules. If someone wants to speak to you as an equal, the only option is to climb to the summit. But none of you ever asked whether I wanted the power of the Celestial Realm in the first place."
Luke answered calmly.
After he spoke, several more furious gazes descended from the heavens.
What an arrogant human!
Never before had anyone who reached the summit dared speak like this here.
His words treated the gods as equals, without the slightest trace of reverence.
"Interesting."
Mihira wasn't angered. If anything, her presence grew even more imposing.
She looked at Luke.
"As a mere mortal, I am curious. What gives you the courage to reject the gift of a god? You could have obtained tremendous power. You could have inherited the legacy of a god and, guided by his will, saved countless lives throughout the world. Yet you rejected all of it."
"Mortal, you had better give an answer that satisfies everyone."
Her words were filled with warning and intimidation, as though Luke's next answer would determine his fate.
The other Aspects also focused their gazes on him, wanting to know why he had rejected the divine gift.
Even beneath the scrutiny of so many Aspects, Luke's presence remained perfectly steady.
He spoke indifferently.
"Because I have no need to inherit anyone else's will, even a god's. I am myself. My will may not be weaker than that of any god, and no one gets to decide who I become."
The moment he finished speaking, the temple fell into a strange silence.
Taric sighed helplessly.
Zoe's eyes lit up like they were filled with tiny stars.
She thought that sounded unbelievably cool.
Leona frowned slightly.
Pantheon looked at Luke with growing interest.
Diana narrowed her eyes.
Morgana merely stared deeply at him.
Kayle watched him with an indifferent expression, though a hint of interest seemed to appear in her eyes toward this human who clearly had no concept of his own limits.
Then fury thundered down from the heavens.
Some of the more prideful celestial beings had been enraged, and their divine pressure descended upon Luke.
What an outrageously arrogant human!
Anyone with half a brain could understand what he meant.
He was practically one step away from outright saying, "If I am already a god unto myself, why would I need your power?"
There wasn't a shred of reverence for the celestial beings in his words.
It was almost as though Luke had climbed Mount Targon specifically to mock the gods.
He was just a human.
Where did he get the nerve?
In an instant, several divine pressures descended simultaneously.
A terrifying force enveloped Luke, and even gravity around him changed dramatically.
It felt as though an immeasurable weight had suddenly fallen upon his body, trying to forcibly bend his back.
The wrath of the gods seemed to condense into two words in the air.
Kneel.
Feeling the tremendous pressure bearing down on him, Luke's eyes turned cold.
Power surged throughout his body as he resisted.
They thought mere divine pressure from a bunch of gods could make him kneel?
Luke preferred to keep his distance from the Aspects, but that didn't mean he feared them.
Because of the world's laws, even if every god in the Celestial Realm became enraged, they couldn't all simply descend into Runeterra to vent their fury.
In the next instant, tremendous power erupted from Luke's body.
Despite countless layers of pressure bearing down on him, he remained standing perfectly straight.
That finally caused the expressions of the Aspects in the temple to change.
They hadn't expected Luke to be this stubborn.
Was he really openly resisting the will of the gods?
Seeing him standing there alone, Morgana could no longer bear it.
She finally raised a hand.
Energy spread out and enveloped Luke, helping disperse the divine pressure surrounding him.
At once, every Aspect turned toward her.
Kayle and Mihira both frowned slightly, unable to understand her actions.
When the celestial beings above still refused to stop, Taric acted as well.
He raised a hand and placed another layer of protection around Luke.
"Everyone, that's enough. Matters concerning Runeterra should be handled by those of us who have descended here. No matter how disrespectful his words may have been, this isn't something the rest of you should interfere with."
Taric spoke calmly.
Pantheon also spoke.
"A crowd of gods joining forces to bully one mortal? You aren't afraid people will laugh at you?"
Zoe immediately nodded.
"Exactly, exactly!"
Once the two of them spoke, the divine pressure finally dissipated.
As the Aspect of the Protector and the Aspect of War, they still carried considerable authority within the Celestial Realm.
Mihira looked at Luke again.
"Mortal, do you understand your mistake?"
"My mistake?"
Luke was no longer interested in playing by their rules.
Already annoyed, he gave a cold laugh.
"You keep calling me 'mortal' like it's some kind of insult. You Aspects can stand above everyone else, look down on people, and act arrogant as you please. But when one of us does the same thing, suddenly we're wrong? Tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?"
The entire temple went silent.
Then, in the next instant, the atmosphere seemed to explode like thunder.
The Aspects stared at Luke in disbelief.
This human was practically challenging all of them to their faces.
Even Morgana and Taric hadn't expected Luke to go this far.
How was what he had just said any different from openly provoking the gods?
"Insolent!"
This time, even Mihira was enraged.
As her emotions surged, flames suddenly ignited throughout the temple, revealing the fury within her heart.
"This is a divine temple! A mere mortal will not behave so recklessly here!"
She raised her arm.
A long blade wreathed in fire appeared in her hand, and all the flames within the temple surged toward Luke.
Luke remained standing where he was, completely unmoved.
His gaze only grew colder.
In the next instant, a hurricane erupted and blew the flames apart.
A burst of shimmering light followed, and a slender figure dressed in white appeared in the air.
Her white hair drifted behind her. She held a crystalline staff, her eyes were clear, and her ears were pointed like an elf's.
It was Janna.
Because Janna normally needed to watch over Piltover, Zaun, and the surrounding seas, she didn't remain at Luke's side permanently.
But in truth, their minds were linked.
As long as Luke called for her, she could quickly reach him.
Now, as she looked at all the Aspects gathered within the temple, even Janna hadn't expected Luke to somehow provoke this many terrifying figures in the blink of an eye.
Her nerves tightened.
Yet outwardly, the spirit goddess showed no fear whatsoever.
Her expression remained calm as she stared at the Aspects.
"A wind spirit?"
The Aspects immediately recognized what Janna was.
They came from the Celestial Realm and had existed since birth.
Janna was different.
She was a native deity of Runeterra, born from the faith of mortals.
Guardian gods who drew strength from belief were usually not beings anyone wanted to provoke lightly.
After all, in theory, their power could continue growing without limit.
So this wind spirit was the one Luke had been relying on?
"I didn't come here to challenge your boring pride."
Luke raised his eyes and looked toward Morgana.
"I only came to ask one question."
"Do you remember the promise we made? Who gave you permission to leave without my approval?"
Before climbing Mount Targon, Luke had planned to settle this peacefully.
But the attitude of these Aspects had made him realize that expecting an equal conversation was nothing more than a fantasy.
They were far more arrogant than he had imagined.
In their eyes, mortals seemed little better than slaves meant to present offerings to the gods.
In that case, there was no longer any need for restraint.
Luke wasn't necessarily afraid of these Aspects anymore.
For one thing, he knew three facts.
First, the descended Aspects weren't necessarily united.
Although all of them had gathered in the temple, aside from Mihira, who was responsible for questioning him, most had barely spoken at all.
They were clearly just watching the show.
Second, the celestial beings in the Celestial Realm might be powerful, but if they wanted to enter Runeterra, they either needed to find a human vessel or forcibly cross the barrier imposed by the world's laws while lowering their own divine nature.
Either way, their power would be affected.
Third, the Aspects were only impressive on the surface.
Luke knew there was a nearly invincible existence above them who was already extremely unhappy and watching them closely.
Knowing these things, why would Luke fear offending them?
If anything, the more submissive you acted, the more these Aspects would treat you like livestock.
Luke hadn't spent the past year traveling across Runeterra for nothing.
He had made at least a few friends powerful enough to stand beside him if things got ugly.
And he still had one trump card in his possession.
The Darkin, Xolaani.
The Aspects had gone through tremendous trouble dealing with the Darkin in the past.
If Luke got pushed far enough, he could simply release Xolaani right here on Mount Targon.
Then they could try fighting her and see how that worked out for them.
Luke had originally intended to keep a low profile while dealing with the Aspects.
Instead, he had been rewarded with nothing but arrogance.
Fine.
Then he would put his cards on the table.
He now possessed the means to openly oppose Mount Targon.
The gathered Aspects suddenly sensed a clear change in Luke's presence.
Calling it openly aggressive wouldn't even be an exaggeration.
At this moment, even they realized there was far more to this man than met the eye.
Had he come here specifically for Morgana?
Hearing Luke's question, Morgana lowered her head.
Her eyes shifted away, and she didn't answer.
Kayle narrowed her eyes and looked at Luke.
"You came to Mount Targon for her?"
"Do I need to answer you?"
Luke calmly raised his gaze and looked directly at her.
The aura radiating from him wasn't the slightest bit weaker than hers.
"Today, I'm taking her with me. That's all there is to it."
Morgana froze at his forceful declaration.
The situation seemed to have reached a point where there was no turning back.
So what was she supposed to do?
Luke stood on one side.
Her sister and mother stood on the other.
Which side was she supposed to choose?
"Oh?"
Kayle's lips curled upward with interest.
She had never met a human like this before.
"And what if I refuse?"
Feeling the tension growing sharper by the second, Zoe looked from Kayle to Luke and back again.
She was like someone watching the best scene in an incredible show, her little face flushed with excitement.
"Your refusal has nothing to do with me."
Luke met Kayle's gaze directly.
"I already made myself perfectly clear."
Arrogant.
That was the only word in the minds of the gathered Aspects.
This man was both arrogant and utterly brazen.
He was practically lawless.
He was a mortal.
What gave him the right to act like this?
When had Runeterra produced someone like him?
Even Janna was getting increasingly nervous.
Her heart was pounding.
At this rate, an actual battle didn't seem far away.
Could she and Luke really fight this many Aspects?
Maybe she should just grab him and flee first.
Afterward, she could go to Bilgewater and strengthen her relationship with the deity of life there.
No.
Once they returned, she absolutely needed to start socializing more with the demigods scattered across Runeterra.
Otherwise, if they ever got into a group fight, they might not have enough people on their side.
Janna firmly made up her mind.
"You are the first person to enter the Temple of the Aspects and dare act with such arrogance."
A deep, powerful voice suddenly rang out.
"Let me see whether you have the strength to justify it."
The moment the words ended, a spear reinforced with tremendous power shot straight toward Luke.
It moved faster than the naked eye could follow.
Almost instantaneously, it tore through the air, accompanied by explosive waves of force, and appeared directly before Luke.
Luke instantly unleashed his full strength.
He turned his body aside, avoiding the point of the spear, while reaching out and grabbing its shaft.
The moment he caught it, a terrifyingly immense force surged through his arm and swept across his entire body.
Only now did the gathered Aspects finally witness Luke's physical strength.
Surprise appeared in their eyes.
A mortal had actually caught Pantheon's throw?
At this moment, Luke's aura seemed to surge straight into the heavens.
The power within his body erupted.
He forcibly seized the spear, then spun and hurled it straight back at Pantheon.
Boom!
The spear unleashed a terrifying sonic blast.
Just as before, it crossed the distance in an instant and appeared directly in front of Pantheon's face.
"Good throw!"
Pantheon's eyes flashed, and his spirits rose.
He tilted his body aside as well.
Just before the spear flew past him, he reached out and seized it.
At that same moment, he felt the tremendous force Luke had poured into the weapon.
His heart jolted.
Was this really strength a human could possess?
That level of power might not even be inferior to an Aspect.
Still surprised, Pantheon immediately exerted his own strength, neutralizing the force Luke had placed into the spear.
He steadied it in his hand before driving it into the floor beside him.
"With strength like that, are you really human?"
Pantheon stared at Luke as he asked.
At this point, he was beginning to wonder whether Luke might be some sort of monster wearing human skin.
Yet judging from every aspect of his presence, the man before him was unquestionably human.
Luke could tell that Pantheon's sudden attack had mostly been a test.
He raised his head.
"Listen carefully, gods. My name is Luke Lightshield, Second Prince of Demacia, and I am completely, undeniably human."
"I will leave a brilliant mark upon the history of mankind. As long as I live, I will never bow my head before any of you."
"Now I'm asking you, Morgana."
"Will you come with me?"
He was done wasting words.
All he wanted to know was Morgana's choice.
Morgana looked into his bright, unwavering eyes.
Her thoughts were in complete chaos.
She wanted to immediately say yes.
But she couldn't stop thinking about her mother and sister beside her.
Even if she agreed, would she truly be allowed to leave?
"Don't you think you're underestimating us a little too much?"
Kayle spoke calmly.
"As her older sister, even if she agrees, she still requires my permission."
Luke looked toward her once again.
"If she's willing to leave, no one here can keep her."
Every time the two spoke, the atmosphere instantly became ready to explode.
At this point, Zoe could barely contain herself.
Today's drama was incredible.
She was so glad she'd come back!
"That's enough."
Taric finally spoke with a helpless sigh.
He genuinely hadn't expected the situation to escalate this far.
If he had known, he never would have told Luke anything in the first place.
But now he had to step in.
If this continued, an actual battle would probably break out.
Judging by the personalities of everyone involved, Taric doubted a single one of them would willingly back down.
"In that case, we'll follow the rules."
"When a matter arises that cannot be decided by a single Aspect, multiple Aspects will vote. Abstentions are not permitted, and the minority must accept the decision of the majority."
Taric stepped forward and stood at the center of the temple.
"I hereby initiate this vote in the name of the Aspect of the Protector."
"But before that, I need to ask you one question."
"Morgana, do you wish to leave Mount Targon?"
This time, Morgana didn't hesitate.
"I do."
Luke had been willing to come all the way to Mount Targon for her.
She couldn't disappoint him now.
Mount Targon wasn't a place where she belonged.
She didn't want to remain here for even another second.
All she wanted now was to return to Luke's side, just as things had been before.
Hearing her answer, Mihira and Kayle both looked at her.
Then they looked away again.
Neither seemed surprised.
Ever since Morgana returned to Mount Targon, they had naturally sensed how completely out of place she felt here.
There were two reasons they had summoned Morgana back.
One was family.
The other, more important reason was her Eye of Humanity.
It was an unusual ability she had possessed since birth, allowing her to see the good and evil within a person.
If developed further, she could even see the entirety of someone's life.
It was an extraordinarily powerful prophetic sight.
Allowing such an ability to go to waste in a place like Demacia seemed far too regrettable.
They were now preparing themselves for conflicts that would soon arrive, and her prophetic sight could prove extremely useful.
But with Morgana's answer given, the vote was now inevitable.
This was a sacred ritual recognized even by the Celestial Realm itself.
Its rules had to be followed.
"You must understand that once you leave Mount Targon, the Celestial Realm will reclaim the power it bestowed upon you. You will become completely mortal."
Taric looked at Morgana.
"Even knowing that, are you still willing?"
Morgana answered without the slightest hesitation.
"I am."
Her voice was firm and decisive.
She didn't hesitate for even an instant.
Even if she became mortal, she was willing.
"Very well. In the name of the Aspect of the Protector, I initiate this sacred vote. I support Morgana's decision."
Taric formally began the vote and immediately cast his own ballot.
He owed Demacia a debt.
This time, he had to repay it.
None of the other Aspects were surprised by his choice.
Mihira and Kayle spoke at the same time.
"I oppose it."
That immediately gave the opposition two votes.
Then Leona spoke.
"I also oppose it."
She was someone who could not tolerate challenges to established rules, and Luke's actions had already crossed the line she considered acceptable.
"I support it."
A calm voice followed immediately afterward.
Diana stood quietly where she was.
After casting her vote, she returned to silence.
Her reason was simple.
She was voting the opposite way from Leona.
Leona glanced at her without saying anything.
"My turn!"
Zoe excitedly raised her hand.
Her body floated freely into the air without any wind, moving through it almost like Janna.
Then she rubbed her chin and pretended to seriously consider the matter.
After putting on the act for a while, she finally declared solemnly:
"My decision is... I support it!"
Despite her exaggerated display of contemplation, none of the Aspects were even slightly surprised by her vote.
That was simply Zoe's personality.
If something interesting was happening, she wanted to be part of it.
And Luke had clearly captured her interest.
There was no way Zoe would allow something this entertaining to end here.
That brought the vote to three against three.
Everyone turned toward Pantheon.
They waited for him to cast the final and decisive vote.
Mihira believed Pantheon would side with her.
The two of them had fought beside each other many times in the past.
Although he had become much quieter and more withdrawn after suffering grave injuries during the Darkin Wars, Mihira remembered his uncompromising personality.
Surely he wouldn't tolerate Luke openly trampling upon the dignity of the Aspects.
The air remained silent for a brief moment.
Then Pantheon's voice finally rang out.
"I support it."
Mihira stared at him in surprise.
Kayle remained expressionless.
She glanced at Morgana before turning her head away.
If Morgana had decided to leave, then so be it.
"Four to three."
Taric raised a crystal.
"This matter is settled. I will strip Morgana of the divine power granted to her by the Celestial Realm. Afterward, wherever she chooses to go will have nothing to do with Mount Targon."
Light radiated from the crystal and immediately enveloped Morgana.
She didn't resist.
Within only a few breaths, she felt her power continuously fading.
Her wings gradually dissolved into motes of light in the air, as though symbolizing the strength she was losing.
A miserable sensation washed over her, almost like being sick with a severe cold.
But immediately afterward came a profound feeling of relief.
At last, she could cast aside this power.
At last, she no longer had to bear so many responsibilities.
At last, she could live as an ordinary person.
When Taric finally stopped, Morgana's divine power had completely disappeared.
The only power remaining within her was the magic she had personally cultivated over the years.
However, her Eye of Humanity remained.
That was an ability she had possessed from birth.
Zoe immediately raised a hand.
A portal opened beneath Morgana and sent her directly to Luke's side.
Then Zoe snapped her fingers.
Another portal appeared behind the two of them.
She winked.
"Go through there and you'll be back at the foot of Mount Targon."
"In that case, we won't bother you any longer."
Luke had no desire to remain here either.
He turned, took Morgana by the hand, and walked through the portal.
Janna left with them.
After they disappeared, the temple fell into an awkward silence.
Zoe vanished almost immediately afterward.
None of the Aspects particularly cared where she'd gone.
Having repaid his debt, Taric prepared to leave as well.
Diana's figure gradually became translucent before completely dissolving into the moonlight.
Leona, who had apparently wanted to say something to her, froze in place.
Her eyes flickered.
Then she too prepared to leave.
"Pantheon."
Mihira looked toward Pantheon, who had already turned to go.
"Why did you vote in favor?"
Pantheon stopped and turned around.
"No reason."
"Because I wanted to."
With that, he crouched down and launched himself into the distance like a fired cannonball.
If there truly had to be a reason...
Perhaps it was because he was also just a mortal.
He was no longer the Pantheon the Aspects remembered.
He was a mortal named Atreus.
Hearing Pantheon's willful answer, Mihira froze.
By the time she recovered, he was already gone.
For some reason, Pantheon seemed increasingly unfamiliar to her.
"Mother, was her power truly taken back?"
Kayle stepped forward and asked.
"Neither her power nor yours came from the Celestial Realm's inheritance in the first place, so how could it truly be reclaimed?"
Mihira sighed softly.
"I merely used a special method so she wouldn't notice."
Mihira felt that perhaps she wasn't suited to being a mother.
What kind of mother raised a daughter who would choose someone else without even a moment's hesitation?
Back when Mihira had been granted the power of the Aspect of Justice, she had already been pregnant with Kayle and Morgana.
In a sense, the sisters were almost like new lives born from the Celestial Realm itself.
The power they possessed had been theirs from birth.
Kayle nodded.
"Then there's no need to worry about her too much."
Compared to Morgana, she was actually more interested in that human prince.
He had somehow made her stubborn younger sister follow him so wholeheartedly that she was willing to become mortal for his sake.
Mihira suppressed the unnecessary emotions in her heart and regained her calm expression.
"Now isn't the time to talk about this. The Celestial Realm has noticed unusual movements from the Void. We need to investigate them thoroughly."
"And there's also the Darkin."
"For a brief moment, I sensed Xolaani's presence, but it vanished almost immediately afterward. I suspect she may have gone into hiding."
"She is extraordinarily cunning. We must deal with her carefully."
"Understood."
Kayle nodded.
Soon afterward, mother and daughter also left the temple.
In the blink of an eye, the enormous temple became utterly silent.
Starlight blanketed everything, making it seem as though nothing that had happened here had ever existed.
Only the faithful Godwatcher stationed before the staircase leading to the temple still remembered what had taken place.
The back of that human as he stood before the gods was something he knew he would never forget.
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