Chapter 287 - : 287 Lord of thunder.[3]

Vern Kael spoke in a calm voice, as if they were talking about something ordinary and not the fate of worlds.

"It seems she has also grown quite a lot this time. And this new cycle… something that should have ended long ago… was also her doing."

His tone did not change. It remained soft, almost casual, like always. Yet his eyes stayed on Indra, watching closely.

Indra raised one brow slightly. He lifted the gourd in his hand and took a long drink, the liquid running down his throat as he stayed silent. The wind moved gently around him, carrying the faint smell of rain. For a moment, he did not respond.

Then he lowered the gourd.

"It seems that way," he said slowly.

His voice was calm, but it carried a quiet weight. He looked ahead, his gaze steady as if he was looking at something far beyond the mountains.

"I checked a few years ago. She has come a long way…"

He paused again. The air around him felt still, even with the storm clouds above.

"Manipulating time… and space…"

The words came out low, almost like he was speaking to himself. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he leaned his head back slightly and looked up at the sky. The clouds moved slowly, dark and heavy, yet his eyes stayed fixed on them.

For a brief moment, his vision blurred. He did not blink. He simply kept looking, as if lost in something only he could see.

"It seems her obsession has grown greater than ever…"

His voice softened.

Memories began to rise in his mind, clear and sharp. He could still remember everything from the very beginning.

His daughter…

She had been born into one of the five great clans of the celestial realm, the thunder clan. At that time, Indra stood at the very top. He was the king of the celestial realm, the one who ruled over all.

But that time did not last long.

Before the destruction of the celestial realm, he had already stepped down from the throne. He had left that life behind without regret. Instead, he chose something far simpler.

He chose to live with his wife.

And with his daughter.

Those days were quiet. Peaceful in a way that power could never give. He remembered the small things more clearly than anything else, the sound of her laughter, the way she would run toward him without fear, the way she would look at the sky with bright, curious eyes.

She grew up well.

Strong, just as expected from someone of the thunder clan. She learned quickly, mastered everything that was taught to her, and never once showed weakness. Yet she was never cold. There was always a softness in her, something warm that never faded.

And then…

Once she had mastered everything, she left the celestial realm for a while. She wanted to see the human world.

That was where she met him.

An ordinary soldier.

At least… that was how he appeared.

Indra knew the truth the moment he saw him. There was nothing ordinary about that man. But even then, he chose not to interfere.

The soldier caught her attention.

At first, it was nothing more than curiosity. She observed him from a distance, watching the way he lived, the way he fought, the way he endured. Slowly, that curiosity turned into interest.

Then something more.

She disguised herself as a human and approached him. She stayed by his side, learning his world while hiding her own. Time passed quietly between them.

And before long…

They fell in love.

It was simple. Natural. They began to live together, sharing small moments that felt endless at the time. There was no war, no burden, no power between them.

Just a peaceful life.

Until…

Destruction descended.

Indra's fingers tightened slightly around the gourd.

"He had forgotten his role…" he muttered under his breath.

His voice was low, almost lost in the wind.

"That is why destruction descended."

His eyes dimmed slightly as the thought settled deeper.

Every time… it had been the same.

Every cycle, he had abandoned his role. Every time, he had stepped away from the path he was meant to follow.

And every time…

Destruction came.

It ended everything without fail.

"This time… he has realized it," Indra continued slowly.

There was no doubt in his voice, only quiet certainty.

"But the time is near… for destruction to descend again."

The sky above rumbled faintly, as if responding to his words.

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Then Vern Kael spoke.

"I don't think it will be much longer."

His voice cut through the still air, calm and steady.

"It seems he has realized it… but it isn't enough."

He looked toward the horizon, his expression unchanged.

"Not until destruction descends…"

Indra remained silent for a while, thinking over Vern Kael's words. The wind moved gently around them, carrying the last traces of the storm as the clouds slowly drifted apart. After a few moments, he gave a small nod.

"I think the same," he said quietly.

He paused, his gaze lowering for a second before it sharpened again.

"And that's why… I'm going to do something different from the last cycles."

This time, his voice was firm. There was no hesitation in it.

Vern Kael raised one brow, a faint hint of curiosity showing on his face. He turned slightly toward Indra, watching him more closely now.

"And what would that be?" he asked.

Though his tone sounded casual, there was a small shift in his eyes. He already had an idea of what Indra was about to say.

Indra lifted himself off the ground, his body rising slowly into the air. The loose strands of his clothing moved with the wind as he looked down at Vern Kael.

"I'm going to reveal everything."

His words were steady.

"I will tell him the truth. In no cycle has he ever remembered what he truly is. This time… he should know."

He paused briefly, then continued.

"And I will also tell him about the apex."

Vern Kael's brow lifted a little higher at that. For a moment, he looked slightly impressed, though it did not last long. The interest faded just as quickly, replaced by his usual calm expression.

"Do whatever you want," he said lightly, waving it off as if it did not matter much to him.

"As long as he grows… and stops the destruction, that's all I care about."

He snapped his fingers softly, the sound sharp but small in the open air. Then his expression shifted just a little. His voice lowered, not loud enough to carry far.

"But remember one thing."

Indra's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at him.

"In the end… he will be the medium I use."

A faint chuckle followed his words, quiet but clear.

Indra held his gaze. He understood what Vern Kael meant. There was no confusion about it. He knew why Vern Kael was so set on letting him grow, why he kept pushing things in this direction.

It was not just about stopping destruction.

It was something beyond that.

Something that would decide the fate of everything.

Indra's expression did not change, but his thoughts moved quickly. If he did nothing, the cycles would continue as they always had. The same pattern, repeating without end. No matter how many times it restarted, the result would remain the same.

There would be no finish to it.

So this time…

He had to take the chance.

"We will see," Indra said calmly.

Without waiting any longer, he turned and rose higher into the sky. The wind picked up slightly as he moved, his figure growing smaller against the clouds.

Vern Kael stayed where he was, watching him leave. His eyes followed Indra's back until he was nothing more than a distant shape.

Then he spoke, his voice quiet but clear in the open air.

"If you need any help… you can ask me."

He paused for a moment, a faint smile forming on his face.

"I know how to push him far enough."

The wind passed through the empty space between them, carrying his words away as the sky slowly returned to silence.

"No need!"