Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

Leslie and the Goddess of Beauty, Venus, faced off in the void.

Leslie radiated the majesty of an empress, exuding an aura of unyielding dominance. In contrast, Venus lacked Leslie's imperial presence but compensated with the ethereal grace of a Throne Celestial. As her power peaked, an enormous throne formed of intricate runes materialized behind her, projecting her as a peerless, untamed champion.

The two women, standing as symbols of perfection, seemed to clash in both beauty and power.

The growing tension didn't deter the onlookers. Quite the opposite—they silently hoped the confrontation would continue. After all, powerful female mages were rare, let alone two such breathtakingly extraordinary women. For many, simply witnessing this moment was the highlight of their lives.

However, Owen couldn't bear to let things escalate. He stepped forward to break the standoff.

"Enough. Venus, Leslie and I have other matters to attend to. We'll take our leave now."

For Owen, their animosity was nothing but trouble. He couldn't allow their relationship to worsen.

The best solution, for now, was to separate them and defuse the conflict.

Taking Leslie's hand, Owen led her away, hoping to avoid further trouble.

But before they could leave, Venus called out, her voice filled with emotion.

"Why? Why won't you be with me?"

"Am I not worthy?"

"Wouldn't we be better off leading the resistance together?"

Her words echoed in Owen's mind, making him pause.

Venus's insistence raised his guard.

As one of the most illustrious figures of the previous era and the daughter of the

God of Light

, Venus had surely encountered countless exceptional people.

Yet, after meeting Owen just once, she seemed adamant about being with him. It didn't add up.

Venus wasn't someone driven by emotion—on the contrary, she was known for her calm and rational nature.

Her determination made Owen wonder if the

God of Light's

supposed instructions for her to marry him were genuine or if Venus was acting on her own agenda. Perhaps it was a mix of both.

Though wary, Owen masked his thoughts, responding with a calm tone.

"Miss Venus, you will undoubtedly find someone better suited for you."
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Venus's celestial eyes shimmered with an intense light as she replied,

"Owen, the

God of Light

, the

Lord of Stars

, and the

War Goddess

are all missing. With the resistance in our hands, we should unite. Together, we're the best choice to lead it."

Owen shook his head.

"We don't need to be together to lead the resistance successfully."

By now, Owen had discerned the dynamics within the resistance. A portion of the returned celestial gods followed Venus's commands without question, while another faction respected and obeyed Caesar, the

Soul Reaper

.

Owen realized that gaining their approval required strength and influence—not marrying Venus.

"Owen, why are you so against the idea of being with me?" Venus pressed, her luminous eyes tinged with frustration.

Owen replied resolutely,

"I already have Leslie, and I'm very happy with her."

Hearing this, Leslie's pale cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

Despite being accustomed to Owen's affectionate gestures, his public declaration of love before so many celestial gods sent ripples of warmth through her heart.

Without another word, Owen took Leslie's hand and led her away.

As the two departed, the remaining celestial gods exchanged complex glances before gradually dispersing to their respective domains.

After all, their return marked the end of a long absence, and they were eager to assess the state of their descendants and factions.

Meanwhile, Venus didn't intend to let the matter rest. She followed in the direction Owen and Leslie had taken, determined to resolve things.

Before she could catch up, Caesar appeared in her path. His translucent, ethereal form flickered as he smiled warmly.

"Miss Venus, where are you headed in such a hurry? Why not accompany me to the

White Tower Tech Guild

? It's thriving like never before."

Venus shook her head.

"Thank you, Caesar, but I must find Owen and fulfill my father's wishes."

Caesar's brow furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly composed himself, his tone earnest.

"Miss Venus, you've only just returned to the present. The resistance needs your leadership now more than ever. Why not focus on that and speak to Owen later?"

His words carried a sincere hope that Venus would reconsider.

But Venus ignored him, stepping past him with determination.

"Owen is destined to be mine!"

As he watched her resolute figure fade into the distance, Caesar's fists clenched tightly. Though he lacked a physical body, his soul flickered with fiery agitation, betraying the depth of his anger.

In his heart, Caesar had already claimed Venus as his own. To the members of the

White Tower Tech Guild

, the two were destined to be together.

"Owen," Caesar whispered, his voice laced with cold determination, "Venus is my destined partner, not yours."

The celestial gods who had followed Caesar closely for years exchanged uneasy glances. His usual composure was nowhere to be found, replaced by a seething intensity they had never seen before.

But Caesar quickly dismissed them.

"Go. Reunite with your families. Soon, there will be tasks requiring your attention."

The celestial gods obediently bowed and left.

Though Venus was officially the leader of the resistance, Caesar's control over many of its factions ran deeper.

Yet Venus's apparent disregard for his strengths stoked Caesar's frustration.

This time, he vowed to prove that he was superior to Owen.

Meanwhile, the

God of Alchemy

watched Venus leave, his gaze thoughtful.

He understood both Venus's extraordinary talents and Caesar's growing influence. The

White Tower Tech Guild

, founded by Caesar, had become a colossal power in its own right.

If not for Owen's sudden emergence, Caesar and Venus would undoubtedly have been recognized as the leaders of the resistance.

But fate had taken an unexpected turn.

He could only hope Venus resolved her feelings soon.

Otherwise, the growing tensions between these key figures might destabilize the resistance—a risk they couldn't afford.

Meanwhile, the return of the celestial gods had caused upheaval across the

Pure Land

.

Long-dormant families and factions now surged with newfound strength, seeking vengeance for past wrongs. Blood feuds ignited, plunging the land into chaos.

In just a few months, many once-powerful groups had been reduced to ash.

As this turmoil unfolded, the

Burning Legion

, under Sargeras's command, began a sweeping purge across the

Pure Land

.