The titan blade stared at the piece of scroll currently floating right in front of Xerxes, pure white while wreathed in flames of red that burned ever softly with aether. He could feel the touch of the divine on it as it resonated with reality and with no small amount of willpower held himself back from grasping it. So great was his concentration that he didn’t realize all eyes were on him, Xerxes snapped the scroll shut, raising an eyebrow at the titan,

“the pure essence of a supreme being, don’t lose your composure titan” Xerxes said as the rest chuckled,

Moyo sat back, nodding apologetically, however something within that scroll resonated with his aspect and he couldn’t put a finger on it. Whatever it was though, he could sort it later, currently he was about to listen to something he was pretty sure the entire archailect would have limited access to. The thought of hiding vital information rubbed off him wrongly, but for once the titan agreed that some information was better left from being made public knowledge. Unrolling the scroll, Xerxes spoke, but this time his voice trembled with aether, resonating around the entire area,

“This pertains to the avatar of chaos himself, Rohan” he said,

With barely the mention of the name of their arch-enemy, the void seemed to dim a little more,

“his aspect is borrowed, the supreme beings have deemed it necessary to share that piece of information” he continued,

“we all know that, the question is what entity is so strong to have an aspect within the abyss?” Kairos asked,

“The supreme beings themselves don’t know its name” Xerxes said bluntly,

The primordials shifted in their seats uncomfortably,

“what sort of joke is that?” Eses asked frowning,

“I admit I’ve been out of the loop for a while, but last I heard and knew, there is an infinite war against the abyss, against something in the abyss and while I can believe most of the supreme beings could be ignorant of that” she said, pointing one perfectly black claw at Xerxes,

“there is no way Lotes isn’t aware, pick your next words carefully” she said with a grim smile,

Moyo felt an itch at the back of his mind, something eluding his thoughts, something vital,

“Perhaps your patron wants something in return, hmm?” wukong asked,

Xerxes shook his head,

“I am merely her harbinger, whatever the supreme beings are keeping to themselves, I cannot say” he replied calmly,

“then you would doom entire empires to death, entire galaxies, millions if not billions of worlds that have no idea about this entity lurking in the dark to eternal death should we in some reality lose this war” Viaris said, his voice like steel,

“the thundering galaxies will be defended to my dying breath” Ardos the primordial thunderer said, his voice booming,

“I agree, if I have to cut my empire out of the greater archailect, then I would do so, too many lives are at stake to allow your petty misgivings to harm my people” Ynas said,

Xerxes sat up,

“for fifteen hundred years I have stood vigil against the dark, sacrificing blood, sweat and needs to ensure the safety of the archailect, and still you think I play games with the lives of those within it?” he said harshly eyes alight,

“look how well that has worked out” Eses said as Xerxes shot her a hurtful look,

Moyo couldn’t help but think they were all watching a private argument all over again,

“There was a reason I dropped the position of brigade leader Xerxes, the supreme beings” Eses said, calling their titles with as much scorn as she could,

“Care not for the lives of those beneath them, even now they squabble over their realms deep within the nexuses. How many harbingers have come and gone?, do the cults still wage war with each other in the name of their beings?, what happened to the flower galaxy?, or has that been scrubbed from the annals of history like every other greedy plans they ever had?” Eses said, her eyes glowing,

“the supreme beings, Lotes, cares for those beneath them” Xerxes said softly, even Moyo could hear the doubt in his voice,

Clearing his throat, Xerxes continued,

“I implore you all, celestials and terrestrials gathered, those terms are only titles given by the beings, you all know Lotes stand on that issue” he said,

“And yet she does nothing as her siblings tear the archailect apart with as much infighting as possible, tell me oh great Tarrengazer, are you aware of the circumstances that gave Rohan the chance to penetrate the archailect this time, hmm?” Rieus said,

Moyo glanced at the bright scourge who looked pleased with himself,

“the jades were busy stopping an invasion from the delta nexus zone, Rohan sent his lords to assault the alpha nexus pathways” Xerxes said eyes narrowed,

Rieus broke out in laughter, wiping one eye,

“oh sun-burner, no, perhaps a few of those ancient monsters you call jades could had died, but did you really think a few lords could had done that much damage?” he asked,

Tsking, Rieus continued,

“No, oh great leader of the brigade, let me draw your attention back a year ago, remember one tiny little insignificant galaxy just absorbed into the archailect?, one where the house Dracon attempted to turn into a breeding ground for their armies and hired house crimson sun to subjugate quietly while the duration of their protection was still going on?” he asked,

Moyo tightened his fists on his chair, aware Rieus was baiting him, Xerxes nodded,

“yes, but that galaxy is as far from the frontlines as possible, what is your point?” Xerxes asked,

“Is it?” Rieus asked dubiously,

“a category 3 blight bordering on category 4 suddenly appeared in a new galaxy and you considered it a stroke of bad luck?, no, that was a result of two of your precious supreme beings attempting to extend their reach to the jades” he said,

Xerxes drummed his hands on his armrest,

“What evidence do you have of this?” he asked,

The bright scourge shrugged,

“I could care less if you believed me or not, just know that that particular incident gave Rohan the foothold to launch his invasion” he said,

“and yet here we are, diverting issues from the main point” Moyo cut in, much to the irritation of Rieus,

“he’s right, again our differences seek to divide us, our empires can weather an attack, however, there would be no need for one if we can stop it right now in this war” Metar the first shadow said,

“Apologies Xerxes, go on” Eses said,

Xerxes sighed and continued,

“from what I’ve been told, the abyss while fragmented was previously one sole entity” he said,

Murmurs broke out,

“Thankfully the supreme beings shattered its consciousness as it formed” he continued,

Lies, Moyo thought, lies and Lotes knews that,

“We believe Rohan has somehow been able to access each of the fragmented parts of its consciousness, tapping into it. We fear his plan isn’t to simply shatter the archailect, he intends to revive this being” he said gravely,

“And how’s that worse than shattering the archailect?” Rieus asked,

Kairos sighed and turned to the bright scourge like a petulant child,

“Each of us here can power our own empire, at least hypothetically” he started,

“We have enough venerations, well, most of us” he continued looking at the titan blade,

“We have enough to create an imitation of the system, at least in a way, I have a feeling that should that being reawaken, it would mean the end of reality and existence as we know it, right?” he asked Xerxes who nodded gravely,

“It is as the great maw has said, it would mean the end of reality itself” he said,

Moyo found the claims of powering an entire set of galaxies themselves absurd, could venerations do that?, and if it could, just how much venerations had they accumulated over their long period of existence?. He shook his head at the absurdity,

“I believe you have a plan?” Ynas asked,

“Yes, originally the plan was to subvert the spires planted on each of the planets taken over by the abyss, and while that would in essence drag those planets back into the abyss, it won’t be enough to stop him” Xerxes said,

“What exactly does he need to reawaken this being?” Ardos asked,

“The harbingers, or at least the bits of the supreme beings within us” he replied,

“The supreme beings took something from that being, something I’m not aware of yet, something they are unwilling to let me in to till the final stages of this war” he said,

“I for one will not dance to the tunes of Lotes and her kin, I say we rip our way through that galaxy, whatever worlds and systems conquered by our respective forces are shared individually and go our separate ways” Ynas said,

“As ever, your plans to keep taking more worlds than you can handle never ceases to amaze me Ynas” Xerxes said darkly,

“Tell me, how many worlds and systems have the brigade had to step in to quell rebellions bordering on deals with the abyss due to your cults and groups harshly holding them to compliance?” Xerxes asked,

Ynas glowered,

Moyo glanced at Kairos questioningly as the great maw nodded, another celestial,

“No, we cannot afford to let our…games affect the archailect at this crucial stage, like it or not we are the ones actually holding the archailect together, we and the jades who have dedicated their existences to holding back the tides that assault us” Eses said,

“Despite our differences, we are still primordials and we have responsibilities, all in favour of lending our strengths to crushing the insignificant existence known as Rohan?” she asked,

All hands went up, Moyo included, she nodded,

“Then the celestials hereby call for a truce” she said,

“The terrestrials will respect said truce, till the archailect is whole again” Kairos said,

Moyo watched the primordials get up, standing up along with them,

“Then this session is closed” Eses said,

Glancing at the titan, she smiled,

“I look forward to your exploits titan blade” she said and disappeared in an explosion of blue flames that singed his skin despite the distance,

One by one the primordials disappeared, Kairos and Viaris nodding at him. Moyo watched them leave in explosions of aspect-born power and imitated, them, his aspect rushing out as he pushed his willpower against the nethervoid, suddenly finding himself back on the same spot Ashira stood. She glanced at him,

“Well that was fast, went for simply a meet and greet?” she asked,

Moyo scrunched his face together,

“I’ve been gone for a while” he replied,

“No, you barely left seconds ago” she said,

Moyo nodded,

“nethervoid” he replied,

“so, how much trouble are we in?, and by we I mean the archailect” she asked,

“The war just took a huge turn” Moyo simply replied,

****************

Loud blares indicated the arrival of Altair thousand blades, a pathway opening right where his throne was, everyone turning their attention to the exact spot. Out stepped Duval sol blade, master and former patriarch of the sol blade clan. Dressed in bright gold with the crest of clan sol blade emblazoned proudly on it, he folded his arms behind him, standing to the left, Killian stellar blade stepped out next, white hair with blue robes and a cold expression on his face, he stood to the right.

Everyone bowed the moment they sensed the aura in the air, the feeling of sharp blades all around them, caressing their skin with the deadly edge of sharpness. The announcer spoke, this time with pride in his voice,

“All bow to the lord of blades, protector of the thousand blade empire, lord ruler and ancient Altair thousand blades!”

Appearing in a shower of blade aura and intent, Altair thousand blades stepped out of the pathway, blue eyes glowing with a large smile on his face. His voice reverberating through the air, he spoke,

“Welcome, friends, allies and representatives” he said,

Moyo felt eyes on him as he glanced to the side, Nerla of house Dracon stared right at him,

“Seems you’ve got an admirer, perhaps she wants to redeem her house in the eyes of the archailect?” Ashira said,

“Please no, I just want this war to get started” Moyo murmured back as she giggled,

“Please, enjoy the night, for tomorrow, we go to war” Altair said, eyes scanning everyone, pausing on the titan before continuing,

Moyo clapped along with the rest of the crowd before excusing himself to a corner, meeting Idris who stood next to the wall,

“You vanished for a second” he said,

“Top meeting, lots of things are unfolding” Moyo replied,

“Anything we should look out for?” Idris asked,

“Yes, be careful, I have more enemies than friends here” Moyo replied as Idris nodded,

He looked up to see the granddaughter of Hagan walking towards him, Ashira following his gaze to see the master of house Dracon walking towards him. Her gaze darkened as she took one step towards them, Moyo raised one eyebrow, sending a quick text to her that stopped her in her tracks, lips pursed. He noticed the crowds’ attention was subtly being drawn to the lady who walked towards him, milk-white skin with red burning eyes and hair, a red coloured blade at her waist she gripped, he sighed inwardly.

She stopped in front of him, red eyes burning with an emotion he couldn’t quite place, then she bowed, in a move Moyo wasn’t sure he understood,

“I apologize, on behalf of my grandmother and house Dracon, for the shameful acts Kenuran displayed during the tournament, this is in no way the behaviour of the entirety of house Dracon” she said clearly and loudly,

The whole room was hushed, all eyes on them, Moyo glancing at Ajax at a corner whose stone-cold eyes displayed his expression with the act, his eyes strayed to Altair who gave a brief nod. He bowed back in return,

“Think nothing of it, I and my clan bear no thoughts of vengeance towards house Dracon” he replied,

She stood up straight, nodding,

“Then in the spirit of reconciliation, I propose a spar, with my father” she said,

Ah, there was it, the bait,

Moyo grounded his jaw as his purple eyes glowed, Nerla taking one step back involuntarily before realizing it. She quickly corrected it, but all had seen the move, he glanced up at Mathol, the master and son of Hagan,

“As I said” he started, his voice ringing,

“It will not be necessary, I bear no ill will towards house Dracon, I will not dishonour the occasion of the thousand blades that way” he replied,

Master Mathol stepped forwards, bowing towards the position of Altair,

“lord ancient, on behalf of house Dracon and my mother, a fellow ancient, I apologize” he started as murmurs broke out,

“but we would like to request a chance to show that house Dracon isn’t entirely made up of dishonourable ascenders” he said, his deep voice saying,

Moyo guessed it was news that Hagan had ascended to the realm of an ancient as well, they must have kept it hidden. Altair narrowed his eyes, a smile on his face,

“This is my domain, my occasion, you would step into my realm and make demands of me?” he asked,

A dark blade was suddenly at the throat of Mathol who didn’t bat an eye, Ajax death blade, emissary of the thousand blades stood behind the burning blade, his movements unseen,

“Ajax” Mathol said,

“Mathol” the death blade replied,

“It has been long” the burning blade said,

“Not too long in my opinion” Ajax replied softly, aura bubbling up,

Killian glanced in the direction of Mathol,

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked softly,

Moyo sighed, stepping out,

“If the thousand blade wishes, I accept” he said, turning to Altair who sat up,

“I should end your existence where you stand for this” Altair said to Mathol who stood rigidly,

“And I have enough witnesses should your mother decide to use this as an excuse to war, but I will grant you this request” he finished,

With a snap of his fingers, he extended his realm around the room, the rest of the guests being transported out of the realm leaving Mathol and Moyo. The titan blade stared at the master of house Dracon,

“What do you hope to achieve from this?” he asked softly,

“The honour of house Dracon my uncle has damaged” he replied, a red burning blade in his hand,

Moyo closed his eyes and sighed,

“Thank you” he said,

“Why?’ Mathol asked confused,

“I was growing tired of the party” he replied as he activated his step of Ogun, appearing right in front of the master who anticipated the attack,

Mathol was over two centuries in age, preferring to remain a master for reasons known to him, however, like all dragons, he had grown stronger with age, his bloodline ability as well, but even as he channelled it to his arm, he realized the mistake he made immediately. The force of the titans’ punch shattered the bones in his arm, pushing his blade away with his mere hand coated with his authority. Mathol was no novice, diverting most of the attack, he threw the titan off guard, his other arm morphing into its draconic state with burning claws that descended to rip into the skin of the titan.

His claws shattered on the mantle of the titan who gripped the arm, shattering it as his eyes blazed purple, his leg coming up to slam into the chest of Mathol who literally heard his bones crunch,

Such power he thought as he was blasted backwards, rolling in the air as he righted himself, his body healing almost immediately. Gripping his blade tight he swung it through the air, uttering a command,

“immolate” he said,

His flames switched to black, the destructive aspect of the bloodline ability of house Dracon gained when they crossed over to master blossomed to life. Immediately he regretted it, in his anger at a mere humanoid matching him blow for blow, he had released one of his most destructive attacks. It was absurd to think a new master could have such strength, his ego bruised, but there was nothing he could do to dispel the attack. Mathol felt the change in aura, his knees trembling at the pure aggressive nature of the titan’s power as he gripped his blade tighter, confusion on his face.

Pure instincts and decades of battle instincts saved him from getting skewered by the blade of the titan, dodging it as it tore the bloodline-enhanced skin of his face. Shock and fear etched on his face, he snarled as he turned back in the direction of his flames of immolation, watching as a figure walked out of the flame,

“again house Dracon shows their true colours” the voice of the titan said, echoing out of the flames,

Stepping out was the titan blade himself, Ashe coating his body as he stretched his hand, dominion flying back into it with rage in his eyes,

“impossible” Mathol said, the flames burnt with destruction rivalling the fires of the brigade,

A part of him was relieved, the death of the titan was not what he was after and house Dracon wasn’t ready to take on the thousand blades and its numerous allies just yet, besides, he’d be dead before he made it back to the nest. The titan glanced at his skin, a spot where the black flames burned ineffectively, frowning as he slapped the flames away, he turned back to Mathol,

“Everyone bore witness to that” he said,

“I apologize, I was careless, I am happy you’re alive” Mathol replied sincerely, taking a stance, he continued,

“Please, ac- “was all he said as the titan blitzed to his front, Mathol barely bringing his blade up to defend before he was hammered into the ground, bones shattering all over his body as quickly as they healed back,

“You know” the titan blade started as he shifted back,

“Everyone seems to forget one thing about me since I became a master, I’m still a draconic slayer” he finished as his eyes glowed purple,

Mathol dodged the next crunching punch that shattered the entire area, glad they were in the realm of the thousand blades lest the entire district might had been a wreck. Bending his entire master-ranked power to speed, he channelled the aspect of Hagan, calling on the very air to become razor-sharp tips of burning intent,

“Hail immolation” he said,

Everywhere burned with black flames of intent, tearing everything in sight, the intent in the air resonating with the attack, empowering it to wreak destruction with master-ranked strength. Mathol got hammered into the ground again, badly, his eyes swam as his one good eye still working turned up to meet the cold deathly stare of the titan,

“I want you to remember this day” the titan said softly, but his tone promised the chilling cold finality of death,

Mathol knew he had to escape, he had to do everything in his power lest he ended up dead, this was no ordinary master, something was wrong here, he couldn’t die like this. Even as he prepared to use his edict to burn everything away, the titan raised one hand up, his authority coating his hand and impressing on Mathol a feeling he couldn’t explain, a feeling that in the most terror-filled part of his mind realized not even his mother could boast of, he knew he was dead.

Fate however, decided to spare him as he felt two different domains slam into place, one of cold brutal reality and one of death incarnate. He breathed a sigh of relief as he realized whom they belonged to. The domain of the thousand blades dissipated to reveal Ajax death blade holding the raised hand of the titan blade and Killian stellar blade placing one hand on the shoulder of the titan blade,

“There will be no death in the presence of the ruler of house thousand blades” Killian said formerly, however, the pleasure radiating from his tone was unmistakable,

Ajax grinned down at him with a chilling smile,

“Not today titan, soon” he said softly,

Mathol let his head fall back to the floor in relief, shuddering as he tapped a relic close to his chest, a pathway opening beneath him and falling through, back into the district belonging to house Dracon.

***************************

The event had gone without a hitch after that, Nerla quietly leaving the event after their failed attempt at disgracing the titan blade. Moyo stood close to a reflective glass, watching the battleships pull into position, in the distance space seemed to hit a blank black wall of pure darkness, no trace of what lay at the other side, the galaxy of dire. He stared silently at it in the distance, his thoughts scattered,

“Titan blade” the voice of Killian said as he came close to him,

“Master Killian” Moyo replied as he turned to greet the stellar blade,

“Please, we’re peers now, call me Killian” the stellar blade replied,

Moyo inclined his head silently, the both of them watching the ships in silence,

“Tomorrow we go to war” Killian said softly,

“Indeed” Moyo replied,

“Our reality won’t be the same after this” Killian said,

“Nothing will be the same after it” Moyo replied,

“I came to check on you, and to tell you that we’re here, we formed a brotherhood during our sojourn towards the tournament, you won’t be alone in this” Killian said,

“I know, and I thank you, but I have a feeling this war would make us walk paths we aren’t ready for, trials I’m not sure I’m ready for” he replied clenching his fists,

“Whatever it may be, we will meet it head on” Killian said firmly,

“a galaxy is too big and vast to hope we might stand together, the horrors that lay beyond the veil” the titan replied,

He turned to Killian,

“am I the only one that feels we’re playing right into the hands of Rohan?, that this is something he wants?” he said,

“Whatever his plan, we will crush it” Killian said firmly,

Moyo turned back to the glass,

“Yes, yes we will” he said firmly.