Leaving the Oracle's timeless library, Su Cheng stepped back into the mist-shrouded district of Chaos God City. His objective was now clear, but the path was uncertain. Kaelen, the God of the Void, was a recluse. Unlike Orton and the other demigods who openly gathered in public, Kaelen was known for his isolation. Forcing a meeting would be difficult, and a direct assault on another god's territory within the city was unwise.
However, Morpheus's information was not limited to words. Included in the price was a subtle thread of guidance—the coordinates to a high-end, private training ground that Kaelen had booked for the next several days. A perfect, neutral location for a meeting.
Su Cheng's divine form flickered, and he reappeared before a structure that looked like a seamless cube of polished obsidian, a place renowned in the city for its absolute privacy and security. He sent a formal, polite request for a meeting through the training ground's divine reception system, citing a "mutually beneficial trade." He knew a pragmatic god like Kaelen would not refuse.
A moment later, the obsidian doors slid open silently, revealing a minimalist hall designed to simulate the quiet emptiness of the void. At the center of the hall, a figure sat cross-legged on a simple white dais, seemingly in meditation. He was garbed in plain, dark robes, and his face was calm and analytical. This was Kaelen.
He opened his eyes, and Su Cheng was met with a gaze as deep and empty as the void itself. There was no surprise, no anger, no fear. Only a calm, piercing intelligence.
"Christon Al," Kaelen's voice was even and devoid of emotion. "The victor of the Undead Plane. Your request for a meeting was not unexpected, though it is sooner than my calculations predicted. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Su Cheng was impressed. Kaelen's composure was absolute. This was not a hot-headed rival to be easily provoked, but a cold, calculating mind.
"I am here for a trade," Su Cheng said, getting straight to the point. "I seek the Eye of a Fallen God."
"I am aware," Kaelen replied. "The Oracle's whispers travel far." He did not deny possessing it, but a flicker of analytical curiosity entered his gaze. "I admit, I am curious. How did you know I possessed it? It is not an item one advertises."
"The Oracle's information is thorough," Su Cheng answered simply, before turning the question back on him. "A better question is how a new god such as yourself came to acquire a treasure that has been lost for eons. Even Morpheus seemed to consider it a collector's piece, not something an active demigod would find."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Kaelen's lips. "A fair question. You and I walk different paths to power, Christon Al. Your path is to perfect what exists. My path is to find what is lost."
He gestured to the empty space around them. "My Godhood of the Void is not merely for combat. It allows me to sense the echoes of nothingness—the hollow spaces left in reality. When a god truly dies, their divine realm collapses, leaving behind a scar in the void. Most see only chaos. I see a map."
Su Cheng listened intently. This was a side of divinity he had not considered.
"While others were fighting for territory on the Eternal Continent," Kaelen continued, "I was exploring those scars. I located a void rift where an ancient god of foresight had fallen countless ages ago. It was a dangerous, unstable space, but within the lingering echoes of his collapsed realm, I found this." He held up his hand, and a crystalline orb, cloudy with the image of a dying star, materialized in his palm. The Eye of a Fallen God.
"A high-risk, high-reward expedition that only I was equipped to undertake," Kaelen finished, his tone matter-of-fact.
Su Cheng nodded, a new level of respect for his rival forming. Kaelen was not just lucky; he was a pioneer, a true explorer.
"Now that we understand each other," Kaelen said, the Eye vanishing from his hand, "let us discuss your payment. Faith power and divine treasures are of little interest to me. What I lack is a specific application of overwhelming force."
He waved his hand, and a large, holographic projection appeared. It showed a horrifying creature—a colossal, amorphous beast made of shifting shadows and dotted with countless, hungry maws. "A Void Devourer," Kaelen explained calmly. "My analysis suggests a flaw in its defense. It cannot regenerate if it is struck by multiple, overwhelming attacks of different divine natures simultaneously. My believers are all of the void. They lack the necessary diversity."
The implication was clear.
"You want my Saints," Su Cheng stated.
"Precisely," Kaelen confirmed. "The combined, simultaneous assault of your five primary Saints should be enough to overwhelm its regenerative abilities and create an opening for a final blow."
Su Cheng considered the proposal. It was a dangerous hunt, but the prize was something he needed immediately. More than that, it was a chance to gauge the true strength of his main rival.
"A temporary alliance to hunt a world boss," Su Cheng said. "And in exchange, you will give me the Eye of a Fallen God."
"That is the deal," Kaelen affirmed. "My forces will support yours. We will defeat it together."
Su Cheng extended his hand. "Then we have an agreement."
Kaelen looked at the offered hand for a moment before clasping it. The handshake was firm, a contract between the two most powerful demigods of their generation.
"Prepare your forces, Christon Al," Kaelen said, his voice holding a hint of something new—professional anticipation. "The hunt begins tomorrow."