The room was silent, save for the faint hum of energy where the artifact fragment had crumbled into dust. Denise stood still, her breathing steady but her midnight eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty.
Lucien leaned against the polished wooden table, arms crossed, his usual smirk absent. "So… the Vatican." His voice was laced with skepticism. "They've been watching us? That doesn't sit right."
Denise exhaled, folding her arms. "They weren't just watching. They've been collecting these relics. And now that Vincent has destroyed one, they'll move."
Vincent sat in the high-backed leather chair across from her, his crimson gaze piercing. He had remained silent since Denise's revelation, yet the air around him felt charged—unstable.
It wasn't fear. It wasn't anger.
It was inevitability.
He finally spoke, his voice smooth yet carrying an edge that made the very air quiver. "And what do they plan to do?"
Denise hesitated. "We don't know the full extent of their preparations, but the Vatican has started mobilizing their hidden forces. The Exalted Order—the ones tasked with dealing with 'abnormalities' like you—has been activated."
Lucien clicked his tongue. "Great. Holy assassins now?"
Denise's expression darkened. "Not just any assassins. The Exalted Order has existed for centuries, their sole purpose being the eradication of beings beyond mortal comprehension. Cultivators, supernatural entities, even rogue deities—if it threatens the 'natural order,' they eliminate it."
Vincent leaned forward slightly, fingers tapping against the armrest. "And yet, they have never succeeded."
His voice carried an undeniable truth.
Denise hesitated before nodding. "They've always failed. But this time, they're taking no chances. They've acquired something… different."
Lucien raised a brow. "And by 'different' you mean?"
Denise's voice lowered. "A weapon. Or rather, a seal."
For the first time, Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly. "A seal?"
Denise nodded. "A construct designed to suppress the power of beings above the laws of reality. It was never used before because no being strong enough ever appeared…" Her gaze locked onto Vincent. "Until you."
Lucien let out a slow whistle. "So, they actually think they can seal Vincent? That's cute."
Denise wasn't laughing. "Don't underestimate them. They wouldn't move unless they had something capable of challenging him."
Vincent leaned back, his expression unreadable. A seal?
It was almost amusing.
Almost.
Because he had already sealed himself.
If the Vatican truly believed they could dictate his existence, then they were in for a rude awakening.
The Gathering of the Order
In the heart of Vatican City, beyond the tourist-filled halls and the reverence of the faithful, a hidden chamber pulsed with energy not of this world.
Twelve figures stood in a perfect circle, their robes weaved with golden runes, their faces obscured by hoods. The Exalted Order—keepers of the balance, warriors of the divine decree.
At the center of the formation, a relic hovered—a golden sphere, etched with markings that seemed to shift and twist as if they were alive.
A deep voice broke the silence.
"The anomaly has grown beyond our control."
Another figure spoke. "It has been confirmed. The Vasco heir has exceeded even the Omni God."
Murmurs rippled through the chamber.
One of them, a woman with a voice as cold as the void, whispered, "Then the Seal of Providence must be used."
Silence.
Then, the leader of the Order stepped forward. "We have already begun the process. The moment he makes a move… we shall strike."
The golden sphere pulsed violently.
Outside the chamber, in the vast city of Rome, the heavens darkened—a storm forming without wind, an omen of something about to unfold.
Vincent's Response
Back in Singapore, Vincent remained quiet as Denise finished explaining.
Lucien ran a hand through his hair. "So, we're basically dealing with the biggest 'holy execution squad' in history. Fantastic."
Denise met Vincent's gaze. "They're not going to wait. If we don't act first—"
Vincent stood.
The temperature in the room dropped.
Denise inhaled sharply as an invisible force weighed down on her chest. It wasn't intentional—Vincent wasn't unleashing power.
It was simply his presence.
Lucien's smirk returned as he watched Denise struggle to breathe. "You're finally starting to get it, huh?"
Denise swallowed, forcing herself to remain composed.
Vincent spoke, his voice as calm as ever, yet carrying an absolute finality.
"If they seek to chain a Titan…"
The very air shuddered.
"…then I shall remind them why Titans cannot be bound."
Denise had seen many powerful figures in her life.
But this?
This was something beyond power.
This was a force of nature.