The icy lands of Varylis faded away as Solace disappeared into the sky. Above him, the world was a vast ocean of clouds, stretching endlessly into the horizon, a place where few could venture. High above the turbulent weather and harsh terrain, he was free. He floated, suspended in the cool, open air, his mask now removed, his expression calm.
Solace gazed upward, his thoughts adrift. He had been here before—beneath the seven suns that hung in the sky. They were the first thing he had noticed when he had arrived on this strange Earth, all those years ago. Back then, they had been a mystery, just as everything else was. The suns, blazing with their unique brilliance, had seemed like beacons of hope or perhaps, warnings of the unknown. Now, they were simply familiar. A reminder of how far he had come.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the memories of his past seep through him. His life had been filled with turmoil, pain, and rebirth—but he was here, unrivaled, and the future lay in his hands. He couldn't afford to dwell on what had been—what was important was what was to come.
As if sensing his emotions, Aetheria appeared beside him, her warm presence grounding him in the present. She wrapped her arm around his, her soft voice resonating in his mind.
"Dear, this is only the beginning. This will be the start of your story. Don't dwell too much on the past—just live to shape your future. Nobody can tell you how to live, but remember, without power, dreams are just that... dreams."
Solace let her words linger. She was right, of course. He had always known that. He had faced countless trials, and yet, he had come out on top. But now—now things were different. His power was limitless, and the world around him would bend to his will. He would create something that no one had ever seen before.
But Aetheria's final words echoed in his mind: "Don't grow arrogant."
Her wisdom cut through the haze of ambition, reminding him that even the strongest could fall if they became complacent. He had to keep moving, keep growing—never stop evolving.
He turned to her, giving a small nod, a smile playing beneath his mask.
"Gaia," he said, his voice steady. "Can you help me out a bit?"
Aetheria raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.
"What do you need?" she asked.
Solace's gaze sharpened with purpose. He looked out at the endless sky, his thoughts already set.
"I want to create an empire—a floating empire here, in the clouds."
Without hesitation, Gaia nodded, her ancient power beginning to stir. She closed her eyes, and with a soft snap of her fingers, the clouds parted. The air around Solace shimmered as a grand structure began to take shape.
In the blink of an eye, the clouds began to coalesce into something magnificent. Floating spires rose from the sky, tall and radiant, built of gleaming white and translucent material. Silver bridges stretched between each tower, their intricate designs glowing faintly with arcane energy. The air around them hummed with an unmistakable, ethereal quality—like the kingdom itself was breathing.
At the heart of the floating city stood a massive palace, its walls made of an iridescent material that reflected the light of the seven suns, casting rainbow hues across the land. Mana-infused vines curled around the towers, glowing softly as they anchored the floating islands together, a testament to Gaia's boundless control over the environment.
The palace had multiple levels, each designed for different purposes—one for governance, another for cultivation, and even one for rest. Magical formations were embedded in the structure, ensuring the air was breathable and the land was fertile for any who lived there.
Solace stood at the heart of this creation, watching as the floating empire began to take its final shape. The kingdom was now an oasis of beauty and power, hidden high above the clouds. It was a symbol of his dominance and the first of many to come.
As the floating empire solidified around him, Solace turned his attention inward. He had built a foundation, but now, he needed something more. Something that would make this place a cultivation holy land—a place where time and space bent to his will, and where his potential could continue to grow without limitation.
He crossed into the grand throne room, the centerpiece of his creation. It was vast—an open space adorned with intricate designs, glowing runes, and massive, spiraling staircases leading to different chambers. In the center of the room stood an obsidian throne, its surface smooth and cold to the touch. The throne was massive, designed to fit Solace's imposing figure.
As he sat upon it, he crossed his legs and closed his eyes, the weight of the world, the empire pressing upon his shoulders. Aetheria and Gaia sat beside him, both of them watching in quiet anticipation.
"Now," Solace whispered, "let's create some formations."
With that, his mind raced—his imagination running wild as his fingers drew complex patterns in the air. He began to craft living formations—interwoven with time dilation, so that time inside the empire would move twice as fast as outside, allowing people to cultivate at an accelerated rate. Mana-generating formations connected to his inner realm would provide them with limitless mana, ensuring they never lacked the fuel for ambitions. A formation for law comprehension would allow them to understand the universe's deepest secrets and grow stronger by the minute.
Solace's vision expanded. This was more than just a Empire—this was the birthplace of a new era, a paradise of cultivation where laws, space, and time could be manipulated with ease.
By the time he finished his work, the throne room was not just a place of power—it was a living, breathing entity, a nexus of energy and creation that would fuel his growth, and the growth of those who followed him.
Back on Earth, Solace's growing power had caught the attention of more than just the human kingdoms. Dragons, Elves, Demihumans, and Dwarves had all begun to whisper of him, and the Faceless Assassin's rise was now being watched by something far greater than mere kingdoms.
Far outside the Earth, in a tower that seemed to exist in a place untouched by time, a woman sat at the head of a massive table. She was beautiful, her presence radiant, her silver eyes shimmering with ancient knowledge.
At the table sat eleven others—beings of immense power, each of them holding influence over the fate of worlds. They were the guardians of Earth, beings whose existence had been hidden in the shadows of history. They were known only as The Order—a secretive and powerful organization created to maintain balance on Earth.
A young man, a high-ranking officer of The Order, stepped forward. He knelt before the woman, his face solemn.
"My lady," he began, his voice steady but laced with urgency, "I have a report of the activity on Earth."
The woman, known only as Astraea, nodded thoughtfully, her expression unreadable.
"The war between humans and dragons that erupted seven years ago... it seems to have been a precursor to something much larger," he said.
The man continued, his voice tight with concern.
"Also earlier this year a extraoridinary blacksmith rose in the Kingdom of Ithmar on the Human Continent. He has crafted four relics—weapons of unimaginable power—and he calls himself Solace. His creations have left their mark, and not only that... someone named 'Faceless' is subjugating kingdoms. He's an ascendant core cultivator, but for some reason his power is much more than that.
Astraea's eyes narrowed.
"Prepare a Sovereign-ranked cultivator," Astraea ordered, her voice cold and decisive. "Send him to Earth. We need to speak with this Solace in person. If the rumors are true then his blacksmithing will be of use to us. Also while he is there tell him to gain intel on this 'Faceless' and report back his findings. He may be a threat to the balance we've maintained for millennia."
As the order was given, Astraea's expression hardened. Her eyes flickered briefly toward the distant stars.
"Times are changing, and I will not let him be the one to decide its future."