[Outer Sea — Beyond Elarion]
Seven days had passed since Jinyoung arrived in Elarion.
The restoration of its Heart had begun.
Engineers worked around the clock, studying the unfamiliar energy patterns left behind by Jinyoung's Void Abyss.
The protective barrier surrounding the sanctuary had stabilised.
For the first time in four thousand years, the inhabitants could look towards the sky without fearing that it would collapse.
But Jinyoung hadn't remained.
He had already departed.
Kaedran stood upon the highest observation platform, watching the black-and-silver distortion disappear into the distance.
Beside him stood several representatives of Elarion.
"Do you believe him?" one asked.
Kaedran remained silent.
Then he answered.
"I believe he could have conquered us."
He looked towards the Heart.
"But he chose to repair it instead."
Another representative frowned.
"And if his intentions change?"
Kaedran looked towards the sky.
"Then we'll judge him by his actions, just as he judged us by ours."
[Unknown Universe — Veyrath]
Jinyoung emerged from a dimensional passage.
Before him stretched an enormous universe.
Unlike Elarion, this world was thriving.
Its stars shone brightly.
Its dimensional boundaries remained stable.
Countless civilisations occupied its planets, and several advanced interstellar empires controlled vast regions of space.
Mana flowed naturally through the universe.
There were no visible signs of Eldritch corruption.
Secretary's voice echoed through a communication channel.
"Jinyoung."
"Go ahead."
"I've finished analysing the universe."
A holographic projection appeared.
"Veyrath contains approximately twelve thousand recognised civilisations. Its largest political organisation is the Celestial Dominion."
"Military strength?"
"Extensive. Their strongest warriors possess mana reserves approaching the lower Monarch range."
Jinyoung raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
"However, there is something else."
The projection changed.
A massive symbol appeared.
A golden tree surrounded by seven stars.
"That symbol appears across almost every major civilisation in this universe."
Jinyoung studied it.
"An organisation?"
"Possibly. Their records identify it as the Covenant of the Seven Heavens."
"What's their purpose?"
Secretary paused.
"According to their historical records, they worship the beings who created their universe."
Jinyoung's expression changed slightly.
"The Primordials?"
"Most likely."
He looked towards the distant planets.
"Then let's see how they react to someone who disagrees with their gods."
The Celestial Dominion
Jinyoung descended onto the capital planet.
The city stretched across an entire continent.
Gigantic towers floated above the ground, connected by bridges made from condensed mana.
Millions of inhabitants moved through the streets.
Some possessed humanoid appearances.
Others had completely different biological structures.
Yet all shared one thing.
Mana.
The moment Jinyoung appeared, the surrounding energy fluctuated.
Several guards immediately approached.
"State your identity!"
"Jinyoung Kim."
The guards exchanged glances.
One activated a communication device.
"Unknown individual detected. Energy signature cannot be classified."
Within seconds, several figures descended from the sky.
Their armour was golden, and each carried a weapon engraved with ancient runes.
At their centre stood a woman with long silver hair.
Her expression was composed.
"I am High Commander Seraphina of the Celestial Dominion."
She examined Jinyoung.
"You possess an unusual authority."
"That's one way of describing it."
"Where did you come from?"
"Another universe."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Impossible."
Jinyoung shrugged.
"Apparently not."
Seraphina remained silent for a moment.
Then she gestured towards the enormous palace behind her.
"Come. The Dominion's Council will decide what happens next."
The Seven Heavens
The Council Chamber was enormous.
Seven seats surrounded a circular platform.
Each seat represented one of the Seven Heavens.
The rulers of the Celestial Dominion sat before Jinyoung.
Their appearances differed, but their mana signatures shared a common characteristic.
They carried fragments of an ancient authority.
Not Monarch authority.
Something else.
An elderly man sitting at the central seat spoke.
"I am Emperor Vaelor, Supreme Ruler of the Celestial Dominion."
Jinyoung nodded.
"Jinyoung Kim."
"We've been informed that you claim to have travelled from another universe."
"Correct."
"And that you seek an alliance."
"Eventually."
Vaelor frowned.
"Eventually?"
"I haven't decided whether your civilisation is willing to cooperate."
Several council members exchanged displeased glances.
A woman wearing white robes leaned forward.
"Your arrogance is remarkable."
Jinyoung looked at her.
"Is it?"
"You enter our capital without permission, refuse to explain your origins and then claim you will decide whether we're worthy of an alliance?"
Jinyoung remained calm.
"I'm not here to force you into anything."
The elderly emperor raised his hand.
"Enough."
He looked directly at Jinyoung.
"Tell us something. Who created you?"
Jinyoung paused.
"That's a complicated question."
"Then allow me to simplify it."
Vaelor leaned forward.
"Do you recognise the Seven Heavens?"
Jinyoung glanced towards the symbols carved above the council.
"I recognise the authority behind them."
The chamber became silent.
Vaelor's expression changed.
"Then you understand."
He slowly stood.
"The Primordials created our universe. They gave our ancestors knowledge, power and purpose."
He raised his hand.
Seven enormous golden symbols appeared above the chamber.
"Everything we possess exists because of them."
Jinyoung looked at the symbols.
Then he spoke.
"Do you know what they intend to do with your universe?"
Vaelor frowned.
"Explain."
"They cultivate universes. They observe their development, test their stability and eventually harvest them."
The chamber fell silent.
One council member laughed.
"Ridiculous."
Another shook his head.
"Blasphemy."
Vaelor's expression hardened.
"Careful, stranger."
Jinyoung continued.
"Your universe isn't an exception. It's part of a much larger system."
The elderly emperor slammed his hand against the throne.
"ENOUGH!"
Golden energy erupted throughout the chamber.
The seven symbols began glowing.
"You will not insult our creators!"
Jinyoung sighed.
"Then I suppose you won't believe me."
The Test of Authority
The Council didn't immediately attack.
Instead, Vaelor ordered a demonstration.
A massive arena was constructed outside the capital.
Millions gathered to witness the confrontation.
Seraphina stood beside the emperor.
"His authority is unusual. We should be cautious."
Vaelor nodded.
"I know."
He looked towards Jinyoung.
"If your claims are true, demonstrate your strength."
Jinyoung tilted his head.
"Against whom?"
Vaelor gestured.
Seven figures emerged from the palace.
The Seven Heavenly Guardians.
Each possessed power approaching the lower Monarch range.
Their bodies were covered in golden runes.
Their weapons carried fragments of the Seven Heavens' authority.
One of them stepped forward.
"Outsider."
He raised his sword.
"We will determine whether your words carry any meaning."
Jinyoung looked at the seven warriors.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Fine."
The first Guardian moved.
His sword descended with enough force to split the arena.
Jinyoung didn't move.
A thin layer of Void Abyss appeared around his body.
The sword stopped.
Completely.
The Guardian's eyes widened.
He attempted to withdraw his weapon.
It wouldn't move.
Jinyoung glanced at him.
"You're relying too heavily on the authority you've been given."
He released the weapon.
The Guardian stumbled backwards.
The remaining six attacked simultaneously.
Golden chains.
Spatial blades.
Mana explosions.
Divine barriers.
All converged upon Jinyoung.
The Void Abyss expanded.
The attacks slowed.
Their authority weakened.
Then—
They disappeared into the endless horizon surrounding him.
Jinyoung stood untouched.
The entire arena became silent.
Vaelor's expression changed.
"Impossible..."
Jinyoung looked towards the emperor.
"Your warriors are powerful."
He paused.
"But their strength isn't truly theirs."
The Truth Behind the Heavens
The moment Jinyoung finished speaking—
The sky changed.
A golden symbol appeared above the capital.
The same symbol carved throughout the Dominion.
But this time, it was enormous.
A voice descended.
"Unauthorized interference detected."
The citizens immediately lowered their heads.
Vaelor fell to one knee.
"The Seven Heavens..."
Seraphina looked upwards.
Her expression filled with disbelief.
The golden symbol began releasing energy.
A massive humanoid figure appeared above the city.
Its body consisted of layered golden runes.
Its face was featureless.
Yet its presence carried an authority that immediately destabilised the surrounding space.
Jinyoung recognised it.
An Eldritch servant.
But unlike the previous servants, this one possessed a different energy signature.
It was connected directly to the Covenant.
"The experiment has been compromised."
Vaelor raised his head.
"Experiment?"
The figure ignored him.
"The Celestial Dominion has demonstrated sufficient stability."
The emperor froze.
"What?"
Jinyoung looked towards the manifestation.
"How long have you been watching them?"
"Since their first civilisation."
The golden figure raised its hand.
"Their development has been satisfactory."
The words echoed throughout the capital.
"Preparation for harvesting will commence."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Vaelor stared upwards.
For the first time in thousands of years—
He couldn't understand the words coming from his gods.
Seraphina slowly lowered her weapon.
"Harvesting...?"
Jinyoung stepped forward.
"Now do you understand?"
The golden manifestation turned towards him.
"You are the anomaly."
Jinyoung's eyes narrowed.
"And you're the reason this universe has been living under a lie."
The manifestation extended its hand.
Golden chains descended from the sky.
They surrounded the entire capital.
The Void Abyss reacted immediately.
But before Jinyoung could move—
Vaelor stood.
His hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From anger.
"You told us..."
His voice became louder.
"You told us that we were chosen."
The golden figure remained silent.
"You told us our suffering had meaning!"
Vaelor's mana erupted.
The Seven Heavenly Guardians gathered behind him.
For the first time, the Dominion's strongest warriors turned their weapons towards the beings they had worshipped.
Jinyoung watched.
A faint smile appeared.
"Good."
He raised his hand.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
The First Rebellion
The Eldritch servant descended.
Its golden chains stretched across the city.
Jinyoung expanded his Void Abyss.
The chains slowed.
Their authority began destabilising.
The seven Guardians attacked together.
For the first time, their powers weren't being used to protect the Covenant.
They were fighting against it.
Seraphina led the Dominion's forces.
Thousands of warriors rose into the sky.
The golden manifestation attempted to suppress them.
But the citizens continued resisting.
Vaelor raised his sword.
"WE ARE NOT YOUR EXPERIMENTS!"
The entire capital erupted.
Jinyoung moved.
His Void Abyss compressed around his fist.
One strike.
The manifestation's upper body cracked.
Its golden runes scattered.
The Eldritch servant attempted to regenerate.
But the Abyss continued adapting.
Its authority weakened.
Then—
Jinyoung closed his hand.
The manifestation collapsed.
Its remaining energy disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
The golden chains vanished.
The sky returned to normal.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the entire capital erupted into noise.
Not celebration.
Not yet.
They were trying to understand what had just happened.
Their gods had abandoned them.
And the person who had revealed the truth was a stranger from another universe.
A New Choice
Hours later, the Council Chamber was filled again.
This time, nobody sat upon the seven golden seats.
Vaelor stood before Jinyoung.
"We owe you an explanation."
Jinyoung shook his head.
"You don't owe me anything."
"Then allow me to ask something."
Vaelor looked towards the other council members.
"How many universes have suffered the same fate?"
"Countless."
"How many have survived?"
"Not enough."
The emperor closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his expression had changed.
"Then the Celestial Dominion will join your alliance."
Seraphina stepped forward.
"Our warriors will fight."
Another council member spoke.
"Our scholars will study the nature of the Primordials and the Eldritch servants."
Vaelor nodded.
"And our civilisation will help restore the worlds that have already fallen."
Jinyoung looked around the chamber.
He could see it.
Not obedience.
Not worship.
A decision.
"Then welcome."
He extended his hand.
"Let's make sure no other civilisation has to discover the truth this way."
Vaelor accepted.
Beyond the Outer Sea
Far away, inside the Primordial Nest—
A massive eye opened.
The Primordial of Existence remained motionless.
A projection appeared before it.
Elarion.
Veyrath.
Two universes.
Two civilisations.
Both had begun moving beyond their original boundaries.
Another Primordial emerged from the darkness.
"The successor is gathering them."
Existence studied the projection.
"Yes."
"Should we intervene?"
The Primordial of Existence remained silent.
Then—
"No."
Its countless eyes narrowed.
"Let him continue."
The projection changed.
A third universe appeared.
Then a fourth.
Then hundreds.
The Primordial watched the expanding network.
"Every civilisation he gathers becomes another variable."
A pause.
"Eventually, the Sovereigns will notice."
[Unknown Location — The Roots of Creation]
Deep within the World Tree—
Something stirred.
A faint pulse travelled through its roots.
The movement was almost imperceptible.
Yet it reached beyond countless universes.
For a brief moment, one of the damaged branches began glowing.
Then—
A whisper echoed.
"The successor has begun gathering creation."
The glow faded.
And the Outer Sea returned to silence.
The rebellion was no longer Jinyoung's alone.