(Soron's Castle, Chaosbringer's POV)

Once Soron made his intention to save Veyr clear, Chaosbringer finally breathed out in quiet relief, the knot in his chest loosening after what felt like hours of tension.

He had entered the castle expecting resistance, maybe even outrage, yet to his surprise, the conversation had gone smoother than he had dared to hope.

'I can go back and report to the Lord with my head held high now… in the end, this conversation was not nearly as bad as it could have been,' he thought, as he rose slowly from his chair, unsure whether he should bow or simply take his leave.

"Wait," Soron said suddenly, his tone calm yet commanding enough to freeze him mid-step.

Chaosbringer stopped immediately, turning back as Soron reached into his storage ring and withdrew a small, rectangular slab of dull silver metal.

'Is that…?'

Chaosbringer wondered, as Soron placed the metal on the table with a loud *Clink*.

'It is!'

Chaosbringer realized as his eyes widened in shock.

It was the same slab of Origin Metal that Leo had entrusted to him to safeguard decades ago, and now, after all these years, it sat before him once again, in the hands of God Soron.

"When you return to the Time Stilled World," Soron began, his tone composed but heavy with meaning, "find a blacksmith who can work with this metal. I've been told that the Cult's finest craftsmen are still hidden there, but I will need the best of them here on Ixtal. Someone capable of shaping this into a blade."

He paused briefly before adding, "Only speak of it to men you trust. And send them to me as soon as possible."

He instructed as Chaosbringer swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the slab as faint energy rippled across its surface, the quiet hum of divine power vibrating in the air.

"It will be done, Great God," he said finally, his voice low but steady, as Soron gave a slight nod and gestured toward the door in silent approval.

"Thankyou for your time–"

He said, before turning to leave, as he rushed straight out of the castle.

—-----------

(Meanwhile, over an encrypted crystal communicator channel, the Great Clan Gods)

*THRUM*

The crystal flickered to life, its surface shimmering like liquid glass as five silhouettes came into focus within the floating projection.

The faint hum of divine frequencies filled the void between them, carrying with it the voices of gods who spoke in low, uneasy tones.

"It's been confirmed," said Mu Shen, his tone clipped and cold, eyes glinting beneath his silver helm.

"Soron is as strong as ever! And as ruthless as we remember.

I don't like it. Not one bit. Him disappearing for months at a time and then suddenly showing up out of nowhere can only mean one thing….."

He said premonitarily as "Origin Metal," Du Trask replied before anyone else could, his voice gravelly and rough, as he spoke with furrowed brows.

"That bastard must've found enough to forge a blade. And I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not planning to fight Soron if he's got an Origin weapon in his hand."

He announced, as a moment of silence followed, filled only by the faint hum of the crystal, until Ru Vassa leaned forward into view, her crimson hair catching the faint glow of the transmission.

"You think you have a choice?" she said softly, her tone sharp as frost.

"Incase you have forgotten… Ever since YOU shook hands with Mauriss, Helmuth and Kaelith and betrayed Su Ren, the Great Clans have lost much of their autonomy to the Universal Government.

Now our new master's demand us to show up and defeat Soron, and we are all obliged to follow."

She reminded, as Du Trask sheepishly looked away.

"That's rich coming from you," Lu Han scoffed, his powerful eyes narrowing.

"You were the second one to jump ship after Du Trask folded, and you're as much to blame for our current situation as him."

Lu Han pointed out, as Yu Kiro, the quietest among them, finally spoke, his voice calm but heavy with fatigue.

"Regardless of who did what in the past, our current situation doesn't change.

The execution takes place on the fifth of next month, and the five of us are to attend alongside our Clan's strongest warriors.

Mauriss believes Soron will come to save the Dragon, and when he does, we are all supposed to be there to help with the ambush."

"Ambush?" Du Trask repeated, a bitter laugh escaping him.

"Ambush works on men who don't see it coming. Not on Soron. If you think that monster will walk blind into a trap, then you're more delusional than the drugged barbarians fighting to death for Helmuth's glory."

He spoke, as Ru Vassa's eyes narrowed.

"You speak as if we have an alternative…"

She mocked, as Du Trask scoffed immediately.

"I'm speaking as someone who's fought THE TIMELESS ASSASSIN!" Du Trask replied, his tone darkening.

"You think we would've ever killed the Timeless Assassin if Kaelith hadn't betrayed him? Don't kid yourselves. Without that betrayal, none of us would be here to talk about it. The man would've cut through all of us like paper."

He pointed out, as the silence that followed was suffocating, the unspoken truth weighing heavier than any accusation.

"Soron is not his father," Lu Han said finally, though the words sounded uncertain even as they left his mouth.

"He's close enough," Du Trask shot back. "I'll fight any of you, hell, I'll even fight Mauriss or Helmuth if it comes to that. But Soron? That's one god I'd rather not meet on the battlefield, not even in my wildest nightmares."

*Sigh*

Ru Vassa sighed, rubbing her temple.

"Enough about Soron's strength. Whether we like it or not, the trap will be set, and we'll have to be there. What we need to discuss is how to survive until then."

"Meaning?" Yu Kiro asked.

"Meaning," she continued, "that Soron's rage will not wait for the fifth. I've already heard whispers that he's planning to destroy a few dozen planetary systems….. I'm afraid the Du controlled Bravaria was only the start."

She said as every head turned toward Du Trask, whose face twisted in anger, his jaw clenching tight.

"Yeah," he muttered. "Bravaria was a mess. He didn't just kill the soldiers; he choked every living being on the planet to death. Men, women, children. All of them."

"Sheesh," Lu Han muttered under his breath, his voice wavering. "That's cold, even for him."

"Cold?" Du Trask barked, slamming a fist into his chair. "You think this is about being cold? He's sending a message! He's showing us what happens when we push his buttons too far.

We have destroyed the Cult! Of-course he's going to push back. He's got nothing left to loose."

Du Trask pointed, as Mu Shen who had been quiet for most of the conversation finally cut in.

"We have never seen a Soron with nothing to lose.

He's going to be a menace to face in battle…. Especially if he's gone mentally unstable."

He said in a low tone, as no one answered immediately.

For a while they all dreaded the idea of facing an unstable Soron, until finally Yu Kiro spoke again, his tone almost a whisper.

"We've pushed him too far, and the only way out of this mess is to double down.

We can only rest in peace now if Soron dies.

For if he lives…. It'll be the end of us."

He said, as all Gods nodded in begrudging agreement.

For in the end, the universe had never been a place vast enough for both Soron and his enemies to breathe beneath the same stars.

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