Michael smiled faintly as the name left Arun's lips. There was a flicker in his silver eyes, a momentary ripple in his otherwise serene expression, but it faded just as quickly. Arun stepped closer, standing beside the seated man, and let out a small sigh.
"So it's only you, as usual,Michael?"
Michael gave a slight nod, "The others have their own responsibility. And as you well know, I cannot leave this place."
Arun glanced at the horizon beyond the garden glistening walls and nodded slowly. "That's right… leaving this space would attract too much attention. I almost forgot."
"But you didn't come all the way here just to exchange pleasantries after returning from Gaia," Michael said, turning his head slightly. "Does this have to do with the boy you brought?"
Arun wasn't surprised. Of course Michael knew.
"Yes," he replied. "His name is Pralaya."
At the mention of the name, Michael's expression shifted ever so slightly. Something unspoken passed through him — a memory, a feeling — but he quickly regained his composure.
"I found him in the slums of Gaia," Arun continued. "He awakened his karmic energy after being possessed by the cursed spirit of Kali. Not only that… he broke free from Kali's control by himself. That kind of mental fortitude is rare, and the level of karmic energy he holds at his age… it's extraordinary."
Michael listened silently, his silver gaze never wavering.
"I want him to take the test," Arun said.
Michael raised an eyebrow as he slowly stood from his chair and stepped toward him. "You want him to take the test?" he repeated with a knowing smile.
Arun nodded. "I know normally it requires a unanimous vote from the seven kings to approve someone for the Trial. But in rare cases, you alone can give that approval."
Michael stared at him for a long moment, then said, "If that boy enters the Forsaken Realm, there's a ninety percent chance he won't come out alive. Are you really willing to gamble his life — a boy who just awakened — on the test?"
Arun didn't even blink. "Yes. I am."
A quiet moment passed between the two kings. Then Michael smiled and said, "Bring the boy to me. I'll determine whether he's worth the trouble."
As Arun turned to leave, he added without hesitation, "If he survives the test… I'm making him my successor."
Michael blinked, caught off guard for the first time in years. But then he simply smiled again and returned to his seat, silent.
---
Meanwhile, Pralaya sat on the edge of his bed, his empty bowl pushed aside. The food had done little to soothe the turmoil inside him. His thoughts were a storm — the dream, the figure of darkness, the visions, the strange girl's words…
What did she mean by "come out alive"?
A sudden knock broke his spiral. He stood and opened the door to find Bailey standing there again, her blue hair swaying gently.
She didn't meet his gaze. "Commander Astrid has called for you," she said. "She asked me to bring you to her."
"Alright. Just give me a second."
He stepped into the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, and stared at his reflection — dark hair, deep purple eyes, and a storm behind them.
Calm down, Pralaya, he told himself again and again.
When he returned, Bailey was waiting. They began walking through the halls in silence. The atmosphere was heavy — awkward, uncertain.
Unable to bear the tension, Pralaya cleared his throat. "Bailey… you said something earlier about a test. What did you mean by that?"
Bailey visibly tensed. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Pralaya forced a weak smile. "Don't worry about it."
Bailey sighed. "The test is a Trial — something everyone who wants to become a member of the Seven Scriptures must take."
"What kind of test?"
She hesitated, then said with a dark expression, "You're sent into the Forsaken Realm. You must survive… and find your way out."
Pralaya's heart skipped a beat. "The Forsaken Realm? What is that?"
"I don't know exactly," Bailey replied. "I've never been there. I'm not a Śūnyavāda. But the ones who have… they say it's a place of endless nightmares, horrors that test your very soul and sanity And worse — powerful Śūnyayoma from the terror rank dwell there. Many don't even survive let alone come back alive."
Pralaya felt cold wash over him.
"That's the test?" he asked. "To survive that place?"
She nodded. "It's not meant to be fair. It's meant to see if you can endure the abyss and walk out stronger."
Pralaya laughed nervously. "Guess I don't have a choice."
The silence returned briefly until Pralaya asked again, "Earlier… I heard something about the Kings. Who are they?"
Bailey turned to him, surprised. "You really don't know?"
He scratched the back of his head. "Not really."
"That's… unusual," she said. "I've never met someone who wanted to join the Seven Scriptures and didn't know about the Kings."
"So who are they?"
"They're the seven rulers of the Seven Scriptures," Bailey explained. "Some of the most powerful Śūnyavāda in the world — outside of the temples. Their titles have been passed down since the founding of the Scriptures 300 years ago "
She glanced around, lowering her voice. "Right now, I think only two of them are here. One is the former Commander of the Dark Disciples — Flame King Arun. The other… the founder of the Seven Scriptures himself.Star King. Michael.","he is also the creator of this imaginary space ".
Pralaya stopped in his tracks. "Arun… a King?"
---
After a few more minutes, they arrived at Astrid's office. Pralaya stepped in and saw Arun waiting, arms crossed.
"Finally," Arun said with a smirk. "Took you long enough. Come — someone wants to meet you."
As they turned to leave, Arun glanced back at Astrid. "See you around."
Astrid smiled knowingly. "Sure. If fate allows."
As they walked through the halls, Pralaya kept glancing at Arun.
He's one of the Seven Kings?
Arun suddenly turned. "Something on your mind?"
Pralaya looked away quickly. "No… nothing."
Eventually, they reached the garden — the heart of the Sanctum. Flowers of every color bloomed, radiant beneath an artificial sun that hovered in the sky. At the center was a silver chair, and seated in it… was a man of pure serenity. Silver hair. Silver eyes. Silver robes that shimmered like moonlight.
Even before seeing his face, Pralaya whispered the name.
"Michael…"
Suddenly, his body seized up. Another vision pulled him in.
A blurred figure stood before him, their face shrouded in black mist. They said something — a whisper in a language he almost understood. The same feeling from his dream.
Then he was yanked back into reality.
Pralaya collapsed, gripping his head in agony.
Michael stood and walked toward him, placing a gentle hand on his back. A stream of karmic energy flowed from his palm into Pralaya's body — soothing, ancient, and incomprehensibly vast.
Then Michael froze.
" Interesting "
Arun stepped forward. "What is it?"
Michael didn't answer immediately. He gently lifted Pralaya's unconscious body with a wave of energy and placed him on a nearby chair.
Then he turned.
"Did you examine this boy's body after his awakening?"
Arun frowned. "No. I figured there'd be time."
Michael looked him dead in the eye. "This boy… doesn't possess any karmic core. Not the Mortal Core, Not the Earthly Core. Not even the Heavenly Core."
Arun's eyes widened. "That's impossible. Every awakened Śūnyavāda has all three. It's a fundamental law of karmic energy."
"I know," Michael said grimly. "And yet, here he is. No core. Just… raw karmic energy."
A silence heavier than stone settled between them.
Arun whispered, "Then what is he?"
Michael looked toward the unconscious boy and said nothing.