The King's Decree.
A stunned silence fell over the assembly as Krelious's words echoed through the chamber.
Nealon, her voice trembling, broke the quiet. "My High Head… what is the meaning of this?"
Tavis, equally bewildered, added, "High Head, I am lost as well."
Krelious merely smiled, his gaze steady. "For some time now, Sted and I have been… intimate."
Zion's eyes widened. "What? I didn't even know!"
Sted lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Chief. I was warned never to speak of this to anyone—not even you."
Akermos stepped forward, his tone firm. "There's no need to question the High Head. He is now the Seventh Father, the ruler of all. He has broken no law."
Zielan sighed, reluctantly nodding. "I suppose you're right."
Nealon bowed deeply. "Yes… forgive my rudeness earlier, my Lord."
Tavis followed suit. "I, too, apologize, High Head."
Krelious's smile softened. "Do not worry. As I said, Sted now carries my child, and I love her—just as she loves me."
Sted, her cheeks flushed, murmured, "Yes… I do."
Then, Krelious's expression darkened, his voice commanding. "Now, listen closely. From this day forth, I declare myself King of the Verses and ruler over all."
Nealon dropped to one knee. "We accept your decree, my King."
Krelious nodded. "Good. Nealon, you will lead the Decision Faction. Dainen, you shall become the new Chief of the War Faction."
Zielan grinned, clapping Dainen on the back. "Congratulations, Chief Nealon!"
Akermos echoed the sentiment. "Indeed, well deserved!"
Dainen bowed. "Thank you, my King. I swear to wield this authority with honor."
Amiss and Lenon added their praises, while Deriss simply nodded in approval.
Krelious continued, his voice edged with steel. "Dainen, for the traitorous acts committed by you and your faction—alongside Nielan—your punishment is this: You will restore the destroyed verses within a month."
Dainen's eyes widened, but he accepted without protest. "I humbly obey, my King."
Krelious raised a hand. "In one year's time, we will convene the Meeting of All, where both dark and divine beings shall swear their oaths to me."
The assembly chorused their agreement.
Krelious then laid out their new roles.
The War Faction would serve as the kingdom's armies and protectors of the royal family.
The Decision Faction would act as royal judges and administrators.
The Creation Faction would become watchers and elders.
The Appointment Faction would forge new gods and kings.
Each leader vowed loyalty, their voices resolute.
Then, Krelious delivered another shock. "There is one more thing… Yoton lives."
Zion gasped. "What? How? Are you certain, my King?"
Tavis stammered, "What do you mean?"
Krelious's smile returned. "Before his soul was destroyed, I saved him. I sent him to a planet called Earth to complete a mission."
Zion turned to Nealon, betrayal flashing in his eyes. "Did you know?"
Krelious interjected. "They all knew. I commanded their silence. If Nielan's council learned Yoton survived, they would have hunted him again."
Dainen fell to his knees. "My King, forgive us! We beg for mercy."
Krelious chuckled. "You are forgiven—but remember: You have one month to rebuild the multiverse and restore its dead."
As murmurs of relief spread, Krelious's tone grew solemn. "Sted is my wife, your queen, and she carries my child—the one who will bring peace when the time comes."
Nealon frowned. "Peace? How?"
Krelious's eyes darkened. "The Battle of the Cronoverse approaches. Chaos and destruction will ravage the verses. I fear I may perish by an unknown hand."
The room erupted in protests.
Tavis clenched his fists. "We will not let that happen!"
Dainen swore, "We are your protectors. We will die before harm comes to you."
Krelious laughed, warmth returning to his voice. "As your king, I will protect you when that day comes."
He then delivered a final, unexpected decree. "You are all free to take partners among your opposites—as you wish."
Zion bowed. "Thank you, my King."
Liam grinned at Milani. "Did you hear that? We're free to—"
Milani rolled her eyes. "Not with you, Liam."
The king's laughter rang out as the tension dissolved. "With that, this meeting is adjourned."
One by one, the assembly lowered their heads and departed, their fates forever altered by the words of their king.
PLANET EARTH.
The wind howled through the jagged peaks of the forgotten temple, its stones groaning under the weight of centuries. Yoton, a being of ancient lineage, stood at the precipice, his chest heaving as if the very air of this world rejected him. His golden eyes, flecked with the light of distant stars, scanned the horizon—a planet teeming with life yet blind to his existence.
"I need to heal my soul and leave this planet," he muttered, his voice a gravelly whisper that echoed off the temple walls. "But it seems impossible. This world doesn't know me. They don't know of us—the Rulers. They don't worship us."
A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he recalled the pitiful deities these humans revered. "They bow to little gods… insignificant sparks in the grand design. One of them, I think, is called Zeus." The name tasted strange on his tongue, foreign yet weighted with possibility. "I've heard them name him 'King of Olympus.'"
With a final glance at the temple he had carved from the bones of the earth, Yoton stepped forward, his cloak billowing like a storm cloud. "If wisdom still exists in this realm, perhaps this Zeus can help me mend what has been broken."
And so, the Broken began his pilgrimage—a journey not just across lands, but through the veils of belief, toward a god who might hold the key to his salvation.
PLANET SAGA, REVEIVERSE.
The grand hall of the restored kingdom shimmered with the light of a thousand celestial torches. Carel, Lord of the Reveiverse, stood upon the obsidian dais, his armored form radiating quiet authority. Before him, three soldiers knelt, their reports delivered with unwavering loyalty.
Soldier 1: "My Lord, we have finished taking everyone back to their worlds."
Soldier 2: "My Lord, your kingdom has been fully restored, and the barrier protecting the Verse has been strengthened."
Soldier 3: "My Lord, we have trained 50,000 troops—ready for war and the protection of the kingdom."
Carel's lips curled into a rare smile, though his eyes remained shadowed. "That is good. But our military power still lags behind the other Verses. We must not grow complacent."
Before he could say more, Azarel, his most trusted advisor, stepped forward, urgency tightening her features.
Azarel: "My Lord, I bring urgent tidings."
Carel: "Speak, Azarel."
Azarel: "Krelious has been crowned King over all Verses. The Ruler who ignited the Blood War has been sealed in Hell's Domain. The Multiverse and Starverse are no more—but the War Rulers will restore them. And the King has summoned all lords to a gathering on the Cronoverse in one year's time."
A hush fell over the hall. Carel closed his eyes, exhaling as if releasing a burden carried for eons. "At last… our fallen comrades may rest easy, knowing justice has been served."
He straightened, his voice ringing with command. "We will attend the meeting, Azarel. Prepare our oaths, our promises—and gifts worthy of the King and his family."
Azarel: "It will be done, my Lord."
With a wave of his hand, Carel dismissed them. As the hall emptied, he allowed himself a moment of solitude, his thoughts turning inward.
"High Head… you have the right to rule. But I fear many will not accept this peace so easily."
DOMAINVERSE.
The air in the subterranean tunnels was thick with the scent of damp stone and desperation. Zerich, a warrior of formidable reputation, pressed his back against the rough wall, his sharp ears catching the distant march of boots.
Zerich: "Hmmm. A lot has happened while I was away."
Beside him, Kazo—ever the pragmatist—gripped his blade tighter.
Kazo: "Sir Zerich, we must leave now. The Three Kings' armies are hunting us."
Zerich (frowning): "What? We've done nothing. Do they not know who I am? Who I serve?"
Kazo (dryly): "You know as well as I do that they don't care."
Zerich sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Fine. I don't understand this madness, but we move. Now."
Kazo (barking orders): "Men, move out! Stay sharp—the entire Verse is crawling with troops."
The group fractured into three teams, a desperate gambit to ensure at least one escaped to call for reinforcements.
DOMAINVERSE MILITARY STATION.
Commander Dano's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
Dano: "Search every corner! Leave no stone unturned! I want them found—alive or dead!"
The troops roared in unison, their armor clanking as they dispersed into the night.
DOMAINVERSE SUBTERRAIN.
Zerich (grumbling): "Shit. They're everywhere. Like ants. Annoying, relentless ants."
Kazo chuckled, though his grip on his weapon never loosened.
Kazo: "True. But unlike our men, they're not well-trained. Let's knock them out and slip away."
Zerich (shaking his head): "No. If we do that, Dano will pinpoint our location instantly. And trust me—you do not want to face that man. He's like a starved wolf. Never gives up."
Kazo (raising a brow): "Then what's the plan? We're divided, and none of our teams have broken through. The armies have flooded the entire Verse."
Zerich rubbed his temples. "Recall the men. We stand stronger together."
As Kazo relayed the orders, Zerich's mind raced.
Zerich: "Why is Dano after us? How did he even know I was here?" A smirk tugged at his lips. "Wait… was it that woman from the tavern? Did she sell me out over one damned gold coin?"
Kazo's laughter echoed off the walls.
Kazo: "Unlikely, sir. But I've recalled the men—only Alpha's team responded. Kim's team is silent. That leaves two possibilities."
Zerich: "Go on."
Kazo: "Either they're rotting in Dano's prison… or they've stumbled into a place where telepathy doesn't reach."
Zerich exhaled loudly. "This day just keeps getting worse."
Kazo: "We should fall back to Martha's Bar. Regroup with Alpha's team."
Zerich (groaning): "No, no, no. I promised her… the next time we met, I'd—"
Kazo (grinning): "Ah, yes. Your habits. Well, like it or not, we're going. And who knows? You might just keep your promise."
Zerich (narrowing his eyes): "You're mocking me."
Kazo (innocently): "Never, sir. In fact, I'm happy for you."
Zerich rolled his eyes as the group moved out, the weight of the hunt pressing closer with every step.
PLANET EARTH – EARLIER.
The air crackled with an unfamiliar energy, a disturbance so profound that it sent ripples through the very fabric of existence. Yoton, a being of immense power now diminished, clenched his fists as he felt the tremors of a distant battle. His eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon as if he could pierce through dimensions with his gaze alone.
"I felt something now," he muttered, his voice low but laced with urgency. "And only one person can do such a thing… Krelious." The name alone carried weight, a name that resonated with both reverence and dread. Whoever Krelious was fighting—it had to be someone formidable, someone capable of shaking the foundations of the cosmos itself.
A deep unease settled in Yoton's chest. "I really need to regain my powers and head home," he thought, his mind racing. "I need to know what's happening in the verses." The war, the shifting alliances, the rise of new rulers—everything was in flux, and he was stranded here, weakened, on a planet that knew nothing of the celestial storms brewing beyond its skies.
His thoughts turned to Olympus—a kingdom veiled in myth, high atop the mountains, where gods dwelled in splendor. "From the information I gathered, Zeus lives there," Yoton mused. "And if other gods reside there as well… then Olympus is my best chance."
But reaching Zeus would not be easy. The gods were not known for their hospitality, especially to outsiders. "If I want to get to Zeus, I will need help… or a sign."
PLANET SAGA.
The grand halls of King Saga's palace shimmered with the glow of restoration, the very air humming with renewed energy. The war had taken much, but now, the Reveiverse was healing.
King Saga, a towering figure clad in regal armor, knelt before his lord, Carel. "My lord," he announced, his voice resonating with pride, "the restoration of the Reveiverse has reached 100 percent, thanks to the help of the Supreme Troops."
Carel, seated upon a throne carved from celestial stone, nodded slowly. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with quiet intensity. "Yeah, I know," he replied. "And I owe it all to our king—King Krelious—and his fellow rulers."
A moment of silence passed before King Saga spoke again. "My lord, I have been informed that there will be a meeting of all in a year's time. Are we going to attend?"
Carel's lips curled into a faint smile. "Of course," he said, his voice firm. "We will attend the meeting and swear our oaths unto King Krelious and the Royal Family. It's been far too long that we've been without a proper ruler. That's why everything had been falling into ruins."
King Saga hesitated, then lowered his voice. "You know that I serve and follow you, Lord Carel… but the same cannot be said for other gods of the Reveiverse. Thanks to this war, many of our enemies perished, but sadly, the majority is still not on our side."
Carel sighed deeply, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his throne. "Are you talking about the Leader of the Demons, the Leader of the Skylish, the Leader of the Horde, and the Leader of the Watchers?"
"Yes, my lord," King Saga confirmed. "These four stand against Krelious, who has now been made king. For you to fully control the entire Reveiverse… you need to bring them over to our side. Or you defeat them and take over as the new leader of all their races."
The weight of the challenge hung heavy in the air. The path ahead was clear—but fraught with peril.
NEXT CHAPTER ✓
ACT 13: THE DOMAIN OF HELL.
The shadows deepened as the story turned toward the abyss—where demons ruled, where defiance festered, and where the next great battle for the fate of the Reveiverse would begin…