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Kaien no Tenmei: Embers of the Infinite Dao
Prologue: The Death of Infinity
The multiverse died not with thunderous finality, but with a whimper that echoed across dimensions.
Kaien no Tenmei stood motionless at the epicenter of devastation, his crimson eyes surveying what remained of a corrupted reality. Around him, the broken husks of once-mighty celestial bodies drifted like cosmic debris. Stars hemorrhaged their essence into the void, their light stuttering in death throes. Galaxies that had once spiraled in majestic harmony now twisted into impossible geometries, their very structure warped beyond recognition.
His blade—Mugenryu, the Infinite Dragon—hung loosely in his grip, still humming with residual energy. The sword appeared deceptively ordinary: a single-edged katana with a hilt wrapped in midnight-blue silk and a guard shaped like a coiled dragon. Yet this unassuming weapon had just severed the threads of reality itself, drinking deep of the essence of celestial tyrants and timeline warlords who had sought to reshape existence according to their whims.
Kaien sheathed the blade with practiced ease, the motion so swift and fluid that it seemed to blur even in the distorted time of this broken realm. As the sword clicked into its scabbard, the last remnants of resistance in this dying multiverse finally collapsed. The laws of physics, already stretched beyond their limits, gave up their pretense of coherence. Time itself fragmented, flowing forward in some pockets, backward in others, sideways in the spaces between.
"Disappointing," Kaien murmured, his voice carrying easily through the void despite the absence of air. "All that talk of reshaping reality, and in the end, they broke like everyone else."
He hadn't come here specifically to destroy this multiverse. He'd merely followed the trail of an interesting rumor—a coalition of self-proclaimed "Architects of Eternity" who claimed to have transcended the limitations of conventional existence. They had promised him a true challenge, boasting of powers that could rewrite the very fabric of reality.
In the end, they had proven to be like all the rest: full of grand declarations but ultimately fragile when faced with the absolute truth of Kaien's blade.
As he surveyed the wreckage, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Not the random drift of cosmic debris, but something deliberate—a subtle pulse of energy emanating from a point amid the dimensional rubble. Curious despite himself, Kaien approached.
Half-buried in the remnants of what might once have been a celestial temple floated a strange artifact. It resembled a circular seal, crafted from material that somehow remained solid despite the breakdown of physical laws around it. Complex patterns were etched into its surface—intricate matrices of fate-lines and ritual formulations that spiraled inward toward a central void.
Kaien recognized it as a summoning array of unprecedented complexity and power. Not designed to call forth mere demons or spirits, but to reach across the very boundaries of reality itself. The patterns spoke of desperation, of a final attempt to find salvation in the face of annihilation.
"Someone's last hope," he mused, reaching out to trace the patterns with a fingertip. The seal responded to his touch, ancient symbols lighting up with golden fire. "I wonder what they thought would save them?"
With casual interest, Kaien channeled a mere fragment of his Will into the seal. After all, what harm could come from indulging his curiosity in a reality that was already broken beyond repair?
The universe seemed to hold its breath.
Reality fractured.
A flash of sacred light erupted from the seal, blinding in its intensity even to Kaien's divine-level perception. The summoning matrix activated fully, drawing upon his immense power to fulfill its purpose. Space-time warped and folded around him as the array established connections across dimensional boundaries, reaching into realms that should have been separate and distinct.
When the light finally faded and Kaien's vision cleared, he found himself no longer alone amid the cosmic wreckage.
Five figures stood before him, materialized from nothing—or rather, drawn from somewhere across the infinite expanse of possibility. They weren't random; even at a glance, Kaien could see they had been chosen with purpose. Each radiated power in their own right, though none approached his level.
The first was a woman of regal bearing, clad in blue and silver armor that somehow managed to be both functional and elegant. A golden sword was gripped in her hands, its blade partially obscured by swirling winds of power. Her blonde hair caught the strange light of the dying stars, and her emerald eyes assessed Kaien with clear tactical intelligence.
"I am Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights," she announced, her voice carrying easily through the void. "I ask of you—are you the one who has summoned me to this..." Her gaze swept over the devastation surrounding them. "...battlefield?"
Before Kaien could respond, another woman moved to stand beside Artoria. Draped in crimson and gold, with a laurel crown upon her brow, she exuded imperial confidence and theatrical flair. Her presence seemed almost mockingly bright against the cosmic silence.
"Umu! What a stage you have prepared!" she exclaimed, arms spread wide to encompass the devastation. "Nero Claudius, Emperor of Roses, graces this canvas of battle and flame! Your destructive aesthetics intrigue me greatly!"
A third figure stepped forward, her crimson eyes matching Kaien's own in intensity. Her body moved with predatory grace, a crimson spear held with the casual expertise of one who had mastered death itself. Dark armor hugged her form, accentuating rather than hindering her fluid movements.
"The Land of Shadows bows to none," she said, a slow grin spreading across her face as she assessed Kaien. "I am Scathach, and for once..." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I have found something even I cannot predict. How... refreshing."
The fourth remained slightly apart, dark sorcery swirling around her form. Her beauty was cold and sharp as midwinter ice, her crown speaking of a different kind of royalty than Artoria's. She regarded Kaien with calculated interest, magic crackling at her fingertips.
"He is no king," she observed, addressing the others rather than Kaien himself, "yet the world crowns him by instinct. What blasphemy is this?" Her eyes, piercing as frost, fixed on Kaien. "I am Morgan, and I would know what manner of being commands such deference from reality itself."
The last of the five approached with direct purpose, her steps confident. Two blades hung at her hips, but her hands remained relaxed at her sides. Of all of them, she seemed the most at ease in this impossible place. Her eyes sparkled with undisguised interest as she studied Kaien's stance, his blade, the way he held himself in space.
"I've been searching for the blade that lies beyond all swords," she said, a genuine smile lighting her features as she walked toward Kaien. "I am Miyamoto Musashi, and I think I just found it."
Kaien, surrounded by these five legendary figures amid the cosmic wreckage of his latest conquest, blinked once. Then his lips curved into a toothy grin that held no warmth, only the promise of challenge.
"You all talk a lot," he observed dryly. "Are any of you here to fight?"
The response was immediate and varied. Artoria's grip tightened on her sword, though she did not raise it. Nero struck a dramatic pose, one hand on her hip. Scathach twirled her spear with casual mastery, the weapon singing through the void. Morgan's dark magic intensified, shadows coalescing around her fingers. Musashi simply tilted her head, still studying Kaien with undisguised curiosity.
Before any could speak, the seal pulsed once more beneath their feet. This time, instead of bringing forth new entities, it seemed to be reaching outward, establishing a connection to something distant—a beacon from a faraway realm.
Kaien felt it immediately: a world of structure and power, where energy flowed in prescribed patterns. A place of immortal sects, divine beasts, and heavenly tribulations. A realm where the pursuit of strength followed systematic, ancient laws that created a rigid hierarchy of power.
It called to him—or rather, it recoiled from his presence even across dimensional boundaries, sensing a force that could devour its heavens and shatter its most fundamental principles.
"Interesting," Kaien murmured, his curiosity genuinely piqued for the first time in centuries. He extended his perception along the connection, tasting the rich spiritual energy of this new realm, feeling the complex systems that governed its power dynamics. "A playground with rules."
With a casual gesture that nonetheless tore the fabric of multiversal barriers, Kaien opened a pathway. Reality parted before him like water, revealing a glimpse of mountains wreathed in ethereal mist, of palaces floating among clouds, of beings who had spent millennia refining themselves according to rigid principles.
"A new world," he announced to the five summoned warriors. "One with a system to break. Follow if you wish." He paused, red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Or don't. Makes no difference to me."
Without waiting for their response, he stepped through the dimensional tear.
One by one, the five legends exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them despite their disparate origins.
"He will bring chaos to any realm he enters," Artoria stated, her voice solemn. "I cannot in good conscience allow such power to go unchecked."
"Unchecked?" Scathach laughed. "I doubt any of us could 'check' him if he decided to truly unleash himself. But..." Her crimson eyes gleamed with interest. "I would see what he does next."
"A new world! New audiences! New inspirations!" Nero declared grandly. "As Emperor, I must experience all that creation has to offer!"
Morgan's calculating gaze lingered on the portal. "There is power there... and knowledge. Both worth pursuing."
Musashi simply shrugged, a good-natured smile on her face. "I go where the sword leads me. And the strongest sword I've ever sensed just walked through that portal."
One by one, they followed Kaien's path, each with their own motivations and expectations. As the last of them passed through, the dying multiverse finally collapsed entirely, the weight of so much devastation too great for even the memory of existence to bear.
In the void that remained, only silence reigned.
And somewhere across the dimensional boundary, a world of structured cultivation felt the first tremors of approaching cataclysm.
Chapter 1: First Blood
The Celestial Empire of Ten Thousand Stars was a realm of perfect order. For fifty-three thousand years, it had maintained the delicate balance between mortal ambition and cosmic law. Fifty-three great immortal sects formed the backbone of its power structure, each dedicated to a different aspect of cultivation, each with their own interpretation of the Great Dao—the fundamental principle that underlay all existence.
At the summit of Mount Tianzhu, the tallest peak in the Empire's central region, the Elders of the Five Pinnacle Sects had gathered for their centennial conclave. These were beings who had transcended ordinary mortality, their cultivation having reached realms that granted them lifespans measured in millennia rather than decades.
Elder Wei Shangqing of the Azure Dragon Sect raised his wizened hand, silencing the assembled immortals with a simple gesture. At seventeen thousand years old, with cultivation at the exalted Divine Sovereign Realm, his authority was unquestioned.
"The stars speak of a great calamity approaching," he announced, his voice carrying the weight of prophecy. "I have consulted the Celestial Divination Array, and found patterns not seen since the Age of Primordial Chaos. A disturbance in the Great Dao itself."
Elder Feng Lin of the White Tiger Sect nodded gravely, her silver eyes reflecting ancient wisdom. "I have sensed it as well. The spirit beasts in the outer territories grow restless. The Nine-Tailed Star Fox in my care has not eaten for a month, and spends its days staring at the eastern sky."
"Perhaps it is merely another demonic invasion," suggested Elder Zhao of the Vermilion Phoenix Sect, his voice crackling like the flames he commanded. "The Southern Dark Swamps have been unusually active of late."
Elder Wei stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "No, this is something more fundamental. The very fabric of—"
His words died in his throat as the sky above Mount Tianzhu suddenly darkened. Not with clouds or natural phenomena, but as if reality itself was being compressed, folded, and then torn asunder.
A rift appeared in the empty air, bleeding impossible colors and radiating an aura that made even these mighty cultivators step back in apprehension. It was not the familiar energy of cultivation, nor the tainted power of demonic arts, but something entirely foreign to their understanding of the universe—raw, primal, and utterly unconstrained by the laws that governed their existence.
Through this wound in reality stepped a single figure, followed by five others.
Kaien no Tenmei's feet touched the sacred ground of Mount Tianzhu with casual disregard. His wild black hair seemed to absorb the sunlight rather than reflect it, crimson eyes surveying this new world with predatory interest. The sword at his hip—Mugenryu—hummed with anticipation, sensing the concentrated spiritual energy that permeated this realm.
Behind him came his five unlikely companions, each reacting differently to their new surroundings.
Artoria immediately assessed the gathering of elders with a tactician's eye, noting their positions, their apparent authority, and the energy that radiated from them in disciplined waves. Nero clapped her hands in delight at the magnificent architecture of the summit pavilions, their intricate designs and harmonious proportions appealing to her artistic sensibilities. Scathach narrowed her eyes, instantly recognizing the power structures at play in this gathering of immortals. Morgan's sorcerous senses expanded, tasting the rich magical energies that flowed through the mountain, analyzing their patterns and properties. Musashi simply stretched, as if awakening from a long sleep, her hands drifting to the hilts of her swords out of habit rather than immediate threat.
For a moment, nobody spoke. The immortal cultivators and the dimensional interlopers regarded each other across a chasm of mutual incomprehension.
Elder Wei was the first to recover his composure. Drawing himself up to his full height, he gathered his Divine Sovereign aura around him like a mantle of authority.
"Outsiders," he intoned, his voice reverberating with power, "you trespass upon the sacred grounds of the Celestial Conclave. Identify yourselves and state your purpose, or face the judgment of the Five Pinnacle Sects."
Kaien tilted his head slightly, as if hearing something amusing. The corner of his mouth quirked upward in what might have been the beginning of a smile.
"Judgment?" he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue like a foreign concept. "Purpose?"
He took a single step forward. The ground beneath his foot cracked, not from physical force but from the sheer incompatibility of his existence with the natural laws of this world. The Great Dao itself seemed to recoil from his presence, creating a subtle distortion in the spiritual energy flows that the elders could perceive clearly.
"I need neither purpose nor permission," Kaien continued, his voice casual yet somehow filling the entire summit. "But since you ask so formally—my name is Kaien no Tenmei. I've grown bored with destroying worlds, so I thought I'd try visiting one instead."
The arrogance of the statement sent murmurs rippling through the assembled cultivators. Elder Wei's expression darkened, the aura around him intensifying until the very air shimmered with power.
"Such disrespect is not tolerated in the Celestial Empire," he declared, his tone hardening. "We have stood for fifty-three thousand years, young man. Empires and gods have risen and fallen while we endured. If you come in peace, you will abide by our laws and customs. If you come seeking conflict..." His hand moved to the jade talisman at his belt, a movement matched by the other elders.
"Oh? Laws?" Kaien's grin widened, displaying teeth too sharp for comfort. "And what happens if I break them?"
The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. Before Elder Wei could respond, a younger cultivator—clearly powerful but lacking the restraint of his seniors—stepped forward. His robes marked him as a direct disciple of the Vermilion Phoenix Sect, and his handsome face was flushed with indignation.
"Then you will be destroyed, demon!" the young man declared, his hands already forming the complex seals of a high-level attack technique. "Heaven's Purifying Flame!"
A torrent of brilliant red-gold fire erupted from his palms, condensing into the form of a massive phoenix that screamed toward Kaien with the force of a small sun. It was a technique that could incinerate mountains, renowned throughout the empire for its unstoppable might.
The elders tensed but did not interfere. While they might have counseled patience, they were not displeased to see this intruder's arrogance tested.
Kaien didn't move. He didn't even blink. The phoenix bore down on him, its heat so intense that the stone beneath his feet began to melt.
Then, at the moment of impact, something impossible happened.
The phoenix struck him directly—and then simply ceased to exist. Not extinguished, not overcome, but erased as if it had never been. The young cultivator's most powerful technique had encountered something beyond its conceptual framework and simply failed to register as meaningful.
"Was that supposed to be fire?" Kaien asked mildly, not a hair out of place. "It didn't feel warm."
The young cultivator staggered back, his face ashen with shock. "Impossible! That was the culmination of a thousand years of cultivation!"
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Only a thousand? That explains it."
The casual dismissal of a millennium of cultivation struck the assembly like a physical blow. The very concept was anathema to their world, where each year of dedicated practice was revered, where centuries of meditation and refinement were the foundation of all power.
Elder Wei raised a hand, forestalling any further impulsive attacks from his subordinates. His ancient eyes studied Kaien with new wariness.
"You are clearly a being of significant power," he acknowledged, his tone measured. "But power without wisdom leads only to destruction. Our empire has faced countless threats over the millennia—demonic invasions, rebellions of the beast clans, even attempts by the Outer Gods to breach our reality. We have endured because we understand that true strength lies in harmony with the Great Dao, not in opposition to it."
Kaien's expression shifted to one of genuine curiosity. "The Great Dao? You keep mentioning that. Explain this concept to me." It wasn't a request so much as a command.
Before Elder Wei could respond, Artoria stepped forward, her diplomatic instincts sensing the rapidly deteriorating situation. "Please forgive my companion's directness," she addressed the elder. "We are travelers from distant realms, brought here by circumstances beyond our control. We seek to understand your world, not to disrupt it unnecessarily."
Elder Wei studied her carefully, recognizing a kindred spirit of authority and responsibility. "Your words suggest wisdom, unlike your companion. Yet the power you all radiate is... concerning. You are not cultivators, yet you possess strengths that defy our understanding."
"Cultivators?" Morgan's voice cut in, cold amusement evident in her tone. "Is that what you call yourselves? How quaint—systematizing the path to power as if it were a garden to be tended rather than a truth to be seized."
Elder Feng Lin stepped forward, her white robes flowing like mist around her ancient form. "Different realms develop different approaches to power, dark sorceress. Our cultivation system has allowed our civilization to flourish for over fifty thousand years. It has produced beings who can split mountains with a gesture and command the elements with a thought. It may seem structured to outsiders, but within that structure lies infinite variation and potential."
"A thousand flowers from a single seed," Musashi mused, nodding appreciatively. "I've seen similar philosophies in my travels. The Way of the Sword in my homeland follows comparable principles—discipline as the path to freedom."
Elder Feng's silver eyes turned to Musashi with sudden interest. "You understand, then. The bounded giving rise to the boundless."
"I understand the theory," Musashi replied with a good-natured shrug. "Though I've always been more interested in what works in the moment of truth—when blade meets blade and all philosophy falls away."
This pragmatic statement earned her approving nods from several of the martial cultivators in the assembly. Kaien, meanwhile, had begun to look bored with the philosophical discussion.
"Theories and systems," he interrupted, his tone dismissive. "In the end, they all break when faced with enough force." To demonstrate his point, he raised a single finger and pressed it against the air before him. The gesture should have been meaningless, but instead, visible cracks appeared in empty space, as if reality itself was a pane of glass yielding to pressure.
The elders exchanged alarmed glances. Such a casual violation of natural law was beyond concerning—it was an existential threat.
"Enough," Elder Wei declared, his patience finally exhausted. "Whatever your nature, stranger, you stand in our realm now. You will respect our ways, or you will leave." Divine energy began to gather around him, causing the air to thrum with power. The other elders followed suit, their combined auras creating a pressure that would have crushed ordinary beings to atoms.
Kaien looked at them with renewed interest, like a predator noting prey that might actually provide some sport. "Or else?" he prompted, his grin widening.
"Or we will show you why the Celestial Empire has endured for fifty-three thousand years," Elder Wei answered, his voice resonating with the power of mountains.
The tension in the air grew thick enough to cut. The five visitors exchanged glances, each assessing the situation differently.
Nero sidled closer to Kaien. "While I appreciate dramatic confrontations—being something of an artist in that regard myself—perhaps we might first experience what this realm has to offer before reducing it to rubble?" she suggested, her imperial tone carrying surprising weight. "Even the greatest emperor must sometimes practice forbearance to enjoy the fruits of new conquests."
Scathach moved to stand at Kaien's other side, her crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation of violence. "Though I wouldn't mind seeing what these 'cultivators' are capable of in battle. Their energy feels... intriguing."
"Please," Artoria interjected, addressing both her companions and the elders. "There is no need for conflict at this juncture. We have only just arrived in your realm. Surely diplomacy deserves a chance before resorting to force?"
As they spoke, something unexpected happened. The sky above Mount Tianzhu darkened once more—but this time, it was not from Kaien's actions. Clouds black as ink swirled into a massive vortex. Lightning of gold, silver, and purple danced between the clouds, forming complex patterns that seemed almost like celestial script. The air grew heavy with pressure as if reality itself was being compressed by some enormous invisible hand.
"Heavenly Tribulation!" gasped one of the younger sect members. "But no one here is attempting a breakthrough!"
Elder Wei's face had gone pale, his eyes fixed on the swirling vortex above. "No... this is not a standard tribulation. This is the Heavens responding to..." His gaze locked on Kaien with sudden understanding and horror. "The Great Dao itself is responding to your presence, outsider. Your very existence violates the foundational principles of our world."
Kaien looked up at the gathering storm, genuine curiosity replacing his bored expression. "So your world has an immune system? Interesting."
The lightning intensified, coalescing into a massive pillar of judgment that descended directly toward Kaien. This was no ordinary Heavenly Tribulation—this was the full might of this world's natural law attempting to eliminate a foreign element that threatened the very foundation of its existence.
"Move away!" Elder Wei shouted to everyone present, including Kaien's companions. "This is beyond any tribulation I have witnessed in my seventeen thousand years!"
The cultivators swiftly retreated, establishing protective formations around themselves. Artoria hesitated, torn between self-preservation and concern, but Musashi grasped her arm.
"This isn't our fight," the swordswoman said quietly. "Let's see how he handles it before deciding our next move."
Reluctantly, Artoria allowed herself to be pulled back. Nero, Scathach, and Morgan likewise withdrew to a safer distance, though each watched with intense interest.
Kaien, alone now at the center of the summit, looked up at the descending pillar of divine judgment with an expression of anticipation. He made no move to defend himself, his stance relaxed and open.
"Come on then," he murmured to the heavens. "Show me what you've got."
The lightning struck with apocalyptic force, enveloping Kaien completely. The impact shattered the ornate stone pavilions of the summit and cracked the ancient mountain itself to its core. The sound was deafening, a thunderclap that echoed across the entire continent and sent spiritual beasts into panicked flight a thousand miles distant.
For a full minute, the pillar of divine light continued to pour down, unchanging in its intensity. Then, gradually, it began to fade, revealing a smoking crater where Kaien had stood.
For a brief moment, the elders allowed themselves to hope.
Then a hand emerged from the smoke, casually brushing ash from black hair. Kaien stepped forward, entirely unharmed. Not even his clothing showed signs of damage. But something had changed—his crimson eyes now glowed with inner fire, and a faint aura of gold and silver surrounded him, reminiscent of the heavenly lightning that had sought to destroy him.
"Is that all?" he asked, his voice carrying easily across the devastated summit. "I was expecting something more impressive from the 'judgment of heaven.'"
Elder Wei stared in disbelief. "Impossible. No being can withstand a direct strike from Heaven's Wrath."
"Impossible seems to be his speciality," Morgan commented dryly, her dark sorcery swirling around her fingers as she studied the aftermath with keen interest.
Kaien looked down at his hands, where traces of the heavenly lightning still danced across his skin. "Interesting," he commented, flexing his fingers. "Your world's energy has a unique flavor. I think I'll have more."
Above them, the tribulation clouds churned with renewed fury, as if responding to his challenge. This time, they disgorged not just lightning but massive hailstones of divine ice, pillars of celestial flame, and blades of compressed wind sharp enough to slice through reality itself. Layer after layer of heavenly judgment descended, each more powerful than the last, in a display that would have annihilated even the mightiest cultivators of the Divine Sovereign Realm.
Kaien stood his ground, arms spread wide as if welcoming the apocalypse. He didn't dodge, didn't defend—he simply received each catastrophic attack head-on. And with each impact, his aura grew stronger, the gold and silver light around him intensifying until he shone like a newborn star.
"He's... absorbing the tribulation energy," Elder Feng whispered in disbelief. "Not resisting it, not enduring it—incorporating it."
"Impossible," Elder Wei responded, but his voice lacked conviction. "No being can absorb Heavenly Tribulation. It is the pure will of the Dao made manifest."
"And what," asked Morgan with cold amusement, "makes you think he answers to your Dao?"
The tribulation reached its climax as the clouds themselves seemed to tear open, revealing a glimpse of something beyond—a great eye formed of swirling stars and cosmic dust, gazing down upon the mountain with divine awareness. From this celestial eye emerged a beam of pure white light, so concentrated and refined that it appeared solid as it lanced toward Kaien.
"The Eye of Heaven itself," gasped Elder Wei. "Not seen for fifty thousand years!"
The light engulfed Kaien completely, and for a moment, it seemed as if he had finally been erased from existence, his form completely obscured by the blinding radiance.
Then, a hand emerged from the light, fingers spread as if grasping something invisible. Kaien's voice rang out, strained for the first time but filled with savage joy:
"Yes! THIS is what I was hoping for!"
With a motion like one might tear a piece of cloth, Kaien's hand ripped through the divine light itself. The beam twisted, fragmented, and then flowed into him like water down a drain, the celestial energy forcibly devoured rather than naturally absorbed.
The tribulation clouds dissipated with unnatural speed, as if fleeing. The Eye of Heaven closed, vanishing back into the ordinary sky. Within moments, the day was clear and bright again, as if nothing had happened—except for the shattered summit and the glowing figure at the center of destruction.
Kaien rolled his shoulders, his body now suffused with a radiance that mimicked the divine light that had sought to destroy him. His crimson eyes had acquired golden pupils, and patterns like circuitry ran beneath his skin, tracing the pathways where he had forcibly integrated the foreign energy.
"Not bad," he assessed, his voice resonating with newfound power. "Your heaven has teeth. I respect that."
The elders and younger cultivators stared in mute horror. What they had just witnessed defied every principle of their understanding. Heavenly Tribulation was the ultimate arbiter, the final judgment. To not just survive it but to consume it was beyond heretical—it was a fundamental rewriting of reality as they knew it.
Artoria had drawn her sword during the celestial onslaught, but now she slowly lowered it, her expression troubled. "What exactly are you?" she asked Kaien, voicing the question that everyone present was thinking.
Kaien turned to her, his enhanced aura casting golden light across her features. "I've been trying to figure that out myself for a few billion years," he replied with surprising candidness. "The closest I've come to an answer is that I'm what happens when a universe produces a paradox it can't resolve."
"A walking contradiction," Scathach mused, eyeing him with renewed interest. "A being that exists despite reality's insistence that you cannot."
"Something like that," Kaien agreed, flexing his fingers as golden energy continued to dance across his skin. "Though that's probably giving reality too much credit. It's not that clever."
Elder Wei had recovered enough of his composure to step forward, though wisely keeping a respectful distance. "Whatever you may be," he said, his voice carrying the weight of his seventeen thousand years, "you stand now in our world, which has existed in harmony for eons under the guidance of the Great Dao. I implore you to consider the consequences of your actions here."
"Consequences?" Kaien repeated, as if tasting a new flavor. "I've never been much concerned with those. But..." he paused, glancing at his five companions with a thoughtful expression. "I didn't come here specifically to destroy anything. I'm more curious than anything else. Your 'cultivation' system intrigues me."
"Then perhaps," suggested Elder Feng carefully, "you might be willing to learn about our ways before deciding to upend them?"
Musashi stepped forward, her practical nature asserting itself. "What she means is, can we all take a breath and maybe get some food and drink before continuing this conversation? Watching you eat a divine lightning bolt has made me hungry."
Nero clapped her hands in approval. "Yes! If we are to begin a new adventure in this realm, let us do so with proper imperial hospitality! I wish to sample the finest cuisine and arts this world has to offer!"
Elder Wei and Elder Feng exchanged glances, recognizing the opportunity to defuse the immediate tension. If these otherworldly visitors could be hosted as honored guests rather than treated as invaders, perhaps catastrophe could be at least temporarily averted.
"The Jade Emperor's Palace lies three days' journey from here," Elder Wei offered. "There, you would find hospitality befitting beings of your... unusual status. And perhaps there, with the wisdom of the Emperor himself, we might find a path forward that does not lead to unnecessary conflict."
Kaien considered this, the golden light still pulsing through his form as his body continued to integrate the tribulation energy. After a moment, he shrugged.
"Why not? I'm in no hurry." He turned to his companions. "Unless any of you object? You're free to go your own ways in this world if you prefer."
Artoria shook her head firmly. "I believe my duty lies in ensuring peace between our group and this realm. I will accompany you."
"As if I would miss witnessing your impact on an entire new world!" Nero declared. "The artistic possibilities are limitless!"
"I'm staying," Scathach said simply. "Nothing this interesting has happened in millennia."
Morgan's dark aura swirled around her as she contemplated the situation. "This world's magic differs from my own in fascinating ways. I shall remain to study it—and to keep an eye on you, Destroyer."
Musashi grinned broadly. "Are you kidding? A whole new world of sword arts to explore? Try to get rid of me, I dare you."
And so it was decided. The strange party would journey to the Jade Emperor's Palace—Kaien no Tenmei, destroyer of multiverses, now suffused with the very essence of the world he had nearly broken upon arrival; his five companions from across dimensions, each powerful in their own right; and a wary escort of immortal cultivators who understood that they were not guards but witnesses to whatever would unfold.
As they descended from the shattered summit of Mount Tianzhu, none could know that their arrival had already sent ripples through the fabric of the Celestial Empire. In distant sects and hidden valleys, ancient beings stirred from meditation, sensing a fundamental shift in the Great Dao. ProphecChapter 2: The Road to Imperial Recognition
Prophecies long dormant began to glow with renewed relevance in ancient libraries. Secluded masters who had not left their meditation caves for centuries opened their eyes, their spiritual senses detecting a disturbance in the Great Dao's flow. And in the darkest corners of the realm, where forbidden cultivation had birthed monstrous ambitions, opportunists began to plot how they might harness the chaos that was surely coming.
The journey to the Jade Emperor's Palace would normally have taken three months for ordinary travelers, three weeks for powerful cultivators, and three days for beings of Elder Wei's stature. The path followed the ancient Sky Road, a trail of enchanted white stone that wound through cloud-wreathed mountains and across valleys where spiritual energy pooled like liquid light.
Their party was an unusual one—the elders of the Five Pinnacle Sects leading the way, their disciples maintaining a respectful distance behind them, and the six otherworldly visitors in their midst. Cultivators they passed along the way stopped and stared, sensing the strange energies emanating from these foreigners.
By midday, they had reached the first way station—a pavilion nestled in a mountain pass, where jade-green tea was served by attendants who had dedicated centuries to mastering the perfect brew.
"This is quite charming," Nero declared, accepting a cup of steaming tea. She inhaled the aroma with theatrical appreciation. "In Rome, we had aqueducts and bathhouses, but nothing with this... ethereal quality. I approve!"
Elder Feng smiled politely at the emperor's enthusiasm. "The Green Mist Pavilion has stood for twelve thousand years. The tea bushes are watered only with morning dew collected from sacred lotus blossoms."
Kaien, meanwhile, had wandered to the edge of the pavilion, where the mountain fell away into a vast expanse of clouds and distant peaks. The golden energy of the tribulation still flickered beneath his skin occasionally, and he seemed to be absorbing the scenery with unusual intensity.
Musashi approached him, two cups of tea in her hands. She offered one to him. "Quite a view, isn't it? Reminds me of climbing Mount Fuji, though the spiritual energy here is much denser."
Kaien accepted the cup but didn't drink. "I've seen better. And worse." His eyes tracked the movement of a dragon in the far distance, a sinuous form of shimmering scales gliding between cloud banks. "But it has... character. This world has rules. Structure. It's been a while since I visited a realm with such rigid systems in place."
"And that interests you?" Musashi asked, sipping her tea.
Kaien's lips curved in that dangerous smile that never quite reached his eyes. "Breaking things is only satisfying when they have integrity to begin with. Chaos is meaningless without order to disrupt."
"Hmm." Musashi considered this. "In my experience, the most satisfying cut is the one that harmonizes with its target, not just shatters it. A true sword stroke becomes one with what it severs."
Kaien turned to look at her fully, his crimson-gold eyes narrowing slightly. "You seek harmony in destruction? Interesting philosophy for a swordswoman."
"I seek truth in the blade," she corrected. "Sometimes that truth destroys, sometimes it preserves. The sword doesn't care either way—it simply is."
Something in her words caught Kaien's attention. For once, his expression wasn't mocking or dismissive. "Truth," he repeated. "Yes. That's closer to it. The sword as truth incarnate..." He seemed to be speaking more to himself than to her.
Across the pavilion, Artoria watched the interaction with thoughtful eyes. She stood beside Elder Wei, who was explaining the cultivation ranks to her.
"The path begins with the Foundation Establishment," the elder was saying, "followed by the Core Formation, then Nascent Soul, then—"
"Your companion," Artoria interrupted softly, nodding toward Kaien. "Has he always been like this?"
Elder Wei glanced at the dark figure conversing with Musashi. "Like what, King of Knights?"
"So..." She searched for the right word. "Unmoored. As if he exists in the world but is not quite of it."
The elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I cannot claim to understand beings from beyond our realm. But I sense in him an emptiness that all the power in the cosmos cannot fill. A hunger that consumes without nourishment."
"Yes," Artoria agreed. "Exactly that." Her green eyes reflected concern. "I fear for your world, Elder Wei. He is not evil as I understand the concept, but he is... careless. He destroys because it is his nature, like a storm that doesn't contemplate the villages in its path."
"Then we must give him reason to contemplate," Elder Wei said firmly. "The Jade Emperor has weathered many storms in his fifty thousand years of rule. Perhaps he can provide what this Kaien seeks—or at least direct his attention to less catastrophic pursuits."
Meanwhile, Scathach had approached one of the younger disciples—a talented warrior of the Azure Dragon Sect named Lin Xiao. The young man had been watching her with poorly disguised fascination since their departure from Mount Tianzhu.
"You have questions, young cultivator," she stated, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ask them before they burn a hole in your tongue."
Lin Xiao bowed hastily, caught off guard by her directness. "Forgive my rudeness, Lady Scathach. I merely... I have never sensed a combat aura like yours before. It is neither yin nor yang, neither elemental nor conceptual, yet it radiates death like perfume."
Scathach laughed, a sound like winter wind through bare branches. "What a poetic assessment! You have good instincts, Lin Xiao of the Azure Dragon Sect." She circled him slowly, assessing his stance and energy. "In my land, I was known as the Queen of the Shadow Lands, teacher to heroes, dealer of death. What would you give to learn what I know?"
The young man swallowed hard, both intimidated and enthralled. "Any cultivator would trade years of their lifespan for knowledge from beyond our realm."
"Years of life?" Scathach shook her head. "Too easy a currency, too undefined in value. No, the price of my teaching has always been more... specific." Her smile held secrets older than his sect. "But we have time to discuss such matters later. Your masters are signaling that we should continue our journey."
Indeed, Elder Feng was calling the group back together. Their brief respite at the Green Mist Pavilion had ended, and the Sky Road beckoned onward.
As they resumed their journey, Morgan fell into step beside Kaien. Of all his companions, she had maintained the greatest distance from him until now, observing with calculating eyes.
"You absorbed the divine judgment of this realm," she stated without preamble. "A feat that violates the natural laws here. Yet you did so without proper understanding of the energy you consumed."
Kaien gave her a sidelong glance. "Your point, witch?"
"My point, destroyer," she replied, unruffled by his tone, "is that you may have bitten off more than even you can chew. This world's energy has rules, patterns, a consciousness of sorts. It is not merely power to be devoured, but a language to be learned."
"And you're concerned for my wellbeing?" Kaien's tone made it clear how unlikely he found that possibility.
Morgan's lips curved in a cold smile. "I'm concerned for the stability of this unexpected opportunity. This realm has secrets worth plundering properly, not just burning to ash in one of your tantrums."
"Tantrums?" For a moment, the golden energy beneath Kaien's skin flared hot, and the air around them wavered with distortion. "Careful, Morgan. I tolerate you and the others because you're mildly interesting. Don't mistake that for weakness."
Rather than backing down, Morgan stepped closer to him, her dark sorcery rising to meet his flaring power. Where the energies touched, strange alchemical reactions sparked in the air between them.
"And don't mistake my pragmatism for fear," she countered, her voice dropping to a whisper that only he could hear. "I've ruled realms and broken kings. I recognize your power, but power without purpose is merely spectacle."
They stood there for a tense moment, their auras clashing invisibly, neither willing to step back. The cultivators ahead of them sensed the energetic disturbance and turned in alarm, but before the confrontation could escalate further, Nero dramatically inserted herself between them.
"Such intensity!" she declared, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Save some of this magnificent tension for when we have a proper audience! The greatest dramas require the perfect stage!"
Kaien's eyes remained locked with Morgan's for a heartbeat longer before his energy receded, and he gave a short, unexpected laugh. "You have spine, witch. I'll grant you that."
"And you have potential beyond mere destruction," Morgan replied coolly, her own aura subsiding. "Loath as I am to admit it."
Nero beamed at them both. "Splendid! Now we can proceed without ruining this charming mountain pass. I've developed quite a fondness for the aesthetic of this realm already."
As they continued along the Sky Road, Artoria dropped back to walk beside Kaien. She had witnessed the exchange with Morgan and felt compelled to intervene before another confrontation could arise.
"This world has beauty worth preserving," she commented, gesturing to the vista of floating islands and rainbow bridges that stretched out below them. "I've never seen cultivation of spiritual energy developed to this degree before."
Kaien followed her gaze. "Beauty is transient. These mountains, these systems they've built—they're just elaborate sandcastles waiting for the tide."
"Perhaps," Artoria agreed, surprising him. "All things end eventually. But that doesn't diminish the value of what exists now. These people have built something remarkable—not perfect, but worthy of respect."
"Respect," Kaien echoed, as if testing the concept. "You speak of it often. Respect for rules, for life, for effort."
"Because without it, strength is meaningless," she replied simply. "What value is there in destroying what you don't understand or appreciate? It's like a child smashing a toy without ever discovering how it works."
Kaien's eyes narrowed at the comparison, but instead of anger, his expression showed a flicker of genuine curiosity. "And you think I don't understand what I destroy?"
"I think," Artoria chose her words carefully, "that you haven't bothered to try in a very long time."
Rather than dismissing her observation, Kaien fell silent, his crimson-gold eyes distant, as if looking into a past so remote it might belong to another being entirely.
The Sky Road curved around a massive floating mountain, revealing their next landmark—the Bridge of Celestial Judgment, a structure of impossible beauty spanning a chasm so deep its bottom was lost in swirling mists. The bridge appeared to be woven from strands of pure light, its surface solid yet seeming to flow like liquid crystal beneath their feet.
"The Bridge tests all who seek to approach the Imperial City," Elder Zhao explained as they reached its foot. "It responds to one's relationship with the Great Dao. Those in harmony pass easily; those in discord find the crossing... challenging."
Kaien eyed the bridge with mild interest. "Another test? Your world seems obsessed with them."
"The path of cultivation is a continuous refinement," Elder Feng replied. "Tests are merely mirrors that reflect our true nature back to us."
"Well then," Kaien stepped forward. "Let's see what it makes of me."
As his foot touched the bridge, the entire structure shuddered. The strands of light comprising it began to writhe and twist, changing from serene blue-white to angry crimson. Cracks appeared along its length, and a sound like crystal under immense pressure filled the air.
"It rejects him," gasped one of the younger disciples.
"No," Elder Wei corrected, his ancient eyes widening. "It fears him."
Indeed, the bridge seemed to be trying to withdraw from Kaien's touch, its substance recoiling as if in pain. Wherever his foot landed, the light dimmed, struggling to maintain coherence.
Kaien smiled, that predatory expression that never reached his eyes. "Your constructs have impressive instincts." He took another step forward, and another crack splintered across the bridge's surface.
"Stop!" Artoria moved swiftly to his side. "You'll destroy it without even trying to understand its purpose!"
"Its purpose is to judge," Kaien replied without looking at her. "And I don't acknowledge its right to judge me."
Musashi appeared at his other side, her expression thoughtful rather than alarmed. "Maybe it's not about right or judgment at all. Maybe it's just a different language—one that speaks in harmony rather than dominance."
Kaien paused, glancing at her with genuine curiosity. "Explain."
Musashi shrugged. "When I face an opponent with an unfamiliar style, I don't immediately try to break their sword. I learn their rhythm, understand their flow, and then either blend with it or find the perfect moment to counter. Maybe this bridge isn't trying to stop you—it's trying to communicate."
"An interesting theory," he conceded. Then, to everyone's surprise, he closed his eyes and stood perfectly still.
The bridge continued to tremble, but as Kaien remained motionless, the violent shuddering gradually subsided. The angry red light slowly shifted toward purple, then blue, though it remained darker around him than elsewhere.
"He's... harmonizing with it," Elder Feng whispered in astonishment. "Or at least attempting to."
"Not exactly," Morgan commented, her sorcerous senses perceiving what others could not. "He's not harmonizing—he's imposing his own rhythm and forcing the bridge to accommodate it. Crude, but effective."
After a full minute of this strange communion, Kaien opened his eyes. The bridge had stabilized, though it still pulsed with an uneasy light beneath his feet.
"It speaks an interesting language," he admitted. "One based on resonance and dissonance rather than mere strength. Primitive, but elegant in its way."
With that, he began walking forward again. The bridge continued to react to his presence, dimming wherever he stepped, but it no longer threatened to shatter. It was as if an uneasy truce had been established between the transcendent intruder and the ancient construct.
Seeing this, the others followed. Artoria crossed with graceful ease, the bridge brightening beneath her steps as if welcoming her righteous spirit. Nero strutted across with imperial confidence, inspiring flashes of ruby and gold in the light-strands. Scathach moved like a shadow, the bridge responding to her with wary respect. Morgan's crossing caused the light to twist into complex patterns of dark and light, neither rejecting nor embracing her ambiguous nature. Musashi walked with her hands clasped behind her head, casual and at ease, and the bridge rippled peacefully beneath her steps like water under a gentle breeze.
The cultivators followed last, relieved that the ancient construct had survived the crossing. Elder Wei caught up to Kaien on the far side, his expression a mixture of wariness and reluctant respect.
"You surprised me," the elder admitted. "I expected you to destroy the bridge in defiance."
Kaien's eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the distant spires of the Imperial City had become visible—floating islands of jade and gold suspended in the heavens. "Destruction is easy," he said quietly. "Sometimes there are more interesting options."
The elder nodded slowly, hope kindling in his ancient heart. Perhaps this being of chaos was not beyond all reason after all.
As they continued their journey, Nero sidled up to Kaien, her imperial presence demanding attention. "You're full of surprises, aren't you? First absorbing heaven's judgment, now speaking the language of magical bridges! You're becoming quite the renaissance man."
Kaien gave her a bemused look. "Renaissance?"
"A flowering of new capabilities," she explained with a dramatic flourish. "In my empire, I was not merely a ruler but an artist, a performer, a visionary! I recognized talent in all its forms and cultivated it." Her red-gold eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "You have raw potential beyond mere destruction, if you would but explore it!"
"And you want to... cultivate me?" Kaien asked, his tone somewhere between mocking and intrigued.
Nero laughed, the sound bright and confident. "Cultivate? No, no! Inspire! Even a god needs a muse, Kaien no Tenmei. And who better than Nero Claudius, Emperor of Roses?"
Before Kaien could respond to this audacious declaration, Scathach appeared on his other side, having overheard the exchange. "Careful, Emperor of Roses," she cautioned, though her tone was amused rather than threatening. "Our wayward destroyer may have more potential than any of us realize."
"That's precisely my point!" Nero declared, undeterred. "Such power should not be merely unleashed—it should be directed, channeled into glorious purpose!"
"And you believe yourself qualified to direct me?" Kaien asked, his voice carrying a dangerous edge despite his apparent amusement.
Nero squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze directly. "I ruled Rome, the greatest empire of my world. I transformed a city of brick into a city of marble. I commanded legions and reshaped nations. So yes, I believe I understand something about the responsibilities of power."
Rather than taking offense, Kaien laughed—a genuine sound of surprise and entertainment rather than his usual mocking chuckle. "Your confidence is almost as boundless as your ego, Emperor of Roses."
"Umu! A compliment I shall treasure!" Nero declared, beaming with pleasure. "The first of many exchanges between us, I'm certain!"
As they bantered, the party crested a final rise in the Sky Road, bringing the full splendor of the Imperial City into view. Unlike mortal cities built on solid ground, the Celestial Capital consisted of hundreds of massive floating islands arranged in concentric rings around a central pinnacle—the Jade Emperor's Palace itself. Each island housed different aspects of the imperial court—ministries, training grounds, gardens, libraries, and residences for the countless officials who administered the vast empire.
Connecting these islands were bridges similar to the one they had just crossed, though on a grander scale. Transportation between the more distant islands was accomplished via flying boats shaped like dragons and phoenixes, their hulls inscribed with formation arrays that allowed them to navigate the complex aerial currents.
"The Celestial Capital," Elder Wei announced with pride. "Seat of the Jade Emperor for fifty thousand years, nexus of all cultivational knowledge in our world."
Even Kaien seemed momentarily impressed by the scale and beauty of the floating metropolis. The golden energy still flowing beneath his skin responded to the sight, pulsing more rapidly as if excited by the concentration of spiritual power.
"It seems your Emperor appreciates grandeur," he observed.
"The grandeur serves a purpose," Elder Feng corrected. "Each island is positioned according to precise celestial alignments, forming a massive formation array that helps stabilize the Great Dao throughout the empire. It is both beautiful and functional."
As they approached the outermost ring of islands, their arrival had clearly been anticipated. A welcoming committee awaited them at the terminus of the Sky Road—a delegation of imperial officials in formal robes of stunning complexity, along with a contingent of what were obviously elite guards, though they maintained a ceremonial rather than threatening posture.
At the front of this delegation stood a tall, imposing figure whose mere presence caused the air to thrum with power. His robes of silver and blue rippled with cosmic patterns that mirrored the stars above, and the crown upon his brow was crafted from metal not found in any earthly mine.
"First Celestial Prince Xu Yangcheng," Elder Wei murmured to the group. "The Emperor's eldest son."
The prince stepped forward, performing a formal bow that was nonetheless measured to maintain his dignity. "Honored visitors from beyond our world," he announced, his voice resonating with natural authority. "Word of your arrival has reached the August Presence. The Jade Emperor extends his welcome and invites you to enter the Celestial Palace as his esteemed guests."
Nero immediately stepped forward, her imperial presence matching the prince's own. "As an emperor myself, I accept this royal welcome! Your hospitality honors us!"
Prince Xu blinked, momentarily taken aback by her forthright manner, but recovered smoothly. "Then please, follow me. Preparations for a proper reception await within the palace."
As the prince turned to lead them toward one of the ornate flying vessels, Kaien remained where he stood, his eyes fixed on the central island and the magnificent palace that crowned it.
"Is there a problem?" Prince Xu inquired, noting his hesitation.
Kaien's lips curved in that dangerous smile. "Just wondering why we're taking the scenic route when a more direct approach would be simpler."
Before anyone could respond, he extended his hand toward Artoria. "Coming, King of Knights?"
Artoria studied him for a moment, then surprised everyone by placing her hand in his. "If it means preventing you from causing unnecessary disruption, yes."
Kaien's smile widened, something almost playful entering his expression. One by one, he extended the invitation to the others with a glance. Musashi shrugged good-naturedly and stepped to his side. Scathach joined them with predatory grace. Nero practically bounded over, never one to miss an opportunity for drama. Morgan hesitated longest, her calculating eyes searching Kaien's face before she finally moved to join the group.
"What are you planning?" she asked softly.
"A shortcut," Kaien replied. Then, to the horror of the imperial delegation, he simply... stepped sideways, taking all five of his companions with him.
Reality folded around them like origami in his hands. There was a moment of impossible pressure, a sensation of moving without moving, and then they were elsewhere—standing directly before the massive jade doors of the Imperial Palace itself, having bypassed all the defensive formations, checkpoints, and protocols that normally protected the sacred heart of the empire.
Guards stationed at the palace entrance reacted with shock, instantly dropping into defensive stances. Within seconds, they were surrounded by warriors of the Imperial Divine Guard, their weapons pointed at the intruders who had impossibly breached the most secure location in the realm.
"Well," Musashi commented dryly, surveying the ring of guards. "That's one way to make an entrance."
Kaien merely smiled, the golden energy beneath his skin pulsing with anticipation. "I thought we should skip the formalities."
Artoria sighed, her hand still in his. "This is precisely the kind of impulsive action I was hoping to prevent."
"Really?" Kaien turned to her, genuine curiosity in his voice. "Then why did you take my hand?"
Before she could answer, the massive doors of the palace began to open from within, revealing a brilliance that momentarily blinded even Kaien's enhanced vision. A pressure of pure spiritual authority emanated from the opening, so intense that the very air seemed to crystallize with its passage.
A voice spoke from within the light—ancient, powerful, and unexpectedly calm:
"I have been expecting you, Breaker of Worlds. Please, enter and be welcome in my humble palace."
The guards immediately prostrated themselves, foreheads touching the ground in perfect unison. The light dimmed enough to reveal a figure seated upon a throne of pure jade, his form obscured by layers of radiance that shifted and flowed like living fabric.
The Jade Emperor had deigned to greet them personally.
Kaien's eyes narrowed with interest. "Now this," he murmured, "might actually be worth the trip."
Chapter 3: The Celestial Court
The throne room of the Jade Emperor defied mortal architecture. It stretched farther than physical dimensions should allow, its ceiling a perfect replica of the night sky, complete with moving constellations. The floor beneath their feet was transparent crystal, revealing networks of spiritual energy flowing like rivers beneath the palace.
Hundreds of court officials, sect leaders, and celestial dignitaries lined the path to the throne, all watching the strange procession with varying degrees of wonder, fear, and calculation.
And upon the Jade Throne itself sat the ruler of the Celestial Empire—a being whose cultivation had reached the mythical Void Transcendence Realm. Unlike the elders they had met, who despite their power still appeared as elderly mortals, the Jade Emperor seemed both present and abstract simultaneously. His form shifted between that of a dignified man in the prime of life and a being of pure luminous energy. His features were perfect in their symmetry, yet impossible to fix in memory—each time one looked away and back again, he seemed slightly different, as if human perception could not fully capture his essence.
"Approach," the Emperor invited, his voice resonating with multiple harmonics that somehow enhanced rather than distorted his words.
Kaien strode forward without hesitation, his five companions following behind. The court officials murmured in shock at the casual way these strangers approached the divine presence, with none of the ritual prostrations or ceremonial pauses that protocol demanded.
"Kaien no Tenmei," the Emperor greeted him directly. "Destroyer of realms, consumer of stars, walker of paths between possibilities. You have traveled far to reach our humble empire."
Kaien's eyebrows rose slightly, the first indication of genuine surprise he had shown since their arrival in this world. "You know me?"
The Emperor's smile was serene, yet held unfathomable depths. "The Great Dao encompasses all possibilities, including those beyond our immediate reality. Your ripples in the fabric of existence have been felt, even here in our secluded corner of the multiverse."
While Kaien absorbed this unexpected knowledge, the Emperor turned his attention to the others. "And your companions—each remarkable in their own way. Artoria Pendragon, the Once and Future King, whose ideals shine with undimmed brilliance across dimensions. Nero Claudius, whose imperial will transcends the boundaries of her own history. Scathach, Immortal Witch of Dún Scáith, who has walked the lands of shadow for millennia. Morgan le Fay, whose magic weaves fate itself into new patterns. And Miyamoto Musashi, whose sword seeks the void beyond technique."
The five visitors exchanged surprised glances. The Emperor's knowledge of them was as unexpected as it was accurate.
"You've been spying on other realms," Kaien stated, his voice hardening slightly.
The Emperor shook his head, the movement causing ripples in the light surrounding him. "Not spying. Observing. Learning. It is the responsibility of those who have attained the Void Transcendence Realm to understand the wider cosmos, not merely our own small portion of it."
Before Kaien could respond, Prince Xu and the imperial delegation they had left behind materialized in the throne room, having followed through more conventional means. The prince looked distinctly flustered, though he maintained his dignity admirably.
"Father," he began, bowing deeply. "I apologize for the irregular arrival of our... guests. They bypassed all standard protocols and—"
The Emperor raised a hand, silencing his son with gentle authority. "No apologies are necessary, Yangcheng. Our visitors operate according to different principles than those of our realm. It is the nature of the river to flow downhill, just as it is the nature of certain beings to disregard what they see as arbitrary limitations."
This philosophical acceptance seemed to surprise even the court officials, who exchanged glances of confusion and concern. The Emperor, noting their unease, addressed the wider assembly.
"The court is dismissed for now. I wish to speak with our visitors in a more intimate setting."
This unprecedented command sent shock waves through the gathered dignitaries, but none dared question the Emperor's will. With perfectly choreographed movements, they began to file out of the throne room, bowing repeatedly as they retreated.
Once only the Emperor, Prince Xu, the visitors, and a handful of the highest-ranking officials remained, the entire throne room shimmered and... changed. The vast ceremonial space contracted, becoming a more comfortable pavilion with a circular table at its center. The transparent floor remained, but now it revealed not just flowing spiritual energy but images of distant parts of the empire—mountains, forests, cities, and seas, all pulsing with vitality.
"Please, be seated," the Emperor invited, gesturing to the chairs that had appeared around the table. He himself descended from the throne, his form becoming more consistently human-like, though the light surrounding him remained.
As they took their seats, servants appeared bearing trays of refreshments—fruits that glowed with inner light, teas that changed color as they were poured, and pastries shaped like various celestial phenomena.
"You must have questions," the Emperor said once they were all settled, his eyes—now a deep gold with facets like gemstones—focusing on Kaien.
"Several," Kaien admitted. "Beginning with why you're so calm about a being who, as you put it, destroys realms and consumes stars, appearing in the heart of your empire."
The Emperor smiled. "Would panic serve any purpose? Would hostility increase my chances of preserving what I have built? I think not." He sipped his tea, which shimmered from jade green to sapphire blue as it passed his lips. "Besides, if you had truly come to destroy, you would not have bothered with conversation. You would have simply... begun."
Kaien studied the Emperor with new interest. "You're not what I expected."
"Nor you, what I anticipated," the Emperor returned. "Though I have observed your kind before, you possess unique characteristics. Most chaos-bringers are mindless forces, cosmic tantrums without consciousness or purpose. You, however, have retained intellect, curiosity, even elements of what might be called personality. Fascinating."
"My kind?" Kaien's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And what exactly do you believe that to be?"
Instead of answering directly, the Emperor turned to the others at the table. "What do you believe he is?" he asked them. "You who have traveled with him, albeit briefly. What is your assessment of Kaien no Tenmei's nature?"
Artoria spoke first, her green eyes serious. "He is power untethered from purpose, strength without a code to guide it. He destroys because it is easier than creating, breaks because it requires less commitment than building."
"Unfair," Nero objected immediately. "He is a force of nature—pure, unrestrained potential! Like fire, he can consume, yes, but also illuminate, transform, inspire!"
Scathach tilted her head, her crimson eyes calculating. "He is a paradox given form—existence that defies the rules of existence. In my realm, we would call him a singularity, a point where ordinary laws collapse."
Morgan's assessment was colder, more analytical. "He is a evolutionary dead end—power that has spiraled inward upon itself until it has nowhere left to go but destruction. A being who has forgotten what it means to grow because he has exceeded all external measures."
Musashi was the last to speak, her usually carefree expression thoughtful. "He is a sword with no swordsman to wield it," she said simply. "All edge, all cutting force, but no hand to guide its purpose."
Throughout these assessments, Kaien remained silent, his expression unreadable. When they had finished, he turned back to the Emperor. "And your verdict, Void Transcender? What cosmic box do you place me in?"
The Emperor set down his teacup. "I believe you are something rarer and more valuable than any of these descriptions, though each contains elements of truth. You are a question the universe has not yet answered. A possibility still in formation, despite your ancient existence."
Before Kaien could respond to this enigmatic assessment, the Emperor rose to his feet. "But discussions of cosmic nature can wait. You have traveled far and experienced much since your arrival in our realm. Rest, refreshment, and reflection are in order." He gestured, and the pavilion's walls shimmered, revealing balconies that opened onto breathtaking views of the floating capital. "Guest quarters have been prepared for each of you, with accommodations suited to your preferences. Prince Xu will show you to them when you are ready."
"And what if we prefer to stay together?" Kaien asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.
The Emperor's serene expression didn't falter. "Then accommodations can be adjusted accordingly. The palace responds to need and desire—a small benefit of fifty thousand years of refinement."
With that, he bowed—a gesture of respect rather than subjugation—and departed in a shimmer of light, leaving them with Prince Xu and a handful of attendants.
Once the Emperor was gone, Nero clapped her hands in delight. "What a magnificent host! Truly worthy of imperial admiration! And these refreshments—divine!" She bit into one of the glowing fruits, juice like liquid starlight running down her chin.
Prince Xu watched her with a mixture of amusement and confusion, clearly unused to such uninhibited behavior in the imperial presence. "If you have finished your refreshments, I would be honored to escort you to your quarters."
"Lead on, Prince of Stars," Nero declared grandly. "Show us the splendors of your celestial abode!"
As they followed the prince from the pavilion, Artoria fell into step beside Kaien. "The Emperor knows more than he's revealing," she observed quietly.
"Obviously," Kaien agreed. "The question is why he's playing host instead of attempting to expel the obvious threat to his realm."
"Perhaps he sees value where you see only threat," Artoria suggested. "Not everyone approaches power with fear or aggression."
Kaien's eyes followed the departing form of the Emperor, narrowed in speculation. "Or perhaps he has motives beyond the preservation of his precious order. Either way..." A slow, predatory smile spread across his face. "This realm just became significantly more interesting."
The guest quarters, as promised, were exceptional—a floating pavilion detached from the main palace, offering both privacy and spectacular views of the Celestial Capital. It contained six distinct chambers arranged around a central gathering space, each suite somehow perfectly tailored to its intended occupant despite the impossibility of such preparation.
Artoria's quarters featured clean architectural lines, reminiscent of Camelot yet incorporating elements of this realm's