Kc2
Artoria's quarters featured clean architectural lines, reminiscent of Camelot yet incorporating elements of this realm's aesthetic—gardens with perfectly trimmed jade-like plants and a training space whose boundaries seemed to expand when entered. Nero's suite was opulent to the extreme, with gilded furnishings, red silk hangings, and an acoustic design that made even casual comments sound like grand pronouncements. Scathach's chambers were austere yet elegant, with shadows that moved independently of light sources and practice weapons that could adapt to any fighting style. Morgan's quarters featured a laboratory space filled with arcane instruments she had never seen before, their functions mysterious yet somehow intuitive to her magical senses. Musashi's rooms were practical and serene, with open spaces perfect for sword practice and a view of distant mountains that shifted perspective depending on where one stood.
Kaien's quarters, remarkably, were the most enigmatic of all—a space that seemed to exist slightly out of phase with the others, its boundaries indistinct, its features shifting subtly when not directly observed. At its center stood not a bed but a meditation platform surrounded by dancing motes of golden light similar to the energy still flowing beneath his skin.
"How could they possibly know our preferences so precisely?" Artoria wondered aloud as they explored the central gathering space after inspecting their individual quarters.
"The palace is an extension of the Emperor's consciousness," Prince Xu explained, having remained to ensure their comfort. "It reads impressions from your spiritual signature and adapts accordingly."
"Reading minds without permission?" Morgan's tone held a dangerous edge. "How intrusive."
The prince bowed apologetically. "Not thoughts or memories, Lady Morgan—merely resonance and affinity. The palace seeks harmony above all."
Before Morgan could pursue the subject further, Kaien emerged from his quarters, golden energy pulsing more visibly through his skin than before. His eyes, ringed with shifting gold, focused on the prince with predatory intensity.
"And what does it read from me, Prince of Stars?" he asked, voice deceptively soft. "What 'harmony' does it seek with chaos incarnate?"
Prince Xu held Kaien's gaze with surprising steadiness. "The palace sees beyond surface identities, Lord Kaien. Even chaos has patterns, rhythms, underlying structure."
"Lord Kaien?" A sharp laugh escaped his lips. "Your father addresses me as destroyer of realms, yet you grant me a title of respect?"
"Names have power," the prince replied simply. "How we address others shapes our relationship with them. I choose to begin with respect, regardless of reputation."
Kaien studied the prince with new interest. "You're either very brave or very foolish, Xu Yangcheng. Perhaps both."
"One often necessitates the other," the prince replied with a small smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to other duties. Servants will be available at your call, and my father requests your presence at the Imperial Banquet this evening. Until then, you are free to explore the palace grounds."
With a formal bow, the prince departed, leaving the six visitors alone in their floating pavilion.
"Well!" Nero declared, flinging herself dramatically onto a divan that adjusted its shape to perfectly accommodate her posture. "This is certainly more civilized than being attacked by heaven itself! I approve thoroughly of our new accommodations."
"Don't get too comfortable," Morgan cautioned, examining the room's subtle formation arrays with narrowed eyes. "Luxurious cages are still cages."
"You think we're prisoners?" Musashi asked, helping herself to a bowl of strange luminous fruit from a floating table.
"I think we're being contained," Morgan clarified. "Studied. These quarters, while exquisite, are saturated with monitoring formations. Every word, every movement is being observed."
Kaien, who had moved to the edge of the pavilion where it opened onto empty air, turned back to them with a predatory smile. "Let them watch. Let them study. It won't help them when the time comes."
"When what time comes?" Artoria asked sharply. "What exactly are your intentions here, Kaien?"
Instead of answering directly, he extended his hand toward her, palm up. "Come with me, King of Knights. I want to show you something."
Artoria hesitated, suspicion clear in her emerald eyes. "Where?"
"Does it matter?" His crimson-gold eyes held hers. "You've appointed yourself my conscience. Shouldn't you keep me under close observation?"
This challenge, delivered with a mocking half-smile, caused Nero to laugh delightedly. "Oh, he has you there, King of Knights! How can you resist such flawless logic?"
After another moment of hesitation, Artoria stepped forward with regal dignity and placed her hand in his. "Very well. But I warn you, if you intend harm to this realm or its people—"
"Save your warnings," Kaien interrupted, his fingers closing around hers. "They bore me."
Before anyone else could speak, reality folded around them once more. The sensation of moving without moving enveloped Artoria, and when it cleared, they stood atop the highest spire of the Imperial Palace—a place that should have been inaccessible even to the most privileged officials.
The view was breathtaking. From this height, they could see not just the Celestial Capital with its network of floating islands, but the curvature of the world itself beyond. The sun was beginning to set, casting the entire realm in hues of gold and crimson that matched Kaien's eyes.
"Why have you brought me here?" Artoria asked, unconsciously tightening her grip on his hand as wind whipped around them.
"Look," Kaien said simply, gesturing with his free hand toward the horizon.
As Artoria followed his gaze, she noticed something she had missed before—a distortion in the distant sky, like a heat haze but more structured. As she focused on it, the distortion became clearer—a boundary of sorts, a shimmering wall that seemed to encircle the entire world.
"What is that?" she asked.
"The end of their reality," Kaien replied. "The boundary of this cultivational playground. Beyond it lies the greater multiverse—infinite realms, endless possibilities. Yet they live here, in this cosmic fishbowl, measuring out their existence in cultivation levels and sect hierarchies."
There was something in his voice Artoria hadn't heard before—not mockery, but something almost like... loneliness.
"You find their contentment within boundaries pathetic," she observed.
"I find it incomprehensible," he corrected. "To know there are no true limits, yet to impose them willingly? To build elaborate cages of tradition and hierarchy when the universe offers freedom beyond imagination?"
Artoria studied his profile against the darkening sky. "Not everyone seeks freedom above all else, Kaien. Some find meaning in structure, purpose in tradition."
"Purpose," he echoed, the word carrying unusual weight. "You and the Emperor both speak of purpose as if it were the ultimate value."
"Because without it, power is merely force without direction," she replied. "Even you must have had purpose once, before you became..." She hesitated.
"Before I became what?" His eyes, now more gold than crimson in the fading light, fixed on hers. "A destroyer? A monster? A cosmic accident?"
"Before you became lonely," Artoria finished quietly.
The word hung between them, unexpected and undefended. For once, Kaien had no quick retort, no mocking smile. He simply stared at her, something ancient and unreadable shifting behind his eyes.
The moment stretched, neither of them speaking. Then, abruptly, Kaien released her hand and turned away.
"We should return. The others will be growing suspicious."
"Kaien—" Artoria began, reaching toward him.
"Don't," he cut her off, his voice hard once more. "Don't mistake curiosity for vulnerability, King of Knights. I brought you here to see the boundaries of this world, nothing more."
Before she could respond, he grasped her wrist and folded reality around them again. They rematerialized in the central gathering space of their pavilion, where the others waited with varying degrees of impatience.
"Finally!" Nero exclaimed, bouncing to her feet. "We were beginning to think you'd eloped without us!"
Scathach's keen eyes noted the tension between them immediately. "Find anything interesting on your excursion?"
"Nothing worth mentioning," Kaien replied dismissively, releasing Artoria's wrist and moving toward his quarters. "I'll be meditating until this banquet. Do not disturb me."
As he disappeared through the shifting doorway to his suite, the four women exchanged glances.
"Well, that was theatrical," Morgan commented dryly. "What did you do to put him in such a mood, Artoria?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Artoria admitted, her brow furrowed. "He showed me the boundary of this world, and we spoke of purpose."
"Dangerous territory," Scathach observed. "For a being like him, purpose may be the one thing he cannot simply break through or consume."
Musashi, who had been practicing sword forms in a corner of the room, sheathed her blade and approached. "Did he actually talk about himself? His past?"
"No," Artoria shook her head. "Though I got the impression there's far more to him than the destruction he's known for."
Nero flopped dramatically across another divan. "Of course there is! Have you seen how he moves? How he speaks? That is not merely a force of destruction—that is an artist who has forgotten his medium!"
The others stared at her, surprised by the unexpected insight.
"What?" Nero demanded. "I was Rome's greatest artist as well as its emperor! I know creative frustration when I see it."
"Creative frustration?" Morgan repeated skeptically. "He's annihilated entire multiverses."
"Exactly!" Nero sat up, gesturing emphatically. "What does one create when one has the power to unmake reality itself? When every canvas is too small, every material too fragile? He destroys because he hasn't found anything worthy of his creation!"
The room fell silent as they considered this possibility.
"That's... actually rather profound, Nero," Artoria admitted.
"Umu! I have my moments!" Nero beamed proudly.
Scathach's crimson eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "If that's true, then his presence here is even more dangerous than we thought. This world, with its rigid structures and systematic power, represents everything his nature rebels against."
"Or," Musashi suggested, "it represents the perfect challenge. Not to destroy, but to transform."
As they debated these possibilities, none of them noticed the barely perceptible shimmer in the air near Kaien's quarters—a distortion that suggested he might be listening to their conversation while remaining unseen.
Hours later, as twilight deepened into night, servants arrived to escort them to the Imperial Banquet. The grand hall designated for the occasion defied ordinary architecture, its ceiling opened to the night sky where constellations moved in patterns that celebrated the rare occasion. Tables crafted from luminous jade floated at various heights, creating a three-dimensional arrangement that allowed guests to converse across different elevations.
The highest table, naturally, was reserved for the Emperor and his most honored guests.
When Kaien emerged from his quarters to join them for the procession to the banquet, the others noticed an immediate change in his appearance. The golden energy that had been flowing beneath his skin was now fully integrated, giving him an aura of contained power that made the air around him shimmer slightly. His eyes had stabilized into a striking crimson with golden pupils that seemed to see beyond ordinary reality.
He had also, surprisingly, adopted formal attire that blended his own aesthetic with that of the Celestial Empire—a long black coat with intricate golden patterns that moved subtly across its surface, resembling celestial charts in constant motion.
"My, my," Nero appraised him appreciatively, herself resplendent in imperial crimson and gold. "You clean up rather impressively, Destroyer of Worlds."
Kaien gave her a sardonic look. "The Emperor went to the trouble of arranging this spectacle. It seemed only fair to make an effort."
"How considerate," Morgan remarked, her own attire a stunning creation of midnight blue sorcerous fabric that seemed to contain actual stars in its depths. "One might almost think you were beginning to care about social niceties."
"Don't mistake curiosity for domestication, witch," Kaien replied, though without real heat. His eyes moved to Artoria, who had chosen a gown of silver and blue that echoed her battle armor while allowing greater freedom of movement. For a moment, his expression softened almost imperceptibly.
Scathach, dressed in form-fitting crimson that emphasized her warrior's physique while maintaining regal dignity, noticed this subtle reaction. "Well, well," she murmured, just loud enough for Kaien to hear. "The destroyer has preferences after all."
Kaien's eyes flicked to her, narrowing slightly, but he chose not to respond to the provocation.
Musashi completed their group, her attire simpler but no less elegant—a traditional hakama in deep indigo with silver accents, her dual swords still at her hip despite the formal occasion. "Are we ready for this diplomatic adventure?" she asked cheerfully.
"As ready as one can be for inevitable disappointment," Kaien replied dryly. "Let's get this over with."
The servants led them through floating corridors that shifted and rearranged themselves as they walked, creating a path that offered spectacular views of the nighttime capital with its countless glowing formations and luminous buildings. As they approached the banquet hall, they could hear music unlike anything from their original worlds—instruments that played colors as much as sounds, harmonies that seemed to resonate with the spiritual energy of the realm itself.
Upon their entrance, a hush fell over the assembled guests—hundreds of the most powerful cultivators in the empire, gathered to witness these otherworldly visitors. The Emperor himself rose from his seat at the highest table, his form tonight more consistently human though still haloed by subtle radiance.
"Our honored guests arrive," he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly throughout the vast space. "Let us welcome them to the Celestial Court."
What followed was a ceremony of welcome that managed to be both elaborate and genuine. Representatives from major sects presented symbolic gifts—precious cultivation resources, ancient texts, artistic creations of profound spiritual significance. The visitors were formally introduced to key figures in the imperial hierarchy, including the Empress—a being of serene beauty whose cultivation focused on healing and harmony—and the other imperial children beyond Prince Xu.
Throughout it all, Kaien maintained a demeanor of polite interest that surprised his companions. He accepted introductions with regal acknowledgment, studied the gifts with apparent appreciation, and even engaged in brief exchanges with various officials without a hint of his usual mockery.
"What game are you playing?" Artoria whispered to him during a momentary lull in the proceedings.
Kaien's lips curved in a subtle smile. "Who says I'm playing a game? Perhaps I'm simply enjoying the experience."
"You don't enjoy social rituals," she countered. "You endure them at best, mock them at worst."
"People change, King of Knights," he murmured, his golden-crimson eyes holding hers. "Even cosmic destroyers."
Before she could respond to this unsettling statement, they were led to their places at the Emperor's table. The seating arrangement placed Kaien directly opposite the Emperor, with Artoria on his right and Scathach on his left. Nero, Morgan, and Musashi were positioned between various high-ranking imperial family members, creating a balanced arrangement that honored all while maintaining subtle protective formations around Kaien—a precaution that went unmentioned but was obvious to those with tactical awareness.
"Now that formalities are observed," the Emperor said once they were seated, "let us enjoy the fruits of our realm." He made a simple gesture, and servants appeared with the first course—dishes that defied conventional description, their ingredients harvested from sacred grounds and prepared with cultivation techniques as much as culinary skill.
As the banquet progressed, conversation flowed more naturally. Nero charmed the imperial court with dramatic tales of her reign, carefully edited to emphasize glory rather than excess. Morgan engaged several elder sorcerers in complex discussions of magical theory that quickly exceeded most listeners' comprehension. Musashi found kindred spirits among the sword masters present, exchanging techniques and philosophies with genuine enthusiasm. Scathach observed it all with amused detachment, occasionally dropping cryptic statements that left even ancient cultivators pondering their meaning.
Artoria, ever the diplomatic leader, moved smoothly between various conversations, building bridges and finding common ground between disparate perspectives. Yet her attention repeatedly returned to Kaien, who maintained his unexpected civility while engaged in what appeared to be a subtle battle of wits with the Emperor himself.
"Your integration of the Heavenly Tribulation energy is remarkable," the Emperor was saying, his gemstone eyes studying Kaien with scholarly interest. "Most beings would have been obliterated by its conceptual weight alone, yet you've not only survived but transmuted it to your own signature."
"It was delicious," Kaien replied with deliberate provocation, "if somewhat lacking in complexity. Like a vintage that promises depth but delivers only intensity."
Rather than taking offense, the Emperor laughed—a sound like distant wind chimes. "A fair assessment! Our world's energy does favor direct expression over subtle nuance. It is optimized for cultivation purposes rather than cosmic sophistication."
"A design choice?" Kaien asked, suddenly intent. "You speak as if this realm was constructed rather than evolved."
The Emperor sipped from a cup of luminous liquid before answering. "All stable realities are partly constructed, partly emerged. The question is merely one of conscious intention versus unconscious pattern formation. Our ancestors understood this principle and worked with the natural tendencies of this pocket of the multiverse to create a sustainable cultivation environment."
"Creating boundaries," Kaien observed, "at the cost of cosmic connection."
"Creating focus," the Emperor corrected gently, "at the expense of certain distractions. The boundary you observed is permeable to those with sufficient understanding—a filter rather than a wall."
This exchange confirmed Artoria's suspicion that Kaien had indeed shown her something significant during their earlier excursion. She leaned slightly closer, drawn into their conversation.
"And what would constitute 'sufficient understanding'?" Kaien pressed.
The Emperor's smile held genuine warmth. "That, Breaker of Worlds, is the question at the heart of our highest cultivation paths. The answer cannot be given—only realized."
A flash of irritation crossed Kaien's features. "Mystical non-answers. How predictable."
"Not mystical," the Emperor countered. "Experiential. Some truths cannot be transferred through language—they must be lived, discovered, embodied." He gestured to encompass the banquet, the palace, the empire beyond. "Our entire civilization is built around this principle. We do not merely accumulate power—we cultivate understanding through progressive embodiment of cosmic principles."
Something in these words seemed to strike a chord with Kaien. The golden energy within him pulsed visibly, and for a brief moment, his composed facade cracked, revealing a hunger that had nothing to do with the exquisite food before him.
"And if one has transcended cosmic principles?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge that caused nearby conversations to falter. "If one's existence contradicts the very foundations of reality?"
The Emperor met Kaien's intensity without flinching. "Then perhaps one has not transcended all principles—merely those one has encountered thus far."
The implication hung in the air between them—that even Kaien, with his unimaginable power and ancient existence, might still have limitations he had not acknowledged, boundaries he had not recognized.
Before Kaien could respond, a disturbance spread through the banquet hall. Cultivators turned toward the main entrance, where a commotion was underway. Guards moved into defensive formations as a new arrival pushed past the ceremonial attendants.
"My Emperor!" called a voice rough with urgency. "Forgive the interruption, but catastrophe has befallen the Southern Provinces!"
The newcomer was a battle-scarred cultivator whose robes, once elegant, were torn and stained with what appeared to be blood. He dropped to one knee before the Emperor's table, his cultivation aura fluctuating with exhaustion.
"Commander Zhou," the Emperor acknowledged, his voice calm but concerned. "Rise and report."
The commander struggled to his feet, his face haggard with strain. "The Abyssal Gate has shattered, Your Celestial Majesty. The seal that has contained the Dark Cultivators for ten thousand years has failed. They are free, and their power has grown monstrous during their imprisonment."
Murmurs of shock and fear rippled through the assembly. Even the most powerful sect leaders looked deeply troubled by this news.
"Casualties?" the Emperor asked, his serene demeanor unaltered despite the gravity of the report.
"The entire Southern Garrison," Commander Zhou replied grimly. "Three hundred thousand souls, consumed in an instant to fuel their emergence. The cities of Jiangling and Yuzhou have fallen. The Vermilion Phoenix Sect sent their Elders to contain the spread, but..." His voice faltered. "They were overwhelmed. Elder Zhao and seventeen others have perished."
This news sent the banquet into turmoil. The Vermilion Phoenix Sect was one of the Five Pinnacle Sects, its Elders among the most powerful beings in the empire. For them to fall so quickly suggested a threat of unprecedented magnitude.
Throughout the commotion, Kaien remained perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the Emperor with new intensity. "How convenient," he murmured, just loudly enough for Artoria and Scathach to hear. "A realm-threatening crisis emerges just as we arrive."
"You think this is staged?" Artoria whispered back, shocked by the suggestion.
"I think nothing happens by coincidence when dealing with beings of the Emperor's caliber," Kaien replied.
The Emperor rose from his seat, his form taking on additional luminosity as he addressed the assembly. "The celebration must end. War Council will convene immediately." His gaze swept across the hall before settling on Kaien and his companions. "Our visitors from beyond have arrived at a critical moment for our realm. Perhaps this is the will of the Great Dao itself."
Prince Xu stepped forward, his expression grave. "Father, I request permission to lead the Imperial Guard to reinforce the Southern Border."
"Granted," the Emperor nodded. "But do not engage directly until we better understand what we face. Containment is our priority."
As the banquet dissolved into urgent strategic discussions, Kaien leaned back in his seat, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And so the real game begins," he murmured.
Scathach caught his eye, her own lips curving in anticipation. "Bored with court etiquette already?"
"Immensely," he admitted. "Though I must admit, the Emperor is a more interesting adversary than most."
"Adversary?" Artoria questioned sharply. "He has shown you nothing but hospitality and respect."
Kaien's smile widened. "The most dangerous opponents always do."
Nero had made her way back to their table through the crowd, her eyes bright with excitement. "Did you hear? Abyssal cultivators! Dark magic! Consumed souls! This is becoming a proper epic!" She clapped her hands in delight. "When do we join the battle?"
"We don't," Morgan stated flatly, appearing behind Nero with Musashi in tow. "This is not our conflict."
Musashi scratched her head thoughtfully. "I don't know... a good fight against abyssal enemies sounds interesting. Might be a chance to test some techniques against new opponents."
"Testing techniques against opponents who consume hundreds of thousands of souls?" Morgan arched an eyebrow. "Your definition of 'interesting' concerns me, swordswoman."
"The point is moot," Kaien interrupted, rising from his seat with fluid grace. "We will be involved whether we choose it or not. The Emperor has already decided our role in this drama."
"And what role is that?" Artoria demanded.
Kaien's crimson-gold eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Wild cards, of course. Unpredictable factors to disrupt whatever game is truly being played."
As if summoned by these words, the Emperor materialized beside their table, the space around him bending slightly to accommodate his presence.
"Kaien no Tenmei," he addressed the destroyer directly. "I would speak with you privately regarding these developments."
"Of course you would," Kaien replied with a knowing smile. "Lead the way, Void Transcender."
The Emperor inclined his head gracefully, then turned to the others. "Your companions are welcome to join the War Council. Prince Xu will escort them." With that, he gestured, creating a doorway of pure light beside them. "After you."
Kaien stepped toward the light without hesitation, pausing only to glance back at Artoria. "Don't worry, King of Knights. I'll be on my best behavior." The mockery in his voice was undercut by something else—a subtle reassurance that surprised her.
As Kaien disappeared through the doorway with the Emperor, the five women exchanged concerned glances.
"I don't like this," Artoria stated flatly. "Separating us plays into whatever scheme is unfolding."
"Agreed," Morgan nodded. "Divide and manipulate—the oldest strategy in statecraft."
Nero struck a dramatic pose. "Then we shall be vigilant! No imperial manipulation escapes the eye of Rome's greatest emperor!"
"It might be simpler to just follow them," Musashi suggested practically. "That light doorway didn't exactly close behind them."
Indeed, the portal remained open, pulsing gently as if awaiting additional travelers.
Scathach smiled slowly. "I've always preferred direct approaches." Without further discussion, she strode toward the doorway. "Coming?"
One by one, they followed her into the light, leaving behind the chaos of the disrupted banquet.
The portal led them not to another room within the palace as expected, but to an impossible space—a platform suspended among stars, with no visible supports or boundaries. The"normal" laws of reality seemed tenuous here, with gravity present but somehow optional, and distance becoming a subjective rather than objective measure.
In the center of this cosmic platform stood Kaien and the Emperor, facing each other across what appeared to be a three-dimensional model of the entire Celestial Empire—mountains, forests, cities, and seas rendered in light so detailed it seemed alive.
"—convenient timing," Kaien was saying as they emerged from the portal. "Almost as if you anticipated their emergence."
The Emperor's expression remained serene despite the accusation. "The barriers weakening was inevitable. The confluence with your arrival is... significant, but not orchestrated."
He paused, noticing the five women joining them. Rather than showing surprise or displeasure, he merely nodded in acknowledgment. "Your companions have decided to join us. Good. This concerns them as well."
"What exactly is 'this'?" Artoria asked, stepping forward.
The Emperor gestured toward the light-model. A section in the southern region pulsed with ominous dark energy, spreading like corruption through the otherwise harmonious display.
"The Abyssal Cultivators were once part of our civilization," he explained. "Ten thousand years ago, they sought shortcuts to power through forbidden techniques—consuming souls, harvesting life force, corrupting the natural flow of spiritual energy. When conventional means failed to stop them, I created a special prison dimension and sealed them within."
"And now they're free," Scathach observed, studying the spreading darkness with professional interest. "Stronger for their containment, I imagine."
"Unfortunately, yes," the Emperor confirmed. "Isolation and resentment have crystallized their techniques into something new—a Reversed Dao that corrupts our standard cultivation methods. Anyone below the Divine Sovereign Realm who faces them directly risks not just defeat but corruption."
"Which is where we come in," Kaien stated rather than asked, his eyes fixed on the spreading darkness with predatory interest.
"You are not bound by our cultivation system," the Emperor acknowledged. "Your existence operates on different principles. You might be immune to their corrupting influence."
Morgan gave a short, sharp laugh. "How convenient indeed. The outsiders arrive, and suddenly they're needed to fight your ancient enemies. One might almost think the timing was arranged."
The Emperor turned to her, his gemstone eyes reflecting starlight. "Your skepticism is warranted, sorceress. But consider an alternative interpretation—not that I orchestrated these events, but that the Great Dao itself has drawn you here at this critical juncture."
"Cosmic coincidence as divine intervention?" Morgan scoffed. "A convenient explanation."
"And yet," Musashi interjected thoughtfully, "there's a certain logic to it. In my travels across worlds, I've noticed how crisis and opportunity often arrive hand in hand, as if guided by some unseen principle."
"The principle of dramatic narrative!" Nero declared enthusiastically. "Every great epic requires both heroes and villains, arriving at precisely the right moment for maximum impact!"
Kaien, who had been silent during this exchange, suddenly laughed—a genuine sound of amusement that startled them all. "Whether orchestrated, coincidental, or 'fated,'" he said, the last word dripping with sarcasm, "it doesn't matter. What matters is that these Abyssal Cultivators might actually present a challenge."
He turned to the Emperor, his crimson-gold eyes gleaming with anticipation. "You want us to fight your ancient enemies. Fine. But not as your tools or saviors." His smile widened, displaying teeth too sharp for comfort. "We'll do it because it sounds interesting."
The Emperor studied him for a long moment before inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Your motivations are your own. The outcome is what concerns me."
"And if that outcome includes more destruction than you bargained for?" Artoria asked quietly, her eyes on Kaien.
"All creation includes elements of destruction," the Emperor replied. "The question is one of balance and purpose."
There was that word again—purpose. Kaien's expression flickered for an instant, something unreadable crossing his features before his predatory smile returned.
"Then let's not waste time with philosophy," he said decisively. "Show us exactly what we're facing."
The Emperor made a gesture, and the model zoomed in on the corrupted region. Figures appeared—humanoid but wrong somehow, their cultivation auras twisted into unnatural configurations. At their center stood seven beings of particular power, their forms only partly physical, wreathed in energy that seemed to consume light rather than emit it.
"The Seven Abyssal Lords," the Emperor identified them. "Once they were sect leaders and elders, now transformed by millennia of darkness. They command legions of lesser cultivators, all corrupt—"
He broke off abruptly as a shudder passed through the model. The darkness pulsed, expanded dramatically, and one of the seven figures seemed to look up—directly at them, despite the impossibility of such awareness.
"Impossible," the Emperor whispered, genuine shock breaking through his serene facade. "They've detected our observation."
The figure—a woman whose beauty remained hauntingly evident despite her corruption—smiled up at them. Her lips moved, and though no sound should have been possible through the model, they all heard her voice clearly:
"Welcome, visitors from beyond. Your arrival was foretold. Your power... anticipated." Her gaze fixed directly on Kaien. "Especially yours, Breaker of Worlds. When you tire of playing the Emperor's game, come find us. We offer freedom without constraints, power without philosophy, purpose without pretense."
With those words, the model shattered, fragments of light scattering across the cosmic platform before winking out entirely.
The Emperor's expression was grave. "This is worse than I feared. Their awareness has expanded beyond expected parameters."
"They knew of us," Scathach observed. "Specifically of Kaien."
"More importantly," Morgan added, "they offered him an alternative alliance. Quite shrewd for supposedly mindless destroyers."
All eyes turned to Kaien, whose expression had become unreadable, the golden energy beneath his skin pulsing with increased intensity.
"Well, destroyer?" Artoria asked quietly. "Will you consider their offer?"
Kaien's eyes met hers, something dangerous and exhilarating swirling in their crimson-gold depths. "That depends," he replied, his voice soft but carrying easily in the cosmic silence. "How badly do you want me to stay?"
The question hung in the star-filled void, directed at Artoria but somehow encompassing all of them—a challenge and an invitation wrapped in one. For the first time since their strange journey began, Kaien was openly acknowledging the subtle connections forming between himself and these five warriors from across reality.
Artoria held his gaze steadily. "I want you to make the right choice, not because of me or anyone else, but because you are capable of more than mere destruction."
"Such faith," he murmured, moving closer to her. "What have I done to earn it?"
"Nothing," she admitted. "Yet."
Something shifted in Kaien's expression—surprise, perhaps, or a more complex emotion without easy name. He turned his gaze to each of the others in turn: Nero's dramatic optimism, Scathach's predatory interest, Morgan's calculating assessment, Musashi's straightforward curiosity.
"And the rest of you?" he asked, his tone lighter but no less intent. "Where do your loyalties lie in this conflict?"
"With the side that promises the best spectacle, of course!" Nero declared grandly. "These gloomy abyssal types clearly lack artistic vision. I vote we crush them magnificently!"
"I'm inclined to agree," Scathach added, twirling her crimson spear thoughtfully. "Dark cultivators feeding on souls? Too conventional. I prefer your brand of chaos, Kaien—at least it's original."
Morgan's cold smile held genuine amusement. "The Emperor offers knowledge and civilization. The Abyssal Lords offer corruption and tired rebellion. Neither truly interests me." Her eyes fixed on Kaien. "But you... you remain an enigma worth studying."
Musashi shrugged, her casual posture belying the sharpness in her eyes. "I go where my swords lead me. Right now, they're humming for a fight against these abyssal types. Could change tomorrow, but that's my feeling now."
Kaien absorbed their responses, something like satisfaction flickering across his Chapter 4: Abyssal Awakening
Kaien absorbed their responses, something like satisfaction flickering across his features. He turned back to the Emperor, all pretense of diplomacy dropping from his manner.
"Your celestial politics bore me," he declared bluntly. "These Abyssal Lords at least sound like they might provide entertainment. I'll crush them, not for your realm's sake, but because I want to see if they can actually pose a challenge."
The Emperor, rather than taking offense at Kaien's abrupt shift in tone, merely nodded. "Your honesty is refreshing, Breaker of Worlds. Whatever your motivation, the outcome serves all."
"Don't mistake me," Kaien warned, golden energy flaring visibly around him. "I'm not your weapon to point at enemies. If these Abyssal Lords prove disappointing, I might turn my attention elsewhere." The threat hung in the star-filled void between them.
"I harbor no illusions about controlling you," the Emperor replied calmly. "I merely recognize aligned interests when I see them."
Kaien laughed, the sound echoing strangely in the cosmic space. "Interests? You know nothing of what interests me."
"Perhaps not," the Emperor conceded. "But I know what interests them." He gestured, and the shattered model reconstituted itself, focusing on one specific figure among the Seven Abyssal Lords—the woman who had addressed them. "This is Yue Wuying, once the Sovereign of the Midnight Lotus Sect. She specializes in soul-absorption techniques that grant her victims' knowledge and abilities to her."
"And you think she wants to absorb me?" Kaien's grin turned feral. "Many have tried. None have succeeded."
"Not merely absorption," the Emperor clarified. "She seeks fundamental understanding—the principles that make your existence possible. With such knowledge, she could potentially break the cosmic boundaries of our realm completely."
"Good for her," Kaien shrugged dismissively. "Boundaries are meant to be broken."
Artoria stepped forward, her patience wearing thin. "This isn't a game, Kaien. If these Abyssal Lords corrupt this entire realm—"
"Then another system falls," he interrupted, turning to her with crimson-gold eyes blazing. "Realms rise and fall every moment across the multiverse, King of Knights. Why should this one matter more than countless others I've watched crumble?"
"Because we're here now," she answered simply. "Because these people don't deserve annihilation for the crime of existing within a system you find constraining."
Kaien moved closer to her, the golden energy beneath his skin pulsing in response to her challenge. "And if I find their suffering... irrelevant?"
Artoria held her ground, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Then you prove yourself exactly what they believe you to be—mindless destruction without purpose."
"Careful," he whispered, close enough now that only she could hear. "You're making assumptions about what I find... relevant."
The tension between them was palpable, charged with something beyond mere confrontation. Nero, watching with rapt attention, clapped her hands in delight.
"Such intensity! Such passion!" she exclaimed. "This is better than any imperial drama I commissioned in Rome!"
Scathach's crimson eyes narrowed knowingly. "Indeed. Though I suspect our destroyer protests too much. He's already decided to fight these Abyssal Lords; he's simply making us work for his cooperation."
Kaien shot her an irritated glance. "Your presumption is annoying, Queen of Shadows."
"But am I wrong?" she challenged, her smile predatory.
After a moment of loaded silence, Kaien turned back to the Emperor. "I'll need information. Exact locations. Their capabilities. Weak points. Not because I can't destroy them regardless, but because I prefer efficient hunting."
The Emperor inclined his head. "Of course. I've prepared comprehensive intelligence." He gestured, and a sphere of crystallized knowledge appeared in the air between them. "This contains everything we know about the Abyssal Lords and their forces."
Kaien reached out and the sphere dissolved into his hand, the information flowing into him like liquid light. His eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting," he murmured. "They've developed a Reversed Immortal Physique cultivation path that inverts the standard meridian channels. Creative, if crude."
"Your assessment?" the Emperor inquired.
"They're stronger than you're admitting," Kaien replied bluntly. "Your Imperial Guard won't last an hour against their vanguard. These aren't mere corrupted cultivators—they've transcended your system by inverting it."
The Emperor's serene expression faltered for the first time. "You've gleaned this from a momentary examination of information that took our scholars decades to compile?"
Kaien's smile was coldly amused. "I've seen more cultivation systems rise and fall than your entire civilization has existed, Star Sovereign. This isn't my first encounter with those who invert natural laws for power."
"Star Sovereign?" Musashi questioned.
"A more fitting title than 'Emperor' for what he truly is," Kaien explained casually. "The pinnacle of this realm's cultivation—a being who has absorbed and embodied the principles of stellar formation and collapse. That's the true source of his power, not mere political authority."
The Emperor—or Star Sovereign—studied Kaien with new interest. "You perceive more than you reveal, Breaker of Worlds."
"Always," Kaien agreed. "Now, unless there's more political posturing required, I'd prefer to face these Abyssal Lords directly rather than waste time with strategy sessions and troop deployments."
"Such impatience," Morgan commented dryly. "Some preparation might be prudent."
"Preparation is for those who fear failure," Kaien dismissed her concern. "I don't."
Artoria's expression hardened. "And what of the rest of us? Do our preferences matter in your haste for battle?"
Kaien paused, something flickering behind his eyes as he regarded her. Then, to everyone's surprise, he inclined his head slightly.
"Speak, then. What would you have us do, King of Knights?"
The acknowledgment, small as it was, represented an unprecedented concession from the cosmic destroyer. Artoria recognized its significance and chose her words carefully.
"These Abyssal Lords have unleashed their forces across multiple provinces. Rushing headlong into their territory without understanding their full deployment would be reckless, even for you. I suggest we first secure the border cities that haven't yet fallen, then strike at their leadership directly."
Kaien considered this for a moment, then looked to the others. "Opinions?"
"The king's strategy is sound," Scathach nodded. "Containment, then decisive strike. Classic battle doctrine that has served countless realms well."
"I concur," Nero declared grandly. "And it provides the perfect opportunity to present ourselves as saviors to the populace! The adoration of the masses is always worth cultivating."
Musashi shrugged. "I'm more concerned with the quality of opponents than the strategic approach. As long as I find worthy swordsmen to cross blades with, I'm satisfied."
Morgan, who had been studying the reconstituted model with cold calculation, finally spoke. "There's something you're all missing. Look here." She gestured to a specific formation of Abyssal forces. "They're not simply expanding outward. They're creating a specific pattern—a massive ritual formation using the conquered territories as anchor points."
The Star Sovereign moved closer, his expression grave as he examined what Morgan had indicated. "You have exceptional insight, sorceress. This appears to be a Nine Stars Reversal Formation—an ancient forbidden technique that could potentially invert the flow of all cultivation energy in our realm."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Musashi asked.
"Meaning," Kaien answered before the Sovereign could, "they're attempting to replace this realm's established cultivation system with their own inverted version. Every cultivator below the Divine Sovereign Realm would either die or be corrupted instantly. Billions of souls, transformed or extinguished in a single moment."
"Then we must prevent this ritual from completing," Artoria stated firmly.
"Agreed," Kaien surprised them by saying. "Not because I care about the fate of billions, but because such a crude approach to cosmic restructuring offends me aesthetically."
Nero laughed delightedly. "An artistic critique as motivation for saving a world! I approve wholeheartedly!"
"We should split our forces," Scathach suggested, eyeing the formation pattern. "Strike at multiple anchor points simultaneously to disrupt the ritual."
Kaien nodded slowly, the golden energy beneath his skin pulsing with growing anticipation. "Efficient. I'll take the central node—that's where Yue Wuying will be directing the ritual."
"I'll accompany you," Artoria stated immediately, her tone brooking no argument.
"As will I," Nero declared with imperial confidence. "You'll need proper dramatic presence for the climactic confrontation!"
Scathach's crimson eyes glittered with amusement. "Morgan and Musashi can handle the eastern anchor points. I'll take the western ones. My anti-divine techniques should prove effective against their corrupted cultivation."
Kaien studied her for a moment. "You've taken command quite naturally, Queen of Shadows."
"When one has trained generations of warriors," she replied smoothly, "tactical deployment becomes second nature. Object if you wish."
To everyone's surprise, Kaien merely smiled—a genuine expression rather than his usual predatory grin. "No objection. Your plan has merit."
The Star Sovereign, who had been silently observing this exchange, finally spoke. "My Imperial Guard and the remaining sect forces can support your efforts at each location, containing the lesser abyssal cultivators while you focus on the Lords themselves."
"Fine," Kaien agreed dismissively. "Just keep them out of my way."
"When do we move?" Musashi asked, hands already resting on her sword hilts in anticipation.
"Now," Kaien answered, the golden energy surrounding him intensifying until his form seemed to blur at the edges. "I've tired of talk."
With that declaration, he extended his hands—one toward Artoria, one toward Nero. "Hold tight. My method of travel can be... disorienting for the unprepared."
Artoria took his offered hand without hesitation, her fingers closing firmly around his. Nero grasped his other hand with dramatic flair, pressing herself unnecessarily close to his side.
"Umu! I am prepared for any disorientation, so long as we arrive in suitable style for our grand entrance!"
Kaien's eyes gleamed with amused tolerance for her theatrics. "Style isn't my priority, Emperor of Roses. Effectiveness is."
"Nonsense!" Nero countered. "Style and effectiveness are one and the same in truly masterful execution!"
Before Kaien could respond to this dubious assertion, Scathach approached. "We'll need precise coordinates for our respective targets," she said practically.
The Star Sovereign gestured, creating three globes of light that floated toward Scathach, Morgan, and Musashi. "These will guide you to your objectives. My Imperial Guard contingents will rendezvous with you at each location."
Morgan accepted the orb with a suspicious glance. "And what assurance do we have that these won't lead us into traps?"
"None whatsoever," the Sovereign replied frankly. "Trust must begin somewhere, sorceress."
"A poor beginning, then," Morgan muttered, but she pocketed the orb nonetheless.
Scathach and Musashi exchanged a brief handclasp. "Fight well," the Queen of Shadows told the swordswoman. "These abyssal cultivators may have techniques unlike any you've faced."
"All the better," Musashi grinned. "Stagnation is the enemy of true swordsmanship. New challenges forge stronger techniques."
With final preparations complete, Kaien nodded to the Star Sovereign. "If we fail, your realm falls. If we succeed..." His smile turned dangerous. "Well, we'll discuss what happens then when the time comes."
Without waiting for a response, he pulled Artoria and Nero closer, golden energy swirling around the trio. Reality bent around them, folding inward until they vanished from the cosmic platform, leaving not even a ripple in the starry void to mark their passage.
"Dramatic as always," Morgan commented dryly. "Let's hope his battle prowess matches his flair for exits."
The Star Sovereign turned to the three remaining women, his expression unreadable. "You follow him despite knowing what he is. Why?"
Scathach answered first, her voice thoughtful. "In my long existence, true novelty has become precious beyond measure. He represents something I've never encountered before—a being who exists outside all established patterns."
"I follow the path of the sword," Musashi shrugged. "His blade sings with truths I've never heard before. How could I turn away from such a melody?"
Morgan was the last to respond, her cold eyes fixing on the Sovereign with unexpected intensity. "You know why we follow him. The same reason you haven't tried to destroy him, despite the obvious threat he represents to your perfect, ordered realm."
"And what reason is that?" the Sovereign asked quietly.
"Because he's not what he appears to be," Morgan replied. "Or rather, he's more than what he appears to be. The destruction is real, but it's not the whole truth. There's something else beneath the surface—something even he may not fully comprehend."
The Star Sovereign's gemstone eyes reflected countless celestial bodies as he considered her words. "A dangerous gambit, building hope on such a foundation."
"All meaningful hope is dangerous," Morgan countered. "Otherwise, it's merely wishful thinking."
With that philosophical exchange hanging in the air between them, the three women activated their respective guidance orbs and disappeared in flashes of light, each bound for their assigned battlefields across the vast Celestial Empire.
Reality reassembled itself around Kaien, Artoria, and Nero amidst chaos. They materialized at the edge of what had once been a magnificent city, its elegant towers and floating pagodas now twisted into grotesque parodies of their former beauty. The very stone and spirit metals that composed the structures had been corrupted, veins of malevolent energy pulsing through them like diseased arteries.
The sky above burned with inverted constellations—familiar star patterns twisted into unnatural configurations that hurt the eyes to observe directly. The air itself tasted wrong, thick with the residue of corrupted cultivation energy and the lingering essence of consumed souls.
"Charming décor," Nero commented, wrinkling her nose. "These Abyssal Lords clearly lack any aesthetic sensibility whatsoever."
Artoria had already drawn Excalibur, the holy sword's golden light creating a sphere of purification around them. "This corruption runs deeper than I expected. It's not merely affecting the physical structures but the underlying principles of reality in this area."
Kaien surveyed the devastation with cold assessment. "They've inverted the local cultivation foundations—what was once life-nurturing spiritual energy now feeds on life instead of supporting it."
He took a step forward, and the corrupted ground beneath his foot hissed and bubbled, as if his very presence was anathema to the inverted principles at work. The golden energy flowing beneath his skin flared brighter, pushing back against the corruption that tried to infiltrate his form.
"They sensed us immediately," he noted with a predatory smile. "Good. I hate wasting time searching for opponents."
As if in response to his words, the corrupted air before them shimmered and parted. A procession emerged from the distortion—beings that had once been human cultivators, now transformed into something else entirely. Their meridians glowed visibly through their skin, but the flow was wrong—cultivation energy moving in reverse patterns, consuming rather than circulating.
At their head walked a woman of haunting beauty, her features perfect to the point of discomfort. Yue Wuying, once Sovereign of the Midnight Lotus Sect, now First among the Abyssal Lords. Her eyes were pools of absolute darkness, reflecting no light. Her robes, woven from what appeared to be solidified shadow, shifted and moved independently of her body, occasionally revealing glimpses of a form that no longer adhered entirely to physical laws.
"The Breaker of Worlds honors us with his presence," she greeted, her voice resonating with unnatural harmonics. "And he brings... companions." Her dark gaze swept over Artoria and Nero with something like hunger. "How unexpected. I didn't think your kind formed attachments."
Kaien's eyes narrowed slightly. "You speak as if you know me."
"I know of you," Yue Wuying corrected. "Your echoes have been felt across the multiverse, even in our isolated pocket of existence. Particularly by those of us who have learned to perceive beyond the artificial boundaries of our realm."
She took a step closer, her movements too fluid to be natural. "Why fight for the Star Sovereign and his stagnant order? He built this entire cultivation system as a prison—a way to control and limit the potential of all beings within it. We offer something far more aligned with your nature: freedom from all constraints."
"An interesting sales pitch," Kaien replied, unmoved. "But you've made a critical error in your assessment."
"Oh?" Yue Wuying tilted her head, the motion unnaturally angular. "What error is that?"
Kaien's smile was cold as winter stars. "You assume I need allies. You assume I fight for the Star Sovereign. You assume I care about your petty revolution against established order." The golden energy within him pulsed visibly, causing the corrupted air around them to recoil. "I'm here for one reason only—to test whether your so-called 'Reversed Dao' can provide even a moment's entertainment before I break it."
Yue Wuying's perfect features hardened. "Arrogance. Even from one such as you."
"Not arrogance," Kaien corrected her. "Experience."
With that, he drew Mugenryu in a single fluid motion so fast it seemed the sword had always been in his hand. The blade hummed with anticipation, its edge catching the light of Artoria's Excalibur and refracting it into impossible patterns.
"Shall we dispense with the diplomatic overtures?" he suggested, his crimson-gold eyes gleaming with battle-lust. "I didn't travel between dimensions for conversation."
Yue Wuying's expression shifted from confidence to wariness. Whatever she had expected from this encounter, Kaien's casual dismissal of her offer wasn't it. She raised one elegant hand, and her followers—twelve elite Abyssal Cultivators—moved into formation around her.
"You misunderstand your position, Breaker of Worlds," she stated coldly. "This is the heart of our power, where the Reversed Dao flows strongest. Even your considerable might will find itself... constrained here."
As she spoke, the corrupted environment around them pulsed, and massive formation arrays activated beneath the city streets. Inverted cultivation symbols flared to life, creating a dome of anti-celestial energy over the entire area.
"The Nine Stars Reversal Binding Formation," Yue Wuying announced with evident pride. "Designed specifically to contain and neutralize beings of transcendent power. Even the Star Sovereign himself would find escape impossible."
Kaien looked around with apparent boredom as the formation sealed them in. "Containment arrays. How original."
"Kaien," Artoria warned quietly, sensing the massive power being channeled into the formation. "This isn't ordinary cultivation magic. There's something fundamentally wrong about how it manipulates reality."
"Indeed!" Nero agreed, drawing her crimson blade. "It lacks all artistic merit! Such crude manipulation deserves to be critiqued through decisive violence!"
Yue Wuying's dark eyes fixed on the two women with new interest. "Your companions are more perceptive than you, destroyer. This formation doesn't merely contain—it inverts. Within its boundaries, the natural laws that govern cultivation are reversed. Strength becomes weakness. Power becomes vulnerability."
To demonstrate her point, she made a casual gesture toward a nearby building. The structure immediately collapsed inward, its materials flowing like liquid before reconstituting into a twisted throne of corrupted spirit stone. She sat upon it with elegant grace, gesturing for her followers to spread out around the three intruders.
"You've walked willingly into our domain," she continued. "Here, your chaos-born powers will turn against you, while our Reversed Dao grows ever stronger. A perfect trap for the perfect prey."
Kaien's response was unexpected—he laughed. The sound contained genuine amusement, echoing strangely within the confines of the inverted formation.
"A perfect trap," he repeated, shaking his head. "Do you know how many 'perfect traps' I've broken through? How many 'inescapable bindings' I've shattered? How many 'ultimate containments' I've reduced to cosmic dust?"
As he spoke, the golden energy within him began to intensify, not fighting against the formation's inversion effect but somehow harmonizing with it. Where the Reversed Dao tried to turn his power back upon itself, it found nothing to grasp—his chaotic energy simply flowed around the constraints, adapting instantaneously to each new limitation.
"You fundamentally misunderstand what I am," Kaien continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr. "I'm not merely powerful. I'm not simply strong. I am paradox incarnate—existence that defies the very rules of existence. Your inversions cannot affect me because I transcended such binary limitations eons ago."
Yue Wuying rose from her throne, the confidence in her expression wavering for the first time. "Impossible. Nothing transcends the fundamental principles of—"
"Nothing?" Kaien interrupted, taking a step forward that somehow covered impossible distance, bringing him directly before her throne. "I am Nothing. I am the void between possibilities. I am what remains when all else is stripped away."
The First Abyssal Lord recoiled, signaling frantically to her followers. They converged on Kaien from all directions, cultivation techniques of inverted fire, water, metal, wood, and earth manifesting as corrupted elemental attacks.
Artoria and Nero moved in perfect concert, intercepting four of the attackers before they could reach Kaien. Excalibur swept in a golden arc, its holy light burning away the corruption it touched. Nero's crimson blade danced with theatrical precision, each strike accompanied by an enthusiastic declaration of imperial judgment.
But Kaien simply stood motionless as the remaining eight Abyssal Cultivators unleashed their most devastating techniques upon him. Reversed Heavenly Thunder, Abyssal Void Collapse, Soul-Drinking Flame—techniques that could annihilate entire mountain ranges converged on his unmoving form.
The resulting explosion shook the foundations of the corrupted city. Buildings toppled, streets cracked open to reveal abyssal depths beneath, and the very air seemed to scream as cultivation energy tore through reality.
When the chaos cleared, Kaien remained standing, completely untouched. Not a hair out of place, not a mark on his form. The golden energy beneath his skin pulsed with what appeared to be... satisfaction.
"Delicious," he commented, licking his lips. "Your reversed techniques have an interesting flavor. Bitter, with complex undertones."
Horror spread across Yue Wuying's perfect features as understanding dawned. "You... consumed our attacks?"
"Of course," Kaien replied as if it were obvious. "Energy is energy, regardless of its moral alignment or directional flow. Chaos recognizes no distinction between creation and destruction, between pure and corrupted. It simply is."
With blinding speed, he reached out and grasped Yue Wuying by the throat, lifting her from her throne with casual strength. Her followers froze, uncertain how to proceed when their leader was so easily captured.
"Now," Kaien continued conversationally, as if he weren't holding one of the most powerful beings in the realm by the throat, "let's discuss this ritual you're planning. The Nine Stars Reversal? Impressive in concept, flawed in execution."
"You... cannot... stop it," Yue Wuying gasped, her inverted cultivation flaring as she tried to break his grip. "The other Lords... already... positioned."
"Ah, yes. Your fellow Lords." Kaien's smile widened. "My companions are introducing themselves to them as we speak. I doubt those reunions are going any better than ours."
Artoria stepped forward, having dispatched her opponents with efficient grace. "Kaien, we need information from her. The ritual—"
"I know," he interrupted, loosening his grip slightly to allow Yue Wuying to breathe. "Speak, Abyssal Lord. Explain the full purpose of your ritual. It's more than simply inverting this realm's cultivation, isn't it?"
Yue Wuying's dark eyes narrowed in defiance. "Why would I reveal anything to you?"
"Because," Kaien replied, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried to every corner of the corrupted city, "if you don't, I won't kill you. Instead, I'll simply leave you conscious but completely paralyzed as I systematically dismantle everything you've built over these ten thousand years. Every follower, every technique, every scrap of knowledge you've accumulated—I'll destroy it all while you watch, powerless to intervene."
The casual cruelty of the threat, delivered without heat or passion, sent chills through even Artoria and Nero. This was the true face of the Breaker of Worlds—cold, calculating destruction without remorse or hesitation.
Yue Wuying must have recognized the truth in his words, for her resistance crumbled. "The ritual... it doesn't merely invert cultivation. It punctures the boundary between realms. We seek to flood this closed system with energy from beyond, transforming it into a nexus point between all possible realities."
"To what end?" Artoria demanded.
"Freedom," Yue Wuying answered, her voice taking on a zealot's fervor despite her predicament. "Freedom from the artificial constraints the Star Sovereign has placed upon us. Do you know how many realms exist beyond our own? Countless! Each with different laws, different potentials, different powers! Yet we remain trapped in this single paradigm, forced to cultivate according to one path, one system, one truth."
"So you would destroy your entire civilization for philosophical freedom?" Nero questioned, genuine confusion in her voice. "Even I, who burned Rome for renewal, never sacrificed my people for mere principle!"
"Not destruction," Yue Wuying insisted. "Transformation. Those who survive the initial shock will evolve beyond the Star Sovereign's control. They will be free to pursue power through infinite paths, not just the narrow road of conventional cultivation."
Kaien studied her with something almost like respect. "Ambitious. Flawed, but ambitious."
"You of all beings should understand!" Yue Wuying urged, sensing a potential opening. "You exist beyond all constraints, all rules! Wouldn't you wish such freedom for others?"
For a brief moment, something flickered in Kaien's crimson-gold eyes—consideration, perhaps. Then it was gone, replaced by his usual cold assessment.
"Freedom without the strength to endure it is meaningless," he stated flatly. "Your ritual would grant power beyond comprehension to beings unprepared to wield it. The result wouldn't be evolution—it would be madness and obliteration."
He turned to Artoria, still holding Yue Wuying immobile. "She's told us what we need to know. The ritual must be stopped at all anchor points simultaneously, or the remaining nodes will simply compensate for the lost power."
Artoria nodded, already reaching for the communication talisman the Star Sovereign had provided. "I'll alert the others. But Kaien..." Her green eyes held his with unexpected intensity. "What will you do with her?"
The question hung between them—not just about Yue Wuying's fate, but about Kaien's own nature. Would he show mercy or deliver destruction? Was he capable of anything between these extremes?
Before Kaien could answer, Yue Wuying began to laugh—a sound of genuine amusement despite her dire situation.
"You think you have a choice?" she asked, dark eyes fixed on Kaien. "You think you can simply oppose our ritual and walk away? Poor, ignorant destroyer. The moment you entered our formation, you became part of it. Your power—that delicious chaos energy you're so proud of—is already being siphoned into our ritual matrix."
Alarm flashed across Artoria's features as she realized the Abyssal Lord was telling the truth. The golden energy beneath Kaien's skin was indeed behaving strangely, tendrils of it extending outward into the corrupted environment despite his apparent control.
"Kaien!" she warned. "She's right—the formation is drawing on your power somehow!"
But Kaien's expression remained unnervingly calm. "Of course it is," he acknowledged. "I've been aware of the siphoning effect since we arrived."
"And you've done nothing to stop it?" Nero demanded incredulously.
"On the contrary," Kaien's smile turned predatory once more. "I've been encouraging it."
Understanding dawned on Yue Wuying's face, quickly followed by horror. "No... you can't be... you wouldn't..."
"Wouldn't what?" Kaien asked softly. "Feed your ritual more power than it can possibly contain? Overload your precious formation until it collapses under its own weight? That's exactly what I've been doing since the moment we arrived."
Even as he spoke, the effects became visible. The inverted formation arrays began to glow with increasing intensity, the symbols warping as they tried to process more chaotic energy than they were designed to handle. The very air around them started to crack, revealing glimpses of other realities beyond—exactly what the Abyssal Lords had wanted, but clearly not under these conditions.
"You'll destroy everything!" Yue Wuying cried. "Including yourself and your companions!"
"No," Kaien contradicted her calmly. "I'll destroy your ritual and your followers. As for myself and my companions..." He glanced at Artoria and Nero, something unexpected flickering in his eyes—concern? "They'll be protected."
Without warning, he released Yue Wuying and moved with impossible speed to Artoria and Nero's sides. Before either could react, he had wrapped an arm around each of their waists, pulling them tightly against him.
"Hold on," he instructed, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "This will be... intense."
The golden energy within him expanded outward, enveloping the three of them in a sphere of pure chaotic protection just as the inverted formation reached critical failure. Reality itself seemed to scream as the ritual matrices overloaded, tearing open dozens of temporary breaches to other realms before collapsing back upon themselves.
The resulting implosion consumed everything within the corrupted city—all the Abyssal Cultivators, all their twisted creations, and Yue Wuying herself, who had no time even to scream before she was obliterated by her own inverted power.
Within their protective sphere, Artoria and Nero clung to Kaien as reality convulsed around them. The sensation was indescribable—like being simultaneously everywhere and nowhere, existing in all states and none. Artoria's disciplined mind struggled to maintain coherence, while Nero, surprisingly, seemed almost exhilarated by the experience.
"Magnificent!" the Emperor of Roses declared even as existence itself trembled around them. "Such spectacle! Such grandeur! Truly a finale worthy of imperial appreciation!"
"Focus, Nero," Artoria gritted out, maintaining her grip on both Kaien and her sword. "This isn't over yet."
Indeed, as the initial implosion subsided, new danger emerged. The collapse of the ritual at this primary node had created a cascading failure throughout the entire Nine Stars Reversal Formation. Energy that had been carefully channeled and controlled was now running wild across the Celestial Empire, manifesting as storms of inverted cultivation power that corrupted everything they touched.
"The other nodes," Artoria realized with growing alarm. "If they haven't been neutralized properly—"
"They haven't," Kaien confirmed grimly. "I can sense the pattern collapsing chaotically rather than being systematically dismantled. Your friends have disrupted their targets, but not with the precision needed to prevent backlash."
"Then we must help them!" Nero insisted. "Our grand victory means nothing if the supporting cast perishes in the aftermath!"
Kaien's expression shifted through several emotions rapidly—annoyance, resignation, and finally determination. "Hold tighter," he instructed, pulling them closer against him. "We're going to move very quickly through some very unstable reality."
"To save the others?" Artoria asked, surprised by his apparent concern.
Kaien's eyes met hers, something complex and unreadable in their crimson-gold depths. "Consider it an investment in maintaining interesting company. I've grown somewhat... accustomed to you all."
Coming from the Breaker of Worlds, this was perhaps the closest thing to attachment he had expressed since their journeys began. Nero beamed with delight, while Artoria simply nodded, understanding the significance of his admission.
"Then let's not waste time," she said simply.
Kaien's protective sphere intensified around them, and reality folded inward once more as they prepared to race against the cascading failure of the Nine Stars Reversal—a cosmic disaster that threatened to transform the entire Celestial Empire into a nexus of uncontrolled chaos.
The battle against the Abyssal Lords had only been the beginning. The true test of both Kaien's power and his evolving relationship with his five companions was just unfolding—a test that would reveal whether the destroyer of multiverses could find something worth preserving after all.
Chapter 5: Nexus of Chaos
Reality stuttered and tore as Kaien transported himself, Artoria, and Nero across