Beyond the Apocalypse

Many among the Six Sun Alliance had every reason to hate the Ancient Ones. The massacres they had unleashed across the universe were beyond counting. Entire civilizations had been erased, worlds devoured, and countless lives extinguished in their wake.

The True Depravita of Wrath himself loathed them to the bone.

Valhalla had fallen because of them. Worse still, they had deceived him and his people, manipulating them into helping advance their own terrible goals. Their scheme still burned deep in his heart.

Yet when it came to the survival of the universe, personal feelings could not be allowed to interfere.

Leaders did not have the luxury of acting on hatred alone. They had to choose the path that best protected their people—even if it meant cooperating with those they despised.

However, Odinvaldr immediately shook his head.

"That will not be possible."

His answer was firm.

"The Ancient Ones know no reprieve. Once they begin something, it is impossible for them to stop. It is embedded in the very nature of their existence."

The Primordial God’s voice grew hoarse as he spoke, as though the weight of that truth burdened him as well.

"They likely understand that something went wrong... that they awakened earlier than they were meant to. But it does not matter."

His gaze darkened.

"They will continue to kill, to consume, and to grow until they seize control of everything. Until the universe returns to a Primordial Ancient Ocean, where only chaos and madness exist."

The air in the chamber seemed to grow heavier.

"A place where there is no structure. No order. A reality where they can exist freely, without the laws that now confine them."

Odinvaldr’s eyes sharpened as he looked directly at Vlad and the other sovereigns.

"Nothing we say and nothing we do will make them change their course. They may take humanoid forms. They may speak with words. But they are still Ancient Ones."

He paused briefly before delivering the final truth.

"They are not simply enemies. They are a cosmic force meant to bring about the end of the universe. And they will use every means available to achieve that purpose—even if it requires their own destruction."

The eyes of the sovereigns sharpened as they absorbed his words.

The message was clear.

The Ancient Ones could not be reasoned with.

They could only be stopped.

Silence lingered in the chamber for several seconds before Overlord finally spoke.

"Do you have any idea how strong they currently are?"

Immediately, Vlad and the others focused their attention on Odinvaldr. Understanding the nature of their enemy was important—but understanding their power was equally critical.

The Primordial God remained quiet for a moment, carefully considering the question.

Finally, he shook his head.

"Their corruption interferes with the laws of reality. I cannot clearly observe anything hidden within the green fog that surrounds them."

He then looked at the assembled sovereigns with grave seriousness.

"But I can say one thing with certainty."

"If they ever break free from their current limitations... they will be able to kill all of you in a single charge. Even Hell and Abyss will not be able to protect you."

Those words struck the room like a hammer.

Complex emotions appeared on the faces of the sovereigns.

Over the past few years, they had grown stronger at an astonishing pace. Together, they had marched across Heaven, Hell, and Abyss. They had conquered countless enemies and ruled over realms that once stood as the greatest powers of the universe.

They had even slain a Paragon of Hell and forced another to flee.

Their achievements had seemed unstoppable.

Yet compared to the true enemy, it appeared they still could not even offer meaningful resistance.

The realization was especially heavy for Vlad and the White Death.

Both had pushed themselves beyond their limits again and again. They had thrown themselves into battle against overwhelming foes, risking their lives without hesitation. They had endured unimaginable trials and forged their own unique Holy Trinity Bloodlines.

And still...

Even after all that growth, they remained insignificant compared to the monsters that had existed before time itself.

Odinvaldr could clearly sense the weight pressing upon the warriors’ hearts.

The truth was harsh, but it was necessary.

If they believed they were already strong enough, they would grow complacent. They might assume their current pace of growth was sufficient.

It was not.

Fortunately, although the revelation was crushing, the sovereigns did not collapse under it.

Slowly, the eyes of the True Depravita of Wrath, the White Death, and the others began to glow with rising battle will.

Yes, the Ancient Ones were overwhelmingly powerful. They existed on a level of cultivation far beyond anything they had imagined.

But they had already achieved what once seemed impossible.

They had slain Dream of Madness.

If they could accomplish that, then perhaps—if they burned every last ounce of strength they possessed—they could one day kill the Master and every single one of the abominations that sought to drown the universe in corruption.

A small smile appeared on Odinvaldr’s face as he felt the warriors’ determination rising once more.

Only after confirming that their spirits had recovered did he move on to the next topic.

"Now," he said, "I should reveal the reason why I came to you."

The sovereigns immediately focused.

Primordial Gods rarely interacted directly with beings of the lower realms. When they did, it was usually through indirect methods such as Totems or divine visions. Many had even severed all communication with the lower dimensions entirely.

For one of them to descend personally into their plane of existence was extraordinarily unusual.

It could mean very good news.

Or very bad news.

Judging by the solemn expression in Odinvaldr’s eyes, the sovereigns suspected the latter.

"There are... problems within the Primordial Divine Realm," Odinvaldr said slowly.

"I cannot explain the details, but events are moving in the wrong direction."

His voice grew heavy.

"And if we do not act soon, the universal forces that are currently helping you contain the Ancient Ones... will vanish."