The instant the ice prison vanished, Vexar moved.
A crack of thunder split the air as his lightning whip lashed toward Rowan's hand, aiming to rip the brush free.
Vexar had survived long enough in dangerous circles to know better than to trust a mysterious outsider.
Control first.
Questions later.
Before the whip could touch Rowan, his figure blurred.
Empty space remained.
Rowan reappeared several meters above the ground, descending slowly, the brush still resting casually in his grasp.
"I have some experience with spatial displacement," Rowan said calmly.
"So I suggest you stop trying to steal the brush."
"Otherwise, I'll hand it straight to Solarian."
The message was simple.
Try again, and you lose.
Vexar's eyes narrowed.
He abandoned the attack.
If Rowan truly possessed reliable teleportation, brute force wasn't an option.
And with Solarian and Pyros standing nearby, escalating would only trap him and Glacien permanently inside the World-Seal Canvas.
Vexar exhaled and lowered himself into a seated position.
"Fine," he said. "Talk."
Glacien followed, sitting quietly.
Solarian released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and sat as well.
Pyros hesitated, clearly unwilling, but Solarian placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and pushed him down beside him.
Rowan settled cross-legged in front of them.
"First, we establish reality," Rowan said.
"The cores were swapped. That cannot be undone."
"No matter who reports it, no matter who confesses, the past doesn't change."
He looked at Solarian.
"So the priority isn't punishment."
"It's keeping Pyros alive."
Solarian nodded.
"If Pyros survives the purge, I will not pursue this matter further."
Rowan turned to Pyros.
The boy lifted his chin.
"I don't care about being some chosen vessel," Pyros said.
"If I want to walk a dark path, I will."
"If I want to walk a radiant one, I will."
"Give the Aether Core back to Glacien if you want."
Glacien's fingers tightened.
Rowan then faced Vexar and Glacien.
"Pyros has spent three years treated like a monster because of what you did."
"And now he's about to die because of it."
Glacien bowed his head.
"I owe him my life."
Vexar remained silent.
Rowan continued.
"You plan to erase Chentang Pass and kill Solarian to bury the truth."
"But Solarian is favored by the High Architect."
"If he dies, questions will follow."
"And once questions start, everything unravels."
Rowan met Vexar's gaze.
"Even if you succeed, this secret will not stay buried."
Vexar's jaw tightened.
"…Go on."
"The only workable path," Rowan said, "is cooperation."
"You help Pyros survive the purge."
"Solarian provides cover afterward."
"Both Pyros and Glacien become acknowledged Ascendants-in-training."
"No victims demanding justice."
"No public scandal."
"And if the High Architect senses irregularities, Solarian claims full responsibility."
Solarian nodded slowly.
"I can do that."
Vexar's eyes flicked toward Solarian.
He knew Solarian's reputation.
Naive.
But honest.
If Solarian gave his word, he would keep it.
Vexar spoke quietly.
"The purge curse was created by the High Architect himself."
"It won't be easy to block."
Glacien immediately stood.
"My father gave me the Wyrm Sovereign Aegis."
"It can endure divine lightning."
Vexar shook his head.
"Not enough."
Solarian raised his hand.
"I possess the Prismatic Lotus."
"So long as the soul remains intact, I can rebuild the body afterward."
Vexar fell silent.
Calculation flickered across his face.
Four participants.
Aegis to endure.
Lotus to preserve.
Solarian to stabilize.
Rowan to reinforce.
It was… barely possible.
Rowan added quietly, "I also have limited command over storm-based forces."
"I'll assist."
That tipped the balance.
If this worked, Vexar lost some power.
But he kept his disciple.
Kept the Dominion alliance.
Kept his future.
Slowly, Vexar nodded.
"Very well."
"We try your method."
Rowan leaned back slightly.
Day one in a new universe.
And he was already helping negotiate a cosmic execution delay.
Troublesome.
But profitable.