The two stood at the center of the central platform.
Daverion stopped suppressing his cultivation base. Particles of light began to swirl around him, and every wound vanished as if the battle had never happened—every trace erased in an instant. His clothes, torn from the fight, mended themselves as the light particles settled upon them.
The elder diverted his gaze from Enryu and fixed it on Daverion with even greater caution. He didn't know who this young man was, but seeing him confront the Seventh Sovereign and leave him in such a state was astonishing. Healing all his wounds and restoring his clothing in mere seconds only deepened his bewilderment.
A thunderous roar echoed, and everyone in the stands, still amazed by Daverion's abilities, turned to look at Enryu. Black lightning crackled around him. His body healed instantly, and his robes returned to perfect condition.
Enryu tossed a book. "Here—take my martial art. You won't take long to master it."
Daverion caught the book, and with a mere wave of his hand, the space around him warped, placing the book in its proper position. He glanced at the board, then at Enryu. "I suppose you've already received the Primordial Sovereign's message. The conference has been moved forward."
A chilling smile crossed Daverion's face.
Enryu frowned.
The onlookers nearly fell from their seats at the sight of that smile. The elder of the Celestial Court, who had been about to rise, sank back down on his hips, uneasy at Daverion's expression.
"As a token of gratitude for this martial art, I'll share a secret with you. I'll give you a glimpse of what's to come."
Daverion transmitted the message through his consciousness.
Upon receiving it, Enryu—one of the most powerful beings in the universe—tensed. His mood shifted, and for a brief moment, he lost control of his lightning. One bolt slipped free, striking the cube that had withstood the entire battle. The instant it hit, the section disintegrated into black dust, spreading rapidly. Haci crumbled: the buildings, the central platform—constructed from the strongest materials—turned to ash. Only Daverion and Enryu remained, surrounded by floating black dust that fell slowly around them.
Theron nearly collapsed at the sight, as did the elder of the Celestial Court. Mael melted into the shadows and vanished immediately. Lyra covered her ears against the roar. Elaryn lost all sense of reason; her mouth fell open, rising in terror. The previous fight had unsettled her, but this defied any comprehension.
"Who… are they?" she whispered, clutching her head.
Perhaps they were Sovereigns.
Sublime beings whose power surpassed all, rulers at the pinnacle of the universe. Their presence demanded absolute respect; any transgression meant instant death and the annihilation of thousands of planets.
Elaryn looked at Daverion, a chill running down her spine. His eyes, glowing with seven colors, were impossible to look away from. Each flicker seemed to pierce her, brushing against her mind with an invisible pressure.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them dissolved, and the room vanished. Elaryn found herself in an endless plain, covered with corpses stacked into impossible mountains. The stench of blood and decay filled her nostrils. Every body, every dismembered limb, every expression of agony seemed etched into her vision.
At the center of that massacre, an attractive young man sat atop the pile of the dead. He didn't move, he didn't breathe urgently—his indifference was absolute. His eyes met Elaryn's, and a shiver ran down her spine. There was no emotion, no hatred—only pure coldness.
Without warning, the scene faded, and she floated in space. Before her, a solar system vibrant with life and color shimmered. The planets spun, the oceans glistened, and cities appeared as tiny flickers of light. Daverion appeared on the first planet. The moment he touched the ground, the world shook: cracks tore across continents, volcanoes erupted, seas churned violently. Chunks of the planet tore away in smoldering fragments, launched into the void. The population—from kings to beggars—vanished without resistance, their bodies dissolving into dark flashes of light.
Every planet he visited suffered the same fate. Thousands of worlds, billions of lives, obliterated. All under Daverion's cold indifference. His posture—seated, relaxed—contrasted sharply with the total destruction. His gaze showed neither pleasure nor hatred, only absolute emptiness, a calculation that required no words.
When he sat atop the last destroyed planet, an absolute silence spread through space, heavy as lead, crushing everything. Every being who watched turned away; his power was absolute, overwhelming, impossible to challenge.
Then, space itself tore open. A colossal beast emerged: the body of a lion, the head of an eagle, the tail of a scorpion. Its muscles tensed with titanic strength, its eyes burning with dark fire. Daverion settled on its head. From nowhere, a gigantic, multicolored chain appeared, ensnaring planets, stars, and moons. The beast dragged the destroyed solar system through the void, leaving a trail of death and swirling dust, spinning on itself, while trillions of spirits from every world emitted deafening wails.
Daverion spoke:
"This is the end of those who offend me."
His voice echoed across space. Each wave traveled between stars and asteroids; every planet felt the vibration of his decree. Elaryn felt the sound pierce through her, making her shiver to her very bones.
And then, as if it had never happened, everything vanished. Elaryn was back in the training hall. Her eyes met Daverion's, faintly glowing, and she collapsed into her seat, trembling, unable to hold herself up. Lyra and Therion rushed to her side.
"Sister, what happened?" Therion asked, touching her sweat-soaked forehead. Lyra gripped her hand tightly.
Elaryn took a deep breath, barely regaining a thread of composure. She looked at Lyra and murmured,
"There's still hope."
Daverion murmured,
"A small punishment for your disrespect."
Then he looked at Enryu, who appeared uneasy from what he had heard. His voice was firm:
"Don't think this universe is all there is. Don't think it's just this. This universe is one among many, and not even one of the main ones. Something is coming, and with it, the destruction of this universe. It is coming to claim the energy accumulated within it. With its arrival, this universe will be destroyed."
Enryu swallowed hard, and Daverion continued:
"Prepare yourself, for something is coming that even we, the sovereigns, will not be able to control. Many of us will die. Make your preparations immediately. I estimate that once the conference concludes, we will still have a hundred years to organize ourselves."
Enryu quickly composed himself.
"That's little… far too little time."
Daverion stepped forward and reached Theron's side. Enryu followed, appearing instantly.
"Sorry about the hall," said Daverion.
Theron shook his head.
"No problem, it's just a hall." His words were calm, but deep down, he felt a dull ache in his heart.
Enryu smiled faintly, slightly embarrassed, and withdrew a crystal from his ring.
"Here, with this you can buy five of those."
Theron took it with respect and joy.
"Thank you, Seventh Sovereign." Reverence and admiration filled him; now he partially understood the extent of a sovereign's power. He felt confidence, backed by Enryu's authority.
Enryu glanced beside Theron at an elderly man who trembled slightly. The elder made a deep bow:
"It is an honor to meet you, my lord. I am part of the Celestial Court of this planet, under your jurisdiction, Seventh Sovereign."
Enryu smiled and looked at Theron. Then he turned his attention to the elder:
"Give Theron more invitations, as many as you like. If there aren't enough, make a request."
"Yes, my lord," replied the elder, with evident submission.
"See you at the Fourth Assembly."
Daverion furrowed his brows. Enryu laughed.
"Sorry, I had forgotten—you like to be called Third."
"You're crazy," murmured Enryu, amused at the thought that Daverion had fought the Third for his rank.
"Well then, see you later."
And Haci, the little lizard that had been beside Lyra, flew toward Enryu and transformed into a black dragon. Its presence was imposing: every muscle tensed beneath the dark scales, and its breath stirred small gusts of wind that ruffled the hair of those nearby.
Lyra stepped back, frozen. She couldn't comprehend how the tiny lizard had become a dragon. Her siblings shared her astonishment, while Theron watched in awe, though worried about how close the creature was to his granddaughter.
Enryu mounted the dragon. With a powerful flap of its wings, it broke through the castle roof, and once outside, the dragon assumed its true colossal size. Its shadow covered the moon and darkened the entire city. Windows trembled, tiles flew, and the wind swept through the citizens who had come out to watch. Shouts and exclamations filled the air, mingling with the dragon's roar, which thundered across buildings and plazas.
In an instant, the dragon soared toward the mesosphere. Its gigantic body pierced the atmosphere, leaving shockwaves that shook houses, trees, and the palace towers. People recognized its power: it was the Seventh Sovereign. Applause, gasps of awe, and reverent gestures mixed with tension; some fell to their knees in fear, others cried with excitement.
In the scholars' library, the youths jumped in exhilaration. Some fainted from the thrill and the pressure of the sovereign's absolute presence. In the palace, the emperor dropped his cup, motionless, watching the dragon's majesty. Dorian was perplexed; Valeria trembled, tears in her eyes, unable to contain her admiration, just like the young scholars.
Dael and Mateo, outside the palace, felt the ground vibrate beneath their feet and rejoiced at witnessing something that would be etched in their memories forever.
The Celestial Court reacted in unison. The leader and the elders bowed in the direction of the Seventh Sovereign; his daughter, excited, mirrored their movements with fervor.
Daverion, observing the destroyed ceiling, thought the crystal given to Theron was enough.
"I'm leaving as well. See you at the conference, Theron."
He didn't let Theron respond and moved toward Lyra, gently stroking her head.
"See you later."
Lyra grabbed his arm, crying.
"Don't go, you didn't even stay for a day with me."
"We'll play for two full days later," said Daverion.
"Five days," Lyra replied.
"All right," he said, with a smile that seemed to calm the storm of wind and roar.
Elaryn, frightened, mustered courage and apologized.
"It was just a small warning, don't worry," said Daverion.
"How can that be a small warning? I nearly died!" she complained.
Daverion bid farewell to everyone:
"See you in three months. Goodbye, all of you."
Mael and Theron bowed, as did the elder of the Celestial Court.
Suddenly, space itself tore open, and a colossal beast appeared, with the body of a lion, the head of an eagle, and the tail of a scorpion. The entire hall shook as if struck by an earthquake. Its roar reverberated through the structure, and everyone looked on in horror and amazement. Only Elaryn recognized the magnitude of the creature, recalling how it had dragged a destroyed solar system chained behind it.
Elaryn couldn't bear it and fainted, overwhelmed by its presence.
Daverion, riding the beast, left the palace. Each beat of its wings lifted gusts of wind that stirred trees and flags. The sound of its claws striking the ground and the air blended with a deep roar that made even window panes vibrate.
People still looking up at the sky recalled the previous scene and began returning to their activities, commenting:
"I can't believe we were that close to the Seventh Sovereign."
"What is he doing in this city?"
"I don't know, but this will be talked about for generations."
In the park, two children pointed excitedly:
"Dad, did you see that dragon? It's huge!"
The father and mother laughed.
"It must eat a lot of vegetables to grow that big."
In the palace, everyone said the same thing:
"It came out from inside the palace!" Some guests looked at the emperor, who remained motionless.
Valeria sighed:
"Too bad we couldn't see what it really looked like."
Dorian nodded.
In the library, the youths shouted:
"What an incredible day!"
Some siblings lamented that it was the Seventh; one said it should have been the Fourth.
"How wonderful that would be!"
Someone was about to defend the Seventh, when a majestic screech echoed across the sky.
Everyone looked up. The griffin figure slowly expanded. Its presence was majestic, radiating absolute royalty and power. It covered half the city.
Its presence combined beauty and terror: the perfect fusion of the king of birds and the king of beasts.
The griffin was gold and fire. Its upper body armored with metallic golden feathers, fading to solar white on the neck. Its enormous wings had black tips with cerulean glints, reflecting the absolute cold of the exosphere.
Its eyes were two orbs of burning amber with vertical pupils, never blinking. The transparent membranes protecting them resisted the stratospheric winds.
Beneath the plumage, the lion's body was robust, with ebony claws dug into the ground. It opened its golden keratin beak, and a vibrant screech tore through the air, announcing the guardian of the skies. Each wave of its roar made buildings, windows, and hearts tremble.
The city, after the silence that followed the awe, came back to life. Shouts, laughter, and exclamations filled every street and square. The center of excitement came from the library.
The siblings couldn't contain themselves.
"It's the Fourth! It's the Fourth!"
One of them grabbed a young man by the shirt and shook him from side to side, unable to contain their euphoria. The boy's sister fainted at the sight of her idol. For them, the Fourth Sovereign was the embodiment of perfection, someone unattainable… until today.
The city laughed, shouted, and everyone felt fortunate not to have missed this moment. Those who had returned home ran back, regretting not waiting like the others.
No one could blame them. The appearance of the Seventh Sovereign had been astonishing; the Fourth's was an almost impossible event. It had barely been seen, and now everyone recognized it by the griffin he rode—a colossal beast, whose mere presence seemed to distort reality around it.
Informants from various organizations quickly reported the scene. Within days, images of the Fourth Sovereign and his griffin would appear across media throughout the universe, discussed on planets, in restaurants, and in study groups. This was an event that would mark generations.
The emperor, unable to contain himself, exited the palace to pay his respects.
The young scholars in the library watched without blinking.
"I think I've seen it before… it feels familiar," one murmured.
Others joked, perhaps recalling old images or texts.
The children pointed at the griffin excitedly:
"It looks like the brother who bought us ice cream!"
Their parents nodded, confused but delighted.
"Yes… it looks similar, but we can't see his face clearly."
Dorian in the palace thought the same. Valeria, beside him, breathed deeply, remembering Daverion as she stared intently.
"Because I remember him when I see the Fourth… it can't be, it's impossible for them to be the same," she murmured, shaking her head.
The griffin soared at unimaginable speed, flapping its enormous wings and generating gusts that lifted dust, leaves, and tiles in its path. Each flash of golden light left behind became a dazzling trail, momentarily blinding the onlookers. The creature's deep roar vibrated through the air, making everyone feel each wave in their chest and on the ground.
The griffin vanished almost instantly, leaving a deafening echo across the city. Everyone who had seen it remained speechless, unable to process what they had just witnessed.
The silence lasted a few seconds, until murmurs and exclamations once again blended with cries of awe and excitement. No one could forget what had happened; every citizen, child or adult, would keep that image forever.
And in everyone's mind, it became clear: the Fourth Sovereign was not a mere hero or legend, but a force of reality itself, a presence that combined majesty, power, and terror in perfect harmony.