The catastrophe was not merely an invasion…
It was a wave.
At a dawn without sun, the horizon tore apart as if the sky itself had split open, and from it poured beasts unknown to history. Creatures with twisted bodies, eyes glowing like ash, and roars that shook the walls of the capital. Within hours, border villages fell, and fields turned into rivers of blood.
The empire that once believed itself eternal… trembled.
Yet, the empire was not weak.
Within it were five mighty powers, known as the Great Families, whose delicate balance had prevented civil war for an entire century.
The Five Great Familie
The Eternal Celestial Sect Masters of spiritual energy and the upper heavens.
The Crimson Dragon Clan Lords of fire and heirs of dragon blood.
The Silver Moon Palace Masters of shadows and cold assassinations.
The Descending Sword Clan Wielders of swords that split the wind.
The Black Lotus House Sovereigns of poisons and forbidden elixirs.
Their balance of power was as precise as a blade's edge.
The rise of even one would ignite fear in the others… and fear meant war.
This was where the royal family came in.
Not the strongest… but the arbiter.
They granted titles, controlled resources, and redistributed privileges whenever the balance wavered.
But when the wave of monsters came, everything shook.
Inside the grand hall of the Eternal Celestial Sect, Commander Liang Tian stood, his white robe stained with monster blood, voice deep as thunder:
"We will send half of our forces to the Eastern Border. The empire will not fall while we breathe."
Yet in the shadows, his younger brother Liang Xin watched silently.
His gaze was not on the beasts…
But on the golden throne behind his brother.
That night, representatives of the four other families gathered in secret beneath the Silver Moon Palace.
The elder of the Crimson Dragon Clan spoke, his voice hoarse:
"The Celestial Sect grows stronger every day. The monster wave gave them a pretext to expand their military might."
The Black Lotus Lady smiled coldly:
"And when the disaster ends… they will demand further privileges for their sacrifices."
The Descending Sword Lord placed his hand on his sword's hilt:
"If they exceed their limits, balance will be lost."
The Silver Moon representative remained silent, finally saying:
"We have a chance now… their commander will leave the capital in two days. Their internal defenses will weaken."
A moment of silence followed.
Then the Crimson Dragon elder said:
"Then… we strike the Celestials."
No one objected.
The night of the attack was unnervingly clear.
Liang Tian departed with his elite warriors to face a new wave of monsters at the border.
He did not know the true danger awaited him behind.
Within the sect, flames erupted suddenly.
Iron gates shattered.
Swords rained from all directions.
A guard shouted:
"Treachery! The four families have attacked us!"
The battle ignited in the heart of the sect.
Fire clashed with wind, swords with shadows, and poisons filled the air.
Atop the highest tower, Mi Lin, the commander's wife, held their infant son the sect's rightful heir.
Liang con entered the room, his sword dripping blood.
"Brother's wife… don't make this hard," he said calmly.
Her eyes blazed:
"You betrayed your blood."
He smiled coldly:
"I am only restoring the balance."
At that moment, a massive explosion shook the tower.
Liang Tian appeared, wounded but standing like a mountain.
"Xin…"
The battle between the brothers paused for a heartbeat.
His voice hoarse, the commander said:
"You could have stood by me."
Xin replied coldly:
"The heavens cannot hold two suns."
They charged at each other.
The celestial energies collided, splitting the tower in two.
But the commander had fought all day… his energy was depleted.
A sword pierced through him.
Time froze.
Mi Lin screamed, clutching her fallen husband.
Liang Tian whispered with difficulty:
"The seal… use it… protect him."
She drew from her necklace a glowing blue gem the secret artifact of the Celestial Sect.
The four families approached, with Liang Xin among them.
The Crimson Dragon elder said:
"Surrender the child, and we will grant you a swift death."
Mi Lin smiled through her tears:
"You will not touch him."
Suddenly, she placed one hand on her child's chest… the other on the gem.
An immense surge of energy lit up the sky.
Liang Tian, despite his injuries, held his wife and child together.
His last words:
"The Celestial… shall not fall."
Their energy erupted into a pillar of light that pierced the clouds.
When the light faded…
The tower was destroyed.
The commander and his wife lay charred…
But the child had vanished.
The four families stood amidst the ruin.
The Descending Sword Lord said:
"It's over."
Yet Liang Xin gazed at the sky with a hidden worry.
"No… it's not over."
That night, the Eternal Celestial Sect was declared traitorous to the empire.
Its lands were divided, and Liang Xin assumed leadership with the support of the four families.
As for the royal family…
They remained silent.
The balance had returned.
At least… on the surface.
Far away, at the edge of the empire, a child opened his eyes beneath an ancient tree, the blue gem glowing on his chest.
The Celestial Sect had not fallen.
It had… waited.