"Your Grace, you must be joking. We've already witnessed your power. There's no need for further tests. Such actions would only provoke your wrath, and the consequences of that are beyond what we can bear."
"Mortals, your civilization has encountered multiple gods, correct? As the current ruler of your people, you must have access to all records regarding divine beings. If so, you should understand that lying to a god is one of the most ridiculous and futile things you can do."
"...Indeed, Your Grace. Although you have shown us power capable of shaking our imperial capital, it does not yet match the divine forces described in our records. Therefore, we need to confirm the strength you claim—strength that can truly contend with gods."
After holding an emergency meeting with her advisors, the empress chose to be straightforward with Muria. It was one of the strategies her council had suggested: complete honesty.
"Isn't this open honesty much better? I despise lies the most," Muria remarked, lazily seated across from the empress.
Compared to the dignified and composed posture of the empress, Muria appeared utterly casual and lacking in any of the awe-inspiring majesty one would expect from a being capable of challenging gods.
"Furthermore," he continued, "let me make one thing very clear: I will not start a war with another god on your behalf. Your civilization holds neither the value nor qualifications for me to do so. What I can offer is protection—during the period of our cooperation, I will shield you from any divine attacks."
"Your Grace, you're quite calculating, aren't you? You've proposed a deal where you provide only defensive support during our cooperation. Yet, as you've said, divine attacks of such magnitude are historically rare—perhaps once every hundred years, if at all. And currently, we are in a state of relative peace.
"In other words, without truly contributing anything, you're demanding control over our military and unrestricted access to our intelligence. Don't you think that's unfair?"
"No, it's perfectly fair. If anything, it's unfair to me, not to you."
Muria stood up, stretched leisurely, and walked toward the window. The wall facing him instantly became transparent, allowing him a commanding view of the bustling imperial capital below.
"A great age of upheaval is upon us," Muria declared, his voice calm but carrying a weight that made the empress tense. "During this era of unprecedented change, countless mighty beings will fall, and innumerable civilizations and species will be wiped out.
"However, there will also be those who rise to prominence, attaining eternal power alongside beings like me. Many once-insignificant civilizations will surpass yours within a short span of time, leaving you far behind."
"W-What are you saying?" The empress's eyes widened in shock. She understood his words but found them difficult to believe. Yet the accelerating beat of her heart betrayed her growing fear.
"Is it so hard to comprehend?" Muria chuckled softly. "The spatial rift that suddenly appeared over your territory and my own arrival through it—both are signs of the coming era."
"An era that will change everything..." The empress recalled the data transmitted by her exploration fleet and felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
The empire had faced multiple gods before, but while their presence exerted great pressure, it had never inspired true fear. Divine beings, despite their immense power, were geographically constrained and incapable of directly threatening the heartlands of the empire.
But now, something different had emerged—something that could endanger the very survival of her civilization. And they knew almost nothing about it.
"Your Grace... How many beings like you exist?"
"You think I'm one of a kind?"
"..." The empress fell silent, her expression growing increasingly grim.
"Let me enlighten you," Muria said with a slight smile. "Beings like me—or even stronger—outnumber the gods in your records. Of course, compared to the vastness of the void, we are still few in number."
"Beings that defy the very laws of reality... shouldn't exist." The empress's voice trembled. As the highest leader, she had to consider worst-case scenarios, yet her civilization lacked any means to threaten beings like this.
"Don't be so pessimistic. I actually have good news for you," Muria offered.
"Good news?"
"Among the unbound epic beings—those akin to gods—I know that the vast majority share a blood connection with me. Do you understand what that means?"
"Blood connection?" The empress was baffled. It seemed absurd that beings of such power could have familial ties. After all, gods were supposed to be singular entities, each representing a unique aspect of existence.
"Exactly. By aligning with me, your civilization significantly increases its chances of surviving—and thriving—during this era of transformation."
"If what you say is true, then we are indeed fortunate," the empress murmured thoughtfully.
"I never lie," Muria stated flatly. He then rose to his feet, stretching once more. "Ah, and by the way, you mentioned wanting to see my true power, didn't you? Power doesn't have to be demonstrated through battle alone. There are other ways."
"Other ways? What do you mean?"
...
"I've been playing the game of rulership for over a decade now. I wonder how those two old friends of mine are doing? They should be doing well—after all, they've each lived for millennia. Even if their consciousness was temporarily clouded, it wouldn't take long for them to recover."
A dragon of unparalleled majesty coiled atop a tower that pierced the heavens. The drifting clouds barely reached the tower's midpoint. From his lofty perch, the dragon gazed down at a sprawling city that expanded outward from the base of the tower.
This was his city—his domain. He ruled over the skies, the land, and the seas surrounding it.
"I've already prepared an army that will fight solely for me. What about you two?"
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