Emperor's Reckoning

Chapter 1308: Old One And All-Father

In the deepest, most sacred chamber of Paradise, mana flowed in streams of shimmering light, condensing and swirling in a pool of pure, radiant energy. This was the Source, the fountain of all life, in direct opposition to the dark, forbidding anti-mana found in the depths of Purgatory.

Below this divine reservoir stood an ancient figure—his weathered hair and beard a gleaming silver, cascading down to his waist. Clad in a white robe that symbolized purity itself, the Old One’s posture betrayed no frailty; his chest was lifted, his shoulders back, every inch of him radiating authority and untold power accumulated over eons.

The All-Father, clad in his own robes of regality, approached, falling to one knee before the timeless figure. "Old One."

Without turning, the Old One’s voice rang clear, calm as the still waters of the Source. "What is it?"

The All-Father took a breath, gathering his words. "I bring grave news."

The Old One chuckled softly. "There is no ’grave’ news for me. Merely news."

With a weighty hesitation, the All-Father continued, "Lyon Torga has been sighted... yet again."

The Old One’s eyes, like aged embers, widened ever so slightly. "Torga?" he murmured, the name itself rippling through the mana streams above like a taboo.

"Yes, *the* Torga," the All-Father confirmed, his voice low. "It appears... I may have been mistaken. One of his followers seems to have wielded the Samsara."

The Old One’s gaze shifted, a thoughtful shadow passing over his face as he recalled ancient battles and a time when the name Torga had struck terror into the hearts of even the most powerful gods. "You said," he began slowly, "that you had extinguished the last of the Torga line."

The All-Father’s expression tightened. "I did. But Samsara defies death as easily as fire devours air."

The Old One closed his eyes, sighing as though weighed down by centuries of unresolved vendettas. "Then it would seem the cycle is not yet broken." He let his gaze fall to the distant, glimmering pool of mana. "And Torga returns to stir it once more."

The Old One continued to gaze into the depths of the mana pool, its luminous currents reflecting in his wise but steely eyes. His hand drifted over its surface, and the surrounding air grew dense with the weight of his presence. The pool was the beating heart of Paradise, an eternal source of life and power, yet even its energy seemed to recoil in quiet reverence for the one standing before it.

The All-Father’s gaze was steady, though tension marked his brow. "This is no ordinary threat," he admitted, though the reluctance to do so was clear in his voice. "Lyon is unlike any opponent I’ve faced. He fights with the ferocity of a storm, and his unpredictability... it nearly eclipses his strength. If not for Purgatory’s aid, our previous clash could have taken a far darker turn."

"Lyon Torga’s ambitions are no small threat," the All-Father began. "He seeks the downfall of Paradise."

"There is no need for fear," replied the Old One, his voice calm, yet edged with steel. "Though perhaps there is cause for caution."

The All-Father hesitated. "Lyon has no intention of restraint. He’ll unleash everything I presume.

The All-Father’s gaze was steady, though tension marked his brow. "This is no ordinary threat," he admitted, though the reluctance to do so was clear in his voice. "Lyon is unlike any opponent I’ve faced. He fights with the ferocity of a storm, and his unpredictability... it nearly eclipses his strength. If not for Purgatory’s aid, our previous clash could have taken a far darker turn."

The All-Father drew a deep breath. "Lyon’s resolve has intensified. The loss of his son ignited a force within him that defies reason. I’ve faced men fighting for kingdoms, for honor— but Lyon... Lyon fights with a purpose as primal as life itself. He’s fueled by something beyond anger."

The Old One paused, absorbing the gravity of his words. "It is rare," he said, his voice almost a whisper, "for a being to possess that kind of relentless drive. I had thought the Torga line vanquished, erased to preserve the sanctity of our order. Yet now, he threatens everything we’ve upheld for eons."

The Old One’s piercing gaze held steady as he absorbed each detail, his frown deepening with every word. Shadows danced across his weathered face, but his eyes, sharp as ever, betrayed a restless mind. In front of him, the All-Father stood at attention, head slightly bowed, his expression taut.

"We cannot simply strike preemptively," the All-Father admitted, his voice heavy. "Unlike in your time, when the Torga family’s domain was a fixed fortress carved into the very landscape, Lyon’s empire... floats. It eludes us, moving between realms like a phantom."

The Old One’s brows knitted tightly. "Floating?" he echoed, incredulity tinged with a hint of intrigue.

"Yes. It’s not anchored to any single plane. It can pass from the Mortal World to Heaven, and even to Purgatory. Some suspect he’s using the essence of the seer’s Pegasus—if you recall, its power allowed it to travel freely across dimensions."

"Ah, the Pegasus." The Old One’s eyes flickered with recognition. "A sacred, singular beast. And now, you say Lyon has taken this power and imbued it into an entire empire?"

The All-Father nodded grimly. "At least, that’s one theory. But there’s also speculation that he gained this ability through his connection to his father-in-law—the Knowledge Keeper."

The Old One let out a low hum, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "The Knowledge Keeper... bound to his duty, limited by rules even he cannot break. But his son-in-law... is a Torga."

"Exactly," the All-Father replied, lowering his voice. "The Knowledge Keeper himself would never act against us, but Lyon holds no such loyalty. His empire is cloaked in mystery, protected by a power even I struggle to comprehend."

Silence fell between them, thick and weighted. The Old One’s gaze turned distant, his mind a whirl of possibilities and latent fears. Finally, he looked at the All-Father, his tone more intense. "And what of Aleysius Torga? Is there even a trace of his remains?"

The All-Father’s face darkened further. "After Lyon’s death, we thoroughly combed the entire Heaven and Mortal World, but we found nothing. Not a body, not even a fragment of his power. It’s as if he was... never there."

The Old One’s lips tightened into a line. "If Aleysius Torga lives in any form, or if even a fragment of his power survives, it could mean..."

"...that Lyon will be unstoppable," finished the All-Father.

The Old One let out a measured breath, regaining his composure. "Then we cannot simply await his next move. This is no longer a fight against one man. It’s a reckoning against an entire legacy—a legacy that, if left unchecked, could consume Heaven, Hell, and the Mortal World." He raised his gaze, resolve hardening within. "We will gather every force, every power at our disposal, and root out this hidden empire."

"But how?" asked the All-Father. "Even the idea of tracking such a domain eludes our current abilities."

"There may yet be a way," the Old One said slowly. His eyes glinted with something dark, a spark of ancient knowledge long hidden. "Summon the celestial seers. We will delve into places unseen, even if it means looking into the forbidden depths. Lyon Torga will not escape the wrath of Paradise."