It was only after fully basking in the warmth of the laws of the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe that the Lord of the Tenth Empyrean World finally turned his attention to Markin.
"I am Sozing," the old man said calmly. "The Silence of All Things. Immortal Knight of the Tenth Empyrean World."
His words resonated throughout the underground chamber. The very laws carved into the world trembled and shrieked, as if barely able to endure the authority contained within that ancient voice.
Markin reacted instantly. He lowered his head and dropped to one knee, pressing his fist against the ground in submission.
"I am Markin," he said respectfully. "Leader of the Eternitysoul Empyrean World-"
He did not finish.
Sozing's eyes turned cold, and the pressure in the chamber multiplied severalfold. Markin's body trembled as if crushed beneath an invisible mountain.
"This world," Sozing interrupted, his voice devoid of emotion, "and everything else in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe belongs to us. You are rely a caretaker!"
A sharp pause followed.
"Do not forget that."
Markin clenched his teeth, anger flashing briefly across his expression, but he did not dare raise his head. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground and nodded silently.
Sozing noticed the anger, but he did not care. Whether Markin resented him or not was irrelevant-as long as he fulfilled his role.
"Now," the Immortal Knight continued, "have you fulfilled your
duties?"
"Yes, Immortal Knight," Markin replied imdiately. "I have successfully infiltrated the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance. We will be working alongside them in the upcoming conflict against the Root."
He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then a cold light appeared in his eyes.
"I expended a great deal of wealth and resources to achieve this. Enough that it may disturb certain future plans."
Sozing's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief mont his lips curled in sothing close to a sneer.
"You will be compensated," he said flatly. "As always."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"Now that you have stood before the Scarlet King," Sozing continued, "tell sothing."
He drew in a slow breath.
The aura surrounding him exploded outward.
In the next instant, Markin found himself staring at the phantom image of a massive, five-headed alien entity. Its form was hazy and indistinct, as if reality itself refused to fully render it--but the power it radiated was unmistakable.
Markin's bones turned cold.
Even as an Alpha-Oga Overgod Godslayer Human, he felt an instinctive dread claw at his soul.
"If you were to compare us," Sozing asked calmly, "who is stronger?"
Markin swallowed hard. He remained silent for several seconds, weighing his words with extre care.
"You are unimaginably powerful, Immortal Knight," he said at last. "However... I believe the Scarlet King is stronger."
Sozing did not interrupt.
Markin continued, his voice steady despite the pressure crushing his spirit.
"His body is as durable as a late Alpha-Oga Overgod Treasure. He can regenerate in the blink of an eye, even after being split in half. And those scarlet, fla-like wings... they grant him a multitude of terrifying abilities."
Instead of anger, a faint smile appeared on Sozing's face.
"I see," he said softly. "Then it will be an interesting fight."
The phantom vanished.
Sozing placed his hand over his chest.
Under Markin's shocked gaze, the old man reached inside his own body and withdrew a large, intricate compass forged of unknown material. Strange runes shifted across its surface, pulsing with karmic
light.
He flicked his wrist, sending it floating toward Markin.
"Bind it to your soul."
Markin hesitated.
Binding an unknown treasure to one's soul was never wise-but
refusing was not an option. With a quiet sigh, he nodded and
complied.
The mont the bond was ford, countless points of light appeared across the surface of the compass. Within seconds, they were so nurous that the display was almost completely covered.
Knowledge flowed directly into Markin's mind, showing him how to interpret and manipulate the artifact. With a single thought, the view zood outward.
Nine vast spheres appeared.
One sphere was filled with countless points of light. Five others contained a single point each. Another had none. And the final sphere
held two.
Markin focused on those two points-and instantly knew who they
represented.
"The Scarlet King," he murmured, "and the True Primordial of the
Void."
A look of genuine awe appeared in his eyes.
"That is their exact location... Incredible."
The compass allowed him to pinpoint the precise position of anyone
he had interacted with-either through direct physical contact or through spiritual ans such as soul scans.
"The Karma Compass is indeed remarkable," Sozing said. "Now that you will be working closely with the forces of the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance, you will co into contact with all of them. Through you, I will know their locations at all tis."
A cold, calculating light appeared in Markin's eyes as he looked up at the Immortal Knight.
"Are you planning to use their people as bait?" he asked. "To force the Scarlet King into a trap? I have done it many tis. It works perfectly."
There was pride in the voice of the Alpha-Oga Overgod.
Sozing shook his head, clearly unimpressed.
"Then you have only ever faced trash."
The words stung, and Markin's expression darkened. Sozing did not
care.
"Against soone capable of awakening the Power of Chaos," the Immortal Knight continued, "the only way my plans will succeed is
through surprise."
His eyes glead faintly.
"Traps give him ti to prepare. And no matter how many failsafes or redundancies you build, he will overco them all."
Markin fell silent. He disliked the Immortal Knight's tone-but he
could not deny the truth in his words.
"So," Markin asked at last, "what is the plan?"
Sozing looked at him briefly, then closed his eyes.
"Go," he said. "Do your part. Expect further instructions." With that, the Immortal Knight resud his ditation within the
crystal vessel.
Markin remained still for several seconds, a storm of emotions raging within him. He had ruled from the peak for so long that being reduced
to a servant felt almost unbearable.
Yet defiance was unthinkable.
In the end, he lowered his head once more. Without another word, he turned and left, not daring to go against the will of the Tenth Empyrean World.
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