(Sowhere Across the Universe, The Five Great Clan Gods' Conclave)
Five holographic projection arrays activated simultaneously, bridging vast distances across the universe as five divine presences converged within a shared virtual space, each choosing caution over trust and distance over proximity.
This was not a gathering of allies, but of equals who understood betrayal far too well, and who therefore chose to et through projection rather than in person, ensuring that no single God could be ambushed or eliminated in secret.
However, even after they all assud their virtual positions, for several monts, none of them spoke.
Until it was Ru Vassa who broke the awkward silence.
"How can such a thing even happen?
How can Helmuth lose his body to the Ancient Dragon without stepping into a Ti Stilled World?
The probability of encountering another consciousness within the Fourth Dinsion at random is infinitesimal at best, and even then, Helmuth was not a being easily overridden."
She complained, as Lu Han's gaze sharpened slightly, while Yu Kiro shifted in place.
By now, it had beco common knowledge that Moltherak had taken over Helmuth's body and was busy reunifying the lost Dragon Empire, and that him taking over Helmuth's body probably ant that the poor Berserker God was dead.
"It was a setup by Soron.
Rember how he opened the portal and forced Helmuth through?
My guess is that this was his play from the very beginning."
Mu Shen explained, as the projection arrays humd softly as the implication behind his words settled.
Soron....
Even in death, the na carried weight, as Yu Kiro leaned back slightly, his tone thoughtful rather than surprised.
"That would explain the precision.
Soron was never reckless.
If he had already planned for his own death, then ensuring Moltherak's return through Helmuth's body would have been the final move on the board."
He theorized, as it was Du Trask that spoke next, his voice slow and deliberate.
"And if Soron aided Moltherak's rebirth, then the Cult's involvent in this matter cannot be dismissed as coincidence."
Silence followed.
Mu Shen nodded slowly.
"Which implies that the Cult is not as exposed as we initially believed.
It's possible that Moltherak will protect the Cult if we attack it recklessly, for if Soron helped him get a new body, it's likely that the two of them are aligned, which ans the Cult is not a fractured remnant operating on borrowed montum.
But rather an organisation that still possesses Divine backing."
Mu Shen theorized, as everyone in the room nodded in agreent to his words.
"It also implies sothing else."
Lu Han spoke next, as the others turned their attention toward him.
"Molyherak returning and Helmuth dying ans that Kaelith is now weaker than he has ever been."
The words landed heavily, as Yu Kiro exhaled slowly.
"Mauriss has chosen his own path.
Helmuth is dead, his body stolen and repurposed.
While his brother, Soron, is gone."
Du Trask's voice followed.
"And his son is dead as well."
The implication did not need explanation.
For the first ti in history, the Eternal Sovereign stood alone, which ant that his rule at the top of the universal food chain could finally
be toppled.
Ru Vassa's lips curved faintly.
"If that is the case, then remaining subservient to the Universal
Governnt no longer serves any purpose.
If Kaelith is all that remains at its core, then the illusion of unified
authority is just that... an illusion."
She said, as Yu Kiro inclined his head in agreent.
"We tolerated his oversight because Kaelith's alliance with Helmuth and Mauriss demanded it.
However, without the two of them to enforce the balance, there is no
logic behind the Great Clans remaining bound to Kaelith alone."
Yu Kiro said, as Mu Shen opened his eyes wide at these words.
Back at "The Pit, he was the only God wanting to declare independence, while the others were too scared and cautious to do
SO.
However, now with the death of Helmuth being an almost confird phenonon, the attitude in the room seed to have shifted.
"Declaring independence would fracture the Universal Governnt overnight.
And with Moltherak's return destabilizing the known universe, Kaelith will probably be too occupied to intervene in our day to day matters."
Mu Shen suggested, as Lu Han considered his words briefly.
"The Great Clans were sovereign once.
We governed without oversight, without permission, and without
restraint.
Perhaps it is ti we return to that state."
He suggested, as all others nodded in agreent.
"If we hesitate, others will dictate the terms of the next era.
However, if we act now, we can define it instead."
Du Trask added next, as another awkward pause followed.
However, this ti, it was not uncertainty that filled the silence, but
rather consensus, as it was Ru Vassa who spoke next.
"Then I guess it's decided, we sever our ties with Kaelith and the Universal Governnt, effective imdiately.
And we all go into business for ourselves.
Allied, but not formally.
As the Great Clans beco independent once again."
She proposed, as Yu Kiro nodded in agreent to her words.
"The Great Clans will no longer answer to the Universal Governnt. The Righteous Alliance ends today!"
He said, as every other God started to bang their fists on their throne,
in a show of support for his words.
*THRUMM* *THRUMM*
"We operate independently.
Trade, territory, and conflict will be handled internally."
Lu Han concluded before closing his eyes briefly, as he soaked in the
mont of independence after 2250 years of serving the Righteous
Alliance.
"And we push back against Kaelith if he tries to resist..... five on one." Mu Shen suggested, as the projection arrays flickered, as all the Great Clan Gods agreed to follow this common course of action.
*SWOOSH*
*SWOOSH*
Soon, one after another, the holograms dissolved, as the conclave
ended without ceremony, as across the universe, unseen by most, the foundation of the existing order quietly fractured, as the Great Clans prepared to walk their own paths once more.
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