458 457: The Throne
"Now talk… What do you plan on exchanging for my Genesis Armant?"
After hearing these words from Corey, the Dreadkeeper remained silent and stared at Pala with a mixture of emotions.
So seconds later, he shifted his gaze towards Corey, and then he calmly spoke,
"My na is Gunnarr Anacletus, and I'm from the Anacletus clan of Stormhold City. I planned on giving you, three precious resources that can only be found in our world, and these resources can even make Ascendants envious and full of greed."
"I also planned on giving you information regarding the Principality in the Raging Sky. This information would include the Principality's abilities, habits, and weakness."
"Although I have no idea if you have any plans on battling the Principality, after seeing the ancient runes on your Genesis Armant, I have a feeling that you all might want to battle the Principality, kill it, and then obtain another ancient rune."
'I would do anything to not face another Principality.' Corey thought with a slight grimace.
"Apart from this, you'll also gain a Permanent Ancient Seal, enter a partnership with Stormhold City, and… I'll also give you an item that can weaken the strongest being in our world."
"The strongest being in your world?"
Corey and Pala spoke at the sa ti while staring at Gunnarr with a surprised and baffled expression.
They had never heard or read of such a thing before.
Gunnarr seeing their expression, nodded his head with a solemn gaze. He was not surprised that they had never heard of the strongest being in their world. If they had, then he wouldn't know how he would react.
He slowly stood while dusting himself, and then he spoke,
"I'll give you this information for free to show you that I can be trustworthy."
Gunnarr paused for a few seconds, and then he continued.
"This information is not known to the public, and only top-tier cities, clans, Dreadkeepers and Ascendants have access to this information."
"Apart from the Principalities and Powers who are at the top of the food chain in our world, there's a much more powerful being in our world… That being is a Throne."
"A Throne."
Corey and Pala mumbled at the sa ti, and Gunnarr shifted his gaze to Pala before looking back at Corey.
"If I use the power system of your world, the Throne is as powerful as an Immortal… HE'S extrely powerful."
Corey furrowed his brows in contemplation when he heard this. He noticed how Gunnarr stressed out the word 'HE' when referring to the Throne, but he chose not to say anything.
'It's most likely because of the fear and reverence he has towards the Throne or maybe it's because of sothing else entirely.'
Corey thought, and then he spoke,
"If you truly have an item that can severely injure the Throne, then why have you or your people not used it yet?"
Gunnarr chuckled when he heard this, and then he spoke with a scoff.
"Why should we kill the Throne? HE'S a massive deterrent to you Outsiders, and HE does us no harm, so why should we kill the Throne?"
Pala raised her brows, and then she spoke with her tone dripping in disdain,
"Then why do you have an item that can harm the Throne if you have no desire to kill the Throne? Aren't you contradicting yourself at this point?"
Gunnarr chuckled once again, and then he turned towards his right, looking far into the distance.
Corey and Pala followed Gunnarr's line of sight, and Corey's eyes widened as a sudden realization dawned on him.
'So that's how it is.'
In their line of sight was the massive golden staircase that could be seen from anywhere in the shattered dinsion.
'So that's the source of light of the shattered dinsion… Amazing, how didn't I notice it earlier?'
"The reason why I have an item that can harm the Throne is because HE is not stable. HE'S on the verge of losing control, and when HE loses control, a battle between HIM and we Dreadkeepers and Ascendants would occur."
"There's no way we can defeat the Throne on our own, so the top tier cities and Ascendants of our world were given items that can severely damage HIM by HIS own hands."
Corey and Pala frowned heavily when they heard this. Corey's brows furrowed in contemplation, and then Pala spoke.
"So the Throne gave all of you items that can harm him? Why? What's also stopping all of you from launching a joint attack to kill the Throne?"
This was one of the thoughts Corey had after hearing Gunnarr's words.
Why would a being as powerful as the Throne give items that can harm him to nurous people?
What if those who he gave those items decide to be greedy and envious, and then they decide to launch a massive attack on the Throne?
Corey knew what greed could do to the hearts and minds of people. He knew how much people desired power, desired to be at the top, desired to be the strongest. He knew all of these, so he knew that if the Tainteds of this world desired, they could choose to attack and kill the Throne using the items he gave to them, and then they could decide to study and use his body to advance.
'Unless they were all forced to swear sothing like an oath.'
As Corey's mind conjured up questions, guesses, and various thoughts, he heard Gunnarr laugh.
Corey was taken aback and so was Pala.
"Unlike what you Outsiders think, the Throne cares about our world, and HE has taken it upon HIMSELF to protect our world till HE dies."
"He does not want our world to be destroyed by HIS hands."
Gunnarr chuckled once again before he continued speaking.
"As for why we chose not to attack HIM, there are many reasons."
"First of all, it's not worth it. Even if we have those items that can kill HIM, the losses we'll sustain would be too much."
"Also, just like I said, the Throne is a massive deterrence to you Outsiders. He protects our dinsion from powerful beings. In fact, very few of us desire to reach his realm because there is a higher chance of us losing control."
"Lastly, we all swore an oath to not use the items on HIM until he loses control."
'Just like I expected.' Corey thought with slightly furrowed brows.
"I have two questions."
Gunnarr and Pala turned towards Corey.
"You said that even if all you Tainteds have items that can weaken the Throne, the losses you'll sustain would be much… If Dreadkeepers and Ascendants are likely to die even against a weakened Throne, why would you offer the item when you know that even with the three of us, there's no way we can defeat the Throne? It makes absolutely no sense for you to offer an item that would be useless in our hands."
"Also, is the Throne a monster or an abomination? When you were referring to the Throne, you started with 'Powers and Principalities are the top of the food chain', not Dreadkeepers and Ascendants are at the top of the food chain."
"So, is the Throne an abomination or a Tainted?"
When Pala and Gunnarr heard Corey's second question, their eyes widened in surprise.
Pala, because she never took note of such a thing in Gunnarr's words.
Gunnarr, because he never expected Corey to take note of what he had said. He was at first taken aback, but a few seconds later, he laughed.
"I can't believe you noticed such a thing. But I should have expected such a thing from a person with one the most powerful Genesis Armants."
Gunnarr chuckled once again before speaking.
"Well, HE is neither an abomination nor a Tainted. HE is a combination of both."
Corey and Pala's eyes widened the instant they heard this.
"HE was once a Tainted but he found a way to fuse with a Principality, and then he beca what HE is at the mont."
"This is another reason why very few of us desire to reach his realm because there's a higher chance of one losing control."
Corey was about to stroke his slightly rough chin in contemplation, but he saw Gunnarr smile, and his smile made him furrow his brows.
It was the type of smile that was both playful and filled with mockery at the sa ti.
"Do you know what we call that massive golden staircase?"
Corey and Pala furrowed their brows, and then they answered at the sa ti.
"The Stairs of Ascension."
Gunnarr nodded, and then his smile beca slightly wider.
"Do you know why we call it the Stairs of Ascension?"
"Enlighten us." Pala took a step forward and gazed at Gunnarr with cold and indifferent eyes that also contained a tinge of annoyance in them.
Gunnarr chuckled without feeling pressured or bothered by Pala's presence.
"It's called the Stairs of Ascension because it's only Ascendants that are allowed to climb the stairs, and it also allows Ascendants to gain a unique power or if they're talented enough, they'll be able to leave our world."
"Only Ascendants can climb the Stairs of Ascension, and that is because of the presence of the Throne."
Corey's eyes slowly widened in realization.
'Don't tell ...'
"If an Outsider goes to the Stairs of Ascension, HE would attack the Outsider because HE hates Outsiders. After all, you guys are the reason he's about to lose control."
Gunnarr laughed when he saw the ugly expressions of Corey, Pala, and Selene who was approaching them.
"In case you don't get it, let make it easier for you to understand..." Gunnarr smiled widely, "... You Outsiders are going to face HIM, and you're all going to die miserable deaths."
Gunnarr laughed once again, and Corey, Pala, and Selene's expression beca much uglier.
'Damn it! Can this get any worse?!'
Just as Corey had this thought, Selene's voice drifted into his ears.
"Master, we have a problem. A lot of people are coming over here, and I doubt they're here to make friends with us."
"..."
'I just jinxed it didn't I?' Corey released a tired sigh.
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