AN: Happy New Year!!!

*****

"Do you know the implication of what you just said?"

Hearing the man's words, the leaders couldn't help but remember that unprecedented incident that shook the whole galaxy.

Sylvia, the well-beloved princess of the strongest kingdom, sneaked out, with none the wiser.

Unfortunately, she met with an unforeseen accident while on her adventure journey. She was in the range of a berserk magical beast being subdued, and the shockwave of the beast's rampage had killed her instantly on the spot.

At the time, Sylvia was barely five, and was yet to awaken her innate talent, something rarely seen in the world of magic.

But her death seemed to be the trigger for her awakening. No one knew what had happened until a few days later when several terrifying auras engulfed the Goldsborn world.

These unknown figures who looked more like gods to the world's inhabitants, had instantly attacked the Goldsborn Kingdom upon their arrival.

With but a few moves, the strongest kingdom was almost wiped out of existence, with but a pitiful few remaining. What brought not only the Goldsborn world but the entire galaxy into chaos was that the ancestor of the Asura race had also appeared. While she didn't attack personally, she also didn't stop these gods from laying ruins to the Goldsborn Kingdom.

Luckily at the verge of the Kingdom's annihilation, an unknown old man had appeared out of nowhere and saved the remaining members of the Goldsborn's royal family. That such an unknown figure could cause these terrifyingly powerful figures who could cover the entire skies of countless worlds with their hands to stay their hands sent another ripple across the whole galaxy. Even the fabled Asura ancestor had not acted upon his arrival.

It was then that a piece of news that shocked countless worlds spread out.

The princess of one of the kingdoms of a lower world had died but unexpectedly returned to a day before her death, as if time had been reminded. What was truly excessively horrifying was that the power of her talent had not only affected her world but also influenced the entire galaxy.

Such a talent had already exceeded the scope of human sense. This was simply a power that could only be wielded by gods.

Unfortunately for the princess, while her talent was so heaven-defying that it could rewind a galaxy's time, the subtle changes brought about by the effect were not able to escape the senses of the major powerhouses of the dark galaxy.

In less than a day, they were able to trace the cause to this unremarkable lower world and acted immediately to capture her. Such a talent even sent chills down the back of these figures hailed as lords.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The awakening of such a talent should have been an unprecedented joyful occasion for the Goldsborn Kingdom, but instead, it had brought a cloud of calamity over their heads.

Admirably, the kingdom had fought to protect their princess even in the face of power that induced their fear.

However, a thrown egg could never shake a mountain.

In but a few moments, the kingdom was reduced to the size of a family, and if it wasn't for the appearance of the old man who people speculated was that legendary Divine blacksmith who had crafted the saint artifacts of the major forces, they would have been wiped out of existence, with their princess suffering a life of captivity, probably for eternity.

No one knew the old man's agreement with the Asura ancestor and the others. Still, in the end, not only were the few remaining Goldsborn members not killed, but they also pulled back all their influences, making this lower world one of the select few not under their control.

While this result, at the time, meant nothing to the Goldsborn family, who grieved for their loved ones, the other kingdoms and forces of the Goldsborn world were high in the cloud.

Not only were they now exempted from paying tributes, but they also became free from any conscription by the major forces above.

.....

The main hall became quiet as the leaders briefly went down memory lane.

What they didn't realize, however, was that in one of the shadows cast by the single lamp in the hall, a figure had appeared silently and unannounced for some time now, the golden pools behind the light veil unfocused as they gazed lost in space.

The middle-aged man with locked hair gazed intently at the blue-haired woman, and it wasn't until several moments that he redrew his domain.

Hearing the loud beating sound of her heart gradually fade away, the blue-haired woman sighed, her forehead matted with sweat.

"Asking the higher-ups for help is the same as inviting them back into our world, and we don't want that, do we?"

The faces of Jack and the others became unsightly upon hearing the middle-aged man's words.

"We don't have a choice!"

Unexpectedly, an answer the man was not expecting to hear came soon after. With his eyebrows creasing into a frown, the middle-aged man turned his head to the direction where the response came from, only for him to become stunned.

Feeling something was not right, the others followed the direction of his gaze only for them to share the same reaction.

Sylvia ignored the stunned looks the five leader's faces and calmly left the embrace of the shadows before sitting on one of the head seats.

Quickly regaining their composure, the five leaders, three men, and two women, quickly stood and performed a noble bow.

Sylvia shifted her serene golden eyes from one person to another, causing a suffocating aura to engulf them before she redrew her gaze.

Jack, King of the Fire Kingdom.

Bathilda, Queen of the water kingdom.

Vernon, king of the earth kingdom.

Benjamin, Family head of the beating heart ancient family, and finally...

Joy, branch leader of the Merchant Association, and finally.

Sylvia's gaze finally landed on the empty seat across from her and she couldn't help but sigh.

That seat was meant for the King of the Dark Kingdom. Unfortunately, he was no more. Leaving a space for him at the table was a way of honoring him.

Returning her gaze to the still-standing leaders, Sylvia nodded her head as her form of greeting, and only then did the five leaders sigh before seating back down.

The middle-aged man with locked hair, Benjamin of the beating heart ancient family hesitated for a moment before asking in a deep voice:

"Lady Sylvia, if I am not mistaken, you said we have no choice but to contact..." he didn't complete his words and instead pointed his index finger upward.

Sylvia didn't answer him directly and only replied with a statement, her voice remaining light:

"A giant appeared among the forces of the corrupted."

There was a collective "Huh?" before a sharp intake of air resounded deeply in the silent hall.