"But your worries should go beyond the mortal realm, darling. I think we're on the verge of witnessing another Heaven Decree," Liez said, her figure shuddering at the mere mention of those two words.
The phrase Heaven Decree was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine. The mortal realm had been irrevocably scarred by the last Heaven Decree, and the very mention of it made thunder seem to rumble in one's ears. It was a calamity no one dared speak of lightly, especially not in front of an Obsidian.
For House Obsidian, those words carried far more weight than for others. Their family had been a prime target during that dark time, and the impact had lingered for centuries. If it were within Emberly's power, she would have sought revenge long ago.
Seventy percent, if not more, of the mortal realm despised and blamed the Obsidians for what happened during that ancient conflict. However, only a brave few, like Silas, dared to voice their hatred openly.
And yet, despite the simmering resentment, ninety-five percent of the population was dependent on the Obsidians' influence, their business empire, and the technology they controlled.
The Obsidians had a stranglehold on the mortal realm's development, and as much as people might hate them, they could not afford to sever that relationship.
"Why do you think that, Liez?" Pyris asked, his expression contemplative. He had his own concerns, but he hadn't thought anyone outside the family would see things the same way. Especially not someone as disconnected from the internal affairs of House Obsidian as Liez.
"Why haven't you thought of it, Pyris?" Liez asked in return, her gaze steady as if she couldn't believe how dense he was being. "I mean, why would the gods concern themselves with us now? Compared to our ancient glory, we're barely a shadow of what we used to be." Pyris thought
She wasn't wrong. Most viewed the Obsidians as a relic of the past, a family that had lost much of its influence, and Emberly, for all her power, was no longer even among the top three most powerful individuals in the mortal realm.
No one in the Obsidian family was a threat to the gods—not anymore. And yet, Liez's words gnawed at him.
"Exactly," Pyris muttered. "Compared to the gods, we're nothing now. Why would they even consider us a threat?"
[But everyone is forgetting one crucial detail...] Lia's voice echoed in his mind, low and serious.
"But everyone's missing one crucial thing," Liez continued, her voice firm. "...In the ancient era, when your family was at its height, you didn't have the mortal realm dancing in your hands the way you do now! Your family's influence has grown through means the gods never anticipated—technology. Right now, House Obsidian controls the very tools that most mortals rely on. That alone is enough to alarm them."
Pyris's brow furrowed as Liez's words sank in. Lia didn't stop there, though.
[Technology has always been a threat to the gods, but now that your family is using it to bypass the limitations of magic, they will consider you a danger far greater than raw magical power alone. The gods will fear what comes next.
They'll suspect you're aiming to create something even they cannot control. Soldiers that don't need ascension? The creation of bloodlines? Immortality without divine intervention? These are the fears that will drive them to call for another Heaven Decree.]
Pyris's chest tightened as Lia spoke. The gods would never leave the Obsidians in peace. Their family had long been branded as dangerous, and with their rise through technology, the gods would see them as an even greater threat.
House Obsidian was no longer just a black sheep—it was a threat that could no longer be ignored.
"They can't leave us alone, can they?" Pyris muttered, frustration bubbling up in his voice. Though he didn't expect an answer, Liez provided one anyway.
"It's worse than that," she said, her voice lowering. "It's not just the gods. The Immortals are getting involved too."
Pyris's eyes widened. [What does she mean?] Lia asked in his mind before he could vocalize the question.
"The Immortals?" Pyris repeated, disbelief creeping into his tone.
"You haven't heard, have you?" Liez sighed, giving him a disapproving glance. "You've been too preoccupied with running the company, haven't you?"
Pyris clenched his jaw, realizing how out of touch he'd been. He had been so focused on the mortal realm's affairs, on protecting his family from mundane threats like Silas, that he hadn't noticed the storm brewing on a larger scale.
"Recently, an envoy arrived from the Immortal Realm. They've been seen in the Beast Nation of all places, and whispers say it's a group of four powerful Immortals. My sister confirmed the rumors. She wanted me to warn you. She thought you'd already be aware of their presence."
Immortals? In the mortal realm? Pyris felt the weight of this revelation sinking in. It wasn't just the gods watching anymore—Immortals were making moves too.
"Your sister still cares, doesn't she?" Pyris asked with a hint of humor, though he couldn't shake the unease building inside him.
"Of course she does," Liez replied, rolling her eyes. "But she also knows how dangerous things are becoming. According to her, the Immortals are interested in Obsidian Tech, but they haven't made their intentions known to your family yet. And trust me, when they do, it's not going to be as simple as an investment."
Pyris's mind spun. He wasn't just dealing with mortal enemies or competitors now. His family had caught the attention of the very beings that ruled over the immortal and godly realms. And those beings didn't tolerate competition—especially not from mortals.
"Everyone wants a piece of us," Pyris muttered bitterly. "Or worse, they want to wipe us out entirely."
"You need to understand something, Pyris," Liez said, her tone turning grave. "In the Godly Realm, your family are seen as villains. And if you don't see yourselves as that, you're going to lose everything. You're no hero. There are no heroes left in this world. Only those who survive and those who fall."
Her words cut deep, but Pyris couldn't deny their truth.
"If you don't claim what's rightfully yours, Pyris, the gods and the Immortals will take it from you. All of it. They're not going to let you play nice. They're coming for everything you have, and if you don't act, they will devour you. Don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise. The time for passivity is over."
Pyris was silent, her words settling heavily in his heart. Everything she said was true. He had been playing it safe for too long, holding back his true potential. But there was no room for restraint anymore.
The gods, the Immortals, the powers that be—they wouldn't rest until House Obsidian was crushed beneath their feet. If he wanted to protect his family, if he wanted to preserve their legacy, he had to take the offensive.
Liez turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Pyris to grapple with his own thoughts.
[She's right,] Lia whispered in his mind. [There are no heroes left in this world. Only survivors. And if you don't act soon, you won't be one of them.]
Pyris took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. But then, something shifted within him.
His mind cleared, his resolve hardening. He wasn't the naïve boy he had once been. He was Pyris Obsidian—descendant of one of the most powerful bloodlines in the history of the mortal realm.
"I guess I have no choice," he murmured to himself, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I'll show them what it means to cross an Obsidian."
It was time to embrace his destiny and potential matter where it took him.