It was nearly dawn when the sky over the valley began to faintly glow with shades of purple. But while the light of dawn should have brought peace, in this place, only a growing sense of unease lingered. In the middle of the silent valley, a man stood atop a stone altar, staring at the horizon with eyes filled with hatred and a desire for revenge.
After thousands of years in slumber, his body still felt weak, but there was something stronger than his physical form—his will. He, once known as the Heavenly Sovereign, had lost everything. Now, only one thing remained in his mind: to reclaim the heavens that were stolen from him.
"I must gather power," he murmured, his voice brimming with resolve. "Before I face them, I need to rebuild this foundation of strength."
He stretched out his hand, feeling the flow of spiritual energy hidden beneath the earth at his feet. The land around this valley once teemed with countless amounts of power. But since his fall, the place had changed. Nature no longer radiated warmth or strength, as if it had died along with him.
The man took a deep breath, and with a single inhale, he began to absorb the remnants of spiritual energy that still lingered. Slowly, that energy seeped into his body, strengthening his weak bones, fortifying his muscles, and making his blood flow faster. But this was just the first step. He knew that to once again reach the peak of his power, he needed more than just the energy of this land.
"I must find the ancient relics," he thought. The relics scattered across the universe, containing hidden powers, could be the key to accelerating his recovery.
As he pondered, the sound of footsteps approached. Slowly, from behind the trees, emerged an old man with a wooden staff in his hand. His tattered robe fluttered in the wind, and his dim eyes stared at the man atop the altar with suspicion.
"Who are you?" the old man asked, his voice hoarse. "I've guarded this place for years, and no one ever comes here... except the dead."
The man atop the altar turned his gaze. His glowing red eyes pierced through the old man, causing him to step back in sudden fear.
"I am the exiled Heavenly Sovereign," he replied in a flat yet regal tone. "And my time to return has come."
The old man was shaken by the declaration. Throughout the land, the legend of the lost Heavenly Sovereign had become folklore, a tale believed to have ended centuries ago. No one thought the legend was real, much less that the Sovereign would rise again.
"Heavenly... Sovereign?" the old man whispered, his voice trembling. "But... they said you were dead. It's been thousands of years..."
"They lied," the Sovereign replied. "I did not die. I was trapped between life and death, but now I have returned. And those who took my heaven will pay for their betrayal."
The old man was speechless. His legs trembled, and his frail body nearly collapsed to the ground. Yet something in the Sovereign's gaze kept him standing, though his soul felt as if it were about to crumble.
"What do you want from me?" the old man finally asked, his voice barely audible.
"I need information," the Sovereign said. "Much must have changed while I slept. I need to know who now rules the heavens, and where they keep the relics I once gathered."
The old man bit his lip, thinking hard. He knew the information was dangerous, and telling the Sovereign could mean risking his life. But in the face of such power, how could he refuse?
"The heavens have fallen into the hands of the Four Sky Council," the old man replied in a low voice. "Those who betrayed you now rule. And your relics... most of them are hidden in the Supreme Palace, under the Council's protection."
Hearing this, the Sovereign's eyes narrowed. "The Four Sky Council... Traitors, all of them," he muttered. His anger flared, but he knew now was not the time to act rashly. He needed enough power to destroy them in one strike.
"I will reclaim everything that was taken from me," he said, his voice low and filled with hatred. "And you, old man, will help me."
The old man shivered, not daring to meet the Sovereign's gaze. "I... I am just a caretaker, I have no power to fight them."
"You won't need to fight," the Sovereign replied coldly. "You just need to show me the way."