Zhulong laughed, the sound deep and mocking. "Oh, I think it's getting somewhere. It's showing just how weak and indecisive you are, Maguaien. You should've struck back at the source the moment that surge happened. That's what I would've done."
"And that's why no one trusts you," Seth muttered, his voice like rumbling earth.
"Trust is irrelevant," Tsukuyomi said, stepping into the fray once more. "What matters is action. If no one else will investigate, then I'll send a fleet. The source is near my domain as well, after all."
Maguaien's eyes narrowed. "You better not send a fleet for any other reason."
"Well, if you don't trust me enough, then I guess you'll have to do it yourself," Tsukuyomi replied with a faint smile.
"How could I trust you after everything? Did you forget how you waged war against my people for no reason!" Maguaien retorted.
The group's bickering was interrupted by Azer's voice, calm but commanding. "Enough. This isn't about you, or your rivalries, or your grudges. That mana burst was powerful enough to disrupt the balance of this world. If we don't act, who will?"
Her words hung in the air, a sobering reminder of their shared responsibility.
"She's right," Seth said, his tone steady. "We've wasted enough time pointing fingers. This is bigger than any of us."
Despite Azer's plea, the group remained fractured.
Tsukuyomi sighed, his tone almost mocking as he addressed Maguaien. "It seems you're on your own, then. But don't worry, I'll send a fleet to investigate. Perhaps they'll uncover something… useful."
"Or perhaps they'll provoke whatever lies at the source," Maguaien shot back.
Tsukuyomi smirked. "We'll see."
"Anyway, there's another thing I need to report," she began, her voice firm but carrying an undercurrent of unease. "A boy arrived on my shores, claiming to be from another world."
Her words reverberated through the chamber.
Vayu, his tanned features creased in thought, crossed his arms. "That can't be. The higher realms were sealed after the Great War."
"And the residents of the lower realms aren't even aware of worlds beyond their own," Azer added, her delicate frame radiating a metallic sheen under the palace's light.
"They wouldn't even know how to traverse branches of the World Tree, let alone succeed without our permission."
Seth, leaning against a column with a stoic expression, cuts in. "Besides, no one can cross between branches unless we allow it."
A heavy silence followed.
Tsukuyomi, his silver hair glimmering faintly, tilted his head and spoke with icy precision. "Unless… No. Surely, you're not implying *that*, Maguaien?"
Maguaien's voice dropped, carrying the weight of history. "The Supreme's spell was designed to isolate our branch from foreign invaders. It ensured peace after the Celestial Wars. But no spell is truly eternal."
Vayu stepped forward, his tone measured. "Maguaien, the spell is tied to our very existence. It should last as long as we remain to uphold it."
Azer nodded. "If the barrier faltered, it would mean something catastrophic—something that would jeopardize the World Tree itself."
Seth's voice, calm but commanding, cut through the rising tension. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We've seen mortals with strange tales before. Perhaps the boy is just another misguided soul with an active imagination."
"I thought that too, at first," Maguaien admitted. "But his words… He spoke of a world beyond ours. A place he called 'Earth.' He described machines, sciences, and technologies far beyond what anyone in our branch could comprehend."
Azer frowned. "Earth? I've never heard of such a place. Have any of you?"
"Even if this Earth exists," Seth began, "how would he have crossed over? The Supreme's barrier was absolute. It would take a force as strong as his to break it."
Maguaien took a slow, measured breath. "But if what he claims is true… then we might be at the tail end of our Age."
Her words hung in the air like a chilling wind.
Vayu broke the silence, his voice gentle but skeptical. "The end of the Age is no small claim, Maguaien. You're suggesting that the balance of the universe is failing?"
Tsukuyomi's expression darkened. "Don't be absurd. The light still shines; the branches still thrive. Your fears are premature."
Maguaien's gaze turned sharp. "Are they? A burst of mana that shook the foundations of my realm. A boy claiming origins from beyond. Tell me, Tsukuyomi, are you truly confident that the balance remains unbroken?"
Zhulong let out a soft laugh, though there was an edge to it. "You're all so dramatic. Ages end, branches die—that's just how things work. Maybe it's time for a little destruction to see what comes next."
Azer's voice rose, uncharacteristically fierce. "This isn't a game, Zhulong! If the Supreme's barrier has failed, we're talking about another invasion—something none of us are prepared for."
Seth finally stepped forward, his voice steady as stone. "There's no proof yet to confirm any of this. For now, we focus on the immediate threats. If Maguaien's fears are true, then symptoms will begin to appear. We'll convene again when we have more evidence."
Azer nodded. "Agreed. We must be vigilant. If anything else unusual occurs, we will act swiftly."
Maguaien's gaze flickered with doubt but eventually softened. "And what of the boy? What should I do with him?"
Vayu spoke, his voice carrying an air of finality. "He's your responsibility, Maguaien. If his story holds truth, he may hold answers—or he may be a danger. Either way, he's safest in your care."
The Archons began to disperse, their figures shimmering as they departed. Zhulong, was the first to leave.
"Let me know if the world starts falling apart," he said with a smirk. "Until then, I have better things to do."
Maguaien opened her mouth to respond, but he vanished in a burst of flame before she could.
Tsukuyomi followed, his silver form melting into the shadows. "Keep an eye on your domain, Maguaien," he said softly. "And pray your fears remain unfounded."
One by one, the others departed, leaving Maguaien alone in the golden light of the Sacred Palace. She turned her gaze to the radiant core at the heart of the inverted world.
*The Supreme sacrificed everything to protect us. If his barrier is truly faltering… then this boy may be the harbinger of something far greater than any of us are prepared to face.*
With that thought weighing heavily on her mind, Maguaien stepped into the portal that would return her to Isantanah, her silver hair vanishing into the light.
The Sacred Palace grew silent once more, the golden rings spinning in eternal harmony, as if waiting for the next storm to arrive.