The power of thousands of galaxies.

The energy of billions of stars.

A force that could rival even some greybloods.

All of it.

Condensed into a single object.

The light of the stars and galaxies surrounding him dimmed, their power consumed to fuel his creation.

The once vibrant cluster now in silence, the brilliance it once emitted was replaced by cold, empty shadows.

One held his creation in his hands. It was small, barely the size of a fist, yet it seemed to distort the very fabric of existence around it.

He was motionless in the dim glow of the orb, his silhouette barely visible by the faint remnants of starlight.

The silence One had forged was deep and profound. The only sound was the low, resonant hum of the orb.

Its surface shimmered, a hypnotic dance of shifting, radiant colors. A beauty so great it was almost painful to behold. And yet, beneath its stunning exterior lies a power so terrifying.

"It's perfect" he whispered.

The orb pulsed in response, almost as if it understood. Around him, the remnants of what had once been a thriving cluster floated in chaotic disarray, planets shattered into jagged debris, stars extinguished to cold, lifeless rocks, nebulae torn apart into formless shreds.

All of it.

Every single fragment.

Sacrificed for the birth of this.

———————————————————

The Sanctum stood as a rare neutral ground in the Universe, untouched by the conflicts of the outside. The chamber within shimmered with cascading hues, each representing the bloodlines of the gods gathered within. The leaders of the colored gods sat at the circular table made of prismatic crystal, its sections dyed corresponding to the seated bloodline.

K'mara, the Leader of the Redbloods, spoke first. His voice was low and resonant, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"It has begun."

The other leaders remained still, their silence speaking volumes.

Adires, the Leader of the Bluebloods, finally broke the quiet.

"The greybloods do not act as one. This is not a united effort. It is the work of One alone."

"And that," K'mara replied, his crimson gaze unwavering, "is why this is more dangerous than any war we've ever faced. We cannot stand against even one of them without risking many casualties."

The Hunter, the leader of the Greenbloods, folded his hands, his presence as deep and steady as the roots of an ancient forest.

"To act recklessly would ensure our destruction. One is not to be underestimated. His creation rivals the power of a Door. You all felt it—the collapse of thousands of galaxies, the silence where once was life."

Lyrem, one of the twin Yellowblood leaders, leaned forward, his golden form glowing faintly.

"I have seen glimpses, though they are clouded. The orb is not idle. It pulses with intent. A power this concentrated cannot remain dormant for long."

Kurayami, his twin sister, spoke next, her tone as soft as a whisper.

"The balance of the universe has already shifted. The orb's existence will draw conflict. Whether we act or not, war will come."

K'maras crimson aura flickered faintly, the only sign of his internal tension.

"We must prepare. Delay will only weaken our position."

Adires inclined his head, his expression unreadable.

"And yet, to strike without understanding its true purpose would be a mistake. We know little of the orb's capabilities or what One intends to do with it. If we act now, we risk provoking a force that even we, combined, cannot overcome."

Lunires, the leader of the Orangebloods, leaned back in his seat

"Is it not chaos we thrive on?" he mused, his voice both mocking and contemplative. "This creation is a storm waiting to erupt, and storms cannot be ignored. But perhaps... they can be steered."

Atraxis, the Cyanblood Pathfinder, who had been silent until now, traced patterns on the crystal table with a glimmering finger. His voice was light yet firm.

"We cannot steer what we do not understand. To act now, blind and uninformed, would be reckless even by my standards. I suggest we send observers, discreet ones."

Droxis, the Leader of the Purplebloods, shifted in his seat, his massive form radiating unwavering resolve. His voice rumbled like grinding stone.

"If war comes, it will be our duty to protect the sanctity of what remains. All of us have Clusters that we are meant to protect."

The final voice came from Calathos, the enigmatic leader of the Silverbloods.

"Reflection," he said simply, his tone cold and precise. "We must reflect their actions back onto them. Let them strike first, reveal their intentions. Only then do we respond in kind."

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of their decision pressing upon them. Finally, Lyrem spoke, his tone resolute.

"So we will observe for now."

The leaders nodded in agreement, though the tension in the chamber remained. None of them believed that observation alone would be enough.

The gathering ended with those words.

Kurayami, however, lingered as the others began to leave. Her golden gaze was fixed on the swirling patterns of the crystal table. The faint hum of the orb resonated in her mind.

"Awaken" she whispered, the word barely audible.

Far away, in the remnants of a shattered galaxy, the orb pulsed once more.