A collective silence washed over the room, each individual person's mouth dropping into the agape position.
They believed they were witnessing a miracle, the unknown source of the Sea Kings' power being revealed in a regular lecture?
However, inside Aaron's disorganized mind, he knew it wasn't a simple coincidence, for at that very moment, his turquoise eyes met a pair farther away from himself.
Cauron Thorn did not break away his stare this time, and the pressure on Aaron's head reached a breaking point as the barrier held its own against the mere gaze of the King.
Smiling up at the blond-haired boy, the man turned away, opening his mouth as he returned to his podium.
"For privacy purposes, I will only be discussing my own use of Divine Interference in the form of my Ghostship. Let's begin at once."
Clapping his hands together, waves of mana washed over the stage, dimming the light into a condensed sphere that hovered by the King's face.
"As detailed in the lawful audit performed whenever a new King is appointed, we specify which tool is our primary object. While in the public eye, this seems like a simple formality, to us, it is a matter of life or death. These objects that we choose are mediums between us and the divine, allowing us to call upon their power in times of need."
Not even a murmur could have been heard in the chamber, the absolute silence like no other descending upon the hall as everyone leaned forward in their chairs to listen.
"Through a method known as Channeling, we process this unrefined energy through the tool, creating a purified, clean energy to supplement mana to an extreme degree. This supplemental substance isn't simply a one-for-one replacement; instead, each usage of Divine Interference strengthens our cores to an unhealthy degree."
"Those who over-use this ability will die young of backlash poisoning, per Brymyn's Law; however, when used within reason, the wielder of such divine power can influence the world with a portion of their deity's manifested might."
Aaron's blood ran cold at the mention of the gods, the very individuals he avoided at all costs to prevent outright death.
His heart raced as he thought of the reality where Cauron would use such a power in the present moment, allowing the Goddess of Life temporary entry into the Dimension of Waves.
I wouldn't even have a chance as I stand now…
Shaking his head and refocusing himself on the King, he realized he had missed a line, catching the man in the middle of a sentence.
"...Cosmoti's stopwatch, a powerful item that once belonged to the beloved King of Curses. The tool itself granted him immeasurable strength and luck, a byproduct of his contract with his god. When Divine Interfence was applied, he could use the constellations in the night sky to change the luck of himself and his opponent, effectively managing fate itself in a head-on collision."
He paused, thinking of an issue, then continued.
"While I cannot speak about other Kings or even myself, I must insist that this is not the limit of our powers. There is no telling how great the First Sea King might've been in his prime, possibly not even the three ancient Kings could rival him."
"In conclusion to this extended lecture, I must add that there is a specific reason for my telling of this tale."
Stepping away from his podium, he pulled the condensed particle of light alongside him as he walked towards the center of the stage.
"As a man of science, I have an obligation to read you the facts of a situation and not my own beliefs or opinions. Therefore, it is as of October 39th, 3125, that I formally announce with the permission of the Oceanic Association and the Hunters' Guild, that Orion Proximus Cosmoti has perished in the line of duty."
…
There was no controlling the mass hysteria that followed the presentation by Cauron Thorn that day.
In one single hour, he had released a new discovery of a completely unexplored branch of mana that could reshape the face of the planet.
He had spoken about the applications of most normal forms of mana and how they can be effective in different situations.
And lastly, the information that shattered the world to its very core, he revealed the news about the death of the most beloved Sea King.
On the evening of the 39th, newspapers had already hit the shelves in all major cities, the telegraph lines overloading as hundreds attempted to contact the Association, demanding answers.
Aaron Grimstall, as opportunistic as he was, took this chance to escape from the madness of the city and returned to the Chrone Castle.
After the presentation, he had been the first out the door, concerned that Lord Thorn would ask him further questions, making him bolt away without looking back.
Rushing through the hallways, he turned a corner sharply, nearly slamming straight into a far too familiar face.
Solister Lune, first mate of Vaelmyr Droskyn, and the man who had helped attempt to recruit him to their cause.
W-Why again…
The tan-skinned man muttered something under his breath and grabbed Aaron's arm, pulling him along as he headed off.
Wait… No… This can't…
Every molecule in his body screamed at him to run, the feeling of death creeping down his bones like no other emotion.
However, the man's grip on his arm was uncompromising, and as he forced Aaron through various hallways and tunnels, they eventually arrived at a massive doorway.
Solister did not say anything as he pushed open the gates, bringing Aaron inside, where he finally let go, pushing Aaron onto an opulent bed.
"You're to stay here. If ya wander the hallways, then you'll have to see 'em."
His words were calm and relaxed as he patted the boy on the shoulder, smiling at him reassuringly.
"T-Them?"
Aaron's panicked voice came out stuttered, the cold touch of death still lingering on his skin, a feeling that he remembered from Sea Fallen all those months ago.
"My captain, of course! Ya won't believe how mad he was at your decline! Nearly sunk a whole damn island!"
Laughing hysterically, he bent over, finding the prospect of the destruction of land extremely amusing.
O-Oh… I really am dead…
Thinking to himself what his last words would be once Vaelmyr Droskyn broke down the door and opened a gateway straight into the Great Beyond, he stared silently at the wall.
However, as he pondered those words, a sudden thought came to mind, his brow furrowing as he looked up at the black-haired man.
"Why didn't you just bring me to my own room if you wanted me to be safe? Isn't this room kind of a bad spot?"
Freezing where he stood, Solsiter seemed to realize the obvious fact a moment after the blond boy.
"Oh yeah… That would've worked…"
Covering his face with one hand, he chuckled, then grabbed the boy by the arm again, dragging him to his feet and picking him up over his shoulder like a log.
"Alright! Let's be off!"
Unable to move or even speak, Aaron could only weep internally at what he could've possibly done in his previous life to deserve this.
…
"Two seals remain."
Azaroth Pane's voice resounded through the vast chamber filled with black-coated soldiers, rifles in their hands.
At his side, seven figures stood in black trench coats, posture straight and faces stiff as they awaited their orders.
"Raymond. As the commander of the Seven Elites, you are to take Stein Brevmore and Rose Laquis along with you to the Cosmoti Archipelago to destroy the seal there."
Nodding to the words of his master, the navy-haired man turned towards Stein, whose silver hair glistened in the sunlight.
Beside him, a girl with long white hair, undertoned with pink highlights, straightened her posture, her pink-blue eyes glistening as the attention was focused on her.
Both of the elites nodded to their mission commander lightly before turning to their master and bowing at a deeper depth.
The horned man took this with a smile across his face, his leather boots clanking loudly against the floor as he moved in front of the remaining four.
"Esme Blair, Portman Wreath, Octavia Hershlon, and finally Zarethul Fortegran. You will all head to the Lost Cavern beneath the Library of Nautilus. There is no telling what awaits you in that sealing chamber; however, you must be aware of the mythos of that land. Octavia is appointed as commander for this mission with Esme as her advisor. Her knowledge of Blackport Ridge is essential for this mission."
With a solemn nod, Octavia accepted her position, Esme following her lead while the two men bowed deeply.
The female commander had short, brown hair and dark brown skin; however, what set her apart from the rest of the elites was her unusual facial appearance.
Over her eyes, two long scars curved through the flesh, forcing them shut, sealed by scar tissue that reformed after her vision was severed.
Bowing all the way to the ground, she touched the floor, feeling the shadows creep up her arm and consume her body.
Her comrades did the same, vanishing into the darkness, leaving only Azaroth Pane and his army of riflemen alone in the chamber.
Turning to face them while standing over the balcony, his words echoed with such force that the room shook with fury.
"THE TIME HAS COME! THIS WORLD WILL KNOW THE NEW NAME OF GOD AND THE IMAGE OF HIS SOVERIGNTY WILL BE THE BLOOD OF MAN HIMSELF!"