The dust of the shattered firmament hadn't even settled when Armageddon straightened his massive frame, obsidian wings unfurling in slow, thunderous arcs. The corpses of the Marshal Trio still drifted like broken constellations behind him, their dissipating energies swallowed by the void he commanded.
His voice rolled through the realm like a cosmic decree:
"Ashura is now in control of this realm.
From this moment forth—this domain… belongs to him."
The air warped.
The sky trembled.
And then, as if the very realm itself responded to the declaration, five flares of ancient power erupted around Armageddon, forming a pentagon of blinding brilliance.
From each pillar of light stepped a being whose presence could warp storms:
1. Varkonn the Adamant Tyrant
A giant of platinum skin and blazing runic scars. His fists were monoliths. His aura—pure domination.
2. Shelevra the Moon-Seer
A pale woman with silver eyes that reflected every possible future at once. Veils woven from star-thread danced behind her.
3. Drogath Umberspine
An eight-winged dragon-humanoid hybrid, his scales infused with void-iron. His breath alone killed lesser gods.
4. Calystryx of the Thirteen Masks
A faceless assassin whose masks floated in orbit around him, each containing a different ancient sin.
5. Morvain the Ember Regent
A king wreathed in black fire, each step melting the fabric of space beneath his feet.
They approached cautiously—yet arrogantly—surrounding Armageddon.
Varkonn spoke first, his voice a granite avalanche:
"Intruder… before a war begins, we negotiate."
Shelevra's tone followed, soft but sharp enough to cut fate:
"You upset the balance. State your purpose."
Armageddon didn't even twitch.
He didn't look at them.
He simply said:
"Purpose?"
A beat.
Then with absolute finality—
"I'm not here to negotiate.
I am here by decree."
Every one of the five tensed, power surging as they prepared to strike—
But they never got the chance.
Because a voice drifted behind Armageddon… calm, warm, gentle—
and yet heavy enough to crush every star in Vernith if he willed it.
"I will not blame you… for what you were about to do."
The five strongest beings froze.
Armageddon bowed his head.
The air itself knelt.
The voice came again, closer now:
"But I… am the Eternal One."
The sky cracked.
Reality dipped.
Ashura stepped forward.
Unhurried.
Unbothered.
Owning every fragment of existence beneath his feet.
"I now own this realm," he said.
"And if you refuse to let that happen… you will suffer even after death."
He didn't raise a hand.
He didn't unleash power.
He simply gazed at them.
And instantly—
The five strongest beings on Vernith collapsed to their knees, choking, trembling, their powers refusing to rise… as if even their divinities feared him.
Ashura descended fully into the realm.
The cosmic winds whispered:
Balhala.
The realm.
And the planet it belonged to:
Vernith.
Ashura's voice echoed across continents, oceans, mountains, and skies—heard by all life, all races, all hearts.
"People of Vernith…"
The world held its breath.
"Submit now—and gain rewards without malice,
without slaughter of your own."
"Or resist me…"
His eyes darkened.
"…and suffer even in death."
A heartbeat passed.
Then—
One by one…
ten by ten…
hundreds…
thousands…
and then entire cities worth of beings flashed before him.
Kneeling.
Heads bowed.
Voices trembling in unison:
"We submit, Eternal One!"
Ashura raised one hand.
Black Light rippled outward.
A warm flood of power washed through all who submitted—
elevating their strength, sharpening their souls, reforging them as his people.
When the light faded, he spoke the new laws of Vernith:
Rule One.
"Do not start a fight… unless it is to the death."
Rule Two.
"If you even think about harming a child—you are already dead."
Rule Three.
"Betray me… and the grave will not save you."
Rule Four.
"Never steal power from your fellow peers."
Rule Five.
"Kill if you must—but only evil, and only the monsters who invade your lands."
Ashura took a breath.
Lifted his chin.
Then delivered the final rule—
low, smooth, threatening, and sharp enough to scar the realm forever:
"And Rule Six…"
His aura scorched the air.
"No god, king, or creature above shall ever rule this world but me."
The new era of Vernith began with that line.