chapter 14

Across the vast tapestry of the multiverse, powerful beings stirred, their minds reeling from the impossible. It was as if a silent quake had rippled through existence itself. To bind the Abyss… It was unthinkable. The Abyss could be fought, perhaps even driven back in desperate battles, but restrained? And by a law so fundamental that even the gods themselves could feel its weight?

In the Star Academy, a striking woman with eyes like twin moons opened her gaze wide, her pupils dilating in stunned wonder. She sat up, her gaze piercing the vast cosmos beyond her chamber's walls. Her lips parted as if to speak, but words failed her. Her heartbeat thundered as she whispered, "This… this should be impossible." Her hand involuntarily clenched over her heart as she sensed the shift in the fabric of creation.

Meanwhile, in a grand hall filled with the hum of celebration, a banquet was underway, where nobles, gods, and ancient spirits mingled under the warm glow of chandeliers. At the head of the table sat a man draped in luxurious, shimmering robes, a golden crown gracing his brow. The monarch held his goblet high—until he suddenly froze. The wineglass slipped from his fingers, shattering against the marble floor, red liquid spreading in a slow pool. His gaze was distant, fixed upon the unseen Abyss beyond the walls of his palace. "Impossible… How could this happen?" His voice was barely a murmur, disbelief etched into every line of his face.

In a hall far older than stars themselves, illuminated by a pure, radiant light, an ancient figure sat cross-legged. Though his hair was silver and his face lined with countless eons, his aura pulsed with a vigor and power that defied his years. He was a primordial god, one of the strongest in this multiverse, and his brows knitted in a rare display of confusion. Staring into the void, he felt the chains that now bound the Abyss—a feat he would have sworn was beyond any being's reach. "Who is it," he muttered to himself, his voice a rumble that echoed across dimensions, "who holds such power?"

But Lith remained blissfully unaware of the shockwaves he had sent rippling through the universe's. He turned his attention to his attire, shaping his Living Armor into a new form that suited his whim—a sleek, modern suit with a touch of dark elegance.

His shirt was black, as deep as the void, a shade so rich it seemed to absorb any light that touched it. Over this, he wore a subtly lighter black jacket, the color like charcoal brushed with starlight. The jacket's material shimmered faintly, the dark black and crimson patterns shifting like shadows dancing in a fire's glow. These patterns swirled across the jacket, each curve and edge meticulously crafted to enhance the aura of mystery and strength he radiated.

His trousers were of the same black fabric, seamlessly blending with the jacket, making it look as though the pants were an extension of the suit itself, as if forged from a single, dark substance. The crimson tracings continued down the legs, extending in sharp, angular patterns that hinted at a hidden ferocity. His shoes matched, polished black leather with a whisper of crimson sheen in their laces, completing the look.

Lith's gloves were a pure, jet black, smooth and fitted perfectly to his hands. They added a touch of refined elegance, yet anyone who looked closely would notice the power behind those hands. Hidden beneath the sleeves of the suit, embedded on the inner side of the gloves, were ten radiant gems—the same ones that adorned his Living Armor gauntlets, now seamlessly embedded into this sophisticated guise. Each gem glowed faintly, pulsing with the immense power they held, like tiny universes bound within stone.

Satisfied with his look, Lith set off toward the city he had spotted in the distance. His pace was deceptively casual; each stride covered kilometers in mere moments. As he walked, the trees blurred past, and the earth seemed to pull back to make way for him. Before long, he saw the city's walls looming on the horizon, its spires piercing the sky. Lith slowed his pace, his steps now more measured as he approached, his dark suit billowing softly in a non-existent breeze. With every step, he looked like an enigmatic figure draped in quiet authority—a shadow that had taken human form.

Unknown to the people within those walls, a being who had just shaken the very laws of existence itself was approaching, hidden behind a smirk and a pair of gloved hands.