Chapter 565: Artifact

The seers spread across the dreamscape rooftop, their positions forming patterns that hurt to look at directly.

Damian’s gaze tracked their movements, his mind still processing words that refused to make sense: "The ultimate path! The prophecies weren’t lies! He truly is the one we’ve been searching for!"

The whispers echoed through his thoughts, overlapping and building.

His breathing remained steady despite the questions building in his chest.

’Universe acknowledging me? Sages of all human realms have been waiting for me?’

The implications spiraled outward, each one larger than the last, refusing to fit together cleanly.

’For how long? Since when? What prophecies?’

His jaw worked slightly, the only outward sign of internal processing.

Then his head turned, finding the Sage’s masked face beside him, that white surface showing nothing.

’And he...’

The thought formed sharp and certain.

’Chose to sacrifice my family?’

His chest tightened despite his controlled breathing.

’What truth was the Hooded One talking about? What did the other Patriarchs ask? What did he see–’

His mouth opened, the question forming on his tongue.

But before sound could emerge–

WHOOSH

Force slammed into him from nowhere, invisible pressure wrapping around his jaw and sealing his lips together.

His body went rigid, muscles locking in place, unable to move despite his attempts.

’What the–’

The Sage’s voice cut through his scattered thoughts, quiet but carrying clearly across the rooftop.

"In this universe, everything that happens or will ever happen is the consequence of a choice made by someone."

The masked face remained pointed forward, watching the seers work.

"And every single choice, no matter how small it seems in the moment, ripples outward across time in ways we cannot control."

Silence fell between them, heavy with implication.

Damian’s eyes tracked the masked face, his body still frozen, his breathing controlled through his nose.

The Sage continued, his tone becoming almost contemplative.

"You know, all of this wasn’t supposed to happen so soon."

His head tilted slightly, as if looking at something beyond the dreamscape.

"You were supposed to stay in the Stormhold Academy, face the beast waves about to erupt soon, grow steadily there for months while building your foundation properly."

The masked face turned toward Damian.

"Until the moment where you would’ve finally faced Khra’gath after ascending to S rank yourself."

Silence fell between them, broken only by the seers’ voices building in intensity.

"But the moment you learned about the hell portal situation brewing in the north..."

The Sage’s voice dropped lower.

"You made a choice to come to the North."

His hand rose, fingers extending as if counting.

"Arch-Inquisitor Ezra Thorne made a choice to recommend you to the Federation High Command for the military training center."

Another finger.

"Marshal Lysander Eckhart made a choice to test you at the Mind Tower, to push you beyond what anyone thought possible."

A third finger.

"Vice Director Felix Onyx made a choice to bring you back to his home, to involve you with his family despite knowing the danger it represented."

The hand spread completely, all fingers extended.

"And finally, Agatha Onyx made a choice to bring you to Mount Aeon, where you met..."

A pause that felt loaded with terrible significance.

"Big Brother’s soul fragment."

Damian’s breathing stuttered fractionally, the only reaction his frozen body could manage.

’Big Brother?’

The thought formed sharp and disbelieving.

’He still calls Grandpa his Big Brother after betraying him?’

His hands tried to clench but the force holding him refused to allow even that small movement.

’How can he use that title so casually? How can he stand there acting like–’

The Sage continued as if unaware of Damian’s internal processing, his tone remaining level and measured.

"And here we are today, with the timeline already accelerated by years and the future more uncertain than it has ever been."

His white mask tilted upward slightly, as if looking at the stars.

"But since we’re already here and you’ve already decided to become a player in this game..."

WHOOSH

Light flashed as the lucky charm floated down from where it had been hovering above, settling into the Sage’s extended palm.

The carved wood looked ordinary now, just a simple trinket made by a child’s hands.

But as Damian watched, the Sage’s fingers closed around it, purple light bleeding from between his knuckles.

The charm began pulsing with power that made the air crack, each beat growing stronger until the radiance became almost blinding.

Then the Sage’s hand opened, releasing the transformed item.

It shot through the air like a meteor, crossing the distance between them in an instant.

WHOOSH

The charm entered Damian’s chest without resistance, passing through skin and bone as if they didn’t exist.

Warmth spread outward from where it settled, wrapping around something deeper than flesh.

The Sage’s voice carried across the rooftop with absolute clarity.

"This is now a concealing artifact. With it, you will be able to hide your presence from anyone you want. Your Aura, your power, your very existence itself can be masked completely."

His white mask remained pointed toward Damian’s still form.

"Keep it with you always. Never let it leave your body, no matter what happens."

A pause, heavy with implication.

"Now listen to me very carefully. We don’t have much time before he breaks free, and there are things you must understand about our world."

The Sage’s other hand emerged from behind his back, one finger rising to count.

"Seventeen years ago, after that night when everything changed, the Federation split into three factions."

His voice became harder, edges appearing in the careful control.

"The extremists, the neutrals, and the pro nobles."

The finger pointed directly at Damian.

"You’ve already met the extremists today. Those who have already abandoned humanity for their own survival and power."

Another pause, letting the words sink in.

"Kinsley, Cross, Ashford, and Royce families."

His voice dropped lower, becoming almost contemplative.

"Do you understand what I mean when I say they’ve abandoned humanity?"

The force holding Damian’s body loosened fractionally, allowing his head to move in a slow nod.

His crimson eyes tracked the Sage’s masked face, listening despite the rage and confusion still burning in his chest.

Because something about his tone carried urgency that transcended personal grievance.

The Sage’s finger lowered back to his side.

"Before you even think about facing the demons, before you consider yourself ready for what’s coming..."

His white mask tilted slightly.

"You must make sure to eliminate this entire faction alongside the Shadow Council, the Eternal Eclipse Society, and the Hollow Choir!"

The declarations fell like stones dropped into still water.