Chapter 566: Sage’s Advice

"All of them are pieces of the Demon Rulers or the Evil Gods! Every single one has been compromised, turned into servants of forces that want nothing except our complete annihilation."

Damian’s mind flashed backward, finding the same organization names spoken by the unnamed four what felt like years ago.

But one phrase cut through everything else, refusing to settle.

’Evil Gods? What the hell is this now?’

The thought came sharp and confused.

’How many cosmic forces are fighting over our world? How many players sit at this table that I don’t even know about?’

The Sage continued without pause, his second finger rising.

"The pro nobles consist of Thorne, Langsten, Blackwood, and Evergreen families."

His voice carried something approaching contempt mixed with pragmatism.

"They are those who only seek benefits for their own families. They’ve already prepared survival backups in other worlds, secured their bloodlines’ continuation regardless of what happens here."

A pause, weighted with meaning.

"The Federation cannot survive without this faction. They possess the best healers across all our territories and the most advanced technologies we have access to."

His finger pointed at Damian again, the gesture sharp and demanding.

"So you must burn those backup worlds completely! Find every safe haven they’ve prepared and reduce them to ash!"

The command landed with quiet finality.

"And you must do it before the third calamity arrives!"

Damian’s thoughts stuttered, the phrase hitting like cold water.

’Third calamity?’

His mind raced through possibilities, through everything he’d learned.

’Is he talking about–’

But the Sage was already moving forward, his third finger rising.

"The neutral faction consists of Murdock, Vance, Eckhart, and Verratoux families."

His voice became quieter but somehow carried more conviction.

"This is the only faction which still remains truly dedicated to the survival of the Federation. The only one that hasn’t prepared escape routes or made deals with forces beyond our borders."

His hands settled at his sides, fingers spreading slightly.

"And because of that absolute dedication, because of their unwillingness to compromise or abandon our world..."

The white mask found Damian’s frozen gaze.

"They will be the first ones to be eliminated by our enemies."

His voice became harder, carrying command wrapped in urgency.

"But you must not let them fall at any cost! Do you understand me? No matter what sacrifices are required, no matter what choices you’re forced to make..."

His hands clenched into fists.

"You cannot allow the neutral faction to be destroyed!"

A pause, letting the weight settle.

"You saw it today as well, didn’t you? The Imperial Council is already under the influence of the extremists."

His voice dropped to barely above a whisper.

"If you lose even the neutrals, if that last pillar falls and only the extremists and pro nobles remain..."

The Sage’s shoulders shifted, the movement suggesting something like helplessness.

"Then the Chairman will be forced to–"

CRACK

The sound cut across the rooftop like breaking glass, sharp and sudden.

Damian’s gaze snapped toward the cube, his peripheral vision catching the woman’s form moving.

Her cane struck the dreamscape stone, the impact echoing.

"Pour everything into the formation! Burn away your reserves if you must!"

Her voice carried clearly despite not being raised, carrying command that made every seer move faster.

"The Immortal One is already beginning to break the Fate Binders! We need the seal completed before he tears through them completely!"

Damian’s attention pulled back toward the cube, toward the battle happening inside that he couldn’t see.

But hands closed around both his shoulders suddenly, gripping with surprising strength.

The Sage pulled him around forcibly, making him face the masked visage directly.

"Did you understand everything that I said?"

The question came out sharp and demanding, carrying weight that made each syllable feel important.

"The factions, the targets, the priorities that cannot be compromised?"

His fingers dug deeper, the pressure becoming impossible to ignore.

"Because what I’m about to tell you next is even more critical to your survival than anything else."

CRACK CRACK

More fractures spread across the cube’s surface, the sound growing louder.

But the Sage’s voice continued without pause, his tone becoming darker.

"Despite the extremists and the Shadow Council being incredibly powerful, despite all the resources and forces they’ve accumulated..."

His white mask somehow conveyed absolute focus despite showing no features.

"The biggest threat to us, the one enemy I fear more than any other..."

A pause that felt loaded with terrible significance.

"Has always been the Death Cult!"

The name landed like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples outward through implications Damian couldn’t fully grasp.

The Sage’s grip on his shoulders tightened further, becoming painful now.

"I have spent years trying to find the identity of their head. Decades pursuing shadows and whispers, following every thread that might lead somewhere..."

His voice dropped to barely above a whisper.

"But I still don’t know anything about them or what their ultimate goal truly is."

His hands trembled slightly, the only crack in his composure.

"So be extremely wary of them! More than any force you’ve encountered or will encounter..."

The white mask tilted closer, that void somehow boring into Damian with intensity.

"Trust nothing that seems too convenient, question every alliance that forms too easily, and never assume you know who your real enemies are."

CRACK CRACK CRACK

The fractures spread deeper across the cube’s surface, reality beginning to show through the gaps.

The Sage’s voice continued, relentless despite the time running out.

"I know you have your allies. The northern families who’ve remained loyal to your bloodline, the Military Police forces who’ve proven their dedication..."

His hands shifted on Damian’s shoulders, the grip becoming almost gentle.

"But if you must rely on someone to save your life, if everything falls apart and you need rescue that cannot fail..."

One hand rose, three fingers extending.

"Then your only options are three people."

A pause that stretched into eternity.

"Your Master, the Chairman, and... the Northern Regional Governor."

Damian’s mind stuttered, the last name hitting with confusion.

’Governor?’

The thought formed sharp and questioning.

’Why would the Regional Governor be more reliable than Director or–’

The Sage’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, as if reading the questions from his expression alone.

"You don’t need to understand the reasons behind this truth. You don’t need to comprehend the history..."

His finger pointed at Damian’s chest, the gesture absolute.

"But know this with certainty that transcends faith or logic..."

His voice became quieter but somehow carried more weight than anything he’d said before.

"Among those three, only the Northern Regional Governor is the most reliable when your life hangs in the balance."

CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK

The fractures became violent now, reality tearing at the cube’s edges.

Light began bleeding through the gaps, brilliance that suggested the battle inside reaching its conclusion.

The woman’s voice rose to a shout, carrying clearly across the rooftop.

"FINAL PUSH! GIVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE LEFT!"

The seers responded instantly, their bodies beginning to glow with power being burned from their very souls.

The star above pulsed faster, brighter, racing toward completion with desperate speed.

But the Sage’s attention never wavered from Damian’s frozen form, his hands settling back on both shoulders.

"And lastly, I leave you with one piece of advice that might be the most important thing I tell you tonight."

His voice became almost gentle, carrying something complex.

"There will be times when you would have to make the hardest of choices. Times when every option leads to suffering, when every path demands sacrifice."

CRACK CRACK CRACK

The cube began buckling, reality warping around the deepening fractures.

"Times when you might even have to sacrifice everything you hold dear, everyone you’ve sworn to protect, all the ideals you’ve built your existence around."

The Sage’s white mask tilted slightly, his next words emerging as barely a whisper.

"During those times, when the weight becomes unbearable and the darkness seems absolute..."

His grip tightened one final time, fingers digging into Damian’s shoulders.

"You have to remember one thing above all else."

CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK

The fractures spread like wildfire now, covering every surface, reality screaming under the pressure.

The Sage’s final words cut across the chaos, landing with weight that pressed down on everything.

"If you don’t sacrifice for what you want..."

A pause that felt like the universe holding its breath.

"What you want becomes the sacrifice."

The declaration hung in the frozen air for one heartbeat.

Then–

BOOOOOOOOM

The cube exploded.