Timeless Assassin

Chapter 998 An Unexpected Visit

(Ru Clan Territory, The Sky-Fortress of Vassa, Mauriss’ POV)

Mauriss arrived without escort, and that, more than anything else, was what unsettled Ru Vassa.

The announcement of his presence had come scarcely an hour prior to his physical arrival, carried through formal channels yet devoid of explanation, as though he had merely decided that today was the day he would pay her a visit.

And so he stood at the gates of her floating citadel, storms gathering along the horizon as the Deceiver tilted his head slightly, studying the architecture of her ancient residence as though it were something that fascinated him greatly.

“Lord Mauriss,”

Ru Vassa greeted smoothly as he entered the throne chamber alone, her tone controlled and impeccably courteous.

“To what do I owe the honor of a personal visit on such short notice?”

Her words were warm, however, her posture was not, as between them lay more than just polished marble flooring.

*Shine*

*Sparkle*

Invisible wards shimmered faintly in layered arcs across the space separating them, subtle distortions in the air marking containment fields, spatial anchors, and displacement buffers carefully woven into the architecture itself, as it seemed like Ru Vassa was taking no chances when it came to personal safety.

‘Movement dampeners? How interesting….

Mauriss thought, as he noticed all of it instantly.

A lattice of delayed approach barriers that would prevent him from

crossing the chamber in a single step.

It wasn’t enough to defeat him, however, it was enough for Ru Vassa to open a Dimensional Portal and escape.

‘Smart girl…..

Mauriss thought as he smiled, as he walked forward casually, each step unhurried, as the wards adjusted in response to his movement, glowing faintly before settling again.

“Your precaution wounds me,” Mauriss replied lightly, his voice pleasant and almost amused.

“Must our relationship always begin with suspicion?”

Ru Vassa’s lips curved politely.

“When one entertains the Deceiver personally, prudence is not suspicion.”

She replied, as her eyes flicked briefly to the spatial distortion between them.

“It is survival.”

Mauriss chuckled softly at that, appreciating the honesty.

He did not attempt to breach the wards, nor did he test the barriers.

He simply stopped at the exact distance where the innermost layer began, folding his hands loosely behind his back as lightning flickered faintly beyond the high arched windows of the fortress.

*KABOOM*

“You can relax, Vassa, I have not come to declare war on you today,” he said calmly.

“Nor have I come to claim your territory.”

A pause.

“What I have come for….. is to discuss an opportunity.”

Ru Vassa did not relax.

But she did listen.

The Deceiver’s visits were never random.

And if he had chosen to come personally rather than send a proxy, then the matter at hand was either extraordinarily delicate….

Or extraordinarily dangerous.

She inclined her head slightly.

“Very well, go on, I am listening”

Mauriss’s smile deepened just enough to suggest that the game had

begun.

“Tell me, Ru Vassa,” he said conversationally, as though discussing weather rather than the future of gods.

“How satisfied are you… with the current balance of power?”

The wards between them hummed softly.

And for the first time since he entered, Ru Vassa felt the weight of possibility settle heavier than the threat of immediate violence.

Mauriss had not come to kill her.

He had come to move the board.

And that was far more unsettling.

“Allying with the Great Clans has brought you nothing but mediocrity

for the past 2250 years.

And to be honest, it pains me to see a woman as talented as you, rely

on those pigs like men you call allies.

I mean…..

What the hell are those guys even doing, letting the Dragon

Moltherak push them around like that?

In just three months they have already lost five planets to him, and

two to the Cult.

And within the next century I only foresee more decline for the Great Clans…..”

Mauriss began, as he used his glib tongue to try and influence Vassa’s

mind.

“It was the Universal Government before that.

And the Cult Of Ascension before that.

But the question is, when have the Great Clans ever dominated

universal politics?

I mean, yes, you guys do control vast amounts of territories.

However, when has it ever translated to true dominance?”

The Deceiver baited, as he tried to imply that the alliance of the Great Clans had been a mistake from the start.

“As long as Moltherak exists, The Great Clan alliance is never going to

be the true overlords of the universe, and without an Origin Metal Blade in your arsenal, you are never going to be able to kill that old

bastard.

However, what if, I, Mauriss were to say, I’m ready to lend you my services and my Origin Metal Blade to kill Moltherak…..

Tell me Vassa, how would you feel about that?”

Mauriss asked, as Ru Vassa could not help but feel her eyes widen at

the proposition.

“What’s the catch?”

She asked immediately, as she understood that if something sounded

too good to be true, it probably was, which was why she wanted to understand the caveat behind this proposition before weighing its

benefits.

“The catch is that I don’t see the point behind having so many Great Clans in the universe.

I say, You, Me, Mu Shen and Yu Kiro.

The four of us can divide the universe amongst ourselves.

While Kaelith, Moltherak, Lu Han and Du Trask, can all rot in hell.

Hahahahaha!”

Mauriss suggested, as Ru Vassa immediately saw through his glib

tongue and realized that Mauriss was trying to employ the old divide

and rule strategy, where he broke old alliances and pitted old allies against one another to sow maximum chaos.

However, while she did see through his strategy to potentially pit

allies against one another, what she failed to sense was his deeper technique at play, whereby he was carefully dismantling the wards between himself and Vassa, while her attention was fully drawn to his words rather than actions.