Chapter 789  The Last To Know

(Within the Time Stilled World, Chaosbringer's POV, Skyshard City)

The last to receive the news about Soron's return was Chaosbringer, who sat alone in his office that afternoon, idly sorting through the routine stack of reports arriving from the outer universe, until one particular document caught his attention, its seal marked in red and its texture slightly rougher than the rest, as though it had been sent in great haste.

He reached for it almost absently at first, his mind still half elsewhere, but the moment he read the first few words, the air around him seemed to still.

"Urgent Report.

Subject: Return of Lord Soron."

The title stared back at him with an authority that made his pulse quicken, as he immediately unrolled the parchment further, his breath slowing, his heartbeat growing louder with every line that followed.

"Respected Seventh Elder, it's with great pleasure that I inform you of Lord Soron's return and the recapture of Ixtal, as it seems like our darkest days are behind us. The Righteous Faction garrisons stationed there have been completely annihilated, their Commanders erased from existence within seconds.

The Lord's descent was witnessed across multiple star systems, and word has already spread through the GalaxyNet like wildfire.

Cult Civilians across the neutral systems are in celebration.

Many of the displaced are preparing to return to Ixtal, calling it divine providence as it seems like after so many months of despair, hope has finally returned to our people."

The letter ended there, signed by one of his most trusted informants, who couldn't help but add a few joyous comments amidst the report.

Chaosbringer leaned back in his chair, staring at the parchment as though unsure whether he was dreaming or not.

For a few seconds, silence filled the chamber, broken only by the faint hum of the mana heart devices that purified the air around him.

Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face, not of disbelief, but of joy so raw it almost felt unreal.

"Old God…" he whispered, his voice trembling with relief. "You actually came back."

He slammed his hand against the desk, laughing quietly to himself as if unable to contain the surge of emotion within him.

The tension that had lingered in his shoulders for years began to ease, replaced by something he hadn't felt in ages— hope.

*Jump*

He rose from his seat abruptly, pacing across the room as his mind raced with possibilities.

"If he's back, then everything changes. If he's back then we can finally afford to slowly come back out."

He said, as he gazed outside the window where the floating spires of Skyshard City shimmered under the eternal twilight of the Time Stilled World.

The people below still moved at their slow, deliberate pace, unaware that beyond the temporal veil, their Great God had returned, as Chaosbringer clenched his fist, determination flashing in his eyes.

"I must inform Lord Boss of this development at once"  he muttered, already moving toward the door.

"The Lord was so desperate to locate the Old God all these years, I'm sure he will be happy to hear that he's back."

Chaosbringer mused, as with that he rushed outside to catch a transport craft.

—----------

(Isolated Mansion, Leo's residence)

It took Chaosbringer a solid twenty minutes to reach Leo's residence despite taking the fastest transport craft available.

However, even then, the craft's engine began to sputter and fail when it reached a one kilometre proximity to the mansion, as Leo's ever dangerous aura affected its mechanics.

*Sputter*

*Jerk*

Jerking and sputtering violently, the jet had to make an emergency landing, after which Chaosbringer was forced to move by foot, as he sweated and struggled against Leo's aura.

"The Lord's pressure…. It's getting increasingly difficult to bear with time.

My old heart can't take this anymore.

A couple such trips each month and my life feels like it's being cut short by a year."

Chaosbringer complained, as he panted heavily with each step he took.

*Step*

*Step*

It took him another fifty minutes of intense struggle just to reach the boundary to Leo's door, at which point he became drenched in sweat from head to toe.

"It disgusts me that I show such an untidy version of myself to the Lord, but it can't be helped.

This news must be delivered at once."

He muttered under his breath, as he knocked once on the door, only for a deep voice to answer from within.

"Come in,"

Said Leo from the other side, as Chaosbringer walked in and kneeled, his expression relieved at finally being able to give his tired legs a rest.

"My Lord, I come bearing some urgent news."

He said, as Leo looked down at him from his throne, his expression pitiful, as he empathized with Chaosbringer, the poor common man who was forced to endure his oppressive aura.

"God Soron has returned to Ixtal, and it looks like the Cult Capital has been reclaimed by him!

Our surviving citizens are celebrating his return, and the Righteous Faction seems to have been thrown into chaos and disbelief because of it,"

Chaosbringer said in a single breath, his tone trembling between disbelief and excitement, as Leo lifted his eyes slightly at the news, the faint glint in them betraying a spark of emotion that hadn't surfaced in a long time.

For a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of the news settling like thunder in the still air. Then, slowly, a quiet smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Soron's back?" he said softly, almost to himself.

"That must mean he succeeded in refining the metal..."

He concluded, as he exhaled sharply, the breath laced with both relief and satisfaction, as if a long-awaited balance had finally begun to restore itself.

"Chaosbringer, I have an important task for you.

You must personally seek Soron out and deliver my message to him." Leo continued, his tone growing firmer, colder, yet alive with purpose.

"Tell him that I'll be coming soon, and that together we must save Veyr.

The Dragon's execution cannot be allowed, and that I might have a plan to save Veyr with his cooperation."

Leo informed, as Chaosbringer bowed his head low, determination flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, my Lord, it shall be done as you please" he replied quietly before turning to leave, as he mentally prepared himself to move out of the Time Stilled World after several decades.