The Monarch-Chapter 554: Potential

Kayden tore through the fabric of space, arriving near the planet’s core in a series of effortless leaps. His thoughts were scattered, his focus elsewhere, and his aura—raw and unchecked—flooded the surroundings. It had been eons since Kayden last released his full presence, leaving even seasoned mages completely unaware of its sheer magnitude. The moment he appeared, it felt like an omnipotent sun had risen above the city. None of the gathered mages, not even those at the ninth ray and ninth realm, could move. They were frozen, overwhelmed by the oppressive force emanating from him.

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"Thoth," Kayden called out absentmindedly. Instantly, the mage materialized beside him, entirely unaffected by the oppressive aura.

"Kayden," Thoth greeted, his voice calm but curious. "What happened to your aura?"

Despite his extensive knowledge, Thoth had no real grasp of Kayden’s true power. And yet, every glimpse into Kayden’s capabilities seemed to stretch the limits of Thoth’s expectations. The question caused Kayden to withdraw his aura abruptly, leaving the atmosphere clear again.

"Just a lapse," Kayden replied dismissively, his tone neutral. "What can you tell me about laws that require millions of other laws to form?"

Thoth arched an eyebrow, his surprise barely concealed. "Who told you about such things?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of concern. Information on primordial laws wasn’t meant to be accessible in a mid-tier universe.

"I encountered one," Kayden admitted, though his explanation was deliberately sparse. "But that’s beside the point. Share what you know, and we’ll call it even for the debt."

Thoth regarded him thoughtfully before responding. "The universe is built on laws. The more laws a single law encompasses, the closer it gets to the foundational principles of existence. A law composed of millions of subsidiary laws would be considered mid-tier in high-level universes. But here…" He paused for emphasis. "Here, it’s like unleashing a nuclear bomb on an ant colony."

Once again, Thoth’s insights reminded Kayden that the mage’s knowledge extended far beyond what he could fully comprehend.

"Universes?" Kayden pressed, hoping to extract more information, but Thoth simply smiled enigmatically.

Realizing this line of questioning wouldn’t yield further answers, Kayden let it drop. He did not need such knowledge at the moment. Just as he prepared to leave, he felt a familiar presence—one he hadn’t encountered in ages.

Netero.

The timing was uncanny. At the precise moment, Kayden emerged from his seclusion, the semi-divine mage arrived at the edge of his zone. It was as if the event had been meticulously orchestrated. And Netero wasn’t alone. Within moments, a dozen semi-deities appeared, their energies cascading across the region. In mere minutes, they began converging toward Kayden’s location.

Kayden remained where he was, observing them in silence as they approached. Among the group, one other stood on equal footing with Netero in terms of strength. The rest ranged from mid-tier to weaker semi-deities.

When they neared the planet, Kayden rose to meet them, with Thoth close by his side. His aura was completely suppressed, leaving no trace of the immense power he wielded. Expressionless, he floated into the skies to greet the visitors. The ten semi-deities eyed him warily, waiting for some sign of action. Yet Kayden gave them nothing. His presence was devoid of hostility, his aura non-existent.

"Kayden," Netero finally spoke after a tense silence. "It’s been some time since we last met." He turned slightly, offering a respectful nod. "Master Thoth."

Interestingly, Netero’s deference to Thoth far exceeded the respect he afforded Kayden.

Thoth’s reputation preceded him. Though an enigma to most, he was widely known—and feared—across multiple universes. To those in the upper echelons of power, Thoth’s name was synonymous with mystery and unparalleled cunning.

"What can we do for you?" Thoth asked, his tone polite yet firm. Meanwhile, Kayden studied the semi-deities’ auras. There was a faint aggression simmering beneath their composure, hostility barely concealed behind polite facades.

"We bring a warning for Kayden Heart," Netero announced, his voice growing solemn. "The gods have declared your existence a threat to this universe. One of their most esteemed seers has foreseen you bringing ruin to this realm in the distant future. Moreover, your past crimes against the gods’ offspring have not gone unnoticed. For these reasons, the council of gods has tasked us with the mission to end your life."

The proclamation unveiled several truths to Kayden.

First, the gods still maintained some form of contact with this universe—perhaps recently re-established. Second, his long-standing enmity with Yan and Amanda was likely at the root of these charges; the other gods had no real connection to him. Lastly, being deemed a universal threat only confirmed to Kayden that he was finally on the right path.

"Is that all?" Kayden asked, his calm demeanor unshaken despite the gravity of the threat.

"When the allotted time given to your zone expires, we will strike," Netero said gravely. "I hope you understand—this is nothing personal, Kayden."

Netero’s sincerity was evident. Despite the grim task at hand, he seemed genuinely regretful. To him, Kayden had been one of the most valuable allies he had ever encountered.

"It’s fine," Kayden replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "I always expected you to be the gods’ lapdogs."

The statement, though factual, landed like a dagger. It wasn’t an insult, nor was it spoken with malice. Yet its bluntness struck a nerve among the semi-deities.

"There’s no point wasting words with a dead man," one of them muttered before vanishing. The others followed suit, disappearing one by one until only Netero remained.

"It’s unfortunate things had to end this way," Netero said quietly. "I wish you a better next life." And with that, he, too, disappeared.

Kayden watched them leave, his mind more focused than ever. The encounter only solidified what he already suspected—he had found the right path. The Law of Balance was the key to ascending to unimaginable heights. The moment he began to truly perceive it, predictions of his potential strength had reached even the gods, forcing their intervention.

To Kayden, the conclusion was clear.

They were afraid.