The Monarch-Chapter 565: God-king

"Come, Netero! Come fulfill your orders!" Kayden spread his arms wide, his figure illuminated by the cosmic glow of distant stars. At that moment, the spectacle was being broadcast across every corner of the universe. His voice carried an undeniable authority as he called out, "Come, Marco. Do your best for the Ice Empire."

Kayden had long been aware of his employer’s schemes. His perception was unparalleled; the plans to betray him had been transparent. The souls of those around him never lied to his heightened senses.

A chuckle escaped Kayden’s lips, echoing through the void, as silence blanketed the universe. One man—arms outstretched—was challenging every mage to face him. Yet, the most unsettling part was his composure. Kayden was not driven by madness or recklessness; he was fully aware of his actions. His deliberate defiance against the universe left onlookers stunned.

"Enough. Your actions have gone too far, boy."

A mage from the Frozen Universe rose to confront him. Ranked seventh in his universe, this mage possessed an almost incomprehensible power capable of crushing those with tremendous strength. But...

BOOOOOM!

The sound reverberated across the cosmos, deafening and cataclysmic. The galaxy they inhabited was torn apart and dragged out of its orbit in a moment of pure destruction. Kayden unleashed an attack without so much as a blink. His previous limit had been a thousand conversions of mana, but now it had effortlessly reached ten thousand. The universe no longer restricted the mana he could wield—at least not as tightly as before.

The sheer volume of mana he manipulated in that instant was equivalent to 30% of an entire galaxy’s energy. Such an act was nothing short of insane. His attack tore through their galaxy and extended into three others before its force dissipated. It ruptured the fabric of space for hundreds of light-years, warping time wherever it passed. The orbits of galaxies collapsed, some colliding with one another in catastrophic cascades.

One galaxy’s spatial axis was obliterated, leading to its complete annihilation as black holes spontaneously emerged, swallowing its remnants without warning. The mage who had risen against Kayden didn’t leave so much as a trace of his essence behind.

"Is that... a mortal?"

The gods themselves erupted in disbelief. Their carefully laid plans to eliminate Kayden were now in shambles. The risk of making him an enemy was too great. Accepting his existence seemed like the only viable option. The power he had just demonstrated surpassed mortal limits. It approached—no, surpassed—the threshold of godhood.

The thought of Kayden reaching the ninth realm filled them with dread. His strength would become unrivaled, not just by mages but by any being in existence. There would be no competition, no equal—though, even now, the gap between him and others was vast.

With a single movement, Kayden plunged four galaxies into utter chaos. He obliterated one as though it were a mere child’s toy. No one could muster a response. Words failed in the presence of such overwhelming might. Slowly...

"I salute the Mage King of this universe!" Han’s voice broke the silence, his proclamation resonating across the cosmos. His words carried not only reverence but a physical demonstration of submission—his mana bowed alongside him. To have one’s magic kneel was the highest form of respect a mage could offer.

"I salute the Mage King of this universe!"

"I salute the Mage King of this universe!"

"I salute the Mage King of this universe!"

Dozens of voices rose in unison with Han’s, some of them belonging to demigods. Even mages of the Ice Empire joined the chorus. There was no resentment or animosity toward Kayden; such emotions required being on an equal footing, and none were close to his level of strength. A mage of the first realm was closer to a ninth-realm mage than any of them were to Kayden.

"I am no one’s king," Kayden replied, his voice calm yet final. And with that, he vanished, leaving the universe in a state of disarray.

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The emergence of Kayden brought the Great War to an abrupt halt, lasting several years. The fear of having their territories destroyed was palpable. No mage dared to make bold moves, for the risk of drawing Kayden’s ire was too great.

One man had single-handedly paused an entire universe’s war through his mere presence.

After that day, no mage heard any news of Kayden. Not a single trace of him remained as if his ascension had been nothing more than a collective dream. But the memories of his attack—the sight of him obliterating an entire galaxy as if it were a toy—remained vivid in the minds of the universe’s greatest mages.

The gods, meanwhile, were in turmoil. Most returned to the pursuit of power as if their days were numbered. Among them was Yan, who had fallen prey to the sin of pride. He had never considered Kayden a genuine threat. But now, everything has changed.

Kayden, however, wandered the void, contemplating his next steps. During his millions of years in the Ice Universe, he had acquired privileged information and techniques, one of which was the ultimate secret of the tenth-realm mages.

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A Distant Memory

"Are you Kayden Heart?"

The voice belonged to an old man who entered the room where Kayden resided in Marco’s city. His presence was ancient—an aura that exuded time itself. His soul was dozens of times older than Kayden’s, making him the most ancient mage Kayden had ever encountered.

His strength, at best, rivaled Jormund’s. But Kayden understood the difference between apparent and hidden power. This man possessed knowledge so vast it could dwarf even Netero’s. In fact, Netero’s age wouldn’t qualify him to be this man’s great-grandchild.

The old mage’s figure was gaunt and hunched, his parchment-like skin marked with wrinkles that told tales of centuries past. His snow-white beard and hair cascaded down to his waist, swaying softly with every motion. His deep, icy blue eyes seemed to reflect an eternal winter, holding secrets buried beneath layers of frost.

His very presence altered the air around him, bringing a sharp chill that froze the ground beneath his feet. A faint mist followed his movements as if the air itself carried his whispered knowledge. Even in his humble posture, his aura radiated an abyss of wisdom and power—a presence only fools would dare challenge.