The World's most Overpowered Side-Character-Chapter 463: Under the Emperor’s Hand.

After Umbra had finished his piece, Zan'el remained seated in silence staring at his hands with a perplexed expression etched into his face, Ikaris reversed the time of an entire universe for Sol, rendering herself weak and then surpassed herself of the warring past by sticking at that man's side.

These were unlike the powers the War Angel had in the past, she was not this inventive; even with her brilliant mind it was her policy to use brute force when communication and reason failed.

"Are you sure she is the same person?" Zan'el asked, raising his gaze to his visitors. "Are you sure you are the same person?" He pondered, staring directly at Umbra.

"What do you mean?"

"Giza has stated that the only difference between your soul and Sol Vestic's is that you now use a different nature of the power you call mana, his is light while yours is dark, but that was a change you underwent through pure malice and hatred of the man, my question is; How are you so sure that you are not the real Sol Vestic and the other who uses the name is not an imposter created through Divinity as a perfect clone of you with the exemption of his hatred for Ikaris being removed?" Zan'el asked and saw Umbra stir.

"And on the same note, the Ikaris that you have described is nothing like the woman I knew all those years ago, is it possible that she is some form of doppel-"

"No, I was waiting for her to make a mistake as I observed from the shadows all this time, that woman is without a doubt the same Ikaris of the past, but after the loss of her family and name she changed. Gaining divine powers, living as a Goddess, none of it excuses the fact that she is the same being, fundamentally speaking." Giza corrected his suspicion. "But as for My Lord's case, even I could not tell."

"The moment he parted from his other, they were indeed the same, wether one is real and the other fake, I do not know, or maybe they are two perfect halves which maintain originality as a whole would, I still do not know," She admitted.

"Have you ever thought of the possibility that killing one will also cause the other to die?" Kent, the First General asked raising his brow.

"That would foil my plans wickedly and I cannot guarantee I would not go on a rampage out of spite if someone did such a disservice to me." Giza looked over at him and the man felt his bones rattling beneath his flesh, witnessing his body recognise a predator before his mind even realised what was happening.

"For all our sakes, Kent, do not aggravate the woman in our presence, she is powerful enough to kill us all." Zan'el finally admitted and saw his General shift and relax in his seat with a trickle of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"If I may, Your Eminence, if she holds that kind of power then why does she need our protection?

"Pay attention, child," Giza's soured mood shifted to the Second General. "Sol Vestic has a very specific power that he nurtured for the sole reason of killing me, one I am powerless to resist, and am even drawn to, if he and I fight seriously, there is a real chance I will become undone and cease to be the present me."

"His power will change you?" Zan'el seemed surprised at what he had just heard.

"Indeed, it will alter my mind, my body and the very nature of my being will be inverted," She nodded seriously. "That is to say; I might become his ally or his slave if he catches me directly, such is the power he holds over me, so under no circumstance can I allow him to reach me, he knows this, which is why despite the astronomical difference between him and myself he still fearlessly chases us."

"And that is where I come in." Umbra spoke up. "I can use the same power of pre-origin Giza can, but I cannot be changed by him, I can fight him on equal footing if I have the time to prepare myself, but I currently lack that power..."

"So earlier when you said Sol is in pursuit because you have something that belongs to him~" Alkaios hummed in understanding.

"That is correct, Second," Zan'el relaxed in his seat and crossed his arms. "Sol is threatened by Umbra's existence because they are perfect opposites capable of destroying each other when equal, Giza took Umbra away before he was killed, he means to finish what he started before Umbra is strong enough to oppose his power, all that nonsensical talk about a Great Evil is a lie he crafted to gain support and sypathy from their enemies... and ours."

"This is nothing more than his selfish campaign to eradicate a future threat, and Giza being unable to protect the one person she desires to the most has come to us, the greatest empire that ever existed since we share another common enemy and their fight alligns with ours."

"Ikaris Vestic." Kent ground his teeth. "All this time believeing she was dead only for her to re-emerge as an even greater problem than before, I wonder how much of this she orchestrated herself."

"Who knows..."

"So then," Umbra looked across the table, seeing the Emperor nod as he prepared to stand.

"Spend your time in the Nexus nurturing and growing the power that you lack, Umbra," Zan'el stood and extended his hand to Giza. "So long as you remain under my domain, you will be my guest, and I will protect you and your Lord." He smiled at her. "And when the day comes that the enemy knocks upon our doors, we will unleash death and hell upon them."

"Thank you, Little Zan'el," Giza took his hand and smiled warmly but the man flinched when he felt the bottomlessness of her power beneath the surface of her skin. "Is something wrong?"

"No... no," Zan'el withdrew his hand and exchanged a glance with his Generals. "Alkaios."

"Your Eminence!" The man stood at attention.

"See that these two receive the best care our Empire has to offer, as of this moment they are to be treated as you would myself, their words, their comfort, their every wish and whim is to be prioritised first even above the value of your own life, to fail them is to fail me, I will take your head myself if I find your performance unsatisfactory."

"Very well," Alkaios gave the Emperor and salute and then turned to the two. "I will not fail you, Lord and Lady."

"Before I return to my duties, may I ask what you intend to do now, there are at most two or three weeks before Sol is at the heart of the Nexus, at that point you can either run again or face him, what will it be?"

"I have been on the run for over a year now, across multiple collectives and uncountable stars, when Sol is here, I will be ready." Umbra looked at Giza who nodded likewise.

"Just you wait, Sol Vestic, your greatest mistake was letting me escape, I'll make sure you burn for everthing you and that bitch did to me."