Thomas leaned forward slightly, his expression composed but his eyes sharp.

"Our main focus," he began, his voice steady, "will be gathering information… and secrets."

He let the words sink in. "Power wins battles, but information wins wars. The Immortal Order will know what others dare to hide—weaknesses, hidden treasures, unspoken alliances, forgotten ruins. We will see the strings that pull the world… and decide whether to cut them or pull them ourselves."

A faint smile touched his lips. "With enough secrets, no enemy will dare move against us openly. And with enough information, even the so-called untouchable will bleed."

What he didn't say was that with the awakening of numerous ancient races and old powers of forgotten times, it had become extremely difficult to know about various ups and downs on the continent.

In fact, creating an organisation that can know secrets and have vast knowledge from small to big news is more challenging than creating the strongest power in the open.

"The most important thing right now," Thomas said, his tone shifting from explanation to command, "is to gather subordinates—many of them. Men and women who will be our eyes and ears across every city, every clan, every battlefield… and those with the strength to keep them in line."

He glanced at each of the five in turn, weighing them silently.

"I already have some people in mind," he admitted, "but you…" His gaze sharpened. "You're not ordinary. To reach your level at such a young age means you've got connections—friends, allies, perhaps even debts owed to you. Use them. This network won't build itself, and the sooner we start, the sooner the Immortal Order will be more than just a name."

"And don't worry, we just needed to build a sturdy framework, and then slowly everything will be in order."

Five of them looked at one another, then towards Thomas, nodding their heads; indeed, they knew some people who might be good choices.

Apollo, after this, finally said, "Since you will be the first group to join, you will be the leader of the five halls of the Immortal order. And don't hesitate if you know people who are from the old generation and stronger than you; just tell me, and I will handle the rest."

Apollo's gaze swept over the five, reading them with the precision of a blade tracing its target. He didn't ask them what they wanted—he had already decided.

Kael Draven. The young man's ragged hunter's garb hid an almost animal-like alertness. Twin curved daggers hung at his hips, their edges blackened with use.

With the law of speed and silence. A perfect assassin, unseen and unheard until it was far too late.

Hall of Shadows, Apollo decided. The Order's blade in the dark.

Sara.

Tall, willowy, and draped in green and black robes, she carried herself with a quiet elegance.

Hall of Venoms. A place for her and others like her—those who could kill without brute force, and whose enemies would rot before they could retaliate.

Brynn Stonefist.

A hulking figure with reddish-bronze skin and iron gauntlets. With the law of gravity, he can shatter space and turn the world upside down.

Hall of War. The Immortal Order's iron shield and crushing hammer.

Ceylin Duskwhisper.

Slender, pale-skinned, with silvery-blue hair that shimmered faintly under the light. With the law of dreams, illusion and confusion are woven into reality itself—able to twist what enemies saw, heard, and felt.

Hall of Veils. The master illusionists and deceivers who would make the real world as treacherous as a dream. A perfect leader for maintaining secrecy and maintaining secret agents.

Riven Arkell.

Bald, scarred, and wearing bloodstained robes, Riven's calm was almost unsettling.

Hall of Wrath. Warriors who would burn their bodies as fuel to bring ruin upon their enemies. It would be a place for the worst and most psychotic group of masochists, who would do anything to achieve their goals.

Iris Veyla.

A woman whose presence alone drew the eye—her bearing serene yet infinite in possibility. She understood the law of infinity, which can even boost other laws as a perfect support.

Hall of Eternity. The heart of the Order's strategy—versatile, boundless, able to turn the tide of any battle. It will be the heart of all operations.

"And lastly, Thomas, who will be the brain and the vice leader of the Immortal Order. Also don't worry; I will give you enough resources and natural treasures that others cannot disagree with you."

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist. Six storage rings shimmered into existence, spinning through the air before landing neatly in each person's hand. The faint hint of power from within made even the calmest of them tighten their grip.

Apollo leaned back, his eyes sweeping over them one last time. "These will be your halls," he said simply. "Lead them well… and the Immortal Order then will never fall."

The room fell silent. No one dared break it—not yet. Each of them felt it, in their own way: this was the start of something vast, dangerous… and unstoppable. It was a brand new beginning.

After this he gave them a runic contact device. While they all gathered people, he wanted to create an independent space which would be the headquarters of the Immortal Order.

He wanted to create a space that was in neither continent, and from there they will work on all continents of Rion.

Every continent would have its own network, its own shadows and agents. For the Eastern Continent, he already had several people in mind—trusted, proven. But the Southern and Western continents… those would require a hunt.

He then looked at Thomas. "I guess you wanted to take care of your matter first."

Thomas was surprised but nodded his head. "Yes, it's time to deal with my unfinished business."

Apollo then flickered his finger, and then a mysterious power merged with his heart, moving steadily and seeming to protect him.

"I've left a fragment of my strength within you," he said evenly. "It will shield you if your life is in danger… And, should the moment demand it, you can burn it to increase your power many times for a short time."