CHAPTER 410: RION’S SECRET (PART-2)

Her words shocked them, as it was too unbelievable that the universe they are living in was destroyed nine times.

"Just like that," Astraea continued, her voice steady, "Rion too has faced destruction. Or... to be exact, it regressed—entering a hidden, dormant state after every epoch, every great cycle. What you see now is not its beginning but its reawakening."

She let her words sink in, her eyes sweeping across her family. "Each time the universe collapsed and was reborn, Rion withdrew into itself, preserving its core. That is why it survived when all else perished. That is why it carries echoes of every age, every destruction, every rebirth."

"So the number of powerful ancient figures hidden in the depths of Rion is beyond what you can guess; even if it faces against the entire universe, it will still remain standing tall. Rion can be called the place where only the strongest gather."

Apollo was a bit shocked after hearing the truth and felt he underestimated Rion. It is the strongest world that survived nine epochs of destruction, and who knows how many transcendent powerhouses were birthed here?

Astraea’s gaze softened as she continued, her voice weaving between calm explanation and quiet reverence. "In fact, many of the ancient powers that dominate the universe today were not born where they stand now but were created by those who once walked Rion. Even the Sky Tower you joined, little brother—it too is said to have originated from here."

She paused for a moment, as if to let that truth settle, before adding with a faint smile, "And the Celestial Palace, where I come from, is no exception. It also traces its roots back to Rion."

Apollo and others became silent for a moment as they all slowly digested her words and were shocked to learn Rion’s secret.

After a moment of thinking, Apollo asked, "Sister, I understand what is happening, but there are many secrets, like how Rion survives when the entire universe is destroyed and who made the runic seals that cover the entire Rion?"

"And more importantly, what does the awakening of Rion mean? Could it mean something is going to happen?" he asked with a grave expression.

After a long moment of contemplation, Apollo finally spoke, his tone steady but solemn.

His words carried a gravity that pulled the atmosphere in the hall taut, everyone’s eyes shifting from Apollo to Astraea.

Astraea’s expression grew heavier. She leaned back slightly, her gaze turning distant, as though she were peering not at her brother but at countless eras stretching behind him.

"You’ve asked questions whose answers are buried deeper than most living beings can comprehend," she said at last. "But since you have reached this stage, you deserve to know at least part of the truth."

"First... I do not know the true reason why Rion has managed to survive through nine epochs. That alone is one of the greatest secrets of existence. To endure even a single epoch is already an unimaginable feat, for the more epochs one survives, the greater the dangers faced in the next.

Yet Rion... not only withstood nine such catastrophes, it even sheltered others and helped them endure."

Her voice softened, carrying both reverence and unease.

"This is why Rion has always been both feared and coveted. It is a cradle of survival, a foundation that the universe itself has never been able to erase."

"Also, just like the first, nobody knows who made the seal around Rion; maybe only those from the first epoch can know some truth. But the power of the seal is so terrifying that even the mightiest transcendent didn’t try to break it."

Her tone remained calm, almost too calm for the weight of her words.

"And for your last question, my little brother... Yes, it does signify something. Something immense. Something that matters more than anything else."

Her eyes darkened as she spoke the next words with chilling clarity. "Rion awakens and returns to its origin only when the universe itself reaches its peak... and when it begins to collapse toward destruction."

The words struck like thunder.

"What? Destruction...? You mean—the universe is going to be destroyed?"

Grandpa Williams was the first to cry out, his face paling. He had already endured countless shocks since Apollo’s return, but this... this was too much. The rise and fall of worlds was one thing, but to learn of the universe’s beginning and its inevitable end—it shattered the very ground beneath his beliefs.

Seeing this, Astraea interrupted, "Don’t worry, Father. Although the awakening of Rion means the beginning of destruction, still, we all have a lot of time, as it is a gradual process that takes tens or hundreds of thousands of years."

Hearing this, all of them calmed down and felt this made sense, as how can the universe be destroyed quickly? Even if it ends, it will take who knows how many years.

Apollo also was a bit shocked, but thankfully it seems he had a lot of time to be ready to face the catastrophe. And what really surprised him was his sister and how much she knows.

The depth of her knowledge, the calmness with which she spoke of such world-shattering truths... it made him realise that his vague suspicions about her were correct. She was no ordinary genius of the Fletcher family—she was someone extraordinary, someone who stood on a level he could barely glimpse.

The heavy topic was set aside after that. They allowed the tension to ease, turning instead to share a quiet dinner. They didn’t truly need food anymore, yet sitting together, tasting the simple flavours, and laughing lightly over small things carried a warmth that cultivation and power rarely offered. It was... novel, almost nostalgic, like a fleeting echo of ordinary life.

But as the plates were cleared and everyone began to rise, Astraea suddenly turned toward Apollo. Her expression was calm, but her eyes carried a weight that silenced him instantly.

"Stay," she said softly. "I want to speak with you alone."