CHAPTER 414: EXCHANGE! II

The moment such words left Sun’s lips, Achilles’ eyes flashed with chilling light that made the surrounding stellar waters recoil.

His enhanced physiology radiated sudden danger...not the controlled authority he typically projected, but something far more primal and immediate!

The temperature around his throne dropped as his consciousness focused with laser precision on the implications of what had just been revealed.

Someone had acted upon his family without his knowledge or consent. Someone had made decisions that affected those under his protection, had altered the fundamental nature of beings he had sworn to keep safe from manipulation.

The air itself seemed to crystallize around his mounting fury.

Sun’s smile became more apologetic, his golden radiance dimming slightly as he raised his hands in a gesture of peaceful intention. "This is why I apologized on its behalf. Due to its nature, it thinks differently from you and I. It is nothing harmful, mind you. The Cosmic Singularity simply made another connection with one of its natives and has granted her a distinction similar to mine. Giving her the potential and power to be a tremendous force as the Cosmic Singularity rejuvenates...especially with it approaching its first Event Horizon Renewal soon."

The explanation continued with urgent precision, Sun clearly understanding that the next few words could determine whether this conversation ended in understanding or violence that would reshape everything!

"Her existence will be made grander, the breadth of her being far exceeding any other lifeforms. Nothing negative. But Ethemia has granted the distinction of Champion to your partner, Rose Adrian, for the sake of keeping its connection with you. It was viable to do so for a full native born on it. On you...nigh impossible."

Achilles’ gaze snapped toward Rose with enhanced perception that observed details he had somehow missed. She stood near Arya, watching their daughter introduce the massive Void-Born Thalassarian Sovereigns with maternal pride, her emerald hair catching starlight in patterns that now seemed subtly different.

There was something about her presence that felt... expanded. Not changed, exactly, but enhanced in ways that operated below the threshold of casual observation.

Champion of Ethemia. The title carried heavy possibilities that resonated through his consciousness. Rose had been chosen, elevated, connected to cosmic forces without her knowledge or consent...and apparently without any negative consequences, but that wasn’t the point.

The point was that decisions had been made about his family without his input.

His eyes flashed sharply as he processed this revelation, weighing the violation against the apparent benefits, the breach of trust against the significance of what had been accomplished. When he spoke again, his voice carried controlled precision.

"What else?"

Sun let out a breath of relief that spoke to tension finally beginning to dissipate. Clearly, the most dangerous part of this conversation was passing without catastrophic consequences.

"The Cosmic Singularity has tracked Records of your Lineage with fascination," Sun continued, his voice taking on excited undertones that suggested he was finally reaching information he was genuinely eager to share. "Your Father. Your Grandfather. Your Great Grandfather... and so on. The Star Seas always carry records and information, and from its identity alone, even though it is weak... Ethemia has mapped out all the records of your Lineage."

BOOM!

The words struck Achilles like revelation itself.

Complete genealogical information about every Adrastia Emperor King who had ever existed. The accumulated history, achievements, failures, and ultimate fates of a bloodline that had shaped history across eons.

"The enemies of all Adrastia Emperor Kings... the past of even the First Adrastia Emperor King. Ethemia can map all of it out for you. Ethemia can... show you."

Achilles’ eyes burned with fierce light that made the stellar waters around his throne pulse in sympathetic response.

His enemies!

Understanding his enemies’ methods, their capabilities, their weaknesses. Learning from the mistakes that had led to his ancestors’ defeats. Gaining access to the accumulated wisdom of a lineage that had once terrified entire star sectors.

The offer was almost too magnificent to be real.

After a few seconds of contemplation that felt like eons, during which stellar forces seemed to hold their breath waiting for his decision, Achilles spoke.

"Okay."

His reply was simple, but it carried the weight of acceptance. Sun received the answer with a somber and serious nod, his expression shifting to something that mixed relief with growing concern.

"I have personally seen glimpses of the enemies of your Lineage," Sun said, his voice taking on warning undertones that spoke to knowledge he wished he didn’t possess. "They are powerful beyond conventional measurement, but the Adrastia Emperor King lineage is also obscene in its capabilities...there is a reason why they sought to destroy it completely rather than simply contain it."

He paused, his golden eyes reflecting depths that spoke to awareness operating across impossible scales.

"But I can tell you now that just by stepping into outer space... your enemies have methods to know that the lineage of Adrastia Emperor Kings is active again. Even now, they might already know as word is passing through networks that span galactic distances. They have no idea where you are, but they will search with resources that dwarf understanding."

...!

Fucking hell.

The warning settled into Achilles’ consciousness like preparation for war itself!

Somewhere in the depths of space, ancient enemies were stirring from whatever hiding places they had claimed, mobilizing forces that had once been sufficient to hunt down and eliminate his predecessors.

"What should give you solace," Sun continued, his voice carrying reassurance mixed with certainty, "is that when it came to you or other powerful forces or entities out there... the Cosmic Singularity found it more ideal to be exchanging existence with you... the Ninth Adrastia Emperor King!"

The words were heavy! Among all the cosmic powers that could have claimed alliance with the last Cosmic Singularity, it had chosen him. Not because he was convenient or nearby, but because his potential exceeded all alternatives!

Well...and also because he truly was convenient, Achilles believed.

Achilles nodded slowly, his enhanced consciousness processing information.

Clear enemies. Knowledge. Power. Many things were coming into play as...

"Fuck it, lets see what happens!"

HUUM!

The Adrastia Emperor King wanted to see!