CHAPTER 243: DUST BEFORE THE THRONE

Meanwhile, as Nathan, the First Commander of Earth, was entangled in a nauseating drama, far away in the cosmic realm unreachable by mortal beings, sat an absolute entity—The One Above Everything.

He rested upon his throne, his entire form hidden beneath a hood and a white robe. He was the father of all beings called the one who made...

Now, The One Who Made Learth—the sworn enemy of Earth in the dimensional war—was granted the opportunity to meet The One Above Everything. He presented his claim regarding the deceit of The One Who Made the Earth, whose actions had turned what should have been a concluded dimensional war into an endless cycle, denying his planet’s rightful victory from ever being recognized as legitimate.

His words were heard by The One Above Everything, who was accompanied by two Messengers at his side. With his throne and absolute authority, he decreed compensation for Learth, the dimension destined to oppose Earth, as reparation for the deceit committed by The One Who Made the Earth.

At the same sacred moment—a mystery that would determine the fate of Earth—

Nathan still faced Rion, the Guildmaster of WhiteSnake. Validia, who had healed Nathan’s father, had now become the center of attention. David was astonished, for Validia had cured the poison crafted by the Guildmaster himself.

What? She can heal it? Could it be that her repair skill isn’t limited to inanimate objects? If that’s the case, she could become a major asset for Blue Fang... he muttered inwardly.

Lady Rion hissed, her face twisted with hatred.

"You dare disgrace WhiteSnake... Do you think you can leave here alive?"

From the shadows of the chamber, WhiteSnake members emerged one by one. Heavy footsteps echoed, weapons drawn, the murderous aura thickening the air.

Nathan exhaled, this time in sheer disgust.

"What a waste of time..."

His hand rose slowly. No incantation, no sword—yet the very air in the room constricted like a vice. Rion’s body was suddenly lifted, her neck caught in an invisible grip.

"Ughhh!" She struggled, but her body was bound tight.

Braak!

Nathan slammed her to the ground. The floor quaked. The sharp crack of bones rang out. Once. Twice. Three times. Her body shattered, gasping, eyes bulging in terror, her eyeballs nearly forced from their sockets under the brutal impact.

"A-Astagh...!" Nathan’s father, newly freed from his bonds, froze in shock. He opened his mouth to speak, but upon meeting his son’s gaze, realization struck. Nathan was no longer a child. No—he was already a man. There was no need to hold him back anymore.

"Validia." Nathan turned, his voice cold.

"Heal her."

Validia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. A soft glow enveloped Rion’s mangled body, closing her grievous wounds.

Nathan wasted no time. Braak! Once again, he slammed her into the ground. Blood sprayed as her screams tore through the chamber.

"Again." Nathan commanded. Validia obeyed without hesitation.

Rion sobbed, trembling, her tears mixing with blood.

"Spare me... p-please... forgive me..."

Nathan lowered his head, his voice like a blade cutting through every ear in the room.

"Do not toy with me again. Or your pleas will never be heard."

Silence. The WhiteSnake guild members who had stepped forward now stood frozen, jaws slack. None dared move.

David bowed his head, his face pale. I once thought him a coward... but I’m not even worthy to stand at his side.

Sophia bit her lip, her face taut. She dared not speak—the only thing she felt was fear.

Validia’s gaze lingered on Nathan, her lips curving faintly. In silence, she rejoiced: Nathan was no longer a boy drowning in doubt.

At last, his father stepped forward.

"Thank you, Nathan..." His voice was heavy, filled with relief.

Nathan gave no reply. He simply turned away.

"We’re going home."

They left the WhiteSnake headquarters. David, ashamed and terrified, could do nothing but start the car. Together, they drove back to Nathan’s home.

In the tower’s surveillance chamber, Lilith lounged casually in her chair, one leg folded up, fingers gliding over the blue panel hovering before her. Her smile was mischievous as always—the vibe of a "naughty mother" who adored her son.

Ruby must really be missing Nathan, she thought, eyes fixed on the panel that showed Ruby shaping clay dolls, accompanied by Velmora—stern, yet not cruel.

Suddenly, the panel shuddered. A blinding white light stabbed into her cosmic vision.

[ System Notification: Lilith, Guardian of Earth. Prepare yourself. You have been chosen to represent The One Who Made the Earth in the Nullin Realm. ]

Her smile vanished. Lilith’s eyes widened, her body tensed.

"Hah? I... represent who? You’ve got to be kidding me."

The panel kept vibrating, unmoved by her protest.

[ The Nullin Realm is the absolute domain of the Father of All—the One Above Everything. All cosmic disputes shall be settled there. ]

Lilith sprang to her feet, her chair clattering to the floor behind her.

"No... impossible. This is madness. I may be the Guardian, but I’m still just a creation! I am not him! I can’t create, I can’t weave reality as flawlessly as the Ones..."

For the first time, the playful tone was gone from her lips. Genuine fear broke through her dominant facade.

"I’m nothing but a doll... a puppet of The One Who Made the Earth’s will. How could I possibly represent a Creator’s cosmic standing?"

But the panel allowed no negotiation. System text continued to flow—cold, absolute.

[ Absolute command. Prepare yourself. The fate of Earth is at stake. ]

Lilith bit her lip, bitterness washing across her usually confident beauty.

"If I make one wrong move... Earth could be destroyed today."

And in the distance, a fracture of black light began to split open—the gate to the Nullin Realm, slowly pulling the Guardian of Earth toward a domain she wasn’t even sure she could survive.

As her body was drawn inside, the light of the Nullin Realm consumed all vision. Slowly, the space revealed itself—an endless expanse where dead stars hung suspended in silence, as though time itself had ceased.

At its center loomed a throne beyond measure. Its immensity crushed all sense of self; before it, Lilith—who had never once bowed to fear—felt as small as dust.

The figure upon the throne was robed in white, face unseen, yet His aura alone pressed down upon every strand of her existence. Lilith’s breath faltered, her knees weakening. For the first time in her guardianship, she knew the weight of utter insignificance.

Then—another voice.

Not from the throne.

From her left.

It broke through the stillness like rolling thunder, echoing not in her ears but in her very soul. Lilith turned, her cosmic gaze trembling. There, veiled in shadow, stood The One Who Made the Learth. His words carried the cadence of judgment, heavy and absolute.

"O creation... child wrought by My cosmic brother.

Why did your Maker defile the Dimensional War?

Why did He twist what was sacred into an endless cycle?

Why must victory be stripped from Learth, when by right it should have been sealed?"