Infinite Mana in the Apocalypse

In front of a vast and nigh endless rainbow colored bridge that led into a Cosmos that seemed to be on fire.

Noah stared at the blazing Cosmos and the Universes within it as he motioned towards the group of Antiquities that stemmed from it. Each of them had a myriad of complex expressions, all of them being existences that were under the House of Stormdust this whole time as such a rapid change of leadership left them completely flabbergasted on how to proceed!

But when they faced the motioning gaze of a Daolord that had ripped apart two of those they thought to be the strongest in their Cosmos for the past 100 years…

Their hearts tightened as at the forefront, an old man with a deep gaze came forward while bowing to Noah, the Emperor Penguin, and others glancing at him curiously as he spoke.

"Daolord Osmont, this is the humble abode we have been in for most of our lives. We hope for you to lead us forward with mercy and strength…and accept us as your own."

The words of the old man were filled with wisdom and longing, expressing the thoughts of most of the powerhouses as depending on the personality of the one that ruled above them, their lives could either be fruitful or miserable in the future!

Noah looked at this being and the few hundred other Antiquities beside him as his eyes flashed with beams of light, his voice echoing out powerfully.

"That remains to be seen…and will actually be dependent on a choice you make in this next moment!"

RUMBLE!

"For me to truly lead you forward as my own…I actually need you to be so."

As he spoke, his body rose from the rainbow colored glass like surface of the Primordial Scaffolding, coming to float above the Antiquities as they gazed up towards him with differing expressions. They felt a unique essence flood out from this Daolord as it washed down over them, this not being an attack as they instead felt something trying to connect to them and take a small part of them back to the Daolord!

It was the essence of Fealty, and it was questioning them on whether they would bend the knee and truly be his people…or if they would deny.

A prompt appeared before their eyes as it asked them whether they would swear Fealty to the Tyrannical Emperor, and they had to exchange a portion of their soul to do so!

This was unlike anything they had experienced before, many looking at it doubtfully as they felt the waves of power leaking from Noah. But seeing no major source of harm coming to them with a minuscule portion of their soul and being the losers from the Writ of Challenge, these beings pledged Fealty for the sake of a smoother future.

They just didn't know that it was a choice they would come to appreciate too much in the not-so-distant future!

"I pledge Fealty to the Tyrannical Emperor."

RUMBLE!

The old man that had stepped forward was the first, and many more followed as Noah's glorious essence of Fealty sufficed throughout the surroundings. When the new Antiquities did pledge Fealty, their hearts quaked as essence raged around them madly, their Origins feeling a sense of stupendous power and strength rise within them as they began looking towards Noah with reverence and fear!

Who could cause their Origins to scream in happiness and cause their strength to rise this crazily just from pledging fealty?

"Daolord Osmont!"

The old man was once more the first as he kneeled down even deeper as he felt the mana reserves of his Origin overflow and a feeling of strength he never thought possible buzz from within his body, this Antiquity being the first as soon enough, all of the few hundred from the Anthracite Cosmos did the same!

They kneeled with reverence as they truly became connected to Noah and became his subjects.

From within Noah's original group, Oathkeeper and the Goliath looked at such a scene with wonder, an emotion that many of his subordinates felt as all of their eyes were raised towards his figure floating above them within the entrance of the Primordial Scaffolding.

He nodded his head as he locked his gaze toward the kneeling Antiquities, his voice ringing out.

"Tell me everything about the three Houses. Their relationships, their Daolords, their Forefathers…and their Family Heads."

RUMBLE!

After getting his hands on hundreds of locals that were Antiquities from the Primordial Empire, Noah questioned them for true information of this grand entity, and these newly pledged Antiquities were more than happy to be of service after they knew exactly what it meant to be bound to Noah Osmont- the Tyrannical Emperor! The Antiquity of Mana! The Daolord of their Cosmos!

—

Fate flowed as it wished as the river of time did the same.

News of the shocking event of a Writ of Challenge being lost by the House of Stormdust spread, as well as the Cosmic Banquet that would be taking place in the Golden Citadel of the Propitious Cosmos!

The existence that was at the center of attention would be attending this banquet, many beings wondering of who he was and what future this being would have.

What House will be able to swallow him? What would the response of the House of Stormdust to such an unexpected and devastating loss that cost them 2 Daolords?

There were too many questions in their air and too many possibilities, making this banquet something that many looked forward to!

When it's time neared, those invited began to prepare and set off as even those not invited…also began to make their way over.

Towards the Cosmos at the very heart of the House of Havenbreaker. Towards the Golden Citadel that didn't just represent a Universe of the Propitious Cosmos, but something even grander.

There were a myriad of Cosmos under the control of the House of Havenbreaker, but the Propitious Cosmos was one that was considered a core Cosmos loved by those of this House purely from what it represented.

From its name, it meant auspicious, bright, or full of opportunity!