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Location: Celestial Throne – Pantheon Council Chamber
Kairo stepped through the gate, his body tensing instinctively as the world around him twisted. The bustling noises of Astraeus Academy vanished in an instant, replaced by a deafening silence. He was now in the heart of divine politics, the very seat of power.
The Celestial Throne was a vast chamber, floating in a void of stars. The throne itself was an impossible structure of shimmering, translucent material, suspended high above a thousand steps, but it wasn't the throne that drew Kairo's attention—it was the seven figures seated in front of him.
Each one radiated an immense pressure, a divine presence that was suffocating. They wore ornate robes, but their faces were hidden behind golden masks, their voices distorted and perfect.
This was the Pantheon Council.
"You are late, Kairo Blaze," a voice boomed from the center. The figure seated there was adorned in deep purple and black, with a faint glow radiating from their mask's eyes. "We do not wait for mortals."
"Mortals, huh?" Kairo scoffed, stepping forward with a grin. "Guess I'm the lucky one, then. I get to meet the 'gods' in person."
"You forget your place," a second voice snapped—this one low and menacing, coming from the figure to the right. Their robe was made of shifting flames. "You stand before powers that birthed worlds. You will address us with respect."
Kairo didn't flinch. "Respect? You mean like how you 'respect' the trials you send me into? Or how you 'respect' the bond with the god sealed inside me? Please. Let's skip the formalities."
A ripple of murmurs echoed around the room, but the first figure—the one seated in the center—raised a hand, silencing the others. The air grew heavier.
"You seem… confident for someone who barely survived the Final Trial," they said. The voice was calm, but there was an edge of amusement. "Perhaps too confident."
"Maybe I just got tired of being a pawn for the gods," Kairo shot back. "What do you want from me?"
The figure leaned forward, and the pressure in the room doubled. "You think you're different? You think you've beaten the system? Foolish boy. You haven't even begun to understand the power you wield."
"Why don't you enlighten me?" Kairo sneered. "I've seen you all from afar, watching like puppeteers. Let's cut the crap. What do you want? You brought me here for a reason."
Another figure, this one dressed in shimmering gold and silver, laughed—a sharp, cold laugh. "You're bold for a mortal. Or rather, a half-god."
"That's what you want to call me?" Kairo spat. "You've seen me bleed. You've seen my bond with Zerith. But I'm still just a kid trying to figure out how to survive. So, what's next, huh? Do you want me to kneel? Grovel for your approval?"
"No," the golden-robed figure answered, their voice dripping with something like satisfaction. "We want you to join us. You are a weapon, Kairo Blaze. A rare and dangerous one."
Kairo's grin faltered. "You want me as a weapon?"
"We want you as an ally," the center figure corrected, their tone chilling. "A force to stand with us. The Celestial Throne needs more than just the bloodline of the gods. It needs someone with the power to reshape the rules. Someone who can break the chains that bind us."
Kairo's pulse raced. "What are you talking about?"
A third voice—deep and unsettling, from the figure to the far left—spoke. "The gods were once free. But the Council has turned us into puppets, controlled by a system. The rules of creation, the orders of the heavens—they no longer serve us. They bind us."
Kairo's mind raced. "And you think I'm the answer?"
"Not just you," the second figure interjected. "You and the others like you. You'll lead them."
"You think I'll just fall in line like the rest of your pawns?" Kairo's eyes flickered with frustration. "I'm not your dog."
The golden-robed figure leaned forward, their mask gleaming. "You misunderstand. We're not asking for servitude. We're offering freedom—for you, for us, for all of existence."
A silence fell over the room.
Kairo's heart pounded in his chest. He had spent so long trying to survive in a world that cared nothing for him. But now? These gods wanted him—wanted him to be a part of something that could change everything.
But at what cost?
"And if I say no?" Kairo asked, voice low.
"Then you will die," the first figure replied. "We will erase you and everything you've become. The gods are not merciful."
"I thought you said I was 'too bold,'" Kairo retorted, letting a grin twist his lips. "But maybe you're not bold enough to kill me. Not while I still have Zerith's blood in me."
The Pantheon's silence was deafening.
A moment passed, and then the figure in the center raised a hand. "We will give you time to consider. You will return to the mortal realm. But know this, Kairo Blaze: The Pantheon does not wait forever."
The sigils flared around him.
A blast of light.
And then, Kairo was back.
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