Orion and the Primordial System

"So, Your Majesty, do you want to take the geniuses and others to a different continent? Why can't they flourish to their full potential here, where we are?" asked one of the Council Elders, his voice wary but respectful.

Orion, sitting on his imposing throne, watched the council members calmly. His hand rested on his chin, while his eyes shone with the light of a calculating mind.

"Yes," he said, his voice ringing with the authority of one who had already contemplated all possibilities. "The Aetherion continent is not conducive to cultivation. Even with all the support the Empire's academies offer, the students are unable to cultivate satisfactorily. The Qi in this environment is depleting, preventing them from reaching their true potential."

A heavy silence fell over the council chamber. The elders exchanged glances, pondering their emperor's words. Orion was not known for making rash judgments. Every move, every decision he made had major implications, and if he was talking about a problem of this magnitude, they knew he had already thought of solutions.

"Your Majesty," another elder intervened, a man with long white hair and a rigid posture, "what is your proposal to deal with this Qi shortage? Relocating all the geniuses to another continent will not be an easy task, and the costs... can the Empire bear them?"

Orion rose from his throne, his presence dominating the room even more. "The costs are irrelevant in the face of the Empire's future. Aetherion no longer offers what we need. I have already located a more suitable place... the Celestium continent. Its atmosphere is rich in Qi, its energy dense and pure, ideal for advanced cultivation. There, our geniuses and promises will have the chance to reach heights that Aetherion could never provide."

The elders murmured among themselves, trying to absorb the information. Celestium was a continent known, but also feared, due to its mysterious and wild nature. Legends said it was inhabited by ancient creatures, beings of pure power. Sending the Empire's geniuses there was a huge risk, but the reward was also incalculable.

"We understand, Your Majesty, but… what about safety?" the same elder asked. "If the legends about Celestium are true, our young geniuses may face dangers. How can we ensure that they will be protected?"

Orion smiled slightly, his expression conveying both confidence and mystery. "Celestium is wild, yes, but it is also a place where the strongest flourish. We will send experienced guardians and high-level masters to protect and guide the students. Furthermore," he paused, his gaze hardening, "I myself will establish a base there. With my presence, Celestium will become a new jewel of the Empire."

The elders looked at each other, surprised and impressed. Orion was known for his exploits, but personally taking on such a grand mission was an act of leadership few could have expected.

"Then it is decided," Orion said, returning to his throne, his voice reverberating throughout the room. "Make preparations for the transfer. The best and brightest will go to Celestium. The fate of the Empire will be sealed there."

With that, the elders bowed and left.

---

"So, what will become of the Empire on this continent, my dear?" Lyra asked, her eyes wandering around the luxurious surroundings of the restaurant.

Orion and Lyra were sitting in one of Eryndor's most prestigious establishments, enjoying a quiet meal.

"Eryndor will stay and grow here... I want the Empire to dominate the entire continent in a few years," Orion muttered thoughtfully as he cut a piece of steak.

"But if we allow these promising students to be forgotten, it will be a waste," he commented, putting the piece of meat in his mouth with an expression of slight displeasure.

"And what do you intend to do, going to another continent so soon after returning from your last trip? The Empire needs you here," Lyra replied, wiping her mouth delicately with her napkin.

Orion sighed. "I'll leave the Empire in the hands of another 'me'. My divine ability allows me to multiply myself billions of times... and yet here I am, dealing personally with Eryndor because of a whim to prove I could do it all alone. How ironic," he muttered, with a hint of frustration.

"I'll go with you?" Lyra murmured, her expression thoughtful as she watched the wine glass move smoothly in his hand.

"Yes," Orion replied with a slight smile, his eyes fixed on hers. "I want to build something on the new continent, something quick and efficient. It will be a support base for the new talents that emerge in Eryndor. And then, we have another destination... but first we will settle the affairs of the geniuses in Celestium," he added, letting a hint of mystery hang in his words.

Lyra frowned slightly, her fingers drumming softly on the table as she thought. "Hmm..." She looked away for a moment, focusing on a fixed point on the polished wood. "Are we going to another universe?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity, but also of a slight realization.

Orion let out a low laugh, leaning forward. "Ahh... it was supposed to be a surprise," he said, dramatically placing his hand on his heart, feigning an expression of exaggerated pain. "But you glimpsed the future again, my dear."

He looked at her with admiration, knowing that there was no way to hide anything from her for long. Even before she ascended to Void Primordial, she had guessed everything Orion planned on his journeys, even now that her gifts of perception transcended the limits of Space-Time and destiny, and that, at times, was becoming difficult to surprise her. Even so, there was something in Lyra's soft smile that he adored, that mixture of mystery and certainty that made their journeys always seem new, even when she already glimpsed what was to come.

Lyra smiled slightly, turning back to face him. "So, another universe... that'll be interesting," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with anticipation.

After finishing their meal, Orion and Lyra walked out of the restaurant, walking hand in hand. The contrast between their imposing presence and the fact that they didn't attract attention was striking, as if the residents of Eryndor, accustomed to the couple's grandeur, saw them as just another part of the everyday landscape. However, they walked in perfect unison, their soft footsteps echoing through the cobbled streets, while the sky above began to take on the soft glow of dusk.

The silence between them was comfortable, but Lyra, always deep in thought, pursed her lips slightly before speaking. "I was in the library recently," she began, her voice low, almost introspective, "and now that I have complete control of the Void within my body... I have come to realize that my role in creation is, in fact, more as an observer, monitoring the void between universes. But so far, the Primal Chaos has not notified me of this 'job'..."

Her brow furrowed in a slight sign of frustration, a rare sight. Orion watched her with an understanding smile as the gentle breeze blew her hair.

"You need not worry about that," he said, his tone comforting. "Your followers have been working on the balance between universes since before the Void had a Primordial. They are more than capable of dealing with any imbalance."

Lyra looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of apprehension and acceptance. "And I would only need to intervene if something came up that they couldn't handle..." she murmured, as if seeking confirmation rather than revelation.

Orion nodded slightly, squeezing her hand more firmly as they walked down the tree-lined avenue. "Exactly. Your role goes beyond immediate action... it's about ensuring that the balance is maintained, but you know that you will only be called upon if something threatens to break that cycle."

Silence settled between them again, but this time it was lighter, filled with mutual understanding. The connection between Orion and Lyra felt almost tangible, and even though the world around them continued on its course, for them, every moment together was a new discovery.

---

At the end of the month, the long-awaited day of departure for Celestium arrived without incident. Young and old left the empire discreetly, like shadows gliding through the streets, setting off on a silent and deliberate march towards their destination. Over the next week, they made their way through mountains and valleys, their journeys marked by determination and anticipation of what they would find in Celestium.

Now, standing on the top of a mountain, two young men gazed thoughtfully at the vast forest that stretched out below, their minds occupied with the challenge ahead.

"Master wants us to capture and tame bird-type monsters to cross the path to the sea," one of the young men commented, his voice filled with seriousness as he watched the treeline dance in the wind.

The other young man, clearly less enthusiastic, sighed heavily, letting his shoulders slump. "Ahh... why me? Damn it... I just wanted to rest," he muttered, visibly frustrated, as he kicked a stone out of the way carelessly.

The two were part of the select group of geniuses who were on their way to Celestium, promising young and talented students of the Dao Temple of Taming.

Andrick yawned deeply, the sound echoing along the mountainside like a soft whisper in the wind. "Haaah... then let's go, Mr. Third-Ranker," he muttered, jumping unhurriedly from the edge of the mountain with his hand behind his head in a lazy gesture.

Angelo, irritated, just pressed his lips together and followed his friend in silence.

The pair entered the dense forest, their steps sinking slightly into the damp leaves that covered the ground. The breeze carried the smell of earth and moss. Along the way, Angelo kept his eyes alert, observing every movement around him, while Andrick followed with his hands in his pockets, barely paying attention, lazily dodging the low branches.

"If I had known this mission was basically a walk in the forest, I would have brought a pillow," Andrick commented, chuckling to himself.

"If you don't get better soon, you'll end up killed by one of those creatures," Angelo replied, discreetly pointing to a beast lurking in the shadows. But they both knew that that wasn't their target. Their real prey awaited them in the heart of the forest.

Andrick sighed, unrolling his shoulders and yawning again, as he continued walking at a slow pace. The forest seemed to breathe around him, with the sounds of insects and animals echoing all around. "Couldn't you get some easier job? Like... I don't know, someone paying to sleep for a week?"

As Andrick rambled on, Angelo suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on a point ahead. Without saying anything, he shot through the forest at an absurd speed.

"Ah, there he goes again..." Andrick rolled his eyes and continued at a pace that, to him, seemed "normal", but was extremely slow compared to Angelo.

In the heart of the forest, the vegetation became denser and the shadows grew longer. Angelo advanced quickly, his sharp eyes focusing on the imposing silhouette of a winged monster that flew over a clearing. It was a giant creature, its membranous wings flapping vigorously, creating gusts of wind that made the nearby trees sway. The monster roared, releasing a shrill scream that reverberated through the trees.

"Finally," Angelo muttered, his eyes shining with determination. With a swift movement, he drew his energy sword, which flashed in the air before being raised towards the sky. A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, amplifying its power. "Slicing Wind Style: Celestial Sword Dance!"

In the blink of an eye, he was launched into the air, his swords creating a trail of sharp blades like cutting wind. The winged monster roared, quickly dodging and lunging at him with its enormous claws.

Meanwhile, Andrick finally arrived at the scene, scratching the back of his head and watching the battle from afar with a bored expression. "Okay… so he started without me… Sure." He leaned against a tree, watching for a few moments before yawning again. "Well… if you need help, I'll come in."

Angelo, on the other hand, was completely immersed in the fight. He spun in the air, unleashing a series of rapid attacks. The blades of wind hit the creature's wings, which screamed in pain and slashed with its tail to push him away. Angelo dodged, spinning in the air and descending at high speed for a counterattack. "Violent Storm Style!" A vortex of wind swirled around Angelo, creating a tornado that advanced towards the beast.

The winged monster, however, was no ordinary opponent. It raised its head and opened its mouth, launching a wave of black flames at Angelo's tornado. The clash between the two powers shook the ground, and both were pushed back.

"Wow, that was strong," Andrick commented, watching the scene with a smirk on his face. "I think I'll give it a little help before it burns up."

With a lazy sigh, Andrick stood up and walked slowly towards the battle. He reached his hand towards the sky, muttering something under his breath. "Ultimate Sloth Style: Slow Kick Strike." His feet began to glow with a blue light, and with an almost casual movement, he launched a kick into the air. The blue light formed a thin, almost invisible line that snaked towards the winged monster. The creature didn't even notice the attack, until suddenly, its body was thrown back with absurd force, as if it had been hit by an invisible train.

Angelo, still in the air, looked at Andrick in disbelief. "Really? A... lazy kick?"

Andrick just shrugged, smiling. "It works, doesn't it?"

-jump

The winged monster roared in pain, its wings flapping frantically as it tried to recover. But the impact of Andrick's kick had broken one of his wings, and now he was stuck on the ground, trying to get up.

"Finish this, Angelo. I still want to sleep for the rest of the day," Andrick commented, as he leaned back against a tree.

Angelo took the opportunity and came down with all his strength, his wind sword cutting the winged monster in half with one last precise blow. The creature's body fell, and the sound of its broken wings echoed through the forest.

"There," Angelo said, panting, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Andrick, already almost asleep, just gave a thumbs-up without opening his eyes. "Good... now... let's rest and then continue."

Angelo just rolled his eyes at his lazy friend.