In every universe, in all planes—from the mortal realms to the silent dominions of the Sovereign Primordials—the curtain of light cast by Vatae burned through the skies.
The battle was no longer hidden.
It was public.
All beings watched.
And now, they had to choose.
---
In the Emerald Universe, the Spirit Races gathered, whispering.
"Anu… was once like us."
"He rose on his own. Without divine right."
In the Obsidian Realms, fallen gods cheered.
"Down with the hierarchy!"
In the Chrono Temple of Aeons, time prophets wept.
"This battle was never meant to be seen… Vatae has disturbed the path."
And in the deepest planes of Samsaric Hell, chained immortals cried out—
"Let the chains break! May Anu burn the Thrones!"
---
Meanwhile, Sul, Cal, and Moac barely stood.
Their bodies were broken, their divine energies in tatters.
Yet still, they stood.
Cal stared at the light across the planes, seeing mortals arguing, gods choosing sides, chaos spreading like wildfire.
"He's dividing creation."
Sul's voice trembled. "He's rewriting belief."
Moac looked up. "And belief… shapes law."
---
In the Hall of Eternal Eyes, Eon whispered, stunned:
"If mortals begin to believe Anu is superior, the balance of cosmic law will shift in his favor."
Seu, trembling with nirvanic fire, added:
"And if the core laws of creation bend to belief… he may ascend beyond even the First Crown."
Vatae, amused, finally stepped forward in the Hall.
The others froze.
Even Esteemed Pikra, the golden Buddha of Foresight, stood to his feet in reverent terror.
"Vatae… what are you?"
Vatae turned his head slightly, the galaxy-like orb around him pulsing with eerie sentience.
Then came his voice—calm, quiet, and utterly final:
"I am the Observer before observation existed.
Before time ticked, before chaos birthed form, I was.
Not created. Not born. Simply… awakened."
Eon whispered, horrified: "That means…"
Vatae looked down into the battle.
"I am older than the First Thought.
Older than the first flicker of will that birthed the Ancestral Creator of All.
I am not a child of the Source. I am its reflection."